Demonstrating a Barrier and Being Told the Plan

Standing in front of the Emperor of the Dragon Empire, Marquess Toral bowed his head in respect and we followed suit. As the gallantry of his figure was something we could not ignore.

"I've come and brought the coachman mr. Shay Winston your highness."

"...so you were the one who managed to deliver the daughter of Duke Modelva across the nightmare known as the Flat Bioma." said the Emperor.

His eyes, beaming with the curiosity of the truth behind Marquess Toral's statement, he wondered if it was even the speck of truth.

"It is an Honor to meet you, your highness." I said as I kneel to the man with the greatest power in this kingdom.

"You seem to have a friend who came with you, who is he?" he asked as he turned to Josy who carried Bruneheart on his arms.

"He is Josy Brune, a well-known blacksmith down at Desvey town your highness." answered Toral and in doing so, Josy reacted by kneeling the same as me.

"...ah yes, I remember you. This is the first time I'm seeing you face to face but I thank you for providing the necessary weapons to my army. I hope you continue to reserve you abilities to my kingdom."

"It is of great honor that I can offer my skill to you, your highness." said Josy in a proper tone.

"I've heard that you were commissioned by the Percival family to create a long lost art of the magic sword. Is this true?" the Emperor asked.

"Ah, yes my lord." said Josy.

"And can I assume that the sword that you carry now is the so-called magic sword?" he asked as his eyes was glued to the sword that was on the hands of Josy.

"Y-yes…" as Josy answered the assumption of the king, the whole crowd in the room was shocked and amazed. They gasp as was filled with wonder of what this so-called magic sword was capable of.

"My, how wonderful it is to see that one of my people have come and made such an accomplishment. I am nothing but proud." he said as a smile creeps on his face, but his gaze only remained ever so cold and distant.

"I would have liked to see a demonstration of this sword, but unfortunately the sword is not the one I came of interest today…Shay Winston, arise and look to me and answer me on how you managed yourself against the cold nights and the claws that roam from that cursed land."

As he turned his gaze to me, I shivered for a bit as the pressure of his gaze only became more heavier.

"...I came to the Empire only with my stead and wagon, and To fend of against the dangers of the night, I used an artifact that creates a shield around me, your highness."

"May you show me how you use this artifact?" he asked.

"Ah, the artifact is back at my wagon…I'll have to go and pick it up."

"No need." as he said this, the room's door opened wide and there, a few knights came and carried everything that was of my position. They placed it at the middle of the room to show that nothing was left out. Even the wagon the itself was carried here but the Iron-lung stead was the only one to remain at the stables.

"Show me how you make this so-called shield." said the emperor.

"..." looking at him, I could not go against his words…so I had to move on and prove my words to him.

"Y-yes, your highness."

Without delaying anything, I went and picked up the the four sticks that I had carved with. Then I went to approach Marquess Toral in request of something.

"What is it Mr. Shay?"

"Um, do you have something with you that I can use to write on the floor?"

"Hmm, we should have some chalk down at one of the labs. I'll have someone go pick some up."

"And I'll also need something long and can be use as a stand. I can't really just stab the artifacts down at the carpeted floors, that would be problematic. And also a rope to use to tie the artifacts down at the stands."

"Hmm, I see. Okay then, I'll prepare them right away." without hesitation, he went and ordered a few men to grab the things that I need. While waiting , I had to look back into the All-Known book to see what the markings were to use in order for the barrier to function.

As I studied the markings, and symbols, I could feel the gaze that everyone in the room was making towards me, especially Serena who looked at me with an anxious expression with her father who was talking to her while also observing me from a distance. It was uncomfortable but despite their stare, I had to focus back into myself.

Minutes later, the things that I wanted came and I had to instruct the people who brought me the stands that it should be far apart at a 6x6 distance. As they distanced the stands from one another, I then went and tied the artifacts down to the stands. Josy helped with the tying and then after that I proceeded with creating the symbol down at the floor.

But before I could ever start writing, I had to ask permission if it was okay to write down something at the carpet.

"Do I have permission to write chalk in the carpet?" I asked, looking at Marquess Toral with an unsure expression.

"We permit it." said Toral.

So starting it, I began to write as fast as I could. With the blessing of the craftsmanship, nothing was stopping me as the symbol in my head was easily starting to form itself in the way my arm made the symbol. It was like I was in the zone of being completely entangled in the minds of an artist…

With my sweat dripping down the carpet and my fingertips cramping in pain from the tension of each delicate symbol written down…but I had to perservere. I didn't want to make the emperor wait any much longer.

Only about five minutes later, I came to a stop as I looked at the last end of line in a symbol that connects to its end.

"..." I looked to the emperor and saw that all eyes were on me…

"Well, show me Mr. Shay."

"...Yes, your highness."

And with one quick draw of a curved line to connect to its end, the symbol connected and the mark of the barrier began to react. As if in a chain reaction, a blue transparent light began to show and the carved sticks at each corner began to create a transparent shaking reaction that made them connect to one another.

And there, I was finished.

As I stood in the middle of it all, I saw the king stand as he watch the barrier hold its form.

The emperor then approached me and attempted to reach for the transparent light…

The knights reacted and tried to ready themselves for any sort of danger, but Marquess Toral had to stop them in their tracks.

Little by little, it seems as though the emperor was somewhat hesitant to touch the barrier…but by pushing through with his effort to act like a king, he calmly placed his hand on the barrier.

And there, his hand stopped and never moved forward from its place.

"...!" his showed a ray of hope and amazement.

""...Ohh!!"" the people were amazed, to see such a thing happen that they cheered. A discovery of an artifact that might change the course of mankind…they could do nothing but be surprised by this moment.

"...is it strong Mr. Shay?" the Emperor Asked as he looked to me from the other side of the barrier.

"The barrier will only hold its form as long as the symbol that I drew in the center is not disturbed. But seeing if its strong or not is something I can't really prove, but I can say is that its strong enough to hold off a Grizzly Lion in its place."

"...Did you use mana to fuel the barrier?" he asked.

"I…I'm not sure." I answered.

"How can you not be sure?" he asked.

"...I just did what I could, but I can't explain the reason behind how the barrier is made."

"Is that so? Hmm, forgive me then for asking."

"Ah no, its no problem at all."

"Hmm, its clearly different from the barrier that a mage can create…its to quiet and reserved." he looked to the barrier as if he was in deep thought. For me to wonder if he was a scholar, I could only ever think of that question in my head…but still, it shouldn't hurt ask right?

"...Are you a mage, your highness?" I asked.

"Hmm? Ah no, I am just a man intrigued by the values of magic. I've seen my personal mage create a barrier himself…but it was more of a temporary shield. The one you've made however is but a safe spot if anything. That is my guess." he said.

"Ah, yes…exactly." I said.

"Tell me, where did you acquire this artifact?" he asked.

"Ah…um, well…"

"Did you claim this from a Dwarve's Ruin? From a merchant? Or did you create this artifact yourself?" he said as he looked to me from behind the barrier with such deep and brooding eyes.

"...I-"

Although I wanted to brag about the fact that I myself created this artifact, I was hesitant to expel such information to the king. And it may have just been my gut speaking to me to avoid anything that may cause trouble…so I knew that I had to keep such information for myself. Knowing the value of what I just made, if I just came to say what I knew on the spot, I may be pulling myself away from the life that I wanted to keep. the life of a farmer.

Its the same situation as me wanting to keep the information of having to be involved in the making of the Magic-Sword. It just smells like trouble if I was ever careless about such information being said to the world.

"…I cannot say." I just can't pull myself to reveal what I knew. And although it may have seem selfish, the feeling of knowing that there's too much at stake is something to always take note of.

"...I understand."

"...!?" I was shocked. To think that the king did not push forward with this sort of revolutionary study is but a miracle on my end.

"...but please Mr. Shay, I have a request that only you could ever achieve."

".…"

"The life of my daughter is at stake."

"W-what?" I was completely taken surprise by the request of the emperor.

"Allow me to explain the situation to him, my king." suddenly, Marquess Toral steps up and offers to explain the situation.

"By now, thanks to your help in safely delivering Lady Serena to the Dragon Empire's territory, it is now known that the Hearts Kingdom has been invaded and been completely ruled over by a demon who disguised himself as the king of said kingdom. The infatuation of this damned beast has fooled us and has kidnapped the princess in his ambition to marry her. We had the time to prepare an army of 3000 to go against the kingdom in an attempt to take down the demon and bring back the princess, but alas it takes 15 days to completely reach the Hearts Kingdom. We've only sent our men there five days ago and we worry that the village that sits next to the Hearts Kingdom already been invaded by its own army. If our Army reaches this village, it will surely alert the Demon of our attack and by then we worry of what he plans to do if we act on forcing ourselves against the kingdom."

"...What does this have to do with me?" I asked.

"If our assumption is correct, the Hearts Kingdom is only aware of the fact that Lady Serena and her knight has died while going through the Flat Bioma in an attempt to escape the kingdom. But luckily, with your interaction you were able to save them, giving us a chance to gain what we know today. They won't expect anyone else to go through the Bioma because of its known nature and you will use this as the way to enter the Kingdom silently. The barrier you made has the capacity to carry a large division of men that we can send off to the Hearts Kingdom. If you were to cross the Flat Bioma, it will only take you 3 days to make it to the Hearts Kingdom. By then, you will have the chance to silently retrieve the princess while our army of 3000 prepares to distract the Hearts Kingdom's soldiers at the village. They won't know that your division will be already waiting for a chance to carry out and safely bring the princess back from that demon's hands."

"..." I only ever stood in silence as I listened to everything he has said. And although it may seem simple, it seems that it was possible. But I cant really say anything, since I was pushed to go through with the plan…the plan to bring back the princess.

'...haaa…what the fuck did I get myself into.'

"Now then, that's is simply the summary of the plan. We still have to go through with the whole detail of it in private."

"Ah, I see." I said.

"Will you help us Mr. Shay?" asked the Emperor.

"..." but I only ever stared with the heavy situation relying on my back.

"...okay, but in exchange, I need something from the Empire." I said as I looked to them with a nervous smile on my face.

"Oh, and what is it that you desire?" asked Toral.

"...I'm not sure yet since I didn't really expected this to happen to me…but I'll want help with something in the future."

"If it is within my empire's power, then I accept." as the emperor said this, I suddenly remembered that I had that Dragon sword handle with me to sell. The sword handle that I found in the middle of the forest. The book said that if I gave it to the knights of the empire, then they can exchange it for 15 gold coins. It's a good start for me to buy seeds in the market.

"..." but looking at the situation, I'll give It to Marquess after everything has settled down in the room.