45 Colt's pen

A group of professional hunters was hired by Simon to get two living magic beasts. After a thorough research the young baron has understood that he needs two specific animals to complete the enchanted object he wants to give to his friend Colt.

The hunt was a success and managed to bring back to the castle two excellent specimens in perfect condition. A silvery lightning that is a magical bird famous for its extreme speed and a scarlet hound that is a small reddish dog able to double its size and its strength.

Simon walks quietly towards the small furnace that has been set up in the courtyard of the castle. King Colton, after having heard the intention of wanting to enchant something has not resisted the temptation to witness the creation of a legendary object.

Once in the courtyard, however, Simon remains petrified observing the big stage built at night to host the royal family and guests. The king has clearly organized a great show.

"I have to concentrate, I don't have to be distracted by all these people. On that damn stage is all the royal family, ministers and other people who don't even know who they are. Fortunately, they seem to me concentrated enough to remain silent. Come on let's roll up our sleeves and let's get started."

Like other times the boy begins by preparing a fusion of various metals and magical beasts blood.

The frightened public attends the cruel scene in a religious silence.

Simon during the less demanding work is allowed to think about some of the things that happened during this year at the palace.

"Mountass has become lush. The inhabitants continue to increase. New shops and artisans appear every week. The roads are now almost all tiled and the mine works non-stop. With the help of the dwarf village, a lot of conveniences have been incorporated into the small village. Now the streets are lit by small runic stones, the mine uses dwarf devices and the safety of the passages is guaranteed with new types of scaffolding and runes of protection. Just a great job. A great job that's making me get a lot of money as a lord of that territory."

"Let's not forget that thanks to General Drevor many of the slaves captured in the Vanein County villages have been freed. Zacharias kept his promise and many of these people came to live in Mountass."

Simon takes the new metal alloy and begins to prepare a series of small ingots.

"Now I'm even stronger than a year ago. I have not told anyone yet, but my strength, dexterity, intelligence and spirit are now twice that of an adult man. I can raise a man of my size with one hand, I can draw a sword even before someone can put his hand on the hilt, I can learn languages and information in a few days and I can reason with a clear mind even in the face of unexpected events and scary things."

"All of this was obviously possible thanks to the new recruits of the Force of Fate battalion. Now that we are no longer mercenaries, soldiers are paid regularly, something that tempts many young people looking for a place to live. In a year at least a hundred new soldiers swore loyalty to me. Our battalion is quite famous both in Olmaria and in Luberistan. The strength of my men is a fact and combined with the fact that no one is a noble but people with the most disparate abilities, it has given hope to a lot of people."

The young blacksmith begins to give shape to the small ingots with determined strokes of the hammer. On the stage the king observes carefully each step with his skill remaining a little disappointed by his discovery. Only a person with the 'enchant' skill can continue to channel energy into the material as Simon is doing. So no one except that guy.

"Many, here in the palace, wonder how a baron of a small territory can keep a permanent group of soldiers. Nobody knows it apart from the royal family and the Forb family. I am rich, very rich. In a year of business with the dwarf hard oak village I gained a lot of money. The sale to the official army of some of the devices used during the battles in Luberistan and the sale of small devices such as runic stones to illuminate is a very lucrative job. Even the dwarves are very happy with the new business."

The incandescent metal begins to look more and more like a rapier.

"One of the latest inventions of mine and Igor are enchanted uniforms. I am very satisfied with the result even if the procedure can only be terminated by me so it can not be mass produced. For the moment, I gave them only to the officers of my armed force. They are uniform in fabric, very light but resistant. By forgiving and enchanting a metal insert placed in front of the heart, they are able to infuse magic throughout the fabric. The engraved runes allow the uniform to regulate its temperature, to resist shots and cuts as if it were made in a chain mail and to camouflage like chameleon-like cloaks. This invention is fantastic. Desmond and I always wear it. They are like long, rather tight black jackets, with a metal insert in front of the heart that connects to decorations of the same color. The contrast between black and metal gray makes them rather elegant. Obviously I did not draw them, Gemma decided the aesthetics. If he had let me do it I would have made them much simpler."

Everyone watches Simon not to pour a single drop of sweat while hammering the blade of the sword incessantly.

"The king asked me and my men to accompany the prince on a diplomatic mission to the nearby elven kingdom of Sales. Apparently the Elves have problems with a giant half-breed tribe. Their immunity to magic makes them the natural enemy of a people whose unique skills make them unbeatable magicians, healers or druids. The expedition will be commanded by Colt, but the soldiers will be entrusted to me, so besides the Force of Fate, another three hundred men of the royal army will be employed."

Simon understands that he can no longer afford to think of anything else. Now begins the most demanding phase of the work to create an enchanted weapon. After mounting the blade on a splendid hilt of ivory, Baron Forb prepares to cage the souls of the two magical beasts in the new weapon. The audience assists fascinated and a little disgusted by the procedure to enchant the weapon.

Simon draws with the magic beasts blood a series of symbols loaded with magical power on the entire surface of the weapon and then sink it into the heart of both animals letting the metal completely absorb the vital energy of the victims.

The end of a series of flashes suggests the completion of the work.

Simon grabs the rapier and with quick movements of his wrist weighs it in his hand, trying it, then walks towards the stage and holding it on the palms of hands delivery to Colt saying "Prince Colt, I would like to give you this enchanting weapon. I hope it will be useful to you."

Colt takes the weapon in his hand and shaking it safely towards a curtain, he tries the blade, chopping the fabric and then exclaims "It's sharpened! It's a great rapier!"

Simon approaches the prince and, taking up his weapon, says, "It's a good pen."

The king upset question "Pen?"

The rapier, by order of Simon, retires to become a simple inkwell nib. Colt very happy screams "Amazing! I can always take it with me!"

Satisfied Simon answers "Exactly, you can take it with you even where weapons are not allowed. We will all be quieter knowing you are always armed. In addition, its blade is enchanted to always be sharpened even without maintenance. The silver lightning will also guarantee you a significant increase in speed."

The prince plays with the weapon continuing to transform it and to verify the amazing increase in speed that the weapon gives him.

The king, the twins and even some of the ministers in chorus "Can you forge others?"

King Colton suddenly turns to everyone and says, "I do not need to tell you that a legendary weapon belongs to the king first!"

Simon smiles as he promises the king, once he returns, to prepare something suitable for a sovereign.