Chapter 6

Tourism

Over the last three days, I have been going back on forth between the mountain and the city to collect the material. It was a real pain that I to do this colossal task to do alone, but there was simply no way for the golems to help and I simply could not leave them in the open either.

I drop the last of the preserved food near the Imp’s settlement. Some animals are already gnawing on it but there is so much it is hardly noticeable, anyway.

I cast a powerful lighting spell to catch their attention and leave immediately; with that out of the way, I am now ready to work on my suit... to take a step towards my actual goal.

By the time I get back, the golems have almost cleared all the rooms. I said cleared and not cleaned because the place is still as dark, dirty and stuffy as ever. Such a thing does not bother the current me (much): I only need some space out of the elements to work.

It would be great if I could still use my workshop, but whatever was inside has long stopped being usable. I sit on the ground, near the pile of magic organs, I would rather not use any of my very limited material, but I nevertheless recover two among the smallest to inscribe; one with reinforcement and the other with a magic barrier.

My fight with the wyverns made me realize I have grown over-confident, my former self would have never left the city without at least some defensive magic tools and while it is true that compared to him, I have become a force to be reckoned with; I am no less susceptible to surprise attacks.

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Eight greater golems stare silently at me, waiting for an order. With the hides’ preparation finished, the rooms cleared, and the fact that there are only two tanning tools: I do not have work to give them. I could increase the tools, but I am loath to waste more resources… in retrospect, no matter the difficulties it implied, it might have been better served to only use temporary constructs.

I order them to dig a hole around the tower in preparation to access the vault. In the long run, without supervision, the work they can do will probably only amount to a drop of water in the ocean, but anything is better than nothing and their cold lifeless stares make me uncomfortable.

As for me, I have enough leather now, so it is time I do what I want and need to do. With this much leather, I could make an entirely new suit, but I have already wasted a lot of time, and I do not feel like starting over.

I roll some leather in tube attempt to sew the leather to the metal with the sinew. As expected, making leather and making cloth does not require the same set of skills... it covers the articulations and other revealing parts but it is too loose. Whatever, it is not like I have to reproduce the technique used perfectly; I take the path of simplicity by fusing the two with magic.

I put the suit on and use farsight to look at myself. It hides my skeleton completely, looks more like the real deal, and even the movements appear more natural.

There is one last problem though: the disparateness. As the best solution is often the simplest, I go the easy path again by applying a thin layer of metal over the leather, just enough to give the same metallic shine. And voila: one suit of metal... albeit in appearance only.

All that is left now, are the adjustments, like finding the right amount of padding for each part and adjusting the length.

Despite all my efforts and training, there is still a stiffness to my movement. Well, I suppose I will get used to it sooner or later and the most important thing is that it hides my nature… while also looking nice and lustrous.

I know I can do better, but the suit is only the means and not the goal. “Indeed, it will have to do. I need to head back south.”

On my way, I make a small detour by the imp’s settlement to see if they have found my gifts. I find them in the middle of a feast… and it might not even be their first one considering the amount of scraps. I look for Basket but I do not find it, or just as likely I cannot distinguish it from the rest.

A smile on my face – figuratively – I head south and stop at the edge of the forest to observe the city again. Last time, I only took a look outside, this time I want to see inside and to learn more about their habits, all so I can avoid sticking out like a sore thumb.

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The use of the rounded pieces of metal is not limited to entering the city. Far from that, they seem to have an important role as people keep exchanging them for food, objects, and even at times for other pieces of metal.

As I had observed last time, not one individual can enter the city without first giving away some of those metal discs or showing the sentry a wooden tag. I cannot do that myself, but it seems likely that as long as I can get in, I will be seen by the citizen as someone who has gained rightful entry.

With that in mind, I wait until the night to fly over the walls under the cover of every concealment spell possible. For hours, I wait patiently in a remote corner then to slip among the crowd at dawn. For me who lived all his life surrounded by the same group of lifeless individuals, the sight of the masses going noisily about their days is as foreign as can be, but it is also lively and colorful and I like it.

“DEATH TO THE FAITHLESS!”

“KILL THE DAMNED WITCH! “

“THE FAKE GODDESS AND ALL OF HER MONSTROUS WORSHIPPER MUST DIE!”

There it goes again, as soon as I drop my guard a little, the ‘voices’ annoy me with their nonsense. I have grown used to the grumbling that I can ignore it most of the time, but on occasion when I get lost in thought, it becomes overwhelmingly loud and persistent.

As I have no clear goal in mind, I follow the people around and end up in a large place meant for exchanges. Standing behind kiosks and counters are Individuals from various species, calling to the crowd in an unknown language.

One some krok calls directly to me. (“Hey, big fella! Want something tasty? I got the best bacon in all of TheNewCity!”)

My ‘auto-translation’ is far from perfect, it only gives me the general sentiment and sometimes a few words, but I did not need its help for the last word, I distinctly heard the new city, even if it was spoken as a single word.

I ask avidly without being understood. “Could you tell me where the city name come from?!”

He? she? It? looks startled, then answer angrily, (“Ya some great noble knight or s’methin‘? Can’t lessen yerself ta speak like ordinary folk, can ya? Why don’t ya go mingle with yer own kind then, asshole!”)

The only thing I got from all that was its desire to see me to go somewhere. Despite knowing it will not do much good, I answer as slowly as possible. “I am new here; I do not understand the language yet. Could you please point me to someone who speaks like me?”

He must have understood because he annoyedly points somewhere. (“Get lost, go find that enchanter bastard, ya’ll be at home among pricks!”)

The individual punctuates his sentences with different words, but to me they all sound like ‘unpleasant’, but considering how often it occurred in the span of our conversation, it would be very strange if it were really the case.

I quickly deduce it is either an affectation or form of polite speech and try mixing it in my own sentences, “Thank you for your unpleasantness. You have been very unpleasantly helpful, and I wish you a very unpleasant day.”

Why does a word I do not understand roll so pleasantly on the tongue?

(“I Dunno’ what ya said but I know an insult when I hear one ya damn bastard!”)

Since the individual seems to be getting in an even worse mood, I take my leave to follow the direction he has given me. After a short walk, I find many rooms with unusually large windows and a lineup of objects. I attempt to come up with theories about their usage – obviously, they are not storage - but forget all about it when I see enchanted tools of dubious quality on display.

Enchantment means magic, magic indicates knowledge of the Words of Power, which happens to be the foundation of the Language. I should be jumping in joy at the opportunity, but instead, I look at the items in incomprehension.

Why did they inscribe spells on metal? Metal does not retain magic; it strongly resists its passage and generates heat in the process. And as if it was not strange enough, most items have a notch near the first word… Some of them even have uncarved crystals slotted in.

Oh, I get it now! The crystals as used as renewable power sources. At first, it appears like a wasteful way to use a good crystal, but it is not: a single crystal can be used to power a variety of tools and that it is not all of it, the way the Words of Power are carved in a spiral pattern to maximize the space and reduce the circuit’s size is just as ingenious.

Once again, I have to acknowledge that scarcity really drives creativity. In many ways, it reminds me how as a child I used to make the best of what I had, then became wasteful as I adult with access to unlimited resources. Even as a child, I would never have dreamed of conserving space that way, at best I looked for a crystal the right size.

Could I use the same concept with crystals? No, the right question is: how do I translate this concept to spell inscription? In my current situation, any space gain, even as small as one-twelfth, could make the difference between using disposable quartz or my very limited supply of organs.

Well, using a crystal as a power source also opens some possibilities, but it is not as brilliant as cramming as many Words as possible.

(“Are you alright? If you’re going to pass out, please do it in a place where it won’t hinder my business! Hey big guy! Are you listening to me?!”)

I was so taken by my thoughts that I did not hear the fox creature talking. What was it that it said? Something about being big, unwell and in the way?

He is not wrong; I am in the way. I move away from the door and present it with my excuses. “Sorry, when I saw these items, I was struck with an idea so novel that my mind went astray.”

(“Royal speech?! Not even the queen’s own knights speak so proficiently, and I never heard of someone as big as you. I mean, you are so tall yet so thin. Say, what species are you?”)

A Queen? Like in the insect’s world?

“I do not understand you, but you seem to understand me.”

The fox is clearly not fluent, but it does its best. Its accent is not as bad as the kroks but even with it speaking slowly and carefully, there are some words I do not understand.

“All mages can read (old royal) to a degree since the spell books are entirely written in the (stuff), but Speaking it is its own thing. Where did you learn? I have never heard of someone as proficient as you.”

It calms down suddenly and changes its tune. “Sorry kid, I got carried away. Do you want to (buy) some Enchants? I may not look like it but I’ve got some of the finest items outside the magic (department). I used to be a (researcher) there.”

I politely decline “I cannot say I have no interest in your display, but I am keener on learning about this place’s customs and language. You see, I know far too little and would like to avoid making careless mistakes once I introduce myself.”

“Introduce yourself?” Its face displays a wealth of expression. “I knew you had to be a new species but I can’t imagine the guards letting you in without telling you anything. Frankly, you are as suspicious as they get, but as long as you’ve got something to buy or sell, I couldn’t care less.”

“What are those ‘buying’ and ‘selling’ you people keep talking about?”

“(Ouch), you’re like an old (timer) who never left the (damn) forest! It makes sense though, the notions of money and commerce did not exist when I was a kid.” Its mouth opens slightly revealing some fangs. “You know what, I’ll give you the basics, and if you’ve got something of interest, I’ll even buy it from you.”

It explains. “Money is what we call a currency, a tool for trade. It is light, so it a lot more convenient than bartering and...”

“What is ‘bartering’?”

“That too? Barter is when you exchange your stuff for someone else… and stop interrupting me. As I said, rather carrying your stuff around and exchanging it with other, you carry little metal discs issued by the government that have an agreed value. There are five common denomination, the copper, the big copper that is worth five small copper, the small silver, worth one hundred small coppers, the large silver, worth five small silver, and finally the small gold, worth ten large silver. Got it?”

“So, if I want to acquire something, I need to ‘buy’ it with money and to get some I first need to exchange my possessions for some, is that right?”

“Right so!” He laughs. “You’re going to get ripped off like crazy though.”

“What’s ripping off?”

Apparently, my comment is hilarious because he laughs uncontrollably. “You’ll find out soon, I know you will. So, do you have anything that would interest me?”

“All I have in my possession some wyverns’ bones, leather, sinew and hides that I left back home. Is that any good?”

“Is that any good? Are you kidding me? When can you get them? I’ll even throw in a history book and a royal to common language dictionary... books are neither cheap no easy to come by, you know?” He stares at me doubtfully. “Did you hunt them yourself in that (crappy armor) of yours? No offense, but it looks like it’ll be falling apart at any minute.”

Since I do not see how clothing is related to fighting, I answer with a vague. “I fought them off normally.” Before recentering the conversation. “The sinew and bones I can bring, but seeing how the golems have only started processing the hides recently, I have only a few rolls at hand.”

“Is the Queen smiling on me or something? You’re telling me you’ve got greater golems with tanning skills?”

“No, I certainly do not. I just happen to have experience in tanning, and it is not like they are going through the whole process by themselves: I only need them to operate the magic tools I have made.

“You’ve made an (enchant) even golems can operate? Isn’t that way better? Would you be willing to sell? If it works, I also okay with buying the unprocessed hide at one fifth over the (market price).”

I did not get most of what he said, but one of the words he used strikes me as strange. “What do you mean by, ‘Enchant’?”

“It’s short for ‘enchanted tool’. You are worse than a grandpa. Would you care to stop asking about every (damn) little thing?!”

I would like to acquire this currency as soon as possible, but I am still worried I will get detected and cause alarm if I am not prudent during the daytime. "It is a bit far. At best, I can bring a few pieces by tomorrow morning. As for the tool, I...”

“Eh, that soon? I thought for sure you lived outside the (Queendom) from the way you spoke. Oh, right… don’t expect other mages to be as fluent as me in (Old Royal), I’m over six hundred and I have been studying magic since I was 10. In fact, the only reason I am operating this (shop) is to finance my research.”

It is my turn to be surprised “Eh? So young? I thought for sure you were way older than me.”

“I thought the same… I suppose that you’re these types who are old in age, but not in experiences.” He laughs again, “By the Queen, you’re going to kill me with laughter, kid... or maybe I should call you older timer? I don’t know about your kind’s life expectancy, but if you go calling anyone under six hundred young, you’re going to have some problems: the vast majority of people don’t get to live over one hundred, you know?”

“That is… unexpected. Thank you for your concern, I will take your advice to heart. See you tomorrow.”

As I cannot leave now, I decide to walk around the town some more.