Chapter 7: Magkrin: Is this really a Village?
"Sir Knight how much longer it will take to reach Magkrin?" Kaye asked while riding on his horse.
"We are almost there. We will be able to see its entrance after just this mountain." Sir Rityal pointed towards a close by mountain they were detouring.
If those swords on his back are forged by him, then the competition for young master will become harder.
Even if Sir Rityal wasn't showing anything on surface but he was having sense of insecurity towards Kaye due to Kaye's swords feat he saw before and also his own loyalty towards Senleka.
Few minutes later they cleared the mountain. Finally it came to view, in the end of a huge open field a straight path leading towards a colossal door almost 60m in length, giving entrance through the wall which was taller than the door itself. The wall was forming a dam like structure between two small mountains, mountains which were five km apart. Giant watch towers were guarding as well as guiding the path, each of them at least 15m tall.
After watching this scene the only thing came in mind to those two was Is this really a Village?
"Sir Knight weren't we going to Dwarfs' village: Magkrin, so why is a Kingdom's boundary here? And it's so huge." Kaye asked.
"What are you saying? This is Magkrin. And they call it village because every single one living within the kingdom of dwarf is their family. They are the true meaning of brotherhood after all."
It simply means master is the prince of this country. So why is he living a simple life?
"Sir Rityal is it really true that Magkrin is one of the committee members of Grand Commission?" It was Senleka this time who asked the question.
"Not only Magkrin, all of the seven Dwarfs' Villages on the continent are its member."
Grand Commission (GC) was a committee of fifteen super power countries, which ensures the balance of power among countries on the continent.
The session of Q&A covered their distance over the open field and they arrived at the door. The countless number of spear and stone slingers decorated on top of the wall can be seen as they reached close enough to door.
"Hold your horses there, first your identities will be checked. So kindly pass through the below checkpoint before entering." One soldier guided them towards the checkpoint when they were near the entrance door. The wall width was 10m and few rooms were built in that. The checkpoint was one of those rooms on the ground floor within the wall.
A window-counter was built in that checkpoint room; truly opposing the size of the door they were passing.
"Sir, please kindly show your identity proof." A female dwarf attending the counter asked.
"Will the adventurer card issued by Neptinian guild work?" Kaye asked while taking out his card from his cloak's pocket.
"Yes sir, here let me take a look." She took the card and inserted it into a small fancy looking box. There was a small stone on top of that box which started to glow in blue color.
"Sir may I know your reason to come here?"
"I am here to meet his highness and take the test for learning weapon binding ritual." Kaye collected his wits to at least address Dwarf King as 'his highness'.
While Kaye was explaining sir Rityal's ears were directed towards him through and through.
"Okay sir you will be guided towards the waiting hall. You will have to wait for two hours there and afterwards his highness will address all of the candidates." she informed.
Sir Rityal and Senleka both had been through the same procedure and guided towards the waiting hall as well.
After waiting for two hours, all the candidates headed towards the King's castle in five wagons provided by army soldiers. The castle Tracian was seemingly carved out in the upper-land of Magkrin underneath a hill. It was an unbelievable sight to behold, the hill had Tracian sheltered under its belly. Its sheer size was so big that the sheltering hill only added to its unreal majesty.
As they were guided towards the courtroom one by one via many courtyards and corridors, it just left every single one of them baffled. Even the Duke's son Senleka, who's been in the royal castle of Neptina many times, was left speechless by the glory of Tracian.
Finally, the series of shocking structures ended, and they entered the King's courtroom. Eighteen gigantic poles were supporting the roof, nine on each side. Behind the purely forged black iron throne, an enormous statue of Lady Synthia was standing. She was blessing the throne with her both hands. Lastly, four human (Or sentian) like golems were standing on each side of the King's throne, suggesting the pose of the King's guard.
After each surprise, I only think of one thing: Why is master living like a common man?
It was just about time for the King to address them. A loud tong resounded through the hall, it was in no manner alarming or piercing the ears.
"Behold the Creator of Datiria, Conqueror of Titans, His Royal Highness Theocrus Kartina is entering the courtroom." Someone's voices echoed throughout the courtroom. Soon after, the footsteps of four men started to barrage their ears like steel drums.
The king entered the courtroom with his royal guards and a minister who was a sentian with them. King Theocrus's stature couldn't hope to deprive his tall image formed by his entrance. A broad face decorated by a dense white-black beard, and the wrinkles on his brown face were only giving the sense of maturity and revealing nothing else about him. His furry cape followed him as he walked to the throne.
All the fifteen candidates were standing in front of the King, making a row. It was that wide of a courtroom. Every single one of them was bowing their head to the King.
"Raise your heads." King theocrus said.
As he was watching them one by one, King's eyes picked up a familiar ring into their observation, it was Kaye's ring.
"Leo, send a message to my grandson that I have received his guest carefully." King theocrus replied while looking towards Kaye and then shifting his gaze to Leo, his prime minister.
Kaye shuddered a bit in hesitation, and it almost made him cringe.
"It will be done, my lord." Leo left the room.
"So now about the test, hmm… this time much fewer candidates appeared than the previous test. Anyway, you have to forge the best weapon you can, in the next five days. Shall I find the weapon to my liking, then I will teach you the weapon binding ritual, as well as, enchant the weapon myself for you. The resources will be yours to use. So anything you want in forging the weapon, just ask my brothers wandering here and there in Magkrin. Just tell them whatever you want and your reason for being here. They will help you with their best efforts." And just like that, King theocrus said it nonchalantly in his heavy and elderly voice. After that, he left the courtroom with his royal guards.
After king's addressing each of them were guided towards a specific small mansion for their resting throughout the test. In the room of Senleka Sir Rityal was sitting with him talking about something.
"Why King theocrus's behavior was the way it was?" Senleka asked.
"He wasn't doing it on purpose, it was just he must have had a busy schedule." Sir rityal replied.
"May be you are right, I have seen King nartio sometime and he was behaving in the same manner."
"Young master I think we have to do something about that Kaye we have travelled with."
"What are you implying?"
"I tried to appraise his swords but it was blocked. My point is he cut through serpents of Seredators like fruits without even using a single sword spell. If he forged the same sword in this test, it will definitely attract the King's attention and that would be bad for us."
"What are you saying? King theocrus didn't say he will be teaching only one person. He only said if he liked the weapon by forged by any of us the person will be blessed with it. So we don't have worry about others and just try to give our best."
As expected of Young master he won't resort to underhanded tricks. But is this really okay?
"Okay young master I will be heading to my room now."
Sir Rityal left the room and went to his own, where he put down his sword and shield on the table.
I have to do it for you young master. I won't let Kaye forge that sword. The only question is whether I will be able to hold him back by Itara and Noki.
He then appraised them.
Entity: Long Sword
Basic details:
Name: Itara
Type: Weapon
Title: Deniya's fourth pillar
Attack: 24 (+951) Niyak
Defense: 18 (+157) Baar
Durability: 23 (+111) Galza
Rarity: low
Advanced details:
Attack spells:
From NELKA'S Enchanting
NAKRISHA-NELKA: 611 Niyak
From Deniya's Enchanting
RAKTAS: 251 Niyak
NIRKON: 089 Niyak
Defense spells:
From Deniya's Enchanting
RUKIAS: 157 Baar
Creator: Kedostro - Neptinian Arsenal Knight Division
Enchantments: Deniya's Order set, NELKA's fire
Entity: Shield
Basic details:
Name: Noki
Type: Weapon
Title: Deniya's fourth wall
Attack: 14 Niyak
Defense: 60 (+607) Baar
Durability: 28 (+131) Galza
Rarity: low
Advanced details:
Attack spells: None
Defense spells:
From Deniya's Enchanting
MORKA: 507 Baar
MARTIO: 100 Baar
Creator: Kedostro - Neptinian Arsenal Knight Division
Enchantment: Deniya's Order set
What if he has more offensive spells than me? No! I shouldn't think about attacking him head on. Reason being he is one of the guests of Magkrin. It could definitely be considered as serious offense towards Magkrin from Neptina since I am a Neptinian Knight.
He hasn't come with any kind of prepared goods has he? That could be my chance. When he will be searching for ore in streets of Magkrin I will do something about it.
Sir Rityal was planning to obstruct Kaye in some way. But he was completely unaware of his strength against Kaye.
Next day every single one of the candidates worked their way to a forgery in Magkrin since everyone was came prepared with their ores and stuff. Except Kaye who was wandering streets of Magkrin to find a specific type of ore but couldn't able to. The reason he was not able to find it because everything was already prepared in its base metal form. But him to forge a Katana he need raw iron ore and everywhere he found only iron steel of low carbon or other metals like copper, adamantite etc. He decided to ask someone before heading towards another forgery.
He stopped at a pass by fruit shop which was basically a person's house, the shop-front was his ground floor front room attached with another room with a garage like door in it. It was having a first and second floor too. But the height of the upper floors was truly for dwarfs only.
"Hello mister my name is Kaye. I need to know where the ore mines are situated. I am here to take the test and can't find any places that suggest where they are."
The dwarf slowly stood from his seat and started closing his shop. As he was doing so he introduced himself.
"Nice to meet you Kaye my name is Korin. They are five km away from here; if you are asking for ore mines then I believe you have checked different forgery as well. We will reach there in one hour on horse. So better we head there right now."
Wow! people here are too much friendly aren't they?
Well that is not too far. I have five days and I can forge it in two days, so no problem.
In fifteen minutes Korin closed the shop opened his garage like door of a room in his house. In there stood an open cart can be pulled by two horses.
Whether I should tell him not to take the cart? But I should really preserve the mana stone for extreme condition. Let's go with this cart then.
"Mr. Korin where are the horses and how much I have to pay for them?" Kaye asked.
"First thing you don't have to pay anything. This test is considered sacred here, so helping you is a good deed. And my horses are in backyard I am coming with them wait here." Korin went to his backyard.
Few minutes later both headed towards the mines. Kaye riding his horse and Korin on was on his cart.
While Kaye was talking to Korin a silhouette of someone in shadows of nearby building was standing and watching them carefully. It was Sir Rityal looking for an opportunity to obstruct Kaye from forging a Katana.
You only made it easy for me. But can I do it a person who always has been an honest and true man to himself. No I must do it for young master I have to do it.
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