Machinist of Mana

The king seemed distraught, though I wasn't sure what to do about that. All things said he only spent a few minutes moping before he had slapped himself in the face repeatedly and risen.

“Where are my senses, this is no time for moping. There's much to do and no time at all to do it. Nobody in this room is to speak a word of what transpired here to anyone until the news is released, that is a royal decree, am I understood?”

There was quick assent, I didn't like it, didn't like all the secrecy, but I understood. Someone had tried to kill one of the pillars of our kingdom, and if they found out they'd succeeded there'd be problems. Perhaps they intended to hide it for a time, perhaps try and figure out who and why, but when the investigations were done I had no doubts that if the guilty party were located there'd be hell to pay.

“Boy,” the king said turning to me. “I promised I'd see to you being trained, so we'll see about giving you some extra.”

“In the name of all that is decent your Majesty please do not mention that within earshot of Headmaster Logan,” I half-plead/half-joked. If that maniac heard that the freaking KING thought I needed more training I'd be lucky to ever be allowed a wink of sleep.

The guards bristled until the formerly moping monarch loosed a small chuckle. “Lad I needed that, anyway Logan eh? Well he knows his business but I'll send someone to look things over, I did make a promise after all. Can't have you lacking in your sword skills.”

He pulled the duke aside and they left me then, their business not really meant for my ears. That night I spent in the duke's palace, since it was getting on in the day and everyone was exhausted. My host didn't see me afterwards but some of the staff did, and I could hear them gossiping about the royal visit. None of what they had to say was true though, because everyone who'd been in earshot had gotten news of that royal decree, and nobody was fool enough to violate it where they would absolutely be found out. I didn't live here but even I knew the walls had ears.

As morning found us I was taken to a carriage, after all I had a school to get back to. A man joined me, one of the guards the king had brought with him when he'd come. He sat across from me in the confined space and basically just bristled.

“So, I'm Percival, a pleasure to meet you.”

He didn't speak, just glared, this went on for several minutes. I didn't break eye contact, sure this guy could probably beat me to death if he felt like it, but one didn't end up serving the royal family personally if they didn't have control.

“I am Sir Kendrick, well met,” he didn't sound like me meant it, rather like he wanted to strike me. “Allow me to make this clear, I am here because his Majesty has ordered that your training be exemplary, and nothing else.”

“The only thing I think my training is missing is access to a machine shop,” I said with a shrug.

“I highly doubt that, but why?” he was still gruff, but I'd piqued his interest.

“Because while I'm a passable swordsman I'm much better at making things than fighting, and I would really like to upgrade my arms. With access to proper tools and a bit of time...” I had to think, what all could I do?

There were reams of possibilities, guns, vehicles, perhaps one day I could even build something like a power armor, though I wasn't sure the last would be worthwhile. Transports that were better armored and armed were clearly needed, as the armored carriage we'd been in had been far too easy to crack. I also wanted firearms, several for differing purposes, and ones of high caliber. With my strength it was possible to have things closer to anti-material rounds in handguns without detriment to me, and they'd be needed to fight against magical opponents.

“Lots of things, I think I could do lots of things.”

For the first time Sir Kendrick smiled, rubbing his beard, it wasn't a pleasant thing. “So that's what she saw in you? Not your physical capabilities but your mind, I see, that tracks with the archmage...”

“You know her well?” I inquired, being careful not to imply that she wasn't around.

“No, nobody can claim that, though she's always favored the royals. Archmage Penumbra has a lengthy history of... shall we say eccentricism, yes, that is a good word.”

The man didn't seem to be inclined to speak further on the matter and I was happy to let him stew. If he took what I had said as valuable that might catapult my timetable on getting some real weapons. I'd need them too, if what I was seeing was correct. Those goblins weren't likely to give up anytime soon, and I'd need something to take them on.

That thought brought up the letter, still sealed and tucked in my jacket. Nobody had searched me, and in all the excitement I'd nearly forgotten about it. What did it say? I didn't know yet, and I certainly wasn't going to open it right here and now. I knew they wanted to meet, something I'd not be going to without at least... I didn't know, a satchel full of explosives or something.

Soon enough we pulled back into the school and I was released to go to my dorm. I even made it back to the dorm before I was tackled by half a dozen of my friends, Lucas in the lead.

“Percival, I thought you were dead,” he said, wrapping an arm around me and almost in tears. “We heard you were hurt and managed to sneak out to see you and what do I find? Bloody bandages and neither you nor your things in the bed. Even the nurses weren't sure where you'd gone.”

“He cried,” Simon offered, earning himself a punch from the other boy.

“Ah, things got a bit weird,” I answered.

“Is that so? Well next time bring more backup.”

“My backup was the problem,” I told him.

“Very well, then better backup.”

“Sure thing, the next time I need to ride to war I'll let you know.”

“If you don't you'd better write some notes explaining to people why you're dead so I don't have to,” Lucas said with a shake of his head.

Eventually the guys let me go and I made my way back to my room. There were so many things to do and I really didn't have time to do them if whatever was going on came to a head. Once there I picked out the note and opened it.

The writer was clearly from Earth, as the whole thing was in English, and fucking cursive. Who did that? Did he not want me to be able to translate it? If I'd been even slightly less educated than I was it would have been completely illegible, and as it was it took me the better part of the evening deciphering the damn thing. The only reason I could was because of my improved memory and the fact that my elementary schoolteachers had been so determined that I learn a skill that was almost literally useless. It also didn't help that the writer had horrid handwriting, just another reason to punch this 'Father' in the face.

The gist of it was that he wanted to meet me, something I already knew, and directions on how to set that up. There was no given date, rather I was supposed to put a light atop one of the buildings near a museum and meet him inside the next day. Bring nobody else, blah, blah, blah, don't tell anyone, and a few veiled threats that if he had to keep tracking me down he'd be most displeased. Yeah, I really did need to kill this guy, whoever he was.