Hold back the night

...But for a full hour after dawn, the sun still didn't rise.

This may be the single most ambitious project I have ever undertaken on behalf of Her Majesty. I was hired to work on the occult development of the Royal Observatory. As an alchemist, I am not only attuned to the hermetic secrets of potion craft, but also boast of an extensive knowledge of the sky's mysteries. I might not be a Mage, but perhaps what comes the closest when it comes to rune engraving. The completion of the project earned me a substantial sum, but compared to the financial benefits, the technical knowledge gained was unfathomable.

Large scale application

Rather than a single element, this technique is a gathering of many, which I refused to name. As far as I can tell, the observatory is the sole instrument able to enact its full power, and it remains incomplete. Should it fall into the wrong hands, which might already be the case, I ensured that the intrinsic mechanisms are obscure, even to a master of the craft.

As it stands, the gigantic apparatus alters the course of the celestial bodies, locking them in place for an extended period of time. While the possible range of its application is wide, it has crippling limitations. The greatest of which being that it cannot force the sun high in the sky, only delaying its appearance by three and a half hours at most. Thus, it has rarely been used, save for large-scale operations that required the cover of the night or reliance on occult allies.

Small scale application

This method is my creation, thus mine to use as I see fit. I am still researching on this fascinating matter, but already it has begun to bear fruits. The first is the Night Cabinet, an isolated room in the basement fitted with the technology. Inside, I can sustain the occult properties of the night for up to two hours after sunrise. This is only the beginning, but it has been of great use to harvest Dawnberries after closing the store without rushing before the sun influence makes them wither away.