Chapter 110: The Artisan’s Rest

As dusk began to settle over Eryndral, casting long shadows across the city’s bustling streets, Alaric decided to take his leave from the royal palace. The day’s meetings and discussions had been productive, but he was eager to return to his own pursuits, to continue the vital work on the communication artifact.

He bid farewell to the assembled mages, offering polite but brief goodbyes. He sensed a lingering tension in the air, a mixture of curiosity and suspicion directed towards him, but he paid it little mind. He had made his presence known, had demonstrated his willingness to contribute, and that was enough for now.

He exited the palace, his two maids, Kara and Ulriya, trailing close behind him. The cool evening air was a welcome change from the stuffy confines of the council chamber. The city’s streets were still alive with activity, merchants packing up their wares, street vendors hawking their last remaining goods, and citizens hurrying home for the evening.

Alaric had already made arrangements for accommodations. He had chosen an inn located closer to the heart of the city, one known for its spacious rooms and, more importantly, its well-equipped workshop. The “Artisan’s Rest” was a favorite among traveling craftsmen and artificers, offering a space where they could continue their work away from home.

As they approached the inn, Alaric could see its warm, inviting glow emanating from the windows. The sign above the door, a stylized hammer and anvil, swung gently in the evening breeze.

He entered the inn, the warm air inside filled with the aroma of roasted meat and freshly baked bread. The common room was bustling with activity, patrons chatting and laughing over drinks. Alaric approached the innkeeper, a stout man with a friendly face and a thick mustache.

“I am Alaric Steele,” he announced. “I have a reservation for a large suite and the use of your workshop for the next month.”

The innkeeper’s eyes widened slightly in recognition. He had heard whispers of the young mage who had been summoned by the King. “Of course, Lord Steele,” he said, bowing slightly. “Your rooms and the workshop are prepared. I trust you’ll find everything to your liking.”

He handed Alaric a key attached to a heavy brass fob. “Your suite is on the third floor, the largest one. The workshop is just off the courtyard.”

Alaric thanked the innkeeper and turned to his maids. “Let’s get settled,” he said.

They ascended the stairs to the third floor, the heavy oak steps creaking beneath their feet. The suite was indeed spacious, with a large main room, two smaller bedrooms, and a private bathing area. The décor was simple but elegant, with dark wood furniture and plush carpets.

Alaric instructed Kara and Ulriya to unpack their belongings and make themselves comfortable. He then headed down to the courtyard, where the workshop was located. The space was even better than he had hoped, with a large central workbench, several smaller tables, and a variety of tools and equipment.

He immediately sent a messenger to Iridelle, informing her of his new location and inviting her to join him. He knew she had followed him to the capital, staying at another inn closer to the Mage’s district. He hadn’t wanted to draw too much attention to their association by having her stay at the same inn as him initially.

While he waited for Iridelle, Alaric decided to alleviate some of the tension that had been building within him. He turned to his maids, who had followed him down to the workshop.

“Kara, Ulriya,” he said, his voice low and suggestive, “I believe we have some time to ourselves before Iridelle arrives. Why don’t you both join me?”

A flicker of understanding passed between the two women. They had anticipated this, had felt the unspoken desire emanating from Alaric since their arrival.

Without hesitation, they approached him, their eyes filled with a mixture of anticipation and excitement. Alaric reached out and pulled them close, his hands moving over their bodies, exploring their curves.

He began with soft kisses, his lips brushing against theirs, his hands gently kneading their breasts. But as his desire grew, his touch became more demanding, more insistent.

He pushed Ulriya against a nearby workbench, her body pressing against the cool metal. He pulled up her dress, revealing her bare buttocks, and began to smack them repeatedly, the sound echoing through the empty workshop. Ulriya gasped and moaned, her body arching against him.

At the same time, he pulled Kara down to the floor, his hands tearing at her clothing, revealing her naked body. He spread her legs wide, his gaze lingering on her exposed form. He then entered her roughly, his movements fast and frantic. Kara cried out, her body responding to his aggressive touch with a mixture of pain and pleasure.

Alaric moved between the two women, his attention never lingering on one for too long. He used their bodies for his own pleasure, his touch becoming more intimate, more demanding. He explored every inch of them, eliciting moans and gasps of pleasure.

He had Ulriya bend over the workbench, her large breasts dangling freely, while he continued to smack her buttocks and thrust into her from behind. He then had Kara kneel before him, her hands gripping his thighs, while he forced her to perform oral sex on him.

The workshop was filled with their moans and gasps, their whispers and cries. The air was thick with the scent of their desire, the heat of their passion. Alaric was completely lost in the moment, his mind consumed by the raw, unrestrained pleasure he was experiencing.

He was so engrossed in his activities that he almost didn’t hear the soft knock on the courtyard door. It was only when it was repeated, slightly louder this time, that he finally pulled away from his maids, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

He glanced towards the door, a flicker of annoyance crossing his face. He knew who it must be. Iridelle had arrived.

He quickly adjusted his clothing, trying to regain his composure. He turned to Ulriya and Kara, who were still lying on the floor, their bodies flushed and their hair disheveled.

“Get yourselves decently prepared,” he whispered, his voice low and urgent. “And then clean up this mess.”

The two women nodded quickly, scrambling to their feet and gathering their scattered clothing. They hurried towards the bathing area in the workshop, their movements hurried and slightly awkward.

Alaric took a deep breath, smoothing down his tunic and trying to erase any trace of his recent activities. He then walked towards the courtyard door, opening it to reveal Iridelle standing outside.

She looked slightly flustered, her cheeks flushed and her hair slightly disheveled. She must have hurried over from her inn.

“Young Master Alaric,” she said, her voice slightly breathless. “I received your message. I came as quickly as I could.”

Alaric offered her a warm smile, trying to appear as if nothing had just happened. “Thank you, Iridelle,” he said. “I appreciate you coming so quickly. I was eager to get back to work.”

He gestured towards the workshop, ushering her inside. As Iridelle stepped into the workshop, she paused, her eyes widening slightly as she took in the scene. The air was still thick with the scent of sex, and she could see the faint marks on the workbench where Ulriya’s body had been pressed against it.

Alaric noticed her hesitation and quickly stepped in front of her, blocking her view. “As you can see,” he said, his voice smooth and casual, “I’ve already set up the workshop. We can begin whenever you’re ready.”

Iridelle glanced at him, a flicker of suspicion in her eyes, but she didn’t press the issue. She simply nodded and moved further into the workshop, her attention quickly shifting to the familiar tools and equipment.

Alaric breathed a sigh of relief. He had managed to avert disaster, at least for now. He knew that Iridelle was intelligent and observant, but he trusted that she wouldn’t pry too deeply into his personal affairs.

He joined her at the workbench, his mind already focused on the task at hand. The night was young, and there was still much work to be done. Both on the artifact and with his maids.

~~

The interruption had left Alaric with a lingering restlessness, a tension that even the intricate work on the artifact couldn’t fully dissipate. He glanced at Iridelle, her brow furrowed in concentration as she examined a complex circuit, her blue hair falling forward, partially obscuring her face. The lamplight cast a warm glow on her skin, highlighting the delicate curve of her neck and the gentle slope of her shoulders. He couldn’t deny the pull he felt towards her, the desire to reach out and touch her, to explore the curves hidden beneath her simple tunic and trousers.

He knew, however, that a direct approach would be unwise. He needed to be subtle, to weave his desires into the fabric of their work, to make her think that these feelings were mutual, a natural consequence of their close proximity and shared passion for their craft. He would use the Heart’s Whisper, subtly planting suggestions, weaving desires into her subconscious. He would use his Seductive Gaze, drawing her in with the intensity of his eyes. And he would use carefully placed touches, brief but potent, to ignite a fire within her.

“The mana flow is stabilizing nicely,” Iridelle murmured, adjusting a crystal regulator. “But I’m still concerned about the range. We need a more efficient way to amplify the signal without overloading the core.”

Alaric leaned closer, his shoulder brushing against hers. “What if we used a resonance matrix?” he suggested, his voice low and intimate. “Something that can amplify the signal by mirroring its frequency?”

As he spoke, he subtly shifted his position, his hand grazing her hip. It was a fleeting touch, barely perceptible, but he felt Iridelle stiffen slightly, a faint blush creeping up her neck.

“A resonance matrix…” Iridelle repeated, her voice slightly breathless. She glanced at him, her purple eyes meeting his for a brief moment before quickly darting away. “That’s… an interesting idea, Young Master Alaric. How would we implement it?”

Alaric leaned even closer, his breath warm against her ear as he explained the concept, using terms of magical energy and resonance that she would understand. He described how the matrix could be attuned to the specific frequency of the signal, amplifying its power without distorting it.

As he spoke, his hand lingered on her hip, his fingers gently tracing the curve of her body. He could feel her body heat increasing, her breath quickening. He knew he was getting to her, igniting a fire within her that she was desperately trying to suppress.

“So, by creating an echo of the original signal within this matrix, we can boost its range exponentially?” Iridelle asked, her voice slightly shaky. She tried to subtly shift away from his touch, but Alaric subtly adjusted his position, keeping the contact.

“Precisely,” Alaric murmured, his gaze locking with hers. He used his Seductive Gaze, letting his eyes convey the desire that burned within him. “It’s like… creating a bridge of energy, allowing the signal to travel further than it could on its own.”

He then moved his hand slightly higher, his fingers brushing against the side of her breast. Iridelle gasped softly, her cheeks flushing a deep crimson. She quickly turned away, her eyes fixed on the artifact.

“I… I see,” she stammered, her voice barely audible. “That could work. But we’ll need to find a material that can resonate with the specific frequencies of the signal.”

Alaric chuckled softly, his eyes still fixed on her. “I have a few ideas,” he said, his voice laced with innuendo. “Perhaps we can experiment with some of the enchanted metals we have in storage.”

He moved away from her, giving her some space to breathe. He knew he was pushing her, but he also knew that she was enjoying it, that she was drawn to him just as he was drawn to her.

They spent the next few hours working on the artifact, Alaric continuing his subtle campaign of seduction. He would casually touch her arm as he pointed out a detail on the schematic. He would lean in close as he explained a complex concept, his breath brushing against her hair. He would occasionally let his gaze linger on her breasts or her buttocks, letting his eyes convey the desire that he felt.

Iridelle, for her part, tried her best to ignore his advances, focusing intently on their work. But with each touch, with each lingering gaze, her body grew hotter, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew that she couldn’t stop Young Master Alaric if he truly wanted to do something to her. The difference in their status was too vast. He was her Young Master, and she was merely an artificer in his service.

Despite the growing tension between them, they made significant progress on the artifact. Alaric, drawing on his knowledge from his previous life, suggested several new features, including the ability to record visual scenes and even record sounds.

“Imagine,” he explained, using terms of magical energy and resonance, “if we could capture the very essence of a moment, the visual and auditory vibrations, and store them within the artifact. We could then replay those vibrations, recreating the original moment.”

Iridelle’s eyes widened in amazement. “You mean… like capturing a memory?” she asked, her voice filled with wonder.

“Something like that,” Alaric replied, a faint smile playing on his lips. He didn’t explain the concept of a photograph or a recording, knowing that such things didn’t exist in this world. He simply used terms that Iridelle would understand, describing the process in terms of magical energy and vibrations.

Iridelle was very impressed by Alaric’s ideas about the features to introduce in this communication artifact. She had never considered such possibilities before. She had always thought of communication as simply sending messages, not capturing and replaying moments.

“That’s… incredible, Young Master Alaric,” she murmured, her voice filled with awe. “How did you come up with such an idea?”

Alaric simply shrugged, offering a mysterious smile. “Let’s just say I have a… unique perspective,” he said.

They spent the rest of the night working on implementing these new features, their initial tension gradually fading as they became engrossed in their work. Alaric continued his subtle seduction, but he also made sure to give Iridelle the space she needed to concentrate.

As the first rays of dawn began to peek through the windows, they finally stepped back, admiring their handiwork. The artifact was now more than just a simple communication device. It was capable of capturing and replaying visual and auditory information, a true marvel of magical engineering.

“We’ve done it, Iridelle,” Alaric murmured, his voice laced with pride. “We’ve actually done it.”

Iridelle nodded, a tired but genuine smile gracing her lips. “It’s… remarkable, Young Master Alaric. I never thought we could achieve so much in one night.”

“Neither did I,” Alaric admitted. “But as I always say, challenges exist to be overcome.”

He reached out and gently touched the smooth surface of the artifact, feeling the faint vibrations of its core. They had successfully implemented the recording features, both visual and auditory, and the artifact now held the potential to capture and replay moments with stunning clarity. It was a significant leap forward, a testament to their combined ingenuity.

However, Alaric knew that their work was far from over. There were still numerous issues to address, refinements to make, and limitations to overcome.

“There’s still much to be done,” he said, his tone turning serious. “The interface, for one, is still rudimentary. We need to design a more intuitive control system.”

Iridelle nodded in agreement. “And the testing… we need to test it more rigorously. We’ve only conducted basic tests within the confines of the workshop. We need to see how it performs in different environments, under different magical conditions.”

“And then there’s the range,” Alaric added, his brow furrowing slightly. “As it stands, the artifact’s signal barely reaches beyond the city walls. That’s not nearly enough. We need to extend its range, drastically.”

Iridelle sighed, her expression thoughtful. “One idea is to create a network of resonance matrixes, strategically placed across the kingdom. Each matrix would amplify the signal, relaying it further and further until it reaches its destination.”

“That’s a viable long-term solution,” Alaric agreed. “But it would require a significant investment, both in resources and manpower. And it would require the Kingdom’s support, which could take time to secure. I need something more… immediate.”

He paused, tapping his fingers thoughtfully on the workbench. “What if,” he began, his eyes lighting up with an idea, “we incorporated a small resonance matrix into each individual artifact? A matrix that could resonate the signal with the ambient magical energy in the surrounding environment?”

Iridelle’s eyes widened in surprise. “You mean… using the natural magical energy that permeates the world as a relay?”

“Exactly,” Alaric confirmed. “The matrix would attune the signal to the specific frequencies of this ambient energy, allowing it to travel much further. Then, the receiving artifact’s matrix would amplify the signal, recovering the original message.”

Iridelle considered this, her mind racing to analyze the implications. “That’s… ingenious, Young Master Alaric,” she murmured, her voice filled with admiration. “It would eliminate the need for a large-scale network of matrixes, making the artifact much more portable and accessible.”

“Precisely,” Alaric said, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips. “And it would also allow for a much greater range, potentially even spanning the entire world.”

“But how would we ensure the signal reaches the correct destination?” Iridelle asked. “With so much ambient magical energy, the signal could get lost, or even intercepted.”

“That’s where the unique frequency encoding comes in,” Alaric explained. “Each artifact would be assigned a unique frequency, like a magical fingerprint. The matrixes would only resonate with their assigned frequency, ensuring that the signal reaches its intended recipient.”

Iridelle nodded slowly, her mind still reeling from the implications of his ideas. “And what about security?” she asked. “If the signal is traveling through ambient magical energy, couldn’t it be intercepted by someone with the right magical skills?”

“That’s where the encoding comes in,” Alaric repeated. “The signal would be encrypted using a complex magical cipher, making it virtually impossible to decipher without the corresponding key.”

He paused, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. “And there’s one more thing we need to build,” he added. “A controller.”

“A controller?” Iridelle asked, her brow furrowing in confusion. “What do you mean?”

“A device that can monitor all the communication artifacts,” Alaric explained. “A central hub that can track their locations, monitor their signals, and even intercept their messages if necessary.”

Iridelle’s eyes widened in surprise. “You mean… like a surveillance device?”

“Something like that,” Alaric replied, his tone casual. He didn’t reveal his true intentions, his desire to use the controller to gather intelligence on the world’s most powerful individuals. He simply framed it as a security measure, a way to ensure that the artifacts were being used responsibly.

“That’s… quite ambitious, Young Master Alaric,” Iridelle said, her voice laced with a mixture of awe and apprehension.

“Indeed,” Alaric replied, a faint smile playing on his lips. “But as I said, I don’t see limits, only challenges.”

He glanced at Iridelle, noticing the exhaustion in her eyes. “But for now,” he said, his tone softening, “I think we’ve both earned some rest. It’s been a long night.”

He gestured towards the door. “Come, Iridelle. You can accompany me to my suite. There are two beds. You look exhausted.”

Iridelle hesitated for a moment, her cheeks flushing slightly. She glanced at the artifact, then back at Alaric. “Are you sure, Young Master Alaric?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Of course,” Alaric replied, his smile warm and reassuring. “We’ve been working together all night. It’s the least I can do.”

He led her out of the workshop and up to his suite. As they entered the main room, Iridelle’s eyes widened slightly as she took in the scene. Ulriya and Kara were already in the bedroom, their faces flushed and their hair slightly disheveled. They quickly straightened up as they saw Alaric and Iridelle enter.

Alaric gestured towards the bedroom with the two beds. “You can take that bed, Iridelle,” he said, pointing to the one further from the door. He then walked over to the other bed, where Ulriya and Kara were already waiting for him.

Iridelle blushed madly as she saw how intimately Alaric lay with his maids. She quickly averted her gaze, hurrying towards her designated bed and pulling the covers up to her chin.

Alaric chuckled softly, his eyes twinkling with amusement. He lay down on the bed with his maids, pulling them close. He could feel Iridelle’s gaze on him, even though she was trying her best to avoid looking.

He closed his eyes, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips. The night had been productive, both in terms of their work on the artifact and in terms of his… other pursuits. He knew that Iridelle was drawn to him, that she was slowly but surely falling under his spell. And he knew that it was only a matter of time before she would fully surrender to his desires.