“Professor?” asked Liam, hoping for clear answers.

“Professor Antonius Lucian Sterling.” Rinth said, idly taking another book off the shelf. “It was written about…” she wrinkled her nose. “A hundred or so years ago, I think.”

The Tinkerer paused, turning to face her with a frown. “What do you mean a hundred years ago? --- --- --- --- --- ---.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Rinth said with a giggle.

“--- --- --- --- --- --- ---?”

“I can’t answer that. But he probably could.” Rinth said, dismissively waving in Liam’s direction. “But he can’t tell you until he understands what you are asking. And by then it won’t matter. Let’s just focus on now, yeah?”

She left the room with a frown of her own.

“Professor Sterling was an inventor.” The Tinkerer said after a moment of silence. “He inspired me to create.”

“So why is this book not about that?” Liam couldn’t help but ask.

“Because he ran into a ---. And no one can just walk away from that.”