Well, we got sent some cannabis oil rum, gin and chocolate today to taste test. Had to do a few searches to even make sure it was legal, but turns out it is in certain doses, etc. I'll took one of the rum bottles home for myself but let the other staff pick over the other things and taste test the chocolate.
You get interesting things sent through every now and then (when you're not getting utter crap) like some of the WORST books imaginable to review. I have a book on my work desk which is literally a book reviewing public BENCHES in a county, and going over the stories of each bench, what you can see from it and then rating the viewing experience.
I mean… come on…
Beta: College Fool
Cover: Dishwasher1910
Book 9: Chapter 7
Level fifty-three.
I'd been fifty-one all throughout the trip to the Mirage Isles and I hadn't gained a single level there – mostly because the only fighting I'd done was against a small number of pirates, Adam and Salem, none of which had actually died. I hadn't gained levels like this since Raven tortured me in the arena pits. This was a far kinder way to do it and I didn't feel the addicting rush of blood.
Two levels, though. That was a lot for a single item. I hadn't gained any Skills from it, but then Skills had always been lower in number than levels so that was expected.
"Two whole levels?" Pyrrha asked, sat opposite me in the Lodge's living quarters and with the rest of the Guild in attendance. "Is that normal?"
"Yes and no. When I made Raven's Starmetal sword, I also gained a lot of Exp in one go, and the same when I first used Vacuan Silver for Blake's daggers. I always get a bonus amount the first time I use a rare material – but I think it's rarity and level dependent. I've never made a sword out of tin before, and I've a feeling I wouldn't earn much from it despite it being a new material."
"It would make sense if it was similar to us killing Grimm," Yang said. "We get beans for killing Canis nowadays, but back when we were lower level, they were the best way to gain levels. The stronger the Grimm, the more we get, but sooner or later we're only getting Exp from the strongest. You're probably only going to get Exp from super rare metals."
"Of which Ironwood must be the rarest on Remnant," Ren concluded. "Not including the Starmetal itself, which came from off Remnant." The Monk tapped his fingers on the armrest of his chair. "I think this is something you should explore more."
"What's to explore?"
Ren chuckled and bowed his head. "My apologies. When I said `explore` I meant `abuse as hard as you can`."
"I agree." Blake leaned forward, eyes glinting hungrily. "We're all of us out there trying to find the one trick that will defeat Salem and it's becoming clear we don't have it. All of us are combat-based Hero Classes. No matter how strong we get, we're still limited to solving problems by hitting them as hard as we can, and unfortunately, Salem hits harder."
"I don't know, a level five-hundred Assassin seems to be just what we need."
"We're not going to get that. But we could get a level five-hundred Blacksmith. Or not that high," she said when I opened my mouth to point out the obvious. "But even assuming you gain one level for every two Ironwood swords you create; you could probably make ten a day. That's five levels per day for thirty days – bringing you up to level two-hundred."
"Take in diminishing returns," Pyrrha said, "Because Ironwood isn't going to be so rare to him once he's made a hundred swords. But Blake is right in theory – even if you couldn't get that high, you might be able to squeeze our ten, twenty, thirty or even forty levels. Even if it's only twenty, that might give you a new Skill that can be used here."
"A Skill related to Ironwood," I pointed out. "Skills are determined by Paths and if I smith for twenty levels, my Path is going to give me something solely related to working at a forge. Probably something to do with Ironwood itself if that's all I'm working with."
"Is that such a bad thing?"
"I don't know. But what happens when the man who can create it dies?"
The Guild remained silent. My point was made. While the Levels themselves might be worthwhile, any Skill relying on Ironwood was flawed. At least if Archmage Ironwood's fears were true. Even if they weren't and it remained after his death, it wasn't like it was a limitless resource. Only the amount he made would still exist.
And, of course, there was no guarantee the Skill would be of any use. It might just as easily be the ability to make my own armour and weapons grow leaves or come to some limited form of life. Living weaponry would definitely be a curiosity and sell for a lot – I could become the richest Blacksmith on Remnant – but it wasn't going to grow legs, take up arms and beat back Salem's horde.
"I still think you should try it," Blake said. "It can't hurt, and you'll gain Levels. If nothing else, you become stronger."
"Agreed." Pyrrha leaned back.
"I also agree," Ren said.
"Me too," Nora echoed.
The others were nodding along with them, leaving me to sit, the centre of attention, and question why I was so internally upset by the decision. They had a point and Levels were levels. They may not have been gained through hard work, training or heroic bouts with Grimm, but who cared at this point? I couldn't afford to be so arrogant as to turn that away.
"I'll make as many as I can in a day," I said, earning pleased smiles from each of them. "And I want to try and make you all weapons as well from them, but we'll need to keep spares in case they break."
"Doubt any of us are gonna reject that," Yang said. Even so, she looked around, and to my relief not a single person was shaking their head. "Awesome. You got enough Ironwood for that, though? Weiss' sword is a little thing, but Nora's hammer is going to take a lot."
Yang had a point.
"You callin' my hammer fat!?"
Nora… did not.
"I'll need to talk with the Archmage and see if he can spare some more." He was busy using it all to create the CCT and his Constructs, however.
"I will come with you and talk to him," Weiss said. "I may well be able to convince him."
"There. Job sorted." Yang clapped her hands together. "Other news, Ruby and I are going to be spending tomorrow with our dad. He arrived a few days before Salem did, but has been busy with the fortifications. He's got a rest day and we want to spend it with him. Anyone mind covering our chores for the day?"
"I will," Pyrrha said. Ren, Nora and Blake had also risen their hands. "Or we will. Don't worry either way, we'll make excuses for Miss Goodwitch for you both."
"Heh. Thanks. Wouldn't normally leave you all hanging but… well, you know how it is."
Taiyang Xiao-Long would be fighting on the front lines with many of the Heroes. Yang and Ruby wanted to spend as much time with him before that point as they could. I doubted there was any among us who didn't understand why.
"What of your parents, Jaune?" Ruby asked. "Don't you want to spend some time with them?"
"I would, but they haven't arrived in Vale."
No one from Ansel had, at least as far as I could tell. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried but at the same time, I knew there was nothing I could do. Ansel wasn't too far from Vale, so it was possible they'd been waiting until the last moment to evacuate and had now seen Salem's horde outside the walls. It was also possible Salem had killed them all already, but I somehow doubted that. I had a feeling she would have taunted me with it if that were the case.
"Don't worry about it. I feel safer with my family outside the walls than within."
We chatted for another hour or so, moving on from the topic of my levelling now that I'd decided to go ahead with it. I had the feeling they expected me to be against it – and they were probably right to think it. If Salem weren't here, I'd have felt bad using what felt like an unfair advantage to force my Level ahead. But I wasn't going to put them and so many others at risk now, by not using it.
When they moved on to talking about the latest rumours and gossip across Beacon, a far easier and more relaxed topic, I nudged Blake's foot with my own beneath the table.
"Your weapons are a lot smaller than Nora or Pyrrha's. Mind if I have a look at some of your knives upstairs to work from?"
Blake stared at me long and hard, eyes blinking slowly. "Sure." She stood, watching me do the same. "Excuse us," she said to the others, "I need to help Jaune with something."
"Yeah, sure." Yang winked.
Pyrrha giggled softly.
I followed Blake out the room and up the staircase, then across the landing and to her room. She opened the door and let me in, closing it behind her and locking it with a soft click. She leaned back against the door and crossed her arms.
"You've made more than enough of my knives to know them by heart. I take it there's something you wanted to talk to me about in private." Her ears flicked and then pressed flat. "Unless Yang and Pyrrha were spot on, in which case I'd say you could have been a little more patient. And I'll be making you sleep in your own room for making a scene of it."
"It's not that."
She chuckled. "Thank goodness. So, what is it?"
I looked around the room in an effort to gain some insight but Blake's room was a spartan thing; the only decoration being a few locked wooden chests, a uniform that hadn't seen use in what felt like months hung over the back of a chair, and some spare weapons on the side next to some leather armour straps, tanning solution and a maintenance kit.
She was a clean and picky person. There was a book by the bed, but she coughed meaningfully when my attention lingered on it. Her heels clicked on the wooden floor as she picked it up and stuffed it in a drawer.
I raised an eyebrow.
"Look, and you shall be sleeping alone until Salem invades. You wanted to talk, Jaune, talk. It's obviously something serious, but it surely can't be any harder than the discussions we've had already."
"You mean our arguments?"
"Bringing those up is not a good way to start."
"But you-"
"I called them discussion," Blake whispered. "Stop dwelling on it. Talk."
Blake was beginning to sound more frustrated; something I was sure was my fault. Dancing around the topic wasn't helping as much as I hoped it would. I recalled Weiss' words on trusting Blake's maturity enough to tell her the truth and not expect her to lash out or get angry at me for it.
"I think Ruby has feelings for me."
"Hah…?"
"Ruby," I said, nodding down to the ground where the living room was, then feeling stupid for it. Of course Blake knew who I was referring to. "I think – no, I know – that Ruby has romantic feelings for me. She admitted them to me."
"She admitted it…?" Blake hummed.
I nodded weakly.
"I'm surprised. I didn't think she'd come out and say it."
My jaw dropped.
"What's with that expression?" Blake frowned at me, looking side-on at me with her brows drawn down. "Did you think I'd be stupid enough not to notice her infatuation, or did you just -?" Blake paused. She watched me carefully, eyes growing wider and wider. "Wait," she whispered. "You didn't know?"
"Infatuation…?"
"I – hah! Ahah!" Blake latched a hand over her mouth and leaned forward, catching herself on the doorframe. All the tension drained away from her as she laughed helplessly into her hand. "Really?" she said, half gasp and half plea. "You never realised? I – ahah – that's… I don't know what that is. Amazing? Hilarious?" Her mirth faded a little. "Kind of sad, too, but I – ha ha – I can't say it doesn't make sense with what you're like."
Heat crept up my neck and I sat down on Blake's bed, huffing and resting one elbow on my leg, chin in hand.
Blake came over and flopped down beside me, the tense atmosphere gone as she placed a hand around my shoulders, patting the one opposite her. It took her a few seconds to gather herself, or more to disperse the laughter.
"I'm sorry," she said, not quite sounding sorry or finished with her mirth. "That was unfair of me. You probably had a lot more to focus on that noticing Ruby's feelings. Your secret, fitting in, not getting killed by Grimm. I shouldn't laugh at you."
"You shouldn't…"
"But I couldn't help it. To be fair, I'm not laughing at you for not getting it, more how serious you sounded just now. I… I guess I was expecting this to be a much worse conversation. You looked so serious I thought something bad had happened."
"Finding out Ruby likes me isn't bad?"
"No." Blake looked at me, bemused. "I mean, I've known for a while, but even if this was new, I wouldn't be upset. Should I be?"
"I don't know."
"Sun likes me," Blake said easily. "Does that upset you?"
"He does!?" I scowled.
"Okay, bad example – and down boy." She slapped my shoulder. "I politely told him I wasn't interested in Vacuo, and he hasn't asked since. My point is, it's not right to get worked up over how someone feels. It's what someone does that matters. There are times where I've wanted nothing more than to kill you for getting on my nerves. That doesn't make me a murderer. Ruby has had feelings for you for a while, as long as I can remember and certainly as long ago as that Dungeon trip you dragged me into."
That long…? That was years ago. "Why didn't she say anything?"
"Why didn't you tell us you were a Blacksmith?" Blake countered.
My words died.
"Exactly. It's not as easy as it sounds. Not to mention you started to show interest in me, so Ruby backed off." Blake shrugged. "I turned you down once or twice for her sake, but you kept pushing and she wasn't putting her hand in, so I decided to take what was on offer."
I'd never felt more like a piece of meat.
"Do you have any idea what caused it?"
"Her feelings? You'd be better asking her than me, surely? It could be that she admired you for being a Knight, then admired you for having the strength to be a Hero when you're not. Could be that she felt you were similar due to her problems, or it could just be that she was lonely, you befriended her, and it worked out. Or maybe she just has a thing for blond, blue-eyed men. It's not really my place to say why she likes you." She eyed me. "But if you only just figured it out, she must have told you."
I swallowed. "Yeah."
"You're nervous. Why? Did you agree to date her?"
"No!"
"Then you've nothing to be nervous about. I very much doubt you slept with her-"
"Absolutely not!"
"I trust you." Blake looked me in the eyes as she said that. "So, what is the problem?"
This wasn't going as I'd expected, but that wasn't a bad thing. I'd been anticipating more charged emotions and Blake was being so reasonable, so clinical, that I couldn't help but just want to say it and get it out the way. "Ruby kissed me."
I waited for anger.
"Okay. When? Was it while we were arguing and not together, or recently?"
"Recent. After the Mirage Isles."
Blake's breath rushed out her nose. "She kissed you, or you kissed her?"
"She kissed me."
"Okay." Her shoulders relaxed a little. "Then that's fine."
"It is…?"
"Did you kiss her back?"
"No. I was… I guess I was more surprised. I didn't stop her, but only because I was shocked."
"I can imagine." Blake grinned at me. "You have a tendency to do that when I kiss you as well, go all still and lost in your head. If you didn't know how she felt, I could imagine you doing the same for her. Has there been a second kiss since?" She waited for me to shake my head. "Then I'm not upset. Not at you or at her."
"Really?"
"Did you expect me to be?" Blake used the hand on the other side of my head to flick my jaw. "Remember, I've known that Ruby likes you since before you and I came together. I was expecting her to step in once we broke up. I prepared myself to let that happen and step aside, yet she never did. It doesn't surprise me that she'd want to at least show it now, even if you're not available."
"Weiss said the same."
"Weiss? You spoke to Weiss on this before me?"
I winced. "Does that make you angry…?"
"Not angry, more… surprised. I mean, Weiss? Of all people? Not Pyrrha or Ren? I can't think of someone I'd expect less patience from in matters of relationship advice than Weiss Schnee." Blake giggled. "I can't help but imagine how annoyed she must have been."
"Ha. That's fair. To be honest, she was quite brutal about it. Told me to tell you and stop making the same mistake of you and I not communicating properly."
"Hardly only our problem," Blake groused. "No need for her to act so high and mighty. But I guess she's right. And I don't have any issue with what happened, so you can stop panicking about that." She paused to watch me suddenly. "Unless you're leading into a breakup with me, in which case I'd ask you to say it right now and spare me the-"
"I'm not!" I wrapped my arms around her. "That's the last thing I want!"
"Good. Good." Blake breathed warmly over my shoulder. "That… That's good." She drew back, then tugged me down onto the bed. We fell side by side and Blake's fingers sought my own, our hands linking as we lay there.
It was as comfortable a moment as I'd had in the last few weeks. My lips didn't seek hers and she made no move to claim mine. We simply lay side by side, basking in the heat, smell and touch of the other.
"What do you want to do about her?"
"Ruby?" I asked. "I don't know what to do. Should I pretend it didn't happen?"
"That would be cruel of you after she finally worked up the courage to show you."
"Then I won't. But what can I do? I'm with you."
"You could talk to her." I had the feeling she was rolling her eyes as she parroted the same advice everyone had to give me. "Or we could talk to her. She's our friend, she's hurting and it's because of us. I think the three of us should sit down together and work things out."
"Is that wise?"
"How should I know? Do you think I've been in many love triangles before this? I can't see how it would be any worse an idea than doing nothing. Ruby isn't the type to try and break us apart, and I'm no jealous girlfriend looking to claw the eyes of a rival out. We've lived, fought and risked death together." Blake chuckled. "I think this should count as something far easier than Merlot, Tyrian or Raven ever were."
I laughed. "Yeah. I guess you're right. Tonight?"
"Not tonight," she whispered. "Tomorrow, or the day after. Soon, but… let me think on what to say. Tonight, I just want to stay like this for a little while."
My hand tightened around hers.
"Then that's what we'll do."
/-/
"Let me do the talking."
I nodded to Weiss, sealing my lips shut as we approached the CCT. The huge construct now towered up to the same height as the tallest spire in Beacon's academy. I could no longer tell if it was finished on the inside or not, because it was impossible to tell if it had a roof or had reached its intended height. From the outside, the structure appeared, even to an amateur, unnatural. The foundations weren't wide enough to support it and if it had been made of stone, the whole thing would have either tipped over or crumbled under its own weight.
Was it the metal construction that let it stay standing or, like some great tree, did the roots dig deeper underground and support it? It didn't look like a tree, but after seeing it sprout branches and leaves in my forge, I couldn't get the image out my head.
I hope the whole tower doesn't go insane when I go inside.
Outside, Mages from Atlas ringed the construction, cutting off curious students from entering. Others moved in a procession to carry tables and chairs inside. As we approached, two Mages flanked by two Heroes – a Barbarian and a Chevalier – approached. The Mage's attention swept over the both of us before dismissing me and focusing on Weiss.
"Mage," he said, inclining his head respectfully. "I enquire as to the purpose of your visit."
"I require to speak with Archmage Ironwood regarding a matter of great importance."
"Importance in what regard?"
"A task the Archmage set upon my Sentinel." Weiss gestured to me. "The Archmage's Sentinel or his personal Construct can confirm this."
"That will not be required." The Mage held out a hand to stop her. "We had been made aware of the possibility." He stepped aside, calling out, "Mage Weiss Schnee and her Sentinel to pass through. Hinder them not."
I followed Weiss as she walked by, through the ring of Mages and toward the CCT. Once we were out of earshot, I leaned close. "Sentinel?"
"Easier to let them think it. Stuffy traditionalists would not take anything a non-Mage says seriously, and even if they did, they would have only allowed you entry and rejected me. It's easier for them to accept you as my Sentinel than to accept I do not care for one."
"Your manner of speech is a little different."
"My heritage-" Weiss grimaced and spoke again, normally. "It's just the way Mages talk in Atlas. You get used to it after a while, and I've gotten used to being a lot less guarded here. Don't dwell on it. Have you sorted the Ruby issue with Blake yet?"
"We spoke on it last night."
"Colour me impressed. And here I thought the two of you were sneaking off to rut."
I let her temper go, assuming it more related to being surrounded by Atlas Mages than anything personal. She'd left for a reason and being surrounded by them again probably wasn't how she wanted to spend her day.
As we stepped through the entrance to the CCT, I found myself tensing, awaiting an explosion of emotions, reaching limbs or something more from the Ironwood. To my relief, nothing of the sort happened. The inside of the tower felt colder than the outside, but that was likely due to the currents and the lack of windows. The whole construction was solid, lit by lanterns burning softly that were in turn propped up on wooden stands rather than hung from walls.
"Do you know how to pilot a Construct, Weiss?"
"I do not. To be honest, I wasn't even aware such things existed. It's likely a talent only taught once one graduates in Atlas. It wouldn't do to let other Kingdoms learn of how such a thing works."
The bottom floor wasn't empty; it was filled with crates, boxes and other supplies. There were also several tables, at which Mages and Sentinels taking a break from the hard work of lifting drank. A metal ramp, slowly inclining, led up to a circling floor that hugged the inner wall of the tower. It spanned upward like a circular staircase, the inner `core` of the tower being hollow from top to bottom. From the inside, I could see that there was in fact a ceiling. The tower had been completed.
"Ironwood must be at the top," Weiss grumbled, making for the ramp. "Of course he'd be at the top. It couldn't be easy enough to have him waiting at the bottom for us. Or for there to be an enchanted elevation platform to ride up."
Off the first floor, the second and each floor after it were made up of the platform we walked on, which was about fifteen feet wide, and strange, oval-shaped indentations cut into the walls. They made me think of pods, and that image was reinforced by the fact that within each `pod` was a flat surface made into a bed by virtue of cushions and blankets. A person – likely a Mage – could lay on one and not have any part of their body crossing over the walkway. The pods continued on and on up the floors, with as many of them crammed onto each floor as possible.
"The Mages piloting the Constructs must rest on these," Weiss said. "Maybe it helps their attention seep into the Constructs. Still, it's such a risk. If Salem targets the tower, everyone within it will be at risk."
"I think everyone is at risk already."
"I know, and the danger here is no reason not to try and do this anyway, but it's a vulnerability." Weiss muttered and shook her head. "Never mind. I'm sure Ironwood is aware of that himself and has thought up countermeasures."
The rest of the journey was made in silence. Weiss' stamina flagged by the time we reached the top, and she held a hand on the wall, asking silently for a rest. I let her have it, knowing she wanted to be at her best when talking to the Archmage. After a few minutes to catch her breath she stood and nodded, stepping past me so that she could reach the last floor – a floor which did exist itself below the ceiling. One final ramp leading up to a metal door and a chamber suspended at the top of the tower, walled away behind Ironwood.
"Enter," a voice called.
Weiss pushed the door open. It looked heavy but opened easily, sliding across the ground without a horrifying screeching noise.
I wasn't sure what I'd been expecting of the interior; branches, a web of roots – some eldritch and mesmerising display or a shining green floating gem that pulsed with life surrounded by other crystals. I admit I'd been looking for something but what I got was a completely barren and flat room. A flat metal floor, a circular wall that made up the outer wall of the top of the tower, a flat roof, a wooden desk that had been carried up and a few torches that guttered in the corner. There were also two beds, some stools and other pieces of furniture, all normal wood and all carried up by some poor soul.
It was painfully mundane and rather anticlimactic.
"Weiss. Mr Arc." At least the Archmage was there behind his desk. He rose with a pleasant, if tired, smile. "I can't say I expected you but come in and welcome. Was there something you needed of me? I admit I'm rather busy building Constructs, but I can spare some small time if required."
"I need more Ironwood." I said.
The Archmage sighed. Weiss slapped my arm, glaring at me and clearly asking whether I'd forgotten her instructions about letting her talk. I winced and motioned for her to take the lead, which she did, stepping forward and bowing to the Archmage.
"We believe that Jaune might be able to gain a Skill relating to Ironwood if he had more to work with."
"Oh?" Ironwood suddenly looked much more interested. "Explain."
Weiss did so, telling him of the levels I'd gained and their plan for me to `farm` Ironwood items as a means to abuse its rarity. Ironwood listened, sitting down at one point and occasionally interrupting to ask me how my Skills had been gained before and what the difference was between me gaining a Skill as a result of combat and as a result of forging.
He was interested in seeing if I could be a second host for the Ironwood, I realised. Weiss knew it, and that was why rather than pose the request for more as me wanting it to benefit me and my friends, she'd phrased it as Ironwood benefitting from me becoming proficient in his signature creation.
"An interesting proposal. You would gain levels and may, if we are fortunate, gain a Skill that interacts with Ironwood. Is that what you are saying?"
"Yes."
"And you, Mr Arc. Do you believe this to be possible?"
"I think so. Back in Vacuo, we fought and slew Watts and the revived body of Weiss' mother." I barely had a second to realise why saying that in front of Weiss and Ironwood would be bad. They flinched but neither interrupted and Ironwood signalled for me to go on. "When they fell, I was instantly attacked by Salem. I gained the levels as I was being attacked and as a result gained a Skill that was custom-made to stop her attack. Qrow Branwen taught me about Paths and said our Skills are based on how we fight and what we do. I was fighting Salem, so my Path gave me a tool to do so. If I forge with Ironwood, my Path might give me something to do with that."
"The tool you fought Salem with…" Ironwood leaned forward. "Was it a Rune?"
"No. It's Purify Object. It's…" I wanted to say an enchantment, but now knowing what I did of my Skills, I knew better. "It's a spell. It's a spell that purifies `demonic taint` from an object and imbues it with protection from said taint."
"Could that be used on a weapon to wound Salem?"
"I don't think so." I'd thought of it – of course I had – but that Skill wasn't like a Rune. Maybe if I was literally swinging a sword at her head, I could think to use it, but I couldn't cast it on all the spears I was making and expect it to last. "It's temporary. I think the protection lasts a little after the fact, but if I was going to use it on her, I'd need to know something was definitely going to hit her. Or that she was definitely going to hit something."
"If I created a shield and she attacked it, then?"
"Then yeah, I think I could make the shield hold up to anything she throws at it. But she could just walk around it." I didn't want to undersell what the Skill could do, but I didn't want to oversell it either. "And I've tried it on Grimm. It doesn't make swords cut through them any harder. I don't think it'll make armour any stronger, either."
"But immune, perhaps, to Salem's magic?"
"Emphasis on the perhaps." I watched him smile. "Why are you asking, if I can ask that?"
"He wants the CCT protected," Weiss said.
"I do, indeed," Archmage Ironwood said, smiling brightly. "And I dare say that you should want it protected as well. Every Construct on the walls is one less actual person, and we can recycle fallen Constructs to create more and more. The biggest concern, as I'm sure you've realised, is Salem deciding to swat the tower down herself. Grimm, our Mages can defend the tower against. But her power, if she is as powerful as her defeating Raven Branwen suggests? It concerns me."
But if I could cast `Purify Object` over the entire tower, it might – might – become immune to her magic, assuming that magic counted as `demonic energy` which it had before. The tower was huge but due to its unique construction, it was technically `one seamless object`, and it was made of Ironwood, a substance I knew could carry my powers further and more efficiently than anything I'd ever used before.
"It could work," I said.
"Jaune, you must try this," Weiss hissed. "If you can keep the Constructs coming, that will keep us from danger for longer. You could do more with one spell than a thousand of you fighting beside us ever could."
"I didn't say I was doubting that," I said, excitement bubbling inside me. I could see the benefits as much as anyone could, and the thought of Constructs dying instead of Yang and Ruby's father, or them themselves, was enough to have me hooked. "You'd probably need to get permission from Ozpin," I told the Archmage.
"I will get it. He will understand the benefit, believe me."
"And you'll give us Ironwood to make equipment from?"
"Mr Arc, I will give you complete access to the Constructs downstairs. Take as many as you wish, break them down and forge them into however many weapons you want. Just promise me you will station yourself within the CCT when the time comes."
I offered my hand.
"I think we have a deal."
/-/
Weiss and I hauled an empty Construct to the forge. We earned more than our fair share of odd looks. To those not in the know, it must have seemed like we were carrying a dead body, albeit one that, on closer inspection, was just a little too angular and a little too dull. The Constructs looked nothing like Penny, who could pass easily as a human as long as she didn't open her mouth – of her chest cavity. These Constructs were bulkier, simpler, with angular arms that had an elbow joint, but no wrist or fingers to speak of. Their arms were instead tipped with weapons. A sword blade on the left and a flail on the right, with three barbed and spiked heads.
The whole thing was made of Ironwood, which was in itself a feat of concentration from the Archmage. I couldn't imagine how hard it would be to make the whole thing in one sitting, let alone the hundreds we'd seen arrayed in ranks and ranks within the CCT.
"Never again," Weiss panted. "Next time you need one of these carrying, ask Nora. Or Yang. Ah!" She sagged on one of my stools, face in her hands and sweat dripping between her fingers.
In all fairness, we had just carried a solid metal Construct bigger than we were across Beacon's lawn.
"Thanks for the help. I can break this down on my own and get to work on it."
"Good." Weiss huffed and puffed. "Make sure to drag the actual thing outside. You don't want it to react and try to wrap around you again. Either way, there should be enough here to make a weapon for everyone in the Guild, even a shield for Pyrrha."
I took the Construct's arm by the wrist and touched the elbow. A brief flare of Stoke the Forge had it melted through and separated – though not without the upper arm of the Construct sprouting branches and vines to try and hold onto me. I broke their hold as gently as I could, bringing the forearm and sword-hand to the forge.
"There's more than enough," I agreed. "I might even be able to make some armour."
And whatever else crossed my mind. The goal wasn't the equipment, after all, but the Levels and Skills I might be able to pick up from it making them over the period of the remaining twenty-something days we had.
"Time to grind."
I'm not going to do the level and stats until Jaune has finished grinding – mostly so I don't have to spam it all the time for every incremental level gain, but also so that people don't have to waste their time reading over stuff that is going to change almost constantly.
Next Chapter: 5th August
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