Glast’s Request Part 1

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In my room, the familiar view outside my window giving me a sense of calm. As I sat on my bed, my gaze fixed on the floor, I couldn’t shake the feeling that my magic research had hit a wall. It wasn’t a complete dead end, but it felt like something crucial was just out of reach.

It seemed like there was an infinite potential in magic, but I couldn’t help but feel like I lacked imagination and knowledge. I was certain there was more I could do, but for the past few days, I had been stuck in this rut.

I realized that inventors throughout history probably had the same kind of anxiety. They worked hard and had talent, unlike someone like me, just an average person. Lacking talent, it was only natural that I suffered more than those who had it.

At first, everything had gone relatively smoothly, and it felt like the universe was conspiring to help me develop my magic. However, in recent days, progress had come to a grinding halt.

“The problem is… Lightning magic.”

Generating electricity from the thunder ore through contact with my magic power wasn’t a practical solution. Unlike Flare, which could be used with a portable flint, lightning magic required various conditions, making it difficult to achieve the desired result.

My current approach wasn’t yielding the results I wanted, so I needed to change my perspective. Instead of manipulating my magic power, I realized that I might need to focus on changing the tool itself.

If only I could use thunder ore as effortlessly as I used a flint, all my problems would be solved. But thunder ore had a downside; they intermittently generated electricity, making it impossible to control when I needed it. If I could create a tool that intentionally generated electricity, it would solve all my problems. Unfortunately, I lacked the technical expertise to make such a tool.

I had been pondering this problem for the past few days when a sudden knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. Assuming it was my father, I opened the door, only to find someone entirely unexpected standing there.

“Hey, Theon,” said Glast, the blacksmith who ran a weapons and armor shop in Istria. He was my father’s old friend and the one who made my sister’s sword.

I was surprised to see him at my door, but I quickly regained my composure. “Hello, Uncle Glast,” I greeted him.

He stumbled over his words for a moment before clearing his throat and pausing. “Uh, yeah. Hello. You’re quick on your feet, aren’t you?”

I had a lot of questions to ask him, but I knew it wasn’t polite to talk in the doorway. “Would you like to come in?”

“No, can you come to the living room? I have something to discuss.”

“Something to discuss?” I repeated, wondering what it could be. “Alright, let’s go.”

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As I followed him to the living room, I couldn’t help but wonder what he wanted to talk to me about.

I hadn’t seen Glast since I obtained the thunder ore. My research into lightning magic had consumed me, so I didn’t accompany my father to town. My mother and sister had gone with him before, but I’d always stayed behind.

Since I had no guilt in the matter, I didn’t think Glast had any business with me. Nevertheless, I followed him into the living room, where my family was gathered and chatting.

The atmosphere seemed normal, but my father’s gaze towards Glast was mixed with exasperation. Glast sat down in a chair and averted his eyes, while I sat next to my sister, facing my parents.

Sensing my confusion, my sister shook her head slightly. She didn’t know what was going on either.

Finally, Glast spoke up. “Oh, right, the reason we’re here to talk is…”

My father interrupted him. “Theon, do you remember obtaining the thunder ore?”

I nodded. “Yes, I remember.”

My father continued, “Well, actually… This idiot here used your knowledge to mine them afterwards. It’s almost impossible to transport thunder ore until now. He brought it back and tried to turn it into a business.”

Glast looked up at the ceiling, attempting to play it off, but it was unconvincing.

“So, what do you have to say, Glast?” My father asked, directing his exasperation and annoyance towards him.

He looked uncomfortable and scratched his nose before speaking. “Oh, um… Sorry about that. I used your knowledge without asking, and I mined the ores for profit. My bad.”

As Glast explained himself, my father nodded several times, and my mother looked troubled, tilting her head to the side. My sister wore a serious expression while Glast seemed uneasy, his gaze wandering.

I tried to think about what was happening, but I couldn’t quite grasp it. In the end, I said what I initially thought. “I don’t think there’s a problem.”

Glast’s mouth hung open in shock, and my father was surprised for a moment before sighing quietly in response.

After a few moments of silence, Glast spoke. “I… I took advantage of your knowledge without your consent…”

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“Well, I guess that’s okay,” I replied.

He continued, “You see, you came up with a method that no one else could have thought of, and I used it without telling you. It’s only natural that you should be a little upset and demand some compensation, right?”

Now that he mentioned it, I guess that could be true. I had given him an idea for his business, after all. But I wasn’t particularly interested in making money off of thunder ores.

But there was something else that bothered me. “Uncle Glast, did you make any money from it?”

Glast’s expression soured as though he had bitten into something bitter. “I made a little bit, enough for pocket change, but considering the effort I put into it and the current situation, it wasn’t worth it,” he said with a dejected tone. “Thunder ore is inconvenient and dangerous to use as a light source. At first, there were some people who bought it out of curiosity, but the customer flow soon died down…”

I felt sorry for him. He wasn’t his usual self; his eyes lacked their usual spark, and he dryly laughed while staring at the table. I wondered if he had spent all his time and effort trying to make a business out of thunder ores, neglecting his main job in the process. But I didn’t need to pry.

“I don’t need anything from you, Uncle Glast,” I said. “Unless you made an incredible amount of money, that is. And it doesn’t look like it went that well for you.”

I thought that would be the end of it, but the atmosphere remained heavy, and Glast’s demeanor didn’t change. I looked over at my father, who let out another sigh before continuing the conversation.

“The problem is not just that,” Father said. “As I mentioned earlier, he mined a lot of thunder ores. Since that day, he’s spent time transporting and selling them, and apparently, he has a large amount leftover.”

I had already had a bad feeling about this, and now it seemed my suspicions had been confirmed. “So, does that mean he’s storing the thunder ore in a warehouse or somewhere else?”

“Yes, that’s right. At first, there were only a few, but they sold well, so he decided to transport them all at once to be more efficient. He rented a warehouse and put them there.”

“How many are there?”

“About a hundred.”

“Are they small?”

“Relatively large, actually.”

I wasn’t sure about the precise size of the ores, but from what I observed, there were thunder ores that were about the same size as my body. This implied that Glast might have gathered more than a hundred of them.

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Thunder ores could possibly be utilized as a source of energy on Earth and was quite diverse, making it a good source of income. However, in this world, it was only feasible if we possessed the technology to harness its power. Without the knowledge or tools to do so, it would simply be a shiny decoration. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the skills to create anything with electricity.

In other words, he had a hundred decorations that could light up but had no practical use.

Glast looked worn out, and I could tell he had spent a lot of money. Warehouse rent wasn’t cheap, and if he had factored in the cost of transporting the thunder ore from the mine, it would be a substantial amount.

If it all turned out to be for nothing, it would be a hindrance. I understood the situation, but I couldn’t comprehend why he was telling me this.

It was as if Glast had read my mind and started to speak again. “That’s why I have a favor to ask of you… Could you please think of a way to sell them? You’ve figured out how to handle and transport them, and I thought you might be able to do something.”

He’s falling into self-deprecating thoughts about his worthlessness. He’s gradually shrinking, and his gaze is dropping.

Sometimes, even people with strong personalities can be surprisingly vulnerable. Maybe his pride was hurt when he asked me for a favor, but I couldn’t tell.

It’s not easy for adults to ask children for help. It’s one thing to ask for something they can do themselves, but it’s quite challenging to ask for help when they really need it. After all, adults have their pride.

Knowing this, I felt a mix of emotions that were hard to describe. I was sure he must be at his wits’ end. He had come this far, so he must be really struggling. My father and mother were both frowning, unsure of what to do.

It’s true that Glast helped mining the thunder ore, and he’s my father’s friend, so we couldn’t just leave him hanging. Although I’d like to help out of goodwill, I wondered if it’s wise to accept the offer so easily.

It wouldn’t be fair to Glast if I accepted and ended up not being able to do anything. I wasn’t sure what to do at this point, but at least for the moment, I hadn’t come up with any ideas.

However…

“Sure, I’ll do what I can,” I replied to his request.

“Is that okay? I feel like it’s a pretty selfish thing to ask,” Glast responded, hesitant.

“Yes, of course. Just don’t expect too much from me. I don’t have any specific ideas, and the task won’t be easy.”

“Ah, okay. Thank you so much, I really appreciate it!”

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As Glast smiled with a glimmer of hope, I couldn’t help but feel a bit uncertain about my abilities to help him. I was just a kid after all, and I knew I probably wasn’t trusted completely. However, it seemed like he was in a desperate situation, and I couldn’t just ignore his request for assistance.

Despite the uncertainty, I decided to help him as best I could. I knew that even a little bit of hope could make a difference in someone’s life. Plus, I had some ideas that might overlap with my own magic research goals, so it wasn’t entirely selfless on my part.

With a mix of kindness, calculation, and compromise, I promised to help Glast in any way I could.

“Listen, Glast,” my father warned, “Theon is here to help. He’s lending a hand because of what you did on your own. I think you understand, but don’t blame him even if things don’t go as planned.”

“I get it. Of course,” he responded, “I’m grateful that he even agreed to help. Sorry, Theon. I didn’t mean to burden you with this. It’s just that when I thought about who to ask, I couldn’t help but think of you. But why you—”

“Glast!” My father’s sudden raise in voice interrupted him sharply. The atmosphere in the living room became tense, leaving my sister and me speechless.

“N-nothing, sorry. Forget it,” Glast quickly responded, looking a bit flustered.

I wondered what Glast was about to say, but I stopped myself from asking. My father’s profile was more stern than I had ever seen it before, so I decided it was better not to say anything.

Then, there was a dry sound, like a thud.

“Well, it seems like we’ve come to an agreement. Let’s have lunch now. We’re having seafood stew today!” My mother said, clapping her hands and relieving the tension. The familiar sound of her voice eased the atmosphere in the room.

As my mother walked towards the kitchen, I suddenly noticed the delicious aroma of her cooking. I hadn’t noticed it before because I was too anxious. My father and Glast sat up a little straighter, looking a bit uncomfortable.

“What should we do after lunch, Theon? If you have any ideas, please let us know,” my father said in a serious but gentle tone, just like him.

Glast still seemed uncomfortable, but time would probably resolve that. Although I was curious about what they were talking about, I knew it was better not to ask. So, I put my doubts and curiosity aside and showed my usual face.

“I think we should go to Istria first and assess the situation. We’ll talk about what to do next when we get there,” I said with a small smile, trying to lighten up the mood.

To be honest, I didn’t have a clear plan at first, but as the conversation progressed, I started to get a better idea of what I wanted to do.

Father nodded calmly, and the atmosphere in the room became more relaxed. We enjoyed our meal, chatted about various topics, and gradually, Glast’s spirits lifted. Once we finished eating and rested for a bit, we left the house an hour later.

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