Word of the thinking machine spread swiftly. Scholars, merchants, and healers all sought its help, but one device could not serve the whole kingdom. Riaan gathered the apprentices. “If one machine is a scholar, then a hall of them will be a **library of knowledge**. We will build not one mind, but many.”

At the edge of the capital, masons and smiths raised a new kind of structure. Its **cement foundation** was strong, its **brick walls** sturdy, and its tall windows framed with **steel and glass** gleamed under the sun. Inside, the floors were smooth cement, polished for cleanliness, while **aluminium beams and panels** held the machines firmly in place. It looked less like a workshop and more like a house of learning from another age.

Rows of chambers were prepared, each lined with copper wiring and steel racks. Here, multiple machines were assembled, their copper veins, steel screws, and aluminium plates set carefully by skilled apprentices.

The machines were divided by purpose:

* One section for **trade and accounts**, storing harvest yields and market exchanges.

* Another for **medicine**, filled with remedies, symptoms, and surgical techniques.

* A third for **maps and geography**, recording rivers, canals, and roads.

To power it all, a **hydro-turbine station** and a network of storage batteries were built in the basement, humming steadily.

When the crown prince toured the hall, he paused in wonder at the sight of glowing bulbs behind glass walls. An apprentice fed a card into a machine, and it recalled a caravan route instantly. Another machine listed supplies available in nearby provinces.

The prince whispered, “This is no hall. It is the kingdom’s **mind, built in stone and steel**.”

Riaan placed a hand on the aluminium frame. “Knowledge must not belong to one man or one throne. Here, it will stand safe, for all who seek it.”

That night, the Hall of Machines glowed with light, its glass windows shining like a beacon of learning.