บท 55: Genuine fear
(Arthur POV)
We've taken over a tavern in Horn Village, just outside Grass City, rebranding it as the "Prancing Pony" for our shoot. The air's thick with anticipation as we prep for the ring scene.
"Remember, the ring needs to levitate just enough to land on Kurt's finger," I remind the effects team. "It's got to look accidental, but deliberate. You know what I mean?"
Mochi, one of the crew members I rehired, nods confidently. "We've got the trajectory down pat, boss. It'll slip onto Kurt's finger like it's got a mind of its own."
I can't help but feel a bit glad. Bringing these grads back was a smart move. Their mix of magical know-how and technical skills is proving invaluable.
"Good. We're shooting this in slow motion, so you'll need to control Kurt's fall too. Make it look dramatic."
"Got it, boss," the team choruses.
As everyone takes their positions, I feel myself slipping into character. The acting skills from the system skills shop are kicking in, but there's something else too. Playing Aragorn... it's hitting close to home.
An exiled prince, carrying the weight of a legacy he's not sure he wants. The parallels aren't lost on me. I draw on my own experiences - the feeling of being an outsider in my own family, the struggle to prove myself. But there's also a determination there, a resolve to forge my own path.
As I settle into Aragorn's skin, I feel a strange mix of vulnerability and strength.
"Ready when you are, boss," my AD calls.
I take a deep breath, centering myself. "Action!"
At my signal, the set springs to life. The extras settle into their roles, while the actual tavern regulars just... well, continue being themselves. Sometimes, reality is the best acting coach.
I hunker down in my corner, deliberately making myself stand out by trying not to. It's a delicate balance, being conspicuously inconspicuous.
This version of Aragorn is a bit different from the original. He's half-demon, half-human, still heir to Isildur, but with an added layer of complexity. The Dunedain, his people, aren't exactly rolling out the red carpet for him. It's a wrinkle that adds some spice to the character.
Kurt, in his role as Frodo, catches sight of me. He does a decent job of looking unnerved by the demon in the corner. As he leans in to question the waiter about me, I fix my gaze on him.
In that moment, I'm not seeing Kurt the actor anymore. I'm Aragorn, sizing up Frodo, the unexpected bearer of the One Ring. There's a weight to this interaction that goes beyond the script. It's the meeting of two outcasts, each carrying a burden they never asked for.
***
(Kurt POV)
Being on the receiving end of Arthur's intense stare is more unnerving than I'd anticipated. It's not just acting anymore; I'm genuinely intimidated. There's something in his eyes that reminds me of Michael Corleone right before all hell breaks loose. It's chilling.
I fidget with the ring, trying to look nervous - which, honestly, isn't much of a stretch right now. Then I hear Sam (played by Rory) call out "Frodo Baggins!" just like we rehearsed. That's my cue.
I scramble to my feet, aiming for a hasty retreat. As I weave through the crowd of extras and actual tavern patrons, I prepare for the fall. This is the tricky part.
Suddenly, I feel the subtle tug of magic. Mochi and the effects team are working their spells, making my fall look natural while keeping me from actually face-planting. It's a strange sensation, like I'm moving through molasses.
The ring floats alongside me, seemingly defying gravity. As my hand stretches out, the ring slips onto my finger with eerie precision. The moment it's on, the magical support vanishes and I hit the floor with a convincing thud.
In an instant, the illusion spell kicks in, and to everyone else, I've vanished into thin air. It's a surreal experience, being invisible yet fully present.
"Cut!" Arthur's voice breaks the spell, so to speak.
As I pick myself up, I can't help but feel a mix of relief and excitement. I've pulled it off in just one shot.
Arthur helps me to my feet, a hint of surprise in his voice. "Not bad, Kurt. Didn't expect you to nail it in one take."
"Thanks, boss," I manage, feeling a mix of pride and relief.
But the moment's short-lived. Arthur's next words send a chill down my spine. "For the next scene, I need you to amp up the fear. Think you can handle that?"
I hesitate. Being more scared? It sounds simple, but terror isn't exactly my forte. "I'll... I'll do my best," I promise, not feeling particularly confident.
We start rolling again, and I try my hardest to look terrified as I slip off the ring. But something's off.
"Cut!" Arthur's voice rings out. He approaches, shaking his head. "You looked more scared when I was staring you down earlier. What happened?"
I swallow hard. "Well, to be honest, I was actually scared of you back then."
Arthur sighs, running a hand through his hair. "Okay, new tactic. Imagine I'm still staring at you while you take off the ring. Can you do that?"
We try again. And again. And again. But it's not working. How am I supposed to be terrified of a simple gold band?
After the fifth take, Arthur's expression changes. "Alright, I've got an idea to help you out."
Before I can ask what he means, we're rolling again. I brace myself, trying to summon some fear for the camera.
Suddenly, a wave of terror washes over me. It's visceral, primal - like every nightmare I've ever had rolled into one. My eyes widen, my breath catches in my throat. With trembling hands, I yank the ring off my finger.
As quickly as it came, the feeling fades. I'm left gasping, confused and shaken.
What just happened?
***
(Arthur POV)
It worked like a charm.
Watching Kurt yank off the ring, his face a mask of genuine terror, I can't help but chuckle to myself. The Nether Surge spell did its job beautifully, even if this wasn't its primary function.
The spell's main purpose is to amplify magical power and mana, but its side effect of instilling fear in others is proving quite useful. All it took was a few muttered words, directing the spell's energy towards Kurt, and boom - instant terror, picture-perfect for the camera.
During the review, the crew and cast are falling over themselves praising Kurt's "acting." I don't bother correcting them. Sometimes, what they don't know won't hurt them.
As we wrap up the scene where Aragorn reprimands Frodo, Kurt approaches me, his face a mix of confusion and suspicion.
"Boss, I felt... terrified earlier," he says, eyeing the prop ring warily. "Did this thing do something?"
I plaster on a reassuring smile, patting his shoulder. "Don't worry about it. Let's focus on the next scene, shall we?"
But I can see it in his eyes - he's not buying it. That look screams "I know you know something."
Well, can't be helped. As long as we get the shots we need, a little mystery won't hurt anyone. Besides, what's a fantasy epic without some real magic behind the scenes?
บท 56: Overtime
(Arthur POV)
The past few days have been intense. The scenes with Kurt - Aragorn protecting Frodo from the Black Riders, the fight sequences - they've been challenging, but seeing the footage... it's been worth every drop of sweat.
Yesterday, we wrapped the scenes of Aragorn and the hobbits making their way towards Rivendell, with Frodo barely hanging on. Today, it's Firfel's big debut as Arwen.
The effects team's working overtime to amp up Firfel's natural charm for the camera. Not that she needs much help in that department.
When we get to Arwen's reunion with Aragorn, I decide to dial up the intimacy.
"Let me handle this," Firfel says, her hand finding mine with a tenderness that feels all too real.
I meet her gaze, letting Aragorn's centuries of longing seep into my expression. With a nod towards Kurt, I murmur, "He's yours."
Firfel smiles, and before she can react, I lean in and plant a quick kiss on her lips. "Go," I whisper.
The surprise in Firfel's eyes is genuine, but she doesn't miss a beat. She nods, then mounts her horse, Kurt in tow, and gallops off.
"Cut!" I call out, fighting to keep the grin off my face. That little improvisation should add some nice spice to the scene.
Next up, we've got the Black Riders chasing Arwen. As the crew resets, I catch Firfel giving me a look that says we'll be having words later. But there's a hint of a smile there too.
This scene's going to be a challenge to film, but after that last take, I'm feeling pretty good about our chances.
After hours of grueling work, we finally wrapped the chase scene. Now it's time to tackle Rivendell. The set's just been completed in a secluded part of Green Forest - another chunk of land I've acquired for the project.
Most of the elven architecture is just for show, facades propped up against the forest backdrop. We've filled in the gaps with magical illusions, creating a seamless blend of practical effects and arcane trickery.
As I review the footage, I can't help but feel a swell of pride. It's not CGI, but somehow, it looks even better than what I remember from my past life. There's a tangibility to it, a sense of wonder that feels truly magical.
The ethereal glow of the buildings, the way the light dances through the illusory trees - it's breathtaking. And the best part? It's real. Well, as real as anything gets in this world of magic and monsters.
Looking at the playback, I can already imagine how audiences will react. This isn't just a movie set - it's a doorway to another world. And we're the ones who built it.
Changing the topic, today's shoot was... interesting. The Council of Elrond scene is pivotal, and most of the cast nailed it.
George, though? Let's just say his Gimli leaves something to be desired. But hey, Gimli's supposed to be a bit rough around the edges, so maybe George's lack of finesse is actually a stroke of genius. After a few takes and some not-so-subtle coaching, we managed to get it in the can.
With filming wrapped for the day, I decided to sneak back to the capital. There's been something nagging at the back of my mind - "Harry Potter". It should've hit the shelves about a week ago, and I'm itching to see how it's doing.
I throw on a hood before heading out. Being recognized as Michael from "The Demonfather" would throw a wrench in my plans. Instead of heading straight to Hellfire Stories - they think I'm off filming in the boonies - I make my way to one of the bookstores I bought to distribute our publications.
As I push open the door, the bell chimes and the receptionist greets me with a cheerful, "Welcome!" I nod back, making a beeline for the shelves. My eyes scan the spines, looking for that telltale title.
I scan the fantasy section, my eyes darting from spine to spine. Nothing. I double-check, triple-check, but the result's the same. No "Harry Potter" in sight.
"Weird," I mutter, stroking my chin. "It should be out by now. What gives?"
A knot forms in my stomach. Did something go wrong with the publication? As I'm lost in thought, the demoness at the reception desk pipes up.
"Having trouble finding something, mister?"
I turn, nodding. "Yeah, actually. I'm looking for a book called 'Harry Potter'."
"Harry Potter?" she echoes, and for a moment, my heart sinks.
But then she continues, "Oh, you're out of luck today. That one sold out a few hours ago."
"Sold out?" I repeat, not quite believing my ears.
She nods enthusiastically. "It's become insanely popular. Book lovers all over the city are clamoring for it-"
Before she can finish, the door chimes and another demon bursts in. "Book lady! Any restock on Harry Potter yet?"
The receptionist shakes her head. "Not until tomorrow, I'm afraid."
The newcomer groans. "I've been waiting since yesterday!"
As the receptionist and the new customer chat about restocking, my mind races. Out of stock? This isn't just good news - it's fantastic.
"Harry Potter" didn't just make it to publication, it's flying off the shelves. A smile tugs at my lips as I slip out of the store, unnoticed in the commotion.
The book's popularity seems to have spread by word of mouth. I didn't focus much on marketing, too wrapped up in the "Lord of the Rings" production. But somehow, it's found its audience anyway.
As I walk down the street, my grin widens. This is just the beginning. If the first book is this successful without a major push, imagine what we could do with a proper marketing campaign for the sequels.
In my past life, I knew "Harry Potter" was a phenomenon. But to see it happening again, in this world, with my own hands... it's something else entirely.
I make a mental note to check in with Hellfire Stories soon. We need to ramp up production, maybe even start planning for book two.
***
(Grigori POV)
"Move it, you lazy demons! We don't have time to slack off!" I bellow at my workers as we churn out copy after copy of "Harry Potter". It's been days of this madness, and I'm about ready to tear my horns out.
When we first released the book, I didn't think much of it. "Relax," I told my team. "We don't need to bust our tails for the exiled prince's little pet project. It'll never catch on."
Oh, how wrong I was.
First day? A trickle of sales. Second day? A bit better, but nothing to write home about. I was feeling pretty smug about my prediction.
Then the third day hit. Hundreds of copies, flying off the shelves. I chalked it up to a fluke, a lucky break.
But the fourth day? Thousands. And it just kept climbing from there.
Now we can't keep the damn thing in stock, and I'm cracking the whip to keep up with demand. Just as we're hitting our stride, Marbas from distribution bursts in, demanding more copies.
"Can't you see we're working our tails off here?" I snap, stress making my voice crack.
As Marbas slinks out, I can't help but wonder: what's the deal with this book? Is it really that good? Or has the whole city gone mad?
One thing's for sure - I never thought I'd be losing sleep over some human boy wizard. Thanks a lot, Your Ex-Highness.
As I'm about to get back to overseeing the printing, another interruption comes in the form of a messenger from Hellfire Stories headquarters.
"Mr. Grigori," the young demon pants, clearly out of breath. "I've got urgent news from the main office."
I barely suppress a groan. "What now? We're already working at full capacity here!"
The messenger swallows hard. "They... they want to double the print run. Effective immediately."
For a moment, I'm sure I've misheard. "Double? Are they out of their minds?"
But the messenger just nods, looking as bewildered as I feel. "They say pre-orders for the next shipment are through the roof. We need to meet demand or... or we'll lose sales to copycats."
I slump against the nearest printing press, my mind reeling. Double the output? With what resources? What staff?
But then a thought hits me. If demand is this high, if we're doubling production... that means our profit shares will skyrocket too.
Suddenly, I'm filled with a new energy. I straighten up, clapping my hands to get everyone's attention.
"Listen up, you ink-stained imps! We've got a new target. Double production, starting now! Anyone who can't keep up can kiss their bonus goodbye!"
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