"I am not hiding! I just brought the others here to be safe. Probably a couple of days."

Yui says "Do I need to prepare additional rooms?"

"No, the suite should be plenty."

Core says "Will you be visiting the city?"

"I hadn't planned on it. Ekard and Haku are too young for that."

Core says "Oh, alright."

"Why? Is something going on in the city?"

Core says "No, it has been quiet. I haven't seen any activity since the last time you were there."

"Does the quiet worry you?"

Core says "Yes, they don't go to sleep that fast."

"So, you think they are up to something?"

Core says "Possibly, I don't trust them."

"Maybe I should go down and poke around a bit."

Core says "If you have the time, I would appreciate it."

"I will keep it in mind. How has it been other than that?"

Yui says "Everything has been good here. Having guests has been pleasant, especially Rat. I like her!"

Core says "I like her too! She has tons of potential, and a good personality!"

Yui says "She has enough potential to possibly inherit the tower one day!"

"Yes, but only if that is the path she chooses. I don't want her to be forced into anything."

Yui says "I couldn't agree more. Only someone who truly loves magic can follow the path to its end."

Core says "It is too soon to tell, give her a few years."

"She has a good family now, we can give her time. Anything else going on?"

Yui says "Negative. Is there anything you need?"

"Well, there are a couple of things, but it isn't time sensitive."

Yui says "Go ahead and tell me anyway."

"Well, first off at some point I need to read through everything you have on blacksmithing, forging magical weapons, and reforging magical weapons."

Yui says "The first two I can help with, but there is nothing in the library about reforging. All reforging experiments ended in explosive failures."

"Do you have the records of those experiments?"

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

Yui says "Affirmative!"

"Did any of them involve Armatite?"

Yui says "Checking....No. No Armatite was involved."

"Then I am going to hope that they failed due to weak materials."

Core says "What are you thinking of reforging?"

"I want to try and reforge Blitz."

Yui says "What for? Blitz is already a top class weapon!"

"I want to reclaim the piece of my soul that is inside Blitz."

Yui says "Oh, I guess that makes sense. But it is very dangerous to try and reforge something. None of the empire's mages ever succeeded."

Core says "My people were able to reforge weapons, but they were enchanted using elven magic. The difference in the magic used may make our knowledge of reforging useless."

"Well, since it seems to be the only knowledge there is, I'd like to take a look at it. At worst, I can maybe get some hints from it."

Core says "I don't mind, but you will have to visit the city library. I don't have all the information in my memory."

"That should be fine, I can do that when I go see what the spiders are up to."

Yui says "What else do you need?"

"I was trying to think of an easy way for my army to carry supplies, so I thought of asking if you had backpacks like mine."

Yui says "I don't have backpacks, most of the mages took them when they left the last time. However, I do have wagons."

"Wagons? What kind of wagons?"

Yui says "Wagons with built in magical storage chests. So don't try putting them in your pouch!"

"Putting a dimensional item inside another dimensional item makes them go boom, right?"

Yui says "Going boom is the best possible outcome. Would you like to see the wagons?"

"Sure!"

Instead of leading me somewhere I am surprised to see several sprites come into the room. Each one is carrying what looks like a toy wagon, they are each less than a foot long. The only thing that convinces me they aren't toys is the level of detail on them.

"They shrink?"

Yui says "Yes. It makes it much easier to carry them over rough terrain."

"Will they still shrink even if the chests are full?"

Yui says "Yes, otherwise it would be useless."

"How much can they hold?"

Yui says "Each wagon has six chests, each chest holds one ton."

"Six tons? That is a lot of storage space!"

Yui says "Yes, it is decent. Would these be useful to you?"

"Yeah! I will take two of them if you don't mind?"

Yui says "Not at all. They are just collecting dust here."

"Hey, I don't suppose you have a carriage like this?"

Yui says "Well, I have the Archmage's carriage, but it doesn't have storage chests. What are you looking for?"

"I was thinking that since I keep collecting people it might be necessary to get a carriage that Lizzy can pull. That way I can travel with everyone comfortably."

Yui says "In that case the carriage is probably perfect. There is only one problem, it is designed to be pulled by four horses, not a giant lizard."

"I'm guessing it is heavily enchanted and cannot be modified?"

Yui says "Correct."

"Maybe I can get Walter to make a saddle that will work with it. That is if you don't mind me taking it?"

Yui says "Go ahead."

The sprites leave two of the wagons on the table and take the rest with them when they leave. Then a single sprite returns carrying the carriage, which looks like a miniature royal carriage. It is very detailed and beautiful, but I am worried that it is too ornate.

Yui says "Don't worry, Ash, the decorations can be altered. However, it will take someone with mana to bond with it and become the controller."

"That's fine, I will find someone."

Kechara says "Dad, I suggest Myria."

"Myria? Why Myria?"

Kechara says "Because she needs something to do and she wants to stay by your side!"

"You think she would be happy being in charge of the carriage?"

Kechara says "Definitely!"

"Okay, I will consider it."

Yui says "That won't work. Myria is a beastwoman, she doesn't have mana."

"Oh, right! I forgot about that! I guess it will have to be someone else."

Just then Ekard comes running into the room to tell me that he is hungry. As soon as he calls me mama I hear Kechara and Asuna start giggling. The others arrive soon after, although they come in more slowly.

Ekard says "Mama, I'm hungry!"

Kechara says "Mama, I'm hungry too!"

Asuna says "Mama, food!"

"You two!"

Of course, Myria and Sarah are laughing out loud at watching my kids tease me. I can even hear Yui and Core giggling, although they are trying to keep quiet. Luckily, before Ekard can make it worse, sprites come in carrying trays full of food.