Thanks to the abundant energy supplied by the Well of Eternity, the masters of Eldre'Thalas could finally let loose and get to work. They had turned many of their old ideas into reality. Since there were so many new inventions, the Mage Research Institute decided to hold an unconventional exhibition, so more people could see and learn about their creations—and offer suggestions for improvements.
"These little trinkets have special magic circles carved into them. They emit a fixed arcane frequency that insects really hate." A mage eagerly explained his invention to a merchant.
"What, a mosquito repellent?"
"You could say that. It can also be recharged. See this little Arcane Crystal? One charge lasts a year. This button turns it on and off."
"A rechargeable mosquito repellent machine with a switch. Hmm, not bad. It'll sell well to the Jungle Trolls."
...Scenes like this kept cropping up throughout the outer exhibition hall. Meanwhile, Azar was entering a secret base, accompanied by Gandalf.
"Your Highness, these are the armor designs. You're a master of close combat, so please give us your thoughts." The Archmage spoke with great respect.
"What are the specifications?" Azar asked as he tried the armor on himself.
"Pure Steel Plate Armor. One millimeter thick at its thinnest, two millimeters in vital areas, with a deerskin lining. The surface has been mechanically enchanted to make it more flexible."
"Hmm, it's comfortable to wear, and it doesn't feel heavy. Who are you planning to sell it to?"
"This is our basic model of Standard Plate Armor. We're planning to sell it to the Warrior Legion in Zin-Azshari. Afanti has nearly finished negotiating the deal."
"You should offer customizations to meet your customers' needs. Don't be so rigid. Officers can't wear the same thing as foot soldiers. And the people over there love luxury, so you'll have to get the color and decorations right. Otherwise, if they bring their complaints to me, I won't be able to take your side."
"You can rest assured. We'll take care of all that." Gandalf hardly looked like an aloof mage now; he had the air of a salesman from Earth.
"Is this the armor you've prepared for our own use?" Azar picked up another suit and began trying it on.
"Yes. This one's for our own use. It's made from a new alloy, with a certain proportion of northern Sulfuron Fel Iron and southern Ghost Iron, plus a little Thorium. It offers better protection, is thinner and lighter, and is much more flexible. Most importantly, since its overall performance is already excellent, we've carved magic-resistance circles into it to reduce magic damage."
"Hmm, very nice. It feels better, and the edges are finished beautifully." As he spoke, he tried out a few movements.
"It's made in one piece by an Arcane Tool Machine, then hand-finished. Any part can be replaced individually. This is the standard Kaila armor for ordinary soldiers. We'll reinforce the officers' versions further, and anything for a commander of a thousand or above will be custom-made."
"What about the other troops?"
"Right this way." They went over to another table.
"These are the Leather Armor models, which also come in domestic and export versions. The version for our own use is made entirely of bear hide, with copper wire wrapped around it. The vital areas are reinforced with solid Thorium and copper alloy. The trousers and skirt are Mageweave Cloth, and there are several enchantments to choose from. The export version is much simpler; it just has thin steel plates."
"Good. I have one small request: every suit made for our own use should come with a full-body cloak, the kind that completely covers the wearer and regulates body temperature, keeping them warm in winter and cool in summer."
"Absolutely. We already have something similar; we just need to adjust the size. The only issue is that the materials are a little expensive."
"You don't need to worry about that. By the way, why haven't I seen any mage equipment?"
"That's because the Mage Legion is a little different. Their gear is so personalized that it's difficult to make standard-issue equipment for them."
"Then give them matching cloaks." Azar thought it over. Gandalf had a point. The issue came down to their combat effectiveness, and his reasoning was sound. But for an army, there still had to be some things everyone shared.
"Shouldn't you be showing me the weapons next?"
"Yes. Please take a look. This is a One-handed Sword, 1.5 meters long, with a 1.2-meter blade. It's proportioned for the average warrior, who stands two meters tall, and is meant to be used with a shield. See the crossed sword-and-knife design on the shield? Simple, elegant, and imposing. You needn't worry about the materials; they're the result of our latest research."
"Hmm, I trust you on that. With your research funding on the line, you wouldn't dare cut corners."
"The Legion Commander's equipment has to be custom-made. The extra cost can come from the Prince's private treasury. Also, the equipment we make for our own use should have a simple, practical design. Camouflage for combat is a must."
"Rest assured, Daphne is keeping a close eye on it. Actually, there are two important things we wanted to discuss with you today."
"What are they? You want more money? Forget it!"
"No, no. We'll leave making money to Afanti. We've calculated that the profits from export orders will cover the cost of the equipment for our own use. We won't need a subsidy from City Hall."
"Then what is it?"
"First, we're planning to have our finest materials and top craftsmen make a custom suit of equipment for you. We'll need your measurements, and we'd like to know if you have any special requirements. In particular, should we remake your Quel'Serrar? The second thing is the weapons for the Elf Hunters." His earlier playful grin gone, Gandalf spoke with a serious expression.
"You don't need to worry about my equipment. I can take care of it myself. What's the problem with the Elf Hunters' weapons?"
"Well, a mage invented an Arcane Energy Launcher. Take a look—it's this." He pulled a Rifle out of his spatial pack! Yes, a rifle. Azar rubbed his eyes without thinking. He hadn't imagined it. It really was a rifle! Where was this mage? Had he come from another world? Otherwise, how had he made something that looked so much like a Kar98k?
"How does it work?"
"It uses arcane energy to propel a small ball at high speed, striking the enemy. We designed special parts and carved special magic circles into them. Press this button, and the Arcane Crystal releases energy to launch the ball." After explaining, he handed the rifle to Azar with both hands.
"You want me to give you my opinion?" Azar asked, carefully examining the rifle.
"Yes. We think this weapon is better than the bows the Elf Hunters use now. But Daphne disagrees and says it's not ready. She couldn't explain exactly why, so we asked you to take a look."
"Have the hunters seen it? What did they think?"
"They didn't reject it outright. They said it was less tiring to use, took up less space, and was especially easy for beginners to learn. It takes an Elf Hunter a long time to master a bow, but this new weapon is easy to pick up. The downside is that it's inaccurate."
"Then here are a few suggestions. First, replace the ball-shaped projectiles with pointed ones. Second, add a folding dagger to the muzzle, right here. Make the whole thing longer, and replace these parts with wood to reduce its weight. Third, add little bumps here and here. Three points in a line! Don't ask why—I just have a feeling. You'll have to study it more carefully. All I can say is that I think this weapon has a lot of potential."
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