EXPLORING THE TALISMANS

Chu leaned back on the chair and stretched his aching spine. He gently moved his rear on a cushion of rags. The thrill of his previous adventure had left him with aches all over his body from riding a horse. He had tried practicing galloping along the road as they returned, only to gain some chaffed thighs.

"Curse this adventuring life..."

On the side, Bon and Old Hodge, walked the cramp invading their old legs. After about two hours of talk with rest breaks in between, Chu gained a better understanding of the familiar drawing in the large open book. An ancient talisman.

"They say the words at the source differ from those of a messenger."

He muttered. It dawned on him that the talismans were not as simple as he suspected.

The talismans technology as he named it, was something discovered by the Tower Mages centuries ago. Similar to how the Romans improved and integrated technology from the ancient cultures they assimilated, so to did the first gathering of Mages operate.

Faced with the difficulties of activating the ancient talismans, the Tower Mages ingeniously created a simpler version. This watered-down downgrade became widely used because of its high rate of success. With 'high' being used as a relative term. Chu guessed that no matter the planet, humans as a whole possessed infinite skills and intelligence.

"Why did the Tower Mages still keep creating an ancient talisman? Why waste resources?"

He asked the eating Apprentice.

"The Archmages throughout each century, have always maintained this stance. The order of always including four Tower talismans along with an Ancient talisman has been set in stone since ancient times."

Tye replied while savoring the soft bread. The food here was simply incredible. Tasty and original.

The history of the talismans did not pique Chu's interest because his goal lay in the creation itself. He stared at the small vial of precious ink on the table. In his mind, he separated the components of the talisman into three main parts.

The writing material that needed perfection so as to increase the chances of activating the talisman. Next, the ink, which he now understood required a host of expensive materials and careful preparation. And last but not least, a skilled magical user to imbue the finished product.

The ink Tye brought as an example consisted of the kind used to create a Tower talisman. Ancient talismans required a rare type of gemstone, ground into a fine powder. Since this scarce gem posed a problem, the mages had reduced cost by skimping on the materials.

Chu wanted to strangle this man after hearing this because the sup-par work could have nearly cost him a friend.

"The talismans consist of lines that must be carefully marked so they do not touch nor have any break in between them. Each line begins from the circle inscribed in the middle and then flows out to the glyphs and symbols. An ancient talisman has nine markings, but the Tower design has been reduced to three."

Looking at the drawings, it became understandable so as to why the Tower had downgraded the original talisman. It required great skill with a brush to keep the lines from intersecting each other. Chu lost himself in the droning explanations from Tye. Something about the way these lines connected the glyphs and symbols seemed familiar.

Unbroken lines, connecting glyphs and symbols, and a large circle with runes. Could they function on the same theory? If so, then all he lacked would be the influx of magic...

"Remember, each glyph or symbol must be connected to the inner circle. They can be drawn anywhere, but cannot overlap each other. One way of telling if a talisman is void is to notice the lines."

Tye continued in his explanation, obviously happy to share his knowledge. He reminded Chu of Mage Disparte, keen to drone on and on about their beloved area of expertise.

"I wonder if Apprentice Tye would consent to show me how the Mages create the ink for the talismans? Perhaps our Masters here might glean some form of inspiration."

Chu interrupted. His main reason for requesting a person from the Tower was to gain the experience to create the ink. Having Tye create a couple of talismans could dispel any questions and doubts in his mind. Money could buy power, but only magic or the talismans could make him stronger as a person.

Chu left Tye under the care of Ming in the workshop and joined Bon.

"Why did you need me to participate Boss, Mage business is far above my understanding."

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Bon asked while walking. He remained puzzled as to why he had to appear during the meeting. If it wasn't for the request of the Boss, both him and Old Hodge would have been cursing like stoned drunkards. Nobles and high-ranking officials might shed blood to sit in the room with a Mage, but for them, this amounted to torture.

"You belittle yourself, Master Bon. Soon nobody would dare utter such words in the Empire to you and the others. There are two things we need to accomplish in secret before Tye leaves this place. I need you and Hodge to pay careful attention."

Chu said as he watched Old Hodge scamper away on his old legs towards the dorm as if being chased by a wolf. Luckily Tye remained in the workshop, not bearing witness to this sight unfitting of a Great Artisan. The boy made a wry grin, knowing why the man moved in such clumsy haste.

Nearly the entire farm had probably gathered in the education room, crowding around Pick while watching him work. Ever since Chu returned with the pouches filled with sparkling gems, he had opened a veritable can of worms.

Bombarded on all fronts by the women and the girls, Chu did what any great CEO and Boss would do-- he palmed the problems off to a subordinate.

Currently, poor Pick sat in the room with a bellyful of request up to his throat. The boys wanted rings topped with round sapphires, the men wanted chains inlaid with turquoise, the girls wanted tiaras embedded with rubies, and the wives wanted everything under the sun.

What made it worse, the boss provided some designs and sketches that caused the women to scream. Sherry had already forced her husband Finn to dabble in melting gold and silver coins to copy the likeness. Finn and Dareck had been forced to sleep and toil out in the forge.

"The grinding wheel that Mr Pick uses to polish the stone will eventually cause the old man to croak. If left alone, the women will have all the men doing hard labor spinning the wheel. Tomorrow, remind me to show you how to connect a shaft and gears on the windmill, so we can efficiently harness the power."

"That's if I live for tomorrow Boss..."

Bon said on recognizing the dreaded shape approaching them.

Chu quickly left a message before Bon's wife dragged him into the labor camp while bearing that unmistakable gleam in her eyes. Seems like the blacksmith was destined to join the others out in the forge tonight. Chu entered the barn and like a solitary figure sat down by his large desk upstairs.

Mage Disparte kept true to his word, sending an Apprentice from the Tower. Chu had inquired about the talismans and hinted he may gain some sort of enlightenment on witnessing and listening to a Mage. The Tower hoped this gesture would bring the Heaven-sent inventor closer to them.

If the Mages of the Tower actually knew of Chu's real intent they might torture him beyond death.

Even among these unshakable companions, Chu refused to divulge his entire plan. He sectioned it out so that no one but himself would know the true end game-- manufacturing a talisman. Not just any talisman, but a successful one even more powerful than the Tower Mages.

If successful in this creation, any leaks would cause the Tower Mages to wipe him off the face of the world.

"Boss, you called? I had a difficult time escaping, I mean leaving my wife in the classroom."

Chu left the desk and went downstairs to the long table. Halter panted like a fatigued man as he slumped on a chair. Chu allowed very few people to visit his large desk upstairs, where he drafted his plans. Nobody minded since they respected the privacy of the young Boss.

"I tell you, Boss I pity those rich fools in the city. My son has already folded to his wife and mother and now I fear their eyes have turned towards me. I am a carpenter and mason yet they insist I create jewelry."

"Don't worry, I have already lightened the burden for you guys, so just hold on until spring. First, however, I need you to build these two items. Have Bon help you, while Old Hodge will iron out the kinks."

Chu laughed while sliding across two sketches towards the grieving man.

"What are these Boss?"

Halter asked as he peered at them under the lamp.

"Two secrets that we need to keep unless we want a swift death. One is called a printing press, the other is called a pen. Both of them, if revealed can cause a war. Whatever you do, nobody outside must know of this."

***

On the night of the full moon, five wagons creaking under the heavy load rumbled towards the forest. Chu had no problems with transport since horsepower for him was not an issue. He probably had enough horses to rank among the top noble families living in the town of Karst.

"Chu are you sure about this? Why not remain in the grassland."

"Don't worry, I trust the little goblin when it comes to trade. As for entering the forest, its safer for us and them. With our firepower and teams of horses, no goblin can ambush and keep us in the forest."

Chu replied. He knew what concerned Lucy but he trusted his instincts as a businessman. Trading in the night, inside the forest by the lumberjack camp, hid their secret. No adventure party wanted to remain in the forest at night, preferring to take their chances roaming and camping out in the grasslands.

By conducting his business in the forest, Chu could avoid gossip and inquiries. This way was safe for both him and also the goblins.

The caravan entered the lumberjack clearing and circled around in the event they required a quick escape. Chu jumped down and soon had his group set up candles with wooden shades. Not long after, Lucy frowned while pointing in a direction indicating the approaching horde.

Chu walked to the table used by Jim and the others to eat during working in the forest. Lucy stood on the right with Ming, while Dyna and her wolves remained unconcerned on his left. A faint light from a torch approached from deep within the forest.

Pug's shadow appeared first under the moonlight, followed by the three hobbling Elders. On coming closer, Chu made out the uncertainty and fear in their eyes. Ming responded first, which cause the trembling Pug to frantically wave his hands in talk. The teen frowned on trying to interpret the meaning.

"Head-- bigger head?"

"There are more goblins coming than when they attacked the farm, moving fast."

Lucy interrupted.

Her next few words caused them to grip their weapons.

"We are being surrounded."