Heavy footsteps sounded like a giant trudging through a mountain range. When the attendants heard it they froze in the middle of doing their tasks. Wearing a dark mask, Erik's large fra seed to swallow a quarter of the room making it constricting for the rest of the people within but they did not dare voice their complaints.
The attendants hesitantly glanced at their master who was busy assessing the new goods spread out on the large table. Rolls of fabrics are presented before his eyes. Fridal Hyantor strokes his chin as he caresses the silks beneath his fingers. The fabric was not beautiful to look, pale and grey but it was infused with rich mana-concealing magic. Sothing High Lords covet greatly for their people.
One would think that all trade would be destroyed once the Kron had plagued the lands. Yet, Lord Hyantor proved himself a master of seizing opportunities. No matter the setback, he had a remarkable talent for discovering new goods to offer, drawing in custors, and swiftly building new ventures. Although it took him ti and a few sacrifices to get where he was now, t was undeniably worthwhile.
Catching the attention of the servants around him, his deep athyst eyes rose and zeroed upon Erik who was silently waiting to be addressed.
"You're late."
Erik slowly responded, "I was caught up with sothing important..."
"Hmm, frolicking with the horses at the stables? I should have you stationed there if you liked it so much."
The masked man sighed helplessly and shook his head. "My lord, my place is by your side."
"Hm..." The man stared deeply at him before he waved his hand to dismiss the rest of the people around him. The servants hurriedly left the room, not wanting to be caught in a crossfire between the two n.
Erik slightly lowered his head as he approached his master. When his eyes fell upon the objects laid upon its wooden surface he spoke. "These are... "
"Helios's craftsn are good in their craft. Ralor's craftsn will need to surpass them to truly impress ." Friday's calculating gaze fixed on the few dark crates situated at the corner of the room.
Erik didn't have to be told and unhurriedly went to unload the crates one by one before his master. His large arms bulged, exploding with power as he carried each wooden crate under each arm.
Thud!
Fridal watched as the create was forcibly opened. A flash of light. He chuckled and a broad grin is plastered on his face. "My word... Well I am indeed impressed."
The tal is cold and unyielding, gleaming against the lamplight. Dark as midnight, its surface is a dark, glossy black, interspersed with shimring veins of deep purples and blues that seem to pulse with an inner light. Currently, tal was a rare commodity in lands plagued by the relentless malibreeds and the Kron's offspring roaming.
However, with Helios's military might and Grekellia's cunning strategies to reclaim and repurpose tals from monsters, the production moved smoothly.
These tals were the latest creation, able to conceal a soldier's mana and presence. They had only been recently trialed during an expedition a week prior.
"Interesting..." Erik spoke. "Is it for the new Order?"
Lord Fridal grinned, "Our dear friend has struck a deal with and the terms of the agreent are exceptionally enticing."
Erik only nodded. Fridal had always wore that strange expression whenever he made a good deal as though he had won a wager and couldn't wait to celebrate it.
The rchant lord carefully took one tal node and weighed it in his hand."Now, about the task I handed to you... "
Erik straightened. He was already ready to report. "The rumors are in our favor. It has already spread throughout Falowright and to my astonishnt, it's even boosted our recruitnt numbers across the various bases.
Nodding, Lord Fridal turned and placed the node back into the crate. "We are fortunate. The search for Gohtel has begun and we expect to gain valuable intelligence from the captured elf. The newly ford order will be instruntal in defeating our enemies and ending the war."
"And what does it make for the third young master of the Fraunces Family?"
Lord Fridal stopped and turned to face him with a pointed look.
"He is the people's Heavenly son. That will be his fate now and he must play the role for them. Did you hear? What they called him?"
...
"Lynari, Heaven's voice. An ancient na."
Erik sighed. He knew the young master was not one to run from the resposibilities as the people's hope. However, his circumstances are different. He is now hidden away in a realm nobody knows and could not even show himself to interact with the common people.
"Return to your duties and ensure steady progress. The days ahead will be demanding, and we must make the most of our ti." Lord Fridal ordered. He sighed in annoyance as he returned to the desk, mumbling to himself. "I hate to hear that little brat prove herself right in front of my face everyti we cross paths."
While he continue to complain about Klaria of Ralor, Erik excused himself and brought the people waiting outside back into the room.
The object of those rumors he was task to spread centered around a certain white-haired young master. A key to eradicate evil and purify the lands. Possessing divinity in his soul, he would bestow the people the courage to fight and spread his mana to protect them. He has long cheated death, to defeat Vigal and his followers.
And now, he would rise and bless a legion of soldiers to end the Kron's reign. The whispers started with the servants, passed on to the soldiers, and soon reached the ears of every lord. Within a single day, the tale had traveled even to the nearest outposts. Erik dispatched several of his trusted n and won to spread the word further afield.
"I have known the young lord ever since his return in Helios. And the first thing he did was create a giant forest of pure crystal. It is cold as ice and would never thaw. No malibreed or demon would even dare venture through the forest. Perhaps, it was a sign that heaven has sent hope to relieve us."
One rugged man voiced with the knights who had crouched with him as their waited their shift to end. The others nodded, sharing similar thoughts. One told that perhaps the heavens had finally pitied them and sent out a demi-god to vanquish evil. Perhaps, that was why the devils went rampant during his rebirth. A third spoke that he had heaven's eyes and could see through one's spirit.
If they were good, he would grant them peace and protection. If they harbored evil intentions, he would purify their soul by encasing them in a bitter, icy coffin.
As the sky brightened, illuminating the low clouds, the chatter and gossip had awoken. The lords had to hear from their servants, the grace of the Heaven's son and the hope of Corhan. They could not help but feel overwheld and be uncomfortable of such exaggeration. A little more and they would have succumbed to those rumors.
"Does it bother you?"
Moulin had closed the book on the desk and turned to Ordan who stared deeply at the youth, assessing his reactions. He had went into his bedroom and stopped, shocked that young man was still awake. But he did not dare make any noise when he saw the other person on the bed, slumbering silently.
It was the first ti that he witnessed Lord Hercullio asleep, looking vulnerable and relaxed. The esteed invincible High Lord embraced Moulin's waist while the latter was busy reading. The youth did not mind and even gazed softly at the slumbering man holding him close. The scene was completely etched into Ordan's mind.
"Not really... I do not care much for the attention. If it pleases the people and motivates the soldiers. Then that is good." Moulin's silver eyes narrows slightly. "Right now... In tis of great loss, hope becos refuge."
Ordan snapped back from his trance and nodded. His eyes beca profound as he stared at the slender young man. The faint sunlight and the warm lamplight of the library illuminated his gracious figure. He looked more relaxed and comfortable within the realm unlike when he was back in his luxurious chambers in Falowright.
He dressed himself with a casual disregard, layering random garnts without a second thought, as if he were entirely unconcerned about his appearance before the sorceress today.
It was a refreshing sight...
And the book in his hands. He wondered how Moulin was able to read such ancient and exotic book.
Creak!
Both turned their attention towards the door and sees Lady Calanthe with a soft smile on her face. She wore her furred hat and scarf but changed her outfit into a looser more comfortable one. In one hand, she held her mysterious wooden staff.
"Oh, how early of you. I like it!" She approached the two and nodded towards Ordan who stiffened in her presence.
"Enjoy your morning, Young master. My Lady, " Ordan addressed before taking his leave, carefully shutting the door behind him.
Lady Calanthe tilted her head slightly before she faced the young man at the desk. "The young master is quite a charr..."
"...?" Moulin blinked.
At his reaction, she only chuckled and took the seat beside him. She slled of lilies. Refreshing. Moulin was tempted to speak.
"My dear, have you read all of it?" She questioned, looking surprised.
Moulin honestly replied, "I have. Mostly, I only familiarized myself and noted the important parts."
"I see. Well, you are working hard." Complinted Lady Calanthe while she fished sothing from her sleeve. Her entire deanor is calm and even a bit excited. I trust you have grasped the fundantals from your readings, but do not hesitate to ask questions. We shall start with creating mana reservoirs which I believe will be quite comprehensible. What do you think?"
Moulin nodded. He read about energy reservoirs from the book. That kind of magic wasn't uncommon but he hadn't really familiarized himself with its practice. It involves inputting a fixed amount of mana into an artifact and infusing them with the complex orders. It wasn't too complicated but it would still require so effort. He heard young apprentices could easily achieve such skills.
It was almost the sa as the technique he used to create the White forest, if he wasn't mistaken.
"Ah, here it is." Lady Calanthe finally took out a small object and showed it before the youth's curioused eyes.
It was a small triangular wooden plate with rounded edges. Only half as big as his palm and was without any hint of an energy source, looking quite plain and ordinary.
"This is no ordinary wood. It's harvested from the branches of Thundralln's protective barrier. When crafting artifacts, selecting materials with a magical connection is crucial—not just to the user but also related to its intended purpose. For now, let's use this for your initial attempt...
Let's see." Lady Calanthe set her staff aside, propping it against the table, and carefully held the wooden plate with both hands.
Moulin watched carefully as her eyes closed. Her aura changed considerably making him stiff and curious.
She spoke, "Gather your essence and channel it into the object, weaving the magic into the very fabric of the artifact."
The air changed around them. It was a slight abnormality but he could feel it. The energy coarsed faintly through the air, centering around the sorceress. It felt soothing without a hint of intimidation.
Then the presence of the aura gradually dissipated. At the sa ti, Lady Calanthe had opened her eyes and gazed upon the wooden plate in her palm, bound with her magic.
"There..." She showed Moulin the wooden plate which looked as though nothing had changed. The youth blinked.
In the next second, Lady Calanthe raised her wrinkly hand, hovering it over the wooden plate. And before Moulin had realized, a small rune had perfectly carved itself on the wooden surface of the object.
"Once the vessel is imbued with your essence, you must proceed to enchant and inscribe it, refining the raw energy within and aligning it to perform the desired functions."
Lady Calanthe gestured with her head, snapping Moulin from his trance and hurriedly opened both of his hands to recieve the wooden plate. Silver eyes twinkled in fascination.
When the vessel fell on his palm, he felt a soothing warmth from its surface, seeping through his skin. It felt as though he was covered in a blanket within a cozy house in the middle of a blizzard. Confused, he turned to face the sorceress who revealed an amused smile.
"This," she said with a soft chuckle, "is a hand warr. I prefer to keep my hands warm and comfortable during my travels."
A smile tugged at her lips as she observed his reaction. "Would you like to give it a try?" she asked, her tone playful yet inviting.
Moulin nodded imdiately.
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