(IN) Chapter 032 - An Old Man's Tale Part III

A great surge of emotions overwhelmed Galleo as his memories suddenly came bursting back to him.

He could suddenly remember the past, he had tried so hard to forget...

[[Galleo remembered the faces of the Philosophers he admired so much as a young boy, only to be crushed by reality. The Philosophers didn't even bother to stop by his booth as they were too busy checking the projects of the already established researchers and magicians.

Galleo, who was still young and starting, was ignored and passed by the Philosophers, despite the untapped potential of Galleo's project.

[If you won't check my project, then I'll make you see it!] The young Galleo thought to himself.

Galleo began to light a small flame under a half-balloon made from specially coated silk he developed.

The crowds around him started to gather, and even the other researchers left their booths to check out why a small crowd suddenly gathered around Galleo's booth.

Even the Philosophers began to take notice.

"Hmm? What's this?" A Philosopher mumbled as he and two other Philosophers checked on Galleo's booth.

When they arrived at Galleo's booth, there they saw three floating balloons and became interested.

"Hmm, young man. Come here" A Philosopher called him out.

"Y-Yes, sir!" Excited, Galleo quickly came closer to the Philosophers and started to answer their questions. Galleo felt thrilled that they took an interest in his work.

"What is your project young man? What was the magic formula you used to float these balloons" The Philosopher asked with a stern voice.

"Magic? I didn't use any magic, sir. These are called Heated Air Balloons sir. I discovered that when Air is heated up, it floats up just like heated-water. So I designed a silk cloth that wouldn't let air leave it and this is the result" The young Galleo enthusiastically explained his invention.

"No magic?... Hmm, no matter. Can this machinery be scaled up to board people or maybe cannons?" Another Philosopher skeptically asked.

"C-Cannons?" Galleo stuttered.

"Yes boy, Cannons. For war"

"I-I don't know sir... I tried to make the silk balloon larger but it failed. It can only hold this large a size sir" Galleo admitted to his lack of research due to the time constraints of the competition.

"I see, then its a mere party trick. Useless" The skeptical second Philosopher left as if losing interest in Galleo's project.

"Don't mind him, young one. Your project was very impressive! Keep up the good work, eh?" The first Philosopher was much gentler in tone, but it was obvious that he too lost interest in Galleo's work.

The day ended with Galleo's disappointment. Although he amused the Philosophers with his invention, they labeled it as a mere "party trick"

He wasn't even chosen as a Candidate for his first Philosopher Entrance despite the untapped potential his hard work and invention showed...]]

"Did you get chosen as a Candidate then?" Duke asked, still worried for the Galleo in front of him.

"No, no I... I didn't" Galleo faintly murmured.

[[Shortly after the Philosopher Entrance, Galleo's teacher, Sisario passed away without ever getting the appreciation and acknowledgment he deserved.

Galleo began devoting himself more and more to his craft. Learning from different fields to fuel creativity for his inventions. Galleo favored the field of Physical Alchemy in particular.

Physical Alchemy had a great affinity with his field of Engineering as it didn't need Mana or Magic rich herbs nor minerals like magic-based Alchemy to operate.

But because it wasn't as advanced as Magical Alchemy, like Engineering, Galleo also had to start from scratch.

Over the years Galleo worked hard day and night testing different materials and incorporating them into his Machinistic Blueprints.

"Mother, I'll be going now" Galleo, groomed and wearing formal clothes bid his mother goodbye as he set off towards a blind date. During this time Galleo was already above Marrying age and so he decided that it was time to think of things other than his inventions.

Even though he had still not fully healed from losing and failing his teacher, his mother convinced him that his obsession with work wasn't healthy for him anymore.

"Ok mama, I will try to find a good bride" Galleo surrendered to his worried mother.

But Galleo wasn't always lucky with love at first.

"I can't stand it anymore Galleo! You love your work more than you have ever loved me!" One of his past girlfriends shouted.

"I have fallen for another man, Galleo! I am sorry, but were through..." Another girl dumped him.

But after a few blind dates here and there, and after a series of failed relationships, Galleo finally met the love of his life.

"Do you, Marianne Ilducia Bambine, take Galleo Diovanni Davinci as your lawfully wedded husband?" A priest of Herrshei, Goddess of the Eternal Bond, presided over Galleo's wedding.

"Yes, I do..." Marianne happily said yes as her eyes shined.

Marianne made Galleo the happiest man he could ever think of.

He was still stuck up on his teacher's unjustified fate, but he didn't have to work alone anymore as his wife, Marianne was from one of Venicia's blacksmith families and she loved helping him with his inventions.

The couple bought land in Vinsilica, Galleo's hometown, right next to his parents, where they started a local smithy and simple Alchemy shop which did quite well for a while. The couple even felt safe enough to have a child.

And one year later, after Galleo's wedding, his first and only daughter was born.

"Hello baby Iliria, my beautiful and precious Iliria!" Galleo beamed with intense happiness as he held up the beautiful baby girl in his hands.

Sadly, like a rollercoaster, after life's great highs, they were always followed by greater lows.

"Mother!" Galleo worried as he ran back to his family's house when he heard from his father that his mother had suddenly collapsed.

"What has happened to you, my mother?!" Galleo cried when he saw his mother feebly laying down on the bed]]