Steel and Mana

Chapter 317 – Orin’s Tour (1)

The train's whistle was loud and made Alvor let out a smile while watching his entourage flinch in their seats, finally noticing they were coming to a halt. This time, returning to Avalon, he was doing it with his personal, most trusted aides and partners, including his oldest son, people who he could trust with everything. For young Orin, the sight of the city—the orderly streets and bright lamps in the early winter evening—was almost overwhelming to take it all in. Getting off the train and surveying the station, he saw that it was nothing like the one they had built back at home. The original was at least twice the size and ten times more beautiful, including paintings and mosaics on its walls, depicting the very first train ever to be built and rolled out of Avalon. They even erected a wall right outside the station, and everyone's name who worked on the project was carved into it, commemorating them for the future citizens of Avalon.

Entering the city was surprisingly easy; they were only questioned once. Their permits, something the officer called a passport, were stamped, and they were in without anyone inspecting them more thoroughly... No. He realized that wasn't the case. Those tall, fully armored figures around them... Even if they kept their eyes hidden behind their skull-faced helmets, he could tell they were glaring at them. Armors like those... they for sure weren't normal, and for sure, they could see more than they realized. Not that he could ask them about it, so with a shake of his head, chasing his thoughts away, he followed the others into the city.

Orin, although already seventeen, felt like a small kid once again, his breath fogging up the glasses he was wearing, walking briskly next to his father. Avalon and its straight streets looked as if they stretched endlessly, its roadside lamps standing tall and glowing with light that was different from torches. Much more bright and uniform. He was used to the business inside a big city; he grew up in one that others called a merchant's paradise. Yet, watching the people here and their expressions, he noticed that the activity here was somewhat different. He caught the workers passing by him as they moved with purpose in their eyes. They were... enjoying their work, he could feel it. Turning his head, still thinking about it, he watched as on the sidewalk, children in thick layers of fashionable clothes darted between them, laughing while throwing snowballs at each other, shouting something about being the 'Rook' or the 'Lion.' Or a... Princess?

“Father,” Orin shifted toward Alvor, stepping beside him. “You were right. Avalon… it’s different in person than by just your recounts. Now I understand why you are trying to make the others realize that another player is going to take Ishillia's place in the future.”

“I thought you would come to the same understanding, son." He smiled at him, nodding his head. "Still, don’t let the shine of this place distract you from what’s important. We can accept their superiority, but we should not grovel before them. That's not how we make deals that are beneficial to us.”

Orin wanted to argue a little, but his father had already returned to his own thoughts, clearly in mental preparations for his meeting with the ruler of this city, Sovereign Leon. Even if it was only going to happen tomorrow. Falling back a little, Orin couldn’t tear his eyes away from the windows, the displayed flyers, goods, and the posters hanging from some of the lampposts, advertising... shows? Incredible... They even put those colorful papers in a glass case, protecting them from the weather... Which at any other time, he would think, is nothing but indulgence and a waste of resources, but damn, they looked great. He’d heard tales of Avalon first from his father—its trains, its factories, its mechanical and literally magical inventions—but experiencing it firsthand was something else entirely.

After arriving in the inner city, Avalonian officials greeted Alvor with curt bows, showing enough respect but it was still his father who bent his back deeper. Watching their uniforms, he saw that they were crisp and clean, a mix of black and orange, a stark contrast to their guests' more uniform, dark green tunics.

After being led by them, they made their way toward their temporary lodgings; Orin couldn’t help but look around, his curiosity getting the better of him. This time, he was paying more attention to the people they passed and especially their clothing. Then, he realized everyone, even the simplest-looking person, looked... different from the citizens of Aldrim. Avalonian clothes were modest but well-made, its people's faces clean, their postures upright, almost as if everyone was carrying themselves as a noble. And there were no beggars... not one! And... Where were the patrolling guards? Other cities have one at nearly every corner, yet here, there were barely any... But then again, he could understand why. There was a sense of order, a particular purpose, that set Avalon apart from the chaotic cities Orin knew back home. He got the feeling the people here wouldn't break their Sovereign's laws and would be the first to stop anyone who was going to.

"Spying here should be almost impossible..." He murmured to himself, "If the citizens themselves are ready to report you, it's all hopeless."

While chuckling to himself, their first trip had led them to a two-story building where they would stay. Yet, before a chance to relax, his father had another conference scheduled almost immediately after meeting with the Avalonian clerks. In the end, after a brief back and forth, Orin was left behind, free to explore the city while his father busied himself with diplomacy. At first, he wasn’t sure why, as he was brought along to give him experience... But then he suddenly understood the reason. His father wants him to experience the city. To collect his ideas and insights so he can see what his son thinks of the place, a perspective he may have missed.

"Heh... typical dad." Orin chortled, looking around, standing alone before their lodging, memorizing where it was. "Now... where to go?" He asked himself while the streets stretched out in every direction, filled with sights and sounds that tugged at his attention, making it impossible to choose.

At first, he wandered aimlessly, his boots crunching on the salted cobblestones, which made him realize why snow didn't cling to his feet. But he also felt it was such a waste—salt is way too expensive to just throw onto the ground!Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"Avalon..." He chuckled, shaking his head and turning his head back up, not wanting to miss anything.

The chill in the air made his breath puff out in little clouds, but he didn't feel cold, not at all. He passed shops with large glass windows displaying goods, some that he couldn’t even name. One shop sold seemingly mechanical devices—clocks, miniaturized tools, even a strange contraption labeled 'My First Mech.'

"Huh?" He stopped, looking closely, and the craftmanship quickly caught his eye as the two-legged machine, tall as a small dog, was beautiful. The more he looked, the more certain he became that it was made to be able to move... but how? Realizing it, he knew he had to have it, so his eyes began searching for something to see the price, and it wasn't hard to find it, going for five Avalonian gold. "Pricey..."

But not for him. It was too good to leave behind, so he quickly glanced around, noticing the entryway under the signage, reading 'Krel's Toys.' Entering, the shop wasn't big, but there were clearly a lot of toys made of metal or some other alloys, many tiny replicas of different inventions he recognized, be it the tractor that was making the waves at home or a complete set of miniature trains. Then, he had to take off his glasses, which suddenly fogged up, making him realize how warm it was inside. How? Still, before he could start thinking about it, someone else arrived from the room behind the counter.

"Oh, welcome!" a happy voice called out to him, and when he put back his now cleaned glasses, a young man stood there, wearing a blacksmith's apron, his face smudged with grime, a protective glass strapped to his forehead, holding up his bushy, black hair. "Looking for a gift for a son? Daughter? I can help with both! Soon, the new year is upon us, and when winter is gone, it is the best opportunity to gift each other!"

"Ah, I am yet to be married." Orin smiled, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the man's eagerness. "But I saw that... um... mech figure in the window. I was thinking of getting one for myself!"

"Oh, I see. I may not be able to help you out there." He shrugged. "Sorry... Ah, look at me... where are my manners? My name is Krel!" So he was the owner—and seemingly the one who made all of these toys.

"Are they not for sale?" Orin asked, walking up to the counter and asking curiously.

"They are, sadly, there is too much demand for it, and I can't produce that many at the moment. I submitted a form to the Ministry to get some funding to expand my business and hire workers so I can teach them how to make one, but... They are preoccupied with all the battles going on."

"Wait... what kind of battles?" Orin asked, flinching once.

"The usual." Krel waved a hand. "Monsters are usually coming to get us in the winter. You get used to it. Anyway, last week's paper already said they had been all killed, though, and we lost not one soul! That's our soldiers for you, ahaha! I am thinking of making some; what was it called? Yes... Action figures! Um. That would be such a great collectible..." he muttered, suddenly lost in his idea, making Orin smile, feeling he liked the weird young man before him.

"Khm." He coughed, clearing his throat.

"Ah, sorry... Sometimes it happens." He grinned, looking back at Orin with a sheepish expression. "Sorry, I can't sell you one right now, but... I should be able to make one by the summer! I can take your name and address, and I can ship it to you when it is ready."

"You... deliver it?" Orin asked, his interest piqued.

"Of course! You know, I have orders coming from the City of Cerna, Lothlia, and even from Hospet in the Westlands! I also have three customers from your Atuvia!"

"You know I am Atuvian?" Orin asked again, falling from one surprise to the other.

"Yep. Your eyes and accent give you away. Easy."

"..." For a moment, he was way too floored to say anything, and instead, he ended up shaking his head. "Sure. Why not?"

"Very good! Here, let's fill out this form, so I can–" Krel continued, surprising him once again. In the end, he jotted down his name and the address where the package would be delivered in the future.

Then came the biggest surprise. There were three options to pay for it: one in advance, one when the packages arrived, and one with a trade-in discount. He wanted to ask about them, but then he remembered his father's warning. Too many questions could paint him as a spy, and he should not do that.

"Here. Five, Avalonian gold." Orin said, placing it on the table.

"Really? Every Atuvian that ordered one chose to pay for it when they got the package." Krel mused, looking at him with an honest smile and amazement.

"We don't like taking risks. But... I am still young." Orin joked, making Krel chuckle and giving him a copy of the order.

"Here. This forces me to fulfill your order. If you don't get the toy by the end of summer, you can come back to Avalon and submit it to the Ministry. They will reimburse you."

"They would?"

"Yeah. Then they would find me, and then I would have to deal with any punishment in order, but that shouldn't happen. As long as I am not dead, that is, ahaha!"

"Hope not!" Orin shrugged, looking over the well-organized document, realizing it wasn't even hand-written, only the parts they filled out. Oh boy... He had so many questions... way too many. He just couldn't ask them at once.

Then, suddenly, it all clicked in his mind. Krel was young. Hells, he was for sure not older than him! And he has a shop? He is doing all this by himself?! What... what kind of people live in Avalon? With his 'purchase,' Orin didn't stay long, leaving the shop, pocketing his proof, feeling giddy and excited. Any other day, he would feel he was scammed... but at this moment? No. Somehow, that feeling wasn't there.

"Let's see..." He muttered, starting to walk again. "Let's see what else is in this city!"