In Late afternoon Eirian and his friend once again gather to watch ambassador from New Terra arrive on a big iron ship. The ship is made entirely of metal and really surprise everyone with the fact that they float and sail without the need of wind, a loud spin of the engine accompany this ship as it leave a trail of black smoke in the air.
The ship is sail up the river and anchor at harbor, Prof. Leon and Roy welcome the ambassador as the reporter take a picture.
“So that’s Deacon’s dad” Bill looks at an old man in elegant suit.
“I heard of the ship made of iron but didn’t think it’s would be this impressive.” Eirian looks past the crowd and focus on an iron ship with one giant canon on deck. Other ship near by can’t even be compare especially an ant ship that made of dry leaf.
“How can it even float don’t rock sink?” said Amy.
“Anything can float if their densities are lower than water same principle work for hot air Balloons that why they can float up since hot air inside is less dense than the surrounding atmosphere.” Josh answered “I read of these ship before and honestly I’d rather fly than stay on a shaky boat in a storm, wood of metal make no different to me.”
“You must has been inside one of those right?” Biscuit turn to Bill “What it’s like?”
“Oh err I never really got a chance to ride one before, no reason for me to.”
“Aw that too bad. Do human have a lot of those in New Terra? Father Pan received one ship as a gift long ago although I never got to see it.”
“Most of the ship I see is still made of wood really something about production issue so they can’t make too much of it.”
With the beating drum the ambassador and his team head into the city. The truck that carry a giant box under blanket follow them after the crowd disperse.
“You know I just noticed, most of our team member is all a big shot huh” said Amy “Bill family run a factory, Josh and Eirian is basically a royal like me and Biscuit is daughter of Pan. Calamity might not came from big clan but he is the strongest wolf I know, he can choose any clan he want in Eardwulf and got a high rank position.”
“Well, It's not really matter who our family is right.” said Bill.
“Of course, our inheritance isn’t everything.” Eirian agree.
“Said the Amiel with the most affinity with magic” Amy noted.
Eirian at this point think of the incoming group assignment and how Amy will lead them. The potion from granny Pansy should be finish by now.
‘Do I go get them now or after Amy led our team on the next assignment? With the potion our team chance at winning would be increase but that mean she would get credit at leading the team better than mine.’
Eirian consider his option for a moment before replied to her “I can’t choose where I come from but speaking of affinity I’ll need to check with Grany tomorrow, you all should come meet her. She should finish our potion by now, remember our deal Bill? You have to drink it you know.”
“Fine fine. It’s doesn’t taste too bad does it?”
“I heard it taste abhorrent” Josh smiles.
***
In the main building both ambassador meet in the meeting room on the top floor with a table and a tube that link to the top of tower.
“Armstrong, here I thought you would arrive days before me.” said ambassador Ramsey to a human who just enter the room. The raven sat at table with Osmond.
“I’m surprised as well consider how both of us should be inform of the incident at the same time; could this be the speed of the blackbolt?” ambassador Armstrong sit as Prof. Leon close the door and wait outside with both ambassador guards.
“Who know maybe we just got lucky with the wind.” Ramsey smile and turn to Osmond “So Osmond, Barthram want me to ask you about your school curriculum. Are you guy still bad at having a clear measure and grade on some of the subject you teach?”
“The lesson we teach here is not always so easy to test whether student understand and can apply it or not but like Leon love to said; All student graduate without one of them end up in other student stomach, consider that most kid here despise other race when they arrived yet all got home without anyone missing a limp, he consider class success.” Osmond answer with a little joke but also assure a father that his son will be safe here since that what Barthram really want to ask “but you’re not here to discuss how my school run isn’t it.”
“Officially, we are both here for other reason but let’s be honest here even a child know we’re here because a recent bombastic event happening around the city.” Armstrong look at the speaking tube on desk wonder if any sound will come out.
“The bomber has been found and you can tell both your government to put their worry to rest. I have a full report right here for both of you.” Osmond hand them the documents. Both doesn’t seem surprise that the evident point to city of the damn.
“Not that Republic of New Terra want to question Alana ability but I would like for my men to personally investigate the corpses and any evident you found as well.”
“Avion is the same.”
“I understand, you both will have full access to any information and evident, Prof. Roy will be there with your specialist in case they have any question.”
Armstrong hesitated before speak directly toward the tube “...Does the chief noticed anything while the bombing was happening?”
Osmond replied to him in an instant “Nothing of note.”
“...Is the chief still there?” he press further.
A moment of silent before an ethereal voice echo out “I am here.”
With the confirmation both Armstrong and Ramsey look to Osmond, they seem satisfy knowing chief still alive.
“Then that should conclude this meeting”
“And for our joint research alliance?”
“The product will be reveal to public tomorrow. The machine turn out better than we expected, this should boot the job demand for the bird in all our country.”
“Good, more trade and taxes. Chancellor Rangford can finally get off my feather.”
“Do bird lose feather when they’re old?”
“You’ll lose all hair on your head before I lose my feather.”
“Oh want a bet?”
***
On the next day Eirian led his friend to Granny Pansy shop. The sign outside said the shop is close.
“Wonderful” said Amy thinking they had wasted their time.
“Wait she could be inside” Eirian hear a movement inside so he shout for Granny to come out. Granny didn’t replied but a black teenage wolf covered in dirt come out from the shop. For a moment Eirian thought he might have done something to Granny but he quickly stop himself from assuming something and thought he must be one of her customer.
“Is Granny Pansy inside?” Eirian asked.
The wolf lad look at Eirian and his friend for a moment before let out a soft voice “Ah you must be Eirian come in I just finish making your potion.”
Eirian stare at this wolf who look younger than Calamity, his black fur on his arm and face are covered in dirt, a stain of black and red slime on his brown pant and one of his eye must be blind from how cloudy white it is.
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“You...make our potion?”
“That right, sorry about the mess I was planting a Solomon’s Seal please come in.”
The main six follow the young wolf inside and he place a six bottle of dark red glowing liquid on the table. The shop is fill with all kind of medicine and potion on shelf and herbal plant in pots arranged in group.
“Here as you ordered six Mundeus, oh by the way I’m Jason. You might not recognize me since I sit in the back of our class. I’m in Macro team”
“Oh right ” Eirian has a vague memory of several black wolves in his class “Do you work part time for Granny Pansy?”
“Nope I’m her son, adopted of course” he corrected when he see everyone mouth open “and also an apprentice. Not as good of a surgeon as Granny but she did said I'm pretty good at making potion and herbal medicines so she let me make yours—under her supervise of course she wouldn’t risk harming anyone life. Here have a drink.” Jason invite everyone to drink Mundeus.
No body make a move.
Eirian look at his friend then Jason then the glowing liquid then Jason again. “So...is Granny not home?”
“Sorry she has urgent patient so she left in hurry.”
“Right...do we have to drink this now?”
“Well yes, I need to watch in case any of you have a bad reaction so I can help—especially him” Jason point to Bill who is human.
“How bad are we talking about here?” Bill step closer to the exit.
“The potion will make you stronger but nothing is without price, best case you feel a little heat or dizzy but in some case you could have an allergic reaction. I did prepare a handful of potion for all case so don’t worry you’ll all will be in good shape for class by tomorrow.”
Bill look to Eirian but didn’t say anything. Biscuit is shaking.
“You don’t have to worry I’m right here” Jason said to Biscuit which is really confusing to her, having a wolf calming her like this.
Eirian want to tell Bill to have a drink first but as a leader he knew he should lead by example.
No matter how bad he wants Bill to drink first.
“Ok” Eirian pick up a bottle and wonder if this Jason is telling the truth.
‘Maybe this wolf is lying maybe he’s not really granny kid and this is poison maybe...arhg who am I kidding’
Eirian then drink all the potion in one go and slam the bottle down. The taste leave a charred smell on his tongue. Everyone wait to see his reaction.
He tap his own chest and try to feel if there is anything different “There nothing...wait I feel warmer.”
“Anything else” Jason take a note.
“It’s like a space is open inside of me...I can feel the magic expanding I don’t know how to put it. It’s incredible.” Eirian can feel his connection to magic increase or more like a wall that was there before between him and magic is thinner.
“Good I suppose that is normal for Amiel, not bad for my first time making Mundeus huh” Jason seem very proud.
“First time?!” Bill reach for the exit but Josh grab him “No we’re doing this together.”
“Nooo I don’t want to die yet.” Bill try to break free from his friend wing but Josh use his body to block the door.
As Bill and Josh struggle Calamity pick up his bottle and drink all in one go, Amy follow him and hand one bottle to Biscuit.
“How are you feeling?” Jason ignore the human and crow at the entrance.
“Nothing” said Calamity.
“It’s warm like Eirian said” said Amy.
“Mine is cold, did I do something wrong” Biscuit worried.
“It’s alright everyone reaction is different depend on their body and magic” Jason explain as he take note. He put the most focus in describing Calamity in his note to find the reason this wolf feel nothing.
“You are not lying right—can I feel your temperature?” Jason want to check Calamity body but the grey wolf firmly denied and stop Jason dirty hand.
Eirian now hold Bill’s bottle as he try to get Bill to drink “Come on Bill you promised and see everyone is fine.”
Josh now let Bill go and take a bottle from Calamity. He drank and claimed to feel lighter.
Bill who already take the deal know he can’t run away. He hold the last bottle in his hand for a solid minute before swallow one gulp “Arrh this taste horrible! I think I’m gonna throw up.”
“Sorry please drink all in one go” Jason come up and force all the bottle down Bill throat. Eirian want to stop him but Jason explains “for human it’s important he drink all in one go”
After Bill drink every drop Jason step back to give Bill space “How are you feeling?”
Bill face turn red with sweat, holding his stomach he moan of pain “It’s hurt, oh my god it hurt so much, my bone is burning...” Bill stagger and fall, Calamity manage to catch him before he hit the floor.
“Bill!” everyone call him in panic.
“Open his mouth!” Jason pour other potion he prepare down Bill throat and rub an ointment on his forehead, chest and arms.
“What happen” Eirian panicked.
“His body seem weak to magic, possible contamination with toxic chemicals or magic since young. But he must have been around old machine or old core a lot to cause this, It’s quite rare even for human to react this bad.”
“He did mention his family own a factory. Is there anything we can do?”
“Don’t worry the potion will cool him down, help me carry him to the bed, let him rest here for a few hour, if he’s better he can go back to his dorm after he stable.”
“He can just go back? He sounds so much in pain just a moment ago.” said Josh.
“The worst has past trust me, Mundeus is a powerful potion but it’ll help more than harm even for human.” Jason try to clam everyone down. He light up an incense which seem to clam everyone and make them feel more refresh as they move Bill.
“It's my fault for forcing him” Eirian looks at Bill unconscious body.
“No, it’s good that he get to drink Mundeus this early. If leave on his own for a long time he could be developing cancer or slowly losing nervous system and he won’t even know it. Drinking Mundeus just extend his life for at least five years.”
Seeing everyone confuse Eirian asked “What a cancer?”
“Eh it’s a type of...” Jason stop himself for a moment and rephase “look, I’m still learning from granny as well so I don’t have a full understanding yet but trust me when I said you have help your friend here today ok?”
Eirian want to believed Jason but he still doesn’t feel any better. Josh then asked “I have read a lot but I never heard of this cancer before can you explain more?”
“I’m sorry. Granny said to not teach other people of the old world knowledge too much because her knowledge came from her father, a doctor back in the time of the old world. There are many concept I still don’t understand but we knew that many of our understanding are now outdate after magic has evolve everyone so I don’t want to tell you guy anything that could led to more misunderstanding please understand.”
“Wait Pansy? Pansy the miracle doctor? Eirian you didn’t tell us doctor Pansy is the herbalist you found.” Josh seem more relieved, if it was Pansy apprentice then Bill should be fine “I remember now she did write a book with her father about the medical knowledge of the old world and sent a copy to everyone isn’t that right?”
Jason smiles “Sadly only three places accepted her book, many of the content inside mention too many outdate idea and a technology that no longer exist so as much as everyone acknowledge granny ability they didn’t choose to learn from her since they don’t understand it, the easy example is a mention of MRI machine that used to scan people body and the doctor can tell what wrong but since that no longer possible all the specialized description in the book of many condition just confuse most people.”
“That is unfortunate.”
Hours past everyone start to browse around the shop while wait for Bill to wake up. Eirian and Jason stay by Bill side and after a long silent he asked “What would happen if you didn’t prepare potion and that cream?”
Jason look at Eirian with a sad eye but he know he shouldn’t lie when it’s come to medical assessment “He would die from overload of magic.”
Eirian face look grim. ‘This is not fair at all, we were all fine but Bill is the only one who suffer. He work hard to help me at Mercurious too but his wage seem to be lower than mine, all the weak creature seem to have it harder. Not fair not fair at all...but there is nothing I can do for such is the way of the world. Amiel who feel the Eternal One know this, a beautiful cycle, an eternal wheel, but still, is there’s nothing to be done at all?’
“Aww my head” Bill get up and cover his head.
“Bill!”
“Not too loud.” Jason tell Eirian and everyone who rush back in.
“Why do I feel weird?” Bill asked.
“Your body still adapting to the potion. Don’t worry tomorrow you will feel stronger than you ever been but I’m sorry to ask this now but do you have a history of being near old machine or a leaking core?”
“Err” Bill fail to find his word amid his burning heat.
“Yes he has, his family own a factory I already told you.”
“Err that right...I do remember an old core break when I visit my dad factory one time.”
“Ok” Jason take a note “Thank you Bill you are free to return to your dorm now and congratulation your life just got extended by five year.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
Bill turn to Eirian in surprise but Eirian still fell guilty “I’m sorry to force you through this Bill you almost...”
“Nah that alright. I just got five extra year isn’t it? That worth a little headache.” Bill try to smile through pain.
“Come on let’s get you to bed” said Josh; Calamity and Eirian help shoulder him to walk.
The six of them keep walking but was stop at the main square where people gather to watch an announcement by the representative from Mechanize Magic Industry.
“Hello everyone! We Mechanize Magic Industry in corporation with the scientist from Corvidia proudly present our newest invention.”
“Wait I want to see this” Bill stop Eirian so everyone watch the show with him together.
“Here at Mechanize Magic Industry the lead manufacturer for government of New Terra. We believed everyone daily life can be improve. As long as we work together, anything can be accomplish! Today our latest invention will change the shape of the world for ever! I give you The Aero truck!, Lexington 6000.”
The curtain is pull off to reveal a big truck that was floating above the ground for a half meter without wing. One raven rein in the front ready to pull and steer it. “This beauty is the first flying car in history. It’s can carry up to 4000 Kilogram. Only need one bird to steer and fly, with this the problem of delay transportation and delivery will be no more! A mountain block your destination and need to go around? No more!”
“Wow how did they do that?” said Amy.
“A glyph! A new glyph it got to be” Bill try to stand up on his two leg to see the aero truck behind the crowd.
“For the citizen who does not operate in commercial good worry not! We also got Lexington 3000 where inside is outfitted with a seat to carry you anywhere in the world. Say goodbye to jagged road and stormy sea. Say Aero Truck!”
With the speak final word the raven take off and a truck lift up to the sky among the cheering crowd.
“That is so awesome” Bill look on in awe.
‘Thank the Eternal One he seem better now’ Eirian finally feel better after Bill and everyone go back to their usual self.