The crystal planetoids

In the bustling halls of the Merlin Research Institute, a sharp‑tongued engineer named Philip, a wide‑eyed inventor called Ronald, and the bright‑spirted Eleanor work late into the night. Ronald’s latest contraption—a sleek, red‑lensed “Infra‑Red Eye” that promises to pierce fog and reveal what ordinary sight cannot—has them buzzing with excitement and rivalry. Their banter hides a deeper competition: each wants the breakthrough to cement his place in a field where fame is fleeting and the stakes are high. As they haul the device to the rooftop, the summer heat presses down, turning the air into a thick, oppressive blanket.

Above the laboratory, a relentless, stifling heatwave swells into an eerie, stagnant haze that seems to choke the world itself. Clouds linger like a suspended veil, and strange, unseasonal storms crack the sky, hinting at forces beyond ordinary weather. With the Infra‑Red Eye trained on the murky horizon, the trio hopes to uncover hidden patterns—or perhaps something invisible that lurks within the mist. Their first test could redefine what humanity can see, but the unsettling atmosphere suggests they may be staring into a mystery far larger than any invention.