II. A Visit to the Doktor

Amalthus has never been a traditionally affectionate person; that habit will not change now. He shows his devotion through loyalty, promises, and the very grimmest of hard work. After all, how else should a religious man be trained? How else should an orphan grift to survive?

It's no grift, at base, but some part of Amalthus has swindled some other, here or there.

There is no question. His ambition will be a gift to the Architect. He has been chosen.

And so, too, the violet Core is chosen. It surges out to meet its captor with equal brim of promise.