Chapter 53: Voices Across Distance
The town hall was full again. Goblins sat on benches, dwarves leaned against walls, and Caelen stood in front of them all, holding a small notebook.
He took a deep breath. "Okay. I have a new idea. Something we've never had before. It's called... a telephone."
Silence.
Dorgrim raised an eyebrow. "A what now?"
Caelen smiled nervously. "A telephone. It lets you talk to someone far away. You speak into it here..." He tapped the air. "...and they hear you over there."
One of the young goblins squinted. "That sounds fake."
Zira tilted her head. "Is it magic?"
"No," Caelen said. "It's not magic. It's science. It works using copper wire, sound waves, and a power source. Like how the steam drill works—but for voices."
Elira frowned. "So... I can yell at Zira from a mile away without walking?"
Caelen chuckled. "Pretty much, yeah."
Garin scratched his beard. "You trying to start another one of those human machines again?"