creation

There was a time for his own improvement.

The time for the new weapon to be forged, a gunblade unlike any other. With a lot of materials gathered together, it would only be a matter of time until him and Akrites complete the creation of the blade in such manner; although, given that the blade of Primordial God, Vseron, was already fairly capable and powerful as it is..

It is the matter of further improving the blade by creating a gunblade instead, along with different improvements that could modify it even further.

"Akrites."

"Today we'll be working on my gunblade." With that, he puts on protective equipment- the set is given to Akrites as well.

The draft is presented; it is fairly straightforward and simple to follow, but he explains nonetheless.

"We will not be modifying Vseron, the blade, directly." Mostly because he does not wish to accidently weaken it by tampering with the magics of Primordials.

"Instead, the gun will be aligned with the blade."

"It will be improved through arcanium casing." The technique similar to what they did previously. "And we will also create a section for the crystal power core." He refers to the gem of crystalized winds, of course.

"The gauntlet of the power fist that you see will be modified into handle for the gunblade; it will essentially serve as a stock for the gun, so that it could stabilize any shots."

"And the power core of the crystalized winds will be also surrounded by at least ten wind crystals, to enhance it further."

A pause, to which he adds.

"Unless there's something unclear to you, we can begin."

"Set the forges to high temperature. Being smelting Arcanium and heat up the gun as well - from low to medium temperature, in a second forge."
(Marcel Delisle)

Although he followed the man along, Akrites seemed to be fiddling around with a housing contract, rather happy if anything; after all, he managed to make his own living...

It was a step forward.

"Hm..that is bound to be a long process, attaching everything flawlessly to the gun itself; do you want to mold them together or make them attachable parts, Sergeant?", he questioned, knowing there are two ways about this.

However, the crystal core did raise a flag for him.

"How do you intend we incorporate the gem? Where should it be, exactly, in the middle of the gun, connecting the gun and the weapon, so that they align better?", there were also many ways to do so. After all, artificers are diverse and their ways are just as well.

"On the forges.", he muttered, moving along and reaching for the protective gear that he claimed as his own, although they were gifted by Marcel himself. Just like a few daysago, he would draw fire-aligned runes on two furnaces, fueling one with a hefty amount of Mana, to boost its flame, and another at a low temperature, for it to rise naturally, adding fuel to it.

The Arcanium was thrown into the forge once he's located it, nodding for himself; the gun, however, it was rested by the side of the forge, for it to soak in the heat naturally - he won't throw it in the fire, after all.

"Everything else is clear."
(Akrites Fitz-Empress)

"One step at a time, Akrites."

Going so far ahead of himself would do him no good. While such questions are asked of him, it is something that he naturally would answer to- all in due time, of course. Here, where the question of the gem lies with him, he answers.

"The gem will be adjusted and then fit next to the round chamber, connected through runework. That way it can fuel the rounds that pass by, and stretch its magic down to the blade with runework."

Simple enough, but already he begins the process of adjusting the crystal; through delicate hammer and a tool that almost looks like an ice-pick, he begins to chip away at unimportant, expendable parts of the crystal. Fuelled by intricate, extensive runework as well, the gem was slowly taking a shape of something different..

Something almost round-like, akin to a power core.

"The casing must be adjusted to be layered across the gun, as well as accommodate the new core."

Surely Akrites could understand the purpose behind it- but whereas Marcel's attention turns towards the blade and the runework is used in order to forge the connection towards the gun that is about to be connected, creating a 'bridge' so to say, he remarks.

"The gun will be welded together to the blade, right at the hilt."

"You could separate them through work at forge, of course, but I don't intend to - there's no reason to separate them."

If he wanted to shoot at something, he could just aim with his blade if he wanted to cut, then he can swing.

"Take out the molten arcanium now."

"I'll begin working on the casing and incorporating the gun to be attached to the blade. In the meantime.."

He points towards the power core he just made, alongside with wind crystals.

"See those crystals?"

"Connect it to the core with runework. Should be attached and aligned properly."

A little experience with intricate designs wouldn't hurt Akrites- after all, so far he only practiced with handling rough metals.

But how would he handle precious materials that requires delicate touch?
(Marcel Delisle)

The young man nodded along; he moved towards the forge, now pulling the recipient in which the Arcanium was melted in, setting it aside for the other artificer to work with. However, he simply nodded, moving to face the gun and the crystals now.

"Hmm...", he mused, gloved and careful hand reaching for the crystal, whilst taking the gun away from the fire, for him to make room and work much easily and freely. Space was important, especially in such situations.

Only then, his right glove came undone, his finger pinched for a drop of blood to be poured in, his Mana allowed to move freely with the swaying of his hand; the Runework was done, just as he has seen Marcel do before, the base gate of connection made.

When it came to bringing the crystal and the gun together, however, it would be more delicate of a matter, to which he dedicates his full attention, temporarily.

The gun, it was worked around with care, a specific spot carved in, for it to connect to the main body of the weapon as well as it could connect with the round chamber, understanding the meaning behind this; it was to empower the rounds, or create them. Such was drilled in carefully, applications of his Temporal Science for sure present; the essentially create a chamber for the orb, sliding it in with care, making sure it too is concealable. Of course, it was worked around with the offered and found instruments.

He could not whiff this. After all, his hands were tender when it came to his creation, swift and precise. The gem, it was attached carefully and hidden from sight, without affecting the weapon's accuracy nor its weight.

But it was also made in such a way to empower the weapon itself, the crystal, to offer it the necessary stability to sustain such power.

"I understand. The crystal is attached."

However, he glanced about the forge, wondering how they will go about the hilt; although he is patient, he is allowed to think.
(Akrites Fitz-Empress)

The delicate work was entrusted to Akrites.

Whereas Marcel worked with the casing for the rifle, as well as the instalment of the crystal once it's finished; he worked in tandem with Akrites, only more so ensuring that the process goes smooth - while he's trusted to perform this task, as a senior artificer out of the two there had to be presence of quality control.

Yet, Akrites didn't disappoint.

His involvement was less and less in regards of the crystal installation, seeing that he was more than capable of handling it well; instead, the arcanium molding was carefully aligned to the hilt of the blade, welded together in a way that showcased elegance and mastery of Imperial engineering. It did not obstruct the blade, nor it added much to the weight..

If anything, it was smooth and the gun was gliding along the edge just fine.

The counter-balance weight was added on the other side, to make sure that it does not take away from the swing of the blade. With adjustments made, the power glove was added alongside the handle for the gun at the top, providing convenient means of not only accessing it, but firing mid combat.

Now, with the construction almost finished, the connection of runework remained.

"Focus on creating runework connections now."

"We're almost done. Follow my lead and connect the blade to the gun and strengthen the connection along the attachment point- then, lead it all the way to the power core, and then back to the handle."

In a sense, it's a 'triangle' of the runework, leading to three separate sides.
(Marcel Delisle)

The young man could not afford to disappoint, after all.

Even if sweat was running down his forehead, he did not mind it, whilst working on the crystal - it was his duty to.

Regardless, once over with it, he allowed his other glove to slip off, both palms now projected alongside the length of the blade and the rifle, Runework drawn alongside of it, in the air, his eyes coming lidded now.

It is not that he could draw them without seeing, but he needed to focus on this one task - whilst he knew what he was doing, it seems to be a more straining process than it is to the Delisle, and for good reasons; it was his second time working on such elaborate projects.

"Lead away.", he said promptly, almost like an order, although it must be because his focus took away most of his mind, that he could not process how words came out of his mouth.

Mana was poured into the Runework, creating the passage for connecting the two items together - the bladeand the rifle, allowing them to accept one another on a metaphysical level, considering the physical casing was already prepared. It was a delicate matter, not only providing shelter for the blade, but making sure the two patterns mend the other.

There was a fine line between taping two weapons together and making them accept the other.

Akrites' fingers were delicately run over the body of the blade, drawing it into its primal essence, whilst his other palm did the same; through his Runework and capability to work Mana so subtly and efficiently, he aimed to create One from the two, thus connecting the very essence of the two, allowing them to create a fusion.

With the essences now slowly starting to mingle, Akrites moved his palm across the necessary points in the gun, making sure that the 'spirits' of the two are fully connected, through the elaborate Runes that he previously drew.

Now, his eyes came opened. "It is almost there.", he mutters, hoping the Delisle might hear his words.
(Akrites Fitz-Empress)

The runework was often the most exhausting part of creation.

Often drawing immense amounts of mana from the magi in question, it would lead to the tiredness and inevitable drain of the power from them; yet, in the end, it was more than worth it. Especially given that they were creating something as magnificent as this..

A gunblade of such power.

With the triangle of runework complete, feeding into three main parts across the body of the gunblade, there were no further prospects to pursue for the time being- the sheer amount of work that would come into this could surpass many other projects out there, but surely he could realize..

Growing in experience and mastery is often something that should be done over the years.

"We're finished."

Before them lies a finished gunblade, albeit one that did not have the time to let the magics seep in and settle- much like with many different creations, it would need time to stabilize until it's properly useable.

"You did well, Akrites."

"Your assistance is appreciated."

As it always is. Given all of this experience, he had no doubt that both of them would continue to create.

Until one day they excel at something magnificent.
(Marcel Delisle)