Chapter 124 - 123: A Different Kind of Power

Chapter 124: Chapter 123: A Different Kind of Power The Next Morning The smith doors creaked open as Lumberling stepped into the morning light, soot-streaked and smiling. "Finally done," he murmured, brushing metal dust from his hands. His eyes turned toward the elves. It was time. He walked across the clearing, and as he approached, Aurelya’s voice rang out sharp as ever. "Hey! You haven’t fulfilled your promise of playing chess with us! Or are you running away ’cause you know I’ll beat your ass?" "Sorry," Lumberling said, brushing past with a grin. "Had to finish something first." Then, turning to Vaenyra, he spoke plainly. "I want to learn magic." The conversation ground to a halt. Silence reigned for a moment. "Magic?" Thessalia repeated, her tone unreadable. "You may have helped us... but that’s not something we can simply give away." "Even if it’s you, it’s not so easy," Aurelya added, crossing her arms. "Maybe if you serve me for fifty years, I’ll think about it." Lumberling remained composed. "I’m not asking for it for free. In exchange, I’ll offer something, knowledge you might find worth your time." Vaenyra, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke. "We are grateful," she said softly. "For you saving Sylra. For helping us with our revenge. For taking us in. Truly. But magic... that’s not something we can share with outsiders. Please, ask for something else. We’ll help in any way we can, just not that." Lumberling didn’t flinch. "You haven’t even seen what I’m offering. Judge after, not before. If it’s unworthy, then turn me down. But not a moment sooner." At the back of the group, a younger elven mage scoffed. "And what could a brawler from the woods possibly offer mages?" she said, voice edged with anger. "Magic is legacy, passed down through bloodlines, guarded for generations. What we wield, what Lady Vaenyra holds, is heirloom magic. Even in our empire, mages would kill for it. You don’t just trade that away." But before anyone could respond, Vaenyra raised her hand. The elf immediately fell silent. Thessalia and Aurelya both turned to her, frowning. Aurelya’s stare was sharp, her arms stiff at her sides. The younger elf’s mouth snapped shut as if she’d felt a winter wind pass through her spine. Lumberling gave a slight nod, his voice steady. "I apologize if I overstepped. That wasn’t my aim. I know sacred knowledge isn’t given lightly. But my offer stands, because I believe it’s worth more than it seems." Vaenyra studied him for a long moment. Then she nodded, slow and thoughtful. "That would be fine," she said at last. "Alright," Lumberling smiled. "Please, this way." With a casual sweep of his hand, he led the group toward the smithy. The elves exchanged glances but followed. Even Aurelya, grumbling under her breath, trailed behind with folded arms. ... Goblin Village - Workshop Hall - Late Morning A whirring hum echoed through the half-stone, half-wood workshop. Crude wires, hand-wound copper coils, and metal plates littered the long wooden bench. At the center of it all sat a small dynamo hooked up to a thick glass bulb. Lumberling stood at the side, his arms crossed. "Everything ready?" he asked, glancing toward Izzek. "Yes, my Lord. It’s all set." Tarnix grunted, gripping the handles of the pedal rig. "Here we go!" He started pedaling slowly. A few seconds passed. The filament inside the bulb glowed dimly, then flared to life, bathing the room in a soft white light. Aurelya blinked, awestruck. "How did you do that? I didn’t feel any mana at all." "Because it didn’t use any." Lumberling replied calmly. He glanced at the device, then mulled over his thought. In all the earth-made products he’d seen in the cities, most likely crafted by transmigrators, none showed signs of using electricity. Not a single one. ’Why hadn’t they introduced it? Were they unable to recreate it? Or did they simply not understand it?’ Whatever the reason, it worked in his favor. The elves stared at the glowing bulb as if it were divine. Thessalia stepped closer, wide-eyed. "No runes. Not even a mana stone. It’s... cold. Dead. And yet it works." "I never claimed it was magic," Lumberling said evenly. "Just something different. Knowledge traded for knowledge, that’s the offer." Vaenyra narrowed her eyes, her voice more curious than dismissive. "It’s light, yes... but only light." Lumberling stepped forward and tapped the bulb gently. "Light is one of its uses. But this, this is called electricity. A type of energy you can generate, store, and use. No spells. No need to be born with talent." Aurelya leaned forward. "What do you mean, generate and store?" Lumberling nodded toward Tarnix. "That’s a dynamo. When Tarnix pedals, it spins magnets past coils of copper wire. That motion creates an invisible force, electrons, which move through the wire and power the bulb. That’s electricity." "So... you make energy from motion?" Thessalia asked, eyes narrowing in thought. "Exactly. And if we connect this to a storage device, called a battery, we can collect that energy and use it later. To power lights. Or machines. Or tools. Anything we design." Vaenyra folded her arms, her noble upbringing not allowing her to show too much emotion, but her pupils dilated. Thessalia turned to her. "Lady Vaenyra... this is a new kind of technology. A new path. One that doesn’t rely on magic." "I know," Vaenyra said solemnly. "Even in Aetherborn, only a fraction of our people can wield magic. But something like this? Anyone with hands can operate a crank or pedal. This... this is revolutionary." She looked at Lumberling sharply. "This knowledge... this technology... may be worth more than everything in our magical archieves." Lumberling blinked, keeping his face composed. ’That much?’ Even he hadn’t expected that. "Then let me ask you this," Lumberling said, spreading his hands slightly. "If this knowledge rivals your archives... how much do you think we’d earn if we started selling products like these?" Thessalia blinked. "Sell?" "Our products," Lumberling said. "Ours. Partner." The three elves stiffened at once. "You want to sell this through us?" Thessalia asked, voice low with dawning realization. Lumberling stepped forward, voice steady and sincere. "I know you’re not just any elven travelers. From your bearing, your speech, your discipline, and your power, you’re high-ranking nobles. Influential ones, I’m guessing. You must have the status and networks I don’t." He looked Vaenyra in the eye. "Let’s make a deal. You help us distribute, protect, and manage this technology. I provide the knowledge. We split the profit." A tense silence followed. Vaenyra’s gaze didn’t waver, but her expression softened. "You understand what you’re offering, don’t you?" she said. "I do. That’s why I’m asking you to walk beside me. It’s not just a product, it’s a partnership. I want to build with you." Aurelya exhaled, shaking her head with a half-laugh. "Gods, and here I thought you were just a muscle-headed woodsman." Thessalia folded her arms, thoughtful. "We’ll need guarantees. Safeguards. Secrecy until it’s ready." "You’ll have them," Lumberling said seriously. Aurelya folded her arms, her blonde hair catching the morning sun like woven threads of light. "So, aside from taking our magical knowledge, you also want to rake in mountains of profit?" she asked with a sly grin. "You’re bold for a human." Lumberling tilted his head slightly. "You said it yourself, this technology’s may be worth more than your magical knowledge. I’m simply offering an alternative to even the scale." Aurelya’s smile deepened, amusement flickering in her eyes. "Aren’t you afraid we’ll just steal it from you? Wipe the slate clean, take the idea and the credit, and leave you in the dirt?" Lumberling smiled back. "Oh, by all means, your choice. The rest of us would be utterly defenseless, of course. As a refined gentleman, I wouldn’t even dare resist. I’d probably lay down a silk cloth, place the offering on it, and give the tribute while I grovel in awe." A soft snort escaped Aurelya. "Hmph. Idiot." Skitz chuckled in the corner, only to be silenced by a glare from Aurelya Lumberling turned serious, dropping the facade as he faced Vaenyra. "So. What will your decision be?" Vaenyra had been quiet through the exchange, her arms behind her back, standing like a noble in court. But now, her emerald eyes met his. Measured. Calm. "We’ll accept it," she said. Thessalia looked at her sharply, and Aurelya blinked. But Vaenyra continued, stepping forward with purpose. "In return, we’ll begin your training in the foundational principles of mana. That was our original agreement, and now we add this partnership to it." Lumberling extended his hand. Vaenyra paused for a moment, then took it with her fingers, shaking firmly. "From this point forward," she said, "we are bound not only by exchange, but by ambition." Their hands parted. Thessalia and Aurelya looked between them, then shared a glance of realization. "You’re serious about this," Thessalia said. "You want to mass-produce this technology. Bring it to market." Lumberling replied, "I am. But by all means, this is not something we could hold into. Something this valuable would draw envy, we’d be crushed the moment others take notice." He gave a slow deliberate smile. "Fortunately, I won’t be alone anymore. After all there are three formidable and beautiful elves standing with me" Aurelya narrowed her eyes. "You’re manipulative." "I prefer persuasive," he said with a shrug. Vaenyra looked out at the hills, thoughtful. "Then let this be our first project. We test the device. We measure its capacity. And if it works.." "...we sell it," Lumberling finished. Thus, in a forgotten corner of the empire, between a human with forbidden knowledge, a trio of curious elf nobles, and a village of goblins and kobolds, the seeds of revolution were sown. A handshake. A spark. And a promise of fire to come.