"TEST 29 OF PROJECT FEATHER! ROOM CLEAR?”
The stone cavern was as empty as it could be, but they had these protocols for a reason. Jeddard crouched down behind their makeshift bunker and gave a thumbs-up to Hazard, “ROOM CLEAR!”
Hazard nodded and grabbed the long metal pole at his side, poking it through the slot of his shield to slowly press a metal slide into a crown-like array of crystals, “ACTIVATOR CONNECTING!”
The slide pressed into the array and the crystals fanned out before lighting up. Nothing else happened for a moment before a wall of faint blue light sprung up, forming a wall. Jeddard called out, “ACTIVATION SUCCESSFUL! MOVING ON TO PHASE TWO!”
Hazard raised the metal pole and began jabbing it into the wall of light. The wall was solid, at the very least Hazard couldn’t break through it with his poking. He hooked the pole into the metal slide and pulled it out, the crystal points folding back in on the array and the wall disappearing. He smiled and called out, “TEST SUCCESSFUL!”
Jeddard cheered and Hazard moved around the shelter, heading for the array to disarm it. Jeddard joined him and patted him on the back, “We did it!”
“Yup, finally out of the prototyping phase, and can move on to stress-testing.” Truth be told Hazard felt more relief than Jeddard’s joy. Jeddard grabbed the device and the two steadily made their way out of the cavern and up to a nondescript room of the Spire, passing the device off to a group of Royal Guards who put it into a heavy-duty looking cart and marched off with it. The two moved up to a small “office” that had been prepared for them to start filling out paperwork on the experiment. When that was done a Steward was called and they took the written scrolls away, Jeddard stretching with a loud pop of bones.
“I hope the next project comes soon!”
“Assuming we get to even work on it.”
“Oh, don’t be like that. So what if almost all our work is taken away in the early stages? We completed three whole projects so far!” Hazard shook his head but didn’t bother arguing. He couldn’t say how many projects they worked on since it felt like the High Queen was coming in with a new request every other week, and by the time they started making decent progress on one experiment their notes and designs would be taken away to... somewhere. For some ideas where he didn’t have the knowledge of his old life to fall back on, sending off the projects made sense, but for things he knew they could figure out? Seeing all that work be sent off hurt him, in a way.
Of course, there was also that hanging concern over what the projects would be used for. Some seemed awfully close to military equipment: forcefields like Project Feather, better designs to easily slot crystals in and out of weapons, a few projects that weren’t outright weapons but the utility for war was there. He desperately wished he was wrong, and these were just precautions, but-
“COLD!” Hazard flinched at the sudden frost on his neck, whipping around to see Jeddard with a piece of ice in his hand.
“Stop worrying so much! You’ll end up with more wrinkles than me!”
“Someone has to be the worrier in this family.” Hazard huffed, rubbing the spot on his neck. Ultimately Jeddard was right: not much they could do about it now. They just had to hope the High Queen had a good plan for all this...
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"...I should’ve chopped off my hands.”
What laid in front of Hazard was a series of different tools of all make and design, designs he had started on but clearly took on ideas of their makers. The Queen had essentially dropped the things in his lap and told him to see if they worked, then write down how they were supposed to be used. Jeddard was excited beyond all belief of course but for Hazard... this was another hell he’d stepped into. Joy at seeing his designs realized turned to horror as he realized he may have to create a whole user manual for each item, hell maybe even a measurement system if this world’s system wasn’t up to snuff. Hazard dragged his hands down his face as Jeddard nearly pranced about the study.
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
“This is the best day of my liiiiiiiife!”
“Jeddard, please.” Hazard sighed, “At least the Queen marked these and I’m not guessing what they’re supposed to be.”
“It’d be like solving an ancient riddle!” Jeddard held up a goblet-like device, and Hazard leaned forward, squinting at the item. “I wonder what this does!”
“...I think that’s just a cup, Jed.”
Jeddard blinked, holding the cup closer to his face, “...So it is!”
Hazard shook his head, randomly picking one of the tools to start with. It wasn’t a short process by any means and by the time they were done the moon was high in the sky, the two were exhausted, and ink stains covered their hands and clothes. Jeddard vanished to who-know-where while Hazard all but stumbled back to his room. A part of his brain reminded him he should clean up but the moment his hands brushed against his blanket he all but fell over onto his bed, curling up and letting sleep take him. Despite his wishes, when he woke up he felt as tired as when he’d laid down, and he groaned as he curled up further. “Why...”
“It’s-” Hazard’s whole body jolted at the sudden voice and he scrabbled around on his bed until he could face the source, seeing the High Queen there. “As I was saying, it seems I have pushed you too hard.”
“...I won’t insult either of us by lying here. I am very tired.” Hazard sighed through his nose, “Though I’m ready to-”
“Rest.” Vitala interrupted. “I require your mind sharp for the rest of the projects.”
“If there’s a war coming, I surely will.” There was silence and Hazard took a second to realize Vitala looked surprised, then suspicious.
“Why would you think that?” Hazard sensed he screwed up, but his tired mind was too gone to care at this point.
“Some of these seem to be weapons or shields, or have some other potential military application.” The High Queen said nothing for a while before sighing under her breath.
“I forget you are more perceptive than a child should be, sometimes. No, there is no war currently going on.”
“...Is the operative word there “currently?””
“...This is not the concern of children.” Vitala turned to leave but Hazard pushed himself into a sitting position.
“It is if we have to escape with Dallia.” Vitala froze in her tracks. “It is if my sister might have to die in some godforsaken dirt field. It is, if what I make ends up ending someone’s life.”
Vitala remained facing away from him for so long he worried he was in trouble before there was a much louder sigh and she turned to face him. She tried to smooth her face but he could see a hint of tiredness peeking through. “Do you know what "sword rattling” is?”
“When a country marches troops around its borders as a threat. Okay maybe not “threat,” per se, but a warning.”
“Close enough. Other rulers are angry we are reclaiming lands that once belonged to us.”
“Did the people living there now object?”
“...Some did.” Vitala said after a pause. “But the histories and old laws are clear: the land is ours. People can leave if they do not like our laws, and any rulers complaining about our expansion would need to stop their own progress.” Hazard thought on the words then nodded.
“I see.”
“That’s it? No grand suggestions?” The High Queen seemed amused and Hazard shrugged.
“Do you want my suggestions?”
“...Sure.” The Queen said after a pause, floating a small stool over to herself to sit on. “You cannot prove any worse an advisor than my usual retinue. If you somehow do, then I’ve at least had my joke for the day.”
“Hopefully I don’t disappoint.” Hazard searched his memories of history lessons of his old life and countless bored internet searches. “I think propaganda is the first step.”
“Propaganda?”
“You know. Posters about how great it is to be ruled by the Empire, painting the royalty and nobles as heroes, “yay us, boo them,” all that.” Vitala snorted. “You could also go the classic route of just bribing everyone. It’s what I did in games; sending “gifts” to people to encourage them to follow you.”
“That sounds rather shallow.”
“Maybe, but it works. Find what people need, give it to them with no hooks, and at the very least they won’t immediately fall under other people’s sway.” Hazard tapped his knee as he thought. “There is... one other, more extreme measure.”
“War?”
“No, a wall.” Vitala raised a brow. “I don’t mean something like the Great Wall of China, I mean a buffer zone. Grant a bunch of land and support to some small towns, make them lords, heck convince them all to become their own tiny country. Anything that creates a wall between you and whoever you don’t want touching you.”
“...That...” Vitala put a hand to her chin. “No. They can’t attack their own people because they’re too soft. Could claim aid to the new country against invaders if they attack...”
“We called it a “cold war” in my life. It’s when you don’t want to fight an actual war, so you find a way to win without fighting.”
“Propaganda and buffers.” Vitala nodded. She seemed to think again before standing. “I will not pretend I will rush out to put your thoughts to action, but I will thank you for the ideas you’ve presented. Now, rest: I need your mind to be sharp for the rest of the projects.”
“Yes, Your Highness.” She left and Hazard sighed as he laid back on his bed. Maybe he could spend some time with Ro... after a quick nap...