The Spoilt Beauty And Her Beasts-Chapter 531: Why are you looking at me like that

Isabella stood perfectly still, clutching Osiris' arm without realizing it. Glimora clung to her ankle like a terrified acorn. Osiris stood like a stiff statue beside her, eyes narrowed, ready to fight something if it jumped out.

The orb pulsed harder.

Then it cracked.

A thin web of light spread across its surface and the orb split open, releasing a swirling cloud of golden mist. The mist immediately twisted into shape, forming long thin strands that extended outward like skeletal arms.

Isabella's eyes widened. "What is that."

The mist thickened and began forming a rectangular outline in the air.

Osiris stepped back instantly. "Is this safe."

She glared at him. "Do not start."

"I am only asking because that thing looks evil."

"It is not evil."

Glimora made a tiny squeak of disagreement.

Isabella ignored both of them.

The mist condensed more. The shape started turning solid. A heavy slab of material dropped suddenly from the air and thudded onto the cottony ground.

Isabella gasped.

It did not look right.

The slab was uneven. Crooked. Lopsided. It leaned like it had arthritis. Strange dents ran across its surface. The glowing runes flickered weakly like dying fireflies.

"Oh no," Isabella whispered in horror. "No. No. No."

Osiris leaned closer and tilted his head. "Is that what you asked for."

She turned slowly and glared at him with murderous intent.

He raised his hands defensively. "I am just asking a question."

"Do not speak to me."

"I am concerned. This looks like something they use to hide dead people. A very ugly version."

"Shut up."

Another chunk formed and slammed down on the first one. They fused together in a strange lopsided shape.

Isabella's stomach twisted painfully. "Bubu," she hissed in her mind. "Something is wrong. Something is wrong. This is not right. This is not what I asked for. This is—"

"Calm down," Bubu replied.

"CALM DOWN. Why would I calm down when I see a machine forming like it was dropped from the sky by a drunk architect."

More parts kept appearing. One by one. Shapes she did not recognize. Twisted pieces. Bent pieces. A wheel she definitely did NOT ask for. A long tube that made no sense at all. A stone panel that wobbled before slamming itself into the side.

Osiris squinted. "Is it supposed to look like a dying goat."

"Osiris," she snapped.

"Yes."

"If you do not shut up, I will kill you."

"I am trying to be supportive."

"You are failing."

He sighed loudly. "Fine."

She turned back to the forming machine, anxiety swirling in her stomach. What if she had forgotten to specify something. What if the orb misinterpreted her wish. What if she was about to blow up half the mountain. Or worse, what if this thing became a monster.

Isabella's chest tightened. Her eyes burned. "Bubu, please," she whispered in her head. "Please tell me this is normal."

"It is normal," Bubu answered simply.

"How is this normal."

"You are panicking too early."

"Too early. Too early. Look at that thing. It looks like it has depression."

"It is assembling."

"It is malfunctioning."

"No. You simply lack patience."

"I lack patience because I have Osiris in my life."

Osiris blinked. "I can hear you."

"Good."

She focused again, breath shaky.

Piece by piece, the machine continued forming. The strange bent parts slowly straightened. The lopsided base settled. The crooked tubing twisted into its proper shape and locked in place with a soft click. The dented surfaces smoothed out.

The weirdness began making sense.

The chaos slowly arranged itself.

The machine was correcting its shape.

Fixing itself.

Isabella blinked. Her lips parted slightly.

"Oh," she breathed softly. "Oh wait. Wait. Wait. It is forming correctly."

Osiris frowned. "So this is normal."

"Yes," she whispered.

"Are you sure."

"Yes."

"You were about to cry earlier."

"Shut up."

The machine rotated slowly mid air as new parts formed and attached themselves. A thick circular base locked into place. Two side pillars slid down smoothly. The stone panels folded inward and formed the main chamber. Runes engraved themselves along the edges, glowing softly.

It was beautiful.

It was everything she had wanted.

Isabella's excitement slammed back into her chest at full force. She covered her mouth, eyes sparkling again.

"Isabella," Osiris murmured. "It is… kind of impressive."

She glared at him again for no reason. "I know."

Osiris flinched. "Why are you looking at me like that."

"Because breathing is your crime."

He shut up immediately.

Actually shut up.

If someone had seen them from afar, they would have assumed they were a married couple. A very chaotic, dysfunctional couple. The kind where the wife slapped the husband daily, and the husband followed her like a lost puppy.

She shifted her hold on his arm.

He stayed quiet.

Glimora clung to Isabella's dress like a scared toddler.

The machine continued piecing itself together. The front slot appeared. The top lever snapped into existence. The duplication chamber formed with glowing runes that spiraled inward. Everything settled into place with soft mechanical clicks.

A final pulse of light shot from the orb and wrapped around the forming device. The glow faded slowly.

Then the machine dropped onto the cotton ground with a deep, satisfying thud.

It was perfect.

Exactly like the blueprint.

Every line.

Every rune.

Every detail.

Isabella gasped and ran toward it like a child running toward presents.

"Oh my goddess," she breathed, touching its smooth stone surface. "It is real. It is real. It is real."

She ran her fingers along the edges. The machine felt cool. Polished. Heavy. The runes glowed faintly when she touched them. The insertion slot was smooth and wide. The duplication output panel was clean and curved. The entire structure hummed with quiet life.

"It is beautiful," she whispered.

"It is a rock box," Osiris muttered.

She turned and threw him the nastiest glare known to mankind.

He looked away.

She turned back quickly, pressing both hands against the machine.

She opened the top panel. The interior chamber glowed faintly. She traced the carved spirals. She touched every part like a tailor discovering fabric for the first time.

She tested the lever. Smooth.

She opened the side compartment. Empty.

She tried pressing the activation sigil. It glowed gently.

"It works," she whispered in disbelief. "It actually works."

Her heart pounded like she had just found treasure.

Because she had.

This machine meant power.

Freedom.

Stability.

Trade.

Clothes for her village.

Shoes.

Bags.

Everything.

She wiped a joyful tear off her cheek.

"Okay," she breathed. "Okay. I need to try it."

She ran back toward one of the nearest material vines and tugged at a sheet of shimmering lavender fiber. It separated instantly and formed a small square.

She grinned. Perfect.

She opened her system store and scrolled dramatically until she found the cheapest scissors possible. It looked pathetic. Handle flimsy. Blade dull. Appearance ugly.

She bought it anyway.

The system dinged.

A rusty pair of scissors dropped into her hand.

She snorted. "This is so ugly."

"It matches your taste," Bubu said.

"Shut up."

She crouched beside the material vine, spread the lavender fabric gently, and cut a tiny square out of it.

The scissors squeaked loudly with every cut.

Osiris scrunched his face. "That sounds broken."

"It is fine," she snapped.

"It sounds like a dying mouse."

"Shut up."

She stood up, holding her tiny fabric sample like it was sacred treasure.

Then she turned toward the newly formed machine.

Her lips curled into a smirk.

She walked to it slowly, dramatically.

She held up the sample material, eyes gleaming.

She whispered with absolute confidence.

"Time to test you, baby."