Irwin's Journey 509: [Sidestory 7] Invite accepted?

“I see,” Flowrishin said.

 Klei’am grinned as he sensed the annoyance mixed with pride from his bonded smith. 

“Come on,” he said, flitting around their room and landing on the table in front of her, causing her to stop tapping on the paper in front of her. “I’m a hundred percent sure those two will bond with one.”

Flowrishin’s bark-skinned face, still so much younger than the first time he’d met her, hardened.

“You do know that it will take time to ask it in the way you are suggesting?”

“Sure,” Klei’am said, his grin widening. “But not that long. We just have to ask one of the Crathan body doubles to relay our request to Eluathar. Should be doable sometime this year. Then, hope he gets the message to Irwin and Ambraz, and wait until they get time to create a handful of rank zeros. With time dilation, it might take ten or twelve years, but so what? Those two might agree, but they aren’t actually waiting for it either.”

Especially Uvra, he thought, grinning. That one was even more stubborn than Flowrishin had been thousands of years ago.

“Very well,” Flowrishin said, shaking her head. “Remind me again why we can’t have them bond with some of Fristyuustis’ rank zeros?”

Klei’am snorted. “Oh, his regular rank zeros are fine, but both of them, especially Berjin, have far too high a potential. Most of his rank zeros just aren’t stable enough for that. His progeny? He just can’t fully forgive the past, and is still unwilling to have those few he has successfully created bond with anything but diamond-rank potentials.”

Flowrishin sighed, shaking her head. “Potentials… I still dislike this term. Although soulforce sensitivity is important, a person’s match with one of the smithing styles and their desire to improve are almost as important. If one has the latter two, they can still get far.”

Yes, but never to the top, Klei’am thought, though he held them to himself. 

“Very well,” she said. “How did the last group of rank zeros do?”

Klei’am felt his good mood restored as he grinned widely. “We matched nearly all of them, and those that weren’t have taken up residence in Vibrack.”

“I… thought Frisyuustis didn’t allow that?” 

“I had a word with him,” Klei’am said, his mood growing even better. He could still picture the sense of annoying disbelief radiated by Fristyuustis when he’d won his bet with the ancient Ganvil. “As long as we keep them far away from any of the major hubs, and within the confines of the Ganvil-estate I’m setting up, they can stay there until they bond.”

“How is that estate going anyway?” Flowrishin asked.

“You would know if you took the time to come and check?” Klei’am retorted.

“Klei… I want to, but I have too much to do if we are to go with Irwin when he returns.”

“That will be many years from now,” Klei’am said. “Besides, I’ve had them add a large section for bonded cardsmiths on the bottom floor. You could do some of your work in our room?”

Surprise flowed through their connection, together with a warm, fuzzy feeling.

“Fine,” Flowrishin said after a while. “When is the next low-rank bonding?”

I knew that would get her, Klei’am thought, grinning. 

“A year and a half from now,” he said. “We are going to aim for every two years eventually, but there are still too many rank zeros around.”

“Very well. I’ll join them then,” she said. “I’ll also be taking a look at those who practice there. I read that Vibrack has grown again?”

“Yes. I used some of my personal finances to expand the city's border, reinforced the walls, and had them put in actual card-shaped pavers around the central areas and squares,” Klei’am said. “Took a few years, but it allowed them to move some of the less important people to the new areas so we could grow the Charter.”

Flowrishin hummed, nodding thoughtfully. “Any more trouble from House Koulerizi?”

“No,” Klei’am said, feeling a wave of annoyance as he recalled the incident a few years ago. “Lady Koulerizi has been a model citizen, even going as far as to denounce her own house. She is working on creating a branch in Vibrack.”

“But you don’t believe she was without blame?”

Klei’am snorted, thinking back to the annoying period two years ago. “No. She knew that her family was trying to integrate themselves with the rank zeros and try to find out where they were being sent. If the young one didn’t pick up on it as fast as he did, we’d have had another ton of trouble with Fristyuustis.”

“The young Voitrag scion?”

“Yagrav, yes,” Klei’am said, feeling his mood bounce back. “Although he isn’t the best cardsmith, he has been the driving force of an interesting movement.”

“I read about it,” Flowrishin said, her curiosity clearly growing. “He was one of those with a heartcard reforged by Irwin. The Shadow Guild has told me that he has been advocating stronger defences around the Exit Portal and a presence on the other side, together with a large force?”

“He has, and he is right,” Klei’am said. “With the time dilation more in line with what is normal, it's time we create a powerful harbor city on the other side.”

“I know,” Flowrishin said, pulling a paper from a stack and putting it on the table. “The Shipwright Guild has been preparing for some time. They should be-”

Klei’am continued talking with her about a ton of things, happy when they were finally done. A long session of reforging later, he flew through the Blackglass Smithsguild. The ancient Ganvil corridors were worn, exuding history. A few long scars and a gauged-out section in the stone reminded him of one of the many times it had been attacked in the last thousand years. 

“Elder,” a group of younger Ganvils, no higher than rank three, chanted as they flitted past.

“Who’s old?” Klei’am snapped back, grinning at the laughter that flowed back to him.

I still can’t believe she accepted an Elder Teacher role again, he thought, wondering if Irwin had known this would happen. 

He couldn’t say he wasn’t happy. As fun as being in the Blackglass Caverns had been, reforging daily as Flow worked on her next heartseed, he was more than a little happy when she actually managed and moved back here.

It took him a short time to reach the Knocking Anvils, a bar nestled high in the Ganvil Section of the smithsguild, unreachable for all but Ganvils.

And shadewalkers, he thought, as he sensed one flit by as he entered through the circular opening. As he passed the sound-blocking runes, a deep and loud song boomed out from the distance.

Oh, Full Iron is playing today, he thought, feeling a desire to rush to the back of the bar before holding back. He had other things to do first, he knew, as he flew into a twenty-foot-high, massive room. Thick chains were locked to the ceiling, leading down to dozens of bars, big and small, that hung at different altitudes. Yellow, orange, and red light runes installed at the bottom created a cozy atmosphere, not unlike the inside of a forge.

“Klei! About time you showed up,” a deafening roar came from the top bar where a ruddy Ganvil with golden sparkles and blood-red bands sat on the slab of shaped steel. The most expensive place was smaller than the other bars that hung from massive chains from the ceiling, but there were also very few who could afford to purchase the cards it served. 

Klei’am snorted as he landed beside Saul’car, one of the few Ganvils that were from the same time and still alive. He was also the only other one there, besides a young rank three who was nervously waiting for them to order.

“Shut it, you old orevein,” he said, looking at the new items that were displayed on the board behind him. “Oh! They got a new batch of water and shadow-typed cards?! How?”

“Don’t know. Don’t care,” Saul’car said, before continuing in a smug tone. “Had two, and they are amazing.”

“Two? You were supposed to wait for me,” Klei’am exclaimed just as a group of seven chittering Whispersteel Ganvils flew by, heading to one of the lower bars. 

“New pool-born?” he asked, turning his focus to the Ganvil in front of the board.

“Yes,” Saul’car grunted. “That old rustvein found another large deposit, and decided we didn’t have enough piping Ganvils.”

“Don’t be annoying,” Klei’am snorted back. “You know it's best to have plenty of those for the fleshies.”

“Please, I know,” Saul’car snorted. “I still don’t understand why those girls prefer the high-voiced ones so much.”

“Yes, you do,” Klei’am replied, knowing they were going to have one of their favorite discussions. “They think it means they are girls, just like them. It makes the bond quicker and simpler.”

“Pfah, doesn’t help that those Whispersteel ones talk about themselves as girls either,” Saul’car grunted.

Klei’am signaled the younger Ganvil to bring him three of the water and shadow-typed cards, two for him and one for his friend.

“You are just annoyed because that makes us the odd ones out,” he said, grinning at his friend.

“Pfah,” Saul’car snorted, before his lips curled up at the sight of a card floating towards him. “Oh, nice!”

The two were quiet as they chewed on their cards, and when they finished, Klei’am sighed.

“So, how is she doing?” he asked, knowing they would have to talk about it eventually.

“Old. Can’t walk anymore,” Saul’car said. He let out a weary sigh, his joy fading. “The healers say she will have a year, perhaps two at most.”

Klei’am felt his own mood drop. Even the aftertaste of the cards he’d just had was unable to make him feel better.

“I… wish I could help,” he said, staring at his friend. He could still remember the first time they had met, thousands of years ago. Young rank ones, recently bound to their matching smiths. Back then, Leilinri, Saul’car’s bond, had been young, barely an adult, while Flowrishin had already been ancient. Klei’am had expected the roles to be reversed, and long ago at that. Instead, Flowrishin looked younger now than she had back then, while Leilinri was as old as a Crathan could become.

If only she could have had a higher soulcard, he thought.

“So do I,” Saul’car said with a weary sigh. “But we knew this was coming hundreds of years ago. She wasn’t progressing anymore, and now she can’t even try.”

Klei’am remained quiet for a while, letting a familiar song of Full Iron, the group of Degnin Iron Ganvils flow over and around him.

“Right, enough of this,” Saul’car snapped, his small wings shivering. “When are you heading out again?”

“A bit over a year from now,” Klei’am said, only realizing what that meant a second after the words left him.

“Ah,” Saul’car said, before taking a deep breath and exhaling it with enough force to rival a forge bellows. “Well, if… well, if the worst happens, I might find you by then and ask to join. I could probably do with a different scenery.”

Klei’am held back a grimace.

“You are always welcome,” he grunted, deciding it was time to drown his friend's sorrows in some excessive consumption. “Now, how about we see what else they added to the stock?”

“Now you're talking!”

 --

Yagrav swung the wooden greatsword around in a tight circle before extending it just as the guard lowered his shield to block. Moving like a blur, the tip slammed over the edge and into the exposed neck and collarbone. 

“Damnit,” the guard grunted, jumping back, then dropping his shield and rubbing his collarbone, glaring at Yagrav. “Alright. I think that’s enough for today. Also, I think it's time you find a better teacher, Lordling Voitrag.”

And we are back to Lordling, Yagrav thought, forcing a smile on his face.

“I am sorry you feel that way,” he said. “But I would like to thank you for the last few months. I learned a great deal from you.”

The guard rolled his eyes, picked up the wooden sword, and waved it over his shoulder. 

“I think you broke him,” Cra’than said, landing on his shoulder. 

“I need to become as strong as I can,” Yagrav said, rolling his shoulders. 

“I think you are plenty strong,” Malliz said, walking up to them. 

Yagrav cracked his neck as he looked up at his friend. He’d grown another hand-length, now a full head taller than Yagrav, among the taller of their generation. 

“How about we train-”

Malliz had his hands raised and was backing off before he could finish the sentence.

“No thanks! Go and find Sajin if you are not done kicking people’s ass. No offence, but each time you hit my shield, I feel like I’m going to break something. Are you about to stop growing, or what?”

Yagrav rolled his eyes, pointedly looking up at his friend.

“Yeahhhhh,” Malliz snorted, before stepping closer and prodding him on his shoulder. “These are what I’m talking about. It’s like you decided to grow sideways or something.”

Yagrav rolled his shoulders again, knowing his friend wasn’t wrong. While those around him had their final growth spurt, going vertically, his entire body just kept growing thicker and wider. By now, he was wider than all other apprentices and smiths he knew, and he was starting to worry he’d start having issues walking through a door. 

“Stop complaining,” he said, glancing at his friend’s Ganvil, Ral’esh. “Fine, let's go and do some reforging. We have half a day until the party tonight.”

Besides, that will give me a chance to ask Teacher Uvra, he thought. He was almost a hundred percent sure she would accept his request, and if she did? Well, he had the feeling tonight would be the most important night since he’d started what he’d been doing. Perhaps in a few decades, he’d recall it as the moment things finally really started rolling.

“How about we get you another step closer to quartz rank?” he said, his excitement clear in his voice, though for another reason.

Ral’esh’s lips instantly curved up.

“That’s a great plan,” he piped, his voice lighter than most Ganvils. “Malliz managed to get another step forward last week, and if we continue like this, we will finally reach it this year.”

“About time, too,” Malliz grunted. “You are going to hit amethyst rank soon?”

Yagrav shrugged.

‘We shouldn’t tell them yet,’ he said, sensing some hilarity from his bond.

‘I know, I’m just proud of our growth,’ Bas’car rumbled back. ‘Rank two in under five years, and amethyst at beyond eighty percent? That’s really good. At this speed, we might be able to reach topaz in less than ten years from now. It’s almost as fast as some of Fristyuustis's worst progeny! We might catch up to Klei’am like this!’

‘Unlikely,’ Yagrav said. ‘You know the second bottleneck isn’t that easily overcome. Besides, we still don’t know our best style yet.’

“Are you two going to continue talking like that, because if so, I’m off,” Malliz snapped.

“Right, sorry,” Yagrav said, rubbing his nose. 

“I take it from your bleary-eyed conversation that this means you actually reached amethyst already?” Malliz asked, sighing deeply and shaking his head. “I should have known you would outdo even Lasada. Let's go and do some reforging, and after that I’ll treat you to lunch.”

“I was going to tell you tonight,” Yagrav said, looking at his friend.

“It’s fine,” Malliz snorted. “You have ruby potential, I have amethyst. There’s no way I expected I could keep up. Just promise me you will help me with my heartcards in the future?”

“Definitely,” Yagrav said, thumping his friend on his shoulder and causing him to almost trip.

“Stop it, you brute!”

The two laughed as they walked towards the main house, where Yagrav’s mother was busy examining a new set of runes.

“Mom, we are off,” Yagrav said. “Some reforging and then to get ready for tonight.”

“All right, be careful,” she called out without even looking up. “Make sure to eat something.”

“We will,” Yagrav shouted as they walked out.

A few minutes later, as they walked through the much larger city, Malliz elbowed him.

“She really changed, you know?”

“Don’t have to remind me,” Yagrav said as he waved and greeted a number of people they passed. “Ever since we killed the Sectoid, she’s been far less worried.”

“The fact that you can now beat most of the two-soulcarded guards helps,” Malliz said, rubbing his chin. “Did you hear that one of The Guildmaster’s Heartcarded managed to win the entire two-soulcarded tournament in Blackglass?”

“What?” Yagrav exclaimed, looking at his friend in awe. “As in, they won the entire tournament?”

“Yeah,” Malliz said, shaking his head. “People are starting to take notice now, and I think you were right. The Guildmaster definitely did something with some of the heartcards he made before he left.”

“Only some?” Yagrav asked, raising an eyebrow. “You still think it's normal that you shoot that many streams of fire in such a short timeframe?”

“Bah, what use is that compared to what others can do?” Malliz grunted before sighing. “It’s the growth thing.”

Yagrav agreed, but didn’t say so, instead staring ahead. He’d been telling his friend for years, but apparently it took someone to win a tournament to make him a believer.

“I’ve managed to buy that building on the second ring,” Malliz said.

Yagrav stumbled, looking up as his attention returned to the here and now. “What!? You said that was impossible!”

“It would have been,” Malliz said, grinning widely. “If I wasn’t just that good. Oh, and the fact that the owner’s granddaughter likes my best friend a lot might have something to do with it. I’m afraid you will have to have dinner with her in a few days.”

Yagrav waved that off, barely caring. He had dates every few weeks now, as even the richer merchants had long since started eyeing him. 

“You still haven’t picked one you like?” Malliz asked.

“Nope,” Yagrav said. “If I do, you will be the first one I’ll tell. Instead, tell me when we can move in!?”

“A few weeks from now,” Malliz said, rubbing his hands. “Did you tell your mother yet?”

“Oh, I tried,” Yagrav muttered. “She thought I was joking. It’s going to be interesting to see how she reacts.”

“Aren’t you afraid she will… disagree?”

“She will, and no. I’m twenty-two now, more than old enough to live on my own. Besides, the only reason she is keeping the estate is that I use it for my social events.”

“You still plan on buying it?” Malliz asked, looking to the side. “Without telling her?”

“Definitely,” Yagrav said. “If I tell her, she will disagree. But I don’t want the place I grew up in owned by one of those new nobles that are trying to integrate themselves in Vibrack.”

“What are you going to do with it if you don’t live there?”

“I talked with Teacher Uvra about it, and she agrees that I can tutor the amethyst-potential smiths there.  She says it will help me grow faster,” Yagrav said.

Malliz let out a strangled curse. “Please tell me that doesn’t mean I have to call you Teacher Yagrav now?”

“You better not,” Yagrav snapped, glaring at his friend. 

“Calm down, it was just a joke,” Malliz said, raising his hands in defence. “Still, that’s not a bad idea. It will also give you the option to hold two events.”

They continued quietly, Yagrav pondering the things that were happening over the last few weeks. Everything he’d been planning was rapidly coming together, with tonight, hopefully, being the crown jewel of his achievement.

As his thoughts drifted, Yagrav thought of something else.

“Did you hear anything from the Merchant’s Guild about our idea?” 

“Not yet, but I’m pretty sure they will agree,” Malliz said. “After that, we only need to convince the Shipwrights Guild. Well… that is assuming you are sure Lady Koulerizi and the nobles will agree?”

“Oh, they will,” Yagrav said, thinking back to his short conversation with the current leader of Vibrack. Ever since her House’s main family had been called to order by the Blackglass Elders, she’d been slowly losing social favor, which had created a small gap. A gap that he’d been more than happy to fill. Part of it at least, and likely only with the younger generations.

I still can’t believe how fast things have gone, he thought, thinking back to the last five years. 

Ever since he’d started cardsmithing, he’d rapidly become integrated in the social landscape of Vibrack, and it only cost him some time and soulshards. Well, that and some sanity, as he had to deal with the younger generation of nobles and merchants. 

--

Uvra yawned as she saw the younger class of topaz apprentices move away. 

“Don’t forget to hand in four chunks of purified ore in three days,” she called out, ignoring the groans.

She remained seated, glaring into the fire of the burning forge. She loved giving the first classes in metal purifying, mostly because it was mindless work and she got to enjoy the heat of the forge. There was also the fact that it required heating the metal, and she just enjoyed the pungent smell of it.

“Teacher Uvra!?”

She groaned as she looked up, only to see two of her favorite apprentices standing there.

Well, I can hardly call Yagrav an apprentice anymore, she thought, wondering how he’d gone from knowing nothing to being a know-it-all punk that could reforge his first amethyst cards so fast.

“If it isn’t Money and Charm,” she said, using the nicknames the younger students had given the two.

“I still think I should be Charm,” Malliz said, shaking his head sadly. “Look at this face!”

Uvra rolled her eyes as he framed his face with his hands. Not that he wasn’t completely wrong. His slight build and tall frame made him rather attractive. If he’d been standing beside anyone else, he would definitely be the thing to look at.

“I was wondering if you would be willing to help us out with something,” Yagrav said, ignoring their byplay.

Uvra focused on the massive man, her eyes flicking to his ridiculous arms and wondering again what the Guildmaster had done with his heartcard. 

Definitely a growth element in his body improvement, but I’d never thought that would be possible, she thought.

“Which is?” she asked.

“Tonight I’m having what I hope will be the most successful gathering yet,” Yagrav said. “Most cardsmiths and nobles will attend, and I’m hoping to use it to finally get permission to start the youth version of the Exit Portal Council.”

“You are still up with that?” Uvra asked, eyes raising as she put her feet on the ground, staring at him.

“I won’t stop until I get them to listen,” Yagrav said with a smile that made her roll her eyes again. 

“And you need me to do what?” Uvra asked, having an idea already and not liking it one bit.

“I would like you to come, and if possible, bring Chartermaster Berjin.”

Uvra stared at him, the first part being what she’d expected, but the second part a surprise. Her first reaction was to laugh at it and shake her head, then she held back.

He’s not wrong, and having a cardsmith grow to a higher position here wouldn’t be wrong, she thought, examining him closely.

“You… waited until today to ask me this because of your rank-up yesterday? Didn’t you?” she asked.

“I did,” the kid said, without any remorse. 

I was wrong. Not a man, but an annoying brat, she thought, cracking her neck as she examined him. Right now, he was only an amethyst rank, but in a hundred years? She’d always wanted to see the Portal Gallery, and if Yagrav continued like this, she’d-

Ugh, that’s why he did all that, she suddenly realized. He’d been talking with her about the Portal Gallery, the Guildmaster’s stories, and many other things to make her start to seriously think about it. It was likely what he’d done to the younger ones, too. 

“Let me guess. If I bully Berjin into coming, you will likely be able to use this to show the other nobles you have sway with us?” she asked, resting her elbows on the table.

“See? I told you she is the smart one,” Yagrav said, smiling widely. 

“Oh, and who is the stupid one then?” Uvra asked, narrowing her eyes. 

“The others,” Yagrav said, eyes glistening. “Of course.”

“Right… of course,” she grunted. “If I do this, I expect you to-”

She bit her tongue. She’d almost said she expected him to continue what he was doing until he succeeded, but he’d been doing this for over six years now. The chances he’d stop now were small.

“-I expect you to get me and Berjin a personal place on the other side, and a ship,” she said. 

Yagrav shared a look with Malliz, who shrugged and nodded.

“Deal,” he said, smiling at her.

So, the merchant’s brat is the one who manages those things? she thought, before nodding slowly.

“Fine. I’ll bring him along,” she said.

The burly brat actually had the decency to bow his head before leaving.

 Uvra hesitated, then slammed her feet back on the thick, sturdy stone desk, and glared into the embers. 

I wonder what things will look like in ten years, or twenty, she thought, her mind flowing to the many other youths that were causing a slight chaos across the Crathan Empire. If I ever see him, I’m going to have to ask the Guildmaster what he did to those bloody heartcards… and perhaps if he can rebuild one of mine.