The Talent
Some two years after stumbling upon this world, Alex has been used at his name of 'Ixander' and called himself as such. He has been trained under the guide of Fortis. Ixander quickly adapted, and Fortis never have seen such great adaptability and prodigy in his life ever. He was shocked as to how Ixander knew how to skin a hunted game, and to dye it—which was definitely not a talent a man of noble background can ever have. Nobles do fighting and estate management, but never the small processes.
Ixander gathered details of this new land he had stumbled upon. He still has that curiosity back in his life. As books were unaffordable for the poor, Ixander could only gather what information Fortis gets back to the cabin they lived in. Often times, the information that Fortis gets back are papers, and even those were expensive. However, Fortis only afforded them as he has sold the dyed skins Ixander made. Because of Ixander's doing, Fortis was able to afford for them goods that otherwise would have not been affordable for simple people living in the forests. However, Fortis knew that if they used their money to improve the conditions of their life, they would surely be caught by the eyes of the rogue riskers loyal to the Lilacists and the Republicans, so he dares not improve their condition even a single bit.
As Fortis thought of this, he sees Ixander happily hunting game and foraging fruits, being curious of his surroundings. This lightened Fortis' thoughts and cherished what they have now. Ixander did not question this as he had known of the details about their situation.
Fortis has been his teacher in History, in languages of Alban and Livinia, and in Combat. He was surprised however that Ixander was caught up easily with such subjects. He knew how to do such things without prior knowledge, which is quite mysterious. One day he was tanning hides, another he will take back strange berries and made various dishes out of them. There was even one day that he found minerals that have not yet been discovered by anyone. Fortis concluded that he is indeed living with a prodigy, and it seems that he is blessed with such a child that knows various things and undertook them with such relative ease.
One day, Fortis stumbled upon a book containing instructions on crafting various arms and weapons. Fortis also notes to himself that the inventive and prodigy like Ixander would be interested in such. Fortis also remembered that Ixander's Birthday is coming near. Fortis inquired about the book.
"Mister, how much does this book fetch?"
"Bah! A fellow like ye, don't bother asking! You can't afford it!"
"I am asking for the price sir, not your ignorance."
"Say what?!" The vendor became angry upon hearing words with certainly was a strike to his pride. He wasn't afraid for after all, he has a good build driven by lifting goods and hauling them.
Fortis knew what this will come into so he drew his flintlock and aimed it at his head, saying "I asked for the price, Mister, not for your ignorance. Should I repeat myself?"
Being terrified by his fast reflexes, he immediately answered "T-three gold trivertis, s-sir!"
Fortis aimed his flintlock away and, with a terrifying glare, asked again "How much?!"
"I-I shall give it to you with just a small gold trivertis sir!! Just spare me!" says the bulky vendor.
Fortis though, gave him three gold trivertis and took the book, walking away.
The scene was witnessed by the Grandquester and then approached Fortis.
"Good day, Fortis. It's been long" calls the Grandquester.
"Should you not be on the capital right now? They are having the Great Riskers' Conference back there." Asks Fortis.
"I'm not interested with the flaunt of trivertis before my country, especially after the Republican Albanese ravaged by jurisdiction. And today, that damned Albanese currency is filling the palace treasury, and the display of the king!" the Grandquester said.
Fortis stood quiet, but the Grandquester continued speaking "It's a great thing that you still maintained living inside those forests despite having a lot of risk coming from the Lilacists, and muggers under those who storm our borders frequently."
"I think, you should go to the capital, tell your king how weak he is for not defending his borders well from mere bandits." Says Fortis.
"Now, don't be like that. It may give our area the chaos it has right now, but the riskers would be doing nothing if those bandits are out of our scene right now." Says the Grandquester.
After a lot of insignificant talking that followed, both gentlemen separated ways. However, before they parted far, the Grandquester beware Fortis. "Recently, bandit activity is increasing near your area. Be careful."
As Fortis goes home to the deep forests, he was surprised to witness the house are filled all around with dead bandits. Unbeknownst to Fortis, Ixander defeated a group of Lilac bandits. Fortis then saw Ixander with a strange weapon, with a trigger but which looks like a bow. Another one, made of nearby hardwood, made into a board, lined with what seems to be holes in rows of five and four. Fortis stepped over the bodies of the dead bandits to reach Ixander. As Fortis approaches Ixander, Ixander does not notice his presence and continues fixing the devices he made to counteract the bandit attackers.
Fortis then, with his curiosity ever growing accompanied by his growing age, albeit middle-aged, asked Ixander "W-what are these devices you made? And how did you defeat the bandits?"
"Precisely because of these things. It was a perfect time to use what I was making on our log shed." Replied Ixander.
"As I was returning to our cabin after a forage of some minerals, The bandits were prowling already for the owners, hoping that they could mug whoever the resident is. Unfortunately for them, I reside the cabin. I prepared this honeycombed shaped weapon you better might understand as a fire-cart. This here is a simple crossbow, but it reloads repeatedly through the box fitted on this top."
As Fortis is being handed with such innovation, he told Ixander "I wonder what history will tell you…of your innovations…"