"I told you he was special" Queen Rosalind said with a laugh.
"Yes my dear" King Ramus responded with a loving smile. he was both happy to see his queen laughing and shocked at the display that Jason had put on.
"His Royal Majesty, The King, Ramus The Butcher!" The Royal Advisor announced the King with a rap of his wizards staff.
"Jason you have passed the Trial of Nobility, the Trial of Family, and even the Trial of Vasal. You have earned two hundred gold, two mana crystals, and the title of baron along with a barony of your choosing from my lands. At this time you may choose to challenge two adversaries six tiers above you, if you succeed you will receive the title count instead of baron and a county instead of a barony. You may also wait to issue this challenge for up to two months. If you fail the challenge you lose the opportunity to become a count, the same if you fail to challenge before two months pass. You will still be able to challenge for the right of being our kingdoms seed until you are twenty-five. " sated King Ramus in a regal manner
Jason stepped forward and bowed, holding a rolled parchment toward the king, "Your Majesty, I offer this gift in thanks of the opportunity you have bestowed on me."
Jason only atood up once the steward took the document from him and passed it to the king. "As for the next challenge I wish to strengthen myelf further first. I will challenge later but I promise not to miss tge deadline. "
The king held the blueprint open and studied it. While he could easily see that the water would move the mills in a preset manner he couldn't understand why. "What is this drawing of and what is it for?"
Jason smiled before taking out a loaf of bread from his storage bracelet, passing it to the steward as well. "My King, this device is a water mill, it turns grains into flour. This flour makes high quality bread and can even be used in spirit cooking."
The steward sliced off a piece of bread for the Royal food taster, a mortal teenager, to test for poison. The tester was initially unhappy sense while the job was risky he usually ate the best tasting foods, bread was known to be corse and unapatizing. But once the bread was close he smelt a divine scent. Quickly taking a bite he couldn't help but to moan in pleasure. He found it hard to believe that such delicious food came from grains.
The king felt more hopeful after seeing the testers face. As they always ate the same food their tastes were extremely similar. After knowing the food was safe the king and queen each had a slice. They were amazed and realized that this 'bread' would even enhance most other foods.
Jason seeing there faces couldn't help but smile and continue, "Flour can be used in desserts as well." Saying so he nodded to Gerald, who stepped forward pulling out seven long tables from his own storage device. Following which the Kovars stepped foward and filled the tables with many different cakes, cupcakes, pies, and eclairs, and other pastries. Soon the tables were full while the room was bathed in a smell like a dessert bakery from earth where everything was just made fresh.
All the nobles and dignitaries had a hard time not drooling. "These deserts were made over the last week by me, they are all seventh to ninth star black rank." Jason introduced.
The kind decided to not wait and had the Royal Magician cast a fifth level bronze spell 'Purification' on the desserts. The Royal Magician would cast the same spell at each course durring a palace feast as it was unreasonable to have everyone wait as the Royal tester tasted each dish.
After the spell King Ramus rushed to try the strawberry cake as strawberries were his favorite dessert, something most of the kingdom knew about. After taking one bite he put the entire cake in his storage device while he continued to eat his slice with an enraptured look on his face.
Queen Rosalind was embarrassed by this but she knew of her husband's addiction so just smiled dotingly at the king. " May I ask who the rest of these are for?" the queen asked trying to change the subject.
"Everyone can come and try them. I had heard that the king loved strawberries and his queen cherries? While I made these for the crowd, I had made a cherry pie for My Queen, and His Majesty, the King I made a strawberry cake just for him. I will just put that cake out now sense the king obviosly had important bussiness he had to attend to. " Jason said while complaining in his heart about the Kings impatience.
"Yes I just remembered he had another meeting. " The queen said. everyone knew it was a lie as all those with power where still in the throne room. Who was the king to meet with then? But they had all gotten used to the way their king acted with strawberries, so instead of complaining they all started to go around and taste the many new desserts.
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" Are land is great for growing grains. So if we use this new device we can increase the amount of spirit food astronomically. In a few years maybe even mortals will be able to eat the lower end spirit food. " The queen said to the table of leaders.
"I agree, also if the mortals eat spirit food more of them may awaken the ability to cultivate further increasing the strength if the Kingdom" General Tyrus agreed.
"I agree with you but my focus is more on the top powers. with a new ingredient we can possibly learn new higher level spirit dishes. If we discover a few high level recipes we and the other powerhouses could have more spirit food to help in our cultivation." Supreme Arcanist Geoffrey, Head Dean of Phoenix Academy, stated.
"I believe that we all agree that this 'water mill' is a great asset to our kingdom. Therefore let us move on to what we will do to bring this invention forward, and how will we decide the profits." The king said after the others had shared their piece.
"I am unsure how to decide the profits as we still have no clue what they will be. But fir the construction I say that each of us contribute thirty platinum to create these all of the kingdom in most farming villages and outside of all cities up to county capitals. As for large cities, march capitals, elite cities and duchy capitals, the marquess or duke can spend the money to establish them." Geoffrey offered
"The lad gave the design to the crown so it is yours. But the ctown cannot afford the complete burden of its production. There are five of us. So let us divide the profits like this; the crown receives thirty percent, each of us will recieve ten percent, the kid can recieve ten percent as well while the final twenty percent goes to the village town or city it is from. As for the ones a duke or marquess makes, charge them the same normal tax, plus the fifteen percent charge for using an invention in the hands of the crown, and the five percent that is owed to the creater can be given to Jason." Timothy, Dean of the War Hall of Phoenix Academy, stated.
"Are you sure that giving so much coin to a child is wise? while he is obviously a hard worker and an amazing talent he is at most eleven years old." General Tyrus questioned.
"DO NOT TRY TO TAKE MY DISCIPLES THINGS! ESPECIALLY WITH SUCH A FLIMSY EXCUSE!" a loud bellow came from a scared figure in the back. Surprisingly it was Wraithclaw.
"So, brother, this is the new disciple you took in. He is pretty impressive. He seems more fitted for the War Hall than the Crafter Hall though." Queen Rosalind teased. She didn't appear surprised to hear about a mage blacksmith though.
"He will be joining the War Hall, as battle power is his main focus. But he is extremly gifted in the art of forging, sis, more than you could imagine. I ask that all take the Sacrificial Vow, before I continue." Wraithclaw said.
Everyone was shocked at this demand. The Sacrifial Vow could not be broken. Any attempt to do so would cause ones soul to shatter and burn to nothingness. This was a certain death, that left no chance even for reincarnation. even clones would be held to this oath. Only the Recipient of the Vow could realease them.
After looking around they each nodded in assent of the Sacrificial Vow as they knew that the terms had to be clearly stated and there was no possibility of trickery, plus Wraithclaw wouldn't ask if it was not important. Wraithclaw cut his thumb while saying a few mystic words, making his blood glow. Using his blood he made a perfect circle.
"With my Essence I call forth a Sacrificial Vow, all those here must never spread the words I shall share. "Wrathclaw spoke in a somber tone.
Everyone stepped forward said a few mystic words cut their thumb and dropped a drop of blood into the center of the blood circle. After the last person in the room there was a flash of light and the circle turned gold while the blood in the center turned blue before forming a triangle with each point touching the circle.
"Okay brother now tell us what was so important. Why did we need such a ritual? We have all been close for years. Even though you dislike Tyrus, he is sworn to the Goddess of Honour so if he breaks trust he would die and be tormented for eternity. " Rosalind was confused by her brothers behavior. He was never this cautious and was actually usually very hotheaded.
Wraithclaw only said one sentence with a smile, "He had resonance while forging."
"HE DID WHAT!" the king yelled.
"Are you sure it was resonance?" Tyrus asked in shock.
"How can our small Kingdom have such a prodigy?" Timothy wondered aloud.
" Hahahahaha! Finally another arcanist!"Geoffrey exclaimed with glee.
"You have done even better than I thought. Does he have a fiance yet? You know I have a daughter after all. " Rosalind tried to weasel her brother.
"Yes I have witnessed it myself and it is exactly like the books in the Empire capital state. A mana aura surrounded him, he formed a forging sigil with zero training, his eyes glowed red and gold. He even managed to use his mark to brand a dagger even though he doesn't know it. Besides only silver tier crafters can find their crafters mark and even they need a ceremony to do so, he was only a mid level mage apprentice at the time. " Wraithclaw said with a little pride as if those achievements were his.
"And as for you sister, you know that I love, Isabella. But my niece is a spoiled brat who has a terrible temper. Even though we all know she has a great heart for those in need, and helps out with the orphanage, although she thinks we don't know, she is to stubborn to admit when she is wrong. Jason has already punished Anna when one of her pranks went to far. Anna handled it well and owned up to it. What do you think Isabella would do? Jason is far more mature for his age. Besides Jason is only ten currently and his birthday is still a month away. Also as we all know having sex before you reach the third rank will ruin your chances to ever break through to a higher rank. " Wraithclaw stated.
Queen Rosalind had to accept what her brother said as true. all the higher ups knew how spoiled and temperamental Isabella was. Only these five knew how good her heart was though. She was about to give up when she realized a way to maybe help Jason see the good in Isabella, but she decided to keep her plan to herself.
"Ok we need to keep this here. it is a good thing for the Vow. since Jason can form resonance outside an ascension he is guaranteed to reach the third rank as long as he survives. Even better he will be an Arcanist. We all know that the magician path provides more power than the warrior path after each ascension, the only negativevus the trouble a magician has with surviving the process. For every one thousand knights that survive to become paladins, only one mage will survive to be a wizard. And it is even worse from wizard to arcanist. For every one hundred thousand paladins who become sentinels only one wizard can become an arcanist. That is why we only have one public arcanist in our kingdom. a normal wizard can easily handle five ordinary paladins, while an ordinary arcanist can easily defeat ten sentinels. So the more we have the better." King Ramus spoke to the group.
"I believe that this discussion on jason has been covered. He should be considered as a seed of the kingdom, though before it is official he will not recieve the same treatment or resources. But he should have the protection of one of the hidden third ranks" Tyrus said.
"I agree, but let's use one hidden arcanist and one sentinel. After all Jason is a guaranteed arcanist as long as he survives, the other six seeds only have a large hope of ascending to the third rank. I would prefer more but we do not have so many people to spare." Geoffrey offered.
Looking around and seeing everyone's nod in ascent king Ramus called the meeting to an end. Wraithclaw said three mystic syllable. A flash of red lightning struck the ritual symbol on the desk, and as it did the six people felt a terrifying might from the lightning. After the lightning disappeared so did the symbol, and even though the lightning struck the symbol no damage or even soot remained on the table.