You're both sitting at a tea table cluttered with schematics and biscuits. Ira slides something into your hands, his eyes bright with anticipation. It looks like a crystal-punk take on a smartphone: sleek casing, etched runes, and a faint glow where the screen should be.

“Go ahead, test it. I assure you it won’t spontaneously combust this time. I used an Etherstone for the battery.”

As you swipe the glowing screen, the device buzzes, then projects a tiny illusion: an automaton dog wagging its tail. Ira nearly spits his tea.

“That wasn’t in the programming… but I suppose it’s an improvement.”