II
The wind was blowing stronger than usual. Stronger than any winter in that region, with the most fearsome gusts festering atop the upper areas of the crevice.
An old adventurer reached out for a handhold between two large rocks amidst a sea of emerald crystals, partly covered by neverending snow descending from countless orifices. The ice was creeping upwards, as it had been doing for centuries. In less than 300 years, it would've reached the top and completely engulfed the crevice, turning its caves, massive rock formations and granite walls into a spectacular sculputre of sparkling colours and reflective surfaces.
The adventurer's eyes were imagining all of it; a little joyful thought fromed in his heart.
"Wouldnt that be nice... if I were able to see it all... but you will, wont you?"
As he approached the summit of the crevice, deep in thought, the old adventurer slipped. It had been but a moment, his foot sunk into fresh snow and beneath it, the void. Just as he was about to fall, he latched on to a small frozen plant barely kept firm by its fragile roots.
"T-tier three: fly! fly!"
He casted the spell just on time, for his frail bones wouldnt be able to support his weight any longer. He pushed himself upwards long enough to reach the top of the crevice, not far from where he fell. The spell vanished just as he was landing; his rear ruinously slammed onto a field of snow and ice.
"Uughh... that was close... "
He checked for any broken bones, but it appeared as if his body was still in decent shape, enough for him to keep going. He had been lucky, as a human being, something like that would've probably killed him if he hadnt been trained to resist fall damage.
But he couldnt die there. He had a mission to accomplish. He moved as fast as he could, seeking aid of any rock, plant and stake he could find to support himself during his advance.
As he ventured forth, his eyes looked for a sign he once saw when he was very young. To his shock, that sign was still there: a mark on the ground, symbolizing a flaming arrow, guided him to a massive concave bamboo trunk. Inside, partially hidden by the snow, he retrieved an ancient scroll. He himself had placed it there when he first visited that place over seventy years prior. With teary eyes, he opened it.
"Hiberna Divum!"
He recited the spell with his palm opened in front of his visage; suddenly, his vision cleared up. He was able to see through the falling snow, the wind didnt affect him anymore. Moving northward a few paces, the old adventurer saw two dimly lit caves previously invisible amidst the snow, conveniently concealed by furious gusts of wind carrying deadly ice spikes; those would keep both entrances covered by highly pressurized ice and thick snowstorm. Any who dared come close would be cut into pieces and swept away. But now, under the spell's protection, the old adventurer could enter without fear.
As he approached the largest of the entrances, he could feel a familiar warmth. Someone had been cooking in there. Salty fishes and wings of hippogriff. That smell was so enticing nobody could ever resist, so he thought.
"Did I remember right?"
Someone addressed his presence from inside the cave. As he spoke, an incredible aroma reached the old adventurer's nostrils.
"Yes my lord. You did. This is... wonderful".
"Then I'm glad. My memory can be a little fuzzy sometimes".
A tall, imposing figure emerged from deep inside the cave to greet his new guest. He was exactly as the old adventurer had remembered him: large build, but not too muscular. Fascinating gaze, with his emerald irises and elongated grey eyebrows. His hair, dark as the night sky, clouded in a veil of poisonous tides. As they moved, it looked as if they were an agglomerate of sentient beings attached to his head, gently reminding any bystander that they'd best be on their way.
He was carrying a large plate with a freshly cooked wing of hippogriff, all around it, potato stew and fish.
"Someone sent me a message. I received it not too long ago. A silver carrier pigeon, I suppose it was Cledna's...?"
"My lord... lady Cledna left us again twenty years ago. I'm sorry to bring this news to you".
"Not again… how can the town watch be so careless… no matter. I will solve this personally".
The man reached for the fork he had been carrying along with the plate and gave it to the adventurer.
"Was it the mayor then?"
"Yes my lord. The new mayor is a good man, loyal to a fault, proud and brave. But his communication skills are kind of lackluster. He… didnt sign the message, did he?"
"Indeed. Hells, what sort of fool am I dealing with?"
"As expected. Good thing I've been able to reach you on time, as the city needs you once again. I... hesitated to come all the way here directly, since my age is starting to seriously hamper those kinds of travels. But -"
"It must be of the utmost importance then. If you came here alone, with such haste".
"Indeed. We might have to fight for our survival anew. There is no other way to put it, my lord".
"Is the menace really that great? What could possibly be the cause? It cannot be human... and I doubt you'd be trembling in fear in front of a couple trolls from the nearby forest".
The man was taking every word seriously. His gaze pierced into the old adventurer's eyes like a spear direct to the target's heart.
"Lodelliaf, I see deep concern in you. No, its not just concern. Your soul, your very essence, is unsure of life. This is... troubling. Very troubling."
"My lord, I'm certain that you have heard of what happened to the rest of the world, even in your voluntary exile, as our people slumber in eternal bliss and solitude, it has been too great a change for anyone to ignore. The Sorcerer King is approaching. It wont be long now".
"The Sorcerer King..."
The man looked at the plate, then gently pulled his portion up. The potato stew was leaking oil and hippogriff juices. He stared at it for a few seconds before eating it. His mind was racing at inhuman speed, scanning through all the possible scenarios born from such a troubling prospect.
"Does he know?"
"I dont think so my lord. If he did, wouldnt he be knocking at your doorstep right now? That is why I visited as fast as I could. This must be settled before he even reaches the foot of the mountain".
"I concur. The situation is deeply troubling... it is so surreal. Mother said it could happen but I would've never thought... this is too fast. Just four-hundred years".
"I'm sure it is nothing to you my lord. My mind is too small to comprehend such an immeasurable amount of time, so I will leave you to your considerations. Please do come visit us as soon as you're finished, for we will be your spear and shield".
"Is this the message you wanted to convey?"
The old adventurer's chest was blazing with passion, as if his youth had suddenly been recalled from the deepest recess of time to aid him as his shield.
"Yes. All citizens, no matter how young or old, want to be part of it. They want it from the bottom of their hearts. Please be at ease, while calculating the risks".
Lodelliaf ate his portion of the meal with voracity. Once done, he looked at peace with the world and its creatures.
"Aahh... I feel so tired my lord. After such a satisfying meal, now that I have completed my quest, I would really like to rest".
"You know you can stay as long as you wish. I wont force you out of here unless I need to practice".
"Then I shall stay as your guest, forever!"
Lodelliaf bursted out laughing with cloudy eyes, as though what he just said brought him joy and sadness at the same time. A moment passed, then he moved towards the owner of the cave and knelt.
"What are you -"
"Lord Flannar, I beg of you, take my humble warmth. This is my final request".
"... You're about to die. That's why -"
"I have prepared myself for months now. My lungs are old and weary. An incurable disease eats them away my lord. I lived till today only to see your face again. Every fiber of my being wished for you to hear my voice and my eyes to meet yours".
Flannar didnt reply. He gently touched the old man's cheek and raised his chin so that he could see his face. He wasnt looking at a wrinkly old man, but rather, a young boy in his early teens. His eyes big, profund and dreamy, his smile youthful and clean.
"Tell me Lodelliaf, did you have a good life?"
"Wonderful, my lord".
"Did you raise a family, as you wished for?"
"Yes. Four kids. I had a beautiful and faithful wife. She passed away two years ago. My boys are adults now. Two have stayed in the city, the other two are searching for adventure in the outside world. They're all righteous and healthy".
Flannar closed his eyes for a brief moment, then opened his arms; a tenuous light came forth from his chest, warm and familiar. Lodelliaf felt it deeply in his very existence, it gave him the same feeling of comfort and tenderness that a womanly womb would to a newborn.
"Then come. Let us live forever".
Lodelliaf felt a motherly embrace. His senses slowly numbed down till all he could feel was his own heart beating next to Flannar's. It was peaceful and reassuring. While his consciousness rapidly slipped away into eternity, joyful fragments of his past eased him into oblivion. With his very last breath, he thanked him.
Now only one heartbeat could be heard. Flannar dropped Lodelliaf's robes to the ground.
"May your soul forever rest in peace".
Lodelliaf's strength was miniscule, almost inperceptible. But he could distinguish it from the others. Flannar had trained for decades to be able to tell them apart, so that he could remember. Every single moment mattered to him, without exception.
"You knew all along didnt you. This would've been your final meal, and yet... you took the trouble to come visit me to the very top. How foolish of you. I could tell something was amiss".
The lord of the cave turned his gaze to the entrance. Not far from there, he felt, a strong presence was approaching. A multitude of nuclei, powerful energies converging towards a point in space. It was unmistakable: The Star City might have been in danger very soon.
"Sorcerer King... what is it that you wish for? Do you want to take them away from me? Or perhaps, you want to find out… No matter. Whatever it is that you desire, you wont obtain it. This, I swear".
.
Powerful light shafts were filtered across the room through a series of metallic shutters. As there were no curtains, just a slight motion of any of them might have brought the miracle of fire to the sleepy inhabitant of that icy cave. In the semi permanent darkness surrounding the messy bed covered in bronze gears, wooden handles and rusty toolboxes, someone stood bent on their knees, deeply concentrated on a single heartbeat.
"...key…"
A feeble, seducing voice broke the stillness of the early morning.
"Wa… key…"
Long, silvery hair emerged from total blackness, followed by almost imperceptible flapping sounds.
That room's inhabitant soon received another occupant in his freezing, slippery, rusty abode.
"Wa...ke...u-p…"
An irrefutable fact: something wet had just touched the earlobe belonging to the room's owner. And then, a realization popped in their comatose brain, still deeply tied to the realm of dreams. They had to stand, or else-
"Get out! GET OUT!"
A young man at the very start of his twenties suddenly jumped out of his bed, scattering around him all manners of devices, gears and metallic bolts. But it was too late. He had done it. He did not wake up on time.
The mysterious intruder threw their hands in the air, as if liberating themselves from a huge burden.
Then, the flapping sound became so intense that the young man's ears were overwhelmed for a few seconds, as his brain was frantically trying to get back to reality before the inevitable could happen.
A storm of silvery wings emerged from the shutters covering the windows; at once, light broke in so preponderantly that the young owner of that wretched room had to curl up and roll to the side to avoid being burned to death by unfamiliar and unwelcome hotness and blinding whiteness.
"Hahaha! As usual, I win! I win! You would think that someone with a losing streak so terrible would at least try to put up a fight, but no, you're so hopeless!"
A pair of snow white bare feet moved towards the windows. That was all the room's owner could see, among the countless silvery pigeons storming the place in perfectly tight formations.
"Asta, get the hell out of here. I'm not playing around. I just wanted to sleep a little longer".
"Na-ah! No way. Nope. Dont even consider it. You'll be waking up now, as I command you to do. If you dont I'll have to punish you properly. But this time…"
The girl standing on his bed spread her arms and fingers wide, as a big grin formed on her falsely innocent face. The silvery pigeons changed formation immediately, becoming a large heart-shaped wall of moving, reflecting darts. There was no mistaking it: she would've ordered the flock to either pierce him to death, or defecate on his face profusely. That was her very own special game of chance, a fifty percent survival rate. Either deep shame or ceasing to exist. At that point, after 48 attempts, he was unsure of which one of those would the worst outcome. So far, he had been covered in feces every single time without fail. But this time, it might have been fatal.
"So, what will it be today? Poo or death? Hmm…"
"Stop it! Get out of here! Leave me be for five seconds! Look, I didnt want to start off this important day by-"
"...one dead Plurimo coming right up! Say your prayers to lady Hilda, maggot! My birds need your flesh!"
"Wait what the-hold on, no I dont agree with this! This is positively not how it should be!"
Even though she said it out loud, he still couldnt believe her. She had been lying about it for quite a while now. It's not like she didnt want to kill him, rather, what she said meant absolutely nothing in that game's context. She would've still left it up to chance till the very last second. At times, he swore he could feel the silvery pigeons' razor-sharp beak coming for his throat, only for them to sudddenly stop at a few centimeters and immediately change tactics. The thrill of that exhilarating enigma gave him the strangest goosebumps.
"Please let me go… I just want to sleep…".
"You're going to sleep alright. In the afterlife!"
Asta moved her slender arm towards Plurimo's chest. At a slight movement of her index finger, the huge flock of silvery pigeons converged onto a single point in space. That was it. His fate would've been decided right then and there. The young man could feel his bladder almost giving in as the inevitable approached at lightning speed. He leaned on the sturdy wooden door leading outside, utterly powerless, However, that door was small and old, truly no match for a sharp object of even moderately small size. Had it been pierced by Asta's birds, it would have surely crumbled, inflicting several damages to the nearby corridor.
"What if I move away from here… she might not kill me if I stay after all. Wait, do I want to…? What's gotten into me? I should just stay where I am an nothing bad will happen. Right?"
A swirling wind, produced by the flock's powerful flapping motions, interrupted his train of thought. He was ready. He had to be.
But, as fate often times had been relentlessly merciful to him, it was no longer necessary.
Large stomps announced someone's presence, someone other than the two youngsters playing their game of shame and death at a new day's dawn.
"What is going on here?"
A brutish call came from outside, then the wooden door gave way to a bulky figure clad in leather armor and a long black waistcoat. Plurimo's body was slammed on the ground, however the crazed flock of silvery pigeons did not stop. The figure proudly pulled their chest foward and received the blunt of the attack without batting an eye.
One affter the other, the pigeons dissolved in thin air as soon as their beaks hit their newfound target. Asta pouted softly after the last of her avion minions ceased to exist.
"Have you gone nuts young lady? Do you even know what your role is?"
"Oh come now, stop it. It wasnt so bad".
"Ha! The only reason your pretty little face is still intact is that I need you two in perfect condition at all times. Remember that, next time you want to kill your friend here.".
Plurimo gave Asta a disgruntled look. Her beautiful violet eyes and long silvery hair complemented so well on such a slender, childlike figure. Nobody, no even he could've expected that kind of power from such a weak looking creature wandering around the arches of the municipal grounds; that was the level of freedom the mayor had granted her, a great honor for a race dissimilar to that of the Elves of Purity to be even standing where she was right that instant, yet she seemed completely unaffected by any kind of rule.
"Hey lad, you okay down there? You stink of piss and acid. Lady's got you by the balls ey?"
The brute now addressing Plurimo tried his best to give him a reassuring smile, with the only result being that the young man had suddenly gone silent and helplessly uneasy.
A few seconds of awkward silence passed, then the bulky figure knelt towards him and offered him his hand.
"Stand up boy. Come. This is no time to play games with your loved one. The electoral ceremony's about to begin. We need a new batch of rifles ready by tomorrow morning. And a new set of bullets".
"Yes… as you command".
"Hey now, no need to be so formal with me. Just call me Judge".
"Isnt that the same thing?"
"Yes… Judge".
"Good! Now then, you witch can stay here or wherever you please. But, I would appreciate it if you kept your pretty little rear as close to the observation deck as possible. We expect a very special guest today and you need to send him a message as soon as you see him coming from the top of the mountain. Oh right right, pardon me I gave the mayor my word that I wouldnt spoil the fun. Anyway, get there as soon as possible and meet up with him. He'll tell you what to do".
Asta scowled at the portly brute taking away her prey for the time being. She knew the conversation was already over, no matter what she would have wanted to say.
"Oh well. At least I accomplished my mission. He woke up on time. Perhaps even a little bit earlier than usual".
By the time she muttered these words, the two were already gone. Alone again, the girl distractedly looked at the abundant amount of metallic parts and indistinguishable mishmash of trinkets scattered all over the place.
"I wonder… will it be a weapon of mass destruction, or perhaps an angel of death? What will come out of that little deranged head of yours?"
Indeed, her thoughts were deeply grounded into reality; people often called her "witch", "mystic crafter", "evil spirit", "half-human scum". But those were just commoners, simpletons with no prior knowledge of how the world truly worked. Even with her magical ability, she couldnt rival the level of absolute terror Plurimo induced into anyone with even a passing knowledge of basic Yggdrasil technology. He, who had been blessed by an unusual talent, a weakling in every respect and yet, a masterclass in devising the most efficient ways to end someone's life. Compared to that, summoning a bunch of pigeons was not that impressive.
But for some reason, they still needed her alive. Not only that, they actively wanted her to be part of the city's defense system. And no ordinary person had stated as such, but the chief of the local militia and second in command of the armed forces on their lands, Vashtblaff the warrior-hero. She had known that person since birth, for he together with the current mayor, raised her from the moment she first spoke.
"Even so… I'd be better off leaving at some point".
There hadnt been a single day during the past few months without her thinking about sneaking away from there and seek out a new home. Alone, or perhaps even with Plurimo. That would have been so much fun. A great deal more than working for those old disrespecting elves secluded at the edge of the world. After all, the defense system could wait. She felt no obligation to stay there; as a matter of fact, the only people keeping her in the city were one off to the front gates in search of a prey big enough to satiate his bloodlust, and the other silently reading and approving bills coming from his peers. Although, the old elf had gradually changed tone during the past few years. Perhaps senility had softened him? Asta often wondered if he would've been more of a father figure to her if she had spent more time in his office. Still, that was her stronger connection to the city itself and the world of the Elves of Purity as a whole.
To defy that… even with her resolve… would take considerable courage.
The ball of her foot moved round the bed's border, then she jumped off of it, committing to a full sprint towards the now fully opened window. With a hasty shake of her palm, several silvery pigeons materialized under her soles and lend themselves to her aid. She jumped gracefully from several meters, gliding nonchalantly towards the street down below. Just across the next intersection, where the guildmasters' quarters were located, she could see the magnificent fountain dedicated to the city founder dominating the plaza where the municipal offices stood, tall and imposing.
There, a silent procession of relentless bureaucrats was already amassing all around the richly decorated arches. She didnt have to look too closely to know that some were expectantly looking forward to the mayor's last speech. The few that didnt were more concerned by their own trivial affairs; they were blabbering about cost-efficiency of their latest acquisitions, new taxation propositions, bills soon to be approved. Asta had heard all their ramblings a million times already. She wasnt interested in the least.
But looking at the crowd from afar gave her a little courage. The great distance between her and people's business calmed her heart and kept her emotions in check; she could reason better, look and feel the mood with sincere eyes. It felt almost as if she could turn into an animal spirit just by observing and calmly analyzing the situation from there.
"Maybe that's why they want to keep me here" she thought, looking at the tall rooftops.
Just at that moment, her eyes caught the mayor's old gaze as he was descending the seemingly endless ladder atop the observation deck, at the very summit of the municipal building. She resignedly sighed.
"Well well. I guess I'll have to meet up with you now, old man. What will you offer me today? A job? A History lesson? Or maybe, you'll let me do as I please? What a thrilling prospect… but I doubt I'll be presented with a real choice". She suppressed a little smile, then she let a few hundred silvery pigeons carry her safely on the building's rooftop.
"Dont worry, I wont make you wait for me. I owe you this much".
As she promised, her feet touched the copper decoration in front of the observation deck's main gate before the old elf got to it. She instinctively bowed as she landed, putting her left arm behind her back and her right next to hear heart. The long darkened robes that the mayor wore had been in sight for a fraction of a second, yet, her irises were already piercing through to check his condition. "Your guardian is here, my liege. Ready to serve".
The tone of her voice was completely different compared to when she had confronted Plurimo. She sounded confident and slightly happy,
"Hoho, please be at ease young lady. While I'm overjoyed to see you here on time, I must decline once again,".
"N-No, please let me do it. At the very least today.".
The old mayor looked tired, his pale complexion seemed more ghostly than usual, he had no doubt been studying till very late in the morning while also gaining intel from the outside world. Plus, he had to give orders to every guild member, dispatch decrees every week, check on the army's morale, and perform ceremonial duties. His life was full of events and at the same time, Asta thought it felt incredibly empty, devoid of emotion and freedom.
"Have you been good, dear?"
"Huh? Of… of course. I have woken up Plurimo every day at the appropriate time, I have prepared the sacred meals for the high priest when it was required, and surveyed the forest till noon. I also took the liberty to-"
"Read as many books as you could, correct? Someone told me that you love reading as well. This pleases me greatly".
"I… do. As a matter of fact I was able to finish several novels and gain insightful knowledge on the creatures of the forest. Oh, and astrology as well! I didnt know the cosmos could be this vast and amazing! Surely there is more out there for us to discover and I cannot wait. Umm did you know my liege, that the celestial bodies move at a speed greater than light itself? And very recently, an astrologer from the northern regions cooperated with a wizard to calculate the exact circumference of a planet! It was immense, so much so that they had to use two boards!"
"Hoho, very interesting. What a lovely passion, I can feel it in the air. The sparks in your eyes are as vivid as ever. It is such a delightful reminder of my youth. You know, having this kind of drive will be very beneficial to you in the long run. There is no doubt in my mind that you will make for a fine sentinel. And who knows, you could also spare some time for astrology".
"I'm honored to hear that my liege. But I'm content to be of use to you for the day. What will happen in the future… I dont know. I guess nobody does either".
"Correct. Regardless, I am confident that you will do just fine. There really is nothing more thrilling than being able to spend the entirety of your youth doing what you like most, with the person that understands you more than anyone".
"Who… are you referring to?"
"Plurimo, of course. That is a golden boy if I have ever seen one. Look into his eyes my dear, listen to his voice. He can be a little weak sometimes, but his spirit is high and his morals are honorable. An upstanding citizen, everyone should follow his example".
"Why does everyone have to pair me with him? Sure he's nice and I'd like to get out of here with him but I cannot see us together at all". Her thoughts were crystal clear. The old elf could read her like an open book, He smiled wryly while descending the last few steps. His breathing was unsteady, yet he strived to get to her without any support.
"You know… sometimes it is not strictly about what you want, rather, what life itself needs you to do. Each and every one of us has a purpose. Some find it immediately, others later on while discovering their own talents. Those who are born without talent, serve. You are no such person. I firmly believe that life has chosen you to be a diligent daughter of our great nation-state; soon enough, you'll grow into a fine lady and then -"
"Please dont". Asta's clouded gaze reminded him that he went a step too far. The old elf closed his eyes.
"… I understand. I'm sorry, I got carried away. Forgive me, it is my greatest wish after all. I know that I wont be able to witness it, but my desire to have it realized shall not fade with my physical body".
Speaking about it would be forbidden. Nobody had ever thought about a multiracial government before and those who did, had been silently disposed of. To have a race other than the Elves of Purity as heads of state, would be unthinkable. That line of reasoning brought the mayor to his next topic, which coincided with the task Asta was required to perform. He hastened his words to prevent any further discussion on that matter.
"My point is, I would love it if you decided to stay here and help. You have immense potential. But, I'm not opposed to you adventuring outside, whether alone or with Plurimo. You need to gain experience and be happy first and foremost".
"I thank you kindly my liege".
"Well then… tell me, what is it that you'd like to do now?"
"I… dont know. I was expecting you'd give me a task and I would accomplish it to the best of my abilities. I'm here to serve you today, as I've promised".
"And who did you promise that to?"
"I wanted it. For myself".
"Hoho! Sincere words, I like that attitude. Very well, then I shall concede you to be my servant for this day and this day only. If you had responded something like I want to do it because that old man deserves pity I would have scoffed your ingenuity for the rest of the afternoon".
"No you wouldnt do that, what, you think I'd be willing to bow my head to just anyone around here? Consider yourself lucky!" she smiled as she turned towards the municipal plaza beneath them. The mayor followed her, slightly worried.
"You see them? What are your thoughts?" he indicated the numerous bureaucrats amassing around the building, discussing among themselves with ever lively chatter.
"Should I be completely honest with you, my liege?"
"Would you have it any other way?"
"No, I suppose I wouldnt".
Asta sighed softly, then she inhaled as much as she could. When she exhaled, she uttered the most blasphemous words the old mayor had heard in months. His eyes widened slightly, but he immediately kept his composure in check.
"Uhm. I must admit that I wasnt quite prepared for such a vigorous outburst of passion from that tiny mouth. It seems that you didnt just read romance novels after all, hoho. You got the point across quite formidably".
"Will Holy Lady Hilda punish me for this?"
"Normally she would, but I'm sure she sees the good in your heart and she understands why you said what you said. Besides, her commandments are not absolute".
"What? Is the mayor himself defying our Holy Lady now?" Asta playfully looked at his trembling hands; his fingers were nervously fiddling with his golden bracelets.
"Hmm. I'll have you know that lord Flannar himself told me this. So you can be sure it is a certainty. Speaking of which…" the old elf hurriedly pulled out of his robe a crystal ball big enough to fit in his palm, "Please take it. I want you to go to the upper chamber of the observation deck and remain in standby until you see him appearing. It shouldnt take long. The carrier pigeon I sent three days ago was destined to his abode, the Air Castle".
Asta took the crystal ball in her hands with the same reverence an archeologist would have while digging up an ancient relic.
"So it was him. The target you couldnt speak of. Now I understand… there were too many people listening".
"Indeed my dear. I'm sorry for keeping you in the dark for so long but I needed your aid at once. Nobody but you and lord Flannar should be aware of this. And even then…"
The mayor coughed profusely. Asta immediately came to his side, after putting away the crystal ball. His weight had increased considerably since the last time they were phisically close like that. Or perhaps, she just couldnt sustain a grown male with her tiny body. Regardless, she put aside any unnecessary remark and did her best to keep up with the old elf's unsteady breathing and terrible coughing. Several minutes later, he finally seemed to have calmed down. His hand reached for her silvery hair and gently caressed her uppermost fringe.
"Hoho. I'm afraid this world is all too eager to get rid of me".
"But you will survive, will you not? Here. Hang on to me. The stairs are quite far away. You shouldnt do this alone".
"Ah, dont worry about me. We have more urgent matters to attend to, as I was saying. My body is old and weary, if this cough doesnt kill me outright, the vultures will". He looked down at the crowd of bureaucrats, some of which stared back in amusement at that pathetic display of weakness.
Asta instinctively retreated a few meters away, carrying her burden with pride and stern confidence.
"They just have to try. I'll kill them. I'll kill them all if I have to. I'm not afraid of anyone here, much less some useless old corpses".
"Hey now, watch your tone. You may not like them, but there are good people among them. Their numbers are dwindling, but their efforts are not. We shall provide aid to their cause as much as possible, for as long as we have this system in place".
"But how can you even support all this? It's ridiculous".
"I agree with you my dear. But it is the law of men and elves alike that created this place and kept it safe for so long, thus we have a responsiblity towards the people that inhabit this city. We must uphold our values even if it is difficult for you to understand".
"It isnt difficult, it's impossible".
"Hoho, the naivete of youth…"
"Stop it, umm, my liege. You're not that old anyway".
"I'm well past my time as mayor. I'll be lucky if I can still walk on this earth by tomorrow morning".
"Tomorrow morning? ...the ceremony… of course! I must-"
"No. You wont do anything". The old mayor touched Asta's cheeks with both hands and imposed his severe gaze upon her. "The ceremony will proceed as planned. Whether I live or die, it doesnt matter in the slightest. What's important right now is that you listen carefully, because what I'm about to tell you must be relied to lord Flannar in person".
"What… is it, my liege?"
The mayor took a deep breath, then he started relaying his message with a serious, yet passionate tone.
"I said there are good people among the ranks of our fellow bureaucratic brothers. And I stand by that statement. As a matter of fact, the world isnt black and white. There are several shades of gray in between… and these take the names of house Brennedt and house Falsjago. The more blackened shade is house Drykven. I need you to remember those names, and you must be able to distinguish between them with precision".
"Understood".
"House Brennedt utilizes a special kind of serpentine ring as a distinguishing trait. It is a bronze ring with inner markings made of silver. They are the only ones with an easily recognizeable symbol on their person, and thus are exposed to the strongest forms of danger. They are also the most reliable messengers and trustworthy house in the city. They are traders by profession and exceptionally empathic. You can talk to them and ask for assistance at any time, regarding the widest array of matters. The only information you should withhold is anything related to the inner workings of the world of Yggdrasil. Please be extremely mindful of that".
"I wouldnt talk to anyone about this anyway, who do you take me for?" She knew that was a forbidden topic to anyone but Plurimo and the mayor. Internally, her own existence told her that nobody should expect her to say anything about it, and whenever she felt like pointing something out regarding the nature of talents and skills, something in her brain instinctively froze her lips.
"House Falsjago deals in corrupt yet still forgivable acts. They smuggle materials from the outside world into our lands, have illegal trade agreements with a tribe of beastmen from the deepest parts of the forest, and engage in slavery. But, they have a code of honor and their conduct is exemplary in public. They will not harm citizens nor question what the government says in any way. As a matter of fact, they have been labelled the silent progeny because they bow their heads to higher powers and do not actively engage in politics to contrast their enemies. Instead, they embrace their differences and try to subdue their rivals".
"Subdue? What does it mean?"
"It means that they will go to extreme lenghts to suffocate dissent, from the shadows… sometimes literally".
"Scary people huh. I dont think I like them…"
"And you shouldnt, hoho! But, their skills in the arts of conspiracy and concealment will be very useful to you and lord Flannar. Be warned though, their only trait is their quick hissing voice. As soon as you recognize one, patiently weigh what you're going to say next".
"I understand. I will do my best".
"Well then… the last house is also the most dreaded of all. The Drykven are uncaring wretched elves that love getting their hands dirty. Surely you have seen some of them coming and going very close by the adventurers' guild. That's because they… recruit unsuspecting people from there. They often send them to certain death, using specific adventurers as testing subjects for their necromancy spells".
"What the… Necromancy? Here?"
"It is hard to believe, I am fully aware of that. However, after many years of research, spying, and intelligence gathering, I found out the truth. House Drykven plans to raise the next elite of undisputed necromancers and black magic casters. Some of them can even use Tier Seven spells, which is unconceivable by our standards. I have contemplated the idea of stopping them, but the municipal cabinet is powerless before their wealth and influence. So all I can do… is warn you against them. I suspect they already know what I want to do, so they're most likely going to try and stop us as soon as the slightest chance arises".
Absorbing such a great deal of information was pretty tough, even for someone like Asta whose young age, intelligence and pragmatism had granted her the old mayor's trust so many times before.
She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to make a sense of all that.
"So… those black magic casters have no distinguishable traits? How do I deal with them?"
"They do wear black robes at times, but…"
"Yes, that's not helpful my liege".
"I'm afraid so. Oh, could you please stop with this my liege thing? Your service will be over soon anyway, all you have to do is carry what I just told you to the top of the observation deck and send it to lord Flannar as soon as you see him. From this moment… I'm just an old retired elf who'd like to enjoy his pension, hoho".
The mayor had suddenly shifted his tone of voice and demeanour; he got back to his usual self, the kind of person Asta was used to the most. There were two sides to his personality, the most humble, kindhearted and compliant, and then the more stoic, condescending and fatalist one. The latter was on display at that moment. The one Asta hated.
But she felt deep in her heart that he had to be more of a stern father figure to her right now. Or at least that's what she would have done in his place. She didnt know if that was the right course of action but it may have been best for them to move in separate directions from there on out.
She diligently bowed to the old mayor once more, her eyes slightly clouded by tears that would never fall.
"Understood. Alright, guess I'll better move my butt huh. I hope this Flannar guy is as legendary as he seems to be. Anything else you want from me, old man?"
"Hohoho. That's my Asta allright. The one I-" the mayor stopped himself as soon as his thoughts started taking form. Then, he resumed with ever stronger vigor. "Listen carefully, for this will be the one and only time I will reveal such information. What I've told you right now… must ultimately aid you and lord Flannar in your fight against the Sorcerer King and his forces".
"The what king now?" Asta scratched the back of her neck, visibly confused.
"You dont seem to be grasping the severity of our situation, my dear. But soon you will see what sort of enemy he is. Know that this evil mastermind has conquered lands far and wide, all the way up to the very outskirts of the desert, and now he is marching this way. I have no doubts he's been amassing a large amount of forces and he's gathering stronger artifacts as we speak. Who knows what kind of horrors await us in the near future. I dont want you to be a passive witness to our city's downfall. We must protect our people and defend our territory".
"I kind of get your point but… how can we even win against someone that conquered the rest of the known world? If this sorcerer person is so powerful wouldnt it be wiser for us to surrender and get the hell out?"
"And where would we go? There are very few territories left untouched by his undead hand. I hear stories of horrible executions and mass murders from the travellers coming here. If it were just a couple of drunkard fools I could understand but… they have all been relaying the same information.
So instead of being tortured to death or murdered outright for the slightest infraction I wish to at least try and die as a dignified and free member of my people, rather than a slave. You do understand right? After all, you are my daughter for better or worse".
"You know… never mind. Understood, my liege. I'll go to the observation deck now. I'll see you around".
She couldnt take it. That was the worst farewell she had ever experienced till then. And, as a matter of fact, it may very well have been the last time she could have seen one of her father figures, the stronger one, the one closer to the concept of "family" and "home" in her heart. As she flew to the top of the observation deck, not even waiting for the old mayor to say goodbye, she spit at the crowd of bureaucrats who were now merely the size of an insect from that height.
As soon as her bare feet touched the hard and cold floorboards, she jogged towards the other side of the deck, she placed the crystal ball in the usual position as she'd been taught since very early in her childhood, and imposed her hands on it firmly. She was accustomed with the magic rituals of the city, even though her services werent always required for that specific purpose; her talent made it easy for her to cast spells and silently recite magic enchantments, for she was born with the Silent Casting ability and thus any and all spellcasting processes went faster and smoother than with any other magic caster in the region. Such a talent had proven itself incredibly useful, especially while surveying the outskirts of the forest and scanning the plains for troll incursions. Moreover, she could assault Plurimo in his sleep and summon her flock of silvery pigeons at will without having to recite the spell beforehand, thus eliminating the risk of him waking up at all. She could toy with him as much as she wanted.
"What a delightful sight… I cant wait to do it again" Asta's deranged thoughts started flowing in the back of her mind again. She started grinning maliciously while manipulating the crystal ball, as if she were caressing Plurimo's cold, tender earlobes.
A few minutes passed. Then hours. It was almost dusk when an image finally appeared.
The crystal ball illuminated itself like a sparkling blue candlelight. At that moment, Asta could finally see what sort of person the so called "lord" Flannar really was.
The legends said various things about him. Some sources said he was a protector of the city, others said he was a demigod with a great ego simply watching them from afar as he laughed at their misery while enjoying the pleasures of life.
"Hmm. He looks pretty well built. Too old for me, still. Wait… what's he doing? Is he…!"
Her spine felt intense shivers as she witnessed the tall man diving straight into the ground from the top of the mountain. At the moment of his appearance on the crystal ball's surface, he was already moving at the speed of sound towards his ultimate fall. A large crater instantly formed around the area he had just hit with his head. Intense dust puffs covered the perimeter all around his shattered body.
"This… is this guy an idiot? Oh well, we'll never know will we? He seems… rather dead".
Asta was in a cold sweat. What would she do now? What would she tell her adoptive father, the old mayor, assuming he'd still be alive next morning? Was that the right time for her to flee the city?
As she frantically tried to wrap her head around that terrible occurrence, her gaze met with Flannar's.
"No way…"
She looked in the crystal ball again. The person she had just seen falling at high speed to certain death was now seated next to a pile of rubble and dirt, absentmindedly contemplating his surroundings like nothing had happened, with an almost childlike expression depicted on his face.
A surge of relief, worry and excitement filled her soul. "something" had just happened but she couldnt explain what sort of divine intervention made it possible. Still, the fact that this legendary man was alive despite such an impossible fall was reason enough for her to have a little hope.
"Hmm. I still cant exclude the possibility that this person is an idiot. But, if he wanted to show off, he certainly made a grand entrance. Now, onto message-sending stuff".
Quickly her fingers started to caress the crystal ball as her thoughts gathered on her fingertips and the swift strokes of her inner self reached for her mana pool. She closed her eyes for a moment, then half a dozen silvery pigeons materialized in front of her; they immediately started twirling around the observation deck waiting for their master's commands.
In the blink of an eye, they were moving at incredible speed towards their target, several hundreds of miles away.
"Allright! That has been easier than I thought it would be!" Asta praised her own skills by kissing the back of her hands. "Now I just need to establish a telepathic link t-"
Her mind suddenly stopped working. The corner of her eye just caught a glimpse of light coming her way before darkness fell upon her.
.
As soon as they departed from Plurimo's unstable domicile, the Judge took it upon himself to instruct any and all inhabitants on their way to the cathedral to not disturb his work as the young genius inventor had been collecting resources for the army and thus had to be protected and kept in the best living conditions possible.
Plurimo was extremely grateful for the treatment he had received in the years prior to his engagemnt to the municipal's internal affairs; for all his mistrust of the city's authorities, he did not forget who raised him from a simple nobody with barely enough food to survive, to his current enviable position as a high officer of the settlement. While he didnt exactly pertain to the army per se, his role was well defined among the higher ranks; as a talented subject of the municipal college with the highest level of intelligence among his peers, and an incredible attitude towards magic items and death-delivering mechanisms, he was considered one of the greatest assets at their disposal.
It had been the current mayor, who would soon leave office after the newly established electoral ceremony, that had insisted for him to be recognized as a man of talent. None before him would acknowledge his aptitudes nor his merits as an inventor, and especially not the Judge. However, he didnt resent him for that. The passive-aggressiveness of the Elves of Purity towards anyone with different racial traits was common and widely accepted.
Still dizzy from a lack of sleep, Plurimo's first word as soon as he entered the great plaza before the cathedral was "...Kuhana".
"Hm? Right now? Cant you get some after you've entered the workshop?" the Judge asked, completely clueless.
"Kuhana. Now. I cant begin work without a sip first".
"Ha! Fair enough. Nobody shall ever say that the Judge lacks understanding. Well then… how about Luma's place?"
Plurimo nodded weakly. The Judge took him by the elbow and dragged him along with a rough gesture.
The plaza was packed with people coming and going all over, the majority of which had business in the merchant district in the northernmost side behind the cathedral. Despite nobody paying any attention to the duo, the Judge seemed extremely anxious.
"Come on, here".
"I know where the tavern is you know. You dont need to be this forceful" said Plurimo with an inch of bitterness.
"Right right, I know you're a genius and all of that" the Judge stated sarcastically, "There's too many people here, I dont want you to get lost in the crowd. Last thing we need is a delay in our schedule".
"What's the rush anyway?"
"Cant say. Not now. All you need to know is that we have an urgent business coming up and we require your assistance as soon as possible. So please, will you drink that grog and move your ass?"
"Whatever you say, your majesty".
The Judge had a feral air about him, it felt almost as if he could go wild at any moment and just casually roar at people he didnt like. At that moment, Plurimo felt it more than ever. He wasnt just being observed, he was a prey that nobody else could get.
As they seated outside the tavern on one of the many wooden tables available, positioned so that customers could drink while admiring the cathedral's many decorated steeples, his eyes met with someone elses just about a few paces away. He seated slowly, almost growling with contempt.
"Dont turn around. It appears that we have a vulture right next to us".
"Is it… Drykven?" Plurimo uttered these words with a feeble voice.
"Yup. Keep it steady lad. Drink fast and move faster".
The young man had been instructed many times by the higher ups to just ignore the Drykven gentry and if possible, to avoid any contact with them even outside of the city walls.
But he had been kept in the dark as to why that was the case. He only knew that they meant big trouble for the military, in some way. Despite that, he felt it strange since none of them kept any weapon on their person and they seemed naturally inclined to avoid direct contact with the institutions.
"Here you go Plurimo! Have a great day dear!" Luma, the manager of the tavern, came in with a large goblet filled to the brim with Kuhana. Plurimo's face went red as he sunk his nose onto those amazingly large breasts, lovingly caressing his forehead as she kept pouring the dark-red substance in.
"Hell yes! That's what I'm talking about! Hey Luma, got some for me too?" the Judge instantly averted his gaze from his newly found target as if the concern he had just expressed for Plurimo's life was null and void.
"Sorry dear buuut you're just a tiny-winy-itty-bitty too old for me!" Luma jokingly rose up to greet him, squeezing the last droplets of the alcoholic beverage in between her chest.
"Fine, fine. I wasnt thirsty anyway".
"You say that buuut your face tells me something different!"
"Ha! What does that even mean you frivolous wench? My face is perfectly stoic as it is customary of a judge of high caliber such as myself!"
"That… looks all but stoic to me" Plurimo could clearly tell he was inches away from grabbing her by the hair and pull her into one of her bedrooms.
The lighthearted mood of the situation almost made him forget about his surroundings and the very reason he was there. For a time, he did in fact enjoy his stay at that very same tavern when he first arrived in the city, as an escapee with no money nor weapons. The very same big-breasted girl who was just then playfully joking with them had witnessed his malnourished body splattering fluids all over her favorite carpet, right before collapsing. He still had nightmares about that day, and bitterly regretted not being able to repay her for her hospitality. After that day, she hadnt been mad at him once, even when he had no way of paying for her services.
"Such a person is truly rare. One day though… one day I will do you good, as much as you did to me".
His mind had been cleansed by the lightly alcoholic beverage known as Kuhana, and the ultimate combo of Luma's breasts and thighs reaching in unison for his attention. As he got ready to take his last sip and stand up, she approached him leering at his waist.
"Saaay, dearest Plurimo, did you get a girlfriend yet?"
"He did" the Judge responded for him, "she's a witch. I'd stay away from him if I were you. Me on the other hand, I'm still single!"
"Sooo… dealing with magic huh? Did she enchant your pillow or something?" Luma blatantly ignored the Judge's remark.
"Uh… something like that. But she's not my girlfriend. She'll never be, that's for sure".
Plurimo had made it clear to everyone multiple times. While he kind of enjoyed his games with that bratty little caster, he wasnt interested in the least. However, nobody but him would fall for that. For some reason he got paired with her at every occasion, either by proxy or direct order.
"Hmm. Is that so…" Luma wasnt like the others. She wouldnt just assume things. Her heart was close to that of a maiden, yet she was very openly flirty. She reached for Plurimo's shoulder and gently caressed his back while taking his empty goblet away. Powerful shivers paralyzed him.
"Ah… m-my weak spot…!"
"Hehe. I know you all too well dearest Plurimo! How about we go relax upstairs for an hour or two? I can always open back shop later".
"Sorry Luma but the lad here is off limits. We must leave. Now".
"Aww, dont be like that sir Judge! Let me have him for a little while…"
"No means no. Really, we cant-"
The Judge's eyes widened as he saw the figure he had observed moments prior advance in their direction at cadenced paces. Now Plurimo could see him as well; a steel-clad gentleman with a long, dark robe partially covering his facial features, with a collection of expensive-looking rings of all sizes and shapes and multi coloured jewels on his fingers.
While his appearance might have induced the least attentive commoner to think he was just an average nobleman, the scars on his face and the vacuous eyes btrayed his origin. He looked more like a seasoned assassin rather than a man enjoying luxury.
The Judge stood up immediately, his right hand already on the hilt of his sword. His paladin senses had been in a state of alert for some time now, and even if he couldnt tell the exact strength of his enemy, he most certainly knew that he was a potential target.
Doubts clouded his judgement for a brief moment. He was uncertain if he should attack first, or let the moment pass. His martial art was not really useable in crowded spaces, and the risk-reward ratio weighed heavily against him.
Nevertheless, he just wouldnt stand idly by as a potnetial threat approached his protégé.
"Oh? A little aggressive, are we?" the man clad in dark robes finally spoke "what's the matter, Judge? Isnt the law equal to all citizens? I'm just a commoner passing by. Would you rather strike first against a mere servant of the state?"
The Judge didnt reply. He was still studying his enemy's movements, wondering what to do. As a matter of fact, he had never been a man of patience, nor wise words; he would rather throw himself in the fray and start swinging till the target was declared dead or unable to fight.
"State your intentions. Now." the Judge roared in his general direction, still unsure what to do.
"I'm just passing by, like I said. Now if you'll just excuse me, I'll be going my own way".
"The plaza is quite big, is it not? Why the hell are you HERE, of all places?"
"Well, perhaps I dont want to tell you, sir. But the boy… he might understand. You do understand what this is, dont you?"
The man from house Drykven pulled up the back of his hand, showing off his many rings. Upon further inspection, Plurimo got visibly startled.
A mischievous smile appeared on the enemy's face. Of course he would know. Who else could distinguish death more than him after all, the one who dealt in killing while never truly staining his own hands.
"Very well, I see we have reached a mutual understanding. Now, why dont you tell your lackey to move his hand away from that sword? Nobody wants to get hurt here. Not even you".
Plurimo nodded. The Judge reluctantly did as he was told, still visibly upset.
Moving swiftly between the two of them, the man hissed subtly.
"By the way, name's Rokkan. Better not forget it, boy. We shall see eachother again, very soon".
His silhouette suddenly vanished amidst the crowd.
"What the hell was that all about? Gods be damned this city needs to wipe out these kinds of people". The Judge was all but calm, now more than ever he definitely was displeased by the whole ordeal, as his superiors had stated many times again that scum such as the Drykven had to be eliminated in the least amount of time and with the most efficiency. Failing to do that would be not being able to uphold the city's laws. Even so, they were a powerful house of noblemen thus attempting to enact physical justice without proper procedure first would have costed him his post, and possibly his own life. But the hatred he had for their kind was too strong.
Plurimo sighed softly. "We ended up surviving. Nice. I mean… nothing good would have come out of you attacking him. On that note… you may want to take into consideration what he just showed us. These were extremely powerful magic items. Those rings could have destroyed the whole plaza in one move".
"Damn it! Why? Why do we even allow those lunatics in our city in the first place?"
"I dont know. Isnt the electoral college's job to-"
"Enough! I'm pissed off already! Let's move!"
The Judge swung at the wooden table, fortunately missing it. Luma sat in disbelief as Plurimo hurried up to catch up with his protector.
"I… might be clueless as to what happened exactly buuut… dearest Plurimo, please be careful. I want you to come back to me as soon as possible with a large smile and an even larger bulge!" the girl winked at him maliciously.
"Wow. Does nothing bother you at all?"
The young man waved at her, blushing slightly.
While that encounter had him worried. Plurimo couldnt afford the luxury to dwell over it too much.
As they approached the cathedral, the Judge and his protégé stopped in front of the statue of Holy Lady Hilda, dominating the southern part of the plaza from a large stone podium, and bowed.
Before entering sacred grounds, it was necessary to always give thanks to the city's patron and original founder, alongside with a small prayer in her honor. Every citizen, from the youngest to the oldest, did exactly that every time they went by. That was the case even now, as many commoners were bowing at the same time as them. The Judge raised his head, only for him to find two figures wearing brown ragged robes at a few metres from him, not bowing at all. Instead, they were contemplating the statue with curious eyes, and once done, they started walking the steps leading to the cathedral as if completely clueless.
"Hey, you two! Do you not follow the rituals of the city?! What's gotten into you, huh?" the Judge addressed them both with harsh words, "Apologize right now! This is sacred ground!"
As they were moving upwards, the two figures stopped. One of the two, a girl with a long ponytail, turned her head and glared at him with stone-cold eyes.
"What did you just say?" her words barely escaped her mouth, as they had been uttered between her teeth.
"Ah! My, my partner and I are new around here. We, we have just arrived from a region far away!"
The girl's companion, a young elf with blonde hair, started the conversation with much more emphatic force. Both of them appeared to have foreign accents and mannerisms.
"Hmm. I see. Then I'll be the one apologizing here. You couldnt know. However, now that you do, I would ask you to bow your heads in front of holy lady Hilda next time you visit the plaza".
"Why? Is, is she someone important?" the young elf asked expectantly.
"Indeed. She's the city founder and patron, our savior and eternal protector. Devoting your faith to her will be useful to you even if you plan to stay here for a brief period of time. Her blessings are numerous and generous".
"I… see. We will remember that" the girl said after inhaling profusely, "You seem to be friendly enough, unlike most of the guards around here. Would you mind telling us what kind of place this is?"
"Friendly enough huh? Ha! That's a first! But sure thing, lady. This is the sacred plaza where holy lady Hilda posed the first stone that later constituted our city's very own roads. This cathedral has been erected in her honor, but beside ceremonial functions, it also houses magic rituals for prosperous harvesting, grand dancing events, and sacred ceremonies to protect us from negative energy. You name it, it is the center of the city after all".
"Interesting. Shall we enter, then?"
"Ah, y-yes, miss Nabe. Please, be at ease".
The Judge was impressed by the young elf's cordial mannerism "Of course. Sadly I cant accompany you two, me and my partner here have… other businesses to attend to. But I'll be offering you a tour of our splendid city and its wonders as soon as we're finished, if you'll be so inclined. I love entertaining foreigners with tales of might and national pride".
"We'll keep that in mind. If we'll ever meet again, that is. Let's go, Marinee".
The two moved upwards and finally reached the cathedral's entrance. One final glance at the Judge told Narberal all she needed to know. That man felt oddly suspicious, yet there was nothing to fear from his presence; his level might have been between 20 and 30 at best, and his equipment looked subpar. Up to that point, she had felt the same across all gaurdsmen and militiamen that had preceeded him. None of them was more powerful than a regular human at its peak. Basically insects, ready to be crushed.
Plurimo waved his hand weakly as he approached the cathedral under the Judge's supervision, from the other side of the building.
The municipal R&D was located in the back, hidden between a great deal of houses and small narrow alleys agglomerated around the perimeter. Only a handful of selected personnel knew of its existence due to the lethality of Plurimo's work and the dangerous materials utilized in the process of mass production. A large freight elevator powered up by magical stones providing rudimentary electricity was the only way to the facility. Of course mages and clerics could use spells to fly towards it, but it wasnt adivsed as all manners of magic spells were being forcibly disabled in a radious of one hundred meters to the facility's main entrance.
Plurimo himself was capable of basic magic spells although not very effective. He had been the very first test subject for the anti-magic field and thus had felt on his own skin the effects of losing all mana and connections to one's own skills before reaching the R&D. Since the effects of the anti-magic field had also been of his own design, he wanted to be sure that anyone accessing the place would feel enough pain to be discouraged from entering at all if they werent directly involved with the project.
Some may have found his conduct a bit sadistic, but he thought it necessary to keep intruders and people unwilling to work at bay. Given the amount of freedom he had been granted by the clergy and the municipal college, he had all the rights to proceed as he saw fit.
As he entered the facility after his slow descent, three people eagerly greeted him: Mako, his assistant engineer, a very young prodigy just old enough to keep a wrench in his hands; Risélla, a refined small lady with long silky fingers and a large, overly decorated ponytail on the side of her head, his junior apprentice; lastly Laor-f'ha, a foreign engineer with the right qualifications to also be classified as a project manager and general director of operations, the only veteran supervising anything that Plurimo couldnt handle himself.
That squad of four was able to work for a hundred men at a time, for their brains and talents were exceptional among the population of the region and most certainly the world, had they chose to visit a foreign country and make themselves known to other people.
So far however, they had been content with their living conditions and their salary, so they had no reason to seek out exotic adventures.
Mako was a fervent patriot, he would often recite the nation-state's hymn while working or operating machinery. His mother had instructed him to be a good kid, for all sons of the city are also sons of the nation, and even though the confines of their homeland were so small, she said, their hearts would make them limitless. He firmly believed in what her mother said, and would often take it to heart when addressing his companions.
Being a foreigner, Laor-f'ha sometimes disagreed with his conduct but he would sympathyze as a fellow countryman once saved his lover during a conflict between his nation and a neighbouring conqueror, so his spirit had been softened quite a lot when it came to matters of war and patriotism.
Risélla on the other hand, knew her place quite well. She would soon blossom into a fine lady and a head of the noble house Brennedt, therefore matters of war didnt interest her in the least. When it came to patriotism, money were the real balancing factor that swung her allegiance, however, she wasnt so naive as to just blindly follow her trade; she valued her friendships quite a lot, and Plurimo was amongst her most trusted allies.
The Judge looked at them from a distance, quite satisfied. It was rare to find such a perfect synergy both in a professional and affective sense. They were just meant to be together in that environment.
"Minds that I will never be able to comprehend. Ha. What a world we live in. These kids will one day invent the definitive way to destroy an entire nation, I am sure of it. Terrifying prospect but… they are our sons, after all".
Plurimo sat in the middle of the room, deep in thought. A mixture of concern and thrill filled the air. It only took a small reminder from Risélla to spur him into action again.
"Right, then… new rifles, got it! Everyone, let's start with the project. Today we will infuse ice properties onto those bullets. I want you to repeat the exact same steps we took for the explosive shells, this time we'll use a slight variation to produce the desired effect. Everyone ready?"
"Yes boss! For the motherland!" they all said in unison, as they had been instructed by their superiors.
"Yes… the motherland, right. Today it's the motherland, but tomorrow… I wonder what we'll be producing Death for". Plurimo was, in fact, sarcastic. He didnt care as much as the average man would. His work was appreciated and his status recognized. All he wanted was a bit of peace and quiet where he could spend his days in relaxing solitude. Although sometimes that felt like a solitude for two. His last thought before starting was all for Asta.
"I hope that homicidal maniac is doing fine up there. I'd best invent some sort of beak-proof vest by tomorrow morning or else I might end up dead for real". he smiled.
