Silvery liquid was dripping out of a set of a tube, one slow drop at a time. The tube was connected to an entire complex of machinery that looked entirely out of place in the world of Orb, and Gaius couldn’t help but poke curiously at it every five minutes.

“How many times have I told you NOT to touch the Arcanum?” Nexus, who was operating the machine, pressed a button particularly hard, and another silver-plated weapon was ferried into its depths.

“It’s too out of place for me not to touch it,” said Gaius. “And besides, can you change the name of this thing? I cannot accept a machine of steel being called the Arcanum.”

“Not my call, Master Gaius.” The sculpture lolled its head, an action that was probably used in lieu of rolling its unmovable eyes. “You too can’t rename someone else’s book without owning the rights to it, yeah? It’s the same logic.”

“Bah.”

“Anyway,” said the artificial intelligence, “we have almost enough true silver to make an unbreakable weapon for you. Since it’s the first of its kind, I’m going to imbue some very powerful abilities into it, maybe turn it into a divine weapon or something.”

“Unbreakable silver weapons sound like bullcrap to me, though. Where I come from, silver weapons are on a level of fragility that common weapons cannot hope to match,” replied the boy. “And what are you going to enchant that weapon with anyway?”

“‘True’ silver,” said Nexus. “Not the piss-poor ostentatious metal used to create jewellery. Do you think the latter would pose any harm to snowpyres? I’m sorry, but it just doesn’t work that way. As for how I’d modify it…I’ll tell you when you actually need to use it.”

“Fine, be that way. But to have a machine dedicated to stripping and concentrating the coat of metal around these weapons?” Gaius shook his head. “That’s…awfully specific.”

“One of the previous Masters of the Library wanted to do this, though. Although his target was gold-plated weapons,” said the artificial intelligence.

“I don’t think even Earth has such a machine though, dedicated to removing a layer of coating.”

“Or maybe it does, and you, as an assassin, would obviously know nothing of it.” Nexus pushed the button again, and a particularly shiny greatsword slid into the machine, which promptly shook. More drops of silver liquid dripped out of the tube, and into a red-hot canister. “Hmm. I suppose we just need a few more greatswords.”

“Right, where does the weapon go after it’s uncoated?” asked Gaius.

“Melted down and concentrated through some arcane principles,” replied the artificial intelligence. “The resulting artefacts made from such refined and concentrated iron would result in an elevated level of quality. Probably won’t make much of a difference to you, though.”

“Right.” Gaius eyed the machine, and said, “I’m going to look at the Map of Stars instead. What’s the point of me being here in the first place?”

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“Well, you should know more about your inheritance, at least,” replied the artificial intelligence. “Now that you do, go do whatever you like. Maybe check on Isabelle; there’s a small window dedicated to her.”

“I’ll do just that, then.” The boy got up, and headed for the Map Room.

The sounds of the Arcanum operating were still audible once he was there, although this had less to do with how loud it was and more to do with its low pitch. It sounded like an earthquake mimic machine, something that would probably strike fear into the unaware.

“Isabelle, Isabelle, Isabelle…” Gaius looked through each of the screens, and found her a minute later.

The Map of Stars offered a bird’s eye view of their current target, which meant that any time she was in a house or under shelter, the screen would just be focused on whatever building she was in now. Gaius, however, knew that a tag had been placed on her, one designed to bring her back to the Library if she was about to receive critical injury.

As for how it worked, Nexus had replied with a string of words that had made sense individually, but didn’t do anything where placed together. Knowing it, Nexus probably was unable to simplify the words any further, which just made the boy feel more inferior every time he thought about it.

Isabelle was talking to a whole bunch of people in what looked like a town square. Even from above, he could see her speaking and gesticulating frantically, as though as she was desperate.

Gaius frowned. Could it be that her family’s only on death row, and not executed yet? Judging from the looks of it, that might very well be the case!

He got up and ran towards the Arcanum again.

“What’s wrong, Master Gaius?”

“I’m heading out,” he replied. “Isabelle’s family might not be dead after all, and she might need my help.”

Nexus was silent for a moment, and the sculpture looked at the white-hot canister. “I’ll feel safer if you had that weapon with you, but it seems urgent enough that you shouldn’t wait for it to be completed.”

“Plans and life just don’t mix, after a while,” Gaius said quietly. “Pass me the details of her location, and I’ll be going.”

“No need,” replied the artificial intelligence. It glanced at Gaius, and said, “Open.”

A screen opened up in the boy’s vision.

“This…”

“It’s a map of the Southern Continent. The blue dot’s you, but you can’t see it yet, while the red dot’s Isabelle. You should be able to make your way there like this,” Nexus said. “Now go. She’ll probably need your help, after all.”

Gaius looked at the artificial intelligence, nodded once in thanks, and let the spatial knot he’d tied near the passageway leading to the Intersection pull him over. Without any hesitation, he entered the cave and dived into the azure rift. Pain enveloped his body, but the boy didn’t show it on his face as he appeared at the top of the mountain.

“Your Excellency.” Tetsu greeted him as Gaius soundlessly descended from the skies.

Gaius nodded back. “I’ll be transiting over to Orb. Any changes in Desin I should take note of?”

“Not at the moment, milord. We are, however, hosting some dignitaries from the Republic of Francois,” replied Tetsu.

“The what?”

“It’s a new nation, formed by the dissidents of the South,” Tetsu replied. “But if you’re just transiting, you probably won’t come into contact with them.”

“Very much so.” Gaius felt his face, and belatedly realised that he’d worn the Auspices of Concealment for a very long time. “You can tell me about this new republic when I return. I have…someone to help out.”

Guided by Tetsu, Gaius made his way over to the passageway between the Intersection and Orb, before stepping into it. The sounds of chatter and life hit him the moment he crossed over.

He nodded at the guards, who saluted back, and then left what probably was a guard tower.

It was time to help someone.