Clearing the air with Artoria had been surprisingly.....therapeutic.
Maybe, I wanted to say it was a nice distraction from my other issues, but that would not be fair to the budding relationship I have with Artoria. I just kept reminding myself that Scathach wasn't gone forever, and she was going to get an ass kicking when I brought her back.
But seeing Artoria's bright smile when we would et, it would easily push away any lancholic thoughts I currently had.
I let out a grunt as I finished up my small workout. It was almost ingrained on at this point to start the day with several hundred swings of my sword.
At so point, I pulled out Gae Bolg and started thrusting it for the reason.
I don't know why I continued to torture myself like this, and I had no desire to truly learn the spear, its just....I think it made feel more at ease?
Perhaps...I just wanted to feel closer to her now that we were so far apart?
....and I was swinging around Dawnbreaker just monts prior to that, I really am just a helpless idiot sotis.
Now that I think about it, I should really switch between all my swords to make sure I'm completely comfortable to wield any of them ins any circumstance.
I looked up into the air, and my swords flew back down to .
Whisper, Mirage, Dawnbreaker, Ascalon.
I did feel a slight tinge of greed when I beheld them. Was it odd that I felt the need to get more? Perhaps it was my nature as a Devil talking, I liked the thoughts of having my own armory, a collection to show off....hmm.
Thoughts for later.
Another random thought, I will surely need to test how the Staff of Magnus interacts with my new magical abilities, primarily my 9-Realms and my Primordial Runes. Lots of stuff to do, and my ti seems just as limited as before.
It never seems to stop.
***
I walked back to Zelretch's ho...office, workshop thing. What even was the proper way to describe this? I suppose that most mages would refer to it as his workshop, simply because that is the most important facet inside....
"There you are!" Rin exclaid as soon as I walked inside. "Co here, I'm going to show what I've been working on."
Artoria flanked her form behind, a familiar sight at this point. She just looked rather amused by the whole thing as we shared a look.
"Alright, lead the way." I offered no resistance as she practically dragged into her workshop.
It just went to show how much she seemingly trusted this quickly if she was letting in here. Realistically, I could co and go whenever I wanted, there was nothing she could do to stop , yet she was willing to let in here. The gesture though, was heavily appreciated.
"Old man." I greeted my grandfather who was already taking a seat inside. He looked rather interested in what was going on. "Any idea what she's been up to."
A smile rose on his face. "I have absolutely no idea." He looked rather excited at the notion. "She hasn't told any details and the help she's co to for hasn't given any clues either."
Rin was just ignoring us, setting things here or there, making sure she had everything presented and ready to go.
Artoria pulled up a seat and sat right next to . She seed rather relaxed in my presence, more so than previously which I couldn't help but be happy about.
"Any sneak speaks?" I asked her.
"I have been sworn to secrecy." She gave a small smile.
"Well, she seems really proud of what she's done so far, I really am curious what's gotten her so excited."
"All I know is that she's been preparing for so adventuring in other worlds." Zelretch added.
That reminds , I will need to give her so reading material, so she isn't quite so surprised by everything that she sees in Skyrim. I do have several historical texts and various biographies of the races there. Artoria too, they both needed to know what exactly they were walking into. I was going to ask ridia to keep an eye on them, not to ntion the Archmage would no doubt be excited to have a talent like Rin in her school. I could also put the word out to Thorum and anyone else who owes favors.
Thorum...I do miss my friend. I'm curious to see how much he's grown in our ti apart. My delving into the 'shout' had been....slow going. I did get so practice and thoughts in my training though, and my new knowledge of Primordial Runes gives a new perspective to work with as well.
"Alright!" Rin suddenly stopped, pulled out several papers and a strange device she had in her hand.
"A phone?" I hazard a guess at what she was holding, though it looked nothing like what I would picture a modern phone as. It was rather bulky, and a few misshapen protrusions.
"Kind of." She admitted. "I wanted a way to contact people across multiple world-lines in real-ti."
and Zelretch shared a look, and we both facepald in the sa way.
"So this is how it feels to be on the other end?" I asked the old man.
"Indeed, to think we missed sothing so simple." He shook his head.
"What? Did I do sothing wrong?" Rin looked a little.....uneasy at our reaction.
"No, the opposite in fact." I assured her and Zelretch just nodded along. "We just never had the need for a 'Kaleidophone' before.....there was never a reason to contact other people through such a thod...." I couldn't help but chuckle. Yeah, with several of us running around all in different places, this seems like an obvious step in hindsight.
"This will be a wonderful addition to our lives." Zelretch stood up, walking towards her to inspect everything. "The ans to hold conversations across worlds is nonexistent at this point, I'm happy to admit that you took a step we never considered."
"Seriously, I'll bankroll all your research on this." I wanted to see her designs and notes as well. "I have several people I am on good terms with across world-lines, being able to keep in touch will be....extraordinary."
I could be able to speak with ridia whenever I wanted, be able to talk with Artoria even when I'm away....why had I never thought of sothing like this before?"
"I'm curious how you ca up with such a thing?" I looked over Zelretch's shoulder as he inspected the device, sothing we could call a prototype.
To call it a device though, was a bit of a misnor. There was no....'technology' involved. The outer fra looked to be made with so kind of steel composition. There were spell formulas carved inside and several small gems acting as certain magical batteries and spell holders.
"Ruby." I said suddenly, rembering the kaleidostick.
"Indeed, my thoughts exactly." Zelretch looked at Rin. "You used so concepts inside Ruby's own make and created sothing like this?"
"I....glanced at so of her magical formulas and systems." She said hesitantly.
"Rin....despite how I feel about the device, Ruby is one of my greatest creations, and you were able to reverse engineer very specific parts of her makeup and create a thing like this?" He held out the 'phone'. "I am proud of you." He finally said.
I shared the sa sentints. Ruby did have the ability to contact Zelretch across ti and space, but it was difficult at the best of tis. For Rin to use such an ability and reverse engineer it like this for a greater purpose.....she really is a genius.
"At just a cursory look, I'm guessing the materials have a hard ti withstanding the spells?" I asked.
"Y-yeah." Rin said absentmindedly, a large grin on her face. "I've gone through several fras already."
"I got so tals you will like better....and they can be found in Skyrim for later." I nodded, probably so orichalcum mixed with so ebony here and there to protect specific parts. But, I'll let her handle that, this is her project, I'll only provided materials and such, maybe so suggestions on application here and there.
"Were you serious about the money?" She asked.
I just raised an eyebrow, lifting my hand up and allowing the gold coins to literally flow out of my ring onto the floor until a large pile ford.
She stared at it, taking a hesitant step forward, dropping to her knees then face planting right into it and hugging it like it was the most precious thing in the world.
"Well, then." I just chuckled. "I'm sure the old man would have done the sa thing, I think I just beat him to the punch. And, well, I have a greater desire in their application than he does. Money, materials, just tell what you need and I'll provide it, though I may need to actually go out and find so things."
I returned to my seat with an amused smile on my face, as Zelretch and Rin were having so wholeso student-teacher ti together has he practically picked her up off the pile of coins.
I didn't want to disturb then, this was a good chance for them to bond and a great learning experience.
"I apologize for Rin's...." Artoria spoke up but the worlds were left unsaid.
"Rinness?" I offered.
A small smile erged on her face. "Indeed."
"I'm excited, I never even considered sothing like this before. I can't wait until she can provide several more, then we can still talk and keep in touch even if we're worlds apart."
"Truly?" She said quietly.
"Of course, do you think I won't miss you when we're away?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Well –"
"Nope." I cut her off. "I am forbidding you from doing that any longer." I poked her shoulder. "No more questioning your worth, no more self-deprecating thoughts." I could see how she still so-what defaults into certain mindsets quite easily.
Ah, the familiar sight of her cheeks turning the faintest pink. And I was surprised at her sudden boldness, her handed reached over ever so gently and took mine own into hers.
I guess doing sothing like this was easier than speaking certain words or trying to convey things one feels.
She didn't look in the eyes, opting to continue watching Zelretch and Rin go about their own business, and we didn't speak much more, but this was a mont that I felt entirely at peace.
Is this what having a family is like?
***
Alrighty, so another one of those 'may or may not' release a chapter tomorrow, need to deal with apartnt-related stuff, fingers crossed! So, one more 'Fate' chapter before heading over to DxD for a bit. And since many people have been asking, the world after DxD, MC's Power of Destruction will finally co into play, and it's not a 'Fate' world, nor is it Skyrim, feel free to guess, i'm curious what people are considering.
Anyways, if you want to support or read 5 chapters ahead, visit my /astoryforone , second interlude is finally up.
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