More background of our hero coming to light. Not as heavy on the references on this one, but there will be more... lots more!

Julius followed the Elf male from the workshop who had come to the training ground to find him. He seemed really excited to show off their progress with Julius's many pet projects that he'd come up with. They had to wait until Erica changed out of her knight uniform and back into her maid outfit before they could leave. The Elf was actually chomping at the bit the entire time he was made to wait.

Gorge, a burly man with curly brown hair, and green overalls met the Elf who was leading the Prince along with his usual entourage at the entrance to the workshop. Julius actually mistook Gorge for a dwarf when he first met the man, even though he didn't sport the trademark beard, nor was he short of stature, still to Julius the man's physique was very dwarf like.

Gorge's big brown eyes sparkled when Julius ran the rest of the way up to him. They both wore rather interesting grins while they bumped fists. Gorge was careful to not put too much strength into his arm and hand when he did. The first time Julius taught Gorge how to fist bump he sent the boy flying across the room. Gorge felt really bad, but Julius laughed it off with a goofy grin.

"Nice arm there Gorgy," Julius had said. "You should try out for the Red Socks, or the Yankees…"

Gorge didn't know about baseball, nor about the hated rivalry between the two teams, but that didn't prevent him from laughing, because he did get the gist of what Julius was saying.

"My strength comes from pounding so much steel," Gorge boasted with patting his flexed right bicep with is left hand.

For the past two years Julius had imparted his knowledge from his past life to him and his fellow smiths. Gorge along with the other smiths in the forge were blown away not only by what Julius taught them about advanced smelting practices, but also the ways which they could use machines to do a lot of the forging for them.

Half a year ago, Gorge and the other smiths produced the first CNC machine that ran off of magic circuits and refined arcane runes. Thanks to Julius their craft had almost caught up with the technology that Julius remembered. It was still less advanced than the ancient men who had fought the war against the new humans who had appeared several centuries ago, but at least it was a start.

Julius smiled while he, Angelica and Erica walked and talked with Gorge who led them into an area of the workshop where the final product was displayed on the table in the center of the room. Julius's eyes sparkled while he ran over and picked up one of the finished rifles.

"It's just like I remember," Julius cried in excitement while he gripped the pistol grip and held the M-lok free floated quad rail with the other. "Damn," He looked down the reticule of the ACOG like scope and adjusted the brightness of the chevron to a neon green from red. "But this is a lot lighter than the AR tens that I'm used to…" Julius lowered the rifle and used it like a barbell.

"The receiver," Gorge rubbed the bottom of his chin. "As you called it, is forged out of Mithril, both the upper receiver is too, but the barrel is Orichalcum lined, not chrome lined like the one from your old world." Gorge beamed. "I guess we did a good job of replicating it if you're that happy about it!" Gorge let out a guttural belly laugh.

"And you built three of them in only six months," Julius cried noticing the other two rifles on the table. "Not only that, but you even reproduced the Sig two-two-six…" Julius placed the AR ten back on the table and ran over to give the big burly man a hug. "Gorge you and your guys aren't blacksmiths… You're miracle workers!"

Angelica and Erica both smiled at Julius who was trying and failing to wrap his arms around Gorge who had tilted his head back he was enjoying the Prince's reaction so very much. Even the smiths who were watching this had stopped what they were doing to either high fived each other, or rubbed the underside of their noses at the Prince's high praise.

"I take it that you are pleased with the product," Baton came into the room, the mage who was also a magic tool designer was eager to assist with the rifle and pistol project that the Prince had proposed to his school. Unfortunately Baton was the only mage in his division who showed any interest in the strange new weapon designs that he knew would eventually take the place of the archaic bolt action weapons that most adventurers were using.

"Come here your Highness," Baton's bright blue eyes gleamed, just like Julius's were. "I know that you'll enjoy this," He held up the metallic cartridge so that Julius could inspect it, after the prince finally let go of Gorge and walked over to where the white robbed mage held the cartridge between his index finger and his thumb. "The case is brass just like the ones the bolt gun uses, but this projectile is mithril plated rather than copper plated."

"Is it still a lead based bullet," Angelica asked while remembering the relic rifles that her own Redgrave family owned. "Or did you make it with solid mithril?"

"Good question Angelica," Baton beamed and gave her a bemused smile. "It still retains a lead core, but the mithril plating will allow it to be charged with different kinds of magic while it travels down the barrel!"

"What," Angelica gasped.

"Are you serious," Erica also cried in surprise and shock.

Baton smirked and nodded, while Gorge broke out into laughter once more.

Baton pocketed the cartridge, walked over to the table and picked up one of the rifles. He presented it so that, Julius, Angelica and Erica could see it.

"Do you see the button right bellow the safe, fire, fun switch?" Baton pointed at the button while holding the rifle awkwardly while he did. The three of them nodded, but Julius smirked because he was the one who had suggested they add that little feature to the rifle after the completion and test of the prototype.

"If you channel your magic into the pistol grip you can change and charge the next bullet in the magazine to a different magic type." He adjusted the way he held the rifle, pointing the barrel up at the ceiling, making sure that his finger was resting on the side of the receiver, just like Julius had taught him.

Julius smiled at this, the first rule of safety, always point the barrel in a safe direction, second rule of safety trigger discipline, third rule of safety make sure that there are no rounds in the chamber. He thought.

Right when Julius had thought this, Baton pulled the charging handle back to make sure that the round he had pocketed didn't somehow magically transport itself into the chamber. He smiled when he noticed Julius closing his eyes and nodding his head.

"I must warn you," Baton continued with a slight frown. "The magic that the bullets can be charged with will only match with what the operator can use."

"Ah," Julius pounded his fist into his hand. "So if I charge my magic into the rifle then I can only produce fire and electric charged projectiles…"

"Indeed your highness," Baton nodded his head. "And if Angelica uses her rifle she can shoot, fire, ice and earth charged projectiles." Baton nodded toward Angelica who blushed a bit and nodded back. "Or you can forgo charging the bullets altogether and do old fashioned physical damage."

"I would think,"— Julius eyed the rifle that Baton was carrying. —"that a thirty caliber mithril plated projectile would take just about anything down, magically charged or not."

"Yes, your highness," Baton having enough of carrying the rifle placed it back down on the table, he removed the cartridge from his pocket. "These seven six two by fifty one millimeter cartridge's that you developed pack a lot more punch than the old ones that we've been using."

"I know," Julius nodded. "The rifles that both the Redgraves and the ones that my…" he sighed. "Father have collected are based on the very old eight millimeter mouser."

"I wasn't a fan," Erica muttered. "Of those old guns and the projectiles themselves even though they could be magically charged before firing they still didn't always work right…" She placed her hand on her forehead and shook her head a few times at the memories.

"I didn't know that you were an adventurer," Angelica turned to the maid with a gleam in her eyes. "Erica!"

"That was in my youth," Erica lowered her hand and smiled at Angelica. "I only lasted a year, I was too young and foolish back then and my companions…"

"Don't tell me that they left a lot to be desired," Julius finished for her. "Or something like that Erica?"

"Yes," Erica gave him a smile and a slight bow. "Your highness."

"So," Julius went over to the table, picked up the rifle that Baton was showing to them and threw it to Erica. She yelped in surprise, but caught the rifle in her arms. "Erica what do you think of your new rifle?"

"Wha…" Erica gave Julius a look of confused disbelief. "My rifle?" She righted the weapon and her confused face slowly turned into a beaming smile. After a moment Erica slung the AR ten over her shoulder and adjusted the strap so that it was snug enough so that it wouldn't come loose.

"And," Julius threw the second one to Angelica who was expecting him to do that when he gave her that conniving look of his. "That one is yours, Angie…"

"Thank you Julius," Angelica wrapped her hands around the pistol grip and the quad rail. My rifle, she thought.

"Just don't go around," Julius pressed his fingers to his head and shook it. "Saying, 'this is my rifle this is my gun… this is for fighting this is for fun;' because…" he looked at the two very confused looking women. "That would be both bad and not make much sense."

You're the one who doesn't make sense your highness, both women thought.

Julius lowered his hand, he walked back over to the table, he also gave them both one of the Sig two, two sixes. Both women were beaming while they strapped on their thigh holsters and placed their new side arms in them. While Erica and Angelica were busy with that, Baton snapped his fingers and several assistants came in the room carrying four cans of cartridges and a big crate filled with magazines for both the rifles and the pistols.

"The Sig's magazines,"— Gorge walked over to the table and picked up one of the pistol magazines. —"hold seventeen rounds of nine millimeter ammunition…"

"While the AR ten's magazines…" Baton pulled out one of the rifle magazines hold twenty five rounds of three oh eight, or seven six two by fifty one millimeter rounds."

Julius whistled, "Nice!"

"I know," Baton smirked and gave him a wink.

"There are twelve magazines per rifle," Gorge patted the top of the crate a few times. "And ten magazines per Sig two, two, six."

"We are working on manufacturing more rifles and pistols…" Gorge said with a slight frown. "But it's going to take about another month or two before they're finished, assembled and tested."

"We are also working on making more magazines," Baton gleamed. "Because once the news of these new weapons gets out, we know that the demand is going to be thru the roof!"

"Now," Baton and Gorge both cried aloud. "Go out there and show those idiot nobles and moronic adventures that these new tools are invaluable!"

"Are you actually telling us to become your posterboys?" Julius eyed both men with a smirk. "And they may not be my designs originally… they're still considered my ideas according to our kingdom's patent laws…"

"We know your highness," Baton and Gorge both replied with conniving grins while giving him a slight bow. "These new rifle and pistol combinations will replace those antiquated bolt guns that most explorers, adventurers and nobles use."

"I honestly can't wait until the orders start pouring in," Gorge had a very greedy gleam in his eyes. "And when the other nations find out about the new weapons our kingdom starts producing they'll demand to buy them from us too."

"Fuck," Julius muttered. "I probably just unintentionally started an arms race… didn't I?"

"No," Baton shook his head. "There are no probably's about it… it's more like a definitely your highness!"

Wonderful, Julius thought while rolling his eyes while tightening the sling on his own rifle. This is what I get for being a machinist at Ruger for four years, then moving to Exeter and working at the Sig plant for another fourteen… That was what got me killed in my old life now that I think about it…

With a pout and a rather heavy heart, Julius placed his own Sig in his own Kydex holster and was about to leave. Erica and Angelica were still beaming and excitedly talking about their new weapons while they followed after Julius. Gorge was going to have a case of both nine millimeter and three oh eights dropped off at both the palace and the Redgrave mansion. The three people only had one magazine filled and inserted into their respective firearms.

Another younger looking smith cried out to prevent Julius and his two companions from leaving the workshop.

"Wait your highness," the middle aged male yelled at them at the entrance. "I have something for you that I know that you'll love… I've actually just put the finishing touches on the last one…"

He tossed two lengthy looking silk cloth covered bundles to both Julius and Angelica. The shape and weight alone let them both know that they were actually swords wrapped up nicely for them.

Angelica and Julius gave each other very wide smiles, while Erica covered her mouth with the back of her hand to try and fail to hide her snickers. With a swift yank the blue silk covers were removed and a pair of katana shaped swords were revealed. At the same time Julius and Angelica pulled the blades from their scabbards. Though the hilts were wrapped with black leather instead of lace and the guards were both ovular and a shiny black and orangy color, the single blade did have the trademark katana curve. The blades from the edge to the hamon line were a silver color that had a rainbow effect even under the light of a setting sun. The rest of the blade from the hamon line to the back of the blade was the same shiny orangy color that the guard had.

"I can't believe that they did it," Julius exclaimed. "I mean they actually did it!"

"This sword is beautiful," Angelica turned to look at the madly grinning blade smith.

"It took us a while to figure out how to meld the billet consisting of both mithril and orichalcum, but from the satisfied gleam in Julius and Angelica's eyes I think that we did good!"

"Good," Julius yelled. "This isn't a sword this is a work of fucking art!"

The sword smith gave the two of them a grand bow. "As a craftsman it is pleasing to know that my work is appreciated." He had tears in his eyes which he was trying to wipe away when he straightened. "Still," he spoke through his tears. "For some strange reason even though the billet was folded just like prince Julius instructed us, the metals always separate during the final quenching and the blades always end up well…" he pointed at the swords that Julius and Angelica held with utter awe and reverence in their hands. "Like that…"

Julius was truly intrigued by this. "Very interesting, perhaps there is some form of magical bond that we don't yet understand going on between the two magically infused metals…" he stopped staring at the blade held in front of him. "Wait did you just say that there are more blades than just these two?"

"Well," the smith rubbed the back of his head and shrugged. "Yes, prince Julius there were three blades that were the test forgings and now that we've learned the trick to forging mithril and orichalcum into a solid billet the boys just wouldn't give up… the two swords that you and Angelica are holding were actually the best of the twenty five that we made… not including the three test blades, we didn't know if they'd survive the last quenching procedure…"

"Brogin," Julius shook his head. "When you and your blade smiths set out to do something you don't ever do it half assed do you?"

Brogin's big golden orbs began leaking tears once more. "No your highness!" He yelled while holding his hands high in the air. "We would never let the knowledge that you've bestowed upon us to be abused, or put to waist in such a way!"

"Excuse me Brogin," Erica hesitated while she glanced at the sword that Julius held to the one in Angelica's hands. "Would you allow me to have one of those twenty five…"

Brogin went wide eyed at Erica's sudden request he then looked at Julius who smiled and shrugged his shoulders. "They're your blades Brogin, it doesn't matter to me who you give them to."

"Really," Erica cried in glee while jumping in the air and clapping her hands. "Thank you so much prince Julius!"

Brogin smirked. "I'll have one of the boy's drop off your blade after we add the finishing touches to it tomorrow. Erica, you should have it sometime in the afternoon."

Erica gave him several emphatic bows while she smiled so wide she showed off her pearl white teeth that were tinted the same orangy color as the orichalcum on Julius and Angelica's blades under the waning sun.

It was dark when Julius flopped face first on his bed. It had been a long day. He held his eyes closed while he thought about the earlier encounter with his mother who had asked him about the new rifle slung over his back, the side arm strapped to his right hip and katana like sword wrapped in a purple silk cloth he held in his hand. His rather estranged father Roland had rushed over when he overheard what Julius and Mylene were discussing.

Julius's father really wanted one of each of Julius's new weapons. Roland even tried to use his authority to confiscate the weapons that were on his person, fortunately Mylene put a stop to that for which Julius was thankful. Mylene decided to have a lengthy discussion with Julius in her office away from prying eyes and ears. Julius absolutely loved his mother who had even defended his secretary Erica's weapon's from his father's greedy mitts. Erica paled when the king demanded that she hand over her AR and Sig over to him. Mylene glared daggers at him while Julius placed his hand on the grip of his Sig and he too narrowed his eyes at Roland while he begrudgingly slunk away.

I don't know how mom can stand that guy, Julius thought while sighing into his pillow flipping over on his back. He's more of a philanderer than some of the guys I knew back in my previous life… and that's saying something.

Julius closed his eyes fell into a dreamless sleep. He had inadvertently changed the course of his kingdom by improving the arms of the knights and the adventurers and not even his mother the Queen could prevent his new creations from falling into the hands of several noble houses that really shouldn't have them. Fortunately none of the weapons were yet in full development and it would be at least another year or more before the rifles and pistols would be produced in sufficient numbers to meet the expected demand. There were several houses that would need to be dealt with so that they wouldn't fall into any of the internal enemy's hands.

Mylene folded her fingers and rested her chin on them while she stared at Erica who was standing in front of her desk. Mylene sighed while she glanced down at the document that the maid had given to her.

"AR ten, Sig two, two, six and a sword created by combining mithril and orichalcom two metals that most mages even deemed to be incompatible." She sighed again. "I absolutely adore my son, especially after he regained the memories of his past life, but now I think that Delrak has unleashed a monster…"

"Please don't say that,"— Erica whimpered in alarm. —"your highness, Julius is a very good, boy he treats me well and now that I've become his secretary even more so, than he did when he first recovered his old memories… if he'd continued treating me like a plaything, or a doll like his father…" She shut up and bowed to Mylene in apology. "So sorry your highness…" Mylene raised her hand and gestured for her to lift her head and continue. She's not wrong, Mylene thought before Erica resumed her exposition. "Julius is indeed a genius, but even he is only twelve and still needs to be nurtured in order to become a great ruler…" Erica frowned. "Even if that means helping cut out the cancers within the nobility…"

"He's a bit too young to have such a burden placed on him," Mylene leaned back in her chair, looked up at the ceiling, shut her eyes and let out a lamenting sigh. "I know that he's much more mature than most children his age…" She shook her head. "He was already fed up with Jilk, Brad, and Greg and that was several years ago… he keeps calling them the three stooges every time he sees them. I've also heard that he had a falling out with Chris a few weeks ago."

"Well, even I've come to loath Brad and… Jilk he doesn't even go and visit his fiancée,"— Erica frowned. —"every time Julius asks him to go and visit Clarice he flat out refuses!"

"That poor girl," Mylene shook her head. "She does deserve better than Jilk… I'll personally ask Jilk to go and meet with his fiancée tomorrow. If he still refuses then I'll ask Bernard to annul the engagement the next time I see him."

"Actually," Erica nervously pushed her index fingers together. "Julius was going to go and ask Bernard and Clarice a favor tomorrow…"

Mylene went wide eyed for a moment before going back to her more normal expression. "And what favor might that be…" She eyed the now really nervous woman in front of her. "Erica?"

"I was told by Julius not to tell you," Erica glanced up at the now wide eyed Queen. "I made a promise…"

What is my deviously ingenious son up to now, Mylene thought with while rubbing her temples where she felt a headache coming on.