In the main castle of the empire the empress, the first wife of the emperor, is doing her work to manage the empire while his husband is at war.
Knock knock
A sudden knock came knocking, with the direction from the empress, her attendant answered for her.
"Who is it?"
"Kiara Shield requesting permission to enter."
Recognizing who the person was, the empress gave a nod to her attendant.
"You may come in," said the empress' attendant.
Entering the room her majesty the empress asked the person in question.
"So how's my baby boy doing, Kiara?"
"His highness is doing fine your majesty"
"Good, but I am pretty sure that you should be visiting at a later date. What is it that made you come ahead of time?"
"Your majesty, I came to report in advance, for his highness has hobbies he wants to partake in. Hence I came here on his behalf to receive permission.
"Hmm, that's reassuring. He has been cooped up there and forgot to visit his family but still would like to request something from us.
"His highness just doesn't want to bother everyone as much as possible, your majesty."
"I see he was being considerate of us huh well he is there for his own safety. But still as expected of a Sagallion they sure find hope in this misery."
Saying that she took something out of her working table.
"Here give this to him, I should be giving this to you on your next visit but since you're here I'll give it earlier than planned."
The empress then handed out an envelope to Kiara, as she reached out and accepted it. As she accepted the letter she waited for the empress to finish her instructions.
"This is an invitation to an upcoming banquet and here are things he needs to know and a simple 'something' we have just for him."
"Does this mean?"
"Yes his Majesty is coming back from the war"
~~~~~~~~~~
I noticed a few months ago that there are intervals or occasions where the explosion at the magic tower occurs or not.
And today is one of those days where they don't do crazy experiments. Which is also timely since I saw Kiara leaving after we had an awkward dinner earlier.
"So let's start looking for the blacksmithing area since this place has all my requirements. So I'll have to rely on your senses, my friend, go search."
Saying that I let titan lead the way to the smithy. As I let him do his thing he started to crawl faster than any mammal from my world. And he reached his destination and ate his loot.
"NO! you idiot. lead me to a place where there is fire and metals."
As I was exasperated by his antics we continued looking for the right facility.
And after many tries we finally found it, the smithy.
"Seriously, why can't you do it properly? If we went your way it might have taken a whole night."
I exaggeratedly said that as I carried him in my arms. This is the only way I can think of to make it faster. I just have to follow where he points and open the door if it is the right one.
Though it took too much time it is less than what I have to experience just to stop him from eating the whole place.
Looking around I started to prepare all the materials to make the item such as the tools and I as I checked my materials to be ready.
As I finished preparing the tools, I started my work, hoping it would look good. I spent a whole two hours finishing the outline and direction of the materials.
But since I was following the book's example with a little improvisation it would definitely take a long time because the next process is to create a material piece by piece.
And from what I read from the book it would usually take a whole month to make this item since it has to be pieced meticulously. but I think I can finish it in a week since the rock shell's inner part is soft and easy to manipulate.
I just have to harden it with mana to make the shape permanent . And I think that since Titan is still small the rock shell didn't weigh that much.
Though what I did was more like crafting, I don't have tools to use in my room and the one that checks out all my requirements is the smithy.
And before the sun rose I realized that I used the whole night to make the item and I suddenly felt tired.
"Let's just sleep for a long time before checking the item out. Though I still have a long way to finish creating the item I needed."
As I said that I returned to my room to sleep.
~~~~~~~~~
"Your highness."
"Mm."
"Your highness is already way past your breakfast please wake up."
"Mm….five more minutes."
"Hmm? Okay, I'll be back in five minutes."
After five minutes Kiara came back and this time she forced me out of bed. And right now I am having my very late breakfast or should I say brunch. Anyway she asked why I didn't wake up after five minutes.
"Oh nothing, I was just reading a book overnight and I didn't get that much sleep."
"I see but please don't stay up late. It is not good for your health."
"Ahahaha of course."
"Yeah I'll definitely not answer her expectations. I have to finish this item and make plans to get out of here."
"That's reassuring after there will be a banquet that will happen at the end of fall and you need to attend it."
As she said that she gave me an envelope that has the seal of the royal family.
Is this from her majesty the empress.
"This is?"
"Yes, an invitation for the banquet."
I received the letter and opened it, as I read it the letter of invitation was short, simple yet elegant. But as I read the letter at the very end I was shocked that I didn't know what to do, but one thing I know is that I have to change my plans.
"Is what written on the letter true? Ah-no I have to prepare a letter to reply to her majesty the empress."
"It is okay, your highness, all of the things you need have been prepared as I arrived here."
"Um- no that's no-"
Boom!
"Eh, now? I thought they took a rest today."
"That's strange what happened?"
"Huh now that I think about it, where is Titan? Oh no he might have eaten something in the tower. Why did I leave that troublemaker? Or more like I was so engrossed in making the item I forgot about him.
No wonder that it felt like he was quiet when we were going back, that rascal. He might have run to that place from the smithy.
"KIara I'll be going back to my room I still feel a bit sleepy"
"Okay your highness."
~~~~~~~~
As I returned back I activated our contract and summoned Titan back. Unlike the first time I only needed a few bits of mana to summon him with the contract and with no magic circle.
And here he is with a big chunk of metal in his mouth or more like he is clinging to.
"You're really asking for a beating are you? You stupid glutton come here I'll roast you to smitherins! And I'll show you why I was named Dustin, time to turn you to a fine dust."
Picked him up and throw him out the sky and blasted him with a rank one spell lightning bolt
And it blasted him far and crashed to my walls, but it didn't have any effect on him. And then his head popped out and I swear I could see a smug look behind that look of his.
So I let loose at my spell, not caring of the consequences.
And in the afternoon I learned that Kiara had visited the area just in case. Good thing she was not here when I went wild.
Now here I am languid after using a ton of mana. Though I was still able to clean up my mess after the outburst.
Good thing the room was penetrable by rank three below spells so it was good, except for some things that were impossible to repair.
Well there is a good place to throw to. Hope you to your heart's content next time you freaking pig.
A day passed after the freaking incident but I am already over it right now. And my mind is occupied by this invitation letter.
Showing myself to them even though I only know them from Dustin's memories is still going to be awkward.
But I really can't pass on this opportunity as much as I would like to avoid meeting them.
Plus there are some things that are inevitable. I just have to face them head on from here.
So after contemplating about the invitation I just forced myself to accept my fate.