Cat With a Raygun

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Joe asked for the last time.

“Are you kidding me? The chance to have direct access to magisteel whenever I want? I'd be a fool not to move,” Davis explained. “I have a few big commissions I'm still working on, but you can use that time to get my new smithy set up.”

Joe took out his sketch book and showed Davis some preliminary designs he had planned for a workshop and store. After looking it over for a few minutes Davis asked, “This doesn't look like it accounts for enough storage for raw materials. Only a single small crate for each material.”

“Do you remember that bag that you put the payment in for the last order of magisteel in? I can make crates with the same enchantment,” Joe explained. “In fact, you should have enough mana to make some of your own, I'll help you learn how to do it.”

“That would be great, Joe! In that case, I approve of this design.” Before he gave the book back he flipped to the previous page and saw the design of a different building. “What's this building? I don't understand what these metal tubes are for.”

“Oh, that is my next big project. I'm going to make a bathhouse. Even without a hot spring we'll be able to have hot baths year round. Those tubes are for transporting water from the river.”

Davis nodded, “Even with my high Heat Tolerance and Endurance I still work up a sweat working in my shop all day, so I'd love to have access to hot baths every day.”

“We're going to have luxuries in Rust's Edge that this world has never seen, this is just the start. I have plans and plans for plans.”

After a few more discussions Joe had a date to return to help Davis make the move. After that he went around to the markets and bought some bags of raw ores of various metals to mix with the stone he'd be covering the new egg in, making note of where the ores came from so he can go get more directly in the future, expanding his ability to teleport to other towns in the process.

- - - - -

Princess Letva sat in The Rusty Cup enjoying a fresh BLT and sipping a cold beer. “So you guys can have chilled beverages whenever you wish? I'm sure my brother would like to order one of those devices for the castle.” After taking another sip she added, “Maybe I'll order one for my office regardless of what he does.”

They had shown the princess around the town with Lesfo as her bodyguard, showing the ways they've been growing lately and the room they had to expand. She even got to meet the friendly dragon Ferric had mentioned in their meeting. Enjoying the offerings of The Rusty Cup was the last stop before taking her down to the mana cavern. It had been decided that they wouldn't bring either of the Mages from the castle, as in the future they would have the spell bring them back to any location they'd been before.

Ferric, Lesfo, Letva, and Joe made their way to Ferric's home to use the magic portal hidden on the back of his wardrobe. Despite using a similar portal to travel from Trenos in the first place, Letva was very intrigued with the prospect for a permanent portal. To dissuade her from trying to get him to install them all across the kingdom, Joe let her power it to see just how much manachlorian energy it required, even for the small jump of a kilometer to the underground cavern.

“And if we wanted a portal to a further location it would take a lot more power?”

“Yes, sadly. The spell I copied to create it uses Intelligence to determine distance, and obviously I can't do that with an inanimate object. That requires more raw power to make up for the lack of Intelligence.”

The princess gave up her brief fantasy before the four of them passed through the portal and both Lesfo and Letva made audible gasps as they saw the density of the glowing crystal growths around the cavern.

With wide eyes Letva asked, “And you said these regrow? How fast?”

“About 5 months, depending on how many need to regrow. The more crystals we take out, the longer it takes, of course,” Ferric answered.

“And you say you cut off access other than that portal?” Lesfo asked.

“Yes. Myself and our other Mage Kerras can use our own magic to get here. His spell isn't yet strong enough to bring other people, however, but I'm sure he'll get there soon,” Joe explained.

“But what about other Mages being able to come in here using the same spell?” inquired the princess.

“That spell requires a destination that you've been to before, that's why-”

“That's why you didn't extend this invitation to Ferelda or Thoomin,” Letva finished for Joe, nodding her head. “So, if this place isn't powered by a monster, what is producing these crystals?”

Ferric grinned as he responded, “Right this way and we'll show you. Also, bring out your Guidebooks, since you're both tactically minded leaders you're going to love the map ability of this upgrade.”

“Upgrade?” The two of them asked in unison.

- - - - -

“We did it, everyone, we've assured the future for Rust's Edge. It will be better than ever.” Ferric said to the gathered townspeople in The Rusty Cup. “We're expecting ten new families in the coming month along with a dozen war orphans who are seventeen or eighteen. None of the ones with Guidebooks have yet chosen their professions, so we'll find places for all of them. And that's just the start. From there we'll keep expanding once we settle that group.

“But we need to remain vigilant. Our town's secret will get out there, now, at least part of it. So let's not rest on our success and instead keep training. We can't let Joe single-handedly take on all of our opponents.”

Ziko raised his hand to ask a question. “Aren't you worried about a new Imperial War now that we've killed the Emperor's brother?”

“The princess isn't worried. She said that Livato was the aggressive one. With the general gone there is little chance the Emperor is going to push the issue. Even so, there are plenty of ways all of us can improve ourselves in the event something does happen to bring violence our way again. I suggest everyone review their stats, abilities, spells, and skills and devise a plan for improvement.”

The room started filling with the blank windows from everyone originally from Kela's Landing while the more established residents reviewed their information more subtly. Joe looked forward to the changes in the town and its people. His old life was barely a year gone, but he embraced this new one and would grow with it.

- - - - -

Name: Joseph Pinkerton

Age: 19

Race: Felinoid

Class: Mage Level 18

Profession: Arcane Gadgeteer Level 11

Hit Points: 2410/2410

Stamina: 4258/4258

Mana: 3342/3342

Strength: 674

Agility: 483

Vitality: 1205

Toughness: 924

Intelligence: 1671

Wisdom: 909

Abilities:

Inspect: Rank 4

Land on Your Feet: Rank 2

Night Eyes: Rank 5

Tongue of All: Rank 5

Read Aura: Rank 5

Sense Manachlorians: Rank 5

Boost Spell: Rank 5

Advanced Imbuing: Rank 3

Test Pattern: Rank 3

Miniaturization: Rank 4

Interrupt Flow: Rank 1

Spells:

Lightning Bolt (Lightning Jolt): Level 17

Harvest: Level 15

Healing Burst (Healing Touch): Level 15

Force Field (Deflection Field): Level 16

Cold Snap: Level 16

Levitation (Minor Levitation): Level 21

Backtrack: Level 18

Hidden Blade: Level 8

Karmic Bond: Level 11

Set Fire (Stoke Fire): Level 10

Imbue Metallic Object: Level 9

Illusory Rendering: Level 14

Channel Fire: Level 6

Speed Boost: Level 12

Elemental Shield: Level 10

Boost Strength: Level 5

Impair Senses (Blind): Level 5

Paralyze: Level 5

Imbue Spell Conduit: Level 6

Shadow Cloak: Level 4

Straighten Wood: Level 5

Imbue Wooden Object: Level 6

Root Trap: Level 3

Creature Status (Animal Status): Level 7

Dye Fabric: Level 1

Imbue Fabric Object: Level 3

Torchlight: Level 4

Imbue Alchemical Product: Level 3

Trip: Level 5

Speed Plant Growth: Level 13

Move Water: Level 12

Preservation: Level 3

Dye Leather: Level 2

Imbue Leather Object: Level 4

Transmute Material: Level 6

Silence: Level 1

Vine Strike: Level 3

Launch: Level 6

Invisibility: Level 6

Shape Stone: Level 7

Channel Lightning: Level 3

Compress Time: Level 9

Meld Stone: Level 9

Sudden Wind: Level 3

Imbue Glass Object: Level 3

Dye Glass: Level 1

Siphon Energy: Level 2

Take Measurements: Level 2

Telescopic Sight: Level 3

Caustic Chains: Level 1

Dimension Shift: Level 3

Prevent Attack: Level 4

Channel Frost: Level 1

Flame Burst: Level 2

In Plain Sight: Level 2

Smoke and Mirrors: Level 2

Thunderstrike: Level 1

Create Helper: Level 1

Lightning Field: Level 1

Skills:

Reading: Level 16

Climbing: Level 7

Mana Channeling: Level 29

Cooking: Level 11

Endurance: Level 20

Mining: Level 12

Stamina Growth: Level 29

Stealth: Level 13

Defense: Level 19

Focus: Level 31

Pain Tolerance: Level 25

Smithing: Level 20

Heat Tolerance: Level 9

Throwing: Level 16

Punching: Level 8

Kicking: Level 7

Meditation: Level 31

Regeneration: Level 26

Logging: Level 9

Running: Level 17

Chemistry: Level 9

Alchemy: Level 10

Listening: Level 14

Portering: Level 15

Schematic Drafting: Level 15

Glassblowing: Level 8

Mathematics: Level 5

Bladed Weapons: Level 6

Ranged Weapons: Level 9

Spell Conduits: Level 19

Quick Weapons: Level 4

Animal Husbandry: Level 8

Carpentry: Level 13

Leatherworking: Level 7

Stone Cutting: Level 9

Masonry: Level 10

Cold Tolerance: Level 10

Smelting: Level 9

Agriculture: Level 15

Energy Conversion: Level 20

Blunt Weapons: Level 2

Observation: Level 2

Horticulture: Level 6

Weaving: Level 4

Garment Making: Level 4