Encountering Archazia
Encountering Archazia is a short story released for Archazia's Island. It was published on the Official Collector's Guide: Sets 5-8 on February 1, 2026.
The story follows Beast and Belle navigating Archazia's workshop.
Story
It's just this way, Beast," Belle said as the two glimmers walked along the manicured white path away from the palace. "It's the grandest laboratory you've ever seen, and it's ours to use! You're going to love it."
Beast kept quiet as verdant hills rose and fell around them. A half-moon cove with white sand rolled by to the left. He caught the gleam of excitement in Belle's eye—after all, an island like this was straight out of her adventure novels.
Beast did not share her enthusiasm. He'd heard plenty about the island's strangeness. It had taken weeks to arrive—and even then, the Great Illuminary's envoy fleet found the island entirely by accident. He'd also been told the place was home to an ancient Illumineer wielding long-forgotten techniques, wandering the grounds in an owl mask.
Not to mention, he was now being dragged to an inventor's laboratory to... experiment? And he was wearing a monocle. If only she hadn't been the one to ask him, Beast would have refused to have anything to do with this.
Presently, Belle darted towards one of the outbuildings nestled in the hills, clutching her skirts in one hand. With a dramatic wave of one arm, the doors swung open to admit her.
Inside, sweeping brass-framed windows bathed the massive table and shelves in light. Contraptions cluttered every flat surface. Scrolls floated overhead, suspended by some magic Beast could not see. Belle jumped up to grab one.
"What are those?" he asked.
"Schematics!" Belle said delightedly. "Archazia was kind enough to-"
Archazia. That must be the ancient Illumineer. But any further information was interrupted by a Maurice glimmer, who popped up suddenly from behind the main table.
"There you are, my boy!" he cried, raising slightly singed eyebrows. "Welcome to the laboratory!"
Beast was not very good at inventing. From that first day forward, the glimmer spent nearly every waking moment in the laboratory with Belle and her father. His grip bent fine gears. His claws got caught in complex machinery. But most of all, he lacked the patience that the other two glimmers seemed to possess in spades. Many a machine ended in a twisted, smoking wreck beneath Beast's hands. It was only once he started on his first independent project—a portable reading podium for Belle, with an adjustable clasp to hold pages open—that he began to enjoy the work. He guarded this project jealously behind. a curtain because he wanted it to be a surprise. Surprise, however, became impossible when he attempted to secure the final bracket assembly and inadvertently split a wood panel down the middle.
At his snarl of frustration, Belle appeared beside him, putting a hand on his shoulder. "We can fix it, Beast."
Beast opened his mouth to snap a response when a soft voice carried through the cavernous room.
"It's been a long time since this laboratory was used so well."
Emerald fabric billowed like wings as a stranger landed in the middle of the table. Maurice yelped. Beast gaped at the stranger's taloned feet and layered cloak, the polished mask with mismatched eyes.
Belle dropped into a small curtsy. "We are grateful for the space, Archazia."
Archazia turned her attention to Beast, jumping gracefully from the table and approaching him. "You're an interesting Beast. Have you had much success in this?" She lifted a feathered sleeve at their array of experiments.
"No," Beast admitted.
"Not yet," Belle corrected.
Archazia pulled a box from the depths of her cloak and handed it to Beast. "This is for your Illumineer."
"What is it?" he asked.
"Are you not a scientist? Find out."
With that, she brushed by them, her green cloak trailing behind her as the massive doors swung open. Dumbfounded, the three glimmers watched her go, until she disappeared down the path toward the palace.
The box held two cylindrical brass pieces. All three inventors peered down at them curiously, the other two watching intently as Beast picked up the first of the pair. He slid it over one hand and waited a moment, but nothing happened.
With a sigh of frustration, he offered the gauntlet to Belle.
She shook her head. "Archazia gave it to you."
Beast scowled. But finally, there—the faintest seam of a panel. Delicately, Beast pressed the center of it. The panel slid back with a hiss to reveal a sliding switch. When he toggled it, the gauntlet sparked to life, red splinters of ruby energy crackling over the metal, drawing an excited gasp from the other inventors. Beast held the gauntlet up to the light with a grin. Scarlet light bloomed in the laboratory, illuminating the damaged project half-hidden by the curtain. Beast turned over the metal in his hand.
He was an inventor. With enough patience, he could figure anything out.
Characters
- Beast - Frustrated Designer
- Belle - Apprentice Inventor
- Maurice - Unconventional Inventor
- Archazia
- Venturo (mentioned)
