Trapped in Another World With No Magic

Chapter 37: The Treasure of Doom Part 2

Daniel himself can't use magic, but there is magic equipment he can manage to utilize, specifically as long as he's wearing his gloves. And, although he has seen a fair amount of magic spells and equipment since his arrival in this new world, some spells are truly impressive to watch.

He placed a small chunk of iron on the source circle, and then activated the alchemy circle, as he chose to refer to it in his mind. It's a magic circle in the Citadel's manufacturing area that can summon any material he wants, as well as magically convert one substance to another.

With Xyreko's help, they performed some math and research on the magic circle to attempt to create uranium. specific, uranium 235.

The spell device is generating tons of light as it projects magic on the circle, and mist rolls off of the circle and around Daniel's boots as he watches cautiously.

When the light fades, power suddenly drops out around the alchemy circle. Daniel looks around. Again, he forgot that the lights in the Citadel are powered by magic.

He sighed, cautiously using his memory and moving slowly to find the edge of the circle. He crawls forward, feeling for his prize. He finds a rounded rectangular ingot, one that weighs this world's 'ten pounds', which he's pretty sure is around seven and a half Earth pounds. He had to use what he's pretty sure his own weight was compared to what they claim his weight to be, and he has no way of knowing how accurately it is, since it has been a while since he weighed himself when he was still on Earth , let alone when he had a chance in this world.

Regardless, it's probably close enough, and it won't really affect how he moves forward.

Daniel carries the ingot, following the residual light from further away stations, finding the exit cautiously. Xyreko prepares the area and his path in hopes that work won't be interrupted. But, they both forgot to make sure he had a torch ready.

Daniel walks the long walk to find an access to the outside, using the sunlight once he walks out onto one of the castle's side turrets. He recoils against the bright sunlight, realizing that he hasn't been outside much in the last few weeks. He studies the ingot in his hand, smiling at the silvery-white metal. He exposes it to another one of the films from his pocket, keeping part of it covered with his fingers as well. Sure enough, the film discolors. When he moves his fingers, it's still untouched. Daniel takes a breath and sighs. 

I don't want to make two, but I really should test it, shouldn't I?

Daniel looks out over the turret. He's pretty high up in the Citadel on the floor he's on, and he can see for miles in most directions.

Other than isolated incidents, this world is peaceful. It’s quiet. Much of nature is untouched and undisturbed. Monsters still roam the world in their natural forms. Earth had people who believed that the Earth was discovered by aliens and the human population descended or otherwise cultivated by those aliens, and Daniel suddenly has a thought about himself as the alien, wiping out this world’s equivalent of dinosaurs with the technology he could bring over.

True, there are powerful magic entities that could match or exceed anything he could do, so if that were to happen, it could have already. 

If he wants to stop this Devourer, he has to hit it with something not from this world. By the sounds of it, Vaergraes has tried everything available to her with magic and attack power, much of which only exacerbated the problem. The Devourer does just that; it devours magic and bodies of the slain. Both he and Xyreko are pretty sure it was once a feldrok, though something caused it to become a world-eating monster slowly consuming this world.

If I make only one, and it fails, will I have a second chance? Will it develop some sort of resistance to the blast?

Daniel looks at the ingot in his hand, holding it up to frame it against the horizon of the world where the weapon he is pondering making doesn’t exist.

I need to test it. I don’t know how else to verify for certain I know what I’m doing. Theory is one thing. I need to build it.

Daniel looks at the Citadel. He reliably believes that Xyreko -the caretaker and apparent soul of the Citadel- already possesses the power to shift the political spectrum of the world and turn the tide of the war any direction she could want. The mere fact that they so easily were able to trap and defeat the dragons, when Daniel himself witnessed them melt stone with ease, suggests how powerful the Citadel is. If anyone CAN keep a secret, he believes it would be Xyreko. But, he’ll need to ask her if she’ll keep it a secret even after he perishes. Or,... perhaps mutually assured destruction would be the only time she should flex her possession of the power over the atom.

Daniel sighs. He murmurs as he looks at the ingot again. “This is why I don’t want leadership or anything like this. Responsibility over a world?” He looks at the horizon again. “Maybe I’m being hubristic. It’s probably pretty arrogant of me to assume I have that power. But still…”

Daniel’s weapon was feared on Earth for good reason. And, it could have gone either way when it was first invented. Maybe it won’t destroy the world, but it’ll definitely shift the balance of power.

But of course, he’s only considering making one in the first place because of the Devourer. He knows in his heart he wouldn’t even humor the notion just to defeat an army in this world. He wouldn’t have even considered it if it was his only option to destroy the dragons. 

He sighs, gripping the ingot tightly. He murmurs softly, “I’ll do it… I-... If you’re listening… Please forgive me of my sin… This one I probably won’t be able to atone for.”

Daniel walks back inside. He needs to find a place to put the ingot and prepare properly to make even more.

***

King Regent Rikuto studies the young woman in ceremonial robes before him in the audience chamber. There’s a full audience, including the Grand Duchess and her family, King Greydald and his wife and daughters, and many of the other nobles. This young woman is the kingdom’s newest dawnseer, a type of magic fortune teller able to supposedly narrow in on visions that supposedly can predict the future with some level of accuracy.

The dawnseer when he and Daniel arrived passed away under the intense stress her mind, body, and soul underwent during one such session, and they’ve found a new mage capable of using the dawnseeing spell.

Rikuto isn’t particularly keen on risking it. They already lost one to the vision that currently looms over the world. But, King Greydald and Princess Heralesse insisted that they consult another dawnseer before the future becomes the present. The closer it gets, the closer the visions get, and so, as long as it has been, there may be a fair bit more clarity to help identify the threat.

Erimaya, who typically takes a greater interest in spiritual and magical rituals and wisdom, sits silently. She is duty-bound to be present and respectful as the second princess, but she hasn’t spoken to Heralesse, Rikuto, or her parents beyond short, curt responses since Daniel was sent away.

Rikuto asks the young woman, “Have you been told what happened to the last dawnseer, Bellphine?”

She nods respectfully, “Yes, your Majesty. I am aware of the risks. Every use of the dawnseeing spell risks getting lost within the vision and a failure to return to reality. It is my sacred duty to convey the ripples of the world.”

He sighs. “I don’t like it. I mean no disrespect, but I worry that the nature of this magic is too dubious to risk your talents and your life. Please only take that as the concerns of an otherworlder.”

“Of course, your Majesty. It is difficult to fully trust when the visions can be unclear. However, my master taught me that taking caution when one smells smoke costs less than never looking for fire.”

“That would be true, if you didn’t run the risk of dying in the process.”

Heralesse tries to reassure him, “Your Majesty; this is how we’ve always done it. The Dawnseer’s visions have saved our kingdom time and again throughout history.”

Rikuto sighs. “Are you confident in your ability to survive, Bellphine?”

She confirms professionally. “As reliably as can be done, your Majesty. My predecessor was weary from age, and still strove to protect her duty. I shall endeavor to the same standard of effort, but I won’t take my youth for granted. I will be as safe as can be.”
Rikuto isn’t entirely satisfied, but the entire court is hoping for this answer. He gives his assent with a nod. “The last Dawnseer received a vision of a man with dark eyes and dark hair and a woman with horns and a tail. If you can, please find us more details.”

She bows her head. “Please allow me to perform the ritual, your Majesty.”

“Go ahead.”

She takes a seat on the floor, preparing some catalysts from her bag on the floor and staging components of the ritual, which Rikuto saw with her predecessor. Bellphine then chants the spell, creating a smoke spontaneously from a bowl of liquid, which she inhales. Rikuto is skeptical, but he notices, as before, the entirety of the nobility watches on pins and needles. The mere fact that Aramellianna came for this indicates how much stock this world puts in these prophetic visions.

For several moments, Bellphine is unconscious in the basic sense, sitting upright, but humming and twitching like she’s in a somewhat lucid rem sleep. It takes several minutes, and just as before, she begins seizing. Some of the nobles stand up for a better view, and others murmur with concern. Even Greydald and the prime minister whisper nervously.

Rikuto looks at Heralesse, who is pale.

He thinks for a moment, asking softly, “Can we wake her? It’s not worth losing her…”

“No… Once the vision starts, she must finish, or she’ll never return.”

Rikuto sighs. Some kind of neural shock from drugs or something, most likely. Or, PTSD if they forcibly wake her. There is likely a more scientific explanation.

She finally gasps and cries out, and it becomes painful to watch. It’s going just like the late Dawnseer’s last moments.

Finally, Bellphine sprawls out, crying as her eyes snap open and she pants frantically. Rikuto rises to his feet, calling out to the growing din, “Be quiet. Everyone stay calm.”

Bellphine’s attendant gently helps her sit up, offering her water. It takes a moment before Bellphine can make sense of where she is and what was happening.

Rikuto asks cautiously, “Lady Dawnseer; can you tell us what you saw?”

Her dazed gaze finally snaps to him and locks on, horrified of whatever she saw.

She replies, her voice hoarse from the agonizing screams of the latter end of the vision; “Y-Your Majesty… I… The demons…”

“Take your time. Take a breath and say it as calmly and clearly as you can.”

She catches her breath a little longer, gulping down water. Once she’s better settled, she takes a deep breath. “Your Majesty; I saw… I don’t know… A father and daughter? It was strange, though… They were casting a spell… Or, making something… I don’t understand what they were doing. But… what happened… It… I don’t…”

“Do your best to describe it.”

“It was blinding… like the sun. It turned everything black… And, they did it twice. After, they were gathering the demons.”

Heralesse asks, “What of the dragons? Were they gathering dragons?”

“I’m… not sure. There was a woman… holding an egg. It was too big for a woman of her size, but… She only had horns and a tail.”

The others look at each other. The elder Dawnseer saw a woman with horns and a tail. but she didn’t have an egg.

Rikuto focuses on the pair. “This father and daughter; can you describe them?”

Bellphine does her best to remember. “The man was taller than her… Dark hair and dark eyes… And, almost certainly human… But, the girl… She also had dark hair, but she had… protrusions from her head. They didn’t move like horns. And, her tail was almost as big as she is.”

Rikuto looks at Heralesse, and then Tullaxxass, neither of whom have any idea. He asks, “A feral kin? Could the protrusions on her head be mistaken for horns?”

Bellphine nods reluctantly as she thinks back on it, “Maybe… but they were very broad. More like ears. She was… laughing…”

Rikuto scratches his chin. “There are similarities, but much of the vision was different now.”

Greydald offers, “It’s very possible that parts of the vision have changed because those events are now past.”

Aramellianna speaks, “There is evidence Daniel drove back a dragon at Fort Peony.”

This causes murmurs through the room, and even Erimaya sits up, suddenly interested. Aramellianna continues, “I know it’s naive to assume Daniel isn’t who the vision is depicting, so if we assume he killed the dragon, that could have been what the original visions were saying.”

Wenlianna whines, “But, he’s not a destroyer, Mother! Nothing any of the visions have described would match Daniel.”

Erimaya adds, “It also hasn’t been long enough for him to have a daughter. Has there been any news on his whereabouts?”

Rikuto replies, “None, your Highness.”

She looks away from him, nodding shortly. Aramellianna adds, “My own troops have infiltrated the west and have made contact with a Kirin who cooperated. She recognized the Stalvaltan sigil.” She seems a little proud of that fact, but she also glances at Wenlianna briefly. “It seems, Daniel is looked upon favorably by some of the demons. She claims he killed the dragon and a drake that attacked Peony, and she was part of that force.”

Heralesse asks bluntly, “Has she been captured?”

“No. My troops are not acting in a military capacity. They are looking for Daniel. She offered this information to allies of Daniel.”

Rikuto asks, “Did she say how he did it?”

“Only that he was the most powerful sorcerer she has ever seen.”

This causes a stir, but Rikuto focuses on the potential that Daniel is the subject of the foreboding vision. “Did she say anything about his goals? Did he harbor resentment for us?”

“By all appearances, no. He set out from there to hunt… the Dragon Lord, supposedly.”

Several nobles chuckle and laugh, and Wenlianna glares at some of them. Even Heralesse laughs, but Erimaya smiles sincerely. 

Rikuto, still trying to take the vision seriously, even though everyone else has lost interest for the moment, “Bellphine… Can you determine what spell he and his apparent daughter were casting? Anything about it?”

She shakes her head. “Only that it was as bright as the sun, and everything was black afterwards. It was like… it erased my ability to see.”

Rikuto thinks deeply, and Heralesse points out, “Your Majesty, it’s unlikely the vision is depicting Daniel. If he had such magic, he would have had no reason to go along with being sent to Peony.”

“I wish I could see the visions myself. I feel like I’m guessing at the color of a rock in the darkness.” He looks at Heralesse. “I already knew he could make weapons. It’s surprising to learn that he could kill a dragon with them, but these weapons were highly effective in our world.”
“I knew it! So he was lying!”

“You don’t understand, Heralesse. The rate at which the world would change is too dangerous. I asked him not to make them. He clearly made one to defend himself, and it’s the only reason we’re not fending off a dragon from burning this castle as we speak, I suspect.”

Aramellianna nods in agreement. 

“Then, you believe the vision is about him? We should have imprisoned him when we had the chance…”
Rikuto is silent for a moment, but Erimaya suddenly stands up, drawing their attention. She faces Heralesse, saying in a lecturing tone, “Sister, if he has resentment for this kingdom, it is because of how YOU all treated him. But, more importantly, the vision has been incomplete every time. Daniel could be doing something just, and you are merely assuming he is a threat.”

“The evidence is clear. All of the visions have prophesied some great destruction. If Daniel is the man, then he and his companion are a threat to this world.”

“Then, it would be in our best interest to apologize, wouldn’t it?” Erimaya bows to Rikuto, saying, “Your Majesty, I am no longer feeling well enough to be part of this audience. Please grant me leave to retire to my room.”

Rikuto, knowing she’s still bitter and angry about expelling Daniel without telling her, nods as he replies gently, “Of course. Go ahead, Princess Erimaya.”

She bows her head and curtsies, making her way out gracefully as Heralesse huffs in anger. 

Rikuto asks to himself, “Alright, Daniel… What could you make that’s worse than a [gun]?”

***

Xyreko ponders what Daniel just laid out for her. He wants her to have his secret weapon, but only as a last resort to protect the world from threats on par with the Devourer. She must keep it secret otherwise, including from all inheritors of the Citadel after he's gone.

"Master, I appreciate your faith in me, of course, but if I may ask, why the sudden change of heart?"

He smiles, replying softly, "Ultimately, I want to escape the responsibility this secret holds… Whether or not to use it… When I was looking out over the plains this castle oversees, and the beautiful lake, and the untampered mountains on the horizon… I had a moment of doubt… Is it my right to so dangerously change this world?"

She listens patiently and deliberates on his concern. She finally looks directly at him. She says sincerely, "Master… No, Daniel… You are very good at making friendly acquaintances; people who will remember you fondly on occasion before continuing about their day. But, you aren't very good at making and keeping friends; comrades that you allow yourself to rely on. It is that very flaw that causes you to offer me a burden instead of asking for my hand, or that of anyone else around you. I know you are willing to give away the glory of success by doing so, but you are trying to throw away your accountability. If this weapon is so terrible, don’t make it. Don't even tell me anything more about it. If we can't defeat the Devourer, then let this world die. You owe this world nothing and will likely pass on before the Devourer consumes the whole world. BUT…" She looks directly into his eyes. "If you want my honest advice, though admittedly just as much a request, speak to Lady Hekate and let her help you choose. Speak to Ryuo and Reina. Consult with Vaergraes. And… whatever you choose and however you choose to do it… please save our world." She sinks to a kneel, bowing before him. "Daniel… Please save our world…"

Daniel hesitates at the profound show of humility. Xyreko told him early on that she chose to become bound to the Citadel so that she could live on into the future alongside the masters that she loved.

"Xyreko…"

She doesn't look up.

"Xyreko, I… I intend to ask everyone I trust, so please help me. I believe I can stop the Devourer, but I'm afraid of what comes after. The weapon I intend to use… it MUST remain only in the hands of the truly morally incorruptible, or behind an incorruptible system. My world managed, but it felt like we teetered on the edge. I can save the world now, but please tell me what you would like to do about the future…"

Xyreko is looking up at him. He adds, "I will do it. To take down something so big, it's the only thing that I believe will work. But, we need a plan for after I'm done and after I'm gone."

She nods, saying tenderly, "Master, I would be happy to assist. I can archive the wisdom, but I believe it will be beneficial to have a group advise on circumstances when I would be allowed to divulge the technology and to whom, particularly because I cannot directly assemble it."

Daniel agrees. "We'll move ahead as planned, then, and begin assembling the two bombs."

"Two, Master?"

"Yes. I'm fairly confident we successfully produced the element I need, but we need to make a test unit. Failure isn't an option. I don't want to risk the Devourer developing resistance."

"I see,” replies Xyreko. “Then, we'll also need a testing location, won't we?"

"Definitely. Somewhere barren and unusable for anything else if possible. And, with winds blowing away from civilization."

"The plains would not suffice?"

“God no. The size of the weapon I want to build will have a destructive radius of over [100 miles].”

Xyreko stares at him silently for a long time. She finally murmurs, “I… finally understand why you’re afraid.”

Daniel nods grimly. “I have some ideas to reduce the amount of uranium we need, but we’ll need the largest, clearest area we can get that will never be needed again. If we’re lucky, it actually will recover, but I don’t want to take chances.”

The caretaker acknowledges and requests further instructions. “Inform me, and I shall endeavor to make anything you need.”

“Will do. But first, let’s go talk to the other three. We’ll get their input.”

“Of course, Master. I shall take you to Hekate.”

The two are teleported through the castle, and they find Hekate in the archives, reading spell books. She jumps up with a start, squeaking, “D-Daniel!? I… I was just…” She tries to hide the book, but Daniel smiles. He says warmly, “Hekate, I’m glad you’re studying.”

She blushes, murmuring, “I… I just want to be as helpful as Xyreko…” She shoots the golem a light glare, but Xyreko simply nods politely. 

Daniel approaches and pets Hekate’s head, which earns him a happy hug. She pouts, “And… I was tired of seeing your mistress with her stupid belly…”

Daniel sighs. “Hekate, I have something I need to talk to all of you about. Would you mind if we all gather in the control tower where we met Xyreko?”

She glares at him, and he remarks, “It has to do with defeating the Devourer.”

Her expression shifts. “Oh! Why didn’t you say so?”

“I was getting to it.” He pinches her cheeks playfully, teasing, “But you kept glaring at me for no reason.”

“Waaahhh! Not no reason! I’m supposed to be your wife! So why are you so nice to other women!?”

“I’m nice to everyone I can be. Now, are you ready, or did you want to finish what you were reading?”

Hekate latches onto his arm, saying proudly, “I’m always ready for you, Daniel! I’ll start over anyways. It wasn’t making much sense.”

“Unfortunately, I can’t help you with magic, but I’m glad you’re broadening your knowledge.”

She grins, cackling boisterously. “Of course! If I master magic, you won’t even want anyone else!”

He pets her head again, “Yes, yes. Xyreko, can you take us to the control room and ask the other two to meet us there? Please teleport them if they’re willing.”

She bows, “Of course master…”

“WAIT!” cries out Hekate. “I-I wanna try.”

“Try what?”

“I want to try the teleportation spell!”

Daniel looks at Xyreko, who studies Hekate for a moment. She nods in response. “Lady Hekate, please allow me to interrupt your spell with disruption should I detect an imminent failure.”

“I won’t fail! But,...” She glances sheepishly at Daniel. “S-Since I know you only want to protect us, I’ll allow it.”

Xyreko nods her head in agreement. Hekate begins casting the spell, which requires an incantation for her, but the glyphs appear around her and Daniel, and in a flash, they appear in the control room, though rather far from where the table and chairs are. 

Still, Daniel pets her head cheerfully, saying, “Great job, Hekate. I’m proud of you.”

She grins, hugging him. “As my reward, carry me!” She climbs onto his back, and he laughs. “Very well. You deserve it.”

She laughs triumphantly, “Of course I do! It’s the strict privilege of your wife!”

“If you say so.” He walks to the table as Hekate hugs him from behind, swishing her tail back and forth eagerly as she enjoys the piggyback ride.

Daniel sits down, and Hekate unhesitatingly climbs onto his lap, sitting eagerly with him until the other three arrive. Ryuogriar approaches the table with a regal gait, cradling her distended belly with a happy and somewhat smug smile. Hekate growls quietly, but she keeps her thoughts to herself. Daniel suspects that, because it’s an egg, the internals and shell formed quickly, and it’ll have a longer gestation period once it’s laid.

Reignleif, still wearing her form-hiding clothing, is more introverted, and she all but sneaks to her chair to sit down, avoiding Hekate’s icy glare, which follows Ryuogriar mostly. Reina shoots Daniel a sheepish smile as she takes her seat, keeping it brief lest she earn Hekate’s impotent wrath.

Ryuogriar greets them, “Good morning, My cherished Master Daniel.” She adds a little smugly, “Lady Hekate.”

Hekate points, “You should be more grateful that I let you come to this meeting, Ryuogriar! Daniel and I were going to-OW!” She clutches her head when Daniel lightly bops her with his knuckle. “What’d I do!?”

“Be nice, Hekate. You’re cuter when you’re nice.”

She blushes, huffing as she faces forward and crosses her arms. “G-Good morning, Ryuo. Good morning, Reina.”

Reina nods softly in greeting, murmuring, “Good morning.”

Daniel sighs. The gravity of what he’s about to talk about will likely be diminished by the little feldrok girl sitting on his lap, but they’ll all hear him out.

“To begin with, ladies, I already spoke to Xyreko, and she recommended I include you in this knowledge, since it has the potential to affect the whole world.”

Their smiles shift to seriousness, and Hekate looks up over her shoulder to see his face. He nods gently. “In order to defeat the Devourer, I intend to make a weapon from my world. A weapon that is to my ‘staff’ what my staff is to weapons in this world.”

They stare at him silently, and he clarifies, “That is to say, I cannot adequately describe this weapon’s power without it being difficult to believe. Especially when it will be compared against what you all know as my staff.”

The two dragon women glance at each other, and Hekate shifts on his lap to sit sideways so she can look up into his eyes. Daniel looks down at her, smiling gently. “This weapon could likely level the Citadel in an instant. That’s the kind of power I’m speaking of.”

Xyreko scoffs, retorting with her pride in her voice, “I would like to accept that challenge, Master, but… I suspect you might be right.”

This helps it sink in for the other three, and they finally look at Daniel again. He explains, “I’ll make the hard choice for the Devourer, since it’s the only way I can think of, since Vaergraes seems to have tried everything this world has at its disposal, and it’s too big for my staff. What I want to know is if you’d be willing to help me decide how to handle the knowledge of this weapon afterwards. If anyone else manages to make one, the only way to deter it is to have the capability as well. At least, that’s the way my world handled it. It’s… not great. But, it can’t be wielded by someone reckless or apathetic to the lives of common folk. For instance, the Dragon Lord.”

The two dragons shift their gazes away, but they both nod. Ryuogriar asks softly, “The reason you’re telling us, Master?”

He smiles. “Because, I trust you well enough to make decisions for the future. Xyreko rightfully reminded me that I need to consider the children and grandchildren of the future; the lives that would be extinguished by the Devourer or never get to live because of it. The lives that would have to live under threat of these weapons long after the Devourer is dead, or in complete blissful ignorance of them ever existing.”

Hekate asks softly, “Is… Is it really that terrible, Daniel?”

Ryuogriar offers gently, “It will have to be, Hekate… If it is to defeat the Devourer. We dragons… all of us tried our flames and most powerful spells together. No magic can harm the devourer, and nothing drives it back. Only physical attacks can cause it to bleed, and the more powerful the magic of the attacker, the more aggressively the Devourer retaliates. We… lost four dragons in the last attempt…”

Reina adds softly, “Our former lord hoped to find a place the Devourer couldn’t reach…”

Daniel can envision that. He continues with what he knows. “Vaergraes confirmed that the invasion eastward was her trying to hold back, but needing to evacuate demonkin and the other western races away from the Devourer, and she’s tried only to conquer the land she needs.”

Ryuogriar and Reignleif both nod in agreement. “You are correct, Master.”

Daniel makes the direct request. “If any of you have objection to me making this weapon, now is the time to express it.”

The three look at each other, and then at Xyreko. Xyreko remarks, “I have already expressed my will to Master Daniel.”

Ryuogriar remarks gently, touching the bulge of her abdomen tenderly. “Master… I… I agree… The future for not only ourselves, but our children and grandchildren, and their children after them… I want to protect that future… I always have. It was… unfair… that we couldn’t… That all of the other races had so little issue having children…”

Reina nods in agreement. Ryuogriar continues, “I made unfavorable choices when it was only us dragons. I will continue to serve your will, Daniel, as yours is one benefiting everyone, not just one race.”

Daniel nods, and he looks at Reina. She agrees to the plan. “I agree. If you… If you believe you can defeat the Devourer,... I would ask you to please do so. If I can help, please tell me how.”

The others nod as well. Daniel nods in agreement, looking lastly at Hekate. She climbs up onto the table, saying proudly as she puts her hands on her hips. “Hahahahahaha! It should be obvious, Daniel! I am your wife, and this is our world! We shall protect it from all monsters from now until forever! MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Let the Devourer rue the day it awakened. Bring forth enemies to try to steal your technology. We’ll destroy them together and preserve peace and prosperity for all!”

Ryuogriar and Reignleif both smile, and Xyreko claps her hands. Daniel smiles. “Very well. Then, we’re all in agreement. We’ll discuss the rest further. For now, Xyreko, if I could…”

“I’ll send for my henchmen to return.”

“Actually, if you have others, I would prefer they continue digging for the raw ore.”

“Really?”

He confirms with a nod. “It’ll cost less to convert it to the isotope I want, right?”

“Ah… True. Very well.”

“As it does come in, please have them make it into raw ingots like the one we made earlier. After, I’ll determine what the pieces need to look like as I refine the design I’ll go with. Which do we have more of? Sharmelkolle or mithril?”

***