Machinist of Mana

I had time, maybe not infinite time, but at least some. The goblins couldn't well go check records and with the government determined to keep things secret they were unlikely to be able to figure out exactly who I was. That wasn't a guarantee, but it was a pretty good guess. Even if they did I was still at the school, and they'd have to have a death wish to attack here.

Time was good, time meant that I could prepare. Some of what I needed to do would be a bit ad-libbed, but with my improved memory and previous training there were options. After all, I'd been enough of a redneck to know how to improvise at least a few things.

First thing was first, I needed something ranged, and heavy hitting, luckily I had the skill set for just such a thing. My memories may have been good, but they weren't perfect, I was also sadly devoid of some of the drawings I'd made over the years, tested or not those were important to the plans. I'd have to go with the simplest version of what I needed that I could make.

It still took days before I was ready for even the first attempt at what I was doing; that was fine though, since I needed to go shopping before starting. Time flowed as I spent night after night utilizing all of my precious free time to prepare schematics and plans, then reexamine them and fix things I should have seen the first time around.

When I was ready I went looking for one of my teachers.

“Professor Ruien, I have some questions,” I said as I made my way to the teacher's office.

“Oh Percival, lovely to see you, and as you know I'm always happy to give instruction. Having trouble with your homework dear?” she asked.

“No ma'am, actually I was interested in the creation of magic items, specifically the outer shells.”

“A personal project? I know you're rather taken with the engines and the like they use in the trains but I'm afraid you'll need to complete your core before you can work on something like that.”

“I know professor, but would it be possible for me to make something non-magical using the same tools? We don't have a machining shop here in the school and there are a few designs I'd like to try. You see I've spent years going over some things with my grandfather and I'd like to make progress on the personal project before seeing him again.” I gave her my most innocent smile even as I lied.

“No reason you couldn't. Most people don't with anything other than the larger engines and the like because of the mana cost to forming them, but if you're willing to pay that then I can show you how to do it.” She thought for a second. “You'll also need to procure your own materials of course.”

From my bag I produced a sizable billet of steel. It was as far as I could determine the best for my purposes available on the market, and had been one of several purchases I'd managed to make the last time we'd had a weekend in town.

“I see you're ready to start now, well, no need to wait then.”

She led me down the hall a bit to one of the workrooms. I'd never had cause to be in here, but it was clean, well organized, and full of something that looked like desks. They were odd due to the clear circle indications on parts of them and a glass inset. There were also markings that looked a bit like a keyboard layout and a pad on each.

“These are...” they looked almost like computers if you squinted.

“Not the newest models, but still serviceable. Your project isn't too big is it? These have a bit of a maximum size constraint. If the pieces you need don't fit in that box there there's nothing to be done about it.” She pointed to a square as she spoke on each of the items, easily large enough for what I needed.

“Should be fine ma'am,” I answered.

“Good, otherwise you'd be out of luck. Now, come here and I'll show you how to use these.”

As she began to work I recognized exactly what I was looking at. It was a 3d modeler, I'd played with tons of these for work or pleasure. That wasn't to say that it was good, heavens no, it lacked a lot of basic features and functions that would have made this child's play, but it was good enough for me to do what I would need to. Briefly I wondered if this was one of the advancements given by archmage Penumbra, and I felt briefly sad that I'd never gotten to spend the time with her to know.

“I think I've got the hang of it,” I said as I got the first piece ready.

“Look at that, it's like you're a natural. Are you sure you've never used one of these before?”

“Quite so ma'am.”

“Well, if you're making an engine remember to leave gaps for the movement and what not, and be very careful not to stand near it during the first test. Some years back a man nearly killed himself during a demonstration at the Royal Society. I had a friend who was there and she said it was only the quick intervention of a nearby spellcaster that kept anyone from getting injured.”

I didn't stop myself from laughing. “That spellcaster was my grandfather, and my was he cross.”

“Well, then promise you'll not do anything foolish and I can leave you to it.”

“Of course professor,” I said with another smile.

“Right then, if you need anything else let me know.”

She left me and I reflected on just how trusting the people of this world were. Well, perhaps not trusting, but not the hovering guardians of my previous life. There no child, even a teenager, would have been left alone in a room full of tools to their own devices. Of course they didn't have all the same culture either, so for here it seemed reasonable. Probably didn't hurt that I'd proven myself capable many times before either.

I mused on this as I diligently made part after part. Some were simple, some where a bit more difficult to put into the tool, but all would work. I measured each with a pair of calipers just to make sure they were perfect as could be. There was a snag where I had to remake one, but putting the formed piece into the section for materials worked just fine, so it wasn't a real loss. It did use a ton of mana though, and by the time I finished I was quite drained.

That evening when I got back to my room I began the assembly. Parts were held while pins were tapped gently where they needed to be, fitting just right, just tight enough to hold things perfect. Grease was applied liberally to parts, kept away from others, allowing movement and seals where they needed to be. Bit by bit it all came together into a metal work of art.

My revolver was based on old black powder guns from Earth, and so far as I knew nobody had made one like it before in this world. It shone, the steel fresh and unblemished, missing the little imperfections most roughly machined parts ended up with, almost mirrored in its look. The whole contraption was also massive, overbuilt to account for my own lack of ability and of a caliber no non-magical person could hope to wield reasonably, with a bore nearly an inch wide.