Chapter 293- Dreaming of a weapon

Dreaming of a weapon

Chu ran his finger across a segment of the drawing plans before tapping his chin. Old Hodge had spared no expense in sieving out large sheets of paper for exclusive use in the farm expansion. The building plans he currently browsed covered his entire desk with lines, numbers, and words which even a blind man could see.

Satisfied with the thick stone-walled, hidden basement he tasked Halter to construct with secret routes, he sighed. Rolling the plans so as to return them later to Marie, he reached for a document with warbled writing. This report had been compiled by Clod with the assistance of a few weathered farmers selected from the workforce.

Never in both lives, Chu dreamed how important it was to know of how many bushels would feed a person for the year and how much land needed to be prepared. What was a bushel anyway? His fingers closed around his quill to begin a series of calculations which included both the present workforce and his goblin business partners.

"Chu, Finn, and Sherry are here. Are you free for a minute?"

Ming called from below. Gazing at the measured field sizes and the estimated yields Clod quoted, he shifted his chair and headed down the stairs. From the light of the small open windows, Chu spotted Finn lugging in a few canvas sacks while his wife followed behind with their young son. The well-dressed man placed the load near the large table as Miki and Lucy gravitated to the infant and mother. Ming helped him bring in two more bundles.

"Boss, I've finished it, as close as possible to what you described. Ming, can you please close the windows."

"It should be fine, Finn. The only ones walking around outside the barn belong to our family since Pine and Jill have deemed inside the palisade walls as restricted access."

Chu said as Ming began shutting the windows while Sherry helped lit the candles on the table. Shaking his head, Finn signaled them to continue as he turned to the boy.

"Boss, during the last meeting when you went out, all of us agreed that if you ask us privately to do anything concerning this matter, we will not share it with the others unless you bring it up at a meeting. This way, none of us will ever know your full intentions. Bon, Halter, Elder Pick, and Old Hodge have stated this is the best way to keep your matters a secret."

Finn explained. With the increasing number of workers, sooner or later, potential individuals would join their ranks. During the last meeting Clod chaired, Old Hodge argued that no matter how many confidants and masters joined their ranks, the secrets of the farm must not leak beyond the walls. The months of work had increased the familiarity of the new arrivals with the farm residents and also the villagers.

Social progress had reached the point where having a small drink at the tavern at the end of the week or on completion of a difficult task became the norm. To prevent loose lips, young Worths and Knuts had suggested the use of a designated companion. This person would not engage in drinking but remain sober to steer any personal topics away from inquisitive tongues. Only when the windows closed did Finn reach into his large sack.

"Sherry completed the leather armor as requested. The new straps should allow for enough adjustments for a comfortable fit."

"I removed all the excess leather and trimmings to lighten them as much as necessary. The seams have been redone and are double-stitched. The modifications you asked for are also included. Your cloaks and outer garments are all waterproof and are tailored to blend in as normal travelers. I spent some time using the barrel worm rubber to create your socks and comfortable underwear."

His wife explained. Removing the leather vest from the sack, she pointed to the modifications and then unbuckled it for him to view the inside. Hidden away from sight, the seamstress had cleverly stitched a few small, unnoticed pockets.

"Cunning, Chu, I wouldn't have noticed this if Sherry hadn't pointed it out, but you will not be able to carry anything bulky inside. Once you remove your cloak, someone is bound to spot any bulge from a money pouch or potion flask. Then again, you would have to remove your entire armor to reach for whatever you have in here."

Ming said while running his fingers inside the narrow rectangular space inside the top back of the armor.

"We have our belt pouch for storing those items. This, however, serves a different purpose. Can I see it, Finn?"

Chu asked the skilled carpenter. Slipping his hand inside his buttoned shirt, Finn produced what appeared to be a thin rectangular iron plate.

"I had to pass this through the roller press in the smithy myself. The hard work and secrecy paid off in the end. Ming, how would you go about opening it?"

Finn asked while passing the thin card-sized case to the teen. Flipping it around and scrutinizing it for a moment, the boy answered.

"By opening the two clasps here, I guess. Oh, wait, you also need to pull this small pin, or else the clasp won't unlock."

"Exactly, however, doing so will cause the cork wood inside the case to detach and leak normal ink from the top half of the case to the contents at the bottom. The only way to prevent it from happening is to pull out this piece of iron here."

"What the heck? Finn, are you telling me this half-inch thick case has a trap? What is this for anyway?"

"Stop asking questions. Good work Finn, you too Sherry. I knew we could depend on you for this. Now, it's up to the others."

Chu chatted with the couple before they departed. Both of them managed their team and needed to return to oversee their allotted tasks from Pine. Long periods of relaxation came to few and far in between. Naturally, his companions surrounded and inspected their equipment.

"Hey, wait a minute? How come my armor doesn't have any hidden pockets?"

"Sherry added three slits on my gauntlets to sheath my hidden daggers. This reminds me, I have to nag Bon later. He's the only one who can sharpen and balance them. I probably should beg him to forge another twenty to store as spares in my backpack. What do think, Lucy?"

"Sounds good, Miki. If you want, you can hand them over to me since my backpack has space. Riding might not be a problem but if we have to trek with our backpacks and pouches, it might be too heavy for you. Besides the necessities and first aid kit, you can carry some lighter clothes instead for me."

"Oye? Hey Chu, how come only you and Lucy have these hidden pockets inside your armor? I think Sherry has held a grudge against me ever since I sold those bead chains I brought back from Limerock City. I want a pocket on the left side since I'm right-handed."

Ignoring the logic of the older teen, Chu searched through the smaller labeled sacks containing their traveling clothes and undergarments. Sherry had measured them all and sewn their clothes to be as comfortable as possible. If Chu learned one thing while traveling was that loose, fitted clothing made a difference between enjoying the journey or accumulating rashes.

Opening the bag labeled with his name, he pulled out and stretched a pair of socks. This invention was his own and has not been shared with the world as yet. Another point he learned was that one could never have too many socks. Hearing the unceasing mumbles, he sighed.

"Stop asking questions. Why couldn't you be more like Bon and the others and not want to know everything, eh? Since we will be traveling, it's only natural I secure our secrets. It would be silly of us to venture north to Frost City without walking with a few. We should always seek to capitalize on any opportunity. We don't require many and I think besides me, Lucy can carry a few extras in the event things look promising."

"Carry what?"

As if on queue, the trapdoor to the basement opened with a thud as two unlikely figures emerged. One was an old man with graying hair while the other was a redheaded girl. Slogging themselves to the table, they both dropped onto the benches.

"Boss, it's done. After grinding and concocting a pot full of that obsidian ink, I need a rest."

Elder Pick complained while huffing. For over three days he had labored inside the cellar brewing the mixture according to the instructions.

Then he had to work in secret with the hidden printing press.

 The green-eyed girl stretched out a shaky hand towards the boy. She looked like a grape that had laid out in the sun and became a raisin. Unlike the old man, she had to painstakingly copy the drawings for an ancient talisman.

"Fifty mana-activated modified talismans and twenty basic ancient talismans like the one Toll has. I don't want to smell and draw with obsidian ink again for the next few years..."

***

In the few weeks that followed, Chu shared his time with Pine and Clod during the day and concentrated on meditating at night. Ever since the Snowbear fight, Ming had doubled his efforts in trying to boost his shock paralysis ability.

Chu had to endure continuous complaints that Dyna's wolves had stolen his patented ability. After meditating, he usually found himself sitting on the ramparts at the west gate. Not far away, the moonlight cast its rays on the progressing shadows of his mark on the world.

"Well, I think I can safely cast a light orb to scout inside a cave. I can hold out for about two minutes now."

Chu said while gazing out into the grasslands. In the distance, he could barely make out the faint flickers of the goblin campfires hidden between the trees.

"Have you made any progress with your fireball?"

Lucy asked as she sat beside him with a leather boot resting on her lap. She didn't raise her head while threading the leather strap into its buckles.

"If by that you mean if I can conjure a flame to light a campfire, then yes. Before I dive too deep, I want to test an observation of mine."

"Observation?"

She tilted her head in curiosity.

By now, Chu had grown accustomed to her yellow eyes. He leaned back while moving his hands to support his posture.

"Take Dyna and Miki for instance. They have channeled their mana into the form they want to supplement their talisman ability. That Thunder Palm strike is deadly when used with the Blink ability. From them, we can see the mana within us is very compatible with our talisman abilities."

"Are you thinking about converting it into electric...electricity?"

"Exactly. Ming's discovery is a type of static electricity. I have already shared some advice with him. If he can use his mana like Dyna and convert it to the form he wants, then maybe his Shock Sword as he terms it, can gain a boost. For me, I still want to follow my dream, but not only do I require a legendary blacksmith I also need some godly materials."

He lamented. From conversing with Ishara, the Hakkim shared her knowledge of the different paths of magic. Apart from fire magic, there was water and wind. The last two had been lost over the centuries and not discovered by the Tower Mages. Chu did think, however, that the Healers and Priests of the Churches Union used a derivative of those paths of magic.

"One hand positive, one hand negative...I don't understand but I hope you know what you're doing Chu."

"Haha, don't worry, Lucy. Slowly but surely, I have been building up this magic and testing if my hands can handle the flow of current. So far, it seems like my conjecture has proven correct. A person's mana will not cause harm to them no matter the form it takes. This is why Dyna hasn't been injured by that explosive ability and why I let them continue their training."

Chu raised his head to gaze at the moon.

"Have I ever told you what a railgun is, Lucy?"

****