Eric woke the next morning and tried remembering things that happened last night. System had been explaining something and he'd drifted off to sleep.
He tried hard and remembered that he had bought the crossbow design. He sprang out of the bed and started searching, he looked under the bed, in wardrobe, below and above the table, and even checked the pockets inside his cloaks and tunics. The result, he found nothing related to the crossbow.
With furrowed brows, he called the system, 'what the heck is this?. Where is the blueprint I bought yesterday?'
[ Morning Host! Don't blame the system for your laziness. FYI the blueprints had been successfully transmitted into your memory last night. Try recalling it.]
The displeasure on Eric's face hadn't faded, but he still checked his memory to verify system's claims. And it turned out to be true, a relieved smile formed o his face but it suddenly vanished as another problem appeared.
How he would draw the blueprints on the beast skins. His drawing skills had no hope. He asked the system, 'Can't you provide printed designs.'
[Sorry host! But the system is not a printing machine, So do it yourself.]
'What's your problem with printers, I think printers are your ancestors technically, So you should at least give me a printed copy as paying respects to your ancestors.'
[System analyzing your statement…
The system found your statement to be true partially.]
'So could you please provide me a printed copy?' Eric said as sweetly as it was possible for him without risking diabetes.
[ NO!. Host, Monkeys are your ancestors, Would you live on trees as a tribute to them. Or Would you walk naked like early man.]
'How could you compare them to us. They were uncivilized' Eric yelled furiously.
[ Same thing here, Host. System is going back on sleep mode, please don't call unnecessarily.]
Eric lay back on the bed, slightly annoyed.
…
Eric put the brief argument with system out of his mind. He arrived at th barracks where he was greeted by the sight of young men running in and out of second barrack.
He entered the second barrack, those who recognized him greeted him at the first glance, others after learning about him.
He was used to it, the previous wasn't a public figure who everyone would recognize. He returned their greetings.
Because of system's willful attitude, he didn't have any hardcopy of the designs, it would be problematic for him convey the exact design and he couldn't make it himself.
Evans had arrived earlier than him, and General Jenkins who had left early yesterday was nowhere in sight.
From Evans he got to know that the old bowyer, who were completely exhausted because of his ignorance, had brought their green disciples for physical labor and they would be guiding them from behind.
"Well its okay, However they do it. I want the result, the crossbow." He said to Evans and moved towards an old bowyer.
Eric said them to make some measurement tools for him like scales, protectors, set squares. The bowyers already had such tools but rarely used them, using them consumed more time and brain.
However, Eric needed those things to guide them in making the crossbow. The process began again, from cutting the log for stock and arms.
Eric measured every tiny details and kept giving instructions on exact sizes. His first aim was to make a simple crossbow, a few hundreds of them, and after that he would start the making of semi automatic and automatic versions. The later version would be made from metal not wood.
After a few hours of gruelling work, all the parts required for crossbow we're ready to assemble. The assembly process was simple, the trigger mechanism gave a little trouble; however, the crossbow was complete within an hour.
Eric was all smiles, his first invention successfully completed. He hugged the old bowyers in excitement.
The bowyers with much difficulty pushed him away. "Evans, give the bowyers a gold coin each and their apprentices 10 silvers. Be quick."
Evans was a little doubtful over this new type of bow, but he could test it yet, the string was left in sun for drying.
The string was made of several kind of materials; linens, plant fibres, animal sinew, hemp, all spiralled to make a single string. And then, it was dipped in waxy resin for extra strength and protection.
Evans distributed the rewards as Eric had said. He with apprehension picked up the thing Eric called crossbow. It wasn't heavy as it seemed, that's the magic of using iron wood, strong but light. This tree was found in the forest of west, a rather special place where only half the number of people who entered came back safely.
"Ho! Evans how does it feel. Do you got the feeling from inside that you are holding 'the weapon' that would change the way battles are fought." Eric was foolishly expecting Evans to praise the weapon. He knew its effect because he was from Earth, but how would Evans know. Eric forgot that he hadn't showed the performance of his 'the weapon' yet.
Evans not to upset his friend who had turned almost crazy from excitement said, "Yeah, it feels good"
Eric nodded, "It's certainly good, um.. not good, it's the best. Just watch the trails in the evening."
The bowyer and their apprentices we're happy with the coins in their hands, they pocketed it and started on the second crossbow prototype...