Chapter 2

Rishido here. Studying English was a bit hard way back when I was still a kid but I got through it by constant studying and practicing. At a foreign land where mostly speak in English was kind of hard because I`m not able to expressed myself that much. Then on my high school day, I remembered that we`re taught how to do computer programming and I was like having hemorrhage by just staring at the codes. Hope other places don’t have this kinds of things.

------

“Nice place you got here.”

“Thank you, please take your seat and be comfortable.”

Not bad for a Jii-san. Comfy place even though the tower was made out of stones. I`m drooling right now as I saw case and case of books around this place and I bet every magician would die just to read one or two of this old books here.

“Can I see you alchemy handouts.”

We took out our handbooks and gave it to the old man. Wait. I haven’t asked his name.

“Before I forgot. You haven’t introduce to us.”

“Really?! Haa… it`s hard getting old”

“I`m Raiser then this is Leyla my guide and Servira my assistance I supposed.”

“Nice to meet you juniors, I`m Pad Ropoda a bear beastkin and a master of Nature and Earth magic. Also a student of Master Jaldava.”

Huh?! The master of elements was not really surprising but to be a student of Jaldava-dono. That was unexpected.

“What do you mean by student of hers`?”

“Ow so she didn’t told you anything about her, her work and what she is.”

“I had no idea but I judged her as an influential person in the kingdom I think”

“Hhmm… She didn’t told us either when we`re training or having breaks but she did say that she`s a very powerful person.”

So even the two girls didn’t have any clues of her.

“Anyways, I guess it don’t hurt if I told you. She`s an old one for some, ancient people by other but we the student of hers` called her as High Human.”

High human? I didn’t see any high human in the character selection.

“Well it wasn’t really a race or a tribe now but a gift from birth by the gods.”

“What do you mean by ‘now’?”

“They were a lost tribe that died down decades ago even before your race came to this world. Records stated that they`re more talented than other human buy the drawback was that if they learn one art, they need to give up almost everything that don’t have any relation towards their art. Simply saying, Master Jaldava was a powerful magician but have a weaker body than normal human.”

“So if a high human choose one type of job or mastery they would be weaken on the opposite side of it.”

“yes that`s it. Likewise if one choose to become a warrior or any weapon wielding fighter they need to give up magic.”

That sucks big time but I guess battle junkies don’t mind having no magic or mana in the first place.

“I haven’t heard of rumors about by high human back in my home but I guess that was a long ago story by the elders that they forgotten it.”

“Maybe you’re right young fairy.”

“Anyways how about our recommendations?”

We got derailed but that was really informative. Leyla was excited and Servira was still siting silently. *sigh* teaching her will take a lot of time.

“Don’t worry I had deciphered them. First is you Raiser.”

“…”

“Your recommendation stated that she`s recommending you to be taught with magic tools and things that was in a relation with magic tools creation such as runic writing and magic layout.”

That was new. I thought she would recommend me to someone who knew about clockworks.

“For the two girls, you`ll also be studying runic writing and different forms of magic like elemental manipulation and mana expansion.”

“Mana expansion?”

Hhmm... Mana expansion another new skill and never seen any talk about it in the forums.

“Yes young fairy, I was taught to students in most places but only in a degree unlike with us. We could give you the full potential of this because Master Jaldava created this.”

Wait. Does this means that only selected people can have the full version. I felt like we cheated on this. Am I gold member or paid user?

“Yeah! Did you hear that Raiser. I`m getting more awesome like what Master told us.”

“What did she told you?”

“S-E-C-R-E-T~”

She`s irritating. And stop flying around my head while dusting your fairy glitters. I looked at Servira but she just told me that it was a secret she needed to keep. Damn it. Girls secret.

“Okay we will start tomorrow for your training. I`ll personally teach the two ladies while a colleague will be your mentor Raiser.”

“Thank you for giving us time Master Pad.”

“It`s our duty to teach the younger generation about Master Jaldava`s secrets and magic.”

“Before I forgot, she teaching kids alchemy back in Vulcan.”

“Is that true?!”

“What the buzz?”

“Well she stopped teaching students decade ago as she got bored and had some bad experiences with arrogant and obnoxious students.”

“I won’t pay more in this matter. Again thank you.”

“Good. An attendant will guide you around the tower and its stalls and I guaranteed good quality of items here.”

As we leave his office, we`re guided towards each shopping floor of this tower. This place was full of mana and element also different kinds of merchants and magical students. I should buy some magic tools here for study purposes.

*

Who would have thought that studying magic tool creation would be like this?

Dozens of runes to remember, methods to combine them, how not to make them explode when loaded with mana and stuffs that will break your head if you`re not a smarty pants.

At first, it was easy as studying letters and numbers but as we proceed towards magic tools section my system almost break down.

Leyla and Servira only study the basics but I was left alone to study how it was being implemented or used on magic tools.

Well for starters, magic tools are items that is mana powered and used for daily living or in battle purposes. Like the escape rope. It was a rope that`s imprinted with runes and teleportation magic that only work on dungeons.

The first 3 days was to study runic writings then the rest of the week was for magic tool creation. Leyla and Servira only study for two days then proceed towards magical studies. I envy them.

I was taught from basics like ignition rod which is used for cooking to early intermediate. I did gain runic writing as a trait and magic tool as an ability like blacksmithing.

My test was to create a magic tool that is above basic or beginner. The test will determine if I`m qualified enough to have another recommendation towards the kingdom.

After hearing the reward, I strived harder to study and create my first magic tool. First, I thought on creating a simple tool for daily use but I needed more that daily use. I decided to create a mana condenser and mana storage for my own use.

It was a two piece item that would suck in mana being transferred inside and condensed it to be able to fit inside the mana storage to have more space.

Doing the storage was easy unlike the condenser that I have several errors and explosions. But after many tries I`m able to condense the mana and safely transfer it inside the storage.

My mentor was amazed that i`m able to create it but it was a weaker version of what kingdoms had. He said that a tool like what did was already created but not widely known because of how one could be dangerous.

I was in shocked that I was able to recreate a magic tool but a version lower. He said that I shouldn’t let anyone know about this item or use it publicly in which, I agreed on.

I guess I have the right to relax after that hectic in game studying.

Usually, I took break from time to time so I won’t get exhausted from playing hours and hours. Some take it to the extreme and they were sent to the hospital for dehydration, lack of nutrients and other things what we neglected so we`re ordered to take some breather least twice a day.

For this reason, many were gathered in the lobbies chatting or watching videos of other players either live or recorded. I do also watch few videos with interesting insight like the pioneer teams raiding dungeons.

Most of the time, i`m locked up in my room to read and studying things that might help me gain new world ability. It was a tedious work but I kept on doing it as I will be able to gain something from this. I`m just not sure when or what it is.

I`m back online and do some quest that was regular dungeon culling but a little hard because of the season.

The dungeons and monster dens around the dukedom was mostly reptilians, insects and mutated creatures. Like most places that have high military movement, dukedom also have their own mine shaft only bigger but also dangerous.

We do some runs inside the mines to gain some ores but that place was not for us as the monsters there were bigger and stronger even if we only take down one of them. It was a popular spot for pioneer teams as I remembered correctly.

I kept on studying magic tools and even created simple tools that looks like power tools. I know that this items my break the logic and culture or whatever it is but I needed some specific items for upgrades.

“it`s getting boring Raiser.”

“I know. Doing it over and over again was really boring but we have no choice.”

It was really boring to do this routine of dungeon diving. I even lost my motivation on tinkering tools.

“I wish some big would happened today or tomorrow.”

“Don’t say that Leyla, you might what you wished for. Hmm… Servira are you done now?”

“Yes Master.”

As of now, we`re bored. While Servira was doing so arranging or organizing Cerous trunk. She developed this hobby from constant clutter that I did when I`m tinkering tools, weapons and body parts.

Servira was improving day by day as we tackle dungeons and interact towards different people. On the battle side, she`s good at decision making and tactical thinking which really helped a lot.

She`s my rearguard and her favorite weapon was the crossbow that I made for her after our week crash course in the tower. It was a pseudo magic weapon because it lacks in many aspects but above regular crossbows.

Mana could be infused in the handle to give a power shots that had knockback power. The arrows where the main items that I tinkered with. I`m able to do mass production of iron or steel arrows but I pimped it more with items that we took from dungeons like poisons.

I also made a quick draw arrow holder on her right arm for emergency purposes.

On the other hand, Leyla gain different skills from Jaldava and Pad mainly nature, earth, and water magics. She could now do some element manipulation especially to the metal which increase the ingots purity to the highest rate.

Her magic was helpful in many ways but also annoying that she uses it to do more pranks on me like stepping on a quick sand, being tangled by vines, or get soaked in freezing water.

I don’t get really mad at those things because I felt more relieved that things aren’t going in circles. Still, boring days were boring days.

*

It was a normal boring day again for us but things didn’t worked as it was last time.

“So why we being called again?”

“I don’t know the details Ms. Fairy, the only order was that to guide you to the castle that`s all.”

“Hmp. Fine”

Let`s look back this morning.

Today was just an ordinary day for us as we go dungeon diving but we`re blocked by a group of soldiers outside the guild and stated that we`re being summoned by the duke.

At first I was reluctant to obey as why would we being summoned. Their leader approached us and said that the duke wanted to see us especially me.

Hhmm… Maybe it was about the dungeon subjugation case. I didn’t came here immediately like the other teams.

I agreed to them and escorted to the castle.

The division of the dukedom was really something. From street pavement to house, you could see the difference.

The Castle was grand as expected. Large decorated wooden gates, extravagant garden right after you enter the castle, and other things that you could expect on a castle.

We`re escorted until we reached a large door, might be the main hall then we were taught how to act properly towards the duke like greeting him, never look directly in his eyes and other noble thingy that`s easy to understand.

As we entered the main or should I say grand hall, we saw two figures sitting on their thrones with guards on the side then few people standing on both side of the hall might be the nobles and knights.

“Greetings Milord.”

The leader said as we kneeled down with him. I don’t like social gatherings like this.

“Same to you Sir Clamond.”

Then he signaled us to stand. Looking at the duke closely he does looked like from medieval age, bearded with a brown long hair, and sharp eyes. Also, he and his wife where the only people I can’t see their status expect for the name and title while I could see others such as knight, royal knight, castle mage, and so forth.

“Greetings Milord. I`m Raiser, clockwork and a descendant. My guide, Leyla the fairy and my assistant Servira.”

“It was nice to meet you, Milord”

“…”

Leyla is acting like a fine lady but Servira was just following us and didn’t utter any words.

“So you`re the one that was talked about past few weeks. I haven’t seen a clockwork for my entire life so I don’t have any reference on what would you looked like except for the dwarves that was creating them. Anyways, I`m Kalius Radlif, the Duke of Estonia and my beloved wife Duchess Ashley.

Now for the reason of you being here was a request from the Head Priestess. She wanted to see you and talked to you but the details were still unknown even for me. Other people was intrigued also about your arrival so I made still for everyone.”

“I didn’t do anything exemplary or splendid.”

“Yes you were right but it was a request of the Head Priestess so I couldn’t decline it. One of the knights will guide you towards the meeting room where you will wait for the Head Priestess.”

Then one of the royal knights picked us up and guide us towards the meeting place. I didn’t say my goodbye remarks or anything but I guess it was an urgent request. Now who`s this Head Priestess anyways.

*

Upon arriving at the meeting room, I saw a little girl siting on an expensive looking couch. So she`s the one the duke was talking about and from her looks she should be.

She got blonde over shoulder cut hair, unnatural yellow eyes, and a golden circle that might symbolize her status. She`s wearing a decorated white robe that covers her whole body except her hands and accompanied by a ornamented staff that I can’t scanned.

Then she looked at us and smiled, she might knew that we were coming. No doubt about that with no data acquired by my scanners. For a little girl… hhmm… I`m giving her a nickname of chibi-chan.

“Hello Mr. Clockwork, I’ve been waiting for you.”

Soft spoken and modest but refined. I`ll give her 10 perfect points.

We sat down on the opposite couch but Servira stand behind me. Guess habits won’t be stop anytime soon.

“It was nice to meet you Head Priestess. I`m Raiser but I guess you already know.”

“I`m Leyla her guide. What are you doing at the back? Sit down her and introduce yourself.”

Leyla flew over Servira and pushed her towards the couch even though she can’t really push her.

“It`s also nice to meet you Head Priestess. I`m the servant of Master Raiser.”

“I didn’t knew that there would be another one.”

“Let`s just that I revived her from deep sleep.”

“Is that so. Well, back to why I wanted to meet you was that to tell you that there were a future vision for you by the gods.”

“The gods? What do you mean?”

The gods eh. I don’t feel anyway bad omen to this but gods are gods in game and they could messed you up big time. Even Leyla stopped doing side comments like earlier.

“The apparition I got from my dreams told me or shown to me that clockworks will do an active role in the whole kingdom and might affect the entire continent. That was what I interpret with my vision or dream.”

So another flag but this time a more large scale one. This might be related with my race quest.

“That might be right. I`m currently finding clues on finding other clockworks and maybe helped them.”

“Then my suggestion was be strong as another vision of mine shown me that there would be a big storm that is facing your way. But not just a weather storm it was… darkness.”

She looked down with a grim on her face telling that this isn’t a normal situation.

“You don’t have to worry about it. Things won’t work that way if I didn’t follow it right. Besides future is future and if that vision of yours` did happened then I just need to work my way out and solved it.”

I looked at Leyla and Servira the nods with me giving reassurance towards chibi-chan. She have heavy responsibility for a young age and having bad dreams that might cause global change was not good for her also.

We continue our talk to what I had done around my first day and listen to her advice on things that might help me in the future. She also requested to have a clockwork pet like Leyla which I couldn’t deny as it was a church or religion quest that can’t be turned down.

I wonder why I received a quest from her request while I could turn down Arth-dono and Kreisia-san. And I didn’t gain any quest log when they asked me. Really suspicious.

While we`re having small talks about the recent things that we did, the door opened and we saw the duke came in.

He`s accompanied by his knight but they stay behind the doors after he entered.

“Finally I could relaxed now.”

He said as he slacked down the couch and sighed. He acted differently while we`re in the main hall. So being a duke was stressful.

“Please don’t stress yourself too much Duke Kalius especially this season.”

“Sorry about that. I`ll try my best to be health until the season ends.”

He said as he sat down the couch where the Head Priestess was. He`s not an asshole type of noble from typical settings.

I waited to be called or talked to by the duke as it is one of the lessons that was taught to us earlier. People with lower status should wait to be approached by high ranking nobles.

“It was nice to meet you clockwork. I didn’t know that there would be two of you actually, the reports said you`re a sole clockwork from Vulcan.”

“I was a sole clockwork from Vulcan but I revived one my brethren back when I was in the dungeon subjugation mission.”

“Truly interesting to hear that. Well I called here because of her request but I do like to meet you also personally.”

“It was an honor to meet you Milord.”

“Mine as well. Now for more serious matters, I knew that you already talked to she about many things that I wouldn’t pry unto it. The serious matter that i`m talking about was the massive monster spawning from dungeon. It happened every time the season ends and it wasn’t an easy thing to deal with. ---“

His speech was serious like the town would be in chaos if this matter happened. It was about the season’s monster flocking outside their dungeons.it happens always before the season ends and it don’t end peacefully. We could subjugate dungeons but it was forbidden by the kingdoms as I would lead to greater dungeon that would be hard to deal when the season came.

Duke Kalius said in a grimed tone that there was once a duchy place that got wiped out by a new dungeon that replaced the withered dungeon before the season. Thus monsters from the new dungeon was still unknown and not evaluated. The dukedom got overconfident from their achievement that lead them to their destruction.

Well Vulcan was a special case because of the risk it would cause when the season ends.

It was their law for hundreds of years so I just need to obey it. But his request was, I would fully participate on defending the dukedom. Well I plan to defend this place after hearing the story but his request was I would help in keeping the whole place safe because of my abilities to detect.

He also said that if I don’t accept it I wouldn’t receive supplies like other teams that he called. Free stuff are good so I won’t decline this offer.

I shook hands with the Duke and bind my farewell to the Head Priestess that I still didn’t know her name. Even the duke only called her as Head Priestess.

Leyla kept her manners not to interject when I was talking with Duke Kalius but now she bombarding me with questions like what would we do, where we would go, and stuff like that. Servira was still acting as a maid as usual. She needs to be approachable when the time comes that I have to part ways with her.

I didn’t answer her questioning and told her that we would decide after the season ends.

Guess wishes do come true but in a bad way for us.

*

I'm back but still, i'm having a hard time doing this while the editor was missing.

So no more editor for now besides i think i`m getting the hang of this.

but life just caught me up few weeks ago including the mind block.

i know i still owe you guys more chapter so i`ll try my best to dual update. maybe every sunday only.

Check you guys next time