The morning was pleasant, and I was in a great mood. The bases for all the teapots were finished; they were little more than short cylinders of perfectly smooth steel with a circular indent where the bottom of each teapot would slot in, activating the circuit. Each teapot had its source, each already bound to its respective load. All that was left was to deliver the items to Derek at the next meeting.
With so much more energy at my fingertips, I moved on to larger projects. First, I needed a more efficient method of emptying the bath. The idea I came up with was rather simple: create a long pipe that would stretch from the window into the bottom of the bath, then inscribe a circuit to pull the water. A simple enough task, and my new furnace had more than enough energy. Someone somewhere was making a killing from me, constantly purchasing iron scrap. I moved on to remaking everything in my home.
The stove now boasted four burners on a large metal table, each with bronze inlaid runes, making the circuit significantly more efficient. I created a grill with over a dozen candle circuts. My new oven was twice as large with a heavy iron door to keep the heat in; instead of wooden barrels to store water, I used steel containers. They had circuts to heat and cool the water, so I didn't have to waste time boiling for drinking. My tables and chairs were also replaced with ornate-looking steel, making the room look strange with all the odd, perfectly smooth metal furniture.
I also created a small hand mirror with a flat circle of silver. It was good enough that there was practically no distortion of my face. Allowing me to put on my makeup properly. All my candle spells were replaced with light spells. From the light circuit I received from Jorm, I learned the rune for glass, which was translated to water stone. It was a simple enough process to make a crude shape transformation circuit for glass.
Though the glass I found at the market was of cheap quality and slightly green. The spell worked by heating the center of the glass to an incredibly high temperature, then cooling the outside. Producing a bright and steady light, strong enough to wash out the green tint of the glass. I only had enough to make five of them. Opening my hidden box, I added a small lantern containing the light circuit for safekeeping.
Now my room looked truly like a Magus's quarters should, filled with furniture and fixtures that clearly couldn't be made with normal means, and truly magical lights.
There was my final task for the day: making a better source of fuel. I couldn't carry around large amounts of wood to fuel my abilities, or could I?
What if I compressed the wood to make it easier to carry?
So in the center of three circuts, the first two made from iron and copper, the final drawn into the ground, was roughly 25 lbs of dried wood. All three circles were doing the same thing. Pulling wood into the center of the sphere of influence. However, each circle was connected to a different source of energy. The first was my hearth. The second was my energy furnace, and the third was to my left hand.
I activated all circuits and watched in fascination as the wood levitated, cracking and breaking as the circuit tried to pull all the wood into the center. After a minute, the exhaust for both the furnace and hearth iced over as both reached the minimum energy point for air. The cracking and breaking stopped, and I was left with a floating, oddly shaped orb of wood roughly a foot across. Then I pressed my left hand to my chest. Instantly, the wood collapsed in on itself, forming an almost perfect sphere. I broke all three bindings, and the wood fell to the ground with a loud thud.
I picked up the six-inch sphere, grunting as it felt more like I was picking up lead. It was heavy and oddly smooth.
Then I activated Dragon's breath. It took almost a minute for it to turn the super-compressed wood to ash. I checked my stone to see that almost a third of its energy was used.
Grinning, I made another with the spare wood I had lying around. It would be a pain to carry around 30 lbs of compressed wood. But it was necessary. Sometimes, I didn't want to use my stone. Then again, what did I have Ashe and Mar for?
~
Mar walked with a crate while Ashe acted as a guard. We were heading to Diane's both as a start to the collections and to deliver on a few of my obligations. Daine had been diligent in information gathering.
"Is it me, or are there more stalls than usual?" I asked. I hadn't been paying attention lately. But there were at least a dozen unfamiliar pop-up stalls than usual in this wide street.
"Aye, streets aren't as bad, so more people have been settin' up," Ashe said.
Mar, with pride added, "Been puttin' the hurt on 'em. Words spreadin'."
A gazed at the new stalls and the groups of people perusing their wares. Everyone gave us weary glances and hopped out of our way.
'Clothes, pots, pans, a tinker too. Nothing of note.'
As we reached the door, a man sprang out, nearly knocking me over. Followed by the cursing of one of the whores.
"Bastard didn't pay," the red-haired woman shouted.
I nodded to Ashe, who broke into a wicked grin. She unslung her improved Crossbow; the ring at the end of the stirrup, which the bolt would fly through, was now inlaid with silver runes and connected to my improved energy furnace. Which meant the bolts now flew almost twice as fast and glowed even hotter. It was a deadly weapon that she reveled in using.
She loosed a bolt, spearing the man in the right calf. I couldn't imagine the agony of having a red-hot bolt of iron lodged in your body. But it was always enough to send them to the ground screaming bloody murder.
I took the crate from Mar and said. "You two have fun, join me when you're done."
It was standard operations at this point to beat him within an inch of his life, strip him naked, and toss him out of my territory. A few people stayed to watch the spectacle.
"Diane in?" I asked.
She nodded, though she was distracted by the man being savagely beaten. Crime dropped significantly. Nothing like bloody violence to keep people in line.
"Aye, she's in 'er office." She mumbled absentmindedly. Then she winced as Ashe ripped the bolt out and stomped his face in. I was reasonably sure quite a few of her victims died from their injuries. But I didn't care; she only brutalized people who broke my rules, and that was enough for me. Mar, on the other hand, had more mercy in him. Though not that much, at least most of his victims lived.
~
I walked into Diane's office. She looked lovely, this time wearing a black dress. I had gone back to my usual ensemble of a black close-fitted shirt, black bodice, and leather, though only within my territory. Anywhere else, and I was armored.
"Ah, Sera, always a pleasure. Are those the items?" She grinned as she observed the crate.
"Aye, exactly as agreed."
I pulled out a wind dryer, a teapot, a single-burner stove, and a magical light, complete with the glass orb in the center. A personal request for herself: a wine chiller and the final item, a ring that would heat water to place in the magical baths I had already created. All items were made using my magic, so they all had the unnatural, perfect smoothness that came from shape transformation.
The last item was the silver inlaid heat absorption ring that would be placed in her hearth.
"Spectacular, and they will all work as discussed?"
I nodded, "Indeed, everything will function. Just remember my instructions on how they work."
Diane examined each item, marveling at the construction.
"What is the impression of me?" I asked.
Diane was brought out of her examination and followed up with me.
"Most are terrified but cautiously optimistic. They're damn scared of your crew. Especially Ashe. With collections coming up, most are confused, unsure if you're an improvement." I nodded, fully expecting that result.
"Then I suppose it's time to change the script." To my chagrin, I would play the savior. Ashe and Mar were mad dogs that instilled fear. But before it turned to hate, I would mollify everyone. Being generous to those who can meet the payment. Smiling, being genuine, and comforting. Of course, with Diane's help, I knew exactly what every business needed and how to use my abilities to assist them.
"Any new news?" I asked.
Diane shrugged her head, "Gangs are still fighting, though they aren't sending as many people here. Derek's been making moves. Don't know where he gets his coin," she said, smiling at me, "But he bought off much of the guards. Almost everyone is on his payroll now. War's still raging down south. They're sieging Farketh's capital. The baron and his wife resolved their differences. She's been as merciless as the baron. Can't blame her, though, what with the dead daughter and all."
I nodded along, not showing any particular interest in any subject. "What of the surrounding Baronie's response?"
"Most are complaining about the reduction in trade from Helios. But a dead child, particularly a noble one, stays their tongues for the most part. The intelligent ones will wait until they announce another heir."
"And the magisterium's response to the dead Magus?"
Diane leaned back and stared at the ceiling in contemplation. "That's the part that confuses me. There has been no other information. I almost expected towns and cities to burn in retribution for the death of one of their precious Magi. "
I nodded along absent-mindedly.
'Probably still investigating and searching for me. Violence would only cause me to flee. And of course, there had been no mention of the Missing Ocularums. There was zero chance they didn't suspect the killer to be in possession of them. Which one do they desire more? My death or the return of the Ocularums. '
~
"And it will maintain a steady heat, and all I've got to do is keep that ring around the fire?" Unber the thin, bald man and owner of said restaurant asked as I demonstrated the oven. It was sitting in the middle of my warehouse, a five-by-four-foot metal box with eight shelves inside for resting baking goods.
"Aye, no need to manage a fire, just put your loaves or meat pies in and take 'em out when they're done."
Unber had brought an uncooked meat pie and dough to test the oven. After half an hour, he used mittens, as I demonstrated to him, to pull out one of the large metal shelves. To reveal a perfectly browned meat pie. A few minutes later, he pulled out fresh bread. Tasting both, he nodded.
"Damn if magic ain't somethin'. And I get it free?" He asked.
"Aye, I don't want Derek's wrath coming down on anyone. And this isn't that hard to make."
"Hells, I can make 50 pies at the same time," he mumbled since the oven was rather large. All the circuit did was circulate and heat the air.
I sighed, already dreading the waste of this day, but Magic required sacrifice.
~
Magic pots and pans for a small eatery. A large ring to dehumidify and warm the air for the tanner; four magical baths; two iceboxes. The tasks went on and on as I went to each business for collections. While it was tedious work, the practice was invaluable. My understanding of shape transformation increased, allowing me to make more complex and refined shapes. My most common item was either an icebox or the water generator. I stopped using wood and kept repurposing iron.
Steel was rather difficult to make due to the high temperatures required. However, I was a magus and such things were simple. Anything involving cooking or water was typically made with copper or steel to avoid rust.
She shook her head, "Not, now, after the tribute. According to my information, it will be quite entertaining."
I didn't take her bait, and not a moment later, in walked Derek, Jorm, and a half dozen guards.
The tribute process was rather simple. Everyone dropped a sack of silver into a crate that a large and rather intimidating man carried. If I had to guess, there were at least 4 to 500 silvers in the crate alone.
Derek stood at the Dais, lording over us like a priest performing a sermon. Another Large man took my crate. He was rather confident in himself since he didn't count anything. Though based on the fate of Lena, most knew the consequences of not paying their dues.
"Greetings, everyone. Before we leave, we have important business to discuss. Kent's men ambushed, murdered, and robbed a few of my couriers. Costing me a loss of five golden royals. A massive loss that has to be answered. And it will be met with blood. This was two weeks ago, and Kent isn't aware that I know of this. Which means we now have an opportunity. Tomorrow at sunrise, we will meet here and march to his businesses. It will be swift, bloody, and with minimal disruption. When you leave here, gather your people. This is Kent's last day alive."
'I'm sure Mar and Ashe will be pleased to hear that.'
Some bloodthirsty cheers were echoing through the audience.
"What of the spoils?" The obese man asked.
"One in five of any currency, precious metals, or valuables goes to me. As for the people, do what you want; our goal is Kent's death, nothing else matters. I've already arranged everything with the guards."
There were dark chuckles from some other men, licking his lips.
'Wonderful, just what I need after finally getting everything settled: a gang war.'
~
Everyone cleared out, leaving me alone with Derek, Jorm, and a few of his men. Jorm was occupied with the magic teapots.
I joined Derek by the dais while his men eyed me wearily. From out of his fine red coat, he pulled a velvet letter. I didn't even have to guess who it was from. I had sent dozens of them for Surian.
"What does she want?" I asked.
He raised an eyebrow, then smiled slightly, "You've dealt with nobility before, interesting. But I don't know, the seal hasn't been broken."
'Damn, I should have acted confused. And anyone with enough skill can figure out a way to circumvent the wax seal.'
My expression didn't change. But I grabbed the letter, opened it, and started reading.
'
To the Magus Sera:
I, Baroness Rennah Harlock, request your presence. Enclosed is a payment in good faith that our business will remain discreet. The details of my request will be made clear only upon the acceptance of this contract. We will meet within my keep to discuss the details, and all proper precautions will be made to ensure your safety and anonymity. Note that your reward for the acceptance and success in resolving my issue will be met with a many times more valuable reward. One that any Magus would covet.
'
"Any clue what her request is?" I asked.
"None, she has always been secretive with me. You can be assured at least that she will be discreet."
He offered me a silk pouch that jingled with coins.
Taking it, I peered inside to see five golden royals. A literal fortune, it wasn't the coin that made my heart race; it was the supposed reward. What would be many times more valuable than gold?
Even worse, what would she ask for in return?
Every ounce of logic I had told me that this was too dangerous. That I was making a mistake. The smart play would be to flee in the night, take Cloud, and gallop off into the distance away from this potential danger.
But I refused to cower. Only through great risk would I receive great rewards.