YEAR: 1724. OCTOBER 9TH. LOCATION: OUTSKIRT OF THE CAPITAL CITY OF SHIENA KINGDOM.

After departing from Fort Kespare with 3,000 cavalry troops, we made our way toward the capital of the Shiena Kingdom, Heartspire.

The city was vast, though not in the way I had seen in my previous life. Towering walls encircled the central parts of the city, while much of the outer sections were protected by lower, less imposing barriers.

Our arrival wasn’t smooth. The 8th Corps, stationed in the capital, hadn’t been informed of our approach. It took nearly an hour just to clear up the confusion before we could proceed.

Apparently, it would take some time before we received the MPA armor, so most of my unit would be resting in the 8th Corps' quarters, while a few of my soldiers stayed with me.

We were led to a research facility on the outskirts of the city. As we approached, we were greeted by someone I could only describe as a “mad scientist.” His hair was wild, white but not silver like mine, and his eyes twitched occasionally beneath his thick glasses. He wore a rumpled lab coat and had the unmistakable gleam of insanity in his gaze. One I’d grown accustomed to seeing in certain corners of the military.

“So, you’re Major Aria,” he said, his voice sharp with an edge of excitement. “I’m Dr. Felix Mareth, head of the 5th Research Division.”

“Major Aria of the 9th Corps,” I replied, snapping a salute. The soldiers behind me followed suit.

“You can stop acting like that. I know that you prefer to be easy going, and honestly, I prefer that way.”

“Then why did you call me?” I asked, my eyes narrowed.

I’d already figured he wanted something from me. There was no other reason why the head of a research team would go out of his way to meet with an officer. And from the looks of him, he seemed like the type who preferred to be left alone and unbothered.

“You’re a sharp one.” Dr. Felix didn’t look surprised, instead, he grinned. “I want you to take a look at the new MPA 62 and tell me what you think of it, and if possible, make suggestions.”

“Why?”

“Well, because you’re the first one ever to try to make me improve.” Dr. Felix laughed, “Nobody had any complaints even if the person who wore the armor turned out dead and you’re the first one. So, I want you.”

“Fine. You will stay here.” I ordered at the soldiers before following Dr. Felix.

Dr. Felix led me into the heart of the research facility, a labyrinth of gleaming machinery, half-built prototypes, and the unmistakable hum of mana. In the center of it all stood the MPA 62, sleek, more polished than the previous version, but still clunky in its own way.

“Here it is,” Felix said proudly. “What do you think?”

I circled the armor, eyeing it from head to toe. It had a more streamlined design than the last model, but it was still too bulky for my taste. When I wore the previous one in combat, it felt more like being trapped in a heavy shell than wearing armor. I could feel my mind already churning with ideas.

“I’ll test it,” I said, without hesitation.

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"Excellent." Felix handed me a mana crystal. “It’s already synced to you. Step inside the suit, and I’ll activate the mana conduits.”

I climbed into the armor, feeling the familiar hum of mana thrumming through. The armor locked in place around me as the mana flowed into the enchantments. Strength surged through my limbs, the familiar enhancement of agility kicking in. It felt powerful, but there was still something off.

Felix watched me. "How does it feel?"

“Better,” I admitted. “But it’s still too heavy. And it’s… awkward.”

I moved my arms, testing the flexibility. As expected, the bulk of the armor restricted some of the natural flow of movement. I wasn’t about to mince words. "The problem is that it's still more of a suit of armor than a body suit."

Felix tilted his head, intrigued. “Go on.”

“It could be sleeker,” I said, stepping out of the armor. “More fitted. Almost like a second skin, instead of something you strap on. You’d reduce the resistance on the joints, make it easier to maneuver in close quarters."

Felix nodded, scratching his chin. "Interesting. But making it easier to move in would be nearly impossible with our current methods. We've tried several times to lighten the armor and improve mobility, but every time we did, the enchantments either weakened or stopped working altogether."

"Not necessarily," I said, a small smirk creeping onto my face. "We can lighten it. I have a formula."

"A formula?"

“Yeah. I know it might sound crazy, but it’s based on some knowledge I have from... back home.” I hesitated for a second, then pulled a small, crumpled piece of parchment from my pocket. It was something I had scribbled down. It basically contained my attempt to combine what I knew about science from Earth with the principles of this world.

Felix took the parchment, his eyes scanning the symbols and equations I’d written.

“This...” he said, his voice a mix of awe and skepticism. “Where did you get this?”

“I pieced it together from what I know. We could use a combination of lighter alloys and mana-infused polymers. It would reduce the weight by a good 50% without sacrificing protection. But that’s not all.” I gestured toward the boots of the MPA 62. “What if we added small, retractable wheels to the sides of the boots? Almost like roller skates, but on the outer edges. They could help with speed, quick bursts across the battlefield when you need to close a gap or retreat fast.”

Felix blinked, taken aback. “Wheels... on the boots?”

“Yeah. The wheels would be magically retractable. You only deploy them when you need to, and they’d be powered by the same mana conduits that enhance strength and agility. You wouldn’t use them for everyday movement, but in certain situations, like in a sprint or retreat, they could provide a speed boost without compromising your footing."

I could see the gears turning in Felix’s head as he processed it all. The madness in his eyes flared, but in a good way. “That… that could work. You’re talking about strategic bursts of movement.”

“Exactly. And if we make the armor more body-suit-like, with flexible joints and lighter material, soldiers could move with greater speed and precision. It wouldn’t just be about brute force anymore, it’d be about finesse.”

Felix’s grin spread wide across his face. “You’re full of surprises, Major Aria.”

I shrugged. “I don’t like being weighed down, especially when I’m fighting. I know the MPA 62 can be improved, but the key is balancing power and mobility.”

Felix glanced down at the formula again, then back at me. “I’ll take this to the rest of the team. It might take some time, but... I think you’re onto something. The wheels, the lighter frame... it could be revolutionary.”

“Well, let's hope it’s not another ‘field test,’” I said dryly, though I couldn’t help but smile a little. The idea of speeding across a battlefield in a sleek suit of armor with mana-powered roller skates almost sounded… fun.

Felix chuckled. “I’ll make sure it’s more than just a test. When you take the new model into battle, you’ll know it’s the best we can offer.”

I gave a nod. “Good. Because if I’m going to wear this thing again, it better feel less like armor and more like an extension of myself.”

As I left the facility, I couldn’t help but feel a spark of excitement. The MPA 62 still had a long way to go, but if the upgrades worked, it could change everything on the battlefield. Not just for me, but for the future.

“Wait a minute.” I said, suddenly stopping. “Where am I supposed to receive MPA 62? That is supposed to be today, right?”