Alex stands at the edge of the castle steps waiting for his escort to bring him inside, his thoughts slowly drifting as he leaned against one of the metal lampposts that stand at the front of the entrance to the stairs. "how long has it been since i got out of that stagnant mess.....long enough for it to feel foreign.... all i really care about is inventing and making...... that sort of peace... is everything to me now..." his mind slowly carried him far back into the past when he used to be barely of age, working with a group of dungeon delvers, the day he decided to quit was the very same day he met Vy coincidentally enough. His group had gotten pretty far into a dungeon, when they noticed a room with no windows or alternate exits, just a big chest resting in the room. "This feels kinda fishy.... I should give it a look to see if its trapped~" Alex would say, slowly rummaging through his bag for his tools. one of his party members a barbarian slowly approached the chest "ill just bash it I'm strong enough to render any trap to scrap!" They said raising their club before smashing the chest, a magic circle forming around the chest, as the room sealed itself with them inside. "GOD DAMMIT WHAT DID I SAY?!" *Alex would bark quite angry, before an all out battle broke out. The trapped chest unveiling summoning circles, as droves of golems were being summoned. The fighting would go on for a two solid hours, until Alex was able to disarm the trap, their numbers dropping by two, their barbarian being slaughtered along with their ranger.

  After this incident the group decided to return with what they had and quickly disbanded, leaving Alex alone and frustrated. Every time he found a group someone would do something stupid and end up dead, or endangering the party. No matter how skilled his party was, or how careful he was the one thing to always kill runs was carelessness. His patience was wearing thin and he was getting incredibly burnt out, was there truly no other way for an artificer to earn money cleanly? Lost in thought about his next move, he suddenly felt someone grabbing his hand his eyes quickly turning, with his eye twitching in annoyance before spotting a young but feminine looking lad examining his gauntlets closely. {Your like one of those artificers right? do you have any quirky weapons?, what's your best invention, is everything made by you or do you buy things too?} the barrage of questions after being already on the verge of breaking down sent him over the edge, he stood up pulling his hand away as he smiled, his gaze holding back his malicious intentions. "you wanna see one of them~?! ill give you a test run!" he grabbed them with his gloves of strength, as they let off a bright glow hoisting them over his head. "I'll show you one that im reeeeally fond of!!" {W-wah! h-hey put me down thats okay im not that interested anymore!} His voice laced with bitter anger and frustration as he pulled back, ready to throw them. He stopped himself, his heart giving a painful feeling, the anger on his face dissolving into one of silent shame and sadness. He lowered them and turned away, sighing as he almost hurt an innocent person for no real reason.

  {Did i make you mad?, i... can be a little too... umm obnoxious..... im sorry sir....} they held their hands between their lap as they bowed, Alex now flushing. He shook his head and put his hand behind his head. "no I'm sorry.... i shouldn't have gotten so cross with you, you did nothing but ask some simple questions~" his smile was warm and inviting, Vy couldn't help but stare as he held out his hands. "These are my gloves of strength, they make me 3 times stronger because of the runes i etched into them, and yes~ they are my favorite~" Vy couldn't get rid of the blush creeping on their cheeks as he stared up at him, not expecting such a warm and comforting aura to come from him. "so why did you want to know?, are you part of a party around here?" Alex asked, now feeling a lot calmer due to their presence. {I was running with a group.... but its just... i cant take it anymore! its so dark, and dangerous! I don't wanna die! So i guess I'm looking for other work....} His curiosity peaked leaning in a bit. "I'm kind of in the same boat I'm tired of this bullshit and i want out....." {couldn't you just like make and repair things? You know... Park yourself in a village that has no, or few repairman? The money would just flow in.}

  The expression on the young artificers face would go blank, before he shot up his fists clenching before reaching out and grabbing Vy's hands. "Your a goddamn genius! Fuck this I'm just gonna set up a shop and i already know a place!" He huffed with a smug smile on his face, his eyes glimmering with the excitement of a new adventure. NO MORE SMELL OF DECAY, NO MORE DANGER AND CENTAINLY NO MORE STUPID PARTNERS~" Vy watched him as he looked full of life. {im happy you found something out~, i still gotta figure out what I'm doing....} he pouted sitting back down, holding his cheeks. "well.....you wanna come with? If your willing to help me out.. i could teach you how magic and machines work together~" the invitation made Vy beam with a smile, as Alex would hold out his hands pulling Vy up with him. {I'll try my best to help you out~} Since that day they worked hard to scrounge up money, eventually buying a home and slowly converting it into the workshop known as Heavenshield Oddities. To keep things professional Vy would find a spot in the local inn and Alex would stay in the shop since he was the artificer.

  His eyes would be closed, his mind filled with memories of the past before hearing something faint..... getting louder as he focused in on it. "Sir.... Sir, SIR. You are indeed the artificer coming up to have the business arrangement?" Alex's eyes jolted, gazing at a guard and huffing in embarrassment. "Yeah that's me sorry! i was day dreaming about something, Let us be off~" They would make their way up the steps grey and with some semblance of wear, being the first time Alex ever went up the steps. Every step he took would make him tense up that much more, the weight of importance dawning over the young man. He had only seen the castle from afar, this... was so much more then he imagined. Pillars shaped and carved into the steps he went up looked so clean one could eat off them... Stepping further towards the doors he was only driven to be more intimidated, the doors were also so ornate he reveled in their craftsmanship. Two guards were positioned on either side of the door, both reached for their handles and pulled. The door creaked as it was pulled wide and open, the scents from within tickling his nose.

  This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

  He was escourted into the dinning room, the scents and sights he was bombarded with before being sat but a few meters away from the king and queen who were getting ready to start their meal.

  [You are the artificer with great skills and a vast knowledge in the arcane are you not?, Alex Heavenshield......] Alex would jump to attention gulping before he spoke, his voice shaky. "T-tis I your majesty....but a humble arti-" [Enough you needn't concern yourself with formalities... i want to speak to the man behind the genius... not someone trying to kiss my boots... i have enough of those.....]

  The king's brow would furrow as his eyes would narrow in annoyance, Alex would put his hand on his chest and close his eyes, taking a deep breath before he smiled, opening his eyes. "right sorry... im just not really sure how to act and i thought if anything... i wanna be respectful ya know?" The kings furrowed brow would rise as he belted out with laughter, he was incredibly amused, what an honest fellow! he misunderstood his actions, he wasn't trying to butter him up or anything. now with the air less tense he leaned his head into his left fist, his right hand holding his fork and poking his food. [good then! id rather have you at ease~ i do wanna conduct business with you but think of this as me resquesting a job from your shop. I must confess i wasnt sure about inviting you and making a whole event.... but my secretary insisted that inviting you instead of heading into your shop would be the easier strategy.]

  Alex was far more calm not even smiling abit wide, with his mouth slightly agape he would chuckle and look the direction of the king. "i mean granted this did make me alittle nervous... but i have to be frank with you sir!" the room went almost eeriely silent the king would focus his attention on him* [do tell dear boy... i dont like it when people beat around the bush as you must know...] Alex would gulp, tension rising within him. "Sir! i wont make weapons for your kingdom!" the silence that rang out and its following tension could be cut with a knife at this point, the king was silent and his eyes were hidden behind a shadow. [Why would that be young man.... you must have a valid reason....] The heart of the adamant artificer would beat quickly, he was afraid but he wasnt going to relinquish his beliefs to anyone... He centered himself and spoke sternly. "I refuse to involve myself in anything that causes... innocent people harm.... i will not be a part of that..." There was another silence that put his heart in a strangle hold, wondering when this deathly silence would come to an end. The king would cross his arms and nod, a smile coming over his face. [Yes! i thought this might be an outcome~ but i respect a man whos willing to ride or die by his choices~ but no lad nothing like that were currently in a nice era of peace between leaders.... the monsters are the only things on my mind these days. though....my request wont be easy... i want you to make a transportation device with teleportation magic... the roads have been getting worse and worse with virmin and the common man cant cross safely, i wish to resolve that~]

  "Thats it? really?" Alex asked looking at him with a surprised and almost skeptical look. "ummm can i ask for more details sir please..." [Oh right! 5000 gold and 1 years time to so me any progress. You must make it so that most common folk can operate it without trouble do we have a deal Alexander?] one of his servants brough over a small chest that made quite the sound as it slammed into the table, Alex would gulp at the sudden request using one of the napkins to wipe his brow "i-i yes! i can surely make some sort of breakthrough i-i... just wasnt exactly...-" [yes yes~ i could imagine the sorts of things you might have come up but please do hurry~ i want to enjoy my breakfast while its still warm~" \Sign here please...../ The royal secretary would lay down a document right beside the lad, handing him a quill before he signed it and smiled "honestly i was really excited to get an offer~, but im even more excited now! I get to properly research teleportation magic now!" The king's expression would widen in surprise before he belted out with laughter. [Bahahaha! You're a riot kid! i never met sucha spry fellow!] the secretary would roll up the document returning to his lords side. [Let us eat! enough of this business talk at the table!] They enjoyed a nice breakfast chatting about ideas and views as they conversation continued, they realized they were quite like minded in many respects. Alex finished his breakfast and with chest in hand he departed off to work on his greatest creation to date.