Yesterday, I made it absolutely clear to the guards my specific request: I needed a blacksmith, a person with the very best available skill.
It was a rather specific request, related to a project I was considering having that necessitated superlative skill. And, lo and behold? Yes, they informed me they have obtained one such individual. Apparently, my request was burdensome enough.
It's almost time now; he should arrive very soon. Before he actually arrives in through that door, let me give you a brief, straightforward account of what happened up to this point, precisely on how this meeting was arranged.
Thus, yesterday, when I approached the duty officers officially to arrange a meeting between me and a very skilled blacksmith, the guards spontaneously replied with an energetic 'yes'.
They were not shocked by the request, they were simply capable. Thus, on the same day, quite deep into the evening hours, one of the guards belonging to my duty sector approached my barrack.
He started by banging hard on my door, his voice boisterous as he yelled.
"Mister Adonis, are you active?"
He promptly followed up with.
"If you are, then please reply from there."
Next, I simply replied with the 'Haii' sound, indicating that I was awake and could hear him.
Next more or less as I had anticipated under the circumstances, the guard instructed me to open the door.
And so I opened it, just like a normal person would usually do when somebody knocks and asks them to open up.
Wait… does being normal when reacting mean one becomes usual? Perhaps that comparison makes Light Yagami, who used to react with complex calculation even in everyday situations, an unusual guy (smart one).
It's a weird thing to consider, I guess. Anyway, he is ultimately a fictional criminal character whose behavior properly transcended the limits of crime and pretty strained the patience of police officers, real or fictional.
After he had completely opened the door, the guard held something out to me. He said bluntly, 'Here,' in a voice one would sometimes use when loaning things or bringing messages.
I looked down at his outstretched hands and saw that there was an envelope letter ready in them. Gently, I took the letter from him, uttering a gentle word of thanks for its being brought to me.
He did not go away. Rather, he added his own words, perhaps to further emphasize the contents.
"It's from one of the best blacksmiths there is in our entire country,"
he stated matter-of-factly. 'Make sure you read it carefully.' His tone suggested the blacksmith's name was widely known before him by some way.
Having passed along the message and the tension, the guard then left, his footsteps echoing down the hallway. In any event, being alone once more, I turned my attention to the envelope.
I broke the seal, opened up the letter, and found the following lines written within its creases.
'Hey Adonis,' it began in a relaxed fashion, 'I heard through the guard's that you're working on something new, something in the line of new weapon design? And I hear you require a skilled blacksmith, wasn't it?'
The letter had been confident, bordering on swagger. 'Take it easy, all concerns now!' I, the Greatest Blacksmith *Knordia*– believe it or not, this is what I am known as – am here with you to rescue the day.
Honestly, I am not just sucking up to myself now; actions speak louder, don't they?' He even included a 'Haha' there.
'Anyway, jokes aside, I am looking forward very much to possibly working with you.' There was so much more that followed after that, variations of his enthusiasm and skill.
But significantly, near the end of the letter, he had indeed scribbled down the details regarding when he would be arriving here. He mentioned the actual date and the approximate time.
Now, let's get back to the here and now—" I told myself, shaking off the memory of the previous night. No sooner had I uttered that very word than a loud, heavy knock came on my door.
It wasn't the polite tap of the guard the previous night; this was heavier. Immediately after the knock, a deep, rather booming voice bellowed.
"Yo, Ado! We are here! "
That sounded informal enough; perhaps the blacksmith had said it himself, using a shortened form of my name. No sooner had I heard the words than another voice joined in, its tone roughly overlapping the first one's echo.
"We are the the royal guards. Sir, you must open the door."
This second voice was definitely distinct – clipped, formal, and with an unmistakable tone of duty.
Sure enough, one of the guards, likely an escort. I breathed and grabbed for the handle, opening the door.
In front of me stood a large man, far taller than the normal guards that I was accustomed to seeing, and with a very masculine, broad-shouldered physique. To his side stood two royal guards, who seemed rather plain by comparison. I gave a usual greeting, asking them in.
Without waiting for a second invitation or the exchange of further pleasantries, all three of them hurried into the room, the blacksmith leading the way with an eager sort of stride.
***
Has it been two weeks since that meeting? Today marks the revealing of all their secrets from the others, Ugh—sorry, sorry! Not really secrets, but I presented the offer that I would do the thing 'crossbow'.
Those fourteen days passed in a sharpened blur of sketches, calculations, and gathering materials in relative secrecy. It felt extremely important to get this right before showing anyone.
Well, as of today, the initial presentation bit is technically complete, as the proposal at that one point must have been accepted. Moving on, today is more to showcase the proof of concept, the deliverable actually realized as a result of that accepted proposal.
Then it follows that there is some special person whom I must meet: you might be wondering whom I could be talking about? This meeting is really significant.
Not just in terms of all the technical mechanics, but personally it also represents another noteworthy juncture in my life, one awaited with that delicious mixture of fear and restrained eagerness.
Well, you'll know who is it in the later time. For now, let's just say their opinion matters a great deal, on multiple levels.
Anyway, now it's the time to spend there. To that unknown figure. If I want to go on board, I should probably get moving. Ohh talking of that person, he will the one checking the weapon 'crossbow'.
He possesses a sharp eye for craftsmanship and practicality, or so I've been told repeatedly.
So, he's the one I'm taking to demo this for. The prototype is safely packed with a few bolts. The place for the demo is a secluded clearing set up beforehand with considerations for safety and privacy.
The only thing I'm going to need to show is its basic function and accuracy potential.
Before reaching there, we will stop at Knordia. But needed. To have some talk with him. As it normally happens, he wanted a quick check-in before I totally head to the main meeting, probably to brush through final checks or give some last-minute tips. Always good to have his input.
***
I exited the room which was from The royal Research of Veridia's (RRV), softly shutting the door behind me with a soft click.
It was quite bitter to live there, despite the supposed glory; the ubiquitous vigilante eyes and aseptic environment irked, feeling close to worse than the normal regime of the ancient prison cage.
There was a nervousness in my heart, a sure flutter at the prospect of what lay ahead in the demonstration, but I am not that sort of person – I do not let fear guide my actions.
I suppressed the feeling, concentrating on the task at hand.
Anyway, we arrived at Knordia's house after a comparatively short ride~
The route wound us through sections full of natural beauty. There was such beautiful scenery, that I noticed – old trees giving a canopy overhead, small streams babbling in the distance. But The wind is also sharp, with the scent of pine and damp earth, a far cry from my previous world. If it were my previous world, with its toxins and exhaust fumes, it would be hard to even breathe air this clean without a filter.
Arriving earlier because I was traveling with hours cart was a relief. The incessant clip-clop of the hooves and the gentle rocking of the cart were unfamiliar sensations.
By the way, it was my first traveling with something like this, a totally new experience. In my old world, I had used A lot expensive car's to travel between the cities, gliding silently on asphalt.
This felt more solid, more real in relation to what existed around me. Nevertheless, the tour of Knordia's home was necessary, a necessary precursor to the thing that we were doing, because we do require him.
We stepped into his home, a solidly constructed building of wood and stone with a faint scent of woodsmoke and herbs.
Knordia welcomed us immediately, his face serene as ever. He listened to my brief update, nodded cautiously, and he told me that he will be arriving the next place I told him, the planned demonstration site, soon after us.
Moving on quickly, after having spoken with him, which took a few minutes as planned, we moved to our destination.
It was time to meet the person who gave me this chance, the one whose assessment had a lot of influence.
A determined spark lit my eyes when I recalled the person waiting for me.
"George the garbage"
I swore under my breath, the name evoking a flash of knotted anticipation in me.
I am coming, just wait for it, while I was talking with the absolutely craziest voice, a low, fierce whisper to myself, as if I were the
bad guy (villain) and I emerged onto the stage for the dramatic conclusion.
It wasn't actually evil, but so. preparing for fight that I actually meant to emerge victorious in.