Chapter 154: Science Exposition
The morning sun painted the capital of Elysea in golden light, casting warm reflections off the polished brass and copper domes of the Royal Exhibition Hall. The entire city felt a little brighter, a little more alive. Today wasn't just any other day—it was the first-ever Royal Science Exposition, and people from every corner of the kingdom had come to see it. Scholars, inventors, students, and curious townsfolk filled the plaza, buzzing with excitement. Everyone hoped to get a glimpse of the kingdom's future—or maybe even help build it.
King Bruno arrived early, walking side by side with Queen Amelie. His clothes, though royal, were designed with subtle practicality—something he insisted on. There was nothing stuffy about him. Despite being king, Bruno never gave off the air of someone unapproachable. Behind that crown was a man who had once lived in a far more advanced world, and today, that experience made him feel more like an engineer than a monarch.
As they stepped inside the exhibition hall, a wave of sound and scent hit them. The air buzzed with the hiss of steam and clanking of gears. Inventors excitedly explained their projects to visitors, their voices layered over one another like a chorus. The scent of oil, warm metal, and freshly sawn wood filled the space. It was chaotic—but it was beautiful.
The first invention to catch Bruno's attention was a steam-powered loom. A young woman named Christair Fortiche stood by it, adjusting knobs and pulleys. She gave a small demonstration, and within minutes, the machine had created an intricately patterned cloth. Bruno watched closely, impressed by how it could cut production time in half.
"This could reshape the textile industry," he said, more to himself than anyone else. Turning to Christair, he added, "Your work has real potential. Imagine the jobs this could create, the communities it could lift." Christair beamed, clearly trying to keep her excitement under control.
Further down the hall, a group of students stood nervously beside a homemade refrigeration device. It used compressed air and a makeshift evaporation system. It wasn't perfect—it clanked, wheezed, and barely cooled—but Bruno saw beyond that. "With proper materials," he said, "this could help us store medicine. Even food for the provinces."
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At the heart of the hall stood a tall metal structure marked The Ether Communicator. Its creator, Professor Alvion, explained it could transmit coded messages using pulses of electricity. Bruno's interest sharpened. "A telegraph," he whispered, recognizing the principle immediately. He leaned in, discussing the potential applications and offering advice. The professor's jaw practically dropped.
They moved on, finding a small corner of the hall where an older man named Garry displayed a steam-powered carriage. It was bulky and noisy, but the engineering was solid. Bruno examined the frame, tested the weight balance, and ran a hand over the riveted plating.
"This… could change everything," he said, already picturing roads connecting distant towns, allowing people and goods to move with speed and safety. "No more depending on weather or horses. It could bring us together in ways we haven't seen before."
Throughout the day, Bruno and Amelie toured every aisle, every corner. They saw a water filtration system built for rural communities, a basic prosthetic hand that offered hope for the injured, and even a prototype glider—still tethered to the ground but filled with ambition. Some projects were rough, some unfinished, but the passion was undeniable.
Bruno couldn't help but feel a deep connection to these inventors. They reminded him of what humanity had achieved back in his old world. That same drive to explore, to build, to improve—that spark lived here, too.
As the sun dipped low, casting a soft orange over the exhibition, Bruno stepped up onto a makeshift platform. The crowd slowly quieted as he raised his hand.
"Today, I witnessed something incredible," he said. "Not just clever machines or brilliant ideas, but the spirit of a kingdom that dares to dream. Let this be the beginning of a tradition—where invention is celebrated, where knowledge is shared, and where innovation leads us forward. Elysea will not just survive—we will thrive."
The applause was overwhelming. It wasn't just polite. It was real. The people believed him.
That evening, as the city quieted down, Bruno and Amelie took a walk through the palace gardens. The lamplight flickered gently around them. Amelie looked thoughtful.
"Do you think these inventions will actually change things?" she asked softly.
Bruno looked up at the stars. "They already have," he said. "And this is just the beginning. One idea leads to another. And soon… we'll be somewhere none of us ever imagined."
Somewhere in Elysea, a new chapter was starting.
The Next Morning
Even as the sun rose, Elysea still buzzed from the day before. Coffee houses, taverns, and even barbershops were filled with people talking about the exposition. Everyone had a favorite. A few kids in the square had even built their own version of a flying machine out of sticks and string.
At the palace, Bruno sat at the council table, reviewing a thick list of award recipients. Lord Montblanc, the royal chamberlain, stood beside him with a gold-trimmed ledger.
"These are your final picks?" Montblanc asked, eyes glancing over the names. "No complaints from the academies?"
Bruno chuckled. "A few nobles aren't happy that a mechanic outshined titled engineers. But genius doesn't ask for permission. It doesn't care about status. It just works."
Montblanc gave a rare smile. "Well said, Your Majesty."
Bruno stood and made his way to the palace courtyard where the awards would be given. Green flags flew from every balcony. Banners that read "Progress is Our Promise" stretched across the stone walls. The crowd was already gathering—young scholars, old tinkerers, nobles, and commoners alike. Everyone was curious to see who would be honored.
When the palace bells rang ten, Bruno and Amelie stepped onto the dais. The courtyard hushed.
"Yesterday," Bruno began, "we didn't just witness invention. We witnessed courage. Effort. Passion. Today, we honor those who dared to build something new."
He called up Christair Fortiche first. She stepped forward, dress still smudged with soot.
"Christair," Bruno said, handing her a scroll tied with violet ribbon, "your invention could change our textile economy and provide work for thousands. You're awarded a royal patent and 500 gold crowns to open your own weaving hall in the Southern Quarter."
Her hands shook as she accepted the award. "I'll make Elysea proud, Your Majesty," she said, tears in her eyes.
Next came Professor Alvion, who received a royal commission to begin work on a national communications network. The older scholars in the crowd exchanged glances—some skeptical, others stunned.
Then came Garry, the steam carriage creator. Bruno clapped him on the back.
"You've earned a full workshop in the innovation district," he said. "And when you're done, I expect a ride that doesn't need four horses or a priest's blessing."
The biggest surprise came when two teenage boys were called to the stage. Dressed in worn clothes, they had created a basic wind-powered water pump that saved lives in their village during last year's drought.
"For your service," Bruno said, "you've earned full royal apprenticeships. From now on, you'll study with our top engineers. You'll have every tool and teacher you need."
The crowd broke into cheers. The boys stood frozen, unsure of what to say.
And finally, Bruno raised both hands again.
"This exposition is not a one-time event," he said. "From this day forward, the Royal Science Exposition will be held every year—open to all, regardless of status or name. Let ideas be our currency. Let invention be the tie that binds our kingdom together."
The cheers that followed were louder than any before.
After everything settled down, Bruno and Amelie sat under a large sycamore tree near the palace fountain. Prince Louis played nearby, crawling across the grass, holding a stick like it was a sword.
"You looked proud today," Amelie said, handing Bruno a cold drink.
"I was," he replied. "Not just for the inventors—but because we showed people that the throne sees them. That it believes in their future."
"You're changing more than policies," she said. "You're changing hearts."
Bruno didn't answer right away. He was watching a group of kids using broken wood and string to build a toy version of Garry's steam carriage. A small smile tugged at his lips.
That night, back in his study, Bruno opened a blank page in his personal journal. No seals. No royal crests. Just clean parchment and a quiet room.
He titled the page:
Blueprints for Elysea's Tomorrow
And then he began to write—not as a king, but as an engineer from another world. A man who had seen what was possible.
And in houses, barns, and attics across Elysea, more sparks were beginning to fly.
A girl was sketching out a flying machine that might actually lift off the ground.
A boy was hammering out gear pieces in secret, dreaming of machines that could walk.
And slowly, steadily, a kingdom that had once been reeling… began to imagine again.