After returning to Cecil Castle, Gawain immediately sought out Kamel, who was fiddling with a small arcane focus at the Magic Guide Technology Research Institute, and Nicholas Egg, who was researching gearboxes at the Cecil Mechanical Manufacturing Facility. The three—strictly speaking, a satellite spirit, an LED sprite, and a metal-ball alien—gathered in the cutting-edge laboratory Rebecca built, studying the crystal left behind after Fran Belon's death.
The crystal still emitted a faint glow. Despite being untouched for several days, it continued to release a slight warmth. When held up to the ear, one could faintly hear indistinct sounds, akin to some form of resonance or whispers laden with pain.
Kamel raised the crystal into the air with The Sculpture Hand, carefully observing its form in the light, occasionally using a small arcane flame to stimulate the crystal's surface, sensing the energy readings it projected.
