While I sit down in the pasture waiting the meeting I think about how the conversation should progress. The important part would be getting an agreement for lots of iron and probably coal as well, as when the experimentation with steam power comes lots of fuel would be needed. Fantasizing about a railroad is too unrealistic at the moment, but steam powered equipment for the mills and lumber-saws was possible. As for as the price of the materials being a goddess would surely allow me to demand whatever I wanted, though I wanted to at least find out how much it would cost and try to figure something out. While sitting in thought several people were wandering around a distance away and observing me. I paid them no mind.

It didn't take more than a half hour for Ferherlyn to reappear in the sky over the city, this time with another person flying behind him. If you're a mage with the magical ability to fly its only logical that you'd use it all the time to get everywhere faster. Especially if you're trying to arrange a meeting for a potentially impatient deity. The man with the mage was a man in his forties with dark brown hair, pale skin, and pinkish eyes. He was dressed in quite fancy clothing, probably very rich due to owning mines. Thanks to telescopic vision it was apparent this man was not very happy to be flown out here to meet with a goddess.

Ferherlyn brought both of them down for a gentle landing on the grassy earth in front of my legs. I was sitting cross legged with my arms crossed across my chest, though as they touched down I put my hands down on the ground next to my sides. They were about a hundred feet away from me from their perspective and I didn't move to respect their desire for distance.

"Great Goddess" Ferherlyn said bowing deeply. "I apologize for the wait. May I introduce to you the owner of Watching Rolling Rocks: Surgio Volo." He then stood back up and gestured to the man.

This Surgio looked both nervous and angry at once, something that raised a red flag. He wasn't a worshiper so I couldn't read into his thoughts without touching him and his anger meant that he felt protected enough by the mage that he could afford to act arrogant. At least that was my speculation and it was annoying if true.

Surgio cleared his throat and adjusted himself. "Greetings o goddess. I've been told you have... Business with me."

I leaned down so that I was looming over both of them, my face darkened as the sunlight hit the back of my head. My eyes glowed faintly. "Goddess Jenna."

The tone of my voice was that of instructions as I waited for him to address me again. It took a few moments but he jumped as he understood what I was doing.

"G-Goddess Jenna" Surgio repeated. This time he bowed.

Happy with his new reaction I sat back up straight with a small smile. The vibes from this guy were not good ones and just in case he wanted to get uppity I was preemptively putting him in his place.

Surgio turned to Ferherlyn and whispered something in his ear, something he didn't know I could hear.

"Is doing business with a goddess normal? Am I in danger?"

Ferherlyn answered back under his breath, probably also assuming I couldn't hear him.

"This goddess is strange, though I caution you not to test her."

Without waiting for them to finish their supposed private conversation I just began speaking, only giving a brief glance to the small crowd that was gathering near the city walls in the background.

"Well Mr Surgio. I've come because I'm in need of large quantities of iron and coal too. My servant Ferherlyn here has told me that you're the one to inquire to about such things. Is that right?"

If Ferherlyn had a reaction to me calling him my servant he didn't show it outwardly. His mind was also closed off to me, though he was sort of a worshiper and it could be something mage related that kept me from seeing his mind remotely.

Surgio on the other hand was an open book. His forehead had some nervous sweat on it as he fought to keep himself cool and collected.

"Ahem. Yes goddess Jenna. Thanks to my mines I'm the largest supplier of both of those things in this province. These aren't things that can be just given away so I'm hoping your not planning in demanding them of a vulnerable soul like myself."

He sounds like a rich person. Disgusting. Greed drips through the lines of his speech.

I bring my left hand up under my chin in a thinking pose. "I'm sure you're aware I could demand and take whatever the hell I want from you. At any time I might add."

A pause was left to allow my words to sink in before continuing.

"However I'm in the mood to be merciful. Lets start our conversation by you explaining to me the price for iron and coal. The smallest amounts and then a large amount, say a ton. Also how much it normally costs to transport shipments of ore, say fifty miles or so. Do the caravans usually have escorts and-" I stopped mid sentence noticing my rambling. "Anyway start with those please."

So the little man began explaining the particulars of his industry, with permission from me to be as detailed as he wished. As he spoke I brought out my book and took notes with it using my finger to arrange the page contents by dragging them around. The two men seemed taken aback at first at my actions but got used to it pretty quickly as they were reminded I was a goddess of knowledge.

It seemed gold, silver, and copper were the currency types in this world like one would expect of this tech level. A single piece of coal only costed a couple copper with a single chunk of iron costing at least twice as much. This was of course because the poor bought coal to warm their homes and small items made of iron were meant to be cheap. Silver and gold didn't get involved until one was creating thinks like armor or weapons, more than a few pounds of the stuff. Transportation of goods was something that drastically varied in price depending on where it was going. That was too be expected as some routes were more dangerous than others. Wolves and bandits were assumed, though it seemed more supernatural threats like enlarged animals or even monsters one would hear of in fairy tales existed in remote corners of the world.

"Is there anything else you wanted to know goddess Jenna?" Surgio asked. "Its... Well its strange that a goddess would ask for such things. What is it all for?"

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Ferherlyn interjected. "Yes great goddess, I've been curious to know as well. If it pleases you enlighten us with your purposes."

The excitement on my face was hard to hide and my smile was genuine. "Oh nothing. Just a machine I was planning on building." They would already be familiar with the term due to siege weaponry existing.

"A machine of metal?" Surgio said to Ferherlyn. "Its sure to be terrible if a being as evil as a goddess is creating it."

A frown appeared on my face and I leaned over again prompting Surgio to jump. He clearly forgot I could hear him.

"Evil?" I said in a calm voice that barely hid my anger. "You think I'm an evil goddess?"

Both men were taking a few steps backwards away from me at this point.

Surgio stammered and sputtered as he tried to backpedal his statement. "Well I- I mean-"

"Perhaps you're unaware of what an evil god looks like." I said as my eyes began glowing. "If I wanted to I could walk over there and stomp out that entire city. I could turn its people into my slaves that throw themselves into spiked pits for my amusement. If a goddess wanted to she could have children eating their parents and set the entire countryside ablaze in fire!"

My voice had rose in volume at the end there and the two men fell on their knees before me begging for forgiveness. With a quick glance I saw the crowd in the background was also starting to panic. I sat back up again and crossed my arms over my chest before continuing.

"Thankfully I'm not an evil goddess. In fact I might be the only non evil goddess this land has ever seen if what I've heard about the old ones is to be believed. Rest assured my power is absolute and my word is law if I so choose it. However; I'm a firm believer in free will. My goal as a goddess is to allow humans to follow their own path with only guidance from me for the direction they should take. My knowledge is to uplift mortals and make their lives better. Do you think this makes me weak?"

This speech was more for the crowd and Ferherlyn than it was for this greedy tycoon. If they thought me weak so be it, I'll show them how powerful my approach is. Of course the two men on the ground before me told me how I wasn't weak and that I was a kind and merciful goddess. Whether they believed it or were saying it because its what they thought I wished to hear didn't matter either.

"Well good" I replied curtly. "As a matter of fact I was planning on paying for the first shipment of both coal and iron I wanted."

"R-Really?" Surgio asked in disbelief.

I nodded. "Yes. If you speak to my sponsor Quarely Mettlelin he can arrange for payment. I'm sure you've heard of him."

Ferherlyn gave me a surprised look but wasn't in any position to argue. Yeah I was technically taking advantage of my status but I can get away with it this once. Besides I'm sure the lord of this province would be happy to help me out considering he too expected some tyrant when he first met me. This was just a little payback that would ultimately help out his people anyway as funding my science projects was a benefit to all.

"W-Well about that" Surgio said as he stood to his feet again. "I must admit there's been issues with the production of ore. Last month a monster took up residence in the largest mine: a serpent of horrific size and power. The men are afraid to go close to the mine and as long as it remains the quotas suffer."

I tapped my chin. This world was more fantasy than it first let on, at least if this story was to be believed. How giant this snake it was also too be determined. Maybe it was just a boa constrictor level, or maybe it could eat a horse whole. Either way it would be trivial for me to remove.

"Yeah I'll take care of your snake problem" I said flatly. "But in return I expect a heavy discount for Quarely's payment. Deal?"

Surgio bowed to me, this time earnestly. "Y-Yes of course goddess Jenna! If you were to take care of this for me it would help tremendously!"

"Mhm. I'll need an escort to the mines of course as I don't know where they are. Also I'll need a worshiper to come along with me."

Ferherlyn spoke up now. "I could go and fetch one of the company clerks who can lead you there."

I let out a giggle. "Oh that won't be necessary! I'll just take you!"

After saying that I leaned over and reached out for Surgio. He panicked and tried to run but there was no escaping me of course. It was simple to grasp him gently in my closed fist and lift him into the air. He squirmed around in my grip but he wasn't going anywhere and definitely wasn't being dropped.

"Calm down you big baby" I scolded him. "You're not going to die." Then after addressing him. "Now for my worshiper escort..."

This was only necessary because there weren't any worships out in these Slemen Mountains and that meant I'd hit one of those invisible walls out there. Not only would that prevent me from going to the mines but it'd also reveal the fact I have that limitation at all. Something I'd prefer to avoid anyone finding out about entirely. There were plenty of worshipers I could bring along for this, with Doovlin being the best place to pull someone from. Someone who wasn't integral to the operation of the village was ideal, perhaps one of the many children who were even now praying to me. Heubert! He would work.

With a thought I opened a portal to the location of the seven year old boy, his mother being close by. On my end people would see me reach my hand into the glowing magic circle and have it vanish into the air. On the other end both Heubert and his mother would see my huge hand appear out of nowhere from a glowing circle on the ground. It would feel around for a moment before grabbing the boy gently and lifting him into the air.

"I'm just borrowing Heubert for a short adventure. Don't worry I'll take good care of him! You don't mind do you Heubert?"

The boy who was currently suspended in the air grasped between my fingers seemed quite alright with the current situation. He waved to his mother in excitement. "Please mother? I'll finally go outside the village!"

His mother sounded concerned at first but due to my last interaction with them quickly relented. "Oh I'm not sure... But if its with you goddess. Please have him back within a day if possible."

I responded with a wave of my pinkie and Heubert smiled excitedly and waved to his mother.

"Bye mom! I'll see you soon and tell you about my adventure!"

With their farewells finished I simply pulled my hand back through the portal and allowed it to close. Gently I maneuvered my hand and released the boy from my fingers so he came to a rest in my palm. Then I brought over my other hand and deposited Surgio in the same hand.

It took a moment for Surgio to recover himself from his experience cooped up in my fist and then from the shock of being so high up in the air. Heubert for his part tried to calm the frantic man next to him.

"Hey there Mr! You don't need to worry that goddess would never drop us. My names Heubert what's yours?"

Surgio looked at the boy in confusion. "S-Surgio..." He then looked up at my face above indignant and with a glare. "Is this how a benevolent goddess acts? Pulling a little boy from who knows where and dragging him off into the wilderness?"

"Its called trust" I replied curtly back down at him. "You'd be surprised how comfortable one can feel around another when that exists between them. Not that you'd know what that's like."

I left that subtle dig settle in while I stood up using one hand to push myself as the other was occupied. My fingers curled up a little over them as if to say don't go too close to the edges. Ferherlyn was still on the ground by my feet and didn't immediately take to the air. He wasn't in danger of being stepped on so I didn't care what he did.

"Alright you two" I said to the pair in my hand. "Point the way and lets be going." I then addressed the mage on the ground. "It'll take less than a day I'm sure. Its up to you to finalize the first shipment to Doovlin village when the mines are cleared. You and Quarely can figure out the specifics for me yes?"

"Of course goddess." Ferherlyn said in a defeated tone and a bow.

Its always nice to leave the nitty gritty stuff to others who have more experience with it. Sitting around in a field discussing the particulars didn't sound like fun to me. Regardless I now had a worshiper and a guide to these mines and it was time to extricate this mysterious snake from the mines. It was afternoon now and from the sound of things it would take an hour or two for me to walk to where the mine was. No time to waste then! With a final wave to both Ferherlyn and the cityfolk I turned on my heels and stomped off in the direction of the Slemen Mountains.