Chapter 12 (part 1/2) - The First Computer

  As the days passed, the logical systems behind magical circles began to make more and more sense. Logic gates, conditionals, checkers, resistances… circles were a puzzle to be solved, limited by the same constraint that affected earthly electronic circuits: miniaturization.

  To be usable for him, a circle needed to be at least four times more efficient than a normal magical circle. And he could only apply them to truly mundane functions.

  “Closing for the day. You staying a few more hours?”

  “Yes, please.”

  Vincent answered Dodoon, who, after a few days, already trusted him thanks to his willingness to work hard without complain. The ease with which he absorbed concepts and the help he provided with calculations had earned him certain privileges, such as being allowed to use the compasses after work hours.

  With the workshop at his disposal and a couple days of study, recreating and optimizing beginner-level magical circles was simple, as he replaced several engravings with more efficient logic. Among the circles he attempted to craft were a spoiled-food identifier, a lamp with a timer, and the heat sterilizer Lily had shown him, modified now to work through electromagnetism instead of mere “heat,” making it far more efficient.

  His mastery over circles grew quickly. But if he wanted to make something truly useful, something that could save him from the accusations hanging over his head, he needed to achieve something more impressive. Something genuinely useful.

  According to these texts, it’s possible to use gems to store simple bits of information. If I could process that information, creating a calculator would be easy. But the gems capable of storing data aren’t cheap…

  There were likely simpler ways to store numbers through a binary system, but that was too complex to implement for now. The real alternative were “Consciousness Gems,” valued highly enough by spirits to host a faint awareness capable of storing specific information. Larger gems were even capable of processing information when expressed logically through the rest of the circuit. Unfortunately, that wasn’t something he could afford.

  I don’t even know where to get these materials.

  Vincent lamented silently. He was sure there had to be some store inside the Tower, but it bothered him that he hadn’t encountered a single sign or supply counter. The usual depots were reserved for official work and did not serve husks. If he wanted to acquire gems for his experiments, he would have to go to the Forge.

  Located just above the Fourth Heart, three open levels were dedicated solely to the development and manufacture of magical components and devices. The Forge wasn’t a factory, but rather an open workshop where anyone could use the machines and sell their products to the Tower for later use, earning a small commission in the process.

  Upon arriving, Vincent was stunned by the triple-height space and the massive columns that shaped the Forge. It was like seeing the Tower’s bones, laid bare. The technological level varied, but useful machines and tools were everywhere: lathes, forges, benders, welders, orfebrery disks, and magical furnaces. The inner face toward the Tower was separated by large panes of glass to keep fumes out, meaning Vincent couldn’t simply walk in.

  When he asked at the front desk, they informed him that the machines were reserved for trained resurrects. A recommendation from a maestre was required to ensure proper use of the equipment.

  Even if I can’t use them, the items they make are still available for purchase.

  Among the Forge’s wares were pastes, springs, optical lenses, copper wires, and a wide range of gems in different sizes and configurations. According to his drafts, his magical circle would require many input points for entering numbers, consciousness gems, and multiple small quartzes to create a screen that could display the result.

  “And what do you need all this for?”

  The clerk asked, somewhat offended at having to price such a request for a husk. When Vincent leaned over the counter, he immediately noticed he was being ignored. His husk clothing made it impossible for anyone to take him seriously. When they finally attended him, the clerk was surprised by the extensive list.

  “It’s for a project in the workshop. They sent me to gather the materials.”

  “If that were the case, it would be requested through a special form. You wouldn’t need to come to the counter.”

  Shit…

  “The truth is that I’m working on a personal project. I’m looking for materials for a magic circle.”

  “Multiple circles, I assume…” the clerk added incorrectly upon seeing the number of gems.

  “Could you please give me a quote for this list?” Vincent insisted.

  “Before I go fetch all the items and price your gems… do you even have the money? Don’t waste my time.”

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  He hesitated for a moment about putting his half-silver on the counter. Something told him that revealing how little he knew about prices would only hurt his credibility.

  “Why don’t you give me an estimate first?”

  Resigned, the man finally got to work. After a few quick calculations, he handed Vincent a sheet with the itemized costs.

  “It’ll run you about fifteen silvers. And if you want all the quartzes to be perfectly identical, you’ll have to commission them. Those are polished scraps.”

  For the screen I don’t need them identical, just roughly the same size…

  “That’s fine as is. No need to commission anything.”

  Vincent answered without taking his eyes off the paper. Then, as casually as possible, he asked:

  “And is it possible to take this on credit?”

  “I knew you didn’t have money!”

  With almost comedic timing, the man snatched back the sheet of items.

  “Material loans are reserved for members of the Forge. If you want money, go to the treasury.”

  “All right, all right, if you want to do everything officially, I don’t mind. I’ll be back soon.”

  “Yeah, yeah, whatever you say.”

  Vincent tried to save face, but the truth was that getting that much money without some sort of loan was impossible. He didn’t know if it was even possible, nor if it was safe. What he did know was that his trial was approaching fast, and he had nothing to show.

  If they lobotomize me, a part of me will die… I might not even be able to do calculations after that. Even if I wait and save money, nothing guarantees I’ll have the same mental faculties once they’re done with me… the moment to shine is now.

  Without thinking much further, and without consulting Lily, Vincent headed straight to the treasury. He was about to do something incredibly risky. Something that could sink him… and drag Lily down with him.

  ding ding

  The small bell rang as he stepped into the treasury. There was no one at the window, so he walked in. Two custodians near the entrance eyed him with open suspicion. Noticing their looks, Vincent explained he was seeking a loan. Their furrowed brows, almost mocking, made it clear how absurd they found the idea of giving a loan to a husk. But since they seemed to recognize him, they simply pointed toward one of the treasury’s inner hallways.

  In the request area there were several reception desks, each equipped with a jade disk inlaid with golden filigree to read the bracelets. The treasurers had their noses buried in their ledgers, and the rattling of abacuses mixed with the metallic clink of falling coins filled the room with a peculiar kind of symphony.

  Uh… is that a Pascaline?

  Vincent stared in disbelief at an apparatus far more sophisticated than he expected from this world. A Pascaline was a calculating machine that used gears to perform arithmetic… what puzzled him most was that it wasn’t widely used throughout the Tower.

  “Excuse me… why is no one using that device?”

  Vincent asked, hoping for an answer from the busy treasurers as he pointed to the dusty, half-buried machine in the corner.

  “That thing stopped working years ago. They’re far too expensive, and no one knows how to repair them.”

  answered a man behind him, the same treasurer who had attended him a few days earlier.

  “It’s much easier to hire competent people and have them verify the calculations several times.”

  The man brushed past Vincent toward his desk and gestured for him to sit. On the corner of the desk sat a small nameplate: Alvar Aalton.

  “So, tell me, what brings you here?”

  “Mr. Aalton, I need a loan.”

  “Oh? And you intend to ask for one just like that? You’re not even going to try giving me a justification?”

  “I don’t think you need one. After all, it’s exactly what you want, isn’t it?”

  Aalton raised a brow, then smiled.

  “You’re right, but even so, I’d like to know what you’re planning. Entertain me a little, will you? You’re not the first husk in your situation, you know. You’re not special.”

  Vincent met his gaze with defiance, though in truth he had no idea what the man meant.

  “Many newly awakened come asking for money for their ‘revolutionary’ projects… such basic things it’s insulting. They don’t even bother checking which technologies have already been tried and failed. I’ve had people ask for a hundred gold towers just for the idea of an assembly line. And last week, a neophyte tried to sell me the concept of a chain of fast-food restaurants that sold ‘meat sandwiches’. The idiot thought we didn’t already have hamburgers.”

  “I’m not planning anything that crude, sir, and I don’t need that much money either. Seventeen silver towers will be enough.”

  “Oh? Not even a full gold tower?”

  Aalton looked at him, intrigued.

  “Are you sure you don’t need more?”

  “I’d rather not be assigned another bracelet. I don’t want to end up with three.”

  “Hm.”

  Aalton grumbled, somewhat disappointed by Vincent’s restraint. Yet, seeing him so determined, he handed over the seventeen silvers without further argument, on the condition that the interest would increase by ten percent each month.

  Bastard…

  “I accept your terms if you allow me to repay the debt without interest within the first month.”

  “It’s a deal.”

  Vincent placed his bracelet on the jade disk, and the loan was finalized. He took the small pouch of coins and left the treasury with calm composure. The moment he slipped out of the treasurer’s line of sight, he bolted toward the Forge to purchase the materials. There was no time to lose, but first he needed to confirm something important.

  Why hadn’t the Pascaline dominated the market? The information was available and it clearly fulfilled a need… the very need Vincent intended to capitalize on, yet the machine had failed. The answer was much simpler than he expected: it had failed for the same reason it failed on Earth. It was complicated to use, fragile, and expensive. No more than fifty units had ever been produced on Earth, so it made sense it wouldn’t catch on here, especially when knowledge jars, Vincent suspected, must have been far more intuitive to use.

  If the Pascaline failed, why wouldn’t my invention fail too?

  Well, Vincent could justify things to himself in many ways; intelligent people tend to be very good at rationalizing their decisions. What he planned was more convenient, more useful, and cheaper… but the truth was he didn’t know. For every success he’d had, he’d experienced ten times as many failures, and nothing guaranteed that his calculation circle would succeed. That was the nature of entrepreneurship.

  When he reached the Forge, the clerk was stunned to see that someone had actually granted a loan to a husk. He had no choice but to hand over the materials. After checking that everything was inside the bag, Vincent headed for the circle workshop, but not before grabbing a few reference books. If people began asking questions, he needed to have the programming and basic mathematics texts he supposedly used to design the circle close at hand.

  With his materials ready, it was time to return to work. He would have to wait until after working hours to test his invention, but his mind was already swarming with dozens of possible variations for the circuit.