EPISODE 6: GROWING, LEARNING, REPEAT
-Edryan Queendom. Year 7285, Season: Color Fading
He is a miracle to the people of Edryan. A genius is too small of a word to describe him. The Holy Son is a divine piece of Madris herself. Sent to open a new age to the people of Edryan. NAY! To the Elrunian continent. Since his birth, Edryan has only grown prosperous. We have entered a new age. The Age of Golems.
-Good Citizen of Edryan
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I looked over the expanding fourth wall of Edrya and the reconstructing districts. My golems littered throughout the city were always at work. Dusk to dawn and back again. Only the people with the right class were necessary to serve as overseers. In fact, a new class called [Golem Overseer] was generated.
In the third walled area, the area that was once considered a slum was becoming renovated. Funded by LSG and not the crown, that meant the money came from my very own pocket. Every house, every complex, and every street was brought by me in a massive purchase last year when I was nine. Effectively I personally owned a third of the inner walled city now. With massive swaths of land being purchased in the area the fourth wall would cover. Within this new district, I would be building a more ‘modern’ layout including a complex mall that could hold different brands and stalls. Hell, even the sewage system and the water delivery system would be changed. Right now, most places still received water from large wells that were built every few city blocks. To close or alter those wells was a great endeavor. It took several redirections and new pathways to grant an almost self-propelled system of fresh water that would come from taps within the houses.
Whispers of the Holy Son now followed me wherever I traveled. Worship in the eyes of the people. Expectations placed upon my shoulders partly by my own doing. Partly because of the circumstances of my birth and position. People didn’t see me for who I was. Only what I represented.
It was lonely.
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CLANG!
My blade met my mother's as I spun low into a sweeping strike. Using the advantage of my short height to try and outplay my mother. With a flip of her wrist, she drove me back while a swift kick to my midsection left me gasping for air.
The bright green grass of the training fields swiftly met me. Winded, my body impacted into the soft grass and then hard dirt underneath. My lungs cried for air, and I altered my crash into half a roll. Rushing back to my feet as my lungs greedily devoured the air. Instincts bred into me for the few years guided my actions. The follow-up blow I was expecting… never came.
My mother stood there with a smile on her face. She was dressed in a loose cotton-like shirt with tight but stretchy pants. Black reinforced boots covered her feet while her daily circlet was crowning her head. Her left hand was behind her back, right hand with her sword was outstretched, waiting, baiting, for my attack. The weapon pointed in my direction, sharp defined edge flickering the sunlight in a dazzling radiance. We were using real blades and I sported several small stabs and injuries throughout my body. It was funny, my mother wasn’t even a swordsman. In her bouts against the royal guards, she’d only use a spear. The [Heavenspear] was her personal weapon of choice and one of legends.
“Come, Lawruthian… or is that all you amount to?”
I didn’t let her taunt affect me. Instead I choose to slowly close the distance between us. I circled around her, looking for an opening. Her stance never changed only her feet shifted ever so slightly to follow me along. If I could use magic, I could have several ways to trip her up and strike. It’d be so easy to create the node and cast the spell. If. Magic, unfortunately, was currently forbidden until my trainers were satisfied with my combat level with a sword. No matter how good I was at using the Primary Elements. I’d seen to have a neutral affinity with them all, but I was close to any then it’d for sure be Earth.
I drove my feet into the grass, finding purchase and shifting my center of balance towards the ground. I looked like I was in a professional sprinter’s stance, only my left hand was on the ground and my short sword pointed forward. A single powerful lung drove me forward. The first kata in the (Royal Guard of Edryan Combat Arts: Defense Breaker). A RGE was expected to always be on the attack and not the defense. Hence why the first opening move was (Defense Breaker). A strike aimed at throwing off the cadence of any encountered enemy. The kata shot my body off like an arrow leaving my mom two options to defend. She could step back and try and remove herself from the range or counter. In truth, the third option would be to hold onto your defense. If this was something knights and humans from Earth faced this would be the ideal option. When skills and classes became involved, this option entirely changed. Activation of skills could cause your Power to display several levels higher in strength as your Base Attack was increased. Your Intent could cause your opponent to lose their footing, a break in their confidence from your approach. All these ensured the (Defense Breaker) would come out on top. Every Royal Knight was expected to be able to take on a company of soldiers by themselves. My mom could take on entire armies. The same would be expected from me.
My mom stood her ground. Even managing to approach me slightly, closing in the distance to my blow. There was a twinkle in her eye as my mom ensured the blow was never fully in flight. It was also one of the certain ways to counter (Defense Breaker). Stopping a move before it could begin was a surefire way in countering it. My body shook from the impact of the blow. Our blades met causing sparks to flash out, yet as this happen, my heart was in a pit of despair. Without skills, my body was open to her counter. A counter that my mother didn’t hesitate to react upon.
When I came to the Prime Sun was low in its path. The mid-evening sun fell behind the clouds. Below my head was something soft and squishy causing me to fully open my eyes and look up at the smiling face of my mom. Tsk.Couldn’t have been one of the beautiful maids?
“You did good today, Lawruthian.” She began and I sat up. My mom waves her hand lazily in the air and several maids and butlers appeared. Setting up chairs and a small table for us to dine on. As we sat to eat, she continued.
“In six years when your system unlocks. Certain things will become known to you. I will explain some now, however. Children of all the sapient races unlock their system usually after the first full growth spurt leading into the second. It is theorized that this is because access to Power, Vitality, Endurance, Mind, Self, and Intent will alter your body in harsh ways. Because the body is young and very open to change at this stage.”
“The Greater Six stats help shape the world around us into what it is. In all things exist a piece of the Greater Six, yet know that we magi-humans are privileged, for not all start with the Great Six Attributes as we do.”
I nodded along as she spoke. The setting sun creates a scenic scene I’m sure plenty of artists would love to paint. The older I grew the more that was revealed to me about the system and the amazing things I’d be able to do once it unlocked.
“The system itself is a catalyzation of who we are in body, mind, and soul. Your mind is much less developed at a young age. Lacking the wisdom and insight to truly shape the world around you. You understand, yes?”
I nodded.
“Once you turn twelve in preparation for you to start with a Mythical class, we will begin molding your body. Various elixirs have been brought or made. Hundreds of Edri have gone into this development. You will be one of the most powerful Edryanis to ever start at level 0.”
I swallowed loudly. “Is this all truly necessary?”
My mother was talking about boosting my base attributes to a high degree. When the system is unlocked for any individual. They were usually around a certain number of attribute points in each stat. Perhaps they had ten Vitality or five Mind. In essence, each person would have a different starting point.
“Very necessary. Not only are you the last living male heir of the Edryani bloodline. You are the Chosen One and Holy Son of Edryan. You will represent Edryan at its highest point. For you to falter mean for Edryan to falter. I will ensure that you never falter. Thus, Edryan will never fail.”
Having a high starting point and more attribute points per stat would have a snowball effect on the overall outcome of my life. I was taught the higher-level class you took the more attribute points would be rewarded to you as you level. There was so much more in leveling without even mentioning perks. We finished our late lunch and left. Tomorrow I would be traveling to New America.
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“Steady now, Margret, you don’t have to be afraid every time. The conductor has been well trained.”
She gave me a pointed look as she gingerly sat in her seat. Hands tightly grasping her robe as the movement began. “You know I don’t like this. Why do we have to hide the existence of trains? Why can't we just have one that travels above ground?”
Liana and her Queens Guards alongside a few of the mages chuckled.
We were in the second prototype or RAIL-2. Rail Accelerating Inertia Locomotive 2 was the second version of the train system developed by me in the three years since General Indrian took the GMM-4s for a walk. Displaying a new weapon to the continent that began nonstop inquiries for purchase. Plus, attempts at theft had never stopped since their opening salvo. I read the report every few months. Like it was some sort of action-packed drama. Although I did get to scry the battle as it happened. Seeing men dying versus reading about it was an entirely different experience. One that I found myself surprisingly not as bothered as I thought I’d be. It was like watching a Star Wars battle but with actual consequences to the lives on the battlefield.
It was because of the actions taken by our neighbors that I’d yet to show off LSG's third major invention. The RAILs were powered by MGB-3.5. MGB-3.5 was MGB-3 but several times expanded. I like to think of them as mech hearts. They were part of the reason I didn’t want to reveal the RAILs. Plus I wanted to create a joint underground network before any such thing was revealed. In Edryan RAILs could currently travel to all the crown allied territories. Basically, the six families that supported my mother’s rise to claim Edryan as a queendom were allowed to make use of the RAIL system. Not just anyone, only the leaders of each respective family. None other was allowed as I wanted to make sure such a thing was kept secret until I was ready. What I hadn’t realized was just how drastically RAILs would change the economy of Edryan. Edrya was located on the southeastern side of the kingdom. Not directly center of Edryan but not drastically far from it. The capital territory held the strongest dungeons and precious metals in the country. Having the highest concentration of them within our region. Northern Edryan was the land that produced the stable crops that fed the Edryan people. Alongside the Cash Crops. While the southern land had the industry to turn those crops into delicacies for trade. How would Edryan change if those crops could be harvested and sent to the south for processing? Then traded within a relatively short time frame. Currently, caravans employed spatial mages to run large missions of trade between regions. The introduction of RAILs would upset that entire industry and shift it. Until I could find a great way to not upset these jobs to a great degree. I would not unveil the public version of RAILs.
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The train began to slow and then halt. Finally coming to a stop at New America. I left my seat and stepped off turning around to study the RAIL-2. The RAIL generation two was a medium-speed train. Shaped in the iconic bullet train body for maximum efficiency. The RAIL-2 was fast enough covering a journey of several days. Into several hours by bypassing obstacles such as bandits, recovering horses, and whatever else could stop us along the way. The RAIL was a subway train that was not extremely deep underground. Yet deep enough to avoid any monster in control of an area. Plus, other factors might intercept the train. Already, I believe the caravan guards and random adventurers hired to protect merchants’ wagons could find work with RAILs. Once I finally decided to host them above ground. RAILs would need constant protection and maintenance from any beast attacks. They would be the easiest to dissuade from anger at the loss of their normal jobs. The spatial mages would be what I’d have to contend with. Spatial mages were necessary to stabilize the expanded wagon space most merchants used. Spatial bags or ‘bags of holding’ were limited in their scope and carrying capacity. The weight did not disappear. Although with some bags it was reduced. That's the key part is that spatial mages played a significant role in caravans. Making sure the wagon's weight stayed reduced. The enchantments powering the inner space remained active. While also serving a deterrence in some cases when a bandit party wishes to try their luck.
I didn’t have a job replacement for these mages. Not yet. I turned away from the RAIL and continued into New America. My top, TOP secret research base. A few years back LSG purchased land outside of the capital in a sparse and barren mountainous region. This was that land. Land in the middle of a barren mountain range that was now a secret above and below-ground facility. I didn’t hesitate to make my way through the large, interconnected complex. New America in truth was one giant building. It was the most ‘modern’ thing to be developed in Edryan. All who worked on it were sworn to secrecy. My mother even offered to have them executed. I still remember how I freaked out when she offered. I smiled at the thought as I entered one of the several large experimentation chambers. Staring at the objects within. HUEGO-1 stared back down at me.
Standing at an impressive 4 meters, the Hero Ultra Ego Golem Overlord was a Total Golem. Total Golems were in a sense…, total. They had access to all three types of golem archetypes. Workers, Mages, and Knights. Yet HUEGO-1 was meant to be more. He was meant to be a hero. The first of several. His total kit was more knight orientated but that was fine. I looked towards HELA-1 and HECTOR-1. Each hero type golems base on one of the three kits. I wanted these golems to be able to siege a city and its defenses as a team.
The knight total kit came with several javelins. The standard spear, shield, gladius. They also had several daggers, throwing knives, and magic-propelled crossbow bolts in their weapon arm. They were a Total or totally geared for war. The heavy version didn’t have the extra throwing knives and bolts. This kit made sure they were prepared to attack any creature to challenge them up close or in close-range aerial combat.
The mage total kit came with a variety of imbued spells. From aerial combat to seismic charges able to blow a hole in the grounds and city walls. The mage kit came with several dozen spells scripted throughout the body of the golem. The heavy version was only made from lesser materials. HELA-1 strongest spell was a tier 8 spell, (Falling Star). Imbued and achieved through the effort of Margret alongside Liana’s mom and dad. Eliana and Elris Drumian were instrumental in forming and completing HELA-1. The old wizard who announced my birth to the world may be a cranky dude at times. But he was the most powerful space affinity mage in Edryan under the control of the crown. Eliana was a Nature Affinity mage, and she is the one who taught me some of the basics for the four elements. According to various mages I talked to. Fire, water, air, and earth would combine into a nature affinity. Once somebody possessed all four.
HECTOR-1 was a Total Worker Golem. He had the ability to construct a large, fortified castle outside of raised earth within an hour or less. The castle would be reinforced with wards prepared to hold against a bombardment of magic. Besides the various defensive structures, he could build. His core could also transform into a complex barrier that blocked spells, scrying, and physical objects from entering.
These beauties were my babies. I worked on their design ever since General Indrian left with the original test subjects. When I got to see the good and bad of the GMM-4s that left in the first Golem Corp. Alongside reading the report from General Indrian and her feelings on the matter. It helped me shape the golems into a more fitting and standardized version. For example, General Indrian believe the golem had access to way too many buffs. More didn’t always necessarily mean better. She believed the golems should have 2-3 buffs that should become a standard for their type. These buffs were a power-up, a movement buff, and an overdrive. The last buff |Rage| would overdrive the golem's systems and rapidly use up battery. This cost would provide greater power for that limited amount of time. The General would estimate that if they were a sentient race, they would increase in power by 5-6 levels. Which was a massive increase in their capabilities for those few minutes.
The hero golems learned from their examples. HELA-1 was a nature-focused golem. With increased focus on the earth and fire affinity spells. Only having air and water-imbued spells to counter opposite elements. She would be slinging earth and fireballs at any target to cross her path.
Each Hero Golem held an MGB-4. This was the latest model of Military Grade Batteries. These batteries could pull ambient mana from the air. Only while they were in a lower-powered state. They couldn’t keep operations going while fully powered on. These batteries were easily removable and held recharging stations to be placed in. They were bigger than the softball-size MGBs. These MGB-4 were the size of a basketball. Yet their features were phenomenal. I estimated their battery life without charge and on basic work. Such as heavy lifting and such to be five years. The MGB-3 was confirmed to last three years of doing such activities.
“Your Highness, are you ready?” Margret asked as three MGB-4s were revealed before me. The HGs also held 2 MBG-3 that served as minor power stations. So, they were already in a powered state. However, putting in the MGB-4s would truly bring them to life.
I picked up the first battery with the help of Liana. The thing was close to 200 lbs of dense materials. I couldn’t carry it, but the symbolic gesture mattered. Next to me, Margret lifted her own with a combination of magic and her Power. HECTOR-1 core would be inserted by Eliana who won over leaving the capital versus her husband. They alongside the High Priest of the Faith of Madris were the ones who made this possible.
“3,” I began Liana and me stepping up the stairs to HUEGO-s exposed internals. He was a marvel of a GMM-made golem. They all were. Now let us see if they were able to bend and move like humans. Let us see if they could respond to their programmed commands.
“2,” my eyes glowed with excitement. I just knew this was some sort of Feat or Achievement. I imagined the notifications I’d get if I had the system already.
“1,” I said. The battery entered the exposed chest cavity. The battery settled in place, and we jumped down. The chest cavities of each of the HGs closed. Their armor covers their delicate internals.
The gems and rubies they had for eyes began to glow. Liana’s hand tightens around her sword. My eyes finally noticed the increased number of guards in the room. She shifted me slightly behind her.
Ahhhh. They were scared. Scared of failure. Scared of a golem that may not respond accordingly.
I was not.
Several whirls came from the golems as their bodies ran through their activation cycles. Steam is released from vents to allow heat to escape. These golems' bodies were constructed of extremely valuable resources. Resources that cost almost as much as 10 large Edri Coins for small amounts of them. The LSG coffers were low in order to make these things come to life.
Runes were a thing of beauty. The seventy-two runes of the Prime Plane could cover all aspects. “Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Lightning, Soul…,” I began.
“Combined to make Complex Runes.” As I spoke wind began to pick up in the underground facility. Generated from Gods’ know-where.
“Complex Runes create spells with multiple effects. Effects such as combining fire and earth to make magma or rain meteors.” My voice grew in crescendo as I spoke. A manic laugh escaped my lips as I shrugged away from Liana and began to close in on my HGs.
“Yet what happens when you take more than one Complex Rune and combine them? Spells of unimaginable power are created. Tier 8 spells like (Falling Star) to bring down a meteor on your enemies.”
I stepped up to HUEGO-1, Liana, and several others right beside me. I knew they wanted to stop me. To hold me back. To tell me it was dangerous.
“Twice you have combined complex runes. Generating different effects at each stage. Different powers in each realm. When you combine a third time you step into tier nine and ten spell tiers. Is that not what you taught me, Eliana?”
I could hear the people yelling and Eliana's voice was lost to the wind. “Yet when I asked what happens when you combined them a fourth time. I was rebuffed. Imagine the Holy Son of Edryan rebuffed…? That’s when I grew curious.”
That’s when I accessed a step into the divine.
The libraries of Edryan were not forbidden to me. The Complexities of Runes were never truly hidden from me. When I first began to learn magic. The very first thing I was taught was the 72 runes. Runes that encompass all spells in the Prime Plane according to Eliana, my mom, and anyone I asked. How could I not be intrigued? How could I not want to know more? How could I not recognize runes for what they were? A language with specific features and programs. So, in my free time, I would study their nature and their combinations. If all spells were encompassed by the seventy-two. Then there must be a way to create a pathway.
A pathway home… or to a god with the voice of a thousand souls.
Who thrice almost shattered my own.
Thrice caused me pain.
So thrice I will return in favor.
I combined a few Complex Runes to create the fourth tier. To create what I would call the divine tier. A Divine Rune was at the center of each MGB-4. Something I spent countless hours developing. Only two other people helped me in accomplishing this Feat.
There was wind in the air and energy I could not place until. I was notified by the happy person next to me.
Margret joins my side in staring at the activating golems. “HAHAHA, Your Highness when this works our Feats will be legendary tier. Goddess Madris has blessed us herself! This will be recorded in the history of the continent!”
I smiled at her as the wind died down. Yet frown slightly at the mention of Madris before dismissing her from my mind.
I knew my mom would not allow me to do something so dangerous. Something that may be considered blasphemous. The only way to truly complete this project was to find a partner willing to go to this extent.
Margret became my choice after I found out what she was researching. When a country is locked out of growing stronger because of the low mana region they’re in. How do they grow stronger?
Feats.
Feats were an accomplishment the world recognized. An accomplishment that could not be repeated once performed. A small example would be a knight fighting against a horde of monsters. Stopping them from overrunning a village or something. In his success, he could achieve a feat such as Savior of Village A or something along those lines. The feat would reward him with a certain amount of attributes on his page. Adding to his overall strength. Once I learned that was what she was looking for. I found a way to draw in Margret's interest. Creating a complex spell that would help run three unique golems each on the level of the strongest of Edryan would be considered Feat worthy.
The bright glow of the HG’s eyes dimmed. The wind stopped and the hall grew silent. HUEGO-1 looked down on me. His looks were based on Optimus Prime. A mouthpiece slides back to reveal his mouth. While a notification. One I’ve never seen before appeared in my vision.
“Creator, how may we serve?”
System Unlock:
1,920 Days
24 Hours
2 Minutes
0 Seconds
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Ohhhhh, you think darkness is your ally. You merely adopted the dark. I was born in it… Molded by it… I didn’t see the light until I was already a man… And by then it was nothing to me but blinding…!
-Dark Knight Rises, Bane