'8 golden royals, 217 silver eagles, 52 bronze bits.'
At one point in my life, seeing this treasure would have caused me to faint. But now, it was little more than simple piles of metal; a resource to be used for empowering myself.
As the days passed, my fame grew. My little territory was as safe as could reasonably be expected. Most of my businesses used some kind of magical item to enhance themselves. Unber the baker, now pumped out more bread than he could sell. Diane, being proactive in her information-gathering duties, bought this bread from Unber and gave it to poor children within the city. In return, they provided mostly useless information, but occasionally, some bits proved to be worthwhile. I've avoided conflicts with other gangs, prevented crime, and thwarted an attempt to rob my home. Just from offering bread to a few starving children.
The through traffic increased significantly, with many stalls taking up the streets. Through Derek's influence, the guards didn't cause me any trouble. Though occasionally they would request items.
At the center of the network of power was me. Sera the Magus, without proper knowledge of how my abilities worked, most thought I could turn an individual to ash at my will, which was true with the condensed wood or my energy furnace.
Everyone using me as the central pillar for safety and security created an obvious problem: What would happen if I disappeared?
The answer was simple: Everything collapses.
The people should have rejected the magic. But the convenience offered was too tempting. Why waste time lugging water from the well when you can have clean water in your home at your command without any effort?
Terrified that your family won't survive the winter? Well, the magus can use magic heaters and freeze a large amount of meat and produce. So we can live happily, not having to worry about starvation.
Gratitude seemed endless. Every morning, Unber sent me fresh bread, rich and slathered with butter. In the evening, I received several meat pies to be served with his best cuts. The tanners, leather workers, and cobblers sent me fine boots and leather gloves for my crew and me. Many more sought to curry favor, and I shamelessly accepted everything.
The local baker shared his recipes for fruit tarts without me asking and sent several to my home every supper.
Ashe and Mar were backed by my power and sporting arms and armor as good as any knight. Two-bit thugs had no chance against them. They became well-known for their ruthless crackdown on any crime, bringing stability. Townspeople were more than happy to report anyone suspicious lurking around. And as soon as my crew caught them, they would be beaten to an inch of their lives to the cheers and approval of my people. And since I made sure they never brutalized any innocence, they were feared but never hated. In fact, they received as many gifts as I did.
Safety, security, peace. While I said in jest that they were paralytic, this small territory proved me to be wise. I hadn't used magic to cause harm for over two weeks.
My days spent experimenting with magic were peaceful, and though I had no great breakthroughs, I used my time well. First was creating a silver and gold inlaid arcane source. The foot-wide ring had three detachable legs. It only did two things: pull air through the ring and provide energy.
Next was a silver cup with gold inlay that contained three circuits. One to summon water, another to heat, and the third to cool. Unfortunately, there was no one in the city skilled at tattoos to create the arcane circuit on my palms, similar to the ones Elis had.
However, my time as a maidservant proved to be useful; instead of burning the arcane source and load into my glove. I used heavy silk thread to sew the pattern into black calf skin gloves. It was more efficient than burning in the runes. I moved on to my armor. A fine set of steel, complete with shoulder pauldrons, a chest plate with a slightly feminine cuirass. Reembrace to protect my biceps and vambrace for my forearms. Cuisses for my thighs, greaves for my calves, and heavy steel boots.
I didn't want full plate, since I would never actually face an opponent head-on. With a gorget for my neck and proper chainmail, the entire suit had considerable weight but was still lighter than I expected. The articulated gauntlets were probably the most interesting piece of the entire set. I was probably overdoing it when combining it with my barrier. But why not be as safe as possible? The final piece was a full helmet with a foldable face guard.
Colette delivered the items quickly, though, so I was obligated to deliver on my end.
I wasn't exactly a fighting woman, but hopefully it would be enough to block a stray arrow or sword I wasn't prepared for. Inside the armor were even more circuits. The chest plate had a circuit to heat the air, and another to cool it. Along with a backup set of barrier circuits.
Moving my chill box, I pried up some of the floor boards and added the gold-inlaid source circuit and cup.
Still, as I stared down at all my tools, I considered what else I would need if I ever had to run and survive in the forests.
~
I placed the final touch on the miniature energy furnace. The intake tubes for the bellows needed to push a significant amount of air, far more than a simple heat absorption ring could provide. The mini energy furnace was only four feet tall and had a single silver inlaid source circle in the exhaust. Bound to the circle were two tubes. Each was a foot wide and four feet long; they stood on sturdy legs to raise them to the level needed for the bellows. On the outer lip of the tube was a simple circuit to pull in air and a removable ring on the lip to turn the circuit on and off. Bind it in a series, and the project was done. It actually took more time to gather the cheap pig iron needed than to actually make the items.
Not long after, a cart pulled up near the rear of my warehouse and five burly men hopped down. Followed by Colette in her armor. Mar and Ashe were following behind.
After I opened the rear fence, they headed inside. Most eyes were glued to the tall energy furnace. Or the massive silver inlaid transformation circle in the center.
Ashe Mar and Colette's men were eyeing each other dangerously, as is customary for meetings between thugs.
Colette stepped forward, looking at the circle, fascinated.
"So, this is a proper arcane circle. It's beautiful. The metal is perfectly flat, impossible with casting. How?" Colette asked.
"Magic," I answered unhelpfully.
Then she focused on the tool she had ordered. Like the ring, the metal cylinders were uncanny to look at; the tubes were simply too perfectly straight. However, since it was low-quality iron, impurities caused uneven cooling and eventually slight warping in the metal. Still, it was far more precise than casting or hammering could create.
"May I test?" She asked. Looking at the small furnace and tubes.
"Sure, just follow what I told you," I said, reminding her of my instructions.
She nodded, opened the door for the small furnace, and tossed in a few logs.
"I'll light it," I said.
I extended a hand and burned the logs inside. The heat from my fire instantly ignited the wood. That gave the air suction circuit enough power to sustain the burning.
Collette glanced at my left hand with a small amount of fear. No matter how many times someone saw magic, the fact that I could seemingly summon flame from nowhere demanded respect and fear.
I nodded to her, and she closed the furnace. Then she picked up the metal ring, slotting it in the outer lip of one of the tubes. Instantly, the circuit activated, and a massive amount of air flowed through. The condensed spiraling stream of air was probably many times more powerful than what a bellows could produce.
"Incredible," Colette muttered as she placed her hand near the exit of the tube, feeling the strong stream of air.
"As agreed, simply replace the bellows with this, seal it with some clay, and there you have it. So long as that burns, everything works. Occasionally, you'll have to empty the furnace of ash, but not to worry, just set it ablaze again, and everything works. " Even the idiot thugs had to pause and stare at the simple use of magic.
Colette looked at me as if daring me to lie to her.
"If you really wanted to, how many of these could you make in a day?"
I shrugged, "A couple, more if I had help."
She seemed to be getting more heated by the moment. "All this power, in the hands of a child." She muttered.
I chuckled, "You seem displeased. Please don't tell me that I should be using my power for good."
She took a deep breath, steadying herself, "Do you know how many lives could be saved if every bloomery had something like this?"
I didn't actually care, "Dozens, hundreds, why does it matter?"
"More like thousands every year."
I shrugged, "So, what if a few peasants die operating the bloomeries. How is this my problem to solve?"
Colette was getting angrier by the moment. "Have you seen a man die from black lung? It is slow and painful."
Rolling my eyes, I gestured to the item I made for her, "Two golden royals, three suits of plate armor. That is what the time it took to make those was worth. By comparison, human life doesn't come close."
I'm not sure what I said exactly that triggered such intense rage in the woman. But in the next moment, she drew her blade. I always wore my medallion, and it was always active. Instantly, I strengthened the pushing field, since she was only a few feet away from me; it looked like nothing happened.
Everyone else pulled blades somehow due to a few words; this entire evening could end in a blood bath.
'How dare she.'
I expanded the circle of influence and stared at the irate woman.
"Worm, you think to draw a blade within my home."
With my energy furnace not ten steps away, and my medallion using silver and gold inlaid runes. My pushing field was my most efficient and powerful circuit.
I strengthened the binding, and an invisible force pushed her towards the rear of my warehouse.
Anger turned to panic as she realized her mistake. With so much energy at my fingertips, the pushing field practically threw her against the rear wall. Then I pushed the binding even further. With nowhere to go, the push field trapped her limbs against the wall. Against me, her plate armor was a liability.
Her panic-stricken face was covered with sweat as she realized she lacked the strength to fight the force holding her to the wall.
"I invite you to my home, and you pull a blade. I've killed people for far less. Are you a fool? Do you wish for death?"
"I-"
"Silence," I commanded. Pushing the strength of the binding further, I could hear the creaking of the wood she pressed against. I debated whether I should push the binding even further until she flew through the wooden wall. But that would result in her flying into my room.
"Cant breathe." She forced out.
'Right, she's probably wearing chainmail. The pressure must be crushing her chest.'
I eased the binding, and the relief in her face was palpable.
"I do not care for your petty grievances or whatever childish emotion caused you to draw your blade in the home of a magus. What? My disregard for life offends you."
I observed her struggling face; her foolish anger led to her death. My disgust was palpable. "Pathetic. One peasant or thousands, it doesn't matter. In fact, do you think your life matters to me?"
Even though I eased the pressure so she could breathe, it wasn't nearly enough for her to talk; her words sounded more like pained gargles.
I ignored the shouting and cursing coming from her crew and mine. A small flame burst forth from my palm as I stared into her terrified eyes, ready to turn her to ash.
'Wait, Myr, think of the consequences.'
I closed my eyes for long moments, contemplating the fallout of her death. I combined everything I knew about her, the city, and the gangs, then I reached a conclusion.
'Lucky worm, you get to live.'
I extinguished the fire and reduced the binding. Allowing her to fall to the ground. She gasped repeatedly, filling her lungs with air.
"You get to live, child. Your foolishness nearly cost you everything. Remember this moment, for I do not believe in second chances." I gave her my coldest gaze, revealing how little her life meant to me. "Do. You. Understand?" I asked, my voice had no inflection or emotion.
'Too much defiance in her eyes, and she dies.'
"Yes," she forced out.
She looked up at me, her eyes filled with a combination of anger and resignation. But my words hit the mark; she knew she had blundered.
'Not quite as cowed as I would like, but acceptable.'
"Take your items and leave with your men. Bother me no further."
Colette glanced over to her men, who were still in a standoff with Mar and Ashe.
"Gather the items, let's leave." She commanded, a slight tremble in her voice.
Slowly, swords lowered, as both sides realized that there would be no fighting.
~
Mar, Ashe, and I watched as Colette and her men rode off with the items.
"They start fightin' over who gets her place?" Mar answered.
"Exactly."
Ashe scoffed, "Still think you should've killed her. Don't matter if people in her territory start fightin'."
I sighed and continued to explain. "With her death comes chaos, fighting. The iron trade within the city would be severely impacted, which would adversely affect numerous businesses. You might think this is a simple matter, but it goes further. Derek would have to step in to stabilize the situation. However, not a few days ago, he just spent a massive amount of coin and influence taking Kent's territory. The stability is fragile; conflict within his own lieutenants, particularly two of the more prominent ones, would hinder this process, resulting in even further cascading chaos. Rivals will crawl out of every hole as soon as they find weaknesses in his power base to exploit."
Ashe was about to say something, but I cut her off and continued, "The guards, prominent businessmen, and minor nobility, and even the baroness, to a certain degree, rely on the gang leaders to keep conflict to a minimum, maintaining the flow of coin. That is why we had such a short window of opportunity to take Kent's territory."
Mar didn't look convinced. "So, all that will come crumblin' down if you kill Colette?"
I nodded, "Yes, in fact, I have no doubt it would."
"Alright, I guess I can see it. But why you care if the whole city gets mad? You can fight off anyone." Ashe asked.
"My goal is to stabilize this territory, allowing me free rein to improve my magical abilities. Killing her only hinders my goal. I haven't even mentioned how significant iron is to trade."
Mar rubbed the stubble on his face, staring down at the ground in contemplation, slowly nodding as my words took root. "You thought all that up so quickly?"
I chuckled, "Hardly, I pay close attention to everything. The state of the citizens, Diane's information on the rival gangs, and gossip. Finally, Colette's own behavior during our meetings. She's the honorable type; the casual mention of murder and rape perturbed her. But during our conquest of Kent territory, did she voice any complaints or fight against the crimes that occurred? No. This means she can be practical, a rarity in people with a large amount of empathy. Combine all that, and the answer to whether or not to kill her becomes obvious. "
Ashe still didn't look like she agreed, but at the same time, she couldn't find a counter to my argument.
"What if she ain't as practical as you think and she tries to come at you," Mar asked.
I shrugged, "Then I coordinate with Derek to eliminate her. Everything is risk and management in the end. Killing her will certainly cause chaos and hinder my own goals. Sparing her will possibly cause her to take steps against me. Is my deduction on her temperament and state of mind correct? I think so, at least. But in the end, one outcome is certain, the other is possible. I avoid certainties that will hinder me."
Mar shrugged, seeming to run out of questions.
Ashe released a loud breath. "Just don't like people actin' so bold in our territory."
"It's a great folly of humanity to make decisions based on emotion. Look at a situation, consider all you know and understand, then make the best decision based on that information. Anger, pride, honor, goodness, righteousness, or holiness should not factor into it."
Mar and Ashe looked at each other, and a shared joke between them sparked laughter.
"And what's so humorous?" I asked.
Ashe looked at me as if there was some great irony I was missing. Then she looked at Mar, "She don't see it."
I gave them a baleful gaze before Mar finally clarified, "You speak like some general or emperor from the stories. And you already said you don't want to be a leader. It's just funny."
Ashe nodded as if in agreement. "Aye, I bet she could take control of the entire city. If she wants."
"Could you?" Mar asked.
I spent a few moments thinking before I answered. "No, at least not for a long period of time. In the end, this city is a backwater on the south end of the empire. If true imperial power decided to step in, I would be swiftly eliminated."
"What bout Ferosia?" Ashe asked.
'Ferosia? They have no magic. In fact, the practice is outlawed in their lands. But so far from imperial influence, it's not impossible. Though it would take a lifetime.'
"Ferosia isn't impossible. But such thinking is bad for my health. Magic is my true passion. Spending years slowly building a powerbase and eroding the influence of the Feroisan imperial family, church, and aristocracy is not something I have interest in."
Ashe grinned as if I said something profound, "See, that's it. No one else would say they can conquer an entire kingdom. But you, Sera, you believe you can do it."
Mar laughed and grinned, "Aye, I can see it now, Empress Sera. The bringer o' fire and magic."
I rolled my eyes at their musing. "We have a long day, so let's get to work," I said, nodding to the 50 barrels littering my backyard.
"Why we even filling them with water?" Mar asked.
I shrugged, "It's a project I'm working on. I need to get it done before I meet with Derek."
"Oh, right, your business with the baroness. Still don't know what she wants?" Mar asked.
"No, but I will find out eventually. I want that reward."
Both nodded and went off to work. But their words didn't disappear from my mind.
'Empress Myr. It does sound rather appropriate.'
I chuckled, abandoning the stupid thought. Spending my life trying to conquer that failing empire was such a waste of my talents.