SERAPHIS VERLICE
"A Tamer refers to a mage who has made a contract with a magic beast and has acquired a beast stigma, allowing him to willingly draw on some of the beast's abilities and physique in sequential phases known as stages. By tapping into these stages, you may utilize the innate magic arts of the contractee in varying amounts," I recited, the undercurrent of mana carrying my voice throughout the room.
"The ranking and willingness of the beast itself also plays a crucial role in the success rate of forging a contract. A stronger bond of trust between the two recipients is crucial for success. As for the details of said contracts, while they may vary slightly, they are all founded on the same, valued fundamentals of mutual preservation. Essentially: So long as you grant my desires, I'll lend you some of my power."
Spellframes vibrated in the air around me, comprised of multiple, smaller ones—bridges and modifiers—their existence firm, yet unstable; like a tightrope threatening to snap. Their forms shimmered with intricate systems posed as runes, each of them carefully crafted to a different task; a different purpose.
The one to my right channeled a brisk breeze of wind, tousling my long hair, while the one in front radiated a soft current of hot air. Finally, to my utmost left, was one that struggled to maintain its form, flickering in and out of existence, its runes sputtered and faded, producing no effect.
"Correct," a voice responded. "Now tell me about a beast stigma. What is it?"
"A beast stigma is… is…" I faltered, feeling a bead of sweat roll down to my brows.
Before long, my concentration began slipping, my frustration leaking into my connection with… with… who?—the narrating branch of thought was lost.
Dammit…!
The spellsforms cracked with a sound like glass exploding into motion across multiple frequencies; most of which were muted, and I let out a bitter scoff, the failure burning bright in my mind.
"Is that good enough, Master Haldir?" I grumbled.
The tall elven man adorned in his signature simple white robes approached slowly, a sliver of satisfaction lining his otherwise impassive face. "Twenty seconds. A new record. Yes, that'll do. Nicely done," he said simply.
"You've become more adept at splitting your focus and maintaining a reasonably clear mind under stress. This test has been passed with flying colors, despite your failure."
Releasing my hold of the mana in the air, I sucked in a deep breath, exhaling slowly.
Each day his tests get more extreme… I'm not sure how much longer I can do this.
I feel like one day I'll just snap.
A dual pacing of footsteps brought me back to reality.
"That was amazing, Sera. I don't know many adults, let alone children who could hold that many spellframes for so long…!" Ismeria exclaimed.
"Grandpa's teachings must really be paying off. I wonder if I'd be able to do something like that. Right, Briar?" She gave an excited grin.
From her left, the bright scarlet-eyed elf nodded in agreement.
"She's right. Pretty awesome," was all she muttered, though beneath her otherwise unassuming expression, I could see a hint of sincerity.
"I guess you're right…" I reluctantly replied. "It's just… really disappointing is all. I feel like I should be able to do it, but I can't. It feels so diminishing. And the same thing with my beast stigma. Despite the trust I've built with Seraphina, I've only barely unlocked the first stage of it, with no way of knowing how to get to the next. Even the thing with the Divine Art. Despite somehow unlocking the seal, you've refused to tell me anything about it, and I can't—"
"Seraphis, listen to me," Haldir firmly cut in, "Your current level is much further than you know. That's because you haven't had a chance to truly test yourself. I don't know what gives you the idea that you need to be some deity-sent magical genius at the mere age of nine, but it won't do you any good. While it's important to strive for goals, it is also equally as important that you take the time to reflect on your journey and progress. You should feel more proud of yourself. By now, you must be aware of my other title, yes? ...The King in White." He paused.
"White, in the culture of us elves, symbolizes a place of new beginnings and growth. It holds great significance. I take pride in that title more than any other I possess purely because it is linked to my accomplishments as a king myself. And, not only do I acknowledge your potential and current skill, I also look forward to seeing their progression."
His gaze met mine.
"Your hard work in these past four years hasn't gone to waste, boy. Know that. You simply need the right exercise to bring them out."
…Of course, I knew he was right—I knew they all were—even I knew it was irrational to somehow expect me to be some dragon-slaying mage at this tender age of mine, but I couldn't help but feel this irrational nagging.
That I had to grow stronger—I needed to. It was like an inch deep in my mind, a whisper from a body unseen.
It wasn't hard enough to figure out that part of it had to do with her, but that also begged two questions: How much of my own feelings were mine; not influenced, and why was she nagging me to grow stronger?
My thoughts brought me back to that day, all those years ago. That fateful meeting…
Worry flared in my mind—not my own—and I snuffed it out.
"Yeah. You're right. Sorry, everyone."
Haldir made no move to speak, and so Ismeria picked up the torch instead, in all her awkward, but sincere enthusiasm that she's gained over the course of time.
"It's totally fine, Sera, it's normal to feel as if you aren't making progress. That happens to me a lot, actually. Sometimes I think 'Oh, I've finally started to make progress with Gael', before realizing that I couldn't have been further from the truth, or when I see just how much progress you and Briar have made compared to me. Then I get all sad and start feeling like giving up, but then there's a little voice in my head that keeps stirring me on, and…" she trailed off, before catching herself.
"A-anyways, that's not the point. What I was trying to say is: It all takes time! You get used to it, eventually… R-right, Briar?"
The elven princess shot an awkward glance to her sister, unable to mask her discomfiture at her rambling behind her rosy cheeks; her silver eyes dancing back and forth between us, communicating an unspoken plea.
"R-right… Yeah, it happens," Briar said simply, and Ismene eased up a bit, letting out a breath I doubt she knew she was holding. "S-see?"
I had to hold back a smirk at her antics as Ismeria began a small stream of talk, which I'd tuned out in favor of my own reflection. Seeing the progression of their relationship was something I took satisfaction in, despite having nothing to do with it, personally.
…Sorta, anyways.
Some time ago, Ismene revealed to me the complications behind her relationship with Briar.
Being the shy, slightly awkward girl that she was, Ismene always found it a bit more difficult than Briar to perform her duties as a Princess.
For example, in what most heirs should find their talent or "home" to be in—that being politically-related situations, discussions, and relationship building with important figures—Ismeria, instead, found distressing.
Ismene was never truly interested in taking her mother and father's place as the ruler of Testruam, but she figured that had she declined, the burden would fall on to the one next in line: Briar.
Essentially, the girl is pushing herself so that her sister would be spared the harsh, burdening reality of it all. It was kind of her, but also very… reckless.
She feels as if this is the only way to save Briar, so Ismeria is okay with how things end up, so long as she doesn't push her responsibilities onto the next.
Although the two have grown a bit closer—on the surface, that is—the underlying issue revolves in the lack of communication from them both.
Neither of them are adept at social handlings, so it makes the situation that much harder, though I'm not one to speak.
I don't have Briar's side of this story, so there's no way of knowing for certain if the issue is a lack of communication or something else entirely.
"And for the record, Seraphis," Haldir began, "The reason you feel you haven't progressed as far as you should have with your beast stigma is because of the lack of time we have to truly focus on nurturing it. Think of all the time spent practicing and mastering standard magic core mediation, swordsmanship, spellframe casting efficiency, physical training, and mana assimilation. With such a diluted pool, it's only normal for them to not all be at a higher level than they would be had you focused only on one of them. It's the reason why the Queen of Verlice, your mother, never outright told you about the power nestling in your lineage." He paused.
"Though I did not lie all those years ago when I said it would be easier for you to form and evolve your bond with Seraphina, maturing a beast stigma is, by nature, a strenuous and difficult task. It took me many decades to fully assimilate with mines. You're lucky you even got this far as is. Care to explain why?"
I sighed, realizing I'd just fallen into one of his mental exercise traps.
"It's because Seraphina is still very young. She hasn't had the usual time a magic beast would have to develop its skills and abilities before creating a bond and becoming someone's familiar—which is pretty rare in of itself.
"Well put," he acknowledged. "That is the essence of it."
He did have a point though. Seraphina was still technically a child in terms of fox years.
For her to have come far enough to basically form her own abilities without the help of any of her own lineage, would be extremely difficult—like teaching yourself a new language.
My eyes settled over to the fox in question, who was chasing Gael around the outskirts of the room. Those two… They've grown quite close, surprisingly. Ever since that day Seraphina accidentally swallowed a few of his feathers, somehow, the bird's been unusually more keen to her, though he was sorta like that to begin with.
Memories of her previous self clashed with that of now, and how much she's changed, both physically and mentally.
I felt her curiosity and pride at my acknowledgement.
"Oh, by the way, Seraphis. You and I have a date with the devil tomorrow, first thing in the morning."
I merely stared at the old man. What is this old bat on about…?
He caught the essence of my gaze, waving my doubts away with a gesture. "Don't give me that look, boy, I have all my marbles intact," he shot back.
"What I mean is: We have an appointment. Well, you, technically, with a certain artificer and blacksmith. She's in Testruam for some business, and she happens to owe me a favor for something that happened eons ago. When I proposed to her the prospect of forging you—a student of mine who happens to also be a talented aspiring mage, who also happens to be the Prince of Verlice himself, a sword tailored specifically for you—she agreed, more so than I thought she would've."
I held his gaze for a while longer than I should have, the situation still not entirely dawning on me.
"I'm saying that you and I will go to meet a famous craftsman—or craftswoman, in this case. You can trust me on this, her works span worldwide, though she never typically produces works especially for one person. But when she does…" he trailed off.
"Let me put it like this: At least one person in every kingdom's specialized guardian group—the Kingsguard of Verlice, the Paladins of Testruam, the Novus Fauna of Eurethemia, and even the Holy Saints of Myreddin—possesses a weapon forged by her. This is an opportunity like no other. And besides, it's your reward for completing your training, though you still have four more months left. That should be enough time for her to finish."
A smug grin I'd never seen him with before curled the edges of his lips as he brought his hand up to his chin. "What do you say? Are you interested?"
I had to physically stop myself from agreeing on the spot.
Hell yeah am I in! Getting a sword made for no one but myself sounds cool!
But wait… I hesitated. What are the chances this simply happens out to be just another trap laid out to test me? Another one of his extremely cruel tests…
My eyes narrowed on the old bat—a recent nickname of mine that belied his handsome appearance—before I swept back over to the two princesses at my side, each with an expression of eagerness and curiosity familiar to themselves.
"I think it's a good idea, Sera," Ismene was the first to say something.
Pondering her words carefully, I waited even more.
Hmm…
…Nah, unlikely, I finally decided. "Count me in!" I exclaimed, and the old elf grinned mischievously.
***.
"Just where exactly are we going?" I grumbled.
Haldir glanced back at me, that familiar twinkle in his eye. "Patience, boy. We're almost there."
I sighed exasperatedly.
The following morning after our discussion, Haldir and I set out early, weaving through the already-bustling streets of Testruam, despite the sun barely filtering through the emerald canopy.
Merchants were setting up their stalls and the aroma of freshly baked bread wafted from nearby bakeries.
Apparently, his artificer friend, Atis, her name was, preferred to be as unseen as possible, so it was only us two meeting with her today.
We couldn't even use the carriage because of how bedazzled-out-of-its-mind it was, so we used the original method of transport.
But the further we walked, the more Haldir's pace quickened, his eyes darting from building to building as if searching for something, all the while he mumbled something quietly to himself.
And soon, I began to tire from it all.
There's noway she goes to such lengths so as to not draw attention to herself…!
We've been walking for an hour, at least. Couldn't there be a more simple solution?!
I sighed again. This sucks.
At least you don't have to walk, I thought, looking to the fox who rested on my head, out of my vision. You never change, do you?
A sense of amusement and indifference radiated from within my mind, words unspoken, yet a message conveyed. Traitor…!
Another twenty-or-so minutes of more walking later, and something finally happened.
Suddenly, Haldir veered sharply to the left, leading us down a narrow, shadowy alley. "Aha!" He whispered.
The change in atmosphere was immediate and unsettling, and soon, the bustling street behind us faded, replaced by an eerie silence broken only by the occasional drip of water from somewhere out of view.
I hesitated at the alley's entrance, eyeing the dilapidated buildings on either side.
"Old man, are you sure about this? This doesn't look like the kind of place we should be wandering into."
The elf chuckled, already several paces ahead.
"Fret not, my dear Prince. You, of all, should know appearances can be deceiving. Trust me."
Reluctantly, I followed him deeper into the alley. But the further we went, the more my unease grew.
The buildings seemed to loom over us, their windows dark and empty, like soulless eyes watching our every move.
At this point, I had begun to seriously question his sanity—whatever piece of it was left over, anyways.
She can't possibly work somewhere like this…!
As this thought finished, he stopped abruptly in front of what appeared to be an abandoned workshop.
The building was in a state of severe disrepair, its wooden facade rotting and covered in a thick layer of grime. A faded, barely legible sign hung crookedly above the door, swinging gently in a breeze I couldn't feel.
"Here we are…" he said, a sense of excitement barely contained in his voice. The last of my own sanity snapped as he said this.
…He's officially lost it.
Haldir pushed open the creaky door, and reluctantly, I followed him inside, my hand instinctively feeling for the current of mana maintaining my connection to my storage ring, where my dagger gifted to me by Lady Raven rested, still largely unused.
As expected, the interior was just as decrepit as the exterior. Dust covered every surface, and cobwebs stretched from corner to corner, all the while broken furniture and rusted tools littered the floor, creating an obstacle course of debris.
She can't possibly work in a place like this…!
"Forgive me for my blunt choice words, but quite frankly, this place is decrepit and abandoned, Master Haldir! Don't you see that? Or has your mind been corrupted by your own satisfaction in seeing me suffer!" I hissed.
But my words fell on deaf ears, prompting me to seriously consider if the man had gone senile.
The elf moved purposefully towards the back of the workshop, navigating the cluttered space with surprising ease as he approached a plain, unassuming door that I hadn't noticed before.
It was the only thing in the entire building that didn't look like it was about to fall apart.
He placed his hand on the door handle and looked back at me with a grin.
"Ready, boy?"
Before I could respond, he turned the handle and pushed the door open, and a blinding light spilled out,
forcing me to shield my eyes.
I felt the change in the air before I saw it. When I lowered my hand, we were no longer in the dilapidated workshop.
Instead, we stood at the threshold of a vast, gleaming chamber filled with an array of strange and wondrous devices. The walls were lined with shelves holding jars of intricately designed weapons, strange clockwork mechanisms, and crystals that pulsed with an inner light.
…What the absolute hell.
In the center of the room stood a massive workbench, its surface covered in tools, half-finished projects, and diagrams scrawled on parchment.
One such diagram in particular I noticed to be somewhat familiar…
There, bent over the workbench, was a figure I could only assume was Atis, the famous artificer.
She was a small, wiry woman with wild, shoulder-length auburn hair styled in a bob with bangs complemented with an ahoge that seemed almost too fitting.
Atis wore a simple, flowing white lab coat that was bigger than her figure, and held a deep green ballpen in her left hand.
It wasn't long before she noticed us, her emerald eyes sweeping over us as her ears perked up almost comically.
"Aye! Fellow visitors!" she exclaimed. "Though Rina knows one of them, Rina can't quite put a name to the face of the young'n. Or the fox, for that matter."
Y-young'n?! You're one to talk, I hissed inwardly.
"Actually, I'm—"
Haldir stepped forward, offering his piece first.
"Rina! It's been far too long since we've last seen each other. I'm truly glad to see you're doing well," he began, "Where's your master? We had an appointment scheduled with her today."
"Aw shucks, Rina happy to see you too, Crimson-Streak! It last been.. How long now? Two years since our last talking! That's quite some time," she beamed, glancing at a clock on the wall.
"As for Rina's master, she went out on an errand not too long ago, should be back any second now, aye."
"I see…" Haldir mused.
"So, she has us come early while not even being entirely present herself. Typical of her." The elf gave a sigh of his own, turning back to me.
"Since we're here, it's best we get introductions out the way. Rina, this is Seraphis, current heir to the Verlice kingdom. He's currently training under me as a student, and we've come to get a weapon forged for him. Seraphis, this is Rina, a subordinate of Atis. Rina is more of a scientist than anything, though her skill is no less impeccable, while Atis is the one responsible for forging."
"Aye, a prince?!" The girl—Rina—recited with a hint of disbelief.
"Forgive Rina for her manners, Young Lord. Rina wasn't aware she was in the presence of royalty! I humbly extend my greetings, Your Highness." She bowed deeply.
Seeing her like this, it seemed she did have some sense of decorum. I reeled myself in, feeling an immense shame at my attempt to throw the weight of my name around—though, thankfully, Haldir cut me short.
Bowing myself, I offered her words befitting of a young, respectable Prince.
"No offense was taken, dear Rina. I only ask that you refer to me casually, so that we may form a relationship built not on status or title, but by the wonders of our own sincerity and heart."
"Speak casually? 'Kay, pipsqueak," she deadpanned.
Auck! You dare?! After I just…?!
"Anyways, welcome to the Sanctum Sanctoru—oh wait, Rina said the wrong thing again. Ahem, welcome to Atis' Sanctum, workshop of the unseen!" she announced.
Recovering from the blow, I decided to follow her change in subject.
"Workshop of the unseen?" My eyebrows narrowed with intrigue.
"Indeed, indeed. You've experienced the method to getting here, nay? Hence the name. My master isn't fond of wandering visitors—has bad experiences with them, aye. She used a highly advanced spell of concealment in tandem with other fancy'uns in order to hide this gally away. Only way to stumble upon it is if you have a seal given directly from her, to you. Though, the seal has some issues nowadays with the magic resonance, which can make the journey quite vexing. Like a compass losing some of its magnetism, aye."
My gaze lingered on the figure of my elven mentor, clad in white robes, who seemed to purposely avoid it. This old bat… Eventually, I conceded.
"Forgive me for my confusion, but couldn't you simply fix the seal if it's causing issues?"
Rina squinted her eyes, looking at me with thinly veiled nonchalance. "Aye, but Rina's been quite busy recently, can't you see? Could care less, really!" she shrugged.
So she's one of those types of people… How do I always manage to get wrapped up with such strange figures?
"Well, it's not too big of an issue. We can always ask Atis when she returns, it's likely she has an extra one kept away somewhere." Haldir finished that thread of conversation for us.
"By the way, Rina, you said you've been busy nowadays? Is this—" he gestured to the parchment paper and tools lining the table— "....what you might be talking about?"
"Aye, that's right, Streak-of-Crimson! How very perceptive of you!"
Rina's attention seemed to perk again.
"Yes, Rina's been quite stuck on a new invention recently, given to her by Master Atis and a few other collaborators. Well, to be more exact, a certain someone has come seeking Rina's masterly guidance on this project. And since Rina's been asked, Rina's been tasked. Except… Rina isn't sure of it herself."
She scratched her head with a look of confusion.
I leaned forward, intrigued, as the Endine Rex did the same. "What is it for?" He spoke for us both.
Rina unfurled some of the paper, placing various objects on the ends in order to keep it from curling in on itself, ranging from an odd, deflatable hammer-shaped tool, to batteries, and finally, mana elixirs.
Written at the top of the blue paper were the words, 'Mass-Transportation-Device (M.T.D),' with a long, cylindrical shape sketched in white towards the center of it.
The "vehicle" was at an horizontal orientation, giving us a clear view of just how exactly it was expected to travel.
So it's a train…
"Essentially," she began, "this is the blueprint of a new invention by one of the scientists of the Myreddin Artificer Department of Research—top secret and especially important that other kingdoms don't find out about it, lest they steal the idea for themselves! 'No one else is to know about this, not even those closest to you!' Were the instructions given to me by Master Cygnus, aye!"
Haldir and I met each other's gaze with a matching look of disbelief and astonishment at the airheadedness of the woman standing in front of us.
"...What? Did Rina say something wrong?" She didn't even seem to realize the irony of the situation.
"Nothing… Just continue," Master Haldir said, belatedly. "Right… Weirdos," she added before doing so.
"Anyways, what this shows is an idea for a mass transportation device that would double in function, serving for both personal transportation, and also for trade. But Rina can see a whole lot of issues with this idea. Firstly, the method of transport is still largely undecided. We aren't sure if the thing should have wheels, wings, or even sail, perhaps. Do we incorporate more magical elements, or do we stick to more scientifically-grounded ideas? Though, to be fair, science and magic work hand-in-hand with one another; almost as inseparable pieces. Like a pie's filling and its crust…
But either way, they all bring in personalized issues. Also, the method of transportation is practically tied to whatever source of fuel is used, meaning either we find a preexisting source of fuel, whether it be deep underground or perhaps, found inside the dangerous maws of a dungeon, or we somehow create an artificial one instead—which could create an ultimatum.
Master Cygnus believes that if any kingdom has a good chance at producing or having the materials most sufficient for the project, it's the dwarven kingdom of Ihsali, which is extremely far from Myreddin, which, putting it lightly, causes literal months of possible delay. We'd need the device to transport the materials in time to meet the deadline, but in order to get the materials in time, we'd need the device itself."
She paused for a moment to let these words settle.
"Secondly are the issues of funding, workers, and geological differences. Theoretically, this transportation device, at its peak, would be sufficient enough to sustain the entirety of the continent's needs. But to do that, we'd need the support of all kingdoms, which won't come without a solid plan of highlighted strengths, weaknesses, and design goals… which won't come unless we get the aforementioned issues solved, even if at least partially. Workers would be a particularly annoying problem to solve, as well. While slaves would be the easiest solution, as far as expenses go, I personally think that method is rudimentary, inefficient, and frankly cruel. It'd reduce results by such a large margin if the people involved were being forced to participate, and therefore, didn't give it their all! All bad, aye, too many uncertainties!"
Throughout her rambling Rina began to frantically pace back and forth around the room, though I doubt she noticed it much.
An idea sparked to life in my mind hearing her words, and I reached for a nearby pen and piece of paper.
This is a classic isekai moment! The main character happens upon a genius scientist who is on the verge of a global-scale invention, which just so happens to be something the mc is familiar with from his past life.
While the idea of it was complex, in theory, it was actually relatively simple, considering I had a slight interest in intricate things like this when I was a lot younger.
Though I don't know much about it, I can explain what little I know of a steam engine, based on what I can remember from school, which is way better than nothing. I'll make it seem like I know more than I'm letting on.
And if things go according to plan, I'll have that Cygnus guy knocking on my door soon enough, begging for me to spill the secrets to this invention—and whatever other ideas I may have hidden, thus creating a new relationship.
Hehe… Spoken like a true Prince.
A minute or two of scrambling later—in which I was met with wide eyes for—I was finished.
Now, it was time to play it off.
"There," I said simply, not bothering to explain further. Rina and Master Haldir looked at me with confusion lining their features as Rina took the paper and closely examined it.
"Just what exactly did you do, Ser—"
"That's it!" Rina beamed excitedly. "Why didn't Rina think of this?! This is amazing, little one! Master Cygnus will be pleased!"
Little one, she says… A 'thank you' would be nice. Anyways, Nailed it!
Haldir was still confused at this point, as he hadn't had the chance to actually see what was on the paper, until Rina finally shared the contents of it with him after calming down a little. I could see the understanding manifesting on his face in gradual stages. "This is…" He stammered, his gaze flickering between the paper and I.
"Little one, tell me: How did you manage to think of something like this? This invention—the Steam Engine—will revolutionize the world…! And to think the beholder to such a world changing idea was right underneath our noses all along, haha!"
Standing there with a cool expression, I made sure to play the role of a genius correctly.
"Really? Is it that amazing…" I said, feigning confusion. "I mean, take a closer look. It feels like there might be something missing…"
"W-what? Missing something? Rina can't possibly see—" she cut herself off, full understanding dawning. "It's incomplete, this part right here!"
Rina practically leapt at me, her face mere inches from mine.
"Dear Prince Seraphis, your holiness, Prince of All That is True, Rina beseeches you—please complete the blueprint!" I gave her a smug grin, repositioning myself to a nearby chair, kicking my leg over the other and resting my head on a fist.
"I'm not sure I can justgive that out for free, dear Rina. I'd be losing out on some potential profit here. What's in it for me?"
She swayed like a reed in uncertain winds, her eyes a pendulum swinging between a potential revelation and the shadow of one. Finally, she said something, her gaze steeling itself. "Rina—"
"—Doesn't have the acting authority to accept this offer," a voice suddenly blared from behind.
"As my apprentice, I'd appreciate it if you weren't swayed so easily, Rina."
Striding through the chamber was a tall woman of a fair, cream complexion with shoulder-length, curly blue hair accentuated by its darker undertones and gentle ombre effect. She had a slender, slightly curvy build, and stood upright, wearing a layered outfit of sorts; the innermost of it seeming to consist of a black, bra-like top, while a metallic, silver armored bodice adorned with blue crystals and skeleton-like accents layered over it.
The inexpressive expression on her face was one that was even harder to read than Mother's.
Her ears signified her race as an elf, unlike her subordinate.
"M-master, you've returned! Rina's so glad to see you, she could almost kiss you! Almost."
"Please, there is no need for that. I see our guests have arrived." Her pale blue eyes swept over us as she settled at a station a bit further behind the one Rina was at.
"Welcome, Haldir. It seems you've spared me the time of day to visit me in person this time. How generous of you. I would declare it to be a pleasure to see you after all this time, but I'm not exactly in a mood for jokes."
"The lovely Atis, blunt with her words as always, and never missing a beat. I'm glad to see you doing well, too," the old elf smirked.
"If doing well involves having my own student leak extremely confidential affairs after being expressly told not to, only to almost be coerced into making a deal she wasn't prepared to make, then yes, I am doing exceptionally well."
I felt a pang of guilt at her words.
So this is Atis, the artificer… She's a lot different than I imagined her to be.
"Well, I'm sure the boy meant no harm to either of you," Haldir began, "otherwise, I would've personally stepped in to oversee that it didn't go through. You and I both know that to be true."
The woman let out an exhale of air on the border of being a scoff, then turned searching eyes on me.
"By the way, Prince Seraphis, seeing as you've learned to carefully leverage material for your benefit in conversations, I'm assuming that you're also aware of proper social manners, and the possible implications of meeting someone—particularly a benefactor—while sitting. It's a bad look."
Caught off guard by her words, I shoot out of my seat.
"Forgive me, esteemed Lady Atis, for any offense I may have caused with my actions. It wasn't my intention to disrespect nor manipulate you or Lady Rina here, as well. I hope you'll accept my sincerest apologies." I bowed deeply, allowing my sincerity to show in my actions, rather than words.
"Hmph." She picked up a tool, cleaning it off with a cloth, all the while regarding me with a hint of surprise and—hopefully—newfound respect—which only manifested on her otherwise stoic face as an eye squint.
"I accept your apology, as well as extend my own for my rudeness. Do forgive me."
"It's all water under the bridge, M'lady," I responded curtly.
"Anyways, you came here looking for a sword, yes? Take a look around, I'm sure you'll eventually find something you like. On the off chance you do not, then please ask Rina to escort you to the back rooms… Actually, on second thought, don't. I still have yet to reorganize from last time…"
I exchanged uncertain glances with Haldir, and she seemed to catch on to this. "...Or am I mistaken?" Atis briefly asked. Gathering the courage, I spoke up.
"Actually, Master Haldir told me that you'd be willing to forge one specifically tailored for me. I came here with that in mind."
"...What?"
Her eyes quickly darted to the senile elf, observing his casual look as if she could see right through him. "Did he, now? Well, I'm sure he can offer us both an explanation as to what exactly your presence here means."
The air seemed to shift menacingly as she spoke in a slow, measured tone.
"You still owe me from two years ago, back when that situation was ongoing, remember?"
That was all Haldir said.
Atis was silent, but contemplative as she continued cleaning off the tools at her station, and there were several seconds of silence before she, or anyone, for that matter, said anything else, or made a move.
She merely sighed. A particularly long one, at that. "...On such short notice, the weapon will take a long time to craft," she finally responded. "More so than you would be used to, by now."
"That's acceptable. I wouldn't want to stop you from continuing any business you may have now. We only wish for your word that, in due time, the sword will be made," Haldir shot back.
There was another tense spell of silence, broken only by a reluctant agreement.
"...Very well then. You have my word."
Relief washed over me, and I let out a breath I didn't know I'd been holding. "Thank you very much, Lady Atis. I won't forget this deed," I exclaimed, but she casually glossed over me. "The sword hasn't been made. Don't go thanking me just yet."
"However true, I still would like to express my gratitude."
"Hmph. I'll contact you at a later date so that I can take your measurements. I'd prefer to do it all in the proper order. Also, I'll replace your seal at that time. The one you have now should do well for two, or perhaps even three, more trips here."
"Right. Sounds good, then," Haldir noted. "Well with that bit sealed, we should be off now. Thank you once again Atis. And my apologies for springing this on you."
"Hmph."
The Endine Rex took a look over to one of the clocks hanging on the walls before turning to me.
"It's gotten really late already. I'm sure the girls are worrying by now. Let's not keep them waiting too long, now. It's bad manners."
"Right. Okay then."
We turned on our heels, and as we headed towards the door again, I took one last look over the vast, exquisite chamber.
Rina took this moment to say something, right as Haldir placed his hands on the door knob.
"Oh, Rina almost forgot, but Master Cynus has plans to reveal his invention at a later, unannounced date, so don't go telling just anyone about it, now, not unless you want Rina to get in big trouble! Anyways, safe travels, aye!"
With that, we made our way back to the manor, and Seraphina and I soaked in a needed bath, preparing ourselves for the four months of remaining training that was left.
I was intent on making the most out of it.