Once a quiet stone room, Custodian’s core room had become the hub of the Varangian dungeon. Conveyor belts, worker drones, and various other installations were made across the dungeon complex in order to make efficient use of space, especially since generic manufacturing such as rat processing could be handled by other drones or mini-Custodians.
Despite all that effort to free up space, the core room was still cluttered. After all, Custodian was the only one that could make drones. Not only that, specific requests such as refining materials for Smith or processing large corpses were still done by Custodian.
Nevertheless, a portion of the core room was left in reserve despite the A.I.’s full intention to make every space count. And in there, Custodian was fiddling around with some extra materials.
‘Bio-iron is strangely flexible, and it has some kind of irregular property,’ Custodian analyzed as it created a robot limb made out of bio-iron. The A.I. didn’t even need to mold the limb manually as the bio-iron fluid somehow knew what it was supposed to be shaped like and molded itself into the shape that Custodian wanted.
After fusing the limb to a bodiless drone chip, Custodian commanded the arm to wriggle around and began studying the features of bio-iron. The arm started scurrying across the room before being violently chopped into two by Princeps with a steel axe.
Once the connection to the chip was cut, the arm fell limp.
‘Bio-iron is extremely easy to maintain, but it is also weak,’ Custodian told itself as it quickly fixed the arm in less than a minute. The fix was almost like splattering the arm with glue which quickly sunk in and took in the shape that was needed.
Custodian turned its attention from the wriggling bio-iron arm to a pair of steel arms. One was made with tiny steel scales, another one was made out of two steel frames joined together to form an arm. The steel scale arm was much more flexible, durable, and would make a perfect design to copy for all the other drones if not for the fact that it was expensive and hard to maintain.
While Custodian didn’t need to fix the steel limbs by itself, intricate designs still needed to be handled by specialized drones and equipment.
“Analyzing… Analyzation complete. Suggestion. Make the core framework out of steel scales,” Princeps suggested to Custodian.
“Indeed, it’s best not to skimp out… on this drone, that is,” Custodian replied as it turned to a large drone core without a body. “It will take a lot of resources and time, but this can be done.”
Hundreds of small cranes protruded from Custodian’s glassy body and started working on a new body. Sparks flew all over the place as steel ingots were melted, turned into parts, and joined together. Minute details were refined through every angle possible, and methodical care was given to every drone component.
Minutes flew by which turned into hours. Hours turned into days. While one side of Custodian worked on a new body, the other side continued to do its daily chore of processing human corpses, producing new drones, and giving out tasks.
It was almost comparable to the time Custodian played chess against a pool of voodoo water.
If Custodian could sweat, it would’ve made an ocean of sweat by now with how it was carefully crafting every nook and cranny of the drone’s body. The chip core was encased with a combination of bio-iron wires and steel rings, followed by a cage of steel mesh. Custodian’s crane limbs worked in perfect tandem to gently slide the inner components one by one into the body before connecting them to the drone core.
The A.I.’s concentration was only briefly interrupted when two drones entered the core room.
“Yes, Erudite and Magus?” Custodian asked as the two drones approached their master.
Erudite was the first to answer by flashing images directly into Custodian’s ‘mind’.
“You want to go to Vyssium? What for?” Custodian asked.
“Study. Learn magic and more,” Magus answered as he raised his golden staff.
“I see. But why do you need to tell me in person?”
“Escort needed. Combat potential - low.”
“I see. It is quite true that Erudite’s combat skills is lacking given how he hasn’t killed anything since he was reassigned from rat killing duties,” Custodian said. “But I can only create some huskarls for you two as I am busy working on a project.”
“Affirmative.”
While Custodian prepared the huskarl drones, workers drones went to fetch equipment from the armory. In addition to the equipment for the huskarl drones, silk clothing was prepared for the two Daedeli.
“I will need you two to increase your defenses while remaining inconspicuous. Weaver has sent reports that the humans are less friendly when armored drones are in close proximity,” Custodian said.
While Magus donned a few layers of silk over his red patchwork robes made from banners found in the ruined city, Erudite started wrapping himself in silk like a mummy.
“Erudite, please note the words ‘inconspicuous’,” Custodian pointed out.
Erudite, with the help of Princeps, finally made himself look less like a walking bundle of white cloth, and more like an actual person. Not only that, his extra sets of eyes and claws were discarded in order to make himself look more ‘human’.
[Vanguard Squad Three-Three-Beta created]
[6 Huskarl-class Freeholder drones assigned to Vanguard Squad Three-Three-Beta.]
[Randomly assigning class structures…]
Upon setting the squad up and getting their equipment, the huskarl drones formed up in Custodian’s room.
“Follow one of the main passages to Vyssium, then meet up with Weaver and Red at the northern border. You will be joined with other drones on your way there,” Custodian instructed. “Now, go.”
“Affirmative,” Magus replied before marching off with Erudite and the huskarls in tow.
“Now, Princeps, let’s go back to our little project.”
----------------------------------------
“And this is the tavern if you need a drink,” Aefelred explained as he pointed at an old building crowded with people.
“I see,” Weaver replied without showing any interest.
“Ah, well, we might go there some other time by ourselves!” Red exclaimed excitedly.
‘We do not need sustenance, Red,’ Weaver said in hivespeak.
‘But we could learn more about humans if we go there!’ Red protested.
‘Magic?’ Magus asked.
‘No, Magus. I do not think there is magic there,’ Weaver replied. ‘But where we are headed to may have magic, so we shouldn’t waste any more time.’
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After meeting up with Magus and Erudite, the two diplomat drones, Weaver and Red, tried to convince Aefelred to show them his magic. Instead of showing them his magic, Aefelred decided to take them to a school of magic in the capital city of Vyssium, Vyssia.
“Schools of magic are called magisterium, which would be where most people would learn and cultivate the arcane arts. Vyssium’s magisterium is called the Hall of Orthaem.” Aefelred said as he gave a tour towards the school. “While the Hall of Orthaem isn’t as magnificent as the ones in the Great Republic, it’s one of the best in the region.”
“Tell me more about the Great Republic,” Weaver said.
“The Great Republic, huh? Like many people, I don’t know much about them. I’ve just heard rumors about them,” Aefelred replied.
“Just tell me what you know about it.”
“They’re from down far south at a place called the Great Peninsula. Bunch of narcissists, aye? They even call themselves ‘Greatians’, though I suppose they do deserve the name. Their nation has stood for centuries.”
“How long?”
“Who knows. The Greatians say a thousand years, some say only few hundred. Unless you go there yourself, you won’t know.”
“I see,” Weaver replied with a nod then went silent. Aefelred thought that Weaver got bored of small talk, but in reality, he was reporting back to Custodian.
‘Information retrieved, relevant data transmitted. We should get some drones moving down south to the alleged Great Peninsula,’ Weaver reported.
‘Location set. Indeed, we will need scouts sent there. I’ll prepare some scout drones,’ Custodian replied. ‘Continue on with your mission to know more about magic.’
‘Affirmative.’
Aefelred eventually led the drones to a gate. A market surrounded the walls, but there were soldiers guarding the entrances to keep people from wandering through the gates. Unlike the wooden walls of some Vyssian cities, these walls were made of stone.
“Welcome to the Hall of Orthaem. Orthaem was the first Vyssian sorcerer to grace the fields of Vyssia. His house was first turned into a library, then to a magisterium a few decades ago,” Aefelred introduced. “Since I’m a mage of Sea’axfeared, they’ll let us in easily so just stick close to me.”
True to his words, the soldiers allowed Aefelred and his group to get in without a hassle. Other than the main academic building, there were several other smaller workshops scattered across the magisterium grounds.
There were also some Vyssian mages practicing their magic out in the open grassfield.
[Alert: Extremely high presence of mana detected]
Custodian was bombarded by that notification every time a drone passed through the magisterium gates. Not only that, the drones started to have a reaction within their bodies. While not noticeable from the outside, Custodian could see the status of its drones.
[Alert: Drone Weaver beginning mana absorption at 100%]
[Alert: Drone Red beginning mana absorption at 75%]
[Alert: Drone Magus beginning mana absorption at 200%]
[Alert: Drone Erudite beginning mana absorption at 100%]
Along with the Daedelus type drones, the escorting Thane drones were also beginning to absorb the mana in the area.
‘What? Will this be a problem?’ Custodian asked itself.
[Analyzing…]
[Scan complete: No harmful effect to units.]
‘There isn’t anything wrong, so I guess this much is fine?’ Custodian concluded.
“What’s wrong? I know it’s impressive, but the inside is better!” Aefelred boasted when he saw the drones were just idly standing at the magisterium entrance.
“Do you sense something strange?” Weaver asked the red-bearded man.
“Strange?” Aefelred looked around then replied, “I don’t see anything strange. If you’re asking about the smell, it’s normal. I blame the alchemy workshops.”
“I see. Then, let’s continue,” Weaver said as he beckoned to the other drones.
The drones were led into the main magisterium building which was called the main hall. There were many humans of various age shifting around busily, most of them weren’t even paying attention to the group of drones that entered the hall.
There were at most two or three floors in the building, and each of the floors had plenty of room for things like painted statues of bearded men holding scrolls.
Other than decorations, there were also tables and chairs on the lounge which were occupied by older men discussing various topics related to the arcane arts, though most of the terminologies were lost to the drones.
Windows were open to let light in, but some areas still needed candles to provide adequate light. The stone floor was exceptionally clean as well, although the drones were more interested in the floor itself and what kind of material was used to make it.
“The main hall branches out to other smaller halls and workshops divided into different Orders of Magic,” Aefelred explained.
“What are Orders?” Weaver asked.
“Orders of Magic are the techniques used in the arcane arts. For example, my Order is Order of Authority. I exude authority to compel mana to do my bidding. There’s also the Order of Imploration, Honor, Arts, and so on. The type of Order present depends on the region, I believe,” Aefelred answered. “Let me take you to the Hall of Authority.”
Before Aefelred could continue leading the drones, he was ambushed by a robed figure.
“Aefelred, you rascal! You haven’t visited the Hall of Orthaem for a while now! What happened to you?” the robed figure, an old bald man, called out as he grabbed Aefelred’s shoulder from behind.
“Master Hetrick! It’s good to see you again, my old mentor! I see Humanos has been treating you well!” Aefelred exclaimed.
“If you say having an aching back is a blessing, I’d hate to ask what is a curse for you. Now, what brought you here? I doubt you’re here to make small talk with me,” Hetrick asked then he tilted his head to see a group of strange looking people following Aefelred.
“Ah, Master Hetrick. These are Varangians. They wanted to know more about our magic.”
“Our magic? You mean they have their own?”
Aefelred scratched his head, then shrugged. “It’s hard to explain their magic. I don’t sense mana whenever they use magic, so it might not even be magic at all.”
Hetrick approached the drones then offered his hand up. “Good day, northman! I have heard many tales about your people! I am Master Hetrick of Vyssia, Head of Authority in this magisterium.”
The drones studied Hetrick from head to toe without making a move… except for Erudite who moved close to Hetrick and began bobbing his head up and down. He started circling Hetrick like a wolf, which startled the old man.
“Is… this a northman greeting?” Hetrick asked.
“I don’t think so…” Aefelred replied.
At last, Weaver took Hetrick’s hand and shook it. “I am Weaver. I give apologies for my kin’s behavior. He is simply very curious.”
Hetrick nodded then said, “Well, that’s fine. I suppose I don’t mind a few eccentrics from time to time. So, I heard from Aefelred that you could do magic? Is this true?”
Without even being told, Magus approached and stamped his golden staff. “Magic? Me.”
“You’re a mage?”
“Yes. Magic unit,” Magus replied as he shook his staff.
Hetrick wanted to say something, but an idea hit him instead. He ran his hand through his chin, then said, “Aefelred, let’s head over to the demonstration ground.”
“What? What’re you planning?” Aefelred asked.
“You said it’s hard to explain northman magic, aye? I’d love to see their magic in action,” Hetrick answered. Without waiting for them, Hetrick left Aefelred and drones behind.
“Ah… My apologies, but is it alright if you…” Aefelred turned to ask Weaver.
“You what? I am unable to discern your request if it is incomplete,” Weaver said.
“Show your magic?” Aefelred clarified.
“It is fine.”
“Alright, follow me.”
The demonstration ground was simply an empty open grass field, and there were few other mages experimenting with their own spells on the field. There was a man balancing a stack of stone from afar, while another one was somehow lifting a wooden plate without touching it. There weren’t any doubt that both of them were using magic.
“This looks like a good spot,” Hetrick declared when he reached an empty space far from the other mages. “For the demonstration, you can use any spell. Just make sure they’re not too destructive.”
‘Just use your basic lightning spell,’ Weaver ordered in hivespeak.
‘Affirmative,’ Magus replied then raised his staff.
Sparks of lightning started emanating from within Magus’ body before the sparks started flowing out of his metallic body. The excessive lightning energy converged towards his golden staff until a concentrated arc of purple lightning shot towards the sky.
At the same time, the stone pillar that was being stacked from a distance fell apart and the floating wooden plate fell towards the ground, hitting the man who was lifting the plate with magic right on his forehead.
“What in the name of Humanos?!” Hetrick shouted in shock before turning to Aefelred, who was pretty calm about the situation.
“I told you. It’s hard to explain,” Aefelred said with a shrug.