“Five silver tha’ they’ll get stuck deep in a mountain!”

“Hah! Five more tha’ they’ll pop right up above the volcano, spittin’ fire like a dragon!”

“Bah! Ye all ain’t thinkin’ with yer heads nor yer beards! They’re headin’ straight fer the sea, mark me words, swallowed whole by a great sea serpent! Hahaha!”

“What in the great forge are ye dolts doin’ now?!”

An angry Hasim shouted at three other runesmiths who were busy making strange bets. The gate before them was activating, and all they could think about was it malfunctioning. Roland stood nearby, focused on clearing the interference while adjusting the runic program.

“Master Hasim, take care. Next time we meet, let it be in Albrook.”

“Aye, but first ye get there safely yerself, lad, an’ don’t ye dare ferget our deal.”

For a moment, Hasim glanced over at Bernir, who was also present. The half-dwarf tried to blend into the surroundings, but the old man spotted him anyway.

“Don’t worry, I won’t.”

Roland nodded as the teleportation gate activated before them. Its oval shape was wide enough for three people to squeeze through side by side. Once it shimmered to life, the other runesmiths quieted down, all of them staring at the blue glow with interest.

“It does seem to be connectin’ ta another gate… it actually looks steady?”

Hasim scratched his beard as he examined Roland’s portal. To a master runesmith, it was easy to tell whether a gate was stable. The flow of mana did not stutter, and the outer frame showed no signs of strain. Instead, the energy circulated in a controlled loop, indicating a proper connection had formed with another gate. It was proof that it was safe to pass through.

“Aye, it’s holdin’.”

One of the dwarves muttered, his earlier confidence fading. Hasim stepped closer, his sharp eyes tracking the runic pathways pulsing faintly beneath the surface. Roland remained at the center of it all, one hand raised as faint lines of light extended from his fingers into the gate’s structure.

“As I told you, it would be fine. Now then, let’s go, shall we?”

Roland had no desire to listen to the dwarves any longer and instead glanced at Millie and her family. Both her parents were there, and all their luggage was stored inside one of his spatial runes. After showing his new apprentice what he was capable of, she had asked him to take some furniture as well, which he agreed to. Now it was finally time to leave. Still, he wondered whether, once back home, he would need to have a serious conversation and come clean about a few lies he had told.

“Ohhh… how is it so shiny? Are you seeing this, Papa?”

“Y-yes, it’s a fine gate.”

Millie jumped around next to her father as she pointed at the shimmering blue gate that lit up the chamber they were in. This was clearly the first time she had seen a working gate, and perhaps in the future she would be able to assemble one herself.

“That’s nice, dear, but Master Wayland said we should go through, so perhaps we should listen?”

Lysa urged the two to step forward. The knights who were with them had already begun moving ahead to secure the other side. Roland gave a small nod as the first two knights stepped through the shimmering surface. Their armored forms distorted for a brief moment before vanishing entirely. The gate rippled, but the structure held firm, its glow steady and controlled.

“As you can see, everything is fine. Step through the portal, everyone.”

Roland motioned for the family of three to move. Without a tower spirit present, he needed to remain behind to monitor any changes to the dungeon and watch for potential problems. Any device could malfunction, and if it did during a teleportation jump, the consequences could be devastating.

“Papa, Mama, let’s go!”

Millie did not seem afraid of going through, though her father needed a few encouraging shoves from his daughter. Eventually, the family stepped through, followed by the rest of the knights, with Wischard remaining behind alongside Roland.

“Master Hasim, as agreed, I will send the artificial spirit device later. Wait for its arrival, and then we will be able to use this gate without limits.”

“Aye, I’ll be waitin’.”

Both Master Runesmiths nodded to each other, and finally, Roland stepped through the portal. Wischard, the leader of the runic prosthetic knights, had remained until the end to ensure his safety. Soon, Roland’s vision blurred as the world twisted around him. For a fraction of a moment, there was nothing but light, and then the scenery returned.

“Urp…”

“Papa, are you okay?”

“I… I’m fine…”

Millie patted her father’s back as he turned pale. Some people’s stomachs did not handle portaling well, as space itself was bent to create fast travel. Surprisingly, Lysa and Millie were unaffected and helped steady Ermes. The knights were already used to it, and as soon as Roland appeared, to his surprise, he heard cheers.

“Is that the High Knight Commander?”

“The armor is different, but that must be him!”

“High Knight Commander, look over here!”

“… ”

The area they arrived in was not the gate within his workshop. Although he could have linked it there, he did not want civilians like Ermes seeing inside, nor did he want the knights there. While they worked for him, there was no guarantee they would never be captured or betray him in the future. Instead, he chose to connect to the main portal near the city center, which drew considerable attention from the residents.

The portal was on display behind a special material that looked like glass but was as hard as steel. Through it, people could watch those who arrived. It had been constructed to showcase the city’s new capabilities and to give visitors a glimpse of its technological advancements.

The arrival point was set on a slightly elevated platform. The portal stood between several large white columns connected by arches. It looked grand and served as one of the current symbols of Albrook’s wealth. Normally, most people could not even afford to see a portal gate up close. While it was not open to the public, the city’s forces used it for travel to a limited number of locations, and Arthur did as well. Displaying wealth and power was important for nobility, but it also drew attention to Roland, who was far less fond of the spotlight than his noble friend.

Below, a gathered crowd waved while the area remained secured by city guards. It was clear they had been waiting for his arrival, and to Millie and her parents, this came as quite a shock.

“W-who did we just become involved with…”

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“I knew my Master was a big shot, but not as big as this… wow. Does that mean we’re rich now?”

Millie’s eyes sparkled as she leaned over the railing, completely ignoring her father’s still pale face. The crowd below continued to cheer, some even bowing when they saw Roland step forward from the gate.

“No, it does not mean that. My apprentice.”

Roland replied in a calm, even tone.

“Eh?”

“It means my expectations of you will be higher.”

Millie blinked at him, her excitement dimming slightly as she processed his words. Her mother, Lysa, seemed to understand immediately. She placed a hand on her daughter’s shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze.

“Mind your manners, dear. We are guests here.”

“Guests?”

Roland shook his head.

“You are residents now. For now, get acquainted with your new environment.”

Right on cue, several maids and guards stepped forward. They bowed to Roland, and he continued.

“These people will guide you to your new accommodations. You have not slept much since yesterday, so get some rest. Tomorrow, someone will come to pick Millie up. Then I will show her my workshop and her new workstation.”

“Oh… a workstation? That sounds important.”

Millie’s earlier excitement returned, though now it was mixed with curiosity rather than pure enthusiasm. She glanced between Roland and the attendants waiting nearby, clearly trying to imagine what kind of place awaited her.

“It is.”

Roland replied, looking at the young girl.

“You will not idle here. If you are to call yourself my apprentice, you will learn properly. So… prepare yourself.”

Her father straightened slightly at those words, still pale but recovering.

“Master Wayland, we are grateful. Truly. We will not cause trouble.”

“Focus on settling in for now. The people going with you will explain everything and show you around.”

Roland gave a short nod and turned his attention elsewhere.

“Sir Wischard, make sure they are escorted safely and have these items transported to their new home.”

After activating his spatial rune again, the luggage Millie had asked him to bring appeared on the ground. He no longer bothered to hide his magical abilities from the crowd. When people saw the magic circle form and the crates and furniture emerge, they began clapping and cheering even louder.

“As you command.”

The city was much safer now, and he could have delivered the items to the new inn himself. Still, he was a busy man. It made more sense to have the people present carry everything and help his new apprentice settle in. Other problems awaited him at home, and he still was not sure how to deal with them.

Millie watched as the crates reappeared one after another, her eyes lighting up with every familiar piece that materialized. The horn chandelier drew particular attention, as if it were a sacred artifact finally returned to its rightful place.

“Careful with that one!”

She called out, pointing at two guards who had just lifted a large crate.

“That one has the cutlery set, so be really gentle with it.”

Roland smiled faintly. Though his apprentice was quite young, she carried herself with a surprising sense of authority. Her parents, on the other hand, lowered their heads and immediately apologized to the maids and guards. To them, these people were equals or perhaps even superiors, and everything likely felt surreal.

Soon, two carriages arrived, one for Millie and another for the crates and furniture.

“Ah, what is that? It looks like a windmill… and those lamps look strange.”

He did not need to explain anything. Millie quickly turned her attention to Albrook, taking in every detail. It was a city he was proud of. The streets were free of horse and beast manure. Smooth stone pathways stretched outward in neat lines, with shallow grooves along the sides to guide water away.

It was all designed with modern solutions in mind to keep everything clean. The lamps cast a warm glow that guided people through the night, and with a monitoring system and guards equipped with communication devices, it was likely one of the safest cities in the entire kingdom.

The crime rate was almost nonexistent, as the thieves guild kept its activities within its own district. Gambling, prostitution, and loans were allowed as long as people were not forced into them through violence.

New homes were being built everywhere, equipped with runic cold boxes and warm bathrooms with showers and tubs. All of this was made possible by the power of runes, and development continued to expand. Half of the city had already been outfitted, and more was underway.

Ever since Arthur had been accepted by his father to some extent, the territory had become more desirable. More merchants were arriving, and even some lesser nobles were sending their children to work around the mansion, a tradition within the kingdom.

Things were improving, but all of this progress also brought resentment. Aldbourne was still being cut off by its neighbor Valerian, and the number of spies entering the city had increased. From time to time, there were attempted attacks on buildings or murders in the districts controlled by the thieves guild. While the monitoring system helped, it was not a perfect solution. They still needed more manpower, and perhaps with the new golem schematics, Roland could strengthen their forces.

“Aye… finally back. I just want to go home and sleep… but Boss, could you tell me what you discussed with that old fart? He was looking at me strangely.”

Bernir stretched, having been forced to go on the trip as well. The two walked down the stairs leading to the gate, and Roland finally needed to come clean about one part of the new contract.

“Well, he wanted to examine your work and the process behind it, and he would not budge on it. But do not worry, that will have to wait until the gate in the dungeon is fully assembled, and that will not happen for another three to four weeks.”

While Roland could assemble the miniaturized tower spirit, which was just a copy of Sebastian, there was no need to rush. Hasim did not know that there were other gates within the dungeon that Roland could use, so the plan was to send his alter ego, Siegfried, later with a finished product that the dwarves could connect to the current portal using schematics.

“Oh…”

Bernir scratched his beard. He now understood the situation, but instead of getting angry, he reacted differently.

“Ha, I even have old masters like that looking my way now… I need to go practice my craft. I cannot disappoint them. I will give him a good show!”

Roland had expected resistance, perhaps even complaints, but instead he was met with enthusiasm. He paused for a moment as he looked at Bernir, who seemed more motivated than ever.

“…Just do not overwork yourself.”

“Bah, what kind of craftsman would I be if I didn’t? This is a chance, Boss. A real one. I cannot wait to level up and gain more skills. I wonder what this class will truly be capable of when I reach the end.”

Bernir grinned, already lost in thought as he muttered about identifying the right soul colors and the skills tied to them. His Soul Smith class was intriguing, something Roland found himself drawn to as well.

“That’s good to hear, but get some rest and come back tomorrow. I want to see you at work. Let’s find out how well Soul Smithing and Runesmithing complement each other in practice.”

Bernir gave a firm nod, still grinning as if he had just been handed a treasure rather than more work.

“You won’t regret it, Boss.”

With that, the half dwarf hurried off, already muttering about materials, resonance, and something he called soul harmonics. Roland watched him for a moment before turning away. There was a certain comfort in that kind of drive. It reminded him of his early days, when every new discovery felt like unlocking a piece of the world.

The feeling did not last. Although he had told the others to rest, he had no intention of doing the same. He moved quickly through the streets. People cheered, but he kept to himself, retreating into a prepared carriage and letting it carry him home.

From inside, he watched the crowds. Most seemed happy, yet he could not shake the sense that it would not last. This felt like the end of an era, the point where people would stop overlooking his progress. In the past, others had underestimated him, which made his path easier. That would not happen anymore. His status had risen, and he had already defeated several well-known figures. No one would take him lightly now. They would face him seriously.

‘I just hope I’m ready…’

His days of going unnoticed were likely over. Even when he hid his face, people recognized him by the way he carried himself. The name Wayland, the High Knight Commander, was spreading across the kingdom.

It was only a matter of time before his role in the recent cultist attack became public. The Duke’s protection helped, but it was not absolute. Others in the kingdom possessed tier four power, and they would be watching, waiting, and judging him.

To make matters worse, before the year was out, he would have to present something to the world. Something that would leave a mark and confirm the rumors surrounding him.

‘I have to win that competition. I’ve had enough time to prepare for this. Instead of waiting, it’s time to act. I need to give it everything and prove my worth.’

He made his decision. He would not hold back. His goal was to win and prove himself to the mages and nobles watching from the sidelines. He needed to show that he had both the knowledge and the strength, enough to make anyone think twice before opposing him. He had to prove that he was both unique and valuable, and the golem he created would need to reflect that.