The text pointed to [Section 10.12.3: Latitude and Longitude] for determining the coordinates and also [Section 10.12.2: Compasses] to find the magnetic north. Even a simple sundial isn't that simple, Rafael sighed.
Opening the right page to determine his latitude, he started reading. After a few minutes, he dropped his head and let his face hit the book.
I thought this would be easy... Well, actually, I only need to do all this if I want a precise sundial. But then, what's the use of a poorly made one? And what if Cenric rejects the idea of paying me to make a bigger one for the village? All my effort would be in vain. I'll ask him first and see what he says.
As Rafael made his way toward Cenric's house, he noticed the village leader conversing with another man, receiving something from him. The man walked away, and Cenric was examining the object in his hand, preparing to enter his house.
"Good evening, sir," Rafael called out.
Cenric turned and saw Rafael approaching. "Oh, good evening, Mr. Rafael. Is there something you'd like to discuss?"
"I was thinking of making a sundial—or a clock, I don't know what you call it—for this village. But, of course, I can't do it for free, so I need to know what you, as the village leader, think."
"I'm sorry, but I don't quite understand what you're saying. What is this sundial or clock?"
"It's something that tracks the passage of hours during the day. It uses the shadow cast by the sun to tell the time," Rafael explained.
"Ah, yes, I know what it is! Every city has one of those. I just didn't recognize the name, which is why I was confused. As for your offer, thank you, but Baron Floutt has already promised to have one made for his villages in the future. I could accept your offer to make one so we don't have to wait as long, but we don't have the spare money to pay you. I hope you understand."
"It's fine," Rafael replied, secretly relieved. You actually saved me a lot of work.
"By the way, this noble, Baron Floutt—who is he? You mentioned that he oversees some villages, right?" Rafael asked.
Cenric wondered if Rafael was fishing for information about Baron Floutt and his villages. I'll just share what's common knowledge for now, he thought.
"Baron Floutt manages his city and three villages, including this one. Actually, tell me about yourself. You seem to be a successful and wealthy merchant, so where are you from?" Cenric gave a brief and vague description of the noble, trying to steer the conversation back to Rafael. The change in topic went unnoticed by Rafael, who was too busy overthinking his response.
"Ah, me? Oh, I assure you I'm not that interesting, but..." Rafael's mind was racing. I'm from the east—okay, he already knows that. But I can't be from a place too far east... okay, okay, a small village not too far from here, maybe a month or two by horse.
"I came from a small village east of here..."
But I shouldn't give too much information! When people lie, the more details you give, the easier it is to slip up!
"There I..." Rafael hesitated. There what?! THERE WHAT??! He screamed internally.
Cenric noticed his hesitation. "If it's something that brings back bad memories or anything like that, it's fine. I don't want to make you uncomfortable," he said, though his concern was more about etiquette than genuine empathy, not wanting to raise any suspicion in Rafael.
"No problem. It does bring back some sad memories, but there are happy ones as well," Rafael replied, hoping this would end the conversation.
"Could you share some of those? Are you married, perhaps?" Cenric pressed further.
For fuck's sake... Rafael cursed Cenric internally while smiling as if reminiscing about fond memories. "No, no, I'm not married yet. Not yet, hahaha..."
"Oh, hahahaha... Of course, I'm sure you'll find a great woman to call your own," Cenric laughed along with him. Neither knew if the other was faking the laugh. "You're good-looking and wealthy, so it should be easy. Speaking of which, how did your merchant life start? What's your main product?"
My main product?! Aaaah, whatever, I'm working on paper, so I'll go with that. Rafael gave up trying to think of anything else.
"Actually, remember that experiment I mentioned earlier? That's my main product. I call it paper."
"Paper?! You mean thin sheets that you can write on?!" Cenric exclaimed, shocked by what Rafael had just said.
"Yes, that's right," Rafael confirmed, not expecting such strong reaction by him.
Oh my Lord! If he really knows how to make paper, he's more valuable than this entire village! I need to inform Baron Frederic about this, but I already know what his decision will be. I need to befriend this man and bring him under our banner, but if I don't succeed, then...
Rafael noticed Cenric's wide-eyed stare. By his reaction, he knows what paper is and how valuable it can be. This is both good and bad. He could help me monopolize papermaking, or he could capture and torture me until I reveal the secret.
Amis, who was hidden some distance away, watched everything Rafael did but was now utterly confused. What's happening?
If anyone had happened to look at Cenric and Rafael at that moment, they would have seen both men staring at each other, unmoving, unblinking, and silent for over five seconds.
The sun was no longer at its highest point in the sky.