Steel and Mana

Chapter 44 – Mother & Son

It was a cold, rainy day, the prelude to winter peeking around the corner, giggling to itself. I was visiting my parents in the castle where I was born, and after lunch, Sasha took Luna to show her around while I sat down with my Mother for a proper business talk.

"Your maid got really close to her, huh?"

"They became friends, which I am happy about! Sasha needed someone with whom she could share her thoughts with. I know there are things she can't ask me, especially if they are about me."

"Mhmmm, that is true, although I do tell your father as it is when I have something to say!"

"Is he with the soldiers? I didn't think he would miss lunch." I asked curiously, raising my cup and sipping on my tea.

"He has been infatuated with your training regiment, so he is doing his best to implement it. He always took it seriously, and with the weather, we will have an especially harsh winter!"

"You think?" She was weirdly serious about it, and I couldn't help but look towards the window, watching the rain splatter all over it.

"I know, Leon. I feel it!"

"Hmmm... I will have to tell my people to stockpile more firewood then."

"Not just that, heavy winter means more beast attacks. When that happens, they come through the pass in numbers, so we are preparing for it in advance!"

"Perfect!" I yelped, surprising her, looking at me weirdly. "I will have to come over when that happens; I want Sasha to try out some things I have been working on for fun!"

"I would also be interested in seeing a witch casting magic... So far, I only heard about it, never seeing it myself."

"I am still lacking the crucial thing: CC. From what I inscribed onto paper or stone and made her activate, all of them were uncontrolled and self-destructive. They are defective as they can't handle the power of a witch."

"You are really unraveling the secrets of magic, yet you are blind to it... I couldn't be more proud of you, Leon!"

"Ehehe~!" Hearing it coming from her still made me giddy inside, and I couldn't help but be embarrassed. "Thanks, Mom..."

"It is the truth!" She giggled, rubbing my head, something I genuinely enjoyed, closing my eyes, and I would probably wag my tail if I had any. "Are you looking for CC?"

"Yeah, but I also hope to find a mine in the future. I just can't escape it! After doing multiple tests, it is now a confirmed fact that formations are constantly deteriorating after being used. The erosion is dependent on many things! For example, supporting magic, like the anti-gravity spell, can hold out the longest, but I had to reconstruct a few of them at the mines only a week ago. Attacking magic, like a firebolt, will destroy the source very quickly. I inscribed one onto a stone disc, and after Sasha used it three times, it cracked and fell apart! I need CC so I can make long-lasting tools! I am also curious about how it affects their spells' focus and strength... From what I read, it is essential! In all the books within the Empress's collection, there was a detail that every meaningful formation must be painted with grounded down CC, or the mage must wield an adequate relic while reciting for them to work!"

"Relic?"

"Mhm." I nodded, explaining it further, "Anything that is crafted to house CC, be it a wand, a helmet, or a chalice, it doesn't matter; it counts as a relic if it has CC within it or is added to it while being forged. Those formations that are being drawn up with it will be more focused and can withstand a lot of abuse. Of course, mages can't always draw in advance when casting spells, so that is when incantations come into play!"

"I did hear that strong, serious spells require a lot of preparations."

"Oh, they do! It was my blessing to be let into the Emrpess's library as I learned a lot! I have still barely begun organizing what I memorized, and I will need years to comb through everything and translate them to normal speech... most were too scientific, even for me!"

"I just don't know whose brain you inherited because you surpassed me, too, Leon!" She giggled but wasn't questioning me, simply showing her pride in my ability to remember all of it.

"Ehehe! I do have a special brain for memorizing stuff... Maybe I was blessed?" I joked, as I know most people here really believe in those Gods of old tales.

"That would explain a lot!" She hummed, nodding, agreeing, and accepting my joke as a fact.

"Anyway!" I continued, clearing my throat before our talks devolved into something else. "Incantation is relatively simple in theory. It is a verbal formation!"

"I don't get it."

"It is speaking the formation instead of drawing it. The mage must recite the spell and articulate what's being 'drawn' by his or her words! Only then will it work in the correct way and be controllable! What Merlin and Sasha have achieved so far is unconscious, uncontrolled casting, which is forbidden by the Imperial rules. If they had been taken in by them, they would have been punished heavily for it! All the mages are trained hard to reign in their powers and never unleash them accidentally."

"I can see why! Didn't Sasha burn down a house before?"

"It was an accident!" I argued, protecting her, "While we are doing it, she never once flared up, yet she can be really loud and squirty!"

"Mmmmhm, I am glad she can show control! Maybe she should tone down the heat within her? Maybe her womb incinerates your milk before it has a chance to gift me with a grandchild!"

"Err, Mom, let's not go there, okay?"

"Why not? You are now the ruler of the Frontier! You must produce an heir!"

"It will come when it comes! If you start forcing it, it just won't happen! Also, please, don't bring this up before Sasha; she has already been nervous about it!"

"Okay... okay! I will hold my tongue, but Leon, you must start looking for a second and third wife. Take in your maid if you must; they like each other anyway."

"Ugh... Here we go..." I couldn't help but roll my eyes, but I won't lie; the thought did interest me. But... I genuinely love Sasha, so if anything, she has to agree. What I said to Yuri was my honest feelings; I value loyalty and will be dedicated to my wife. Or wives if that ever happens.

"Okay, I won't nag you with it again, son, but keep it in mind. Let's talk business then!" It was like a switch being flipped, and she turned from a proud, caring mom into the CEO of an evil corporation. Even her countenance changed as if we were no longer mother and son. "You want me to become one of your ministers. Why should I?"

"Because you not only know how to handle trade, you have the experience dealing with other nobles. I followed you as a kid; I was there when you dealt with the local nobles and effortlessly sold soap behind my uncle's back. I plan to establish a few new industries next year and start producing goodies that can be sold for good money to fill up my treasury. I need someone like you!"

"I won't do it."

"But!"

"No."

"Mom!"

"I am not your mom right now, Viscount Leon!" She replied sternly, without flinching, "That position would require me to travel a lot, building connections and playing around with the type of people I hate. What did you call it? Networking, yes? A strange word, but hearing your description of it, yes... it fits. That is exactly what I am not keen on doing anymore! I will stay home, be the wife of my husband, and be free of those burdens! Now it is your job to do it, Viscount Leon! We are no longer in power. You are."

"Haahhh... I was afraid you would say this!" I couldn't help but let out a long sigh, shaking my head. "I understand. Then, let me propose something different!"

"I am listening."

"Become a teacher in our school! You only need to hold classes for selected people who are interested in it. If I can't get you to be my minister, I will ask you to raise me one."

"When would it happen?" She asked after remaining silent for an elongated minute.

"From spring to the end of summer. According to Merlin's report, by then, 65% of my initial population will have completed their basic education and be capable of reading, writing, and basic calculations. From those people, there will be a few who would be competent enough to be considered for the post. I want you to evaluate them while teaching and point me out the one who has the most potential. From there on, I will take over!"

"Mhhhm... I see. That is a much more acceptable offer! What would be my pay?"

"Err... what do you want?"

"Don't relax! I am Lady Louise now, not your mother!" She reprimanded me, but I saw a happy, playful light dance in her eyes.

"Mhm. Well, how about me promising I will gift you with a grandkid in the next five years?"

"Four! And in two years!"

"Eh?! No, that is too much!"

"Three! One every year!"

"Mom! Okay, okay... two! A girl and a boy! In... five years! How's that sound?"

"Good! I will come next spring, but if the people you make me teach are inadequate, I will kick them all out!"

"Fine by me!" I laughed, standing up and stretching my hand out, finalizing our deal.

...
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I was sitting in my office for the past few days, working on a pretty thick book, laying down the foundation of my budding empire's laws, deriving them from my initial points. My plan was that I would finish it by the end of winter, and it would be the very first book that I would print out.

By now, more and more iron was getting piled up in our warehouses, enough that I could start opening up the smithies and begin production of needed tools in earnest. I can even afford to try and experiment, wasting good resources in the process. My first experiment will be creating a big, round metal plate with the magic formation for water purification incorporated into it alongside many small holes. Then, it would be installed at the end of our sewers, and see how it works out. It is not a final solution but a temporary one, but it would help me develop something better and improve on it in the future.

Plus, it would let my people experiment with finer metal works that will be needed for my plan to copy Gutenberg's printing method. First, I would create a movable type system where metal parts could be arranged to form different words and sentences. It would need to be hand molded, and that will be Sasha's job as she is immune to heat, so she can freely assist me in making them.

As for the ink or dye... I am still looking for alternatives but am considering procuring it from the same source from which I got the paint for my palace. From magical beasts. Somehow, the thing they create within their bodies seems to withstand a lot, as even in harsh weather, the colors don't fade, and none of the paint jobs begin chipping away.

I had already drawn up the schematics of a wooden printing press and given them to those previously participating in the statue-making contest. Their work was proof enough that they could handle delicate tasks and could work with precision. As for Merlin, I gave him the task of selecting a few people and begin teaching them how to make paper.

The moment everything comes together, I will commence printing my first book. Even in the Empress's private library, more books were handwritten than not. I often struggle to decipher the authors' intended messages, and simply recalling some of the books' pages gives me a headache. It will be time to change that and introduce mass production. Maybe I can even sell some books for some profit.

"I never thought that an old high-school project would come back in handy like this one day... heh!" I whispered, being interrupted by a soft, quiet voice.

"Master..."

"Hm?" I turned, looking at Luna, standing next to my desk, holding a rolled-up parchment in her hands. I know she finally chose to speak up because she noticed I was no longer working or thinking about something important.

"Here... I made a list of names who I think would be of good maids."

"Oh? You finally decided to do it?" I chuckled, seeing her lower her head, making me reach out and rub her head. "No worries, and thanks! You have time to get ready; I will hire the people after winter so you can spend time teaching them!"

"Thank you, Master!" She bowed deeply, but I could see the happy smile as it would mean her winter would be relaxed, and she would be allowed to laze around.

While watching her, I couldn't help but wonder... should I tell Sasha about our little maid constantly peeping at us? I couldn't help but break into a perverted smile thinking about both of their reactions...