Chapter 14: Bird in the sky (IV)
(Phil)
Since the moment I met Berry, I thought she was strange. A child that appeared out of thin air and lived alone like a Hermit. I get the feeling there was more to her, but I just could not figure out what.
I know I was rude to her the first time we met, in which case I had a reason. What was worse was grandma accepted her like it was nothing. For someone who had brought peace, led large armies gallantly into battle, and was called Lioness of Dragonia, she lacks common sense. It's a given that one should be skeptical if some kid comes out of the Forgotten Forest like it's her back yard.
Though what I did not expect was that Berry did not have any parents. She was just like me, someone who had not grown up with a father or a mother. I understood her, and I could not help but wonder what hardship she had gone through. I, on the other hand, had my grandmother to keep me sane.
Leaning back on my chair, I look out the window. Warm light entered into the room as piles of paper works were left on the side. Laughter echoed as five young kids were running around Berry playing tag with her. Berry fell face first, and the kids laughed at her misfortune. I couldn't help but hold in a chuckle at her fall. It was a perfect face plant.
Looking back, I did realize quite a bit of things even more strange about her. The most surprising thing that kept me on edge was how she ate gold. It wasn't just one, but three, and she kept it up religiously. The horrible crunching like sound that made you automatically taste metal and the possible pain that comes with it, but she did not budge a single bit. It's truly something I could not get used to nor understand how she had gotten the curse in the first place.
Every day I would catch her giving a funny look of pleasure at eating the gold. It's like she ate the most delicious thing in the world. I just don't understand her at all. Now, she would eat gold in front of me without much care. Isn't it something one needs to be careful of so she won't be found out?
I sighed. Lately these days, I noticed that I've been sighing a lot more than usual. I can tell she is weary around me at times, but I'm not sure why. She even gives me the strangest expressions, when
I talk about eliminating obstacles. It's quite funny watching her. So many flavorful emotions that I never expected to see.
One thing after another, she never stopped to amaze me. From staying at the library until she finished reading every single book. To the point of reciting any lines from any book that I ask. She truly has an extraordinary memory. I don't know how she can store so much information in her small head, but she barely uses it to help her out in her situation. She's so oblivious to her surroundings that it makes me wonder, how did she survive all this time?
That's not all, the thing she had created. These Lamp Lights, light watches, and wall lights were at first strange, but when in use, it was a whole different level.
Light.
It opened up more time in a day. No more do we need to sleep when the sun goes down. Instead, I can stay up all night without getting a headache from reading the paperwork. I could tell, this would become revolutionary.
The use of Common Magic Stones for such purpose would increase its value exponentially; before that happens, I have sent out a large number of orders of Magic Stones. I wonder what else she would make using the same method.
Her demeanor changes like a child every time she succeeds and fails. I must be careful; I don't dote on her. Every day she feels like a younger sister that I have never had before. Hopefully, she would stop running away from me as if I'm some kind of monster. I didn't realize how much I have come to appreciate her presence. She's like a fresh breeze of wind that changed my life.
"Phil!" Berry burst into the room flabbergasted. Her whole appearance looked like she took a sharp fall. Branches and dead leaves were stuck onto her hair, and small bruise marks were littered all over her body.
"Yes?"
"You need to help me."
"What did you do now?"
"I didn't do anything. These brats are out of control!"
I stared at her funny. She said, 'brat' again. I swear she sometimes sounds older, but her appearance looks nothing like one. Elves are known for their youthful appearance, but no adult elves look like a child.
I stood up and walked with her. We walked through the hallway and finally came out through the courtyard. Five children from the age of seven to twelve were laughing joyfully as they played with one another. They were three humans, one elf, and one beast kind. They were also seven humans who were the age of thirteen to seventeen who were also from the orphanage and looked after the kids.
Sol, Sam, and Terry were also present. They were sitting on the grass with pen and parchment in hand and copying the first volume that I had explicitly written and translated. It has been a month since school started.
Berry had asked for the children at the orphanage to be her first students. Duke Hons did not disagree and instead allowed it. Now the children were brought here every day to learn the language that Berry had to offer.
"Lily. Stop running around." The eldest male student called out to the wildest child in the group.
"I don't want to. I want to play!" Lily squealed.
"No. If you want to eat later, you need to study."
"But I don't want to. Can't I eat first?"
"No," I replied. Everyone froze. "If you don't study, there will be no dessert."
"I'll study. I'll study. Please let me have dessert after lunch!" Lily came over and grabbed onto my arm.
"If you behave, then I'll think about it."
Lily nodded and wouldn't let go.
"Class is starting. Everyone comes along." Berry called out. She sat down with her legs crossed. Everyone sat around her, wondering what she would teach. I walked over and sat next to her.
"Today, we are going to learn something different." Berry pulled out something from her pocket. Two common magic stones that were level E. One of the two magic stones was a bit strange, especially how the stone was mixed with multiple colors.
"This is the 'Rule' Stone." Berry picked up the multiple colored Magic Stone. She held it out for everyone to see. "This stone has the sixteen different magic mixed to create one stone. The highest grade level a Grade E can get too."
"What does it do?" Sam asked.
"It's quite a fascinating stone. I was trying to figure out how to combine all the different types of stones; I accidentally dropped them into a hot pan. It melted all the stones together and radiated a strong force of magic. It took eight protection Magic stones to keep the energy contained until it cooled down. Even then, mixing them and condensing it took a lot more energy than I thought." Berry rolled it in her hand. "What's truly extraordinary about this stone is that whatever you write on it, it stores the information inside the stone itself instead of on the outer skin. There is a limit in how many words a normal stone can contain. So far, it can contain about 16 times the normal E level common magic stone."
"Then why don't we use that?" Sol spoke. He scooted in closer.
"The problem lies in what to write in it. It doesn't work like a light magic stone. Just like its name, it gives it order to other magic stones that are connected to it. Meaning, I can set up a rule where one letter can mean one specific word."
Sol and Sam were baffled. The others had a difficult time understanding what Berry was even talking about. Yet I could not hold back my surprise. This was a truly fascinating discovery.
"What does she mean?" Lily asked, confused. "I don't get her." She pulled on my sleeves.
"It means that the words can be shortened on the regular stones giving it more space to write on the stone. This allows us to code more."
"Exactly!" Berry's whole face lightened up in excitement. "This gives us more complex scripts and opens up a variety of different ways for it to do things. Not only that, it seems that the higher the level of Magic stones, the more commands that you can write. If my theory is correct, an A Level Common Magic Stone could hold up to one hundred million commands or more!"
"O-o-one hundred million? Is that even an actual number?" Everyone was confused at the odd words that she had stated. Sometimes the words that she spouts out were strange, but they had a meaning behind it. Especially the simple numbers that she has taught everyone. Instead of counting one by one, the symbols that were shown were much more easier and faster to calculate.
It has become so normal to write it out in actual numbers than for it to be completely spelled out. Even Duke Hon was fascinated when he saw the strange markings; he thought it was a completely new language. When I told him it was just numbers, he asked to learn this new way and made it become a trend in the mansion.
Seeing the Duke understand it so quickly is quite frightening to behold. No wonder he is called the Master Scholar. Our numbers and budgeting have become more precise, and the records even shorter. Problems such as things being miscalculated have decreased immensely, and finding out how much we have lost was more natural to calculate. Every day our profit has been jumping leaps and bounds.
"Yes, I show you the basic arithmetic. It's possible." Berry nodded furiously.
"Teacher," a young boy raised his hands.
"Yes, Micheal?"
"Is there any way to erase all the things that you have written on the magic stones?"
"Well.... Once you have used up all the space, you will not be able to take it back. Instead, you have to write a command at the very end that gives you the option of erasing the code or allowing a certain code to be erased or changed. This is where the 'Rule' stone also comes into play. This stone already has that function in it to safeguard against people who forcefully try to erase it or override. Think of it as a security that keeps the 'Rule' protected."
"So how would you use the 'Rule' Stone?" Terry asked. She was leaning against a tree a bit bored at the lessons but still listening.
Berry grinned. She fished out a thin metal rod in her pocket that had a hoop around both ends. Placing the metal on the floor, Berry put the 'Rule' Stone in one end of one of the circles. Picking up the second Common Magic Stone that was colored blue, she held up for everyone to see.
"This stone has the words that represent what the Rule has. Without it having the full words written out, it just becomes a stone. Nothing activates, but when you connect it, it becomes a different story." Placing the stone on the other end of the wire, it sparks blue, and a large scale barrier that covers around them appears like a bubble.
"The barrier is outputting thirty percent of its power. At the same time, any low-grade magic that is not stronger than thirty percent of the barrier will be reflected with double the amount of power, meaning another thirty percent of the power is used to send back the magic. While if sixty percent of the stone magic is used, it allows forty percent of the stone to be used for something else. So far, the ideal percentage of the stone lasting the longest is thirty by sixty by ten percent rule. The last ten percent is to create a strengthening command that increases the output of the shield by double."
"So that means that the magic stone needs to be connected to the 'Rule' stone even to work. That is pretty useful, though the price for making a 'Rule' stone will increase the price." I spoke—the possibility of attaching multiple magic stones brought out many different uses.
"True."
"We will be able to one day create our own?" A young girl asked. Her cute cheeks were slightly red from sunburn.
"If that is the path you want to take, then yes. You just need first to remember the book that Phil has written for starters."
Everyone chatted excitedly.
"Well then, we'll continue with yesterday's lecture on short sentences."
For the rest of the hour, Berry taught diligently. Even I was jotting down notes for the next volume.
With the lesson over, the maids and grandma brought over sandwiches for everyone to eat. I swear that my grandmother was good at conversing with people. She had a knack for making friends with a snap of her finger. I sat down next to the tree and leaned against it. Berry came over with her portion and sat down next to me.
"Phil, we brought you some lunch." Grandma gently smiles as she looks at the kids.
"Thank you, grandma." I took the food from her. Grandma came over and sat down next to us to enjoy the gentle breeze.
"Well, now, how is my little Berry doing?"
Berry stopped and gulped down her food. "Great. The kids are taking the material well. In about another four months, I assume that they can read and write the basics."
"That's wonderful to hear." Grandma nodded. "Phil, what do you think of Berry here?"
"Um....great?" I was wondering why the sudden question.
"Great? Is that even an answer?"
"Sort of?"
Grandma sighed. "Are you still mad that we brought her into the family? Because if you are, you should let it all go."
"No. Grandma. I'm not. It's just that your question was too sudden. I didn't have an answer to give you."
"Oh." She thought it over in what I had said. "Then, do you like Berry?"
"Pfft!" Berry spat out her food and was coughing hard.
"Grandma, she's a kid. All kids are annoying at one point, and they start to grow on you."
"Kuhuhuh. That's good to hear."
I don't know if grandma was poking around for more answers or if the answer I gave her was enough. For some reason, I felt like there was more to the question itself, but instead, I brushed it aside. "So...what do you think?" I asked Berry.
"The food? It's not bad."
"No, I'm talking about the magic stones."
"Oh, that. I find it very promising."
"What do you have in mind with it?"
"I want to create a vehicle one day or maybe a robot!" Her voice quickly was hyped up with excitement.
"Vehicle? Robot?" Once again, she said some strange things.
"Ugh, I forgot you don't know. A vehicle is like a carriage but without a horse. While a robot is a mechanical human."
"I'm not sure what they are, but I am looking forward to what you have to offer."
"Kuhuhuhuh," She laughed. It was one of those evil laughs that I sometimes catch her in.
A glint of gold caught my attention hidden away in her sandwich. I looked around quickly to see if anyone saw her slip it in. This girl truly doesn't understand the concept of being careful. So far, there was no one else around us who saw what she did, nor hear her eat it.
She made every day enjoyable. I wonder what other ways I can tease her and enjoy my time leisurely learning the use of Magic Stones.
Not too far away from us, the soldiers that were stationed were huddled together, talking loudly among each other.
"Is it true? There is a large force of goblins coming to the town?"
"Yes. A scout just came in, saying a large mobilization of over twenty thousand is coming this way. What's worse is they might come here in less than a week."
I placed my sandwich back into the basket and got up. Quickly I walked over. "Is there something the matter?"
"Sir!" All the soldiers froze up.
"Please go ahead with what you were talking about. Was the goblins correct?"
"Yes, they are coming in large forces. Rumors are going on that the king has not sent in reinforcements and has abandoned us."
"Do not worry. There must be a misunderstanding. I will talk with my grandfather to see what is going on."
"Yes, sir."
I nodded.
An unknown unearthly sound was heard overhead. Everyone stopped to see what was going on. A small strange shape that looked like a bird flew high in the sky.
"What the hell?"
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