'Secrets.' [ There's just a hint of dry amusement in his voice. ] I wonder if anything I discover would surprise you.

[ He gets the sense that Ardyn knows far, far more than he lets on, after all. Still, he won't turn down an excuse to talk about his work, so he delicately twists the wire into position, then looks to Ardyn as the crystals glow brighter. ]

The substance at the core of your magitek is quite unstable. Corrosive, and with a strange reaction towards light. In exchange, it's dense with energy. Incredibly long-lasting and powerful if harnessed in the right way. And ... [ A cant of the head as he ponders the little metallic cage he's built. ] ... it seems to have a will of its own, to some degree. Which could potentially make it more dangerous. But a will can also be swayed or reasoned with. It's something I've yet to grasp the nuances of.

[ A pause as he looks to Ardyn afterward. Was that the sort of answer he was looking for? ]