The winds of change swept through the Dwarf Kingdom, turning into a storm in various cities.
To delve into the causes of all this, one must ntion the marvelous Wood Stone Clan, who had been summoned by the King due to their inventions far surpassing the tis. Kafu the Sixth warmly entertained the Clan Leader and the Elders.
It is said that on the day of the audience, the King brought out the hamr passed down through generations and bestowed an honor upon the Clan Leader and Elders that could glorify their ancestors—kissing the Royal Family’s hamr.
This great honor fell upon a small Wood Stone Clan, causing a stir among the major artisan clans of the Royal City.
Among the Dwarves, a race that venerates smithing, the hamr is a magnificent gift from the gods of mountains and artisans and also a treasured heirloom passed down through family lines.
For the Dwarves, the hamr has supre significance.
There is a popular saying in the streets that vividly illustrates this significance—rather have a good hamr than a life’s root.
The family’s hereditary hamr is not only a tool for forging but also a ritual object for worshipping Hiris and a solid proof of a family’s lineage within the clan.
Kissing the hereditary hamr, this ritual ant "you have gained my clan’s trust."
With such respectful treatnt, Kafu the Sixth completely won over the people of the Wood Stone Clan, although they had already imagined that the King would value them greatly. However, being fundantally a humble clan that relied on lumbering and hunting for survival, they never imagined the King would place such importance on them.
Before the reception, Kafu the Sixth had also arranged for excellent accommodations for the Wood Stone Clan, where the furniture, traded from human countries, was so fine and soft that the clan leaders and elders suspected they were living in heaven.
Furthermore, on the night before the reception dinner, Kafu the Sixth arranged for temple courtesans from the Royal City to comfort the minds and bodies of the Wood Stone clan visitors, allowing them to enjoy a sacred Dwarf wedding in the Royal City—such generous hospitality brought the worldly inexperienced Wood Stone clan to tears, with the Clan Leader even swearing loyalty to King Kafu forever at the banquet.
Kafu the Sixth thus earned the complete trust of the Wood Stone Clan through such conciliatory ans.
The Clan Leader then revealed to the King the greatest secret in the history of the Wood Stone Clan.
"The chanical Book?"
Kafu the Sixth appeared slightly astonished.
In the study, only the Clan Leader and Kafu the Sixth were present. The continuous generosity and favor moved the Clan Leader deeply, and he pledged absolute loyalty to the King, accepting the latter’s invitation to the study without suspicion.
"Yes, Your Majesty, it is indeed that chanical Book, the source of abundant riches for and our clanspeople."
The Clan Leader paused, then added,
"It’s almost like a blessing from Hiris. We shocked many by slting and crafting the machinery described in it, attracting countless clans to visit us for our machinery."
Kafu the Sixth sighed upon hearing this,
"Old Clan Leader, this is truly... unimaginable."
The wise King naively thought that the Wood Stone Clan had produced so many remarkable machines and beca famous because they had several extraordinary geniuses.
He had never expected that the rise of the Wood Stone Clan was due to such simple luck, not through their own effort but a chance fortune.
It was like finding a pie fallen from the sky.
"That’s right, that chanical Book, Your Majesty. Otherwise, how could we, who rely on logging and hunting, understand so much about chanical structures?"
The reason the Clan Leader spoke this way was partly because he was very self-aware, and partly because of his absolute trust in the King.
After listening, Kafu the Sixth first showed a slight astonishnt, then a aningful smile crossed his face.
"Old Clan Leader.
The appearance of the chanical Book in your hands might not an that Hiris and His father have chosen you."
Upon hearing this, the Clan Leader felt sowhat confused and puzzled.
And when he heard the next statent, he broke out in a cold sweat.
"I think its appearance probably ans that Hiris and His father intend to give it to this kingdom, to all of us."
Kafu the Sixth ended there.
Dwarves, unlike the cunning Humans and Three-eyed Ape People, are straightforward in nature and rarely speak circuitously in conversation. No matter how much they conceal, their purposes are plainly revealed.
And Kafu the Sixth had made himself very clear. His words were not difficult to understand.
"How can this be... it’s our clan’s treasure..."
The Clan Leader panicked, his voice trembling.
Seeing this, Kafu the Sixth decided to be even clearer,
"Old Clan Leader, you might keep the gift for now, but can you keep it forever?
Sooner or later, the truth about the chanical Book will co out—it’s only a matter of ti.
When that day cos, who knows if your Wood Stone Clan might have already been crushed to dust?"
Kafu the Sixth paused, then continued:
"Hand it over to , for I am your King, the representative of the entire kingdom.
And in return, I shall grant your clan the status of nobles and artisans. From then on, your descendants will no longer deal with wood and stone but will live by slting gold and silver."
The King’s threats and promises all fell on the Clan Leader’s ears, and at that mont, the Clan Leader deeply regretted his trust in the King. He was clearer than anyone that once the chanical Book was made public, the Wood Stone Clan lacked the capability to protect it.
Rather than that, it was better to accept Kafu the Sixth’s terms, which were indeed generous.
It is known that for thousands of years, no lowly clan had ever risen in such a short ti to beco nobles and artisans.
After weighing the options, the Clan Leader nodded with difficulty,
"I can agree to your terms, my Majesty.
I will do my best to persuade the other Elders..."
Kafu the Sixth was not completely satisfied with this response and spoke,
"Tomorrow, I will host those Elders in a private dining hall. At that ti, Old Clan Leader, do your utmost."
The Clan Leader swallowed and nodded like a pecking hen.
Kafu the Sixth, wise, decisive, filled with the majesty of a King, his swift actions exerted trendous pressure on the Clan Leader, leaving him feeling almost breathless.
Thud, thud.
Outside the room, a rapid knocking sound arose.
"Co in."
Kafu the Sixth spoke.
Seeing the King’s attention diverted, the Clan Leader let out a sigh of relief, his gaze anxiously turning toward the door.
There stood a richly dressed dwarf, whose clothes, judging by the craftsmanship, seed to be made by human hands. Humans, taller than dwarfs but shorter than giants, possessed much finer fingers than dwarves, which was why cloth made by human or Three-eyed Ape People tailors was often of superior quality, well-cut and highly esteed among the ruling class of dwarves.
The dwarf who entered the study appeared quite young, with a jet-black beard, his features bearing so resemblance to Kafu the Sixth.
"This is my son, Mura, of whom I am proud."
Kafu the Sixth introduced with a smile to the Clan Leader.
The Clan Leader respectfully perford a bow he had recently learned.
"Father, I ca to ask for special approval for my teacher’s research funding."
Prince Mura spoke directly.
"That gold-eating, non-silver-spitting bastard! He’s asking for money again!"
Kafu the Sixth cursed in front of Mura, as dwarves often lacked subtlety in their expressions.
"Please, father, he really needs this money to continue his research. You know, studying the Ancient Language is fraught with difficulties, and funding is rely the simplest hurdle."
Prince Mura pleaded.
Kafu the Sixth sighed deeply, rubbing his forehead:
"Alright, alright, let him submit another application, and I’ll sign it personally."
Hearing this, Prince Mura bead with joy,
"Thank you, father, my grandfather indeed gave a good father!"
Kafu the Sixth cursed:
"Darn it, what kind of complint is that, get back to your duties!"
In a blink, Prince Mura had disappeared from the study.
The Clan Leader stood awkwardly in place, as if unsure what to do.
Kafu the Sixth turned around and affectionately patted his shoulder:
"Sorry you had to see that.
Much as I hate to admit it, Mura is indeed my heir.
He might sotis shirk his duties, but believe , he has the capacity to assu this position."
............
Prince Mura’s teacher, nad Belvan, was a middle-aged dwarf born into a clan of craftsn, who had the opportunity to study in the human Danschel Empire due to friendly relations between the two nations. He spent five years at the Thousand Cities Academy.
Since then, he had developed a passion for Ancient Language Studies, and after earning his degree and returning to the Dwarf Kingdom of Kaelonde, he had served as a court tutor for the royal family.
Unlike typical dwarfs, though Belvan had a considerable talent for tallurgy, he held a greater interest in the Ancient Language, considering it a life’s work worth all his wisdom. He often told his student Prince Mura that Hiris and His father gave him life to undertake this profession.
Prince Mura thought a title suited Belvan well—Alchemist.
The next morning, when Prince Mura brought the good news of his father’s approval for the special funding request to Belvan, the latter was adjusting a telescope for stargazing.
"This is indeed a divine assistance."
Belvan was overjoyed.
Prince Mura approached Belvan’s desk, tidying up various manuscripts for his teacher.
During the sorting, Mura casually glanced at the progress of his teacher’s research.
"What is this?"
Mura paused, a manuscript filled with writing catching his attention.
It had drawings on the back, depicting the paths of several stars, with annotations describing the regularity of these stars and their connection with the Ancient Language.
"New findings, minor discoveries, unremarkable, but worth researching."
Belvan fiddled with the telescope, adjusting its angle,
"I’ve told you, although the Ancient Language was created by the Lord, much of its power originates from those stars, which are the Gods.
The Ancient Language is essentially a tool for harnessing the Divine Power.
And I’ve found... so Ancient Language correspondences seem to match the orbits of the stars."
Mura was montarily stunned, exclaiming,
"That’s a major discovery."
Belvan remained calm,
"This is just a bold hypothesis; it’s likely not true, with only a slim chance of being accurate.
Studying the Ancient Language is like inventing machinery, often taking many detours, with only a few paths being correct."
Hearing his teacher’s words, Mura realized his overreaction, rembering that for alchemists like Belvan, failure was the norm, and success was the exception.
Belvan seed to have adjusted the telescope well, and he turned around, taking the manuscript from Prince Mura’s hands and looked at it again.
"Speaking of which, these connections between the Ancient Languages... are indeed fascinating,
almost like... roads leading to a profoundly sacred direction."
Saying this, Belvan paused,
"Perhaps my predecessors noticed it, but they uniformly failed.
Mura, do you think I’ll be one of them, or will I achieve extraordinary feats, transcending the ordinary?"
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