The Runesmith

“Master, Master Brylvia… MASTER!”

“WHATTTTTTTT YE WANT?”

A rather annoyed-looking female dwarf glared at one of her apprentices, who had continuously shouted in her direction while she was trying to peacefully examine some ridiculous-looking schematics. The human runesmith had returned to the city, and with him came a flood of strange plans and runic devices. Whenever he ordered something from her, she could be assured it would be mind-boggling and strange. However, it was always an opportunity to learn something new, and the city he was outfitting with these peculiar runic machines was beginning to turn into something special.

“It’s the Runesmith’s apprentice, he has come wearing something fascinating!”

“Fascinating? Do you mean that golem arm he was using? I wouldn’t call it fascinating.”

“No, you don’t understand, this one is different, it looks like a finished product and it seems to produce flawless movement, it’s as if… as if the arm is part of him!”

“Part of him?”

Brylvia raised her eyebrow and placed the schematic she was going through down on the table. Her apprentice seemed quite ecstatic for some reason but it wasn’t anything new. Ever since they came to this city they had been surprised by some of the human’s inventions. The runic batteries were something that could already change the world and the geothermal generator he had designed was the same. She knew by this point that this man was an eccentric genius and that it was a great decision to come here.

“Aye, I guess I’ll go see it then, but if this isn’t worthwhile, you’ll be in charge of cleaning the workshop for a week."

“Aye, Master Brylvia! but ye won’t regret it”

The dwarven runesmith apprentice replied eagerly, clearly confident that his discovery would impress his boss. The older woman sighed but couldn't suppress a hint of curiosity as she followed her apprentice to the workshop area. The younger dwarf's enthusiasm was contagious, and she wondered what Roland's assistant could have brought this time. It was known to her that he was using some sort of replacement limb as she was the one to provide him with the golem limb schematics. She knew that the man was up to something but could it really be better than tested dwarven technology from their ancestors?

Upon arriving, she immediately spotted Bernir, who was enthusiastically demonstrating his new prosthetic arm to a small group of onlookers. Brylvia pushed through the crowd for a closer look. As soon as she laid eyes on the arm, she realized why her apprentice had been so excited.

The arm was a masterpiece. Unlike the rough, functional golem arm Bernir had used before, this one had a sleek, almost natural look. The model resembled the one she gave to Roland but it had been fashioned with mithril. It moved with an uncanny fluidity, mimicking the motions of a real arm with precision. Bernir's fingers flexed and curled with ease, each movement smooth and controlled. The surface of the arm had intricate runic engravings that glowed faintly.

“Is the runic battery inside of it? There seems to be a compartment for it, and these runes… I haven’t seen ones like this before. Fascinating…”

“Ah… Master Brylvia?”

“What? Stop bothering me…”

“I, uh… nothing…”

Brylvia looked up at the man to whom this runic prosthesis had been attached. She was now directly in front of him and seemed to have forgotten her manners by examining his arm without asking for his permission. Taking a deep breath, she cleared her throat awkwardly and stepped back. Noticing the other craftsmen around her smirking, she realized she had become lost in her own world, marveling at the intricate runes on Bernir's prosthetic arm.

“What are ye bastards staring at? Do ye still wish to get paid?”

The other dwarves recoiled in fright at her words. Without their pay, they wouldn’t be able to get drunk anymore. They quickly averted their gazes from her glares while Bernir stood there uncomfortably.

“Bernir, was it? This is some remarkable work.”

Brylvia said, her voice filled with genuine admiration and a hint of curiosity.

“Did Master Wayland design this?”

“Aye, Master Brylvia, but I can’t disclose our secrets. You’ll have to talk with the boss about it.”

“Hah, quite cheeky, aren’t you, brat?”

She could tell that this young half-dwarf did not fear her as much as the other dwarves in the smithy. It was a respectable attribute, and if it weren’t for the exquisite nature of the runic prosthetic, she might have given him an earful. Brylvia examined the prosthetic arm one last time, the runic composition was nothing that she had ever seen before and certainly something she needed to investigate further.

“Fine, I’ll leave you be then, but tell your ‘boss’ that he needs to come here.”

“Aye, sure Master Brylvia, I’ll be sure to mention it.”

Bernir nodded respectfully, acknowledging Brylvia's interest and authority. With that, she turned and began making her way back to her workstation, leaving the young blacksmith to his own devices. She knew he was there to pick up some previously prepared parts, likely for another one of Wayland's outrageous contraptions.

“That human, he might actually do it… hah. I wonder what those old farts will think about this… It might be better not to make any reports just yet…”

The woman chuckled to herself while glancing back at the other union members. The young smiths were all admiring the marvel of craftsmanship. Progress among the dwarves, who cherished old traditions, was quite slow. However, the human runesmith was not held back by such things, and perhaps this was something her people needed.

******

“I’m back boss and got the shipment from the union!”

“Welcome back, that took a while, were there some issues in the city?”

“Well…”

Roland peeked away from the image that was being produced on the wall to look at Bernir. Thanks to Sebastian, the need for physical schematics was a thing of the past. However, it was taking him some time to get used to this approach. He would probably need to invent a new program to help him draw which could then be called runeshop.

“Well, Master Brylvia wanted to have a closer look at the prosthetic.”

Bernir admitted sheepishly.

“... and she was quite impressed.”

Roland smiled at the news. It was reassuring to know that even the skilled dwarven runesmiths acknowledged his work. While he wasn’t certain how his invention would impact the world, he saw no reason to keep it hidden. Instead, he planned to negotiate a formal contract with the union. Without their manufacturing capabilities, spreading this prosthetic technology beyond their city would likely be impossible. He valued their reputation, understanding that most people wouldn’t trust a rural runesmith to assemble a replacement arm. It sounded like a scenario filled with potential mishaps.

“I see. No trouble then?”

“None at all. They were actually quite fascinated. I think we might have piqued their interest.”

“Good. We’ll need their cooperation for our larger projects.”

Bernir nodded, understanding the strategic importance of maintaining good relations with the dwarven union. They were masters of craftsmanship, and their expertise was invaluable for large-scale production. That was at least, until Roland’s factory project could become feasible. He envisioned assembling production golems to operate independently, freeing him from reliance on external resources. However, he was lacking funds for this dream of his to flourish and would need to accept the union's presence for a while longer.

“How’s the arm holding up? Are you experiencing any pain?”

“I’m fine, boss. There is no pain. It was initially a little itchy, but the sensation is gone now.”

Roland nodded as they carried thick plates of metal together. They placed the plates on the ground in an orderly fashion before assembling them in the correct order. The union dwarves had been called into action to help with this process, following his schematics perfectly. However, there were still a few things that needed to be worked on after they finished magically welding everything together.

“… But boss, what is this supposed to be?”

“What do you think it is?”

“Is this some kind of large shield? But why is it so wide? Can you even hold it up? Could it be a base for a new golem, are we going to attach some legs to it… I don’t know… what is it for, boss? Tell me!”

“It’s not a shield. If I had to give it a name, I’d call it a flying platform, perhaps? Or maybe something like a mobile-flight system for my armor?”

Bernir blinked a few times in confusion while looking at the strange construction. Once he heard that it was for flying, he noticed it was vaguely shaped like a bird, with short wings on the side. Roland chuckled at Bernir's perplexed expression. The project in front of them did indeed resemble something that would be found in the air but not exactly.

It had a more aerodynamic shape, a concept often overlooked in this world. Technology here primarily revolved around magical crafting with little emphasis on efficiency. Flying ships resembled those used at sea, and concerns about fuel efficiency were minimal. People adhered to traditional shapes without much consideration for aerodynamics or the mechanics of flight that mimicked birds. Testing for such innovations was uncommon as flight primarily relied on finding floatation stones or other magical means.

“Mobile-flight system? You always come up with interesting names, Boss.”

“Well, it’s used for flying and will enhance my mobility in the air…”

Roland explained being slightly ticked off about having someone say that his naming sense was slightly eccentric.

“Oh, mobility in the air?”

“Yes, Imagine it as a platform that can levitate and assist with flight. The design is to reduce wind resistance and maintain stability during aerial maneuvers. The current shape is a bit blocky so we’ll have to hammer down the edges until it's a bit more sleek.”

“Ah, so you’re going to stand on it, it’s just like a small airboat?”

“I guess, it’s something like that, maybe I should just call it a rune-glider…”

“Oh, that one isn’t half bad! It glides on the winds and is created with runes.”

He wasn’t sure why people persisted in designing flying vessels that resembled boats, but he hoped that once his invention gained traction, they would recognize the flaws in their approach. His design drew inspiration from something popular in his world: old stealth aircraft bombers. It featured a flat triangular body with secure foot locks, designed to conserve mana charges and ensure stability even if he passed out. Roland was adamant about not relying solely on spells that required him to be conscious.

‘If I ever pass out, I need it to hold me there even if it tips to the other side.’

Soon, the two were immersed in their work. Roland focused on rounding the edges to observe the aerodynamic response to the shape change. Setting up a wind tunnel with simple magic was straightforward. Once the smoke was produced and blown toward the assembled metallic glider it started to react. The smoke slipped smoothly over the smoothed surfaces at some points, while at others, it revealed distortions that needed correction.

Roland wasn’t aiming for perfection as this thing needed to be done within a day or two. There were other projects he needed to finish while his armor parts were going through the smelting process. Bernir observed with fascination as Roland meticulously adjusted the prototype. The project was intriguing but not as revolutionary as the runic prosthesis that he was working with. This whole project was a great test for this limb and as it stood, it was passing with flying colors.

Initially, Roland observed that Bernir was conserving his strength while working with the hammer. It took two or three blows to achieve what usually required only one. However, as they continued working, Bernir’s skills gradually returned to their usual proficiency, and soon there was little noticeable difference. Roland acknowledged that his assistant was a superior artisan, and it became evident that the artificial hand would enable Bernir to perform his duties just as effectively as before.

The two worked together just as they had in the past, and there was something cathartic about it. As they labored, memories of their early days building the smithy flooded back. One was a strange newcomer to this world, seeking escape from everyone and everything. The other was searching for purpose in a world where he faced discrimination. Over time, they found themselves and supported each other in improving their lives.

Eventually, they arrived at this point, both now respected figures whose achievements could not be denied by others. Roland's reputation as a skilled runesmith continued to soar, and he uplifted everyone around him. Some were just beginning to realize his greatness, while others had recognized it from the start. His growing influence attracted attention from all quarters, some of which he hoped to avoid. Yet, there was no turning back now. He needed to forge ahead and elevate himself as much as possible before anyone could hold him back.

“Aye, I think that should do it, try it now boss?”

“Hm… Yes, this feels much more stable than before.”

The two craftsmen continued their work late into the night, and now one of them hovered in the air. Bernir's feet were securely locked in place on the levitating rune glider. It was made from enhanced aether deep steel, a material Roland had in surplus. The thick plates ensured durability against rune degeneration, making replacement relatively inexpensive and quick to assemble.

Thanks to his research at the Institute, Roland no longer worried much about equipment and storage. This allowed him to focus on developing attachments and external equipment parts rather than just improving his armor. With the spatial rune technology he possessed, there was no need to rely solely on physical gear. Even the rune glider could transform into his armor, allowing him to carry it discreetly. He could produce various armaments as needed and as long as he had metal on hand, he could create a spatial rune to access his inventory.

Bernir watched with keen interest as Roland tested the levitating platform, now hovering a meter above the ground. Roland shifted his weight, adjusting the wings and experimenting with the balance. The levitation spell operated smoothly without propulsion, making it relatively easy to maintain equilibrium. This platform was Roland's initial solution to his flight challenge, but he envisioned that future inventions would integrate seamlessly with his armor.

“Bernir, climb up. I need to test how well it handles with more weight and movement.”

“I am quite the moving object!”

After a chuckle, both men positioned themselves on the glider, which ascended another meter into the air. Balancing with two people proved slightly more challenging, causing the platform to shake as they hovered. They also added some additional weights which caused the experimental invention to shake.

“Woah… is this safe, boss? Maybe we should do this outside?”

“It’s fine, just stand closer to me and you’ll be fine.”

With their feet securely clasped to the glider, Roland acted as a central support pillar within his invention. It required some practice, but he quickly mastered the art of balancing the hovering platform. Bernir stood directly in front of him and he found it easier to balance when the two were directly together. Once he figured out this part, it was even possible for them to slowly hover around this underground testing facility without falling down.

“What are you two giggling around like two young girls for?”

Their cruise around the workshop was interrupted by a voice coming from the side. Once they looked there, they spotted a large lady with horns and an annoyed expression on her face. Next to her was a smaller woman, this one wearing glasses and fixing them while looking at the two hugging men gliding through the air.

“Uh… this is…”

“You don’t need to explain, just finish up, do you know what time it is?”

“Ah… yes dear.”

Bernir replied, glancing nervously as his wife's glare in his direction. Meanwhile, Elodia wore a perplexed expression, likely wondering why the two men were sitting on a floating platform and hugging each other. Roland soon adjusted their descent and brought the glider smoothly to the workshop floor.

“Sorry, we’ll clean up and join you soon…just give us five minutes.”

Roland was quick to reply as he had as always, forgotten about the time. Elodia sighed, shaking her head with a slight smile.

“Just don’t make it a habit to lose track of time, but I suppose, it's already too late for that. Dinner's been ready for a while now.”

Roland and Bernir nodded sheepishly. They quickly dismounted from the glider and began tidying up the workspace. After securing the tools and ensuring the glider was properly stored, they left the workshop. Work was progressing smoothly and soon the time for another visit at the Institute was fast approaching.