It’s been almost half a year since the blood incident and I’ve learned a little bit more about the magic instinct. For example, it works with any animal’s blood and even the fluids of some insects (I don’t know if it’s called blood too). But it has to be recently extracted. It also works on the fluids of plants, but it’s about only half as efficient.

It also works similarly to other more normal magic instincts in that I can use telekinesis on blood (hemokinesis?) very easily now, too bad it’s not much more effective than water, or rather, due to the viscosity, it can be actually worse at times.

Oh well, can’t win them all, at least the mutation enhanced the royal bloodline’s characteristics as well. Mana sense and control are truly invaluable, any little extra can help.

Maybe I can use this to improve blood transfusion? Magic can deal with blood loss (of course it can, it can even grow limbs), but who knows when the knowledge would be helpful. I think AB+ can donate to everyone and O- can receive from everyone, or is it the other way around?

Oh, whatever. Who knows how mana affects the blood types anyways?

Since then, the number of handicapped coming here started trickling down until it stabilized to around ten people every week or so. I’m suspicious of people calling me saint behind my back, but at least they know that I deny the title.

Healing people became a weekly chore to me, like going hunting with Gray, who is behaving exceptionally well. I think he’s not even wishing to eat the horses anymore, and I agree perfectly, horses just don’t taste that great..

When it comes to sword training, it’s become a little bit more fun since I can spar now, but it’s a really subdued and slow spar. Why is mom being so careful? I’m pretty sure when using magic I could take a pistol bullet to the head with only a bruise to show for it, even if she hits my eyes I can just heal it with magic.

“We aren’t going slowly merely for safety. This initial training is to make you get used to the postures and movements so that you can perform them smoothly and instinctively.”

Well, you’re the expert.

But it’s in the airplane department that I have progressed the most. I experimented not only with the ‘flaps’ that would turn the plane but also with the whole design of the wings, propeller and even the ‘chassis’ itself.

I have no idea if those are the right terms for things, but since I’m technically inventing the airplane, whatever I call it becomes the right terms... I am the law!

Since I have no idea how to make a clock aside from something to do with springs and cogs, the only method for measuring speed is to use a sand timer for around five minutes and measure how far the plane can go from the starting point.

Just like with combat, the most efficient way to do things is to combine mechanical and magical methods. Since I don’t need (have) an engine and used enchantments to compensate for some stuff, the airplane ended up much lighter than a normal one would be.

The amount of wood I used in experiments would be staggering if there wasn’t so much forest nearby. Deforestation? No way, we call it reclaiming land here.

The controls are mostly working. Honestly, there’s probably some stuff I’m missing but whatever, I’m no expert in this stuff. As long as it can takeoff with minimal space, fly for long distances and lengths of time without consuming much mana and land in not so flat land or mostly still waters, it’s good enough.

The queen has already sent me multiple ‘reminders’ of going to the capital to get my reward, although she didn’t tell me what that reward is. I want to get those books from the cultist- oh right, rogue sorcerers. Cultists just sounds better.

If she tries to give me work disguised as a reward, honestly, I will strongly consider starting a revolution. If I go with something democratic like ‘the people should be the ones to rule’ I doubt I would get called out for being a Chevalier… Oh, dang, my grudge against royalty is acting up again, I blame the princess for that.

I answered that I was busy following a sudden inspiration and that I would head there soon (that was four months ago), it’s technically true if you count me being born with knowledge of modern earth as a sudden inspiration.

“So I’m going to the capital after I do a longer test on the airplane prototype.” I explain to my family over dinner.

“You’re going on that flying deathtrap?” Asks mom.

“Yes- No! Prototype number 174 is not a deathtrap! It’s perfectly stable and efficient!” How rude.

“What happened to the other hundred and seventy three?” Asks dad.

“They weren’t perfectly stable and efficient.” RIP.

“That plane doesn’t look that big, are you not bringing Gray?” Asks mom. The wolf in question recognizes his name and looks up from the meat he was eating.

“I think he’s used to you guys already, didn’t he let you ride him a while ago? I was thinking of leaving him here since he’s so heavy.” He almost weighs as much as the plane itself.

“You saw that?” Asks mom with a cramped face. I nod. Yes, mother, I saw you grinning like a little girl while he was running around with you on his back.

“... I’m coming too.” Says Athena out of nowhere.

“What? The plane only has one seat though.”

“Then make a new one with two seats, or you can go on my lap.” Ugh, no way, that sounds emasculating. You wouldn’t say it like that if you knew how hard it was to make n.174.

“Why do you want to come with me anyways?” Is she bored?

“You’re seven and a half years old Lance, you shouldn’t travel without an adult nearby.” Oh right, 15 years old is considered an adult here, so Athena is already a grown up.

“Bu-” “No buts, the last time we left you to your own devices you were used in a sacrificial ritual and got stuck in monster territory.” I actually can’t argue with that.

“Fine, but you’ll have to learn how to pilot, the emergency protocols, how to do chores-”

“Wait! Why do I need to learn chores?!” I give her an evil smile, she fell right into my trap.

“Why, of course you need to do chores. No servants will be coming you know? You are fine since you have plenty of mana, but a servant would be dead weight on the skies.” This is not quite the truth, but is pretty close to it.

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Hearing that her face sours and she bites her lip. Hahaha! Not so determined now, are you, Athena?! That’s what you get for trying to babysit me! Lance!

“Lance, stop being a brat and do your sister’s chores. You use magic to do yours anyways.” Says dad. How could you?! Now Athena has a smug look on her face! I’ll remember this!

~~

I had to delay the departure to design and test the two seater, then delay even more to teach Athena how to use the pseudo-parachute harness (just a bunch of straps enchanted with weaken fall) and how to pilot… and building another plane when she crashed the one we were going to use…

“How was I supposed to know that pulling back makes it spin?!”

“Because I said so?! And everything makes it spin if you go too far, did you forget everything I said?”

“No!... It’s just that… actually doing it is very different from thinking about doing it...” Well, I guess she has a point.

I sigh. “Fine, next time I’ll be on your lap to help you.” The airplane has two seats, one in front of the other, not side by side, that would make the plane too wide unless I did some considerable changes to the rest of the design.

On the trip I’ll be taking what’s left of the monster honey as a gift and also the huge crystal in case I’m spending a long time there, I’m thinking of making it into some kind of staff-like weapon or, if I can make something similar to a plate with it, a visor for a helmet with a heads up display of some kind, but I’d have to try it out with glass first… Oh dang, I’m getting distracted.

I’m taking food and water of course, I plan on taking turns with Athena so that we can spend most of our time flying while only taking breaks for hygiene and rest in general, the plane is efficient enough for that if we don’t go at max speed all the time.

Talking about max speed, I’m pretty sure it goes around 200 km/h, not sure since I don’t know how to make a velocimeter and the measure method I use isn’t very precise. But the travel speed we will be going most of the time is around 170 km/h, I think that’s pretty good for the first airplane made with only vague ideas about what an ‘aileron’ is.

In this world, ailerons shall be called ‘wing flaps’.

And the first airplane shall be called ‘The Pilgrim Mk.1’,

~~

It’s finally the day for departure, the two-day long test went well, and i’ve made all that I would need, including pilot goggles for me and Athena, she looks way cooler than she has any right to be.

After saying our goodbyes, we get on our seats and the army guys watch as we take to the skies, I’m pretty sure this trip will be extremely fast when compared to the normal one.

~~

Turns out I was right, ten days instead of around forty five. It would be faster if we didn’t keep stopping for bathroom breaks, since one of us can drive while the other sleeps.

Athena likes flying, but after the first few days both of us were tired of spending so much time cooped up.

When we landed in an empty part of the capital’s bay surrounded by navy ships, there was a little bit of a commotion in the distance, but thankfully I informed the queen ahead of time and the military wasn’t alerted by the flying vessel and welcomed us instead.

I dismantled some parts of the plane and took those with us as we left, in case someone tries to steal this. It’s not that I don’t trust the guards, I just don’t want to tempt fate, air supremacy is a term for a reason, a very deadly reason.

After walking for a short while I was greeted by some people I’ve met but don’t remember the names and Eleanor, I think those guys are royal knights, but I’m not sure, let’s pretend to know them either way. Oh! That guy has one of the swords I made, and that one a spear.

“Hello, everyone. Hello, Eleanor!” I give them a wave.

“Greetings, Sir Lance, Lady Athena. Her majesty has been informed of your arrival and is already awaiting you.” Says one of the knights. That’s why I don’t remember your name, if you act all serious your name will just be lost in a sea of ‘soldier people’ on the back of my memories.

Good thing as a Chevalier I don’t need to care too much about etiquette since I’m technically his equal even though I’m just a kid.

“Lead the way.” Says Athena with her serious mode on.

We get in a couple of carriages escorted by a bunch of knights. Eleanor is in our carriage.

The moment the door closes Eleanor picks me up and puts me on her lap. “Eleanor?”

“What?” She acts like it’s no big deal. Well, it really isn’t, she gets clingy from time to time, I think it’s because her children are all in the navy and haven’t given her any grandchildren yet. But I won’t allow her to do it when I’m bigger.

“Hello Eleanor, I’m Athena. Thank you for taking care of Lance for such a long time.” Greets Athena.

“Hello Athena, I heard about your skills, we should do a little sparring some time. Maybe this old lady can teach you a thing or two.” Eleanor’s words makes it seem as if she sees Athena as an equal, but her eyes tell me she thinks Athena is just a slightly older kid when compared to me.

I bet she’s holding back from patting Athena’s head.

The two of them talk about my combat training while I serve as something of a decoration during the ride.

We soon arrive and meet the queen and king after a short walk through the castle.

“Here’s some honey I got in the western wilds, your majesty.” Monster honey is considered a luxury since the people who can get it normally have better things to do. I considered starting a monster bees and flowers farm, but that kind of thing takes a lot of time.

“Thank you, Lance. It’s good you finally came to the capital, that ‘airplane’ thing you made seems quite interesting.”

“Sorry for taking so long, your majesty. I wish to make one for you, if you’ll provide the materials.”

“That sounds wonderful. Now, for the main reason I called you here: your rewards.” She looks straight at me. “For your willingness to put yourself in danger for the sake of the queendom’s children, I, Catherine Sylvian the third, grant you access to one section of forbidden knowledge of your choosing and the books on ritualistic magic you acquired during your mission, together with a couple we had here. Aside from that, there’s also a monetary reward, but I’m sure you’re not exactly lacking in that department.”

I wasn't quite willing to put myself in danger, I just underestimated those guys a little too much. But I’m not saying that out loud. She says a section of forbidden knowledge, but I doubt they have many options.

And yeah, I’m not lacking for money, not only can I just sell some stuff if I need it, I’m almost royalty in this country, I can always just ask for money from another Chevalier (who’s most likely loaded), or the royal family themselves.

My eyes themselves are already better than a credit card. Although that’s a little jumbled up by the new bloodline… Getting distracted again.

“Can I go choose something now?” I ask while bottling up my excitement.

“Here’s a list with a short description of what they entail.”

1. Curse magic: weaken and sabot- Yeah, no cross that one, sounds like just the opposite of strengthening and healing. There must be better stuff here.

2. Necromancy: binds souls to corpses that- bla bla bla. Yeah, I get the point, the part about souls sounds interesting, but having to deal with corpses sounds like a pain, that’s a maybe.

3. Prayer magic: Unsystematic style of magic with borderline random effects, can have side effects on the user’s psyche. Okay, I’d rather not mess with that kind of stuff, I want to remain sane, thank you very much.

4. Disease magic: The name is self explanatory.

5. Golem making: The study of making moving statues that can be used as warriors. That’s quite the vague description, why is it even here? Are they afraid someone could create an army?

6. Cannibal strengthening technique: Seems interesting for study, but not for actual use, like necromancy.

They all seem at least mildly interesting, but one of these is not like the others. “Why is golem making even here?” I ask the royal couple.

“Necromancy started as branch of golem making combined with the ritualistic magic you came across on your mission.” Explains the king.

“Golems rely on something called a ‘mana core’ that ca-” “DID YOU SAY MANA CORE?!” I interrupt the queen. This is it isn’t it?!?!

A mana engine! Of course! I should have seen it coming when I read the word golem.

“Y-yes, a mana core. It acts as a mana generator and something of a brain for the golem.” Answers the queen, taken aback by my outburst.

SO IT HAS A.I. TOO?!?! “...How long has it been since this was invented? Where did it come from?” I ask.

“About three centuries, it was made here by the sage Archimedes.” That’s a name I haven’t heard in a while. Thank goodness it’s not something we got from a foreign country.

“I choose golem making.”