Chapter 23

Overworked

My previous life was in many ways one of leisure. Sure, I would be assigned tasks from time to time, but everything else I did of my own will. I did research but was always left wanting, wanting to reach for greater heights yet unable to take a step forward. In this second life of mine, I had my wish granted: people acknowledge me, and not simply because of my power or forefather’s knowledge, but thanks to my own work.

After being granted my wish, I should have no ground to complain but… I would like it if I were a bit less overwhelmed and overworked. It feels like every single time I am about to take a step forward; some more urgent task comes out of the woodwork to act as a roadblock.

Today’s problem has been long coming, we are almost out of crystal, and what little is left is mostly shards. Again, it is in no small part of my fault since I used over two hundred to outfit my knights, but it is also true that the quality and size had been dropping shipment after shipment.

I head towards the sector to meet with the master but encounter the master him on the way.

“Just the person I wanted! Can you tell me how the growth of artificial crystals is going?”

“Hello, sir. Um! We confirmed it works, in fact, it only took a matter of hours. The alchemists are trying different types of salts to see which are worth doing. Apart from that, they are confident… as long as they have the materials, space, and money needed to make new equipment.”

“This is great news. Are there any samples? How big can they make them?”

“It is not known for sure yet... I was about to go visit them. Why don’t you accompany me?”

The alchemist’s laboratory we visit right outside the inner wall. To my delight as we approach the building, I perceive small clumps of mana, and I know for sure they are high purity crystals. My joy is short-lived though, as they soon tell me that most crystals are unusable. The most common defects are extreme frailty, weakness to sunlight and humidity. Out of dozens of samples, less than ten make the cut and even then, after considering cost and availability, it soon comes down to only three.

One has one with a bluish hue, one is clear and uncolored, and the final one is our good old reliable friend the quartz. I try inscribing the samples, and out of the three, quartz has the worst qualities. “What can you tell me about the materials needed and their availability?”

“The uncolored clear one, use alunite, it an excellent tanning agent that can be bought from the empire, but it is rarely used nowadays because of the price. The price is not so bad right now, but as soon as we start buying large quantities, we expect the price to rise tremendously.”

Although the subject of economics rarely makes sense to me, this situation seems quite self-explanatory.

“Forget about it, we cannot let ourselves depend on a single supplier, even less when it is a potential enemy.”

“The blue one uses copper and oil of vitriol, sadly there is very little copper mined in the Queendom, most of our usual supply came from a distant country down south and transit through the empire. There hasn’t been a single shipment in months, so even if the price asked by the local mines aren’t too bad, the quantities aren’t enough.”

Quartz is not as resilient or as dense as the other two, but the material is cheap and readily available. In many ways, the choice has already been made for us. “Quartz, then. Please, show me how it is grown.”

The alchemist guides us towards sealed canister, I know from my reading that they are filled with pure conjured water, but unlike those described in the ancient tome, these vats are built much more solidly and constantly heated.

“High-pressure cooking? Is that what it is?”

Our guide appears bothered by my comment. “It is as you said, my lord. The container is a well-kept secret in our profession though, we did not expect it’d be so easily revealed.”

A secret? It is just a high-pressure cooker.

“Do not worry. I have no intention of revealing your secret to the public.” But I will duplicate it for our department and improve on it. “Master, gather reliable artisans, we will want vats many times bigger than these. Gather some mages with experience making enchants of gravity and heat… maybe barriers too.”

The alchemist is slightly worried by the mention of artisans, but there is nothing he can say or do when faced with two of the highest authorities.

The master has his own inquietudes. “Many times, bigger?” He looks again at the sturdy container he comments. “This isn’t going to come cheap, my lord.”

We do not have time to spare money, and I am quite sure the expense will reimburse itself soon.

“Glad to see that side of things is going well… I am going to look for some giant spiders and see if we can rear them for silk.”

“Is that even possible?”

“That is what I intend to find out. I have gathered knowledge about a few possible colonies. I will just leave a few greater golems to herd them and harvest the silk. We will see how it goes.”

“If I may say, adventurers are not going to be happy about this. Giant spider silk has always been a great source of revenue for them.”

I pull him away, considering the alchemists have contacts with the empire, it is quite probable they know about the risk of war, but I am more worried about the dragon.

“The dragon/calamity may awaken soon; it must die before it happens.”

“But it has been asleep for almost two centuries!”

“That in itself is a good reason to wake up, and just because it has been sleeping for a while does not mean it is going to continue doing so. Remember that last time it came, it ruined three countries and killed all the lesser-dragons.”

“But, why the hurry?”

“The empire and the One true God's kingdom are at war, and it is bound to affect us. Once it does, there are high chances the dragon/calamity will wake to join in. What do you think it will do then?”

“That’s terrible!”

“Now, you understand. Time is of the essence, there is no point worrying about the cost: we must finish production as soon as possible.”

The master answers. “Yes, my lord!” and runs back to the magic department.

As for me, I pick up the other samples before heading back to my workshop, no matter their defects, inside a greater golems sunlight and humidity are not going to be much of a problem.