"Auctions?" she mused.
"I agree with him. The auction could be your best bet for most of the materials here." Jack peered at the draft she made, muttering. "Unless you have a chest of coins and banknotes to do so."
"I'm now a personal instructor. I should be able to save up in no time."
"Even if you save up, Tasha, you still need an authorization or a permit for you to enter."
"Where is that even?"
"One of the biggest auction houses in the kingdom is owned by the Marquessate of Evergreen."
Anasthasia marveled at that fact. "Charlotte."
"You know her?"
"I'll be the one assigned by Daniel's team in 'The Great Hunt.'"
"You will be there too," Michael said. She nodded and saw his eyes glinted and shifted his gaze downward.
"Well, going back, I guess the problem lies on the permit."
Michael's lips quirked up slightly, adding to her statement, "Which isn't the case."
Anasthasia blankly stared at him; meanwhile, his face remained lit up. She further creased her eyebrows as he never changed his visage of gleefulness. There, she realized what he wanted to convey.
"The Insignia you gave me!"
He nodded. "That should help you."
She stared deep at his eyes and let out a hearty chuckle, "I'm in debt to you, twice. Thank you."
"Don't mention it, Tasha. Those don't even tantamount to the great favor I asked of you." He met her gaze and then glanced at the draft, his voice dropping to a whisper.
That said, Anasthasia's heart turned heavy from his remarks. She couldn't help but clenched her fist.
"I can wait, Tasha. I'll wait until you are ready to do so."
"I will do it."
Jack cleared his throat as though he tried to remove the tension he felt from them. Both of them snapped and went down to business.
"Miss Ana, I'm still surprised you can come up with this one. These details and drawings are intricate for a draft."
"I'm also a seamstress, Jack."
"Another artisan! No wonder you have a fascinating artistic view!"
Anasthasia smiled. "Well, that was then." Her hands grazed over the rough texture of the parchment. "I'm not an expert in this field. That's why I asked for help."
"But these ideas are bizarre! I can vouch for myself that not even the prominent artisans, even back then, could come up with this idea!"
Anasthasia creased her brows as he turned engrossed about all of the details.
"Since you are confident with the gathering of materials, though, even if you procure them within a month, I can't guarantee I'll finish it at the same time as well."
"Rest assured, Take as much as the time you need. I'm not that much in a hurry." She made a steeple with her fingertips and thought to herself, 'Regarding the progress of Lucy, things will take time.'
"After some brainstorm, I'm somehow convinced some of this will work, and I'm willing to try this new creation!"
She noticed how Jack's eyes gleamed, and she knew those too well—the thirst for knowledge from those golden orbs was evident. Needless to say, she'd gladly tell it as it wasn't much of a secret.
"I'll show you this." Anasthasia took 'Seraphine' out and showed him. He blinked his eyes from its dull appearance, but astonishment clouded his face when she activated it.
It was for his eyes to feast upon the magnificent effect of the 'Seraphine': from warm pulse up to sophisticated features of the staff.
"That is the most beautiful staff...I have ever seen in my whole life." The tremble in his voice, along with his genuine compliment, fluttered her heart. His reaction sold it. "It's almost as if...that's alive."
"I'm glad you appreciated it as much as I do," she giggled.
"That brought shame to all the staves across the land. Then again, there are fewer and fewer people who use staff, as it has become obsolete."
"The staves shape the magic the same way the swords shape its might." Anasthasia's hands carefully rubbed the shaft, rotating it, and discerned how nigh weightless and durable 'Seraphine' was. "I noticed the quality and mechanism of the weapons of current times. I wondered why that is."
"The weapons, right now, must fit the mainstream market, or else they won't be sold, despite the quality." Jack clicked his tongue. "Unfortunately, it had gone down to specifics and functions. The important takeaway is that these were built differently than the ones you have."
"Does that mean like Michael's 'Nightshade' is included?"
"That saber is made by me." He flashed a toothy grin with arms on his hips. "Therefore, it's not some measly weapon you see and displayed here."
Anasthasia's lips drew thin as her eyes darted back and forth on the hanged weapons, saying, "It's of great quality, yet you call them measly."
"That's true. But, of course, nobles know what they want. Most of these large quantities of weapons are catered for those who are middle and lower class."
"In essence, it's a privilege..."
Jack growled, in disdain, as he waved a dismissive hand. "Not that I have plans either give up my life as an artisan or work for the aristocrats."
"But Michael…"
"There's an exception, alright?" he quipped. "While the first function of this staff you proposed isn't new and used by the rest, the second one brought me so much life."
She propped her palms on the chin after what she heard from Jack's remarks. "Anyway, it's not new that the first function works as a focus: injecting one's mana to greater precision. Additionally, there are magic stones encrusted for storage as well."
"Indeed, having the staff as a function of capacitor, resistor, and transistor…Sounds like it gives convenience from a magician's standpoint. With programmable algorithms, the spells' magic sequences will sail like a breeze."
"That's right, but the second one is unique: like an antenna, it attunes itself to the ambient mana and grabs it for its arsenal."
Jack's eyes gleamed; his chest rose up and down quickly. "Which is spectacular! I can't wait how this turns out!"
Michael shifted and checked the clock. It was late evening and a perfect time to go home, as they'd been waiting. Anasthasia widened her eyes and apologized to Jack, but he was courteous enough to do the same as he got engrossed with the nitty-gritty of the draft.
Before anything else, she asked, "Do you have lead bars here?"
"Do I look like a noble to you, Miss Ana?" He narrowed his eyes but remained cool. When she shook her head, he continued. "But, I do have lead nuggets here."
"I'd like to buy them."
"They don't have use for me anymore, but if you insist, I will seal the deal." He stood up and went to the nearest cabinet. His hand reached out to the leather pouch and returned. Opening, ecstasy enveloped her as she witnessed a decent amount.
"Thank you so much."
"Tasha, what will you do with those?"
Anasthasia hummed. "Nothing much! Shall we?"
Michael shrugged, nevertheless, and went along with her.
"I await your return, Miss Ana."
Both of them left Jack's Smithy, and what bore them was the bright moonlight that cascaded the dim and quiet alleyway. The cold breeze adrift and brushed past them but paid no mind to it.
Anasthasia cast a spell, despite how the wind blasted through their faces and vision with streaks of light and darkness, they raced themselves back to the abode. Along the way, they played 'tag-teams' with each other.
It was all fun and games when the time ran out as they finally reached the destination. They panted hard, more joy than tired, from what they did. Liam took notice by the front door and opened. Anasthasia greeted, and he reciprocated.
"Welcome back, Your Highness. Welcome back, Ana."
"Lucy is already asleep?"
Levi loomed closer as he mentioned, "Yes, Ana, she decided to take a rest. The two of you might take a long time, and Freidmirth is still in a grave mood."
"I apologize, you two had to wait. We got caught up in a situation that we had to deal with accordingly." Anasthasia reasoned out.
"We understand," Liam said.
"I remember that I have to return to the palace and do my duties, Liam, Levi, tomorrow."
They asserted in unison. As the two entered, they began to disperse themselves, and as usual, she went upstairs. The door creaked, and she saw Freidmirth's snout contorted in disdain.
"You're early."
Anasthasia's hair flipped. "Always."
She drew close and showed the lead nuggets. With her power and knowledge, it took her time and toll in her body to the point she coughed a mouthful of blood, breathing hard.
"That... Should—do."
She felt a sudden onset of vertigo, which concerned Freidmirth.
"Anasthasia…"
"I'm fine." She removed her clothes, leaving her inner clothing, and wiped the mess before getting to her bed.
"So tired today. Goodnight, Freid."