《A Guide to Kingdom Building 》Chapter 14: Beyond the Crescent Isle Pt.2
Advertisement
He walked out of the corridors of the Prima Palace, passing through the massive white-marbled pillars and life-like statues of the previous emperors that were lined with each pillar. He always loved the palace corridors, when he was younger. The shiny, well-polished floor was his favorite, as he would conveniently slide on them especially when his running away from his guards.
The crystal chandeliers that hung above them also looked amazing although not necessary. If he were to decide, he would gladly dispose of them and put something more useful, like his illuminations for example. That should put some light into the dark hallways at night. Or maybe, fill the chandeliers with aetherite and make it into a glowing spectacle!
That thought filled his mind until he reached his carriage, waiting for him by the front of the palace. He wants to ditch the carriages as well. He found it too inconvenient for him, especially if he wants to go on a hurry.
He wanted to make an aetherite-powered carriage that he can drive along from the palace to his research facility. But that's far into the future. Right now, he has to solve one of their biggest problems in their weapons research, how to use aetherite as a propelling agent for cannons.
It had been giving him headaches since he proposed it over three months ago. He's still trying to find a way to propel the cannonballs without the use of niter. He believes aetherite is an efficient way to use, so they can mobilize the cannons better even during naval battles and simply, bad weather.
Who knew that useless aetherite has other uses aside from coating metal with gold? He did! His master believed in it. If only he wasn't exiled to the Crescent Isle, he would have loved to see this progress.
The carriage finally stopped, he has arrived at the facility. He joyfully hopped out of the carriage and made his way into the laboratory. Along the hallway, the pulsating glow of aetherite lit the path, making it easier for him to see.
Advertisement
Arterius' visual acuity had always been his problem. As a child he would often be criticized by his sword tutor because he would always get hit by the wooden sword. What his tutor don't know and his father won't believe is that, he had blurry vision. It was only thanks to his mentor, Parcelus, that his father was forced to understand the extent of his problem.
Prior to that, his father would often just dismiss him as lazy or just weak to handle such "menial" task such as sword training and archery.
The lights flickered as he was at the end of the hallway, right where he was about to open the door to the facility. Prince Arterius felt a cold shiver that ran through his spine. He hated the dark, he always did. It was made worse when he was forced to it when he was younger. He wants to forget that part of his past and up until now whenever the light flickers, or he's in darkness, it would emerge.
" Prince Arterius, how long have you been standing there?"
" Waahhh!" The startled prince looked at the man standing in front of the door, " Stolas! Good gods! Don't scare me like that," Arterius heart pounded violently out of his chest.
" My apologies, Prince Arterius," Stolas bowed. " I was about to pick you up...I was startled by you as well, standing at the door like that!"
The prince smiled and shrugged his head, " Well, let's just put it out of the way."
" As you wish, your Majesty."
" I told you not to call me that!"
Both men laugh as they entered the facility.
This facility that he had was constructed under his watchful eyes. It was big enough for the researcher to move around and for their instruments not to tangle and bump around. He reinforced the walls to make sure that it could withstand any explosions, especially with substance reactions. The building is also well-ventilated as summers in the capital can be very hot and the substances they handle might react to the sweltering heat.
Advertisement
" How's our canon going?" Arterius asked.
" Err... No progress for now, my Prince." Stolas shrugged his shoulders.
" Let's go back to the drawing board on that," Arterius eyebrows furrowed as he tried to recall the plan he had last night. " By the way, do we still have some red mercury?"
" Of course, my Prince."
" I'm going to have some of that for my research."
" Are you still planning to emulate the color of the sunset using glowing aetherite?"
" It's just a side project…" Arterius trying to defend his guilty pleasure, " ...you know! To clear my mind."
" Whatever you say," Stolas sighed. " We must make haste of the cannon, my Prince or else--"
" The Senate and the Imperatur won't shut us down!"
Prince Arterius' confidence overwhelmed Stolas. His assistant stayed silent the rest of the way until they reach Prince Arterius' research room. Stolas excused himself to get the red mercury that he was, Arterius was looking for.
Arterius went inside his research room brimmed with transparent glass baubles filled with glowing aetherite that perpetually lit the room. His desk had piles of papers ranging from requests from other researchers to the ignored letters from the Senate.
He immediately donned his special insulating gear that he left at the chair of his desk. He went to his workstation a few steps behind his desk and worked on the solid aetherite that he placed inside a vacuum tube.
He carefully took out the hard aetherite and place it on the table. He took a small clump of it and placed it on a small metal plate which he then heated until the aethrite melted into liquid. He then placed the liquified aetherite on another vacuum tube while putting back the solid one back to its container.
He was supposed to heat up the liquid aetherite,but got distracted by Stolas who entered his chamber that he instead heated the solid one. After Stolas left him with the red mercury, Arterius went back to his work.
He puts the solidified red mercury inside a condenser, heating it up to turn it into its gaseous state. He then connected a tube to an elongated glass bauble, before noticing that he heated the wrong aetherite.
Afraid that the red mercury gas would lose its potency, Arterius, hastily took the liquified form and tried switching it with the solid one, carefully. Unfortunately, his clumsiness took over. Both of the funnels broke, releasing the red gas into the open. He immediately stepped back as the glass shards scattered everywhere and then that's when he noticed it.
The gaseous red mercury was absorbed inside the solidified aetherite, along with a lick of flame from the burner. Right before his very eyes the aetherite began to react with the substance and element inside the vacuum before glowing in a blinding blast of light.
" Prince Arterius! Prince Arterius!" Stolas called him frantically as he was panicking.
Arterius looked around there were speckles of light in his already blurred vision. There was also a loud ringing noise that made him very uncomfortable and dizzy. His body felt heavy and painful to move, but he managed to glance at the hole where his work station was situated before.
That's when it dawned on him. Amassing the little strength he had left, he called for Stolas.
" Stolas! Stolas!"
" I'm here, Prince Arterius!"
Although there was still that loud ringing in his ear, he could vaguely hear the quiver in Stolas' voice.
" Bring me a pencil and paper!"
" Prince Arterius? You're in no condition to--"
" PENCIL AND PAPER, NOW!"
Stolas hurriedly told the other researchers to get him some writing materials. Arterius finally found the answer on how to propel the cannonballs! He cracked a faint smile in his face despite the torturing pain gripping his body.
Advertisement
Nero Zero
Monsters plagued the lands for too long. No matter if one had fangs, beak, teeth, skin, fur, or feather, or was tall, stout, or diminutive, the people suffered. Until the Gadgeteers came with a device that could allow people to fight back. Powered by one's own magical power, feeding off of monster Essence, the Arbitrium bracer turned the tables. It also changed society. Strength of one's level cap was all that mattered. The strongest were Kings and Emperors. The weak or those too poor to afford the marvelous device, destitute. And so it has been for millennia. All that mattered was one's level cap. High, low, a fate decided the moment the strange contraption came alive. Too high and you were a threat to those interested in keeping the status quo, a weed to be nipped before it could grow and take root. Too low and you were nobody, fated to be a bit more than a simple farmer. What if someone, somewhere, came up with a zero for their level cap? Unable to use Essence, unable to level up. On all of recorded history, it never happened. Until it did. In a small village of fur-less and tail-less ape-beastkin, a boy found out he was uniquely handicapped. Nero's level cap was Zero. But he'd never let that stop him from reaching his goals. ------------------------------------------------ All stories have already been told. We merely reuse elements from them. From Joseph Campbell's Monomith to Stephen King's advice, and that encyclopedia of tropes you've visited, fiction has been dissected and reassembled countless times. One will surely find elements inspired on other works here. Just like cooking from basic ingredients, the recipe and presentation is what really matter. This is a fantasy adventure, of someone that goes from a zero to a slightly bigger zero. It will have romance but no harem. Cruelty but with hope dimly shining ahead. Lightweight where it can be, heavy where it must. Thanks for reading. Cover Credits (The cover is CC-BY-NC-SA): Steampunk Spider Bracer, by Daniel Proulx. CC-BY-NC-SA Picture Frame, @anaterate, Pixabay license. Some odds and bits from here and there.
8 262Fade
The story follows the life of John Grimshaw. From tragic beginnings to hopeful ends, John embarks on a quest for meaning. When visiting the cemetery he meets a girl named Jennifer Stone, a youthful teenager who quickly becomes a safety raft for John in turbulent times. But nothing could have prepared John for when he met the man in the pinstripe suit. The man with bright eyes, dark skin, and gleaming white teeth. The man claiming to the impossible and break the thin ice below John's feet entirely. (ADDITIONAL DISCLAIMER) This story starts off relatively dark. Those who dislike subject material surrounding loss, depression, grief, should probably not read. With that said, the story evolves into a supernatural thriller past the initial chapters. It’s a comparably low fantasy for a website like this but hope some of you still enjoy it.
8 125SYNCH : the contract formation
In a near but distant future, an era of superpower and magic. Five young people, Iris, Anck, Alice, Brian and Steve were born different, without powers, but one day they inadvertently form contract with the gods and receive immense powers. In a world where only the strongest are recognized, follow their adventure as they try to finalize the contract and discover the secrets behind their existence. I will post everyday even during weekends either at 8:30 am GMT or 5:30 pm GMT. At least until we make it to chapter 50. Each chapter will be between 500 and 1000 words. Thank you for your read and don’t forget to give me a feedback it will help me better myself?
8 72The Catastrophes
The world's heroes have fallen. Now it's time for the world's rejects to step up as a new villain rises to power. Rated YA
8 161A Siren's Call
I was a normal teenage girl but one day I was kidnapped. Everything changed after that. I saw the cruelty of the world. I had learned late about what I should fear more in life. I was granted a rebirth and a screen popped up in front of me. There were two choices: ‘New Life’ and ‘Revenge’. I wonder which I should choose. **A story about a girl who lost her sanity and falls deeper and deeper into the darkness.** WARNING: This story is not for the soft hearted. There are a lot of moments where you'd question my own sanity. Heck, I was disturbed at some moments as I write this story but I can't not write it! **DOUBLE WARNING: This is a very very very very dark story.** : p.s. I do not own the cover art in any way or form and found it using the almighty google-sensei.
8 84The Dangers of Butt Dialing
"ive probably been butt dialing you...""butt dialing. you. butt. dialed. me."--------------------carlas life was running pretty smoothly until she keeps receiving calls from an unknown caller. her life starts to change in the form of late night calls, cheesy movies, frustrating accidental calls, and laughter.**extended summary inside#15 in phone#2 in cellphonenovel
8 137