Durman walked steadily beside Ruki as they headed toward the merchants' guild. The city bustled around them; the sound of metal against anvils faded away, gradually replaced by the incessant murmurs of merchants haggling with their customers. Ruki, frowning, arms crossed, showed obvious discontent.
— Ruki — I can't believe you didn't attend the meeting, Durman. The Marquis and the temple representatives aren't ones to tolerate any snubs.
— Durman — I had more urgent matters — he replied without stopping walking.
— Ruki — More pressing matters! More important than the stability of our guild? — Durman sighed and glanced at Ruki out of the corner of his eye.
— Durman — I don't see the city falling apart because of my absence.
Ruki gritted his teeth, but chose not to continue arguing. The two continued in silence until they reached the merchants' guild.
Sena's office was illuminated by the dim morning light, casting long shadows on the walls lined with shelves filled with books and documents. In the center of the room, an elegant dark wooden table held a steaming tea set. Around it, Sena, her sister Selene, and Tor, the adventurers' guild master, conversed quietly while waiting for Durman's arrival.
When the door finally opened, Ruki entered first, followed by Durman, who, despite his bulk, walked lightly. As soon as he sat down, recriminations about his absence from the meeting with the marquis and the church quickly began to arise.
— Sena —Because I'm not surprised to see you here, Ruki — she said with a crooked smile — But tell me, Durman, what could have been so important as to ignore a meeting of such caliber?
— Durman — Something I can't ignore. — Tor crossed his arms.
— Tor — So if Durman doesn't want to talk, Sena, why did you call us? —
The atmosphere changed when Selene, who had remained silent until then, placed a small artifact on the table. It was a piece of crystal intricately engraved with runes that emitted a faint blue glow.
"Selene—I received it last night from Hunt," he explained without giving much detail. Durman, intrigued, took it and examined it closely.
— Durman — It's a sound suppression device, — he said in amazement. — Only a Grandmaster of runes could have created it. — After a brief pause, he looked at Selene. — Do you know if Hunt knows someone named Neo? — he asked immediately. Selene shook her head confidently.
— Selene — We had a long conversation, but she never mentioned that name.—
Durman took a piece of paper and began to draw, attempting to replicate the iron-carbon diagram, explaining to everyone how it works and what properties can be gleaned from it. Tor, after silently examining the diagram, nodded gravely.
— Tor — This isn't just blacksmithing. It's something completely different from the blacksmithing we know. —
The conversation took an unexpected turn when Tor mentioned that Neo and Hunt's physical descriptions matched those of two outsiders who had transformed the statue of Tolmas. A heavy silence fell over the room. Sena tried to downplay the theory.
— Sena — It's just a coincidence. — He said before drinking some tea.
Ruki took the paper firmly and put it in his pocket for later.
— Ruki — Durman, you must go to the temple to ask the high priest for forgiveness and then go to the marquis's palace to apologize.
With a brief farewell, he left with Ruki, leaving behind an air of uncertainty in Sena's office. Resigned, Durman stood up. Inside the temple, the high priest greeted him with a stern look.
— Anita's High Priest —Imagine having disrespected an envoy of Tolmas— He declared. —Would you simply apologize?—
Durman lowered his head in apparent submission, but in his mind he couldn't help but think:
(— Durman — If this one… knew that an envoy of Tolmas was sleeping in my workshop, his stupid face would fall off. —)
After a long silence, the high priest nodded and reminded him of the importance of the balance between the guilds and sacred institutions. Finally, he urged him to fulfill his next duty.
Then, Durman and Ruki headed to the marquis's palace. Upon arrival, they were led to a large hall where the marquis awaited them with a grim expression.
— Ignar Tervain — I hope you have a good reason for your absence —said the marquis coldly.
Durman maintained his composure.
— Durman — It wasn't an act of contempt. It was a decision made for reasons I considered more urgent. —
The marquis regarded him with silent contempt before speaking again.
"Ignar Tervain," he said, "I will accept your apology on one condition… I will allow you to forge an exceptional sword for my son. Consider this proof of your skill and loyalty. His birthday is in three days; I assume he will receive it for his banquet."
Durman nodded seriously, understanding the magnitude of the task entrusted to him. He threw a wicked smile at Ruki.
==+-+H+-+==
After Selene said goodbye, I tried to contact Neo. Minutes passed as I stared at the ceiling, waiting for a reply. Seeing that more than half an hour had passed without any news, I rolled over in bed until I landed at the entrance to the subdimension.
After a quick shower, I checked the chat, but Neo still wasn't responding. My gaze fell on the cupcakes on the table, and as I tried one, I noticed they tasted exactly like the vegan cupcakes I used to eat with my ex-girlfriend.
(If there's no livestock in this world, what ingredients does this pastry have? I seem to remember that vegetable margarine uses coconut oil and extra virgin olive oil...)
While eating, I checked the level of the mana batteries and, on my way to the control room, I received a notification from Neo.
(●— I'll read all your messages later, bro, but I'm going to sleep because I'm so tired. —)
(And who knows where he stayed to sleep...?)
My uncertainty didn't last long. On the control room's central screen, thousands of new entries appeared: nearly 100,000 people analyzed, over 100 new types of meat, tens of thousands of records about food and materials, a complete map of the city, and Neo's last location.
Furthermore, the information on the individuals was organized. The last entries were for the owners of a house, the Blackforges. However, what surprised me most was a book Neo had scanned. It was a complete volume on runes, with thousands of his annotations, including corrections to documents I had created myself on rune use and carving.
(This bastard used quick thinking to analyze all this in less than 20 minutes…)
Fast thinking is a dangerous technique; it can cause extreme headaches and, according to our hypothesis, even a stroke, although we haven't confirmed this yet.
In addition to refining almost all of my rune notes, Neo had also designed a magical stove. Its functionality was impressive, good enough to be used, but its aesthetics left a lot to be desired. Simple round plates on a piece of wood? (Neo, you're better than that.) But when analyzing the energy flow, something didn't add up.
(Wait… this doesn't make sense. Neo is transferring 100% of the mana energy into the steel plate with no losses. But that's impossible. There's no dissipation, no waste, nothing. It's a total violation of the laws of thermodynamics. How the hell is he doing this? But look how dumb he is… Haha, he got a sign wrong. —)
I spent the next few hours reading all the rules in the guild's rulebook and analyzing Neo's new notes on runecraft.
==+-+N+-+==
When I woke up, the light filtering through the window told me it was already late. I sat up reluctantly, feeling my muscles numb, and shuffled out of the room.
In the dining room, Joan, Eliz, and Astrid were chatting. I rubbed my eyes and gave them a lazy look.
"What time is it?" I murmured, my voice still raspy. Joan turned her head toward me, her expression relaxed.
— Joan — It's almost mid-morning. —
I nodded, without much haste, and sank into one of the chairs. He looked at me with a half smile and, without giving me a chance to say anything else, asked
— Astrid —Do you want something for breakfast? —
●— Yes, whatever there is — I answered without thinking too much.
The women slowly left the dining room and headed for the storeroom. I was left alone, silently eating the soup I'd reheated from the night before. It still had the same intense flavor, but a little more concentrated from the time it had stood, but I didn't mind.
The kitchen door opened. Dalia appeared with a carefree expression, her hair messy but tied back in a messy bun with the help of a white ribbon. Her eyes scanned the table before settling on me.
"Dalia," she called out, "Are there any apples left for breakfast?" She pushed open the door with her shoulder, but when her eyes met mine, she finished the question quietly. "Or are they gone?"
I didn't know what to say. I felt strangely aware of the way he watched me eat. He bit his lip and, looking away, turned and disappeared behind the kitchen door.
When she returned, she'd already fixed her hair and was carrying a bowl of soup. She sat down as far away from me as possible, and without a word, the dining room fell into an awkward but curious silence. We continued eating, but not without that silly staring match neither of us seemed to want to admit to. Whenever I caught her looking at me, her eyes quickly shifted to my plate. Whenever she looked up, it was my turn to pretend I was interested in something else.
The moment was interrupted when Astrid returned, wearing a crooked smile that betrayed she'd seen more than she could handle.
"Astrid—"Am I interrupting something?" he asked, drawing out his words slightly.
Dalia and I tensed simultaneously. Astrid seemed amused, and without missing a chance, she crossed her arms, leaning forward slightly.
— Astrid — Wow, you're all quiet. How about you come a little closer and start a conversation?
Before we could react, Astrid smiled mischievously and snapped her fingers.
— Astrid — Actually, I just remembered I need to pick up some things at the market. You two can come with me. —
It wasn't an invitation, but rather an order disguised as a suggestion. Her playful tone had a firmness that left no room for refusal. Dalia opened her mouth as if about to protest, but Astrid had already decisively grabbed her wrist. Then, without much ceremony, she pushed me by the shoulder so I could stand up as well.
— Astrid — Come on, come on. I don't take "no" for an answer. —
Dalia sighed in resignation. There was no escape. Astrid had caught us.
==+-+H+-+==
After studying the runic alphabet for several hours, it reminded me of Japanese or Chinese writing systems. Not because of their phonetics, but because of their visual structure. They were compound symbols, some simple, others with strokes that resembled ancient ideograms. In some cases, the way minor runes combined to form a more complex meaning made me think of kanji and their radicals. Perhaps if I learned to interpret them as a language rather than a set of magical symbols, I could advance more quickly in their study.
Around mid-morning, I decided to leave the subdimension. Upon arriving at the reception desk, I left my room key and set out to explore the city. I wanted to get a better understanding of where we were before deciding what to do next. As I walked through the cobblestone streets, looking at the food stalls and artisans displaying their wares, I heard a familiar voice in the distance.
■— Good morning, sleepyhead.
●— Wow, what a coincidence to find you here Hunt.—
■—Coincidence? I'd say fate has something in store for us.— Neo turned slightly toward the women to introduce me.
●— Doña Astrid, Miss Dalia, Doña Joan, this is the person I told you about. Hunt.—
With a slight bow, I introduced myself to Neo's companions.
■— And what are you doing here so early?—
●— Accompanying the ladies shopping… and paying for everything, as a thank you for their hospitality—
In the background, Astrid and Joan's laughter was heard, which Dahlia ended with a murderous glare. Hunt chuckled, but before he could respond, Neo gave him a rather vicious look.
●— By the way, how did it go with the lady last night? —
Astrid raised an eyebrow with interest and crossed her arms.
"Astrid—"The lady from last night? Who was the lucky one?" Hunt hesitated for a moment, but finally sighed in resignation.
■—Selene.— Astrid's face changed in an instant. Her relaxed expression turned serious, and she glared at me.
— Astrid — Dalia, take the groceries to the house with Joan. There's something I need to talk to these two about. — She said hurriedly, giving Dalia the bags she was carrying.
Dahlia blinked in surprise, but nodded without saying anything. The moment they walked away, Astrid grabbed Neo and me by the arms and started walking briskly.
●— Hey, where are you taking us in such a hurry? —
■— Yes, what's wrong? —
— Astrid — Don't ask questions. Just follow me, he said in an authoritative tone.
Astrid strode firmly into the merchants' guild, heading immediately to the reception desk. The receptionist, who knew her well, greeted her with a smile.
— Receptionist — Astrid, what a surprise to see you here. Do you need anything? — She said smiling.
— Astrid — Are Selene or Sena in their offices? — She said nervously.
— Receptionist — Yes, they are both in Sena's office.—
Without wasting any more time, Astrid nodded and hurried upstairs, with us following her, not quite understanding the urgency. Upon arriving at Sena's office, Astrid didn't bother knocking; she simply opened the door wide.
Selene and Sena, who were in the middle of a conversation with more guild members, were startled to see her burst in like that.
— Selene — Astrid! What are you doing? —
— Sena — You almost stopped my heart! —
— Astrid — You four, out. I have to talk to Sena and Selene seriously.—
The four union workers in the room remained silent for a few seconds before rushing out.
— Astrid — You too, wait outside.— She turned to Neo and me with a look that froze our blood.
Outside the room, Neo sighed.
●— I think they've discovered us.—
■— Well, it was something that could happen, right?
==+-+0+-+==
Inside the office, Selene and Sena recovered from their surprise and looked at Astrid seriously.
—Sena— What's going on?— Astrid took a deep breath before speaking.
—Astrid— It's about the two men who just came outside. I need you to listen carefully.—
Selene and Sena looked at each other, waiting for the explanation.
"Selene—what's wrong with them?" With that, Astrid took a crystal out of her pocket and placed it on the table. Selene looked at it in confusion, while Sena frowned.
—Sena— What is this?—
—Astrid—Last night Durman looked at one of those boys with these analyzing glasses, and they broke after he read that the boy named Neo was an envoy from Tolmas. I think they were broken beforehand and gave erroneous readings, but I need to verify it.— Silence filled the room. Both women stared at her in disbelief.
— Selene — It can't be…—
— Sena — Selene stop talking nonsense, That's absurd Astrid... please— Astrid crossed her arms and sighed.
— Astrid — There's only one way to find out. Sena, you have to check it with your analysis glasses.—
Sena, still hesitating, took a small case from her desk and took out the glasses.
— Sena — I don't see what the point of this is, but it's okay. — Astrid opened the door and called Neo and Hunt.
— Astrid — You may enter.—
Sena was the first to notice the truth. Her eyes widened, and her normally composed face twisted into an expression of pure horror. Her breathing became erratic, and her lips parted without her being able to utter a word. Shaking, she pointed at Neo and Hunt with a shaky hand.
— Sena — They're... they... really... — Selene looked at her with a frown, skepticism etched in every line of her expression.
— Selene — Sena, stop talking nonsense, I don't think Hunt is— he growled, and took his glasses firmly before putting them on.
The world seemed to collapse around her. As soon as her eyes caught sight of the divine radiance enveloping Neo and Hunt, her breath hitched and a stifled scream escaped her throat. Her entire body shuddered as if the chill of death itself had gripped her. Her legs buckled, and she had to hold onto the table to keep from collapsing.
Astrid watched them in disbelief, the fear of Durman's words running through her mind.
— Astrid — Are you making fun of me, aren't you? — she asked with a mixture of annoyance and nervousness. — Right? —
Without responding, Selene handed her glasses with trembling hands, her eyes never leaving Neo and Hunt. Astrid took them warily, eyeing her as if she were a cruel joke. But the moment she put them on, her reaction was immediate: her skin drained of color, and her eyes blazed with pure panic. A shaky gasp escaped her lips as she staggered back, stumbling as if she'd been pushed.
At that moment, Neo and Hunt entered the room, calmly closing the door behind them. They didn't show the slightest hint of the seriousness of the situation, but instead appeared completely relaxed.
■— The soundproof glass, please, Selene. — He extended a hand toward Selene.
Selene tried to obey, but her hands were shaking so much that the small object slipped from her fingers and fell to the floor. Hunt didn't even flinch. He calmly bent down, picked up the crystal, and gave her a smile before activating the magical device.
The women babbled among themselves in shock. Then, without warning, Hunt clapped his hands twice to get their attention.
●— Sit down. We're going to tell you who we are.—
The atmosphere in the room was tense. Astrid, Sena, and Selene swallowed before taking their seats, knowing that what they were about to hear would change everything.
Neo recalled her story concisely, without embellishment. She was born in a small town and, thanks to a scholarship, managed to attend university, where she met Hunt. But everything changed the day of the accident. That moment when, without understanding how, they ended up in front of Tolmas.
The god offered them a new life in this world, without ties or a predetermined destiny, only the freedom to do whatever they wanted. For six years, they survived in the forest, fighting, learning, and growing stronger. Now, before Astrid, Selene, and Sena, their story took shape again, awakening in them a mixture of wonder and fear.
—Selene— What is an engineer?—
Neo and Hunt looked at each other and smiled proudly before responding as arrogantly as possible.
●—We engineers are the most brilliant people who could ever exist. We're creators, innovators, we solve problems that no one else can understand. If the world has a problem, we find the solution.—
■—Exactly. Without engineers, civilization wouldn't exist. Everything you know and use today in our world was thanks to engineers. They are, without a doubt, the knowledge elite.—
Selene and Sena were surprised by the confidence with which they spoke. The way they praised their own profession made them feel, for the first time, that perhaps they weren't unreachable gods, but simply two men with too many egos. Sena, now calmer, took advantage of the moment to ask what was worrying her most.
— Sena — Do you have any plans to bring calamity or redemption to this world? Did Tolmas entrust you with a real mission? — Hunt shrugged with a relaxed expression.
■— We are free to do whatever we want in this world. Tolmas didn't give us orders. We are not his soldiers or his messengers. He only gave us the option to be here, and we decided to take advantage of it.—
Astrid, still nervous, managed to formulate a question in a serious tone, taking a breath before speaking.
— Astrid — Why do they have the title of Tolmas's envoy?—
After a brief explanation from Neo about the meeting they had with Tolmas upon arriving in the city, Neo explained that they too had no idea what the title entailed, what responsibilities they would have, or the consequences of their actions.
— Selene — Do you have any plans? —
■— We don't have anything planned, we just want to live a quiet life exploring magic and technology.—
Their words calmed the tension in the room a little further. For a moment, the feeling of being in the presence of gods dissipated, and only two men remained with a clear vision.
Selene, now somewhat more relaxed, dared to ask something more personal.
—Selene— Was our relationship something bad or offensive to you, Hunt?— Hunt blushed visibly and looked away for a moment before answering in a firm voice.
■—No… not at all.— Selene gave a small smile.
Astrid jumped at the question, looking at Neo. Neo, however, looked back at Astrid. Subtly raising her hand, Astrid quickly realized that her behavior didn't offend him either.
Meanwhile, Sena, with a more analytical expression, asked a different question, completely ignoring what her sister had just said.
— Sena — And what happens if someone crosses your path? —
Neo leaned his back against the chair and answered without hesitation.
●— I've never thought about it.—Hunt nodded and added in a more serious tone.
■—We're not murderers or anything like that. If there are conflicts, we'll first try to resolve them with words.—
The three women visibly relaxed. The pressure in the air seemed to slowly dissipate. However, before they could continue, the office door swung open.
— Durman — ASTRID, are you here?! — I shout, coming through the door. — I'm bringing the analysis glasses from my office. —
Everyone turned their heads to see Durman standing in the doorway, with a confused expression and an air of authority, but they couldn't hear him.
As soon as Durman stepped through the door, Astrid quickly closed it behind him and pulled him into the soundproof sphere, trapping him inside. Uncomprehending what was happening, the master blacksmith frowned, but as soon as Astrid and the others began to explain the situation, his expression changed from confusion to utter astonishment.
His voice echoed exaggeratedly within the sphere, causing everyone to stare at him in disbelief. Durman recounted how he met Dalia and Joan, and how he came running. After repeating the story of Neo and Hunt's lives, Durman asked them about their future.
■— We want to create artifacts, tools, and improve people's quality of life. Our goal isn't to govern or impose forced changes, but to offer our help to all those we believe need it. — Durman looked at him carefully, but said nothing. Neo took the opportunity to continue.
●— That's why I want to become an apprentice to the finest artisans, including you, Durman. It's not arrogance, but I know I can learn from you just as you can learn from me.—
Durman frowned, assessing Neo's words. Hunt, for his part, leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the table.
■— I, on the other hand, want to learn about business. In this world, without understanding economics, we're destined for failure. I need to understand how markets, investments, and the flow of money work in this world.—
Sena, Durman, Selene, and Astrid exchanged glances. The idea of two Tolmas envoys dedicated to the peaceful and productive development of the world was… comforting.
The silence stretched for a few seconds, until Hunt decided to break it in the most natural way possible.
■— Well, this is all very interesting, but… I'm hungry. Shall we eat?—
●— You're always hungry.—
Astrid laughed and stood up excitedly.
—Astrid— Then, everyone, let's eat! We can keep talking there while we eat.—