The Invasion's Dawn

Morning came and the trenches were being dug all across the walls of the capitol. The generals woke up with the sound of the bells of the Carabian capitol, alongside the hitting of the pickaxes and the digging of the sand.

Ixander oversaw the massive trench centre near the gates of Khatanabat. However, his face was filled with discontent. It was because the expected output of the tools were not met on the very first day the workshops changed production. The tools that were produced on that day was meager.

"I've been too optimistic on my estimates. There were only four hundred and seventy tools produced, as opposed to the expected seven hundred. This might be a problem that may hinder our progress" informed Farkan.

"And the remaining tools were only covered by the supplies the city already has…which only lasts until tomorrow, or the work will be halted" added Farkan.

Ixander then thought what the problem of the workshops could be. So he went to one of the workshops. He saw that the men working are around the clock, but was never able to meet the tools demand. Some were also inexperienced as they were apprentices.

Ixander then walked to the master blacksmith, and asked him. "What could be the problem? Why was not the demands for the tools met in this workshop?" asked Ixander.

"The men…well some died off the last war. Some however, are in the army. These rookies are working 'round the clock, they are yet to meet the demand!" said the master, making sure he is heard amongst the pounding of hot iron, heating of the blanks, and sharpening of the tools.

Ixander then thanked the master blacksmith. "Very well, I will act upon it."

Ixander then left the premises. One of the apprentices approached the master blacksmith and said "Whoa, was that the great Ixander? I only heard his name from stories, I never knew he was real."

"Well, yeah, I also thought he was also a myth. They said he could save Carab" the blacksmith said.

"I wonder how though, with all these tools?" added him as he laughed in a short while. "Ye, go back to work! We've got more of the shovels and pickaxes to mold…" ordered the blacksmith in a rusty, but friendly voice. "Make sure to haft them properly!"

Ixander then went quickly to the meeting of Generals, accompanied by his aides-de-camp and Farkan. The door was opened by the Carabian soldiers, and the retinue marched towards the room.

Ixander whispered to Farkan "Who commands the Militia?"

"Gabgor, he's on the side of that general who spitted on you."

"I forgot his name as well" said Ixander.

"That one, sir, is Harkab" said Farkan.

Ixander sighed, then said "I wonder how many names I am going to memorize my entire life…"

Ixander then asked the generals "Which one of you is Gabgor?"

"I am" said the general who was immediately beside Harkab.

Ixander looked at him, then at the table and ordered "Do a census among your men, and which one of them are toolsmiths."

"And why should I follow you?" asked Gabgor.

"Do you want me to lick and shine your boots for me to order you to save your country?" asked Ixander.

Ixander then continued "I've talked to the men who were working at the trenches. None of them were militiamen. Most of them were regulars who are willing to fight and die for their country with or without my command. Shame on you, and each and every one of you!"

He was about to march out of the room to enforce the command himself, but suddenly he stopped and looked back at Harkab and Gabgor.

Suddenly, a messenger from the queen arrived. "Good morning sir, a message from the majesty."

Farkan opened the message. He then read the message out loud. "The majesty announces that all the civil and military officials gather at the ballroom of the palace this afternoon. The majesty will announce officially some points."

Farkan then closed the letter, and threw it on the table. Ixander, with a sour face, went outside the room and oversaw the census of the militia being done.

In fact, he joined the census takers.

The tables were set up in front of the barracks to census the militia of their job, and to have quite a friendly talk with them.

"Name?"

"Yulijus sir."

"Occupation?"

"Well, I'm a soldier now, but I would be a shoemaker if I wished it. They call me a man with a jack on all trades!"

Ixander then looked up, then asked "Jack of all trades, so you know how to make tools from scratch as well then."

"Not only that, I almost became a master, if not of course for the foolishness I've done!" the soldier then laughed, then coughed, then tried to calm himself. "Haa… sorry, sorry, I just can't forget it. I sold all of the tools to a fur merchant for five carthres, and damn! The master held his head with both hands in frustration and said 'AYAYAAAAAAYYYY! You're going to kill my shop!' then he ran to me with his cleaver!" then he laughed so hard that his toothless gums were showing.

Ixander laughed as well, whilst holding his head in temples and shaking his head simultaneously. "B-but you would be willing to work at a shop again, just for the sake…"

"Ay! Ay! No no, if I went to the same master I'm dead!" then Yulijus laughed briefly.

"Tell me the name of the master, and I will show you away from him, to another shop."

Ixander then asked for the next man. The stream of interesting stories are not yet over for Ixander.

"Name?"

"Bambaro."

"Occupation?"

"Cuckold."

Ixander was writing his name and details, but then appeared unbelieving and confused. He stopped writing and raised his head. A dark skinned man is before him. "Sorry what did you say?"

"I do cuckolding."

Not only did Ixander hear the words for the first time as if it was a joke or not, the man in front of him repeated it!

"Cuckolding? Are you serious?"

"This is a census sir, I wouldn't lie like when I told the last lonely wife that she's the only one I have in mind."

Ixander's eyes widened. He shook his head in surprise. "S-so you earn from what you do?"

"So much sir. A single month of cuckolding with just one of the lonely wife earns me the entire year of a laborer."

Ixander's eyebrows raised and does not ask for more.

He then finished listing Bambaro's details, scoots over to another census taker and said "These men are quite interesting…"

"Not as interesting as I, if you may ask sir" said the census taker.

Ixander appeared curious and confused. The census taker then said "I was a smuggler going to Fortland, on the north. We drank so much that we trashed an entire in, and almost lit the gunpowder barrels at the neighboring gun shop."

Ixander scooted back at his table, appearing much more surprised. "I never knew some other's life were more interesting than I."

And so for the next few days of preparing trenches, getting back the smiths to their workshops to increase production of tools, they are now prepared for what hell the Albanese men will give them.

Farkan then went into Ixander's bureau. He then opened the door and entered.

"The rations, are they enough?" asked Ixander.

"They are, and there are supposed to be more. But I have more reports from the harbor" said Farkan.

"I'm guessing the Albanese steamed fleet is going north and the Carabian navy is freaking out?" said Ixander.

Farkan remained in his position and steadied in there.

Ixander then stopped writing and stood. He wore his hat and said to Farkan "Come follow me…"

"To where?" asked Farkan.

"I heard the capital is best at silk weaving, so we will go there…" said Ixander.

So they went to the silk weavers. Most of the workers there were women, and so Ixander went to the owner's office and he drew something like a large sac.

"I would like you to form such. I advise you do not ask the purpose of it."

"I do not worry of this, if it is to save the city, but unless we know the dimension of the thing on this will be put, we will not be able to predict how this would work out" said the owner.

Ixander then pointed out what was necessary, not giving away what is to be done.

He then went to the carpenters, who were asked to make wooden fan-like light wood and a basket that is able to fit five people. Afterwards, he went to the gas lamp makers, then requested they make a burner.

Farkan was then curious as to what Ixander is planning to build.

"What are you planning to do?"

"You will know. I've also requested a workshop to make hooks, while the hemp shops were to make rope."

Then, the day finally came when everything was finished. The materials were sent out the field, and Ixander oversaw his plan in motion. It was none other than a hot air balloon which is able to propel.

He lit the flames above then asked Farkan and two aides to propel the balloon.

It was the first time that Farkan saw such device. He was impressed, and the people of Khatanabat looked at the sky. Some were panicked at what they saw, but some were admiring the view.

For Carab, it was a dawn of a new era. For Ixander, it was a success, a work well done which he did not expect to be a success.

Farkan smiled at the feeling of seeing the world below being so small. He then talked to Ixander. "The afternoon seven days ago, the majesty asked for a meeting. We were shocked that she showed herself finally to the grand audience, they never expected it. She announced that she will be crowned officially once the invaders are defeated, and will name someone to have a hand in her marriage."

"Her majesty said that?" asked Ixander.

"What I'm trying to say is, ever since you came to Carab…no…ever since you came to this world, you were a blessing of ration and humility…"

And so, they noticed the sun set from the horizon they are at.