Chapter 347: Steel and Ash (1/2)

“Should we go outside?” Maro asked, “Stuff here will get wrecked.”

Ilea grew her ashen limbs and held down each leg and sword individually. No hands. At least he can be the most efficient cake cutter. “Aki? Did you calm down. Are you there?”

“I feel… restricted.” Aki replied, “Did I lose it all again… I cannot see anymore.”

“That’s because I’m holding you down and your insect machine face is facing the wall. Try to turn your head first.” Ilea said and chuckled. “Seems like it actually worked. Now this baby dagger just has to learn how to walk.” She commented and identified him.

[Guardian of Akelion – lvl 200]

“Oh.” Aki said.

Ilea rolled her eyes, “That’s your left most arm that you’re moving.”

Maro laughed from the side.

“Don’t laugh you fuck!” Aki exclaimed.

That only made the necromancer laugh more.

Ilea stepped aside, her ashen limbs doing all the work. “Just keep figuring things out. Can you get my hammer, Iana?”

“What’s… what’s his level?” The enchantress asked, summoning the hammer out of her new storage ring, the thing falling down onto the table with a dull sound.

“Two hundred.” Maro replied, “I think he’s categorized as a monster. Hey… Aki right? Think of a status. Do you have one?”

“I’ll give you a fucking status.” The dagger, now Guardian replied.

Ilea chuckled. “Like my very own child.” She grabbed the hammer and moved it around, “How do I activate it?”

“Check here.” Iana said, tapping the hammer as she kept her gaze on the Guardian and the blades sometimes trying to move. “Try to connect your mana, let it flow inside but don’t push too hard, otherwise it might damage the enchantment.”

Ilea tried to follow the instructions, touching the enchantment and gently flowing her mana inside. Something happened, only visible thanks to her sphere. A weird glow surrounded the hammer that looked similar to her own mana, gently drifting around her and her ashen limbs.

“I think it’s activated.” Ilea said, putting the hammer on the table once more. When she reached out and felt the mana, she noticed a connection immediately forming, a thin line of magic between herself and the hammer. When she willed mana into it, the weapon instantly slammed into her open palm. “Holy shit. Nice.”

“You literally saw a Guardian reanimated to life with a conscious dagger thing and you’re excited about your hammer?” Maro asked and shook his head. “Come on Guardian, do you have a status?”

“No, no I don’t. I can still use my meditation like state it seems but I might not be able to level up. We could test it by killing you.” Aki suggested to the necromancer.

“We could.” Maro replied, “But that would require your ability to hurt me.”

“Stop fighting.” Ilea said, twirling the hammer in her hands. “Aki, focus on learning how to move. I don’t want to babysit you.”

“Sorry.” The Guardian replied, his head finally turning to look at them.

Looks different… like the Praetorians.

“The eyes look more like a Taleen Praetorian.” Maro suggested, “Is he Taleen in nature?”

“Probably.” Iana replied, “And yes, it’s a possibility that the dwarfs made more machines like him.”

“Why a dagger though?” Maro asked, stepping closer to the Guardian to inspect him. “Or did they intend for him to be used like this? Maybe a prototype. Or someone tried to copy the dwarfs to do exactly what we did here. Where did you find him again, Ilea?”

She put away her hammer, “In a Taleen dungeon, next to a dead elf. A Cerithil Hunter I think… though Aki sounded like an obnoxious imbecile when I found him, not quite as reasonable as the hunters we’ve met. He’s somewhat influenced by the person close to him.”

“Not anymore.” Iana said in a proud tone. “I’ll get back to work on your armor, Ilea. Let me know if you need anything else.” She walked a couple meters away, one of Ilea’s armor pieces appearing on the workbench before she started.

“It’s going to take a while until this one can move around as well as the Guardians.” Maro commented.

“Yea, but compared to them he’ll be able to learn. Level two hundred is pretty powerful among humans.” She said.

“What do you plan to do anyway?” Aki asked, “I thought I could maybe travel with you again.”

Ilea raised her eyebrows, “You don’t sound very convinced. Well… you’re categorized as a monster so most humans will attack or flee on sight. Those that know the Taleen even more so.”

“Shit.” The dagger exclaimed.

“I’m sure I can find something with the Shadow’s Hand or my new medic organization.” Ilea said.

Maro turned her way, his helmet vanishing again. “Medic?”

“It’s a term for a combat healer of sorts.” She explained.

“I’m not sure how I can be of use with the Hand. They’re all above my level.” Aki said.

“You can also hang out with Iana and Christopher. Your body and runes would surely give them some insights. Helping to train the new medics would be cool though. You don’t really need sleep either and I think the blades are well suited to maim without killing.” Ilea looked at the weapons.

“What the hell kind of order are you setting up?” Maro asked, a smirk on his face.

“Combat healers, similar to me. The goal is to supply adventurer teams or Shadow teams with healers. Basically train people like me and the mission is to help fight monsters. Generally it’s not allowed to join warring nations, organizations or to kill people if not previously attacked.” She quickly explained.

“Sounds like a pain to organize.” Maro sighed, “Have fun with that.”

She chuckled, “Well, I’m not the only one who can delegate dear Maro.”

He nodded in a sarcastic way, “You tell me that in ten years time. Medic Queen.” He smiled, “Though I commend the goal. With your power you could do whatever you want but you choose to found a medic order beneficial to all. Naive perhaps, idealistic maybe. Not impossible.”

Ilea rolled her eyes. I literally killed a man yesterday for being an arrogant idiot. I can see more than a couple missions for manhunts or even elfhunts to be approved. She didn’t voice her thoughts, smiling when Aki once more turned his head around.

“I could learn… fight and maybe help train people. I believe I would like that.” The Guardian said.

“You will probably have to stay in the headquarters though. And we’ll have to give you a different color to make sure nobody attacks you without a second thought.” Ilea said, “You’ll get paid like everyone else of course.” She turned and looked at the smith who was still standing close by. “Bladuur, do you think you could make armor for him?”

He blinked his eyes, “What? I was lost in thought.”

“Armor, for the metal machine? Yes or no?”

“Ah… maybe. It’d have to be very precise work. It’s going to cost you quite a bit too.” He said.

Ilea looked at Aki and then at the smith, “Never mind. I’ll just ask Goliath when I see him. He works for free.”

“I’ll do it. Free of charge.” Balduur said, grinding his teeth.

Maro laughed, “And that’s the guy who should move to Morhill?”

How the hell did he figure that out?

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Balduur asked, arms crossed in front of him.

“I mean.” Maro said, “You’re not exactly the leader type. I just don’t see it.” He said in a dry tone.

“How… dare you. Ilea. I ask you to remove this man from my smithy. Immediately.” He said, “No discussion.”

She rolled her eyes, “Aki. I guess we’ll move out anyway.” Her ashen limbs moved around the machine’s arms and legs, dragging him towards her, “Come on Maro, you heard the smith.”

“Iana, I’ll be back tomorrow morning. Think you’ll be done then?” She added.

The girl looked their way, “I think so, yes.” She focused once again at Maro before a cloud of ash obstructed her view.

“Good. Balduur, I told Claire. She’ll visit sometime soon.” Ilea said and walked up the stairs, trying to keep the Guardian away from the walls but in the end just dragging him up.

She spread her wings and flew off, Maro close behind as they rushed once again to Morhill. The abandoned camp in one of the bigger squares was just the way they had left it earlier.

Ilea landed, carefully setting Aki down. “Why would you say that?” Ilea asked, looking at Maro.

“What?” He asked, “Oh, you didn’t get it? You should really work on your manipulation skills if you want to lead an order.”

“I don’t want to lead an order. I just want to give them the backing to do what I intend them to do.” She replied.

Maro looked at her for a moment before biting his thumb, “Damn. That’s what I should have done.”