“Most sensing spells look for disturbances in mana, a peak or a loss, or a difference in the terrain.” Yui nodded.
“Yes, Domonos said.” Zhou Heng smiled, and Domonos grinned.
A gong sounded, and the competition started.
Yui and Domonos looked over to watch. The tailors were going through the diverse materials. They used different kinds of spells, some on their eyes, fingers, or noses.
Their hands moved quickly, separating out the different items. Some were stalks, others seemed to be no more than balls of fluff from different parts of beasts, and others were even pellets of different colors.
They were organized into piles. Sometimes, there was just one material, but others had four or five. Each of them was organized according to the pieces of clothing they were being asked to make. Testers would come in once they were done. They would tell them why they had picked the combination of materials they had and how they would process them. The leaders were quick with their assessments. Some showed signs of appreciation as they checked the information against the records that Egbert had stored and compiled in the library. Some had even come up with new permutations or materials that they thought might work. They would be tested out while other competitions were happening, and the results would come out at night.
“So many different combinations; there is not just one answer for every question,” Yui said. “That must increase the difficulty greatly.”
“Yes, there is a new line of thinking among the tailors. Using all the best materials for a single piece can be heaven and hell. If it succeeds, then you ascend the heavens; if it doesn’t, you lose it all. There is a hidden benefit from failure and repetition: mastery.”
“Master-level crafting?”
“No, mastery of one’s current skills. Working on one item again and again. The stitching the first time might have been crooked or you might not have tied it off securely. Your sizing might have been off. If you do it repeatedly, your skills grow. Instead of needing to rely on outlines and referencing your notes constantly, you can size up the materials with your eyes. You can see where the thread will fray and where the stitching will be hard. If you create more cloth from those fine materials, the material might be a lower quality, but your workmanship will improve, and you can try again if you fail.”
“Teacher Zhou’s words are wise.” Domonos cupped his hands.
“We came from the lower realms. Right now, we have a lot of materials, but we want to teach our students to be proud in their work and prudent in creation. There are some fantastic designs for dresses and suits, but the traders can only sell a few dresses or suits. Not everyone needs them. Instead, it is better to make simple pants and shirts. If one is to make the best pair of pants over the best suit, the person with the best pants will be much more successful. The materials should meet the needs of the user.”
“I have seen many fine clothes from your students, though?” Domonos asked.
“We don’t say that people shouldn’t make great shirts or pants or that they all need to be the camouflage the army wears. Suit the materials to the user. Jeans will be jeans will be jeans. Change the sizing, and that is it. Shirts are many people’s way of expressing themselves. That is where style comes into play.”
“Come, let’s keep watching. They are making shoes next.”
“I have to ask where you came up with your boots. They look more comfortable than the shoes I wore as a Young Master,” Domonos said.
“Making shoes is an art. After staring at the shoes that Erik and Rugrat used, seeing their rough outlines and designs from their memories, and comparing them with Rugrat’s gun magazines, we came up with much more rugged designs. We have the rand at the base, the lugs, outsole, insole, toecap, upper, collar, tongue, and eyelets with different types of string and in some cases tightening formations to secure the shoe. One has to find the best materials for the underside of the shoe and stitch them together and then stitch the diverse materials to create the shape of the shoe, paying attention to padding and weatherproofing. The form has to fit the foot, and the soles need to be comfortable and long-lasting so the wearer can use them over an extended period without fail.”
Zhou Heng was glowing, in his element and excited to talk about what he spent his days doing.
Yui and Zhou Heng started talking about shoes and boots, pointing to their own footwear as Yui was enlightened with his insight.
Domonos looked around the arena. The first competition came to an end. People left the testing rooms either excited or dejected, and a myriad emotions played out over their faces as they headed back to the resting rooms. The arena was switched and quickly prepared for the next competition. Some people in the crowds headed down, and others went in to take their spots.
People talked to one another, explaining what had happened, showing off their own skills, and teaching others.
Yui talked about formations and the materials in boots, how they could make a person faster, while Zhou Heng talked about the stability of the shoe versus the additional formations that could overwhelm the base materials and destroy them.
There was still so much to learn and to craft.
“Ah, Tan Xue, good to see you,” Glosil said as he saw the smith enter the same booth.
“Glosil, have you come to see the formation masters and blueprint draftsmen in action?”
“It caught my interest. I go through so many information books, and there are always new spell scrolls. I realized that I never saw them getting made.”
Tan Xue laughed, seeing the awkward expression on Glosil’s face mixed with excitement.
The gong sounded, and the mana in the area surged. Under the control of so many powerful Masters, the mana of the Ten Realms was suppressed!
Glosil’s eyes widened. “They take diverse materials and process them into paper, sometimes using fibrous materials such as wood chippings or different reeds, sometimes even hides. The materials can be aligned with different attributes. Creating a spell scroll from a material that matches the scroll will improve its Strength!”
“Look at how fast they go through the materials. Some of them are coming up with multiple kinds of paper to use as a base for their scrolls,” Tan Xue said.
“If you have more options, then you can think of the best spell to use on them. Fastest is not always the best, though it is thrilling to see how their fighting spirit is ignited when they are up against one another and there is a time constraint involved.”
“Some have started to work on the formation!”
“It is so elegant,” Glosil said with a breath. “What are they doing with those paints?”
“Once the materials are picked out for the scroll, the materials and methods to inscribe the spell vary. With formations, people carve the arrays into metals, rock, wood, and other solid materials. Carving into the scrolls would ruin them, so the creators must use other tools. They make formation inks and threads.”
“Inks and threads? Ah, I see! So, like how metals can be inlaid into the carved-out formations to increase their power and the conductivity of power?”
“Exactly, Commander,” Tan Xue said. “Look—that person there is combining the blue utteka root and nova shoot to create an ink.”
The spell scroll creator worked his ink block. Combining the juices of the two plants, he created a deep purple that had flecks of prismatic colors and blue within. He drew out a brush and dipped it into the ink, wiping it on the ridges of the ink stone to remove the excess.
The mana in the area gathered and calmed under his control. He closed his eyes before he raised his hand and released the brush.
It drifted into the air, above the freshly created spell scroll.
The tip of the brush bent in the air, and lines appeared in mid-air.
“Air creation! Impressive!” Tan Xue said quietly, as if the crafter might be disturbed by her words over two hundred meters away.
“Air creation?” Glosil’s voice was low as well.
&nb
sp; “It is a kind of prototyping. With all crafts, many people will work on multiple prototypes before they start on their true project. With air creation, one can create the spell formation for the scroll in mid-air and break it into components. Then the crafter can press them to the paper, creating the spell formation in one go. The ink is inlaid at the same time. There is a smaller chance for faults as it will all dry at the same rate and there will not be more ink in some places compared to others.”
“Ah, so it is like creating a stamp of the spell formation?” Glosil asked.
“Yes, just like the spell scroll printing press. The special inks are made, then the stamp soaks in it and stamps the papers. It is insane to think of how many spell scrolls we now make.”
“Ah, there is always a need for stockpiles, though we have been holding off making more. If we keep making them at this rate, it will take years to use all the scrolls.”
“Won’t they be used against the Willful Institute?”
“Yes, though we have to look at future expansion. We don’t want to waste spell scrolls or leave them sitting in the corner. How many different spell scrolls will be made next year? How many will we find a use for? We have a large stockpile, but our printing speed is so damn high it would be a waste. We started a contract with the traders, creating low-key, useful, daily spell scrolls for them to use and sell. Keeps the equipment operating, and we know there will be no issues with it. Passively create an income, and if we need to fight, we can switch back to making our own items.”
“I didn’t think of that. It is smart, and it means that Alva can make more money.”
“I feel like it is an Alvan thing. We’ll make money any way we can and repurpose everything we have—civilian to military, craft to craft. Look at those blueprint draftsmen!” Glosil pointed to blueprint creators who sat away from the spell scroll creators, like a silent shadow. It was hard to notice them in the back, but once seen, their eyes would bulge out at their drawings.
Some had papers all around them; the spell formations had been broken down into components. They noted the exact specifics that each of the spell scroll crafters had done: where they laid more ink or their threads were thicker. If they used different styles of brushstrokes or their stitches were laid out in a distinct way.
Even working with them for so long with her own creations, the detail and their ability to dissect complex items…was shocking.
“If one talks of the backbone of Alva, it is not our armor, our healers, or our formation masters. It is our farmers, builders, librarians, and, overall, the members of the blueprint department,” Glosil said in a solemn voice.
“If it weren’t for them, we wouldn’t have the plans for buildings. We wouldn’t be able to create our workshops or our armor and weapons. Formations would be nebulous. Instead of the information sharing we have access to in Alva, we would have to implement the same disciple and master methodology as those in the Ten Realms.”
“Everything is recorded in the libraries and open to everyone. Instead of having to create an answer to everything, one can go to the library and research solutions that others have made and even see the breakdown of spell formations and how they’ve evolved. People have gained inspiration from all kinds of things.”
They sank into silence, watching the spell scroll creators draw out formations in the air, those who made needles dance upon the wind with the slightest movement of their fingers. Blueprint draftsmen were silent in their corners; sheets continued to flow around them as they modified their drawings according to the changes the crafter underwent.
It was beautiful for casual observers, impressive for those with an insight into either craft, and terrifying for other Masters. Expert draftsman and spell scroll creators had all achieved high in their Mana Cultivation, so they could feel the mana movements.
“It is as if the Ten Realms is breathing with them. I haven’t seen such powerful control over mana anywhere but the fighting arenas,” Glosil said.
“This is their battlefield,” Tan Xue said.
The timer was running out, and the creators started to combine their spell formations with their spell scrolls.
Tension rose, and everyone held their breath. Under the fierce concentration of the spell scroll creators, ink touched the scrolls, soaking deep into the fibers. Mana surged, drawing into the spell formation. Mana stones crumbled into dust, and power flowed into the inks. Needles dove toward their own scrolls, piercing through like fierce sabers and spears. Then, like sentient creatures, the needles dove and rose like great sea beasts fighting against the sea trying to hold them down. The stitched formation was drawn through the scrolls. As the thread prototype was pulled apart, it was needled into the scroll. The spell scroll creator’s eyes turned bloodshot; the world had disappeared for them, and everyone saw their determination.
Glosil leaned forward, his eyes flickering between the competitors. The blueprint draftsmen were going through paper, sometimes using floating brushes and pens to write on several pages at the same time. The competitors gritted their teeth, exploiting all their potential and displaying the limits of their skill!
Spell scroll crafters showed dejected expressions when they failed. Scrolls were burnt up, and inks combusted or changed colors as the creator didn’t think of some combination of ink to their scroll that ruined them both.
Others nearly collapsed in relief as their scrolls were completed.
Blueprint draftsmen talked to the creators, pulling more information to add greater detail to their drawings.
More people failed, but the majority succeeded.
They were all doing their best, but some of them went above their abilities and were unable to sustain it.
Glosil saw people who had failed staring at their new materials.
“If at first you don’t succeed, try again!” one yelled out, their voice sounding out in the arena. Others called out after them.
A new fire ignited their hearts.
Like maddened beasts, they reached out and grabbed the remaining materials as if they were nothing more than weak sheep in front of wolves.
Glosil’s heart surged at their determination. His lips pulled back, revealing his teeth as he hit his fist on his armrest. That’s right! Never give in!
“You can do it!” someone in the crowd called out. The silence that had fallen across the arena changed as people cheered, supporting their crafters.
“If at first you don’t succeed, try again!” some chanted.
“Do your best!” others yelled.
Glosil’s heart thumped out of his chest as the mana around the arena surged. It had been stirred up with the excitement of the supporters and the fighting will of the crafters.
The crafters redoubled their efforts, sitting taller. Their bloodshot and tired eyes showed a new light as they fought on.
Time went on as crafters turned into legends; they held nothing back, showing everything and giving their all.
The gong sounded again. Just like that, two hours had passed. The rooms were opened. People had half-finished scrolls; others had failures.
Although some of their faces were stiff, when they stepped out and saw the audience standing in their seats and applauding their work, they couldn’t help but stand taller.
Many grasped their fists emotionally toward the crowds in thanks.
Glosil released his fists, the smile wide on his face. “I think these competitions might make Alva stronger than any fighting competition the army has.”
Delilah and Fehim sat down at one of the large cafeteria areas around the arenas. Different screens showed ongoing competitions, highlights from previous competitions. and results as they were reported.
The two of them were close, but their duties took them in different directions. It was hard for them to meet up.
“The cooks of Alva are fierce! Did you see the one who was creating the spicy fish soup? They must be so strong to toss so much liquid and meat with just a flick of a hand! She didn’t miss
a drop,” Fehim praised.
“It was incredible. There are so many things our alchemists could learn from the cooks,” Delilah agreed.
“Maybe one of them can make your pills and concoctions taste better,” Jia Feng teased as she came up behind them.
“Principal Jia Feng! Please join us,” Fehim said.
“Thank you, Alchemy Department Head,” Jia Feng said dryly.
“I’ll drop the titles then?” Fehim asked.
“Please,” Delilah and Jia Feng said at the same time. They all laughed as Delilah poured a drink for Jia Feng.
“We were just watching the cooking competition. There were so many different dishes.”
“You’re telling me! Thankfully, we have some arts from the military to consume more food and turn it into pure energy.” Jia Feng patted her stomach. “It is so good, but a lady has to watch her figure.”
“It is a hard endeavor.” Delilah smiled into her drink.
“I won’t need to eat for a week! Though there were some items I wouldn’t mind a second taste of,” Jia Feng said in a low voice. “So many items can be created in each craft. I think that, next year, having it last two weeks and having multiple categories would be fairer. Right now, we have to limit them due to time, and it isn’t fair to everyone. Some might have a magnificent pie, but they are competing against all kinds of different desserts. It is hard to get a clear winner.”
“For the first year, things are going rather well,” Delilah said.
“Yes, but that is due to most of the teachers helping out. We’ve gotten so much support from Alvans. Seeing all the different crafts has opened people’s eyes. Those who were hesitant and disinterested are taking a look—it is breaking down the walls.”
“What is the next event you are going to?” Delilah asked.
“I have some more judging, unfortunately,” Jia Feng said.
“We do as well,” Fehim said.
“I forgot I volunteered.” Delilah winced.
Sixth Realm Part 2: A litRPG Fantasy series (The Ten Realms Book 7) Page 5
