blacksmith of a Thousand tales

Chapter 49: "Messages and Mini Cannons"

Kael and Alarcus stood at the gates of the dwarven city, ready to embark on their journey back to Greyhold. Behind them, the constant hum of dwarven forges filled the air, accompanied by the occasional boom from their latest experiments.

"Oi, lads, don't forget to tell that blacksmith of yours we're expecting more of his work!" a burly dwarf shouted as they passed.

Kael grinned, waving a massive hand. "I'll tell him, but don't get your hopes up. His work doesn't come cheap!"

Alarcus smirked but remained quiet. His thoughts were on the crow golem resting in his bag.

Before leaving, the pair paused to watch a group of dwarves testing their newest creation—a set of small, mobile cannons inspired by the gun Alarcus had traded.

"Alright, lads, fire it up!" a dwarf barked.

The cannon roared to life, its blast sending shockwaves through the air as it struck a heavy iron target. The impact left a deep dent, but the target remained intact.

"Still not good enough," one dwarf muttered, scratching his head. "We need more power!"

Kael chuckled, leaning over to Alarcus. "Their toys are cute, but I doubt they'd survive a punch from me."

A dwarf overheard him and snorted. "Careful, beastman, we might just test that theory one day!"

Kael laughed, flexing his arms. "I'd like to see you try."

After leaving the city, Alarcus activated the crow golem Reyn had given him. The bird flared to life, glowing faintly as it prepared to record his message.

Speaking clearly, Alarcus began:

> "Reyn, I have something important for you. On my journey, I met a beastman named Kael. He helped me retrieve the beast core, but during the process, he broke the gauntlet his elder brother gave him. It's important to him, so I made a deal for you to craft a new and better one. Consider it a favor for both of us."

He added a quick note about the dwarves experimenting with cannons inspired by the gun and their difficulty replicating its power before sending the bird off.

Kael watched the crow golem fly into the distance. "You think your friend can make a gauntlet as good as the one I had?"

Alarcus raised an eyebrow. "If anyone can, it's him. Besides, knowing Reyn, he'll probably make something even better."

Scene 4: The Journey Back

The road back to Greyhold was long, but the two companions filled the time with conversation.

"You really trust this guy, huh?" Kael asked, cracking his knuckles absently.

Alarcus smirked. "More than anyone else. You'll see when he finishes your gauntlet. Just don't get too attached—it might be so good you'll feel guilty for breaking it."

Kael laughed heartily. "We'll see. If it's as strong as you say, I might have to find something even tougher to punch."

The journey to the Dwarven Nation had taken Alarcus and Kael through the northeastern tip of the Empire before dipping into the eastern region. While they'd expected challenges, nothing could have prepared them for the bleakness of the lands they traversed.

Small villages dotted the arid plains, each more desolate than the last. The homes were little more than shacks, their wooden frames sagging with age and disrepair. Children with sunken eyes and hollow cheeks peeked cautiously from behind doors as the two travelers passed, their expressions a mix of fear and curiosity.

"Look at this place," Kael muttered, his fists clenching at his sides. "The people are barely surviving. Is this really part of the Empire?"

Alarcus nodded grimly. "The eastern dukes care more about their coffers than their people. These lands are some of the poorest in the Empire. The only ones thriving here are the nobles and their cronies."

Their path took them to a small town nestled near the border of the Dwarven Nation. Upon entering, they immediately noticed the iron collars around several of the townsfolk's necks. Slavery was alive and well here, despite the Empire's supposed stance against it.

A man with a whip barked orders at a group of workers unloading crates from a wagon. Nearby, a woman sobbed as her child was dragged away by guards, likely to be sold to a noble. Kael's hand hovered over his weapon, fury burning in his eyes.

"We can't," Alarcus said, placing a hand on Kael's shoulder. "Not now. We're outnumbered, and if we intervene, we'll end up as corpses—or worse."

Kael growled but lowered his hand. "One day, I'm coming back here. And when I do, this place will burn."

Resting in the eastern region proved nearly impossible. Bandits roamed the roads, many of whom were disillusioned adventurers who had turned to crime. One night, while camping near a stream, Alarcus and Kael were ambushed by a group of six men.

"Hand over everything you've got, including that shiny armor!" one of the thieves snarled, brandishing a rusted sword.

Kael smirked. "You sure you want to do this?"

The fight was over in seconds. Kael's sheer strength sent three of the bandits sprawling, while Alarcus' precise spellwork incapacitated the others.

"Pathetic," Kael muttered, kicking one of the unconscious men. "Is this what it's come to in these lands? Adventurers reduced to common thugs?"

"Survival makes people desperate," Alarcus said, wiping sweat from his brow. "But it doesn't excuse them."

On their return journey, the pair once again passed through the eastern region, and the horrors they had witnessed seemed only to multiply. This time, they noticed a massive estate surrounded by golden gates and patrolled by heavily armed guards. Inside, nobles feasted while peasants labored in the fields under the watchful eye of overseers with whips.

"They're living like kings while their people starve," Kael spat.

"Don't forget the northern and northeastern regions are just as bad," Alarcus said. "The nobles in those parts are no different. They cling to their traditions of slavery and oppression like leeches."

By the time they reached the borders of the central region, both men felt the weight of the Empire's inequality pressing heavily on their shoulders.

Scene 6: Learning the Magic Shield's Secrets

After enduring the horrors of the eastern dukedom, arriving at the empire's capital was a breath of fresh air. The streets were bustling with activity, and the people seemed far more lively and free. Alarcus noted the stark difference in atmosphere.

"This city feels like it's in another world compared to where we just came from," Kael remarked, gazing at the bustling marketplace.

"That's because it is," Alarcus replied. "The capital is directly under the emperor's control. The nobles here know better than to abuse their power openly."

As they wandered the streets, something caught their attention—a massive contraption at the city's center. It was a towering structure of intricate metal and glowing runes, humming with energy as it absorbed mana from the air.

"What is that thing?" Kael asked, shading his eyes as he looked up at the towering device.

The duo noticed another innovation—small, colorful golem birds flitting through the air, delivering messages. Each bird carried a unique glow, signifying its purpose.

As Alarcus and Kael admired the Mana Absorption Tower and the magical shield, they overheard a group of guards chatting nearby. Curious, they approached.

"Excuse me," Alarcus said. "That's quite the impressive tower. Can you tell us how it works?"

One of the guards, a stocky man with a friendly demeanor, smiled. "Ah, you've never seen one, have you? The Mana Absorption Tower is a marvel of modern magic and engineering. It draws ambient mana from the air and converts it into a stable energy source. That energy powers the shield you see around the city."

Kael raised an eyebrow. "Ambient mana? You mean the magic in the air?"

"Exactly," the guard said, clearly proud to explain. "It's not as strong as drawing from a mage or a mana crystal, but it's endless and replenishes on its own. The shield's strength varies based on how much mana the tower collects, but it's usually strong enough to repel most threats."

Alarcus frowned. "What about maintaining it? That must take a lot of resources."

The guard chuckled. "Not as much as you'd think. The real genius is the craftsman who designed it. The tower is enchanted to be self-sustaining. Repairs and adjustments are needed from time to time, but nothing major. Rumor has it the inventor was a wandering genius—some say he's a young prodigy who passed through the empire a while back."

Kael folded his arms. "Sounds like someone who knows what they're doing. What about those golem birds? Are they connected to the tower?"

The guard nodded. "In a way. The same craftsman made them. They're powered by small mana cores and use the tower as a relay to stay connected. They're used for communication across the capital and even to nearby towns. Very efficient—and expensive, too."

"Who funds all of this?" Alarcus asked.

"The emperor himself," the guard replied. "He's invested in modernizing the empire. The eastern and northern dukedoms might resist, but here in the capital, we're moving into a new age."

Kael grunted. "The emperor should bring this 'new age' to the rest of the empire. The eastern region's a nightmare compared to this place."

The guard's face darkened. "Aye, it is. But the emperor's hands are tied. The dukes control their territories, and most are set in their old ways. If change is coming, it'll take more than towers and shields to make it happen."

Alarcus nodded thoughtfully. "Thank you for the information. It's given us a lot to think about."

As they walked away, Kael glanced at the tower again. "If someone like that craftsman can make a difference, maybe we can too"

Not long after the duo noticed another innovation—small, colorful golem birds flitting through the air, delivering messages. Each bird carried a unique glow, signifying its purpose.

"Voice golems," Alarcus muttered, recognizing the craftsmanship. "Reyn's influence is spreading faster than I thought."

Kael pointed at a red bird landing on a merchant's hand. "So those things just talk to people?"

The merchant chuckled. "They deliver voice-recorded messages. It's the newest craze here in the capital. Efficient, fast, and reliable. The emperor must've hired a genius to come up with them."

Alarcus didn't respond, but a small smile crept across his face. He knew exactly who that "genius" was.