Mr. Bannick placed the rifle back on the table. “Marvelous, its design is so simple, but Mr. Martin assured me it was powerful enough to wound a bronze rank monster.”
Seras sipped her drink, savoring the smooth burn of fine liquor. “In concept it is a simple creation. It’s the minute adjustments and tweaks that truly turn the simple concept into a deadly weapon. Unfortunately, it can only harm the weaker bronze ranked monsters, anything stronger currently relies on a specific essence ability of mine. Theres a thousand things I can do to make it deadlier by fractional amounts, and while that adds up over time its going to take magical integration to make a real menace.”
She had relaxed around Mr. Bannick. It was easy with him providing the nicest drink she’d had in a long time and swooning over her baby, but Seras’ initial impression still kept her from fully trusting him.
“The same can be said of swords, spears, and everything else. But unlike those the function isn’t instantly identifiable. Very few would understand how a thing like this works in the first place, and that number will be even less when magic gets thrown in. My question why hasn’t you begun integrating magic?”
“I’ve only got seven essence abilities to my name, and none of those are the typical magic formation abilities. I have one that might function like one, but unfortunately my experiments in figuring it out haven’t been successful. It comes from an essence unique to my world and isn’t on any of the registries.”
Mr. Bannick ran his fingers along his mustache, “which essence? Not all appear on the registries, I might be able to do a little digging to find some additional information.”
“Why wouldn’t a known essence be on the registry?”
“The registry consists of essences found on this world, but Outworlders have occasionally introduced us to essences that do not occur on this world.” He explained.
Seras nodded “I get it, don’t want to be confusing people with things that are barely understood.” She thought for a minute. “Technology.” She said eventually.
Mr. Bannick’s eyes lit up “Now that is one I’ve heard of.”
Seras was surprised “Really?”
“Yes, from an associate of mine. It is supposedly analogous to the magic essence. Tell me, did you get the Magitech confluence?”
Seras blinked. “No, Avatar,” she said after a minute.
Bannick’s excitement turned to confusion “Avatar? What are your other two essences?”
“Metal and potent.” Seras said.
Bannick leaned back. “Hmm. If I recall correctly technology, iron, and potent would have made a Magitech confluence. But I guess substituting metal gave you a very different result. A shame, I could have sourced some reference material for Magitech crafting.”
Seras leaned in “Now hold on. How do you have Magitech reference books?”
“An Outworlder centuries back transcribed all he knew on the subject. But it was complete nonsense to every magic researcher who tried to make sense of it. Kept going on about things like conservation of energy and electrons without ever explaining what those were.”
Seras felt greed and desire bloom in her heart. “I’m not gonna lie, I need those books. And as many like them as I can get.”
He quirked his head to the side, “you have a Magitech crafting ability?” he asked.
“Supposedly. The issue is I don’t know how to use it, the most I can do is make my finger glow. The ability is supposed to let me blend elements of technology and magic together, however while I have a strong idea of how circuitry and magic rituals work figuring out how to make them play nice with each other is proving to be a roadblock.”
“I know a portal specialist who can have those books here within the day.”
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“What’s a portal specialist?”
“A magic user with an essence ability to create portals. They’re expensive to use but sometimes having someone relay information half a continent away can save you more than you spend for the service.”
Seras leaned back. “I see, and what would this cost me?”
The man smiled “You wouldn’t trust me if I said it was on the house would you?”
“Not even a little,” Seras deadpanned.
“Well, let’s just say its not just me interested in your weapons. I am a part of a society of individuals with certain interests. And funding the growth of a magic tech specialist could prove to be a great boon to us down the line. It’s an investment.”
“I’m not sure how I feel about owing a favor to a shadowy group of merchants.”
“Not a favor, we are people who would be delighted to have the talents of someone like you down the line. This initial investment is to see if you can get yourself there. After that we can arrange a more formal agreement. And besides, can you really say no to such an offer?”
Seras was tempted to say no for that remark right there. But any hope she had of finding a cure would likely rely on Magitech crafting. Her issue was a compatibility error between her technological body and the enhanced magic flowing through her magic matrix.
Or it might be completely pointless and she would have wasted years trying to make a cure with Magitech crafting. But she wouldn’t know until she began to delve into the subject.
“Alright. Do you have a contract at the ready?” Seras asked, her tone defeated.
Bannack quirked an eyebrow. “Most adventures I meet prefer a simple handshake.”
Seras shook her head. “You’re not dealing with an adventurer, not yet at least. I’m a Merc, and Mercs have contracts. The kind written out in painstaking detail.”
He smiled, and Seras suppressed the shiver trying to run up her back. “If that is the case I’ll have my scribes draw one up. By the time its done I should have those reference texts on hand. Should I send someone to bring you to my office, or would like me to meet you at your current residence?”
“My place, I don’t know the contract law of this world, but I’ve got a man who can read things over and make sure everything is on the up and up.” Seras finished off the warm amber liquid in her glass before setting it down again.
“Then I shall meet you there in the morning. And Miss Cross, if I might offer you something to ponder. While integrating magic into the gun could prove difficult, the gun isn’t the only part that can be magically enhanced. Fletchers have been magically enhancing their arrows with spirit coins and quintessence for centuries.”
Seras glared at the merchant suspiciously. “I’ll take that under advisement,” she said noncommittally.
The man just continued to smile pleasantly.
When Seras stepped out of the bar the shadow of the Airy was just starting to pass over her section of the city. She thought about running straight to Dustin, but a sign with a feather and arrow drew her attention.
She decided to see how a magical fletcher enhanced their arrows, just on the off chance Bannack was right.
~~~*~~~
Dillon Bannack leaned back in his chair and lifted another hand to the tall human working the bar. The man for all intents and purposes looked like an ordinary barkeep, just as they had intended.
The man grabbed the same vintage he had given to Seras and sat across from Bannack. “That went as well as we could have hoped.” The man said as he poured two fingers of bourbon in each glass.
“Indeed. Though I must admit I thought all the pageantry and preparation would prove to be over kill. But you were right, she likely would have dismissed me out of hand if I had approached her normally. And suggesting the tea shop first only for her to deny it did have a minute relaxing effect on her. Though I believe she is still very suspicious of me.” Bannack said before taking a sip of his drink, even this had been set up in advance. Portaled in from the coast just to give the girl a distant taste of home.
The man nodded “Seras ‘Blackiron’ Cross is not a trusting woman. All this preparation was necessary, but it couldn’t have been possible if you hadn’t looked into that report from your subordinate. Your thoroughness allowed us to finally pinpoint Blackiron’s location and traveling companions, and your efforts have not gone unnoticed.”
Bannack bowed his head demurely “Thank you Lord Havre.”
There was a lingering unspoken question in Bannack’s tone, but it wouldn’t be proper for him to question his superior.
Lord Havre tilted his head. “You wonder why any of this was necessary?”
“It is not my place to question-” Bannack began.
“But a good leader keeps his subordinates informed whenever possible. Secrets for secrets sake helps no one and only creates divisions. Our task here is already a difficult one, we shouldn’t weaken ourselves for petty pride.” Havre sipped his liquor before continuing on, “I have already told you part of the truth. Miss Cross possesses an essence that would not normally ever appear on this backwater world. Our lord noticed her passage through the astral and informed us of the opportunity she presented.”
“Are our ritualists not enough? Do we not have the knowledge granted to us by our lord?”
“We do, and the ritualists are good. But Miss Cross represents a chance to enhance every aspect of our forces not possible on this world. Though our lord is great he is limited by the others of his kind, he gave us more than enough to begin our endeavor, but the task before us is still going to be a challenge. We already failed to summon the vessels of our lords servant’s, the astral magic of this world was too underdeveloped and our time frame is limited. If we can convince Miss Cross to join us though we might become the most successful and rewarded faction of our lords forces.”
“And you are sure she will be tempted to join us?”
He quirked an eyebrow, “did you not see how the chair groaned at her weight, or how careful she was with leaning her body on the table? That kind of mass is simply not possible for person of flesh and blood, she is like us. In fact I am told she is superior to us in some ways, more refined and elegant, though lacking in our raw power. And besides the Gods of Pallimustus we are the only other people on this world who can help her. Without us she will die, and when the time is right she’ll see that.”
“Then we are trying to bring her in willingly?”
“Yes, with someone of her ability it is best to bring her in willingly.”
“My Lord, you are Silver rank, what threat could she pose to you?”
Lord Havre smiled “My dear Bannack, would you trust an indentured servant to properly keeps your accounts without skimming off the top?”
“No, I pay for top quality assistants who have more to lose by stealing.”
“Exactly. A person with Miss Cross’ knowledge could be just as much trouble as she would be a benefit. It is best if she joins both voluntarily, and by her own desire. We left enough clues in those reference texts to hint at the higher knowledge we possess. In time she will see that we have everything she could want and will come of her own accord.”
Bannack bowed his head “You are wise my lord, shall I arrange for a suite for your stay?” he asked demurely.
Lord Havre smirked. Behind him an archway of dark swirling oil rose from the floor. “That will not be necessary. I have already done all that I can here and I am needed elsewhere. Make sure you keep this contract as ‘clean’ as possible. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, I expect we’ll be welcoming Miss Cross into the fold soon.”
Lord Havre stepped through the portal and vanished through the oily surface. The portal then sank down into the floor without a trace.