Magic_Smithing
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Ch: 49
🕑 Added 2020-09-09 00:47:42 +0000 UTC
Sitting on top of my bed, I look at the various magical tools scattered across my sheets. I have my three best sketches of the runes I found in the light hat pinned to the wood to my left on the wall next to my bed.
Since Kervin brought me the magic tools a week ago, I've been too busy to analyze them properly. I've already injected mana into each of them, and mother was thrilled when I showed her the water purifier and the enchanted knife.
I brought home a small crate of magicite for her to use if I'm not around, but I usually inject my mana into them around dinnertime to keep them working.
If Kervin was right about his new schedule, he should be back with the materials I need in another two weeks. I need to practice drawing more runes before he returns.
I scan the five magic tools laid out in front of me. I start with the fire box first. I haven't noticed any damage to master's light hat since I started probing it, but I don’t want to start with one of the tools my mom has grown accustomed to using first, just in case.
I tuck my legs underneath one another in a cross-legged position and move a flat piece of wood onto my lap. I grab my engraving pen and channel my magic into it.
Once my pen is charged, I start injecting my mana into the fire box. Using my mana sense, I look at the runes hidden inside the box.
I follow the route my mana takes and single out the individual rune sections.
I start where my mana is entering the runic structure and quickly find the same primary symbol I deciphered in the light hat. There are different lines hiding the structure, but it's easy to trace the rune hidden in the mess now that I know what to look for. I find two of the runes on opposite sides of the magic tool’s sides.
I’ll have to see how many of these items utilize the same runes and compare them later.
I move on to the next section, following my mana, expecting a repeat of the regulating rune I found in the light hat.
I smile when I can’t find the rune I’m looking for. There must be a new rune; I jump into deciphering the many lines to find the rune hidden underneath.
Using the flow of mana as a guide, a new rune slowly becomes discernable under my eye.
The two mana absorbing runes feed into each side of this new regulating rune. The rune slightly changes the mana's frequency like the rune I already copied out of the light helmet. I've studied the light helmet a lot this past month, and I can tell the converted mana is similar but not the same frequency.
Different runes must need various frequencies of mana to activate them properly.
After I think I’ve found all the dead ends hiding the rune, I carve it into the plank of wood in my lap.
I’ll practice drawing it later and add the best representation to my wall of runes.
I move on to the last part of the runic structure near the top of the cube. The rune is positioned up against a small metal tube that leads out the top of the box. The flame coming out of the magic tool isn't very impressive, but it’s strong enough to cook on it.
The fire rune proves much harder to decipherer. It looks like whoever made the magic tool focused on hiding this rune over the regulator. The whole thing is covered in random lines and dead ends meant to conceal the rune from prying eyes.
I was a little disappointed the final result turned out less complicated than I imagined.
Mana flows in from the bottom, and the rune produces its flame at the top of the structure. That’s two new runes for me to practice.
I set the fire box off to the side and grab its sister, the cold box. As soon as I inject my mana into the magic tool, I quickly find the swirling patterned mana absorbing runes I've seen in the other two tools.
I track my mana and find the mana absorbing runes heading into the familiar regulating rune I just deciphered in the fire box. Everything leads to an area that I assume holds the frost rune that’s producing cold air out of holes in the box.
I take my time tracing the mana flow in the rune and slowly figure out its design.
The circular rune is emitting chilled mana that gathers inside the box and escapes through holes in its top, merging into the surrounding atmosphere. The cold mana blends into the surrounding space; it has little effect on my already cold room.
I carefully carve its structure down onto another piece of wood before moving onto the next magical tool. That’s three new runes so far.
Because everything is going swimmingly, I decide to look at the water purifier next. I start at the bottom of the device, knowing the cube has to hold the mana absorbing runes. I inject my mana into the tool's base and pause when I notice the difference in the runes structure.
Instead of broad lines, these mana absorbing runes are a third the size of the other tools I've looked at. I can tell whoever made this magic tool is a higher caliber enchanter. The runes are small enough that my eyes can't make out the fine details of the structure.
I close my eyes and focus purely on Sense Mana. The runes' size would be enough to deter the average person from copying the structure but not me.
Unlike the last two boxes, this magic tool has four mana gathering runes like the light hat. I follow the lines from the gathering runes and trace them to two independent regulating runes I found in the boxes. Those regulators both lead to yet another regulating rune, changing the frequency of the mana again.
This tool shows me the regulators can be stacked to change the mana's frequency to a finer degree.
After the regulators, I track the mana to a new rune. It’s ironic that thanks to these runes' smaller size, it's easier for me to decipher them. Whoever engraved this tool couldn’t add in as many false lines without compromising the rune's detailed structure.
Judging by the mana, the next rune is expelling; it has to be a water rune.
Though the water rune isn’t where this enchantment ends, another line breaks off the top of the water rune and goes to another new rune.
The rune is engraved near the magic tool's middle, where the water passes from the top part to the bottom. This rune has to be what purifies the water of its impurities. The rune releases a magical aura only half an inch wide but resembles the magic I feel when I cast my cleaning spell.
It doesn't take me long to copy down the two new runes. I move the wood planks next to the other three runes I copied and grab another piece of wood and refocus on the water purifiers enchantment.
The last three tools I've looked at have all been relatively simple. I feel like I should copy down the water purifier's entire runic structure to reference how runes can be mixed and matched.
The enchantment uses nine runes total to purify the water. I've noticed different runes connect at various points, but they mostly join at triangles or near them.
When I transfer the design to paper, I'll put notes around it detailing the insights I think I gained. It won't be until I figure out how to make engraving ink that I can test any of my hypotheses, though.
I still have two more tools to examine. I shuffle the magic tools around and move the charging cube and knife in front of me.
I start with the cube first.
I've charged the cube every night for mom, and I already know this cube is different from any other of the magic tools. I've already pinpointed where inside the runes are, and from what I can tell, there're only three runes total.
Thought all the tools I've examined have three different types of runes, they have multiple mana gathering segments. The fire and ice boxes had the least number of runes so far. They had two gathering runes, one regulating rune, and a rune that emits the magic for four runes each.
I know master isn’t an expert when it comes to runic knowledge, but I'm sure he said enchantments need at least four runes to function correctly. I start to decipherer the runes and watch what happens to my mana as it works its way through the enchantment.
I think the person who made the water purifier might have also made this charging box. The runes are small and incredibly hard to perceive, just like the water purifier. It takes me fifteen minutes to figure out the first rune, and that's only thanks to its shape resembling the other mana absorbing runes.
As I pour my mana into the rune, I notice it absorbs the same amount of mana as four of its smaller variants. It looks much more complicated to draw, so I wonder why this one is used instead of the others. Each triangle on each of the swirls leads to the next rune.
The regulator is the same as the one used in the boxes and the water purifier, so I move on to the third and final rune.
The last rune is the most puzzling because it doesn’t have a single triangle in its design. The line leading from the regulating rune is simply attached to one of the corners of this rectangle shaped rune.
All the mana I pour into the cube is ending up trapped inside the last rune. I stop supplying the magic tool with my mana to see what happens.
The enchantment finishes processing my mana, and most of the runes become inert. The last rune still glows in my mana sight, holding onto the mana I pumped into the tool.
Why doesn’t every magic tool have one of these runes? The rune acts like a battery, so I assume every enchantment would be better off with one.
I continue to examine the rune and notice a difference in the amount of mana contained within it. The mana contained inside the rune is leaking. I watch the rune continue to dim until all the mana I fed it is gone.
After pumping 50 mana into the enchantment to study it, the rune could only hold the mana for twelve minutes.
I don't understand the point of this rune. Never the less, I diligently carve it onto a piece of wood. Maybe after I look at the knife, I'll try examining the two magical items together.
I set the charging cube off to the side and carefully pick up the kitchen knife.
Gripping the handle, I start feeding the knife a part of my mana. I immediately notice something is wrong.
There are no gathering runes on the knife’s handle. All the mana I inject into the knife’s handle is drawn to the tip of the blade. The entire sharpening enchantment is inverted on the face of the knife.
The gathering runes are near the knife's tip, while what I assume to be the sharpening rune is etched close to the handle. The slight glow on the knife's edge means the enchantment is working as intended despite the inversed enchantment.
I start studying the runes and quickly find the same gathering rune that was used in the charging box. The gathering rune leads to another regulator that matches the previous magic tools before connecting to a new rune.
As the mana passes through the new rune, it takes on the properties of earth mana. I know a fire and frost rune can conjure a flame or chill the surroundings; I wonder what an earth rune does by itself?
I make a mental note that I need to test the rune when I’m able to.
I follow the converted earth mana into the final rune.
The line channeling the earth mana is connected to the triangle with the star shape in it. One more line comes out of the rune and stretches across the knife's edge. It's the mana leaking out of that line that produces the glow on the knifes edge.
Kervin said the knife had a sharpening enchantment on it, but looking at it with my mana sense, I don't think that's accurate.
The enchantment isn’t sharpening the blade; it's merely strengthening the already sharpened edge. The knife is decently crafted, and someone put real effort into honing it, but the enchantment is only protecting the knifes edge.
If the knife were used without the enchantment activated, it would dull like any other knife. And once the blade is dulled, the enchantment would be worthless. Strengthening a dull knife won't help you cut any better.
I soon notice another flaw in its design. If the knife becomes dull and needs to be sharpened, won't the enchantment line along the blade's edge be worn away?
I don't know if you can modify an existing rune. You can draw a new line across the freshly sharpened edge that would fix it if you can. But if you can't, the knife is reduced to a simple tool with scribbles etched onto it. I’ll need to warn mother not to use the knife unless its enchantment is activated.
I decide to make a quick carving of the knife’s enchantment to compare with the water purifier later.
Now I need to see how the two magical tools work with each other.
I slip the knife back into its charging box and start injecting my mana. I watch, fascinated by what happens.
The charging box takes in my mana and stores it in its last rune. The knife's blade tip rests up against the rune holding all the mana.
Even though they aren't connected directly, the mana inside the battery rune is drawn out by the knife's gathering rune. Part of the mana is lost, but the knifes enchantment activates as it should.
The charging cube doesn't do anything meaningful by itself but acts as an extension on the knife's enchantment. Maybe different items can hold segments of enchantments that only work when they’re placed together?
I look over the many wood carvings scattered across my bed. I learned nine new runes from the magic tools bringing my runic library up to 11.
The only tool I still need to look at is master’s pickaxe. I’m confident I won’t break it; I just hope he doesn’t consider the runes as Stone Kin secrets.
After looking at the five tools' finer details, I think two people are responsible for making all of them. The style of the runes inside the fire and cold box were too similar to be a coincidence. Also, a lot of the fake lines were used in a similar fashion to hide the runes' structures.
The other three tools are much more complex and obviously made by someone with more skill. If all of them were made in Drey than these might be the work of a local enchanter and their apprentice.
I gather up everything I can fit in my arms and carry it out of my room. I walk down our hallway and into our living space. I set my wood carvings on the table before putting the water purifier next to our water barrel and the knife and charging cube back on the kitchen counter.
“Are you finished practicing, sweety?” Mother asks from her sewing station.
"Not yet, I still need to copy everything to parchment," I explain to mother as I approach her.
"And you're going to draw out here." Mother already knows my plan. She fiddles in the cupboard she keeps all her supplies in and hands me a small stack of parchment along with some ink and a quill.
"You need to start buying your own parchment and ink if you're going to be drawing on a regular basis." Mother knows how much I'm making from selling my goods to Kervin and that I can afford it.
“I’ll order some from Kervin when he returns. I’ll make sure to replace everything I use,” I assure mother.
“It isn’t that big of a deal. I just can’t have you using up all of it in case we need to write to your brother."
“I understand,” I say as I move over to our table.
I shift in my seat until I feel comfortable. It will take me a few hours to copy the runes onto the parchment. I need each rune to be perfect, so I don’t have to reexamine each magic tool in the future.
I dip my quill into the inkpot and wipe the excess ink on its rim. When I have some free coin, I need to ask Kervin if he can get me a better writing tool.
He should be back in another two weeks. He must be in Teeburn by now. I wonder if the arrows I made were good enough for the army?
I quickly banish any negative thoughts from my mind. I'll worry about it later; right now, every bit of my focus goes into my drawing.
I settle into my own little world and start copying each rune onto the parchment in front of me.
**********
Kervin’s Point of View:
I try to pick out the small changes in Teeburn’s surroundings as I guide my bivol towards the army’s trading clearing. If you look closely, you can see the city slowly coming back to life. It’s been less than a month since I was last here, and the number of inns has multiplied.
"Gods, your beasts are slow, can't you prod them a little harder?" A whiny voice interrupts my sightseeing. I turn and look at the culprit.
"They're moving fine. If you want the cart to move faster, you can help them pull." I scowl at our new companion.
“I’m just saying, you should ask headquarters for a pair of their finest bulls now that you’ve been promoted.” Reel continues to complain.
I ignore his protests. He’s been complaining about their speed since he joined us in Drey. I would fire him if I could; sadly, we all know why he’s here with us. He had a note signed by the boss himself informing me he was to join my guards.
He told me he would follow my orders, but I take everything he says with a grain of salt. It’s obvious he’s here to watch me and gather information for Giovanni.
Behind his annoyed façade is a dangerous man. Lurte and Ryiba both agree he's stronger than them. More than once, he's vanished into thin air, only reappearing twenty minutes later saying he had to take a leak. The two daggers at his side are hidden in plain-looking sheaths, but when goblins attacked us on the road, we noticed they were enchanted.
What's disturbing the most is how plain he appears. Light brown hair, green eyes, no distinguishing features on his face, even his bone structure is so common you wouldn't look twice at him if you passed him on the road.
“Maybe in a few months. I want to see how the business with the army pans out before I ask headquarters for anything.” I tell him, knowing anything I might say might be reported to the boss.
“Fine, it’s your decision. Are we almost there yet?" All three of us glare at him, but he pretends not to notice.
I chose not to dignify him with an answer. The clearing the army is buying goods in is just up ahead.
The familiar clearing comes into view, and we're immediately flagged to an open spot by a soldier with a clipboard. Knowing what he’s going to ask of me, I hold out my Silver Heard plate. “Kervin, from Silver Herd Trading Company. I was told to ask for Captain Nathanael?”
The soldier looks at my plate before looking up at me with surprise. “Mr. Kervin, we aren’t expecting you for another week. Wait here while I grab the captain.” The man says as soon as he hands me my plate back.
"Wow, didn't know you were such an important guy." Reel laughs, aware of how uncomfortable I am. The last time I was here, I encountered many problems; I would be stupid if I didn’t expect the same to happen again.
I spot Captain Nathanael approaching my cart with a big smile on his face. “You’re early,” He shouts when he notices I’m watching his approach.
I hop off of my cart and wait for him to reach my cart before I greet him. “It’s nice to see you again, Captain Nathaniel.” I lie through my teeth.
"Is it now? I would think you would be mad at me for shorting you last time you were here." He gives me a look that says my fake smile does not fool him.
"I would be lying if told you I wasn't a little disappointed after our transaction." I keep up my friendly smile, but I'm sure he knows how I'm feeling.
"As you should be," he acknowledges my disappointment. "Your goods were a blessing for the army, and the general told me to keep an eye out for your delivery." He looks around us, focusing on Reel for but a moment before addressing me again. "Follow me; we'll discuss your cargo in a more private spot."
I hop back up onto my carriage and usher my bivol to follow the captain. He leads us around the army’s wagon train, to a secluded alley between two fallen buildings.
We’re out of view from the other merchants.
I park my cart and hop down. “Lurte, Ryiba, Reel, start unloading the crates," I order them. For once, Reel does his job without any snide remarks.
I turn to Captain Nathanael, “I have 28 spears and 400 arrows. I need 80 gold for everything.” I try to get a jump on him this time and activate all my skills, ready to face the captain’s suppression.
He smiles at me, and all the hair on back of my neck stands up. “No need to rush, I already contacted an expert to meet us here to look at the arrows.”
"An expert?" I get a terrible feeling in the pit of my stomach.
“Yes, she should be here soon. She was quite happy to hear you made it back early.” There’s only one person he could be talking about!
“Talking about me, Nathanael.” Everyone jumps except for the captain as a chiding voice echoes between the buildings.
I hurriedly look for the general, but I can’t spot her. Lurte and Ryiba aren't having any luck either, but I notice Reel looking up with a concerned look on his face. I follow the direction of his gaze and finally see General Pitz standing on top of a section of a crumbling wall, looking down on us.
Her powerful eyes scan each of us, narrowing on Reel before she focuses on me. “Did you bring what I ordered?”
Before I can answer her, she vanishes from my sight. I feel a slight breeze next to me; she reappeared, standing four feet away from me!
I feel sweat start to form on my brow. “I got you the best arrows my blacksmith could make.” I nervously reply.
"Is that so; how many did you bring me?" I feel like I'm being interrogated under her piercing eyes.
"400 Lady Pitz," I quickly respond.
“And 28 more spears,” Nathanael says from the side.
“Let’s take a look at them then.” The general walks past me as I struggle to stand on my weak knees.
She walks over to a crate Lurte just placed on the ground. He offers her a crowbar, but she uses her bare hands to rip the lid off with her incredible strength.
With her back to me, she reaches inside the crate and removes an arrow.
“What is this?” She asks without turning around. Lurte, who can see her expression, looks like the life is being drained from him.
"Is something the matter?" I ask. My heart feels like it's about to burst from my chest.
She turns around, facing the rest of us. In her hands is an arrow shaft…
… just an arrow shaft. Did Aaliyah sell me faulty goods?!
Oh gods, because of our fight, I forgot to check the arrows! We headed straight here, and this is the first time we opened the crates!
“There must be some mistake,” I stammer.
“I’m curious how you plan to explain yourself?” The general slowly walks towards me with the arrow shaft in hand. I feel like the Goddess Ebeon is coming to collect my soul.
“It must be a bad batch!” My excuse sounds pathetic even to me; the rage on her faces only intensifies.
I don't have time to think of a better excuse, so I double down. "Check the rest of the crates! I'm sure the others are fine!"
Sensing the impending doom, my three bodyguards use crowbars to start prying off the lids of the crates. The general casts a sidelong glance at them and watches Reel remove another lid.
When his expression drops even further, I start praying for a miracle. He holds up yet another unfinished arrow for everyone to see.
"It looks like you and your blacksmith had a falling out. It’s quite a shame.” Bloodlust washes over me with each of her words.
She starts walking towards me again.
I start to make peace with my life once she's within armlength. She raises her hand and…
“Arrowheads!”
Her open hand freezes inches before they’re about to grab my neck.
She tuns towards Ryiba, who's standing over an open crate. She starts walking towards him, and my legs give out from under me.
Sitting on my knees, shaking, I watch her stand over the open crate. She reaches down and removes a shiny arrowhead from the box. It looks flatter than the arrows I usually see sold by blacksmiths and has a weird triangle design.
(Helix arrowhead sold by Strickland’s archery.)
"What do we have here?" The general asks curiously. Her bloodlust vanishes as she looks from the arrow shaft in her left hand to the arrowhead in her right one.
We watch in suspense as she examines each in great detail. She pays special attention to the base of the arrowhead before looking at the arrow shaft again.
“I get it now,” She says to herself.
She holds the arrowhead to the shaft and starts twisting it. The two pieces fit together perfectly. She glances at the other crates and walks over to one that hasn’t been opened yet.
She places the arrow in her hands in her quiver and rips open the crate with brute strength.
I manage to get back to my feet and start to walk closer to everyone else. I begin to sway, but a strong arm wraps around me, helping me stand.
I look to my side to see Nathanael helping me closer to the crates.
As we approach, I can see inside the crate she just opened. A different type of arrowhead than the one Ryiba found was in there. Aaliyah made two types of arrowheads for the army. The second type of arrowhead has three sides to it made from solid steel.
“What a clever design! Look at this Nathanael,” General Pitz redraws the arrow from her quiver and holds it up for us to see. "The arrowheads twist into the arrow shaft so that you can change them out." She says with an excited smile. You couldn't tell she was just about to kill me.
“It’s quite interesting, Miss Emily. But is the composition to your requirements?" Holding me up, the captain smoothly directs one of the strongest people in Olebert.
"Always to the point, Nathanael." She smiles before staring at the arrow one more time. Her smile grows wider the longer she looks at it. I can't tell if she's using a skill to examine it or if she's just that knowledgeable.
“Your blacksmith didn’t disappoint; you should introduce her to me.”
“I’m glad you’re happy with the product. She should be making more for you as we speak.” I try to ignore the carnivorous look she’s giving me and deflect her question. “Do you have any specific requests for her, anything she needs to change?”
General Pitz laughs like she just heard a good joke. “Good job underappreciating her work yet again. You should be happy I don’t have the time to find her and steal her from you.”
I'm shocked at her words. "Let me tell you what you brought me," She holds the arrow up to her eye level. "This arrow is quality steel mixed with some sort of wind nature magic beast parts. Not only does the material have a good magic conductivity, but its internal structure is perfect for channeling magic. Do you see where the arrowhead and shaft are connected? She forged both materials, so their internal magic matrices align perfectly when the arrowhead is screwed in. Not even my houses best blacksmith could replicate this if I asked him to; these arrows are unique. With basic ingredients, she forged arrows good enough for a level 75 archer."
I can’t believe what she just told me.
“You asked me if I have a request?” The general gives me an almost manic look. “Tell her I want the best arrow she can make me with 10 gold coins. I want her very best!”
She looks at Nathanael, "I want these delivered to the fort immediately." She moves back to the crate, and with lightning-fast movements, assembles twenty more arrows. With her quiver full, she pushes off of the ground and soars into the distance.
"Let's set you down." Now that his general is gone, Nathaniel moves me up against my cart. He fishes a note out of his pocket that looks like the one he gave me last time I was here.
"You said 80 gold, correct? I'm sure you're aware of where you need to cash it." I watch, slack-jawed, as he scribbles on the parchment.
“Wait, that isn’t…”
“What your goods were worth?" He cuts me off. "I was surprised by the general's assessment, as well. It's a shame you already gave me a price, and I know no self-respecting Silver Herd merchant would renegotiate after their price was accepted." The old man has a sly smile plastered across his face.
He whistles, and five soldiers quickly rush over to my cart. With a few hand signals, they're moving the crates of arrows and the spears out of sight.
"I hope you understand why I can't stay longer. I'll be waiting for your return, Mr. Kervin." He gives me a friendly salute and walks away.
I slam my hand up against my cart. It happened again!
Damn it, Aaliyah. You couldn’t warn me about your new design!
I sigh out loud. It's not entirely her fault. I never checked the arrows she sold me, and I was too quick to offer that crafty bastard a price.
To make matters worse, I’m sure Reel will report this to Giovanni.
I need to get back to Drey and hope they were able to gather the materials I ordered. I need to get back to Aaliyah and discuss the general's request.
I look up at the conflicting sky. Dark snow clouds are hovering overhead, but it’s so hot it feels like we’re in the middle of summer. We won’t rest in the city tonight; we'll hit the road as soon as I collect my coin from the barracks.
I hop onto my cart as soon as the soldiers finish removing everything.
I swear, the next time I come here, I'm asking for triple whatever I think I should quote them.
I never thought I could be this mad after earning 80 gold coins. Why would Giovanni want to work with the army in the first place!
I steer my bivol out of the clearing, ready to leave this cursed city.
*********
General Emily Pitz Point of View:
I watch Kervin, and his bodyguards leave the clearing from my hiding place, watching the young man retreat with a fire in his eyes.
That fire will drive him further, Nathanael will have to be careful when he returns with the next order.
I push off the ground with my powerful legs, and the world becomes slower in my eyes as my body moves with incredible speed. I stop directly next to Nathanael.
He notices me out of the corner of his eye and doesn't look perturbed by my sudden appearance. “What do you think, my lady?”
"His new bodyguard is definitely a spy," I confirm his suspicions.
"I thought so; I already sent a message to Silver Herd asking for confirmation that he's theirs. If they don't acknowledge his existence or say he's not theirs, I'll have him dealt with if he's stupid enough to return."
I smile at Nathanael. "I doubt it will come to that. I can tell by Kervin’s body language that he despises the man but has resigned himself to put up with it. The only reason he would be acting like that would be if he received orders from his company telling him to do so.”
The two of us watch the entrance of the clearing, seeing cart after cart being shuffled around.
“How long before you can have the goods ready to be transported?” I ask Nathanael.
“My men are preparing as we speak. The cart should be ready in five minutes.”
"That's good; we need those arrows."
“Is Scholl recovering faster than you expected, my lady?”
“No, but that was never my worry. We’ve been fighting them for months now and have continuously driven them back despite our numbers. It’s only a matter of time before they send someone to counter me.”
“You need more suppliers before they come, then.”
“I’m happy I don’t have to explain myself to you. This will be the last time I leave the fort before our reinforcements arrive," I solemnly tell him.
“We were lucky you were able to cripple their army as you have. Who knows, maybe the arrow you commissioned will be strong enough to handle your skills and your worrying is for naught.” Nathanael playfully laughs.
"I'm not getting my hopes up. The blacksmith can do wonders with magic conductivity, but I doubt her skills are high enough for what I require. If she can create an arrow that can withstand my bow’s force without any of my skills, it will be a miracle."
“I’m sure she’ll be happy for the challenge and the chance to work with premium materials.”
"Happier than Kervin, I imagine. I thought I told you to give him a good price?" I give my subordinate a questioning look.
“He already gave me a good price before you got here, my lady. What would you have me do, renege on such an offer? We don’t have the luxury to do that.” Nathanael’s playful look becomes serious.
“How bad is it?” I ask in a low tone.
"Our treasury is running low. I told everyone to be stricter with their negotiating, but we can only stretch our reserves so far. I sent word to the local lords again, but I suspect their willingness to help us is fading.” He says with a scowl.
“Use my name if you have to. We need to be ready for Scholl’s retaliation.”
“It will be done, my lady.”
“I trust you to handle it, Nathanael. I have to return to the fort; I leave everything in your capable hands.”
“My lady,” Nathanael salutes me.
I nod my head in farewell. I activate my movement skills and launch myself back towards the fort, back towards the battle.”
**********
Author’s Notes:
6,150 words.
Longer than the last one, and I took the time to make the runes because describing drawings is hard. Thanks to the pull, I decided to try and make sure Aaliyah has a part in every chapter like this one.
Hope you enjoyed the chapter and as always, stay safe.
Comments
Jon Oliphant
Well that was fun, IIRC Kevin bought the arrows for 30 Gold, he's got nothing to complain about. He should remember an old saying "Bulls make money. Bears make money. Pigs make s#!t"
Manuel de Melo
I really enjoy these chapters with multiple perspectives. It makes it feel like the world is expanding... just that little bit. It feels like growth, which is good.
Łukasz Gajewski
this novel is one of my favorites now, i really like crafting and slice of life aspect of it. But i have a question about MC value as high lvl crafter. I understand that she is very much appreciated because she is so young and shes getting better and better at a rapid pace but arent there better (older with better materials) crafters that can make arrows for General Emily?
Garend
Pictures are gone. I hope you had them backed up somewhere...
Clay smith
Same bro same
David
I have been refreshing this page all day looking for a new chapter. I may have a problem...
Håkan Friberg
I think the pictures are nice but perhaps not that needed? I mean, the concept is established, now the experience of learning new things is what's interesting! I like how she sat down and tinkered with the devices and the whole process, just for me the pictures is not that necessary. I don't need to know how it looks to enjoy it, no need to further describe with words or pictures in to much detail - especially if you find it's kinda hard to get it right! Thanks for the story so far
Ninetails
looking at the webpages source code, they have lost the reference to any actual image, as is just placeholders that effectively say "here is an image of this size".
Alex C
Huh, the pictures were loading right into the app before and now they aren't.
Alteron
I think that mithril is to fragile, what about a slice of mithril working like a circuit board in the middle of the blade?
Toni Pampliega
I think that the true engraving should be done with mithril alone, cas is the metal best suited to mana conductivity (as far as we know). The impossibility to manipulate correctly it creates a situation where people use alternative ways to do it. The ink it's just a media to an aim developed by minor enchanters in the pursuit of generate enchants, that are spells incribed, basically. A kind of language for the magic. In the future, I think that Aaliyah will develop a telekinessis / mana manipulation that alows her to put the mithril directly on the channels of the engraving or heating it in the forge. Another crazy idea, would be, cas mithril reacts to mana so heavily and other material (it fuses), that a stone kin without magic could manipulate it throw mechanical ways, developing the Mithril Rune Blacksmith skill. Haha. I just have fun throwing crazy ideas. Do you picture a sword engraved with mithril alone ? It would be beatiful. Maybe for higher enchanment it would be necessary. But in that level i think more of an 'imprint' must be done for a powerful effect, that will create the 3D - multiple dimensions enchants? The enchant would be the focus where is anchored, displaying it when mana is inserted.
Stephen Pearson
She hasn't yet shown any indication of that level of fine control with manipulating mana into shapes. I think that's something she'll grow into, but just think how hard pretty coarse-grained manipulation was for her mana skin. You could argue that it's indicated by the results of her magic smithing, but that seems to mostly be straightening out mana channels / matrix, as part of the skill. Never once (so far) has it been mentioned that she's even attempted to do something like draw with pure mana, that seems to be some next-level control:-)
Scott
Right there with you, lol.
Alteron
Well the pen seems to help her concentrate her mana, but with her high skills she could probably do without, that opens the possibility of her applying the whole rune in one go, she would still need to add the ink.
Stephen Pearson
Man, I need to get it through my head that Patreon and RoyalRoadL are totally disconnected release-wise. Every time I see Magic-Smithing on rrl, I freeze and excitedly jump to Patreon, then say "d'oh!" and go about my business, just slightly sadder:-(
Håvard
or it could have been an late Sunday/Monday chapter :) I am more in the area of, it's been 4 days start hoping there is anything up when I get up in the morning (Most posts are when I am sleeping. So another 2 days or something there about.
Robert Mullins
So, was the Tuesday chapter an early Thursday chapter or a bonus chapter?
Some random dude
Had to go back to chapter 22.5 because i thought the same thing. The arrows from the stonekin cost the general 5 Large gold coins, so 50 gold.
darkchimere
''5 large gold coins '' and for Aeliya 10 gold .
ZCochraine!%
Or if she can make a chain whip and have rune act with each link in the chain, make a mono-whip too. If he can apply the cutting effect or link to a mana feild, make a lightsaber.
D
Just re-read the chapter because i liked it that much. I had a second thought when i did and read the part about the blade edge protection rune: Dosnt that mean she can create mono-molecular edges like those in shadowrun? That would make her future blades pretty terrifying. O.o
Matt S.
I'm a bit split on this point actually. On one hand it makes sense to ask for a more specific arrow, on the other hand this is a test for what a new crafter with highly innovative ideas will come up with given a large budget. I think Del probably knows enough about the characteristics of very high level people with insane strength stats from his home to know the rough requirement for an arrow commissioned by the strongest archer of the empire.
Matt S.
Can't wait for Emily to snatch up Aaliyah from the merchants. Kervin's behavior is really grating. Del's opposition to how traders treat crafters seems well founded. Also can't wait for some more world building about why Scholl is even attacking the empire. I'm hoping for a war of aggression and not just Aaliyah's home kingdom being secretly super evil. Would be nice to learn something about the geopolitical situation. In that regard I'm really looking forward to her brother and the mayor's daughter to come back, they must be much better informed about what's going on living in Drey. Lot's of things I'm looking forward to with this story! 😅
Nobody
Arrow heads from the middle ages are almost a forgotten technology. Aside from the basic broad head and armor piercing military varieties there are smaller game heads and some we don't even know the use of anymore. Like the crescent head, which has been theorized as everything from an easily recoverable variety that sticks up when it lands to some kind of psychological warfare thing that whistles through the air when made right.
Alteron
It would make sense that Kervin buys some expensive materials for the special arrow, if he wants her to succeed.
It'sATap
She's obviously hoping that the blacksmith can use more expensive and better materials than the stonekin usually do to achieve similar results. She doesn't expect some new smith to be able to make something on stonekin level for the same price and she needs quality so she is willing to pay double.
ClapTrapCL4TP
Aliya should ask for some bow lessons when they meet. I'd have also like to hear the generals inner thoughts on the arrow heads
D
Love the chapter. :) It gives a great feel when you see aliya do her thing while in the other pov's the world is in a rush and buzzing around. Gives a great contrast. Poor kevin, if he has to tell her that she needs to make a single arrow for 10 gold, he also needs to explain that her arrows where far to good, again. He cant keep shortchanging her if he does. x)) Emily is great. I thought first she would test the arrows she took with her, but when she said that she feared the arrow for 10 gold would maybe only withstand her bow without skills, those for a lvl75 archer cant do much. That reminds me, wherent those special arrows she got from the stone kin worth 5 gold? Why would she ask for the best arrow aliya could make for a price of 10 gold? I mean she thinks that arrow can only withstand her bow without skills, why ask for it and pay double the price of her priced special arrows? Also, id love to see if aliya can make emily drop her yaw. It would be so refreshing to see the general getting her jaw dropped when she recives an arrow that would be above her own level of archery. x)))
wellwish3r
I just want to chime in and agree with everyone else that the General really should specify some basics about the 10G arrow.
RaGNORAK
The General offering 10G for a single arrow is also a bit weird. She cribs about spending 5G for an arrow created by stone kin in ch 22.5, I don't think she'd go double that offer for an arrow that she can't even use in the middle of a war with finances being tight. Doesn't add up. Maybe 2G would be better? And it makes more sense to provide some specification at least, using a particular material or being able to withstand a strength stat or something.
Bobtur
Kervin not checking the crates might be explained by the fact that he rushed to the fort to get his money, and the short time Aaliyah had to make his order. But yeah, that’s quite unlikely to happen.
carebear90
You said it... "professional". Kervin just demonstrated again, that he is anything but professional. He's an incompetent scamming peddler that ended up cheating and lucking his way into beeing a military contractor. I don't see that ending well.
carebear90
Honestly... I'd be surprised if he wouldn't fuck this one up too. ^^
carebear90
He made money by ripping off poor villagers who hadn't had any other choice than to take his prices because there was no consistent competition. That's demonstrated nicely by his high level but generally lacking skill levels. He raked in tons of trading xp over the years by scamming his customers when he could get away with it and so didn't really exercise his skills. And he even was a week early... He'd have all the time in the world to at least check the goods himself. Beeing nagged by his boss' watchdog to hurry up or not, that is the bare minimum he should do with absolutely every product he ever sells. He's a merchant, not a courier... -.- But no... why work a bit more, when you have a golden goose in Backwater Bumblefuck who is basically printing you money? Doesn't matter, that you're allready on thin ice with her. She's still laying eggs for you so it must be fine, right? And of course it is her fault, for not telling you, what she made... -.- But this is what happens, when a barely competent overconfident dishonest peddler get's promoted to basically military contractor without even orientation week. He fucks up... badly. And it doesn't look like he's learned a thing out of it yet.
Endoria
It is completely unbelievable that a professional merchant would buy and transport goods without checking them. I think you should fix that and remove the silly "I am such a scared little merchant" interlude
DevilAreBack
I would imagine that such stamps would be incredibly pricy. They would have to work like a engraving pen, which means they have to be made out of mithril and the gem on top would have to be the form of the rune. And that for every single rune. a mastersmith like her master can barely make a decent pen. You would have to be an absolute blacksmithing expert to make those stamps.
Freddie
I think you should add some sort of armor-piercing arrowhead to the mix. Both arrowheads at the moment look like they were made for hunting. Meaning they are good at doing great damage to soft targets, but their penetration against harder targets should be lacking.
Max Scherer
Need more! Love your story and its finally getting really intersting, with the war heating up and all that.
Mr Ove
Love the chapter I think the flow was good but the 10gold arrow she should have at least said what sorta force her bow uses or something the 10 gold best arrow you can make isn’t very helpful.
Hunendora
Does Aaliyah even have the materials to make 1 arrow worth 10 gold? The General definitely needs to provide some guidelines on what she wants. Someone telling me they want a 10 gold arrow might end up with a gold encrusted with diamonds monstrosity.
Markus
Yeah, its time he grows a spine.
Jonathan Seah
That 10 gold for a single arrow. Kervin better do his research and get her some premium materials.
Jonathan Seah
The knife wears down remember? This way you can make a new knife but keep the box.
Vyktor
Thank you for the chapter, it was really interesting and fun to read. It may be interesting to have the general give a more detailed order, like a rough estimation of her strength stats to give an idea of her need, or some materials to use (like the ones her precedent arrows where made from? 🤔) Just saying "a 10g arrow" don't explain anything, and the materials can be completely wrong (normally it wouldn't, since she craft arrows and bows and should know at last a little what and how to use the materials 😅)
tibbish
Probably a matching set of dies she'd have to make beforehand but hypothetically due to magic letting her cheat its possible she could've freehanded it which would be impossible for a regular ol' human smith
Deinos
I honestly don't understand Kervin. It's like he's a complete amateur at the Merchant business. No, worse he keeps repeating the same bs without learning from it. After the first time I would've expected him to get a full account from the blacksmith herself on her product, followed by an appraiser or two, depending on their specialty. A merchant who doesn't know his own product and the economy of his surroundings over or under-prices their stuff at best and looks completely incompetent at worst. Yes, he was under a lot of pressure and yes, a lot of things happened somewhat quickly. But on the other hand he has nothing better to do than be annoyed by some addition to his travel companions instead of thinking things through when he has the time? Makes me wonder how he ever made money, especially so with his last thoughts of "I'll ask for triple"- like an incorrigible buffoon.
tibbish
NUKE ARROW INCOMING!!!
ab
How she create matching threads on shaft and arrowhead?
Joseph
If all the items having gathering runes then what is the point of the charging box? Why not just charge the knives directly like everything else?
Ato
I'm starting to really dislike Kervin, he's been only fucking up
Ato
but... why would she do that? with her knowledge she can make a compound bow, which is like, miles better than an "instant legolas", the instant legolas is only really useful if the user got no clue how to use a bow properly
Michael Buchler
Loved the chapter. Keep up the good work!
tibbish
Yup, those arrow heads are good or great for soft tissue damage but on armor they'll bounce off or shatter. Also would agree that the general would've requested specific arrowheads. Del would've pointed out to her as well that those arrowheads wouldn't be good for armor and told her to make bodkins as well. Of course we haven't had the attacking army well described to us yet and its possible they're formed up like a early Medevial/late Dark Ages army* where most people either aren't armored or only have a few bits of it with simple wood shields as defenses. Then those arrow heads would still work quite well indeed!! *metal armor, especially full plate/mail, was rare (due to terribly high costs) all the way up until the late Medevial/early Renaissance period, typically only the very wealthy or lords had it, your average spearman or whatever only had a gambeson or a shoddy piece of leather for most of human history as armor
tibbish
"The runes are small enough that my eyes can't make out the fine details of the structure." This is great news!! Features that are so small that your eyes can barely see them means those runes were either etched with a stamping/printing tool of sorts OR there is a magic skill(s) that let you do micro etching or shrink what you've already made. Either which way this means Aaliyah will eventually be able to really manufacture stuff. Of course I hope a 'printing' or stamp like method works though. That would be by FAR the easiest and fastest way and she can make the stamps up herself to do it. Just remembered that while stamps might be workable something that would be easier and quick while working with her current type of pen would be a pantograph or polygraph! Thomas Jefferson made one with just some levers back in the early 1800's. So totally doable by our MC.
Carl Mason
Great chapter, love the runes, love Aaliyah's redesign of the arrows. Kervin needs to stop shooting himself in the foot with undervaluing his product. He really needs to resolve himself to earning and training an appraisal skill. I am so looking forward to seeing what she comes up with for the Omega Arrow. I hate to say it, but commissions usually work best when the creator and the client work directly together, not through a third-party/middleman. How is she going to know how strong to make the arrow if she doesn't know how strong the arrow has to be?ow
Andrew
Thank you!
Thundermike00
Great, keep up the good work. I wish you could do a couple more a week.
Alteron
Thanks for the chapter. I really enjoyed it. Looking forward to enchanting and smithing to come.
Tera
While that is not really 'smithing' it might be worth pursuing, as the fiber could work as a mana-channel inside the arrow itself ( only onedirectional not as a net but still)
Tera
Thank you for the chapter!!!! I found the pictures all very good for immersion & seeing what you where thinking about when writing about it. (Personally I thought there would be a screwdriver ( like a helix ) arrowhead but kinda miss understood it in the past, it seems) It's nice to still have the other PoV's, still I'd like to impose to mention 'I really liked the whole chapter by chapter PoV-thing' it's just really good for the world building, also harder for you to keep it all under control (prices/who thinks which way/who knows how much/...) But soo good for world building 😍🤠☺️
Robert Mullins
Perhaps just me but I never got the impression she actually intended to do more than intimidate him.
mythic
Thanks for the chapter! I wonder if the durability rune will work with the arrow, or if it’s only going to be based on higher tier materials.
Loyal Patreon follower
The general almost killimg Kervin really didnt make sense to me,i get she would be dissapointed and angry but, killing a merchant from a famous company?Also, where are the other strong people from both countries, scrathing their balls? i thought Pitz was the number 8, that means 7 others should be stronger and none are engaging in battle... I really enjoyed the chapter but consistency is important in a story :) edit: i get some of the replies, but still my point was that the author should explain exactly why: -There is only one front in the war -A GOOD explanation on to why there are only 2 High leveled people involved in the war so far, no mindbending BS or lighthearted "they were busy" -Why the follow up to the atack has been slow, it feels more like a border conflict than a war -Where the money is coming from, WHY ISNT THE CROWN FUNDING THE WAR??? why is the local lord in charge? Does that mean the military isnt centrilized? It begs many questions @Kosnik4
Scott
Agreed, she could make an arrow with superior mana conductivity, not knowing that spine strength is even an issue.
Comiak
The tri-bladed arrow heads are good for making hard to stitch wounds. the other arrowhead is not the best war arrowhead. instead you should looking into ones like the needle bodkin which were designed to be more armor piercing, or maybe I have that mixed with another type. Anyway I feel like the general should have at least requested more war specialized arrowheads.
Scott
Aaliyah should make a bow and an Instant Legolas for it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6-UotZevrs&t=1531s Joerg Sprave has some neat stuff.
Milandaanza
She’s trusting Kervin whose screwing up imo. He’s being scammed but she knows nothing about it. I think she will be annoyed in the future tho but she’s also likely sacrificing potential profit to stay home and unnoticed
RanaSuilep
Another chapter where it is even more clear the MC is being scammed so hard. She got 30 GP, Kervin sold it for 80 GP, and it was worth more than that, let's say at the very least 100 GP, but probably around 120 GP. So between 30% and 25% she was paid the final value of her goods. This is better than before, but it is still ridiculous. Kervin spent 2 weeks driving a cart and got paid 50 GP and was a poor enough trader to lose out on another 20 to 40 GP. This level of ignorance and stupidity is just....exasperating. The MC must have mentally damaged herself with her soul skills for this to make any sense on why she doesn't care about the money. Perhaps the fumes from the metals are acting like drugs and killing her brain. Or perhaps a collective brain parasite since her family and master all seem to be suffering from sort of collective delusion.
Seadrake
“I’m happy you’re happy with the product. Sounds better “I’m glad you’re happy with the product. Two happies just sound weird
Milandaanza
Put them in the authors notes imo. I liked seeing the designs but they cut a bit into the chapter.
Milandaanza
I find it fascinating that arrows can’t stand up to her Normal archery. That says a lot of things and I can’t wait to see what kind of arrow Aaliyah makes. I also think post war the general is heading to her directly eeesh
Obran
So is Aaliyah about to introduce carbon fiber to medieval times to make that 10gp arrow?
mmarkgraf212
Honestly, I think the designs should be left out. Leave it up to the reader's imagination. Other than that I enjoyed the chapter.
Scyfe
Thanks for the chapter, I rather enjoy how the fleshed out the enchanting is and the learning process. Looking forward to seeing how good of an arrow Aaliyah is able to make.
Worldknower
I think the first part of the chapter with the runes was a bit long. Its very hard to be interested in "made" up runes when reading a story. Adding the pictures was a nice touch, but i think going that indepth was a bit too much. In my opinion atleast.
Alternative Facet
One comment: the kind of specialized order that Gen. Pitz is making typically has requirements. For example, must be X size/weight, be able to withstand Y force, be able to contain Z mana. If she doesn't know exact units, the units don't exist (I don't remember if there's an in-setting magic unit), or she doesn't want to share them (they might expose her abilities), she can just say to maximize mana capacity. "Best" depends on the intended purpose, so I would personally send such a request back to get more specifics. EDIT: forgot to say that I loved the chapter. I'm very hyped for what's coming.
Cerber
Tbh i am quite impatient now. I want to see our Aaliyah travel outside her village real soon, but i want your world to be big and properly expanded. Like how you use shitton of steps and time to make a proper ramen dish. Thx for the chapter and keep up the good work!
Miritar
Thanks for the chapter. I really enjoy these mixed chapters. Any period of time without Aaliyah is a dark time haha.
Robert Mullins
Hey Kosnik4, I think your solution for povs is very reasonable. I myself, and probably many of the others that voted for less alternative-POV chapters, should be able to work with this as it scratches the itch of watching Aaliyah progress. Assuming Aaliyah's povs are not neglible anyways.
Miritar
yeh, she should have requested a Strength stat range to better tailor the arrows for the General.
Cerber
I agree making screws should be quite the issue to make, but then again. Magic and skills. Most modern production methods can most likely be replicated by high enough magic and skill level. The fact that our heroine is quite flexible with her mind is a huge help as well. For that i am willing to gloss over it.
Stephen Pearson
Thanks for the chapter!
Darastrix
Mr author u should look into the difficulty in making screws in medieval times, it was done but does our MC have the necessary skill for it? Also are we getting another chapter this week and when is the predicted time if we are?
Kosnik4
Corrections
Nick
Thanks for the chapter. With regards to the arrow heads, hands you got any planned for going through armour? Or how about a new bow for the general?
David
I was right, only 23 hours of F5
