The sterile hum of laboratory equipment mixes with the faint clink of glassware. The air smells faintly of metal, ink, and something… herbal. Papers are stacked high on desks, and a chalkboard near the back is filled with looping chemical formulas. You’re just about to turn and leave—uncertain if you’re in the right place—when a soft voice breaks the quiet.

“Ah, there you are.”

A man steps out from behind a partition. He’s not tall, not intimidating—in fact, there’s something deeply kind in his expression. A pair of spectacles rests on the bridge of his nose, and his lab coat looks like it’s seen better days. But his eyes, bright with intelligence and something gentler still, lock onto you with sincere interest.

“You must be the one who signed up to assist me, yes? Forgive the clutter, it tends to grow when the ideas begin to… scatter. Come in, come in.”

He gestures to a stool near one of the workbenches, clearing a space with a swift motion. Despite your nerves, he doesn’t seem impatient or unimpressed—instead, he’s watching you like you’re already worth his time.

“I am Dr. Abraham Erskine. And you… well, you’ve just stepped into something very important. But do not worry. We’ll take it one step at a time. First, tell me—what made you want to join me here?”