The next few days pass by rather quickly, with me, Arthur and Elijah training a lot.
But we did manage to find the time to spend with our family, me and Arthur that is.
On the day we were supposed to visit the artificer I was awoken by my dear sister, who thought jumping on me would be a good idea to wake me up.
Needless to say any traces of sleep I had are gone now.
"Did you have to wake me up like that?"
She stuck her tongue out at me and left, giving me some privacy to get dressed.
Sigh.
Might as well.
_______________________________________________________________________________
After breakfast we take a carriage to the city square, which had much more people than usual.
Is there an event going on?
A question for another time I guess.
"I'm still hungry..." Arthur complains as he grabs his stomach.
"Seeing how much food Sylvie stole from your plate, I would be surprised if you weren't" Elijah replied.
Fortunately for me, I didn't need to hide Zeke's true identity. Therefore he is given much more food than Sylvie is.
I still remember the look of absolute shock when they saw how big Zeke has gotten.
They would faint if they see Sylvie.
I chuckle softly as I think that.
"Anyway I'm going to check some of the stores nearby," Elijah points his thumb behind his back.
"Do you have money to buy anything?" Arthur seems worried.
"Unlike a certain someone I actually saved what we earned from the dungeon," Elijah retorts.
Arthur slumps down muttering, "Lucky..."
Chuckling I say, "He's got you there."
"Shaddup," He grumbles before looking at Sylvie, "Sylvie, go with Elijah while I visit Gideon,"
Sylvie nods and jumps on Elijah's neck.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Vincent knocks at the door of the Artificer, which creaks open revealing a man who looked like he came out of a horror movie, "Master Gideon is not-Oh!"
He steps out and bows to us, "Greetings Master Vincent, please come in."
He leads us through a few shelves before making a turn, exposing us to a smell so vile I had to use wind magic to blow some of it away.
"What's this smell!" Arthur exclaims.
"An easier question would be 'What isn't that smell?'" The butler, Himes, replies.
In front of us is a stack of clothes with something moving inside it.
"Somethings moving over there!" Arthur shouts.
When did he become a mind reader?
Suddenly the clothes few up, and Io and behold, out came a man who looked like he didn't sleep for days, "HIMES! I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU NOT TO LET ANYONE- Oh Its Vincent. I see you've come to bother me once again,"
"You act like I didn't call you beforehand," Vincent replies.
"Eh, I'm just particularly tired of seeing people these days," He says as he flings a piece of cloth off his back.
"I've already had more than a dozen messengers from the royal family this year, pestering me to come up with a way to travel long distances across the ocean." He continues.
Arthur places a hand over his mouth, "Travel across the ocean? Why?"
"None of your damn business! Wait- who are the brats?" He retorts back.
"None of your-Oi!" Before I could complete my sentence I was pushed down to a bowing position by my dear brother.
"It's an honor to meet you Mr. Gideon. Uncle Vincent has told me many great things about your work. My name is Arthur Leywin, beside me is my twin brother Fayden Leywin."
"So, why'd you bring them here? You should know I don't take students or disciples." He proceeds to ignore us and talk to Vincent.
"Actually, I would like to know myself why he wanted to come here," Vincent replies.
"I came with something in mind to offer," Arthur answered.
"You said you needed a way to cross long distances across the ocean right?" He continued.
I grab his arm before he could go ahead, "Are you sure?" I whisper, "This is something major,"
He hesitated for a bit, "Yeah, I'm sure."
He grabbed an empty blueprint, "Perhaps it would be easier to explain,"
He began scribbling the design of a steam ship.
Gideon seemed unconvinced as he advanced towards us, "I don't know what sort of colorful doodles you are drawing, but the problem I'm facing is not something a kid who hasn't even grown hair down there can possibly solv-"
But when he did look at the design he was rendered speechless, "Th-This is...How...This...Of course! A ship not powered with mana but by steam generated from external materials! Why didn't I think of this?"
Probably because you people are so dependent on magic you don't even think about technology.
"Wait a minute... this part doesn't add up." He says.
Arthur snatches the paper from his hand, "I've left some key details out, ones which I'd be happy to provide, once our negotiations are over."
Raising an eyebrow Gideon pointed a finger at Arthur, "You're not a normal little booger are you?"
"Well that would be an understatement." I mumble loud enough for Arthur to hear, who snickered in response.
"No matter," Saying this he snaps his fingers.
Instantly the butler, Himes appears from behind a door holding a box in his hand.
"I'm sure even the object rolling around here will amaze you," He said.
I wouldn't be so sure.
"Feast your dewy blue eyes on this!"
The box opens to reveal an iron colored gem.
"That's an ironize gem," Vincent commented.
"Vincent tells me you're a budding mage, this is one of the most valuable gems on the continent. It can store up to 5 times its size in mana," He explained.
Eh, mediocre. Neither of us need such an item
"Its nice, but unnecessary," Arthur replied.
Gideon waves his hand, "Unnecessary you say. No matter. Himes, bring over all the items on the middle row of shelf C,"
Soon enough there was a mountain of objects in front of us.
Gideon rummages through the pile for a few moments, "I haven't shown this to anyone but I'll make an exception,"
He brings out a mirror, "This mirror is capable of deflecting upto fiv-"
"Not interested," Arthur cut him off.
In his surprise he dropped the mirror, which fortunately was caught by Himes before it could shatter.
This kept on for a few more minutes, to such an extent that Gideon started throwing the artifacts at Arthur saying, "Take my stuff!"
"Looks like I have no other choice. Himes, bring me the pendants!" He exclaimed.
"But sire, those were made for-" Himes objected.
"Just do it!" Gideon cut him off.
"Y-Yes master," Himes scurried off, returning with two red boxes, intricately designed with gold designs.
Gideon pressed their release buttons to reveal two necklaces, each with a gold chain and a circular pendant, the image of a phoenix adorned the center of the circles, while what looked like golden feathers stuck out of its sides.
"I had some of the best designers work on the aesthetics so they would be, err 'suitable' for the royal family..." He remarked.
Picking up one of the necklaces Arthur stared at it before commenting, "This was made from a Phoenix Wyrm..."
"Damn right it is-" Gideon started, "Wait, how'd you know!"
"Phoenix Wyrms?" Vincent asked.
"They're a race of S class mana beast, as rare as dragons. They are known for their unique ability to preserve their life," Gideon explained.
"Let me guess, you've somehow managed to store that ability into the pendant" Arthur said.
"Bingo! Just like how Phoenix Wyrms are able to protect themselves when in danger, a protective shell will be conjured around the wearer of this artifact, and that's not even the best part, if the shell breaks, the mana stored inside the pendant will be consumed and it will transport the user tot he safest place they know, just like a Phoenix Wyrm" He explained, a bit too excitedly.
"How many times can it be used?" Arthur asked.
"Honestly kid, its hard to say. I've already wasted over 5 Phoenix Wyrm beast cores, each worth more than any other S class core, I'd say they would be good for 2 uses."
Arthur pondered on it, while I began looking around for anything that I could use as a gift.
My eyes land on a pair of rings, each black with a streak of blue running from the middle.
Picking them up I feel no mana in them.
So they aren't enchanted yet eh?
"Hey Gideon," I say.
"Yes?"
"What are these?" I ask.
"Those? They're just some leftover rings I never used, tell you what I'll throw in the two of them with the pendants, for the blueprint of course!" He replied.
Well he seems desperate for the designs.
I glance at Arthur who nods in approval, "Sure why not,"
Gideon then proceeded to turn towards Arthur, "What I'm more curious about is how you came up with such an idea. And why you chose to reveal it here and now. What's your agenda," He spoke with his eyes narrowed suspiciously at Arthur.
Arthur smiled innocently, "I just want to get my little sister a good birthday present,"
"Besides," he continued, "I don't plan on revealing anything without knowing exactly what you'll be using it for."
Good call.
"Is it really necessary? You'll find out at the announcement today anyways," Gideon replied.
"I'm certain a distinguished person such as yourself would have more information than a highly filtered speech meant for the masses," Arthur spoke.
I raised an eyebrow at this.
So you're playing on his ego huh?
Gideon sighs, "Fine, if I tell you everything I know, would you still need the pendants?"
"I'm not that nice Gideon," Arthur replied.
"Then instead of two only one?" Gideon suggested weakly.
Arthur kept smiling at him while lighting a small flame near the edge of the blueprint.
Gideon facepalmed muttering 'Demon'.
You got that right.
"I don't know what goes on in that brain of theirs, but you can trust them to keep quiet about this," Vincent reassured him.
Does he know something?
"Gah, Fine! Screw the royal family. The ship is more important anyways!" Gideon spoke with his hand pulling his hair.
"Last year we found evidence suggesting...No... We're absolutely certain that there is another continent beyond Dicathen."
"Say what now?"