(Original drawing, expect more of them in the future.)
Scepter of Airi
Enchantments
- Increases all magic spells' power by 10%
- Increases mana restoration speed by 15%
————
"Wait Hiroki-san, you want to make us a weapon?!" The princess says to me in a shaky voice.
"You don't have to go such lengths for us." Mizuha says to me out of concern.
"It's fine, really. I won't be around all the time so you guys must have something to protect yourselves with." I say while heading to the forge.
I can most probably make something basic so they can at least defend themselves from danger. I bet I'm a little rusty.
"Aito-san, where're you going?" Nozomi asked.
"Hmm? To the forge. I'm going to make these girls a weapon."
"Well, can I come?"
"Are you just trying to get out of work?"
".....What, no..."
What's with that long and awkward pause?
"Stay here and keep cleaning."
"Aww but-"
"You. Will. Stay. Here. You got that?"
".... Hrm, fine."
What a bother. Leaving her behind, I took the girls to the forge so I could make them their equipment.
"Looking at your stats Nakano, you look like someone who would be a brilliant mage." I say to the princess.
"Wait, how do you know that? Aren't our statuses a secret to one another?" She questions me.
"Oh, I have this unique skill called [Skill Read]." I explain.
"Hmm, I believe I've heard of that skill before. It lets you see the stats of other people, right?"
Mizuha says.
"Well yeah, basically."
I mean the name says it all. It's pretty self explanatory. Now, where is the forger mold? It must be here somewhere. Ah, got it.
"So, do you want a wand or a staff or what?"
I question.
"I-I don't know... you choose, Hiroki-san."
"Oh really? Are you sure?"
"I'm not really good with these kinds of things."
"Well..."
Let's see... A wand is a good start for her but with her magic stat, a basic wand might not be able to contain the amount of magic she has. A staff might contain it but not only is she inexperienced, I might not have enough materials to make it. That leaves...
"What about a scepter?" I say.
"A scepter? What is that?" Nakano questions.
"It's kind of like a short staff. Like the ceremonial scepter of your father's coronation." Mizuha answers
"Oh, that. Can that be made into a weapon?"
"Anything can be made into a weapon." I say.
"That's... a scary statement but if that's what Hiroki-san thinks is best for me I will not argue."
"Alright then, a scepter it is. It'll be perfect fo you."
At least, I hope it is. Well a scepter isn't hard to make, it barely needs any forging to begin with. All I need to forge is the thing on top that holds the orb or gem. All I need is a mystic root. Maybe Nozomi knows where I can get one.
"Hey Aito-san, can I stop doing this?" Nozomi complains.
"Just suck it up, you know where I can get a mystic root?" I ask her.
"Hmm? A mystic root? I don't know, maybe Ack knows."
"Really?"
Well, it does make sense since he was the 'dungeon keeper' last time. I don't know if he'll just give it to me if he has it though. Wait is that him? Why is he peeking on us?
"Hey, Ack!" I calm out to him.
"Hrngh!!"
Oh, he ran away. I better catch up.
"See you later, Nozomi."
"Yeah..."
......
Now I could've sworn I saw him come here. Ah, there he is.
"Whatcha doing, Ack?"
"Hrrngh?! How did you?"
"I followed you. Now do you have something called a mystic root? It's kind of like a magical stick." I explain to Ack.
"Hmm, even if Ack had one, Why would Ack give it to someone like you." He says.
"Because this someone doesn't want to beat you up like last time."
"Krgh?! .... Fine but you have to tell Ack one thing."
"What is it?"
"What is your relationship with the Nice Miss?"
Nice Miss? Oh, he must be talking about Nozomi. Why does he want to know?
"Well, we're just friends."
"Really?"
"I mean I met her a while back but only briefly, now she's just helping me out with the dungeon." I explain.
"Wait.... you know Nice Miss already?"
"Yeah, two years ago while I was still in university."
"U-ni-ver-sity?"
"It's kind of like a school for the oldest students."
I mean I did meet her and she did say to call her if I needed any help but the fact that she's here by coincidence is amazing. I didn't even realize it was her until after she showed me around the dungeon. It sure surprised me when I found out.
"You're not thinking of doing any pervy things to Nice Miss, right?"
"Eh? What are you talking about?"
"Oh, nothing."
"So, will you give it to me now?"
"Hrngh, here."
He then pulled out something from his pouch and gave it to me.
"Thank you, Ack." I thank him with a smile and head back to the forge.
"Tch."
Ah, he took off. Oh well, time to make a scepter for the princess.
"Oh, Hiroki-san. You're back." Mizuha says.
"Hey Mizuha, where's the princess?"
"She said she wanted to continue cleaning. She apologizes for not being here." She explains.
"That's nice of her. Oh well, it's time to make her scepter."
Now, where's the iron? There it is. Now I have to melt it. I put them in the furnace and...
"Fireball!"
*Tffssh!*
Now, I have to find the forger mold for the gem holder.
"Hey, Hiroki-san." Mizuha says
"Hmm?"
"How do you know how to forge?"
"My dad was a blacksmith."
Ah, found it.
"Where is he, now?"
"He's... in a better place."
".... Oh, I'm very sorry. That was very insensitive of me." She apologizes while bowing down.
"No, it's okay, you didn't know anyway."
Dad told me to be strong. Don't let something like this make you weaker. It's difficult but you have to push through it.
"Oh, the iron's melted." I say.
"I really am sorry, Hiroki-san. I know how it feels to lose someone you love." She says, still apologizing.
"...Hey, c'mon. Don't be like that, we have a scepter to make for the princess right? Let's do our best." I say with a gentle smile on my face.
"Yes. Of course."
I take the melted iron out and pour it into the mold.
"Now, we wait." I say then sit down.
"What do we do in the meantime?" Mizuha asks, sitting beside me.
"I don't know, why not you tell me something about yourself?" I suggest.
"About what?"
"Like how did you meet the princess?"
.......
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
Now I'm being insensitive.
"Well you see, I was an orphan." Mizuja suddenly spoke.
"Oh.. sorry."
"It's okay. My parents left me when I was young. I grew up in a horrible place. They thought of me as a burden."
How horrible, abandoning their own child.
"I was living in the streets until the princess found me. She took me in and made me live in the castle as one of her helpers."
"Oh, so that's how you two met."
"Yeah and before I knew it, we became the best of friends and I eventually became her advisor."
"You care about her a lot, don't you?"
"Yes. I would do anything for her." She says with a smile on her face.
I see, Mizuha cares deeply for Nakano because she saved her from a horrible life.
"Hey, what are you two talking about?" Nakano says.
"Ah, princess, you're here. We were just talking about the past." Mizuha says.
"Oh really? That's nice."
"You came just in time, princess. It's just about ready." I say.
"I told you not call me, princess!"
"Oh, sorry. It just slipped out." I say with an awkward grin.
Looks like like it's finally taking shape. Now to cool it down.
"Freeze!"
———
Freeze is a move of the ice element. It allows the user to rapidly cool the air around the target. Causing it to freeze.
————
"Now, time to get the gem."
"Gem?"
"Every scepter or staff usually has a gem or orb at the top to give it that extra boost in power and to store the magic of the user." I explain to them.
"Oh, I see." They both say as they understand the gem's purpose.
It's a good thing I still have all these things mined by that mechanoid earlier. I look in the sack to see if the right gem is in there. Ah, here it is. I pull out a slightly heavy white gem.
"First, I have to stick the gem holder and mystic root together."
"How are you gonna do that?" Mizuha asks.
"Heh, that's easy. Stick!"
_______
Stick is a move that allows the user to stick two objects together. The user can unstick it at will.
______
"You're amazing, Hiroki-san." Nakano praises me.
"Thank you. Now you have to put the gem and scepter together."
"Eh, why me?"
"Because as soon as the gem is connected with the scepter, it will automatically choose the one who is currently holding the scepter and that has to be you, Nakano."
"Oh, okay if that's what's needed to be done."
I hand Nakano the scepter and gem so she can proceed with the magic process.
"It's pretty heavy." She says as she holds the gem in her hand.
"Now just put the gem into the holder."
"Okay."
She slowly puts the gem into the holder and....
*Shine!*
"What is it doing, Hiroki-san?!" Nakano nervously says.
"It's reading your magical prowess and elements."
"W-what does that mean?!" She says, frantically trying to not drop the scepter.
It first shines dark blue, then turquoise, then yellow, orange, then light blue, green, then a bright white. Amazing, she has that many elements?
"Oh, it stopped shining." Mizuha says.
"That means that it's done but seriously, I knew you had a high magic stat but I didn't know you had seven elements." I say.
_______
There are nine elements in this world. Each person is always born with at least one element and they are:
- Fire
- Water
- Electric
- Nature
- Ice
- Earth
- Wind
- Light
- Dark
________
And she has seven of them, incredible. Based on the colours, she has water, thunder, fire, wind, ice, nature and light.
"So, this is my scepter?" Nakano says.
"Yeah, it's yours." I say.
It's not the best work but it'll do.
"Hik, hik..."
"Princess, are you crying?" Mizuha says.
Wait, why is she crying. Did I do something wrong?
"Are you-"
"Thank you, Hiroki-san!!"
She then suddenly jumped and hugged me.
"I will cherish this forever!"
"Yeah. I understand.... can you please stop hugging me. It's-"
She's not budging and this sensation. It's pressing on me. I have to...
"Mizuha, can you please help?" I plead.
......
"Hey Mizuha, what are you doing with that hammer? What's with that look in your eyes? Wait, what are you- Argh!!"
Let's just say that it hurt. A lot.
"Seriously, princess. You shouldn't just go jumping on him like that."
"Sorry, I was just so happy."
"Ouch. No apology for me?" I ask.
"Shut it." She says menacingly.
"Hrgh!?"
She's scary.
"W-well back to the matter at hand. What kind of weapon do you want Mizuha?" I ske her.
"Hmm, me? Well I always thought of me having a...."
________
Note: A forger mold is a mold or vessel that holds the heated liquid until it hardens and takes form.