Machinist of Mana

“So, mind not telling mom about this?” I asked my grandfather after I'd gotten healed and seen to.

“Oh, I'm telling her, some things,” he affirmed.

“She'll skin both of us, you know that right?”

“I'm telling her, but we're leaving out a few key facts, like the broken ankle, or the fact that you were ever in real danger. I cannot believe how irresponsible you were Percival, as soon as you fell through that floor you should have done everything in your power to get away. Things didn't go to plan at all. What were you even thinking?”

“That the risk was worth the reward,” I answered without thought.

“Your life is worth far more than what we gained, or even could have gained.”

“Sorry,” honestly I'd thought the risk was minimal, the man wanted to talk to me according to his letter, not kill me. Though I'd known he was insane I'd given myself fairly good odds, particularly with all the backup nearby.

“If I didn't know it was a waste of time I'd put you over my knee. You need to think Percival, think about what will happen if you die, your friends, your family, do you think they won't miss you? Can you not imagine your mother's tears if we were to come home with the corpse of her only son? Your father as well, he may not show it, but he cares for you boy, we all do.”

“I know grandfather, but I needed to do this...”

“What you need is to complete your studies, too many of you children are too excited to grow up. It's not all it's cracked up to be boy, I'll tell you that from experience.”

“Yes grandfather.” There was no real point in arguing with him, he was to an extent right. That didn't change the fact though that I'd done what I needed to.

“And you,” he said pointing at Lucas. “Good job keeping my idiot grandson from getting in that bomb, but if you breathe a word of what happened here to the wrong ears and I'll make sure you regret it.”

“Yes sir,” the other boy said, having tried to avoid the ire of the clearly angry old man through this conversation.

Before we could leave though Ignus approached me. “I understand you used a rather unique weapon, would you mind if I looked it over?”

“I... not at this time Mr. Ignus,” I said, shaking my head. I wasn't sure if I wanted to let that loose out into the world yet.

“It really is...”

“I believe my grandson told you no. I suggest you accept that answer,” grandfather said before he could continue.

When we were all done I was taken back to my home proper, to await the arrival of my parents. Neither of them had yet made it to the city, owing to a delay in their travels, so I got to wait. It would have been worse if I'd been in the house alone, or with only grandfather, or maybe not. He'd demanded to see my new pistol and spent the better part of the afternoon taking it apart and putting it back together on a small table with hardly a word spoken to me.

The servants seemed to know something was up, even if they didn't know what. In the air hung grandfather's displeasure, and other than some of the senior staff everyone strove to get things ready and out of the way. He snapped at them several times as we entered and waited, all except Kaylee. He of course knew of her situation, and though there was little he could do for her without causing trouble he still maintained his cool when she was around.

Eventually though all waiting must come to an end, and that evening a servant arrived from the port. He was one of the butlers from the country estate, and quickly informed the staff of my family's arrival. He then came to greet me, and my grandfather, looking worried when he felt the tension hanging in the room.

After mother's arrival, and yearly examination/terrifying of the household staff my parents joined us in the sitting room.

“We need to have a meeting,” grandfather told them as they walked in. “A private one.”

“Very well, would you dear?” mother asked father.

“Certainly,” he answered and he did something, sending out a small glowing barrier to surround the room.

“Before we begin, why is that in my house?” mother asked with saccharine poison, pointing to the revolver.

“It's your son's I believe he made it himself.” That's when the yelling began.

My grandfather may have thought it a waste of time to spank me, but my mother, with her physical magic, did not. She was still the strongest person in the room, regardless of the fact that I was catching up, and would be for a bit longer yet. Perhaps I could have resisted her, but doing so just didn't feel right.

When she learned of the situation we'd been in and how much her father-in-law had been involved I did have to step in though, wrapping her in a hug to keep her a bit back. She'd advanced upon him like an angry bear, and while she didn't strike him, both father and I were quite worried she would. Unlike me grandfather was some form of caster, and he couldn't take that kind of a beating without serious problems.

“Love you need to calm down!” father eventually shouted, the only time I'd ever heard him raise his voice. “Before you do something unwarranted.”

“You will not use my son as bait again,” she finally growled before turning on her heel and stalking off. I felt bad for anyone who encountered her in the next few hours, something we'd have to ward the staff about.

“Thank you son,” grandfather said. “I'd not quite expected her to be that angry.”

“Her fire is one of her most endearing traits, part of why I married her,” father mused. “Though I much prefer it be pointed at someone else. You should probably stay away from the house for awhile.”

“That seems... well advised, but I was explaining all of this to tell you why I was requesting some extra security for your home. Whoever those men were, we didn't catch them.” He'd kept back that we were after goblins, and since nobody else had seen them he was right to.

“Understood, and thank you.”

Grandfather left shortly thereafter, explaining when we'd see the men he was sending, and how to identify them. Once he'd left my father turned to me.

“Percival... why did you do this?”

“I felt the need. There is some kind of conflict coming and I need to be ready, and to do my part.”

He sighed. “I.. am not a perfect man son; I have made many mistakes over the course of my life, many regretful actions that I wish I could take back, but I cannot. That isn't something I want for you, and I think you know better than to get involved in this foolishness.”

“I doubt I'll have much a choice,” I admitted.

“Why?”

“It's complicated.”

“Believe it or not, I'm quite clever, why?”

“My mana is similar to several others, one of which is the leader of this group. I'm not completely sure on the reason or mechanism, but it is relevant to him. It has put us at odds, and is unlikely that this will end peacefully.”

“It looks fairly normal to me, though that isn't my area of study. If he's after you perhaps we should consider moving...”

“No, running won't solve problems, and we cannot simply surrender because there is an enemy.”

“Then what do you think we need?” he asked.

“Weapons.”

“...”

“I'm not a fool father.”

“Recent actions contradict that statement.”

“I will get them one way or another, because I don't think this enemy is going away.”

“Your mother's going to kill me, but I'll allow it, with proper supervision. Tell me what you need.”