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There's a huge structure of logic tying it all together.  It's called theology and has been the source of disagreement and even war.  Though the war usually resulted when someone wanted to throw it all away and start over from a 'simpler' base.  That same urge has 'informed' our politics for some decades now.

I just added a couple of notes on the review comments.

I've got two thoughts on reflection.  One is seeing through the eyes of the protagonist.  A lot of my physical-world comments flow from that.  The second comes from Matt Bird's =The Secrets of Story=, which I recommend without reservation.  One of his rules is that your job is creating expectations, rather than breaking them.  I'm thinking here of Aedre's decision to take advantage of her language skills.  If we-the-reader learn that Aedre's inner identity is tied up with her memories of her native-speaking mother, and we then learn of the job openimg, we'll be waiting to see if she takes it, and we'll feel connected to the story--and to her--when she does.

I  need to break off work.  I'll finish it in the next 20 hours or so.

I'm hardly an expert.  I'm a competent 3rd year student struggling to do post-grad work.  That's why I'm working so slowly.  That, and the twenty-hour review back-up.  But I'll try to get one out in the next 24 hours.  A prompt reply will be appreciated, and we can discuss things in replies and counter-replies.

No.  The material is about 1/16".

Austenite and martensite are crystal phases of iron alloys.  Iron is the once-and-future wonder metal, and this property is exploited by the people who make safes and strongboxes.  I just found a drill bit customer review which says this property is common in stainless steel, and while the metal in question is not sold as stainless, it probably is designed for reduced corrosion.

I'm now drilling number-bit sized holes, and the bits I have are TiN coated.  I may have to spring for a 'cheap' set of Co bits for this.  ('Cheap' as in 'would buy three tanks of gas.)

Been away.  Had the chance to spend 4+ days with my Dad.  Figured out the mystery of the can't-drill-with-anything, hour-plus-with-carbide, angle bracket that chipped up one cobalt drill bit and dulled at least one more.  The material must be hanging on the edge of the austenite-to-martensite phase change, turning monster-hard constantly just ahead of the bit.  Answer-use a different brand.

Feel free to earn points on my stuff!

On dialogue: moments ago I heard a radio advertisement in the form of a conversation about a dilemma and the product that solved it.  The dialogue had to introduce the people, the problem, the product, and every one of its claimed virtues, in encyclopedic detail.  It was loaded to breaking with modifiers; it ran every detour into detail; it bubbled and burbled with praise and delight.

It was a magnificent anti-exemplar of dialogue writing.

I see your double chapter.  It may take a few days to get to it.  I've got a week with family coming up.  But I'll try.

Meanwhile, does this book go on for nine months?  Because I see an outcome for that barn scene.

IIRC, in the case I called out, it wasn't so much a flashback as explanation after the fact.

My preference against the name 'Final Conflict' comes because it lacks any specific (and spooky) image like those of fog, raven, and tiger.