Not (Just) A Mage Lord Isekai
Chapter 107 - To Be Young

Down the steps, surrounding the Waygate, were several doors.

“Trials by Fire,” Conflict declared as we looked down. “Through each lies a challenge that will take you and reforge you anew. You will not die, though you may wish otherwise.”

That was… partially reassuring.

In the background, the assembly line roared back to life, though the sound was muted, as though we were inside one of my shields.

"Each will temper your mettle further, unrefined one," Conflict said, drawing my attention to where it was holding its hand before it, a single finger extended upward. "For the moment, I shall extend a single favor to you, one of modest import."

"If you could keep from stripping the surface, that'd be great. We've got people moving in up there," I said, not even having to think about it.

"A simple enough concession. For a single orbital cycle, I shall leave the surface alone," Conflict replied, waving the same hand he'd just been holding up. Behind us, the noise of the assembly line stopped for a moment. Then, not even three seconds later, it started once more.

Several of the chains and hooks dropped parts, shifting about as a new version of rollerbug was assembled. These ones took longer, nearly ten times as long as the original. They looked a bit like a beetle, with a massive split horn. They didn't have any wheels, which made them much slower. But I was pretty sure they weren't going to be responsible for hauling materials.

As they were being assembled several of the regular rollerbugs moved up to the material area and the Builderbugs… tore them apart.

Might need to rename those things to Ripperbugs.

“That’s a year, not a day, right?” I asked, not sure how much time that’d bought, looking back towards Conflict. Unfortunately, its eyes had gone dim. As had the writing over the trial doorways below. It seemed it really did have similar limits to Keeper.

“I suspect you are correct, master Perth. A day would be a rotation of Ro’an, would it not?”

“Hope so. Not keen on the idea of having to deal with one of its trials everyday just to keep it pacified,” I replied, glancing over the edge. "So… you think its safe for us to just walk out of here?" I asked, looking over the busy workplace floor.

"Perhaps it would be prudent for you to use Dimensional Step," Calbern said, stepping closer to me. "I'm afraid I would not be able to live down the embarrassment if either of us were injured at this juncture."

"Fair 'nuff," I said, clapping him on the shoulder. "Might not want to mention this next part either."

Calbern arched his eyebrow as I stepped forward to sling him over my shoulder. Only for him to easily dodge out of my reach, spinning with a single step.

"Kinda need to carry you," I grumbled, embarrassed at how easily he'd avoided me.

"Ah. Of course, master Perth. But would it not be better if I carried you?"

"Doesn't work that way. I'm the one who has to take a step," I said, gesturing out at the busy floor. "Unless you want to get across on your own. I'm sure you'd be able to."

"That would be preferable," Calbern said, inclining his head in agreement. Before I could argue the point, he leapt forward, landing atop one of the newly renamed Ripperbugs, using it to swing himself past one of the massive Beetles and onto the ground.

"Easier without you anyway," I grumbled as I cast an overpowered Dimensional Step, raising my hand in a split 'V' shape, and rotating it slightly. The adjustments I'd made to the spell allowed me to cross the several hundred feet in a single step, already aligned with the still closed door.

The second I left the platform, I discovered the assembly room's noise was no longer muted. The sudden cacophony was annoying, but not overwhelming, unlike when Conflict had been tapping his fingers.

Thankfully, when I tugged on the massive door, it swung smoothly, if slowly. By the time Calbern caught up I'd been pushed out by the force of the wind, escaping the bedlam inside.

He joined me there, a bead of sweat dripping down his face. "That was rather more intense than I had anticipated. I believe that would’ve made a more appropriate challenge than the theater we engaged in prior."

"Regretting not letting me throw you over my shoulder?" I asked, smiling as I started the walk back up the steep tunnel.

"Dragons forbid, master Perth. An experience such as that is key to aligning my path. In truth, I suspect our future visits shall be quite rewarding," Calbern said, dabbing at his forehead with a kerchief. "Dignity through adversity."

"Right," I said, though I was smiling as I did so. "Guess that means you'll be coming back to attempt Conflict's trials?"

"If he allows me to do so," Calbern said, nodding seriously. "Though I suspect it would be best if neither of us return alone."

"Fair 'nuff," I agreed. We continued to talk as we ascended, and I realized how rarely we'd been able to do so lately. With everything that needed to be done, we were spending less and less time together. I was glad we'd be doing the trials together at least.

Well, as glad as I could be about something that seemed like it might be life threatening. Would need to ask Keeper if he had anything to say about his brother's trials.

"Do you suppose that a similar guardian waits at the other landmarks, master Perth?" Calbern asked as we reached the remains of the bunker where we'd hidden our gliders beneath a thin sheet of stone.

"Most like," I said as I unburied the gliders with a wave of the staff. "Another thing I'll need to ask Keeper about."

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"I imagine there were more such sites, once," Calbern said, looking about the valley as I pulled the gliders free. "What do you suppose their culture was like, to have such guardians set in place? Were they meant to give access to all who were able to prove their worth? Or were they like the Hundred Kingdoms, who only see value in those who've already set foot down the path to immortality?"

"Pretty arrogant claim, that one," I said, though I understood what he was referring to. "Even the dragon-souled aren't immortal. They might not get old, but they still die."

"I often wonder if that's true," Calbern replied, taking his glider from me. "Perhaps they merely move on. Ascend beyond the heavens."

"It's possible. Pretty sure Morgath did something like that," I said while adjusting my straps. "Though I guess he was a bit more literal about it."

"That would be quite the adventure, wouldn't you agree? To venture among the stars?" Calbern said, his voice having a bit more of a lilt to it than I was used to.

When I looked over, he was staring into the sky. It took me a moment to realize he was staring at one of the planets, well above the horizon. Considering that evening was fast approaching, I knew it wasn't the midnight star. "That's the midday star?"

"Sel'ta, yes," Calbern confirmed.

"Well, we ever get to that point, guess we'll need to stop by for a visit,"

Calbern chuckled, shaking his head. "Ah, to be young," he said, before tugging at the controls of his glider and shooting into the sky.

"Yeah, cause you were totally flying everywhere a month ago," I mumbled sarcastically, though not without amusement, knowing that even Calbern couldn't hear me. Then I followed him upward, catching up to him as he swung around the still curious wyvern.

The return flight was mostly uneventful, though the curious wyvern did follow us for a little while. Once we left the wyvern peaks behind, it turned back.

There was a flurry of activity outside Inertia's workshop when we arrived. I hadn't even had a chance to land before Inertia stomped towards me. Just outside her workshop sat the wheel, which had been disassembled further, pieces spread all over the area.

She hadn't even taken it inside before tearing it apart.

The massive war-machine stopped two paces in front of where I was setting down, tapping impatiently on her arm with what seemed to be a piece of the wheel itself. Tresla soon came over, apparently having somehow missed Inertia's initial approach.

"Inertia says this is a good hunt, but she was told you had more," Tresla said, brushing herself off, her hood shifting in the Forgeborn's direction. "And would like to request many more of these wheels."

"Was thinking something similar," I said, nodding towards Calbern who was setting down next to me. "Thought we might want to load up Fang again."

Inertia raised the chunk of metal she'd removed from the wheel, towards me, her vents rattling as she released a soft huff of steam and then lowered the metal.

"That would have been an excellent idea, Inertia agrees," Tresla said, a certain amount of her musical laughter carrying under her words. "Had she not dismantled Fang for its Forgeheart while you were gone."

Beside me, Calbern took a step forward, his hand on his sword as he glared up at the massive Forgeborn. "I thought we had agreed you would consult me prior to conducting any new refurbishments."

"None," Inertia clanked out, her shoulders shifting in a facsimile of a shrug.

"Inertia says that she wasn't refurbishing Fang. She was repurposing the Forgeheart for something more important," Tresla replied, pulling out her pipe, the rings of smoke rising. "Says it's all Perry's fault, giving her such exciting ideas and taking all the other Forgehearts with him."

"How is it my fault?" I asked the giant Forgeborn, pointing at her. "You could've just waited."

Once more Inertia shrugged, whistle hissing at Tresla.

"She thought she'd have Fang put back together before you got back," Tresla said, her voice once more laced with amusement.

"Can we get that going then?" I asked, trying not to be frustrated. Despite her disruptions, Inertia did a lot to help out. More than most. Would just be nice if she didn't take Fang apart every time she got struck by a whim. Maybe if she had more Forgehearts, she wouldn’t. But we needed lava for that. Something we couldn’t exactly ship in. And I hadn’t figured out how to make it in the quantities she needed either.

Maybe something else to ask Conflict for.

"Forgive me, master Perth, but I wish to assess the… damage," Calbern said, glaring at Inertia for a second before composing himself and not-quite-but-nearly stalking off.

"Inertia actually came to talk to you about another possible use for the Forgeheart," Tresla said, her amusement fading. "She wasn't kidding when she said she'd had an exciting idea."

"Guess we should see it then," I said, motioning the Forgeborn to lead the way.

Inertia nodded, turning without hesitation and leading us to the area behind her workshop, where dozens of people were working together. Tamrie was there, supervising a mixed crew of Tethered, refugees and even one of the former attendants, Banya.

They had massive sections of wood laid out, each of which were being fashioned together in large concentric ovals.

"What…" I started, but Inertia waved me onward.

I followed her over to where a massive set of sails were strewn about. Even more Tethered were gathered there, all of them working to stitch the fabric together. "Air," Inertia rattled out, waving at the undertaking.

One of the Tethered, an older woman who was bundled almost as tightly as Tamrie had been when we went scouting for greenhouse locations, nodded. Then she pressed on an over sized pedal. Seconds later, the bundle of fabric started to inflate.

Even though I'd expected Inertia to have some sort of project related to blimps or hot air balloons, I hadn't expected her to move so quick.

"Are you… using Fang's Forgeheart as an air pump?" I asked, staring at the beating heart that was pumping its excess into the inflating fabric.

Inertia nodded, pointing at the dimpled cloth as it pushed upwards to form neat square pods, each one filling in bursts as the Forgeheart beat.

"Where did we get the cloth?" I asked, looking over the sails. Was pretty sure normal cloth wasn't so airtight.

"Captains keep lots of spares," Tamrie said, stepping up beside me. "Weren't hard to convince 'em to part with some of their stores in exchange for a few hands of dust."

"We bought sails? Is this going to work?" I asked, looking first towards Tamrie then Inertia.

The massive Forgeborn shrugged, then gestured back towards the still filling cloth air bladder. I noted that they weren't exactly floating off the ground.

"Did assign her a budget so the big lady could buy materials," Tamrie reminded me. "And her mucking about's proved they work to keep the air from running off."

"How about lift?" I asked, watching as more and more pockets of cloth filled up.

"Inertia was hoping you could help with that," Tresla said, stepping up beside my assistant. "She suspects that a couple simple Air enchantments will allow us to filter those lighter aspects you mentioned. Though she admits she is basing this on your description of the gas that caused voices to sound funny."

"Not sure I know how to make those," I said. "Though I do have some thoughts."

Creating a proper Shield that only let breathable air through required being able to isolate certain components in said air. It was possible I already had the right combination of runes in my collection, though if I didn't, I suspected I could get them off Keeper.

"If you can get the other lighter one, Inertia believes that the enchantments to hinder fire will help offset their tendency to explode," Tresla added, her amusement back.

"More than like to go wrong anyway," Tamrie said. "Not a thing to be trusted."

"So, I don't really see why you need the Forgeheart for this," I said, gesturing to the inflating stacks. "Couldn't you have just disengaged the drive and used Fang's exhaust?"

Inertia turned to look at me, the extra lenses she kept over her eyes flipping away as her face shifted. Then she looked towards the still inflating sacks of cloth before turning towards where Calbern was slowly walking around Fang's disassembled frame.

Only then did Inertia turn back towards me, giving me a single slow nod.