Draith
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Chapter 50 - At Least a Day
🕑 Added 2025-03-21 14:00:19 +0000 UTCEdited chapter 29 to give more details on how Fang was built.
...Mage Lord Isekai...
"How can magic be boring?" the kid asked from her position atop the storehouse, which she was dangling from upside down.
"I don't find it boring. I just said there are lots of people who find the theory boring," I replied as I drew out some of the basic exercises Perth had completed when he'd been around her age. "Personally, I think it's fun."
She narrowed her eyes, then, still upside down, slid a spoonful of stew into her mouth. Not a single drop escaped.
"Anyway, this is a simple version of a mana regulation rune. It's one of the foundational runes. Variations are used in almost every spell. Some spells will use hundreds of them," I explained, walking around the relatively simple circle. "This won't do anything on its own, even if we used magical components and saturated them with mana. Which makes it a great rune to practice with."
The kid didn't respond, taking another bite of her stew. Her eyes remained fixed on the circle as I talked, so I continued explaining a lot of the basics I'd picked up when I first arrived.
Our lesson was interrupted when Calbern came to inform me that Inertia had made her way back to camp.
As excited as I was to see her, I didn't want to leave the kid in the middle of the lesson, so I asked, "Hey kid, wanna meet a Forgeborn?"
"Whassa Forgeborn?" she slurred as she flipped herself rightside up, already moving to follow Calbern.
I explained what I knew of Inertia's species, describing her in particular as we fell into step together.
"Sounds like a dragon," the kid said, puffing up her cheeks before blowing them out.
"Not exactly, though I'm sure she'd appreciate the comparison."
"Inertia would like to remind you that Forgeborn are superior to dragons in all ways but one," Tresla's musical voice rang out from around the corner.
A few steps later, and we were standing next to Inertia and Tresla.
It'd only been a few days, yet I'd still managed to forget how large Inertia was. Not only physically, but in pure presence. The 'eep' from the kid as she stepped behind me would've had me smiling even if seeing Inertia again hadn't already done so.
"So, in what way are dragons superior to Forgeborn?" I asked, holding my legs in place to give the kid the shield she needed for the moment.
"Dragons arrogance is unearned," Tresla answered, her voice completely flat.
The hissing whistles of Inertia's laughter let me know exactly how serious she was being. Unfortunately, the innocent sound didn't sound so innocent to the unprepared. Her laughter startled the kid, who reached out and grabbed the back of my robe.
"Hey, it's alright. There's nothing to fear. Inertia's not gonna hurt you," I said, struggling for a second when I remembered the kid didn't have a name I could use to reassure her.
Even so, my half-completed reassurance caused the kid to immediately let go of my robe and stand up straight next to me. "I'm not afraid."
"Whatever you say, kid," I agreed, clapping her on the shoulder. Then my attention shifted back to the still softly whistle-laughing Inertia. "Glad to have you back. What's happening with the drakes?"
"The drakes proved to consume all they passed over. Inertia believes they enjoy the hunt, but do not require much meat,” Tresla stopped as Inertia waved her hands wide. “Though they do like the taste. She suggests keeping your villagers away from the high bogland where she settled them. Unless you’re looking to provide her drakes a light snack.” Inertia chomped her jaw with a loud clamp, whistling as she did so. “She believes they will be able to forage there so long as they don't grow too numerous," Tresla answered, smoke rings once more rising from the pipe in her hands. "Kinda implied you should hunt them every few months so that doesn't happen."
"I'll keep it in mind. Does that mean Inertia's back for now?"
"She says she must remind them of their place occasionally, but that they are almost capable of taking care of themselves," Tresla said as Inertia's gaze shifted to the kid. "Inertia has had many interesting challenges, and wishes to know more about the sky dog you took down. And whether you have been teaching your pupil Forge Theory. But first, she wishes to inspect Fang."
I nodded, following behind as Inertia led the way back to our monstrous ride.
"You know, kid, you kinda need a name," I said, letting the others get ahead.
She squinted at me.
"A nickname at least. Something other than kid or wood rat," I said, staying several paces back as Inertia reached Fang and started poking her head inside.
"Why is she called Inertia?" the kid asked.
"She hasn't explained the details, but a lot of Forgeborn take names they identify with. Guess she’s a little more stubborn than your usual Forgeborn."
The kid nodded, pulling at the sleeve of her jacket while staring ahead. Neither of us said anything for several minutes, simply watching Inertia climb under and on top of Fang, whistling and hissing out steam the entire time. She'd just pulled the Forgeheart out for a thorough inspection when the kid broke the silence.
"Bevel."
"Hmm?" I grunted out before my thoughts returned to my earlier suggestion.
"I want to be named Bevel," the kid, Bevel, informed me, her hands clenched into fists as she stared up at me. As if she expected me to reject her suggestion.
"Bevel it is," I said, ruffling her hair. Then I shot another glance towards Inertia, who was pulling out several tools for her inspection of the Forgeheart. "So, Bevel…"
"Yeah?"
"Did you want to stay and watch, or did you want to continue with your magic lessons."
Bevel treated the question seriously, humming softly to herself while watching Inertia for several seconds. Then she shook her head, tilting her nose in the air. "Let's go back to your stinky runes."
"Hey now," I objected with entirely false heat, leading her away.
To my surprise, Bevel was far more involved with my lesson after our short break, even copying the runes I was sketching in the dirt.
Finally, her head started drooping, and I was forced to call an end to our lessons. "Okay, Bevel, why don't you head home for the night. We can continue tomorrow evening."
"No!" Bevel protested, her head snapping up. "I can keep going." Even as she finished speaking her head dipped again.
"You sure about that?" I asked with a soft chuckle. "Listen, the lessons aren't going anywhere. It'll be much easier to concentrate tomorrow. You've drawn that line three times now."
Bevel stared down at the rune in front of her for several long seconds.
I was half-expecting to find she'd somehow managed to fall asleep on her feet when I heard a soft sob.
"Bevel?" I asked as I kneeled down, my hand on her shoulder.
She turned away from me, wiping her snotty nose as she did so. Then, before I could say anything, she ran towards the edge and threw herself off.
I shot to my feet, but by the time I made it to the edge, she'd vanished into the nets. Kid didn't need magic to disappear.
Shaking my head, and resolving myself to ask her what the problem was next time I saw her, I wiped away the dirt and sought out Inertia to find out more about the drakes.
I found her exactly where I'd left her, her voice raised as she pulled yet another part off Fang. More than half the vehicle was spread on the ground, and Calbern was standing nearby, arguing with Inertia. Loudly.
Approaching Tresla, who was sitting on one of the support struts that normally ran underneath the skull to the rear wheels, I took a seat beside her. "This is a lot more involved than I expected."
"Apparently Inertia's been thinking about improvements the entire time she's been gone. Her and Calbern got talking and…" Tresla gave a twirl of her gloved hand in their direction.
"And they tore apart our ride…"
"At least they're having fun," Tresla said, her cloak swaying as she shook her head. "Speaking of which, how's the tutoring going?"
"It… Bevel's upset about something," I said, leaning back and staring up at the sky. "She was practically falling asleep on her feet, yet she almost broke down when I tried to end the lesson for the night."
"Oh?" Tresla replied, pulling out her latest scrap of leather.
"Yeah, not sure what set her off. I just told her she could go… home…" I said, dragging my hand across my face. "Been a while since I was that stupid."
"At least a day," Tresla agreed.
"Remind me to set her up with a place."
"Close to yours?"
Closing my eyes, I nodded. "Might get Calbern to set her up with a room, once we get our own figured. Treat her like a proper apprentice."
"I imagine she'd be quite happy with that," Tresla said, setting her design to the side as she turned towards me. "Are you prepared for taking her on?"
Letting out an aborted snort, I shook my head. "No.” Then I gazed towards the chasm where Bevel had disappeared. “Never stopped me before.”
Comments
RJD
Details on Fang is good
RJD
TFTC. I wish there was a bit more information about the village and the team settling in.
Jason Hardman
Plot trope: rambunctious but cute raggamuffin kid companion / found family... ✅
