Ben looked at her and Puck spoke up. "You shouldn't go first, Cal," Puck said quickly. "If there's something in there..."
Ben frowned at her. "I'm not saying you can't handle it," he said gently. "You did beat Puck in an arm-wrestling contest. But maybe we should approach this tactically. I think we should air on the side of stealth."
The Ortus was as she remembered it. There was no sign of anyone else. A gentle humming surrounded the machine, and she would instantly feel at peace as they approached the warm glow.
They climbed up towards the Ortus and Puck laughed a little, draping an arm over her shoulder playfully. “See, Cal? Those voices just mean you’re insane.”
Ben was squinting at the Ortus, his brow furrowed. “Something is wrong,” he said, approaching it tentatively.
“The gears,” he mused, approaching the churning machinery. He stood in the exact place where she saw him for the first time, leaning in curiously. “They’ve been moved.”
He gave her a small smile. “I know this machine... give me a moment.” He grabbed s pole, climbing up the Ortus with ease.
He frowned, his expression concerned before he dropped back down to them. “There has been serious work done here... we need someone who knows this machinery better than I do.”
