Chapter Six: Blackpowder

"Civettius!" The voice drove Ulysses to a halt.

He took a gulp and turned away from the musket stacks he was about to pass.

"S-sir?"

The commanding officer of the company took off his head cover to wipe away his sweat before slapping it back on.

"What do you think you're doing?" He asked.

"Um, I was hoping to, uh, find a shady spot to... rest?" Ulysses gave him an awkward smile.

The commander shook his head.

"You were about to pass over the weapon stacks." The officer stated firmly.

Ulysses glanced back at the muskets.

"So?"

The officer narrowed his eyes at Ulysses.

"The weapon stacks separate the officers from the enlisted. Don't. Break. The stacks."

"Well, why do the officers need to be separated." Ulysses furrowed his brow.

"Are... Are you serious?" The Commander looked at Ulysses with genuine shock. "Is your father not the Freiherr von Bruntal?"

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"I'd have assumed your father would teach you the importance of the officer corps. Despite how much he's contributed to the Empire, it appears he's found wanting in matters related to his family."

"What!?" Ulysses scowled at his superior. "What did you say about my father? Say it again! I have a white glove in my field pack, I'll bring it out!"

"Calm down! A duel won't fix your ignorance." The officer sighed. He paused to observe the frustrated young man in front of him. "Are you just going to stand there and be offended? Will you not take measures to resolve this issue?"

Ulysses glared at the officer for a few more seconds before talking.

"A duel would resolve it." Ulysses' scowl sunk deeper.

"That attitude will be the end of you, Fähnrich. At least try to live long enough to inherit your father's title."

"Fine! I get it, alright? Now, tell me what I need to know!"

The commander raised an eyebrow at the boy.

"Is that the only measure you'll take? You are speaking to a superior."

Ulysses hands clenched into a fist, shaking for a moment before he finally forced himself to relax. Studying the ground next to his feet, Ulysses finally spoke, softly.

"Sir... Forgive me my trespass. Please proceed with your instruction." His voice came out in a practiced tone.

The officer could feel the insincerity of Ulysses' apology but he figured it was good enough for now.

"Very well. Ulysses, you are an officer. You have been prepped, educated and perfected to lead these men. They expect perfection out of you! If you are perfect, they will follow your every order. You cannot mingle with the troops or they will begin to see your imperfection."

"If I become their friend, wouldn't they listen because they trust me?" Ulysses reasoned.

"Absolutely not, the linemen are tools. The moment you befriend them, you'll find it difficult to treat them like tools. You'll make calls in poor judgment. Your father should've taught you this."

"My father raised me well!"

"He rose you to be headstrong but not intelligent!" The commander gave Ulysses a light knock on the head. "Have you ever played Chess?"

"Of course!"

"Then you know you can't win unless you sacrifice a few pawns, no? Heavens, maybe even a knight or a rook! The point is, leading these men will be much like chess. If you don't plan to lose a few, you'll lose them all."

Ulysses readied his pack as Aqua yawned, staring at the dried frog meat in front of her.

"I'm sick of frog..." She sighed.

"Alright, then you can eat whatever other food we have." Ulysses jeered.

"Really? W-well, what other kind of food do we have?" Aqua flashed Ulysses a wide grin.

He stared at her for a moment, struggling to come up with a proper response before palming his face and letting out a long sigh.

"Aqua... I was being sarcastic..."

Her smile slowly faded.

"Oh..." She immediately went back to pouting. "That's rude! As a goddess, I order you to stop being sarcastic when I'm hungry!"

"As your companion, I really don't care." Ulysses took the two shortswords from yesterday and strapped them, crossing each other, to the back of his pack. "You'd better eat quickly, I want to head out before the sun is directly overhead."

Aqua growled as she took a few more bites of the frog meat.

Ulysses stared at the scimitar he collected.

"There was something I wanted to ask you, yesterday." He turned the blade to examine the other side.

Aqua let out a short grunt in response.

"I'll take that to mean you're listening." Ulysses held out the blade. "Why does everyone have a sword?"

"Hm?" Aqua stopped chewing. She took a big gulp and cleared her throat before talking. "I'm sorry, what?"

"I said, why does everyone have a sword?"

"Um..." Aqua let out a confused chuckle. "To fight monsters with."

"What?" Ulysses shot her a confused glance.

"What?"

"Pfft, yeah! I know they need swords to fight monsters but why does everyone have a sword?" Ulysses tried again.

"I'm... really confused as to what your asking."

"Ugh." Ulysses facepalmed. "Let me rephrase: How can everyone afford a sword."

"... It's, uh, not that hard to save up a few paychecks and buy a sword." Aqua shifted uncomfortably.

"Only a few paychecks? Back in Austria... er, I suppose I should say it as Earth, Swords were heirlooms to be passed down, amongst the commoners at least. My father had my Saber handcrafted for me using an extensive amount of money. How can swords be so cheap here that a mere highwayman can be adept at using two?"

Aqua thought about it for a moment before it finally looked like a light bulb flipped on in her head.

"Oh! Ohohohoh! I see what you're asking!" She let out a small giggle. "Yeah, dummy! This isn't Earth so the same rules don't apply! See, the reason why swords are expensive on Earth is because of the metal, Right?"

"Right."

"Well, in this world, low level mages can turn rocks into common metals like tin and copper. Higher level mages can create iron and steel! That's why swords are so cheap, the metal is abundant!"

Ulysses pondered her words for a moment and then let out a sigh.

"I see..." Were the only words to escape his mouth.

Aqua waited for him to continue talking, tilting her head when he didn't.

"Um... You okay there, Uly?" She asked.

"Hm? Yeah, just... nothing..." He then snapped his attention back to her. "Wait, what did you just call me?"

"Um... Uly?"

"Yes, that... why?"

"It's an abbreviation of your name, duh." She rolled her eyes.

"Don't. Don't abbreviate my name, I'm quite proud of it." He stated firmly.

"But Ulysses is sooo long! I'm not gonna take the time to say the whole thing every time I need you!"

"I don't care, use my proper name."

"Hm... Yeah, I'm not gonna do that, thanks." She gave a final smirk before jumping up from the rock she was sitting on and stretching. "Well, are you ready to leave?"

Ulysses stared at her for a few moments longer before sliding the scimitar back into it's sheath.

After another few hours walking, the sun was high in the sky. Having since left the forest, Ulysses and Aqua were finally at the manor of the local lord. They approached the watchmen who were guarding the decorative steel gates.

"Good afternoon!" Ulysses started.

"Afternoon. May I ask your business with Baron Alexei?" One of the guards asked.

"Yes, my name is Ulysses M. Civettius. I'm... a noble from outside the country. I'd like to speak with your lord."

The guard eyed Ulysses' frock coat for a moment and then shrugged.

"I'll deliver the message. Wait here, please."

The Guard ran off for only a few moments before returning.

"Um, You are, uh, allowed to enter." the guard said, seemingly confused.

The two were led to a quaint little audience chamber. Inside was a man who was about the same age as Ulysses, he had brunette hair and wore a formal attire that was befitting that of a noble.

"Ah, you must be our unexpected guests! Please, have a seat!" The man gestured to some open seats on the other side of the elegant table that he was sitting at.

"Thank you." Ulysses bowed and took his seat. Aqua followed right after him.

"My name is Alexei Barnes Walter, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." The man offered a warm smile.

"A pleasure indeed." Ulysses nodded. "I am Oberleutnant Ulysses Michael Civettius, Heir to the Freiherr von Bruntál."

"Ah! The guards did say that you claimed the title of nobility... Though, I don't recognize... um... most of the words you just spoke." Alexei chuckled.

"Ah, yes... I'm the son of the Freiherr, um... the ruler or governor, of Bruntál. It is in a land far from here."

"Is it? Bruntál, What country is it in?"

"Austria... again, far from this land."

"Hm." Alexei nodded. "Well, I hope you don't mind if I hold some suspicion for you as I've never heard of an Austria."

"You are justified in your suspicion. I would also be suspicious, in all honesty."

"Well... You do carry yourself as nobility. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt."

"Thank you, Baron Alexei." Ulysses nodded.

"Oh! No! Nonono!" Alexei chuckled awkwardly. "Sorry, I am not the Baron, that is my father. I'm merely his son!"

"Is that so? Very well, I'll take what I can get."

"So, Mister Civettius, What was it that you wished to discuss?"

Ulysses unsheathed his firearm and placed it on the table.

"This."

Alexei raised an eyebrow.

"And... this is?"

"A Flintlock Pistol. It is a tool with which one can apply deadly force wherever necessary... Or just put a hole in something if it is so needed."

"Okay... And why did you wish to discuss this?"

"I was hoping to receive funds from the state, with which I will raise an army wielding similar mechanisms to this and save our lands from the Demon King. It is quite an effective weapon, after all."

Alexei seemed both impressed and confused at the same time.

"Mister Civettius, I would need a demonstration of it's efficiency before I could commit to something like that." He chuckled.

"Very well. If you have a practice dummy or something I can use as target practice, I'd be able to show you how efficient this weapon can be." Ulysses smirked.

Ulysses, Aqua and Alexei all stood in the training grounds with a small gathering of guards waiting for Ulysses to show off his weapon, placing bets on whether or not Alexei will be impressed. A pumpkin was set up as the target.

Ulysses doubled checked his flintlock, using the ramrod to see if it was loaded properly. After doing so, he turned to Alexei.

"This weapon is an equalizer. It doesn't take the strength necessary to wield a bow and has far greater stopping power than a crossbow. Given even a short amount of time, I could train even a preteen to become an effective line infantryman."

Alexei looked down range in anticipation.

"Those are some grand claims, Mister Civettius."

"They aren't merely claims... Observe."

As he finished his sentence, Ulysses aimed his flintlock and pulled the trigger. Smoke filled the air directly in front of him as the guards were startled by the bang caused by the pistol. Small pumpkin pieces flew in the air as the upper left side of the pumpkin exploded.

"That's... Amazing!" Alexei took some steps towards the pumpkin. "You're saying this can easily be equipped on some of the worst fighters?"

"That is correct."

"I see... I will go speak with my father! You may wait in our chambers, Mister Civettius! I'll be back swiftly!" Alexei said, taking the pumpkin with him.

After some time of waiting, Aqua sighed.

"How much longer is he going to take?" She groaned.

"Show a little more cheer, why don't you?" Ulysses winced. "This could potentially make us very wealthy."

Aqua perked up at that statement.

"We can get money?" The look in her eye told Ulysses just how greedy she was.

"Um... Yeah, we could get a lot of money from this."

Aqua slid a closer to Ulysses.

"How much are we talking?"

"I can't... Reasonably say..."

"But, but... You'd have a rough guess, right?"

Ulysses threw up his hands in a shrug.

"I don't know, maybe we become so wealthy that all our sick and depraved dreams come true as we have enough money to make even the most loyal law Enforcers turn a blind eye to our debased and selfish behavior... That a good enough answer to you?"

Aqua's smile was really wide.

"Alright, I can be a bit more patient." She slowly sat back down.

Ulysses stared at her for a moment.

"The fact that my radical answer made you happy is concerning to me."

"I just like money." Aqua shrugged.

"Okay, sure but why? You're a goddess, right? Don't you discard money when you're up there?"

"Well, yeah, but we're not up there, are we? I need money to do what I want down here and we're gonna use that money to help me get back up there!"

Ulysses took a short breath in as he was about to rebuttal but he couldn't see anything innately wrong with that line of reasoning. He slowly exhaled.

After only a few more moment, the door opened and Alexei walked in, looking a little less than thrilled.

"So?" Ulysses asked.

"So... My father is skeptical of your weapon and is afraid that I am too trusting of others... Because I back it, however, he's giving you a chance to prove it's worth."

"And what does that mean?" Aqua asked. "Erm, in terms of money."

"Aqua!" Ulysses snapped at her. "Dignity, woman. Show some dignity."

"Well, she's not wrong to be asking what you should be expecting in this arrangement. If you agree, you will receive funding enough to support a small group with these weapons and I, along with five soldiers from..." Alexei paused, hesitating for just a moment. "The garrison of the western tower... As well as your pick of up to four prisoners from the castle dungeon will be accompanying you on your journey. If we, as a party, can become nationally known as powerful adventurers by the end of the year, my father will push for even the king to back this project and these weapons could become mainstream."

"And if we don't become known?"

"Then... You'll be arrested for... deceiving a Baron..."

"It's a risk..." Ulysses said after a moment of thinking. "... But... But I am confident in these weapons... I'll take your offer."

Alexei smiled and stood, holding his hand out.

"Then it'll be a pleasure to work with you, Mister Civettius."

Ulysses shook his hand tightly.

"A pleasure, indeed."

Author's Note:
THIS STORY ISN'T DEAD! I'm sorry if I haven't been posting lately. I do not have anywhere NEAR a good excuse, it was just pure laziness. Sorry for making you all wait... :'(

To Guest: Huh, Line ships never even crossed my mind! I might have to delve into that idea just a bit!

To Gunboat Diplomat: I am super sorry about not getting these upload times regular (I'll be better I promise)! I saw your comment on my other story as well, it's not a bad idea but I don't have an end goal with Of Faith & Fire yet so I don't want to begin progressing that story until I've rewatched at least a good chunk of Familiar of Zero again!

To vestas hearth: I agree!

To Blaze1992: Haha! Yeah, he's right!

To Ecomonococo: Thanks! As I said earlier, I'll try to post more often!

To Psycho-Kozel: Y'know, I'm neither Austrian nor Czechoslovakian, neither do I have any relation to either country. Is there competition at all between the two?