007: MACHINE MAKERS
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A year went by faster than I thought it would. Hemlock made me his designer. Clients would meet me to discuss a problem they were having, I’d take notes and create an initial design. Hemlock would then inspect the design and he’d quote a price. Clients would then receive the quote and pay half of the fee upfront as an advance payment.
Hemlock would then forge the component or item from my design, and I’d make the delivery and collect the payment. My daily meetings and deliveries required me to travel to the town frequently, and I soon made a lot of friends. Many of my clients would offer me lunch or tea whenever I made my rounds, so that was always a bonus.
If I were dealing with a particularly difficult client, Hemlock would send Finn with me for assistance. After the pocket knife incident, Hemlock made Finn one of the smiths and trained him to do some of the smithing work. The constant hammering, moving heavy objects, and other strenuous tasks helped him put on a lot of muscle. He was Jacked. Not quite Sam Sulek levels of Jacked, but more Kumail Nanjiani in The Eternals jacked. Regardless, given how tall he was, most customers dared not to pick a fight. Of Course, Finn wasn’t the type of guy to beat someone up, but his mean face was on point.
The year that passed was fairly uneventful. We had a cold winter, followed by a lovely spring, then summer, autumn, and soon, it was Winter (it was now January).
I’d returned after my morning round of deliveries to find the forge empty except for Hemlock who was forge-welding a set of blunt hooks onto an iron strip. “Is that the key holder for the Sleeping Goblin?”
“Yes, that be it.”
“Say, Hemlock. Have you ever thought of becoming a Machine maker?”
“Ne’er.”
“Really? You have the craftsmanship to become one.”
“Craftsmen don’t go making Machines. We’re not dat smart.”
“Really?”
“Ya ‘ave potential. Ya just be a wee bit small.”
“I like to think that I’m fun-sized.”
Hemlock chuckled and continued with his work. I sat back down at my desk and started to work on the design I’d started the night before, it wasn’t for a client, but a concept for a bicycle. The materials that made the bicycle work were nearly impossible to come by.
To make a bicycle frame, I’d have to use a 6061 aluminium alloy. This alloy was made using Aluminium, Magnesium, and Silicon, but it also contains small amounts of iron, copper, manganese, chromium, zinc, and titanium. The issues started with the main metal, Aluminium.
To make Aluminium, I’d have to first source Alumina. Alumina or Aluminium Oxide is found in Bauxite Ore, Bauxite is an ore composed of various other oxides mixed with impurities; You’d find large deposits of Bauxite in countries like Australia. Then you’d process the Bauxite and extract the Alumina.
Now even if I were to source Alumina, I’d have to melt it down and use electrolysis on it to get Aluminium. Before I could even think about doing the electrolysis part of the procedure, I’d have to melt the damn thing, which was easier said than done, given Alumina’s melting point of 2000℃.
Forges of this period couldn’t even melt Iron. So then how were Iron ingots made? You may ask. Simple, the “Iron” ingots we used were just Iron ores, shaped into them.
Just thinking about the process of how I’d obtain Aluminium was exciting. If I were able to accomplish this, the technological level of Eshore would skyrocket.
I continued sketching a concept for my bicycle when a familiar voice interrupted me.
“Looks like someone’s having fun,” it was Amelie.
“The hell are you doing here!?” I exclaimed, nearly jumping from my chair.
“Hell?” Amelie asked, frowning at me. “Master Hemlock, are you a bad influence on Alber?”
“Who’s to say Missy?” he said in a very dismissive tone.
“Anyway. Why are you here Amelie?”
“The Count has returned, and is requesting your presence.”
“Of Course he is. Man left home for 9 months and now randomly wants to see me.”
“Master Hemlock, would it be alright for me to disappear for a few days? Will you be okay?”
“Quit ya yappin’ and get ya arse back home. Ya, brother told me a month ago.”
“WHY AM I THE ONLY ONE OUT OF THE LOOP?” I exclaimed.
Both Amelie and Hemlock shrugged.
“Fine. I’ll go grab my things.” I said getting up to leave.
Amelie followed me to my shed. At this point it was fairly cozy, I bribed Finn with Amelie’s preserved apples and had him help me install a stone flooring. I also had a window installed along with a pair of curtains. The hammock was replaced with an actual bed and an actual mattress I managed to convince Konrad to lend me. I had a small desk and an oil lamp that let me work at night.
I also had Finn build me a trunk, which I retrofitted with a set of removable wheels, allowing me to move when needed. I was slowly applying convenient technologies from my world to this one, and enjoying the fruits of my labour.
“Wow, that’s pretty convenient,” Amelie said as she dragged my trunk out of the shed and towards the carriage. “Maybe you could build me one of these.”
“I’d love it,” I said as I helped load the trunk into the carriage.
“It’s like you're a machine maker already,” Amelie said with excitement. “So what’s Master Hemlock been making you design?”
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I gave Amelie a short list of the stuff I’d designed over the past month. She listened with a smile on her face.
“Well you certainly have been busy haven’t you?” Amelie reached her hand out and gave me a head pat. Normally I’d be against this, but given how I knew Amelie, I let it slide and begrudgingly took it.
“Although I do want to be a machine maker,” I said. “The Gods gave us a wonderful world, it would be a shame to not improve it”
“You know, sometimes you talk like an old man.”
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The manor was crowded when we arrived. This was one of my father’s patented “Innovation Parties”. Every so often, he’d send out invites to other rich folk, and he; 'd host them for a banquet of sorts. The primary goal of these parties was to gather the decision-makers involved in politics and trade.
This was your typical rich person move. I’d attended quite a few of these when I was working on raising funds for my research into Exoskeletons. This was the same project that killed me back on Earth, but we don’t talk about that.
Amelie had laid out a fancy suit that she claimed my father had made for me. How he got my measurements god knows, but it fit me alight. Except for the shoulders of the suit jack being a bit too… Angular.
I showed off my outfit to Amelie who couldn’t help but laugh. “By the gods. You’re shaped like a wooden crate, Alber!” Amelie’s laughing turned into a near-hysterical fit. I swore that I could almost see her turn blue.
“I’m getting rid of the Jacket,” I said, taking it off and walking over to my wardrobe to find some form of accessory to make my white shirt not seem all that plain. I eventually found a pin with the symbol of a sun on it.
Amelie helped me up and she called me handsome. I knew that I was, but coming from her, made me blush. It's that same feeling you’re supposed to get when your mom calls you the most handsome boy on the planet. Once I was ready to head to the ballroom, Amelie led the way. She too had taken the time to change into an elegant, yet simple red dress. She was wearing a necklace that I hadn’t seen her wear before and her hair was done up in a neat bun. She stood out but had deliberately chosen to keep her beauty lowkey. I felt bad for her having to downplay her looks.
If Amelie weren’t born a commoner, she could’ve easily snagged herself the son of a noble.
The halls were well-lit, the normal red and gold patterned runners were replaced with ones that were deep blue and had silver patterned accents. A lot of the hallway light covers were replaced with new, more “in fashion” ones. All the vases had fresh flowers, small branches of leaves, and other bits creating a set of lovely arrangements. One final detail that helped to change the atmosphere of the whole manor was Pinecones.
A whole bunch of freshly popped pine cones were placed throughout the manor, in bowls on tables, hung in baskets just out of sight, in the fireplaces. They were everywhere. And frankly, it made the air feel crisp and clean. If I could give my father any credit, it was that he knew how to throw a party.
The ballroom was packed, with many people whom I’d never met before mingling with each other. In the centre of the dance floor, which was aligned with the entrance of the hall, was a group of musicians playing some soft classical music.
The kitchen staff had laid out a spread of finger foods along the right-hand side of the room, guests could simply walk up, grab a plate, and serve themselves. Several circular tables were placed right behind the dance floor. My family’s designated table was very visible, with the table having a blue tablecloth with gold accents. The rest of the tables had white tablecloths on them.
The first people to notice me enter the ballroom were Elara and Konrad who were having a conversation with each other. The two of them were wearing clothes that matched the color scheme, blue with gold accents.
“Alber! Kiddo!” Konrad said as he trotted over with a certain spring in step. “Amelie,” he said as he bowed to greet her. “You look… Stunning.”
And Amelie immediately started going red.
“Is that the necklace I gave you for your birthday?” Konrad asked as he reached over and held the small symbol of the sun that was attached to the thin gold chain of the necklace. “I’m happy to see that you like it,” Konrad said, his ears going red.
Elara, seeming to notice how Konrad and Amelie had gotten chummy, stepped in. “Have you met Father yet?” She asked me.
“Not yet. Should I?”
“It’s best you do,” Elara turned to Amelie, “Amelie, would you be a dear and take Alber to meet my Father? He should be in his study.”
Amelie nodded her head and left the room, I followed her.
“Looks like someone’s been busy,” I said, nudging Amelie with my elbow.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, I think you do.”
“No.Not at all.”
“Konrad. You’re wearing your birthday present.”
“It’s perfectly normal for friends to give each other jewellery for their birthdays.”
“It is. But not all friends are into each other.”
Amelie remained the same shade of red she was. I wasn't going to let her regain her composure, it was much more fun this way.
My father’s study was on the second floor of the manor, it gave him an excellent view of the courtyard and made for an amazing spot to read. The walls were adorned with shelves that were adorned with various ornaments, books and bottles of wine.
My father was seated in an armchair which was drinking what looked like a glass of whiskey.
“Alberich. I’m glad to see you.” My father said, placing his glass on the small table at his side. “Your brother has kept me updated on your work with old Hemlock. He’s a brilliant blacksmith.” My father turned the guest seated beside him in a similarly fashioned armchair. The man with a very square jaw. His hair was a dark shade of orange and he had a full beard that made him seem very imposing. He seemed to be in his early 50s “This is Count Sonnenberg von Solaris of Lakeshore”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” I said to Count Sonnenberg. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but is Lakeshore not renowned for their brilliant Machine Makers?”
“Indeed it is. You know your stuff don’t you?” Count Sonnenberg replied.
“I like to keep myself informed,” I said, looking from the Count to my father.
“How may I help you father? You called for me.”
“Yes, I was getting an update on your studies from your sister. It seems that you’ve started some… alternate studies.”
“Yes. I’ve spent the better part of last year under Master Hemlock.”
Count Sonnenberg raised an eyebrow, “Master Hemlock?”
“I’ve been drafting most of his designs this past year.”
The count turned to my father, “You have a fine young man here. Don’t let him waste his talents.”
My father nodded and turned to me “That will be all Alberich. You may enjoy the festivities.”
“Very well Father.” I turned to the the count, “I hope to join the ranks of the Machine Makers one day, I hope that I can count on your support when the day comes.”
The count smiled and nodded. He seemed to be pleased with my request.
I found Amelie waiting for me at the door, she seemed to be concerned. “You don’t look too good. Are you catching a fever?” I asked, walking ahead of her.
“You’ve grown up so fast…” Amelie said, her tone of voice was barely above that of a whisper. “Now you want to become a machine maker…”
“Isn’t it cool?”
“It is. But I don’t want you to go down that path.” Amelie said, stopping dead in her tracks.
“Why not?” I asked, feeling a sense of annoyance coming upon me.
“I don’t want you to leave me.”
“That’s not for you to decide is it?”
“You’re only 8 Alber. You spent a year in a dangerous smithy. You missed so many birthdays, so many days out, so many days to be a child.” Amelie’s voice had an incredibly strange tone to it. It wasn’t quite anger, and it wasn’t sadness either. This was something in between.
“These are my choices to make Amelie. If I don’t make something of myself I’d be nothing but a waste of air.”
“IT’S LIKE YOU’RE NOT THE SAME BABY I HELD ALL THOSE YEARS AGO,” Amelie shouted. Thankfully there was nobody in the hallway to hear us.
“Woah, calm down.”
“I CAN’T STAY CALM! YOU ACT MORE LIKE AN ADULT WHO’S SQUANDERED HIS CHANCE AT A GOOD LIFE THAN A CHILD. YOU HAVEN’T HAD THAT INNOCENT LOOK IN YOUR EYES FOR THE LONGEST TIME. ARE YOU MY ALBER? ARE YOU MY YOUNG MASTER?” Amelie fell to her knees. She held her face in her hands and sobbed.
“Amelie. Calm down. Please.” Why was I getting worked up by her words?
“Please. Tell me that you won’t leave me behind.” Amelie said, managing to get a coherent string of words out while sobbing.
Not knowing what to do, I knelt and held her in my arms. How did she see me? Did she see Alberich von Eisenwerk, or did she see a stranger wearing the skin of her beloved young master?
Who was I? Alberich or Kenji?