"MY LADY!"
The cry echoed through the quiet of Aurelia's chamber.
A soft shimmer bloomed beside the window, forming the figure of a young woman made of light. Elis's hologram flickered into focus, her expression caught between relief and outrage.
"How could you not retrieve me after being rescued?" she demanded, pacing across the holo-grid like a storm. "Do you have any idea how many system errors I triggered? I thought the mission failed! I was seconds away from declaring you deceased!"
Aurelia looked up from her desk, smiling faintly. "Good morning, Elis."
"Good, no, not good morning!" Elis clutched her head dramatically. "You were abducted by pirates! My data link was severed mid-transmission! Do you know what that does to my runtime stability?"
Aurelia chuckled softly. "You were worried."
"I was professionally distraught," Elis corrected, then paused. Her tone softened. "And... yes. I was worried."
The door into the chamber opened with a hiss.
A tall silhouette entered into the room. Silent, mechanical. Dim light reflected from bits of clean metal and damaged armor. The Construct moved with slow purpose. Its servos hummed quietly until it reached Aurelia's desk.
Elis turned sharply toward it.
"And what," she said slowly, "is that?"
Aurelia rose. "Elis, this is Constantine. My new companion."
Elis blinked. "Your what?"
"My new companion," Aurelia repeated. "He'll be helping you around the estate."
The silence stretched.
Elis blinked again, once, then twice. "Helping me?"
"Yes."
Her voice jumped an octave. "My lady! How could you replace me like this!"
"Elis—"
"No, no, it's fine!" Elis threw up her hands, pacing in exaggerated despair. "I've only managed this household for six years, kept your appointments, brewed your tea, organized your archives, and now I've been replaced by this... thing!"
The Construct said nothing. It didn't even turn its head.
Elis pointed at it, indignant. "Don't you ignore me! Look me in the eye when I'm talking to you! I've been at my lady's side long before you were ever manufactured!"
Aurelia rubbed her forehead. "Elis, you're not being replaced. I just need your help to teach him how things work here."
Elis blinked. Then, in a flash, she clung to Aurelia's shoulders.
"Oh, my lady! I knew you'd never abandon me!" she declared proudly. "Don't you worry. I, Elis, your most loyal companion, will train this rookie to become remotely adequate!"
Aurelia laughed softly, though her gaze flicked toward Constantine, still standing motionless by the window.
He hadn't moved. Not even once.
By afternoon, the workshop looked like it had survived a small war.
Elis floated above the console, projecting neat holographic diagrams and instructions. Her tone was all forced patience.
"Task one," she said. "Precision cutting. Let's see if you can manage something basic."
She materialized a knife and a board in front of him. "Cut the vegetables evenly. Small cubes. Understand?"
Constantine stepped forward. The servos in his arm hummed quietly.
He brought the knife down once, clean, decisive, and far too strong.
The blade split the vegetables... then the board... then the table... then the steel base beneath it.
The clang echoed through the room.
Elis stared at the wreckage. "That's... one way to do it," she muttered. "Honestly I'm impressed, but that's not it."
The Construct didn't move. Didn't answer.
Elis sighed. "Next."
"Task two," she said, voice tight. "The Lady's garden. Let's see if you can do some simple maintenance."
Constantine picked up the watering can, tilted it once, and kept going.
Water poured out like a broken faucet, spilling across the flowerbeds, soaking the soil until puddles formed across the floor.
Elis's voice cracked. "That's on me. I should have known to not let you near delicate things."
Still no reaction.
She paced in midair, muttering under her breath. "He doesn't even respond, my lady. I've had livelier conversations with combat droids."
From the doorway, Aurelia tried not to smile. "He's trying."
"Trying?" Elis turned, scandalized. "I'm not even sure if it's sentient!"
"He's learning," Aurelia said, stepping inside. "And he's not a housekeeper, Elis. He's my new bodyguard."
Elis blinked. "Bodyguard?" She frowned, then realized too late what she'd said next. "I didn't think you'd need one since Thorne—"
Aurelia's hand fell gently on Constantine's arm. Her voice was quiet. "He's gone."
The air shifted. Even Elis's projection dimmed for a second.
"I... I'm sorry," she said softly. "That was thoughtless of me."
By sunset, the manor had grown still again.
Constantine stood by the balcony, watching the last traces of sunlight fade behind the clouds. Elis hovered nearby, arms folded, expression somewhere between annoyance and reluctant curiosity.
"You really don't speak, do you?" she asked. "No diagnostics, no reports, nothing?"
The Construct stayed silent, visor glowing faintly in the reflection of the glass.
Elis sighed. "Unbelievable. The Lady brings home an AI companion that's barely sentient. I hope you're better at your primary function at least."
The door opened behind them.
"My lady," Elis greeted instantly, straightening. "He's doing... quite well, actually. Only three tools destroyed, a few minor damages, but overall, very promising progress."
Aurelia smiled. "Be patient with him."
"Patience," Elis muttered. "Yes. Of course, my lady."
She hesitated, then said more quietly, "I'm sorry for earlier, my lady. I didn't mean to— I'm just glad you're safe. Truly. If the Inquisitors hadn't arrived when they did, I don't know what would've—"
Aurelia blinked. "The Inquisitors?"
"Yes," Elis said, matter-of-factly. "I sent multiple distress call to whoever I could after you were taken. I assumed they were the ones who intercepted the pirates since you were quickly rescued."
Lira entered then, a tray in hand. She froze mid-step.
"The Inquisitors?" she asked carefully.
Elis nodded. "Their signal appeared briefly before the line went dead."
Aurelia frowned slightly. "That's strange. They never came. Constantine was the one who saved us."
Elis's expression shifted. "Oh?"
Lira's stomach tightened. She looked between them, pulse quickening.
If the Inquisition came looking, Constantine wouldn't last the day.
Aurelia, unaware of the growing tension, nodded to herself. "Still, we should thank them for responding. Elis, send a message to their office. Express our gratitude."
Elis smiled faintly. "Of course, my lady."
"Good." Aurelia exhaled softly. "I owe them that much."
Lira stood motionless, heart pounding. "...Yes, my lady," she murmured.
Elis's projection flickered out, leaving the room in quiet light.
Outside the window, the last traces of sunset stretched long across the stone walls.
Constantine stood still, visor glowing faintly in the dark.
Silent. Watching. Listening.