Metal Mage 10

by Eric Vall

  Then Max raised his sword again, and I quickly rushed forward.

  “No, that’s plenty!” I yelped. “Don’t do that again, that’s … that’ll be just fine. Let’s move on.”

  Max nodded diligently, and I tried to rein in my grin.

  “So,” I chuckled, “since you cut the thing down anyway … in one swipe … why don’t we test out your machete mechanism and clean up that tree a bit?”

  I stepped back a ways while the automaton promptly headed for the felled oak, and my pulse quickened as I kept my eyes glued on his steel blade. There was a brief pause as he held it extended toward the branches, but then I heard a hollow click, and the blade began turning in his palm. It gradually picked up speed as my chuckles grew louder, and when he suddenly drove forward into the knot of branches, I leapt back as leaves, twigs, and shards of wood went flying in every direction.

  Then Max started testing his maneuvers, too, and he looked like a giant, metal samurai warrior as he wielded the spinning machete in long, precise movements to cut through everything in his path.

  When the automaton got through the entire head of the oak, the blade came to a sharp stop before he sheathed it, and he turned around to stand at attention and await his next order.

  Now that the sound of him tearing through wood was gone, I could hear my women laughing near the house, and I turned to see them clutching each other and their sheets while they cheered for the automaton.

  Cayla was the most excited of the three, though, and she had a giddy grin on her face that reminded me of a kid on Christmas morning.

  “Do it again!” Aurora called. “Do the trunk next!

  “Death machete is my new favorite invention!” the princess laughed, and I grinned.

  “You’ve still gotta give the pistol a chance,” I pointed out.

  “I don’t understand why you changed it,” Shoshanne said as she furrowed her brows. “It doesn’t look like your other pistols.”

  “I used the standard trigger wiring, but I combined it with the air rune from the blow guns to bypass the need of a hammer and firing pin,” I explained. “That’s why the rear portion looks a little under designed, but all the work is being done internally. This way, his ammunition is stored in his forearm and delivered through the rear of the gun.”

  “What if the bullets start a fire in the forest, though?” Shoshanne worried. “Without any mages to contain a blaze, the enchanted flames could--”

  “I already considered that,” I assured her. “Since I won’t be out there to address any mishaps with this guy, his ammunition is just bare bones copper bullets, with no rune magic involved. Considering how effective Big Guy and his brother are with their crossbows, I figured the automaton’s aim would be lethal enough to be effective without the extra ‘burn you alive’ factor.”

  “Good thinking,” Shoshanne sighed with relief, and I turned back to Max.

  “Ready to show them how it’s done?” I asked, and I pointed to the trees behind the house to get him repositioned.

  The automaton’s gem burned brighter in anticipation while he raised his left hand, and once he was ready, he looked to me for the order.

  “Have at it,” I said, and Max gave a curt nod.

  Then he pulled the trigger, and one bullet after another was fired into the trunks of thirty trees in under a minute. The automaton rotated his torso to continue his path as he struck each tree surrounding him without missing a single target, and when he was turned all the way around and was facing the infirmary, my gut suddenly dropped.

  Max didn’t shoot the place up, though. Instead, he bent his arm into a right angle until the building was out of range, and then he continued shooting his way through the forest once more until his entire magazine was empty. When he lowered his arm, the clearing was completely silent, but after I’d stared for a solid minute, I heard someone high above me let out a low, “Damn.”

  I craned my neck to see the three Defenders on the infirmary tower looking down at the automaton with wide eyes, but I only managed half a wave because I was busy envisioning an epic army of automatons armed with pistols and moving across the foothills to destroy my enemies in seconds flat. Giant automatons with death machetes and impenetrable armor that mowed down possessed mages like ants and punched right through the walls of the Master’s fortress. I could stand them at the gates of every city in Illaria, and hundreds of them lining the perimeter of Falmount would certainly ensure the safety of my hypothetical children.

  I could already imagine my murdery kids growing up and training with the best of them, and they would become the greatest knights in the history of the Illarian army. My automatons could run them through drills in their own training fields while I carried on making love to my women all over my palace, but around the time the kids started ordering my automatons to attack each other just to get a rise out of me, I heard Deya frantically sprinting from the house.

  I blinked out of my daze to find the beautiful, naked elf shakily clutching her pistol, and her pink hair was wild from sleep as she planted herself in front of my other women.

  “Wh-What’s wrong?” she stammered. “Are you all okay? I heard an attack!”

  Aurora laughed heartily as the guards on the tower abruptly returned to their posts, and Cayla sighed and lowered Deya’s gun for her.

  “I appreciate your commitment, but Mason’s just testing his new automaton,” the princess informed her. “He gave it a gun.”

  Deya furrowed her sleepy brows in confusion, and I took the opportunity to drag my eyes all up and down her lithe figure.

  “You look adorable when you’re nakedly defending the people you love, though,” I told the elf.

  “Oh,” Deya said with a harried nod. “Thanks. I’ll just … yeah.”

  Shoshanne snorted as Deya stumbled back to the house with her pistol limp in her grip, and I was about to address Max once more when I heard the elf yawn a greeting to Jenik.

  That’s when I noticed my squire standing pale faced on the lane, but to his credit, he didn’t even notice the naked woman passing by. He was busy gaping in horror at the massive metal machine behind me, and I decided I liked the kid that much more, even if he was a jerk to Pindor every chance he got lately.

  “Jenik!” I called as I waved him over. “This is Max.”

  My women casually dismissed themselves even though Jenik seriously didn’t spare them a single glance as he shuffled forward, and he was still looking like a lobotomy patient by the time he crept to my side.

  “What’s up?” I asked.

  “Uh … ”

  “Is everything alright at the Oculus?” I tried, and I glanced between him and Max’s gleaming eyes that towered above us. After a few minutes passed like this, though, I nudged the kid to bring him back around. “He’s not gonna kill you, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

  “Are you sure?” Jenik squeaked.

  “Positive,” I chuckled. “I already programmed him. We were just running a quick trial run before he leaves. I promised the ogres an automaton to guard their region in exchange for their alliance in arms, and this is the final product.”

  Now, Jenik finally woke up. “You … have an alliance with the ogres?”

  “Yep,” I said with a nod, “and as a knight, you’ll be expected to know a thing or two about diplomacy. Remember, it doesn’t matter how terrifying a creature is or how many times someone warns you about getting eaten. What matters is if you’re willing to meet them halfway. First lesson.”

  “Okay,” he said with a nervous nod.

  “So, what did you want to see me about?”

  Jenik was staring at Max again, but he swallowed hard and managed to keep up a conversation. “That’s actually why I’m here. I just finished my lesson at the fields, and I was wondering if you had any time to train me today?”

  “Hmm, good point,” I muttered. “We should probably get you practicing in combat. Do you have your dad’s sword with you?”

  “I d
o,” he replied, and his hand slid to the hilt of his sturdy broadsword.

  “Excellent,” I said and sparked my Terra Magic. “You’ll be training with Big Red today.”

  “Th-The machine from the Oculus?” he stammered, and he practically turned green.

  “Of course,” I replied as I sensed Big Red’s treads through the dirt, and I figured he’d be coming back through the western woods any minute. “You wanna spar with the best, don’t you?”

  “Well, yeah,” Jenik mumbled, “but--”

  “Then Big Red’s your guy,” I assured him. “I’ve been training with his brother Big Guy myself, and once you get past the crippling fear part, I think you’ll really enjoy it. Let me just get Max on his way, and we’ll set you up.”

  I left Jenik to steady his nerves while I walked over to Max, and the giant automaton held out his arm as he gestured to his empty magazine.

  “You’re already getting the hang of it,” I chuckled as I sparked my metal magic. “How did everything feel? Do you need any last minute adjustments?”

  Max shook his head as I brought two boxes of bullets drifting over from the atrium, and I used my magic to open a groove along his inner arm and expose the chamber inside. Then I filed another fifty-five bullets into place, and once the forearm was resealed, I tossed the empty boxes aside and sparked my Terra Magic instead.

  Next, I pulled Aurora’s map out of my pocket and studied the directions to Jagruel as I instilled the image into my mind, and then I raised my palm toward Max’s channeling gem to transfer the information.

  “Got that?” I asked once I was finished, and Max saluted without delay.

  Now that I had every detail addressed, though, I was feeling a little sad to see him go. He was my biggest, baddest automaton yet, and I knew he was exactly what Jagruel needed. I just wished we’d had some time to get to know each other a bit. Maybe train a little and see if he could kill me. So, I let out a sigh after admiring the intimidating machine for another minute, and when I extended a hand, the metal man pressed his knuckles into mine.

  “Just be careful out there, buddy. I know you’ll kick ass and make me proud, and I want you to know it’s an honor to have you working for me. I mean that.”

  Max’s golden gem burned a little brighter at the praise, and he nodded solemnly before turning around on his treads. He didn’t look back as he made his way to the west, and I watched him go for longer than I probably needed to, but I couldn’t help it. He was just so fucking huge and shiny.

  “This is the beginning of a beautiful friendship,” I muttered to myself, and Jenik cleared his throat from beside me.

  “Defender Flynt, are you alright?” he asked.

  “Yeah, I’ll be fine,” I sighed as I forced myself to look away, and when I turned back to my squire, he was looking at me like I was nuts. “Just hard to let an epic machine go, you know?”

  Jenik clearly didn’t know, but he shrugged and nodded anyways.

  “So!” I said with a decisive clap of my hands, and I could already hear Big Red approaching. “I want you to report here for an hour a day of training with Big Red, and if you get injured, feel free to visit the infirmary to your right. Let them know you’re my squire, and they’ll patch you up in no time. If it’s a really bad injury, though, find Shoshanne. She’s got a healing staff that can reverse any mortal wounds.”

  “Are you sure this is a good idea?” Jenik asked, and his voice cracked a bit as Big Red’s eyes appeared between the trees.

  “You’ll be fine,” I chuckled, “and better off for it, really. Big Red’s scarier than pretty much anything you’ll come up against while you’re defending Illaria. If you wanna be a badass knight, this is how you’re gonna get there.”

  I turned around as Big Red came to a stop at my back, and he offered a fist bump in greeting.

  “Hey, buddy,” I said with a grin. “This is my squire, Jenik. He’s counting on us to help him become a hell of a knight. So, start with the basics, come up with a few drills to run each day, and gradually work toward more advanced tactics as he improves. Don’t try to kill him, though, okay? We want him alive.”

  Big Red nodded and unsheathed his sword, and Jenik tripped backward to splat like a flipped bug on the ground as he let out an involuntary shriek.

  “Can’t do much from down there,” I informed the kid, and I grabbed his arm to haul him to his feet. Then I prodded him forward. “Have fun and pay attention. Big Red’s got a lot to offer.”

  Jenik gulped loudly in response, but as I eyed his shaky stance, I remembered something.

  “That reminds me,” I muttered, and I locked my grip on his shoulder. “Next time Pindor has an urgent message for me, don’t be a dick about it. I’ve known him longer than I’ve known you, and that counts for a lot regardless of anything Mina has to say about it. Understood?”

  “Y-Yes, sir,” Jenik stammered, and I sent him a lethal grin before I crossed the clearing.

  I snuck a glance over my shoulder before I rounded the corner, though, and Jenik had both hands clutching his trembling sword as he risked a single swipe at Big Red. Their blades met with a tiny clink of metal as Jenik yelped, and Big Red shook his head with disapproval.

  “He’ll get there,” I sighed, and I headed into the house.

  Then I came to an abrupt stop when I found Deya laid out in the fountain with the other women all lathering her from head to toe with bubbles.

  Cayla smirked as she trailed her sudsy fingers in circles around the elf’s nipples for me, and I managed to make it to my work table without collapsing.

  “Your lunch is waiting for you,” Aurora informed me, and I glanced over at the meal waiting on a platter for me with a glass of wine beside it. “Make yourself comfortable.”

  The four women giggled as I dropped down hard on the stool and reached blindly for a chunk of bread, and I couldn’t help grinning as I worked my way through grilled chicken, roasted pears, cheese, and wine.

  The whole time, Deya eyed me while the women turned her every which way, and they made a point of keeping her in the most erotic positions while they ran their hands all over her soapy body. My favorite part was when Shoshanne brought the elf flush against her to wash her hair, and while her caramel thighs curled around Deya’s pale hips, Aurora decided to finally let Cayla soap her up without a fight.

  They were all covered in bubbles and blushing by the time they were done, and I drained the last of my wine as I chuckled in approval.

  “Next time, I’m not taking a bath until you’re all awake,” I decided.

  “Good,” Cayla replied as she stepped out of the fountain. “A baron with four women shouldn’t have to wash himself.”

  I sent her a wink. “If you say so, princess.”

  “Since your automaton’s finished, does this mean you’re not busy?” Deya asked, and I didn’t miss the eager way her eyes stared at my belt.

  “Sorry, I’ve got a rune I need to work on,” I told the beautiful elf, “and I’m pretty sure Cayla’s got plans for all of you today.”

  “I do,” Cayla replied curtly, and she pointed to the bedroom as she looked down on the drenched women. “Get out. We have seventeen dresses to sort through, and if I’m going to have your hair done in time, we have to start immediately.”

  Shoshanne and Deya giggled happily before they trotted their naked asses to the bedroom, but Aurora let out a heavy sigh while she took her time climbing out of the fountain just to annoy the princess. The half-elf sent me a coy wink on her way out the door, too, and I smirked when Cayla finally just slapped her ass to get her into gear.

  Then I headed for my ammunition cabinet, and as I dug out the one magazine I had with a lightning rune engraved on it, I couldn’t recall ever enjoying a meal so much. It was kind of a shame we had plans for the evening, because I was already hoping for an encore, but I knew there’d be plenty of time for that in our future.

  Shit, I was a baron now. I could hire servants to take care of half our needs,
and with so much land in name now, I could employ my own blacksmiths, tailors, carpenters, the whole gamut. Soon, my women would be able to buy anything they needed right in my own village, and the best part was, the labor would all be free since I could build the town up with my Terra powers. With the profits I was raking in off the railway, I could afford to pay my subordinates well, too, which eased my conscience a little bit since I’d never imagined having a bunch of servants before. Usually, I prefered to just get things handled myself, but I had a feeling Cayla would have something to say about that. Plus, after my women had made no complaints roughing it with me in the mountains, jungles, and all over Illaria and Cedis, I felt like they should be pampered a bit these days.

  So, overall, being a baron was going to be pretty cool, and with Cayla insisting on handling every detail, tonight would probably be enjoyable, too. All I had to do was focus on my own work, and I silently thanked the gods for my good fortune as I pulled over a slip of parchment.

  I could hear Jenik making some progress in the clearing while I sketched out the lightning rune for a larger reference, so I decided to familiarize myself with each element individually first. I already knew summoning them was intense and potentially life threatening, and the process had overwhelmed my senses completely when I’d first engraved the rune. So, I figured if I took it at a slower pace this time, I might be able to simplify the process in the future while gaining a clearer understanding of the influence of each element. That way, I could find the proper balance for my magazines without undergoing the process of needlessly engraving an erratic rune multiple times over.

  I spent the next half hour focusing on a single element while I kept my Terra powers sparked in my veins just in case, and by the time I broke the connection, I felt deeply in tune with its presence. I also kind of felt like I’d snorted a line of coke, though, because my heart rate was jacked, and I had to pace around the shop for ten minutes just to get my legs to sit still again.

  Stan watched me warily from his perch on top of one of my mounted bazookas, and I kept pacing while I wrestled with dozens of design ideas flitting through my mind all at once. Only half of them made any physical sense, but eventually, I ended up hunched over the table and feverishly sketched out a twenty-five square foot bathing room complete with a heated fountain and waterfall as well as a built in steam system.