"I am going to place sugar crystals inside your hollow center." Ewan explained, his tone serious, like a scientist briefing an astronaut: "Your mission is to raise your internal temperature just enough to liquefy the sugar, and then spin. You must spin fast enough to fling the liquid out through those tiny holes. But be careful! Control your thermal output. Do not burn the wooden basin, and definitely do not burn the sugar. We need melted gold, not charcoal."
Flarie bobbed its makeshift rim up and down. To an observer, it was just a weirdly shaped blob of jelly, but through their soul connection, Ewan felt the creature's determination.
Ewan took a deep breath. He picked up a scoop of white sugar and poured it carefully into the center of the living machine.
"Ignition." Ewan whispered: "Spin."
Flarie obeyed. The red bowl began to rotate. At the same time, a soft, orange glow intensified within its core as it ramped up the heat.
