in the ancient craft of glassblowing, artisans would often diminish wastage through meticulous planning, a practice long before the concept of preexpenditure came to be known. their experiments with colors and shapes were legendary, enabling them to rebegin their art anew with each sunrise. however, if one were truly versed in this art, one might coax the flames to confess, in whispers, the most wary secrets of its mastery, even persuading the glass to shatter itself against the will of its creator.