A Guide to Kingdom Building - Chapter 217

Aturs, Year of Severus, 16, I.R., the 7th day of Winter, Arteria Capital

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The sound of clanging iron coming from the workshop was deafening. But it was just another day for those who had lived and slept near it for a couple of years. Prince Arterius had been living near the Arterian Workshop for more than 2 years now. The obnoxious sound of metal was nothing new to him. To him, it sounded like heartbeat waking him up for another creative day inside his cramp-spaced office.

He rose up from his wooden bed, a far cry from the lavish cushioned bed he had in the palace. There were no aetherite-lit baubles or fancy machinations on his floor and ceilings. The room was just another room. There was a small table on the side of his bed where he could do his writing, a small lamp to light his dark room at night and a shelf overflowing with books and scrolls he compiled from his research.

It was a different world that he woke up to, far from the sheltered world in the palace. There was no Stolas there, no Lord Prestonheim, no emperors, no politics and most importantly no detractors. He had lived like this for quite a while now, a quiet and contented life away from the world and near to the one thing his heart was fond of, his research.

After the incident he caused at the Arenfall Mines, Prince Arterius went back to the capital with his tail in between his legs. The balding Senator Lucresia arrested him for conspiring against the enemies of the kingdom. He was put into trial and was imprisoned in the dark dungeon lying below the palace. It was only after he agreed to the terms set by Senator Lucresia and the Imperatur was he allowed to leave the dungeon.

He could still remember the terms of his freedom like it was yesterday. It was disgusting and degrading but he didn’t have a choice. It was his only way to keep his sanity intact more than everything else. Prince Arterius sat at the edge of his bed while opening the book he placed near his dimly lit aetherite lamp. He laid open the folded pages and read.

“One. You will apologize in front of the Imperatur and the Senate. Two. You will surrender all your research to the Senate, which includes A.R.T.E.R.I.U.S.” He paused at the next couple of numbers as he tried to take a breather at the painful words he was about to mutter. “Three. You will no longer involve yourself with any political decisions inside the kingdom. Lastly. You will no longer mention any interest of contention towards the throne.” He closed the book and took a deep breath.

Those words, no matter how painful they were, was something he remind himself every day. He never wanted to forget their faces and how they ridiculed him, no matter how much it pained him. He wanted to remember it all because he was confident that he would  take what he’d lost back. Maybe one day… definitely someday.

After his humiliation in the hands of his own father and the Senate, he immediately requested to be let go from the palace. He went away leaving his things and loyal ward behind. He went to the Arterian Workshop and begged to work there as a craftsman’s apprentice.

Prince Arterius’ brooding was interrupted with a loud knock at the door.

“Who is it?” He asked.

“G’morning, Arterius! Tis time tah work.” A familiar dwarven voice answered back.

“Oh! Master Smith, I will be there in a moment.” He grabbed his cane and stood up.

“Yah bettar hurry up, Arty! Brekkie’s almost out and we hafa lot tah do today!” The Master Smith answered.

“Of course! Of course!” He limped his way into the door, opened it and greeted the stout Master smith grinning at him.

After a simple meal of bread, mushroom soup and cheese, Prince Arterius went to his small working table at the other end of the workshop. He walked past the huge turning gears placed on the walls of the workshop. Up to this day, he still wasn’t sure what those gears were for, even after two years of working there. Some of the smiths told him that the gears were link to a device that handles the never-ending flames of the great furnace located near the Master Smith’s workshop.

His leg still ached as he limped his way into his workshop. His leg never healed after the blast from the hole made by his obnoxious brother. The long pathway had always been his calvary, however, it was also his salvation. It kept him occupied. It kept his mind sharp and his skills sharper. The ideas he made and the inventions he helped create has made a huge impact on the Principalian society, especially their war efforts.

But with each invention he birthed, it became clearer to him that the Senate and his father wouldn’t credit him for his fine work. Not that he cared at that point, instead of sulking and be bitter over such injustice, he decided to give them lesser inventions. After all, they would never care about it. As long as he delivered with his inventions, no matter how basic they were, the Senate and his father wouldn’t try to kill or hurt him.

He sat on his work desk working on his magnum opus. A ship capable of propelling into the skies with the use of wind runes and aetherium. It was a grandiose project, something that he had thought of for a very long time. The technologies and researches he provided to the kingdom couldn’t compare to the sophistication and elegance of this concept he has made.

His dream was to get the invention realized and given free to the people for their everyday use. To further the push of the Arteria towards the world and create collaboration between kingdoms instead of the constant bloodshed going on right now.

He began to work on his design once again. He took his ruler and lined the equal cross-section of the ship, where he will divide into chambers to put the gears and machinations inside. The sound of clanging metal and hissing water was audible in the background as he continued on with his work.

With every line he did and every measurement he took, he felt his invention coming alive. He closed his eyes and felt the imaginary air blowing as he flew in the sky with his massive air chariot. He knew that with that kind of technology, it could truly change how Arterians would do their business and politics. He couldn’t help but crack a smile as he hummed in delight.

Suddenly, there was total silence. The loud clanging metal and hissing noises from the fire all went silent. It took a few moments for Arterius to notice what happened. The clanging metal was instead change into the sound of heavy footsteps approaching.

Prince Arterius ignored it and continued to do his design.

“Are you not going to be bothered to face me?” His father’s loud voice filled his room.

Prince Arterius looked around and saw his father along with Senator Lucresia standing on his doorway. He immediately stood up, surprised at what he just saw. He looked at the Imperatur dead in the eyes. He wanted to speak to him but there were no words coming out from him.

“Cat got your tongue?” The Imperatur said as he entered his room. “Listen well, son. I wouldn’t be here if I—”

“Very well,” Arterius interjected. “What is it that you want?”