Tekun moved swiftly to open his toolbox and once again picked up the branch of Trent wood that would serve as the base material.
"Pay attention. This is a staff in its simplest form—just a mana stone attached to the tip of a rod. No decorations, no frills; just the most basic design there is."
He gripped a carving knife in his right hand and set to work immediately.
"The manufacturing process for a magic staff is split into four main stages: Rough Shaping, Refining, Painting, and Mana Stone Attachment. First up is the first stage: Rough Shaping. Just as it sounds, you carve the wood into a rough, general form. You don't need to be too meticulous at this point.
The secret is to attach the mana stone to the tip side of the branch. If you're using a section of trunk, you'd put it on the end opposite the roots—basically, the direction the tree grows. Visualize the final shape of the staff as clearly as you can, then carve out an outline that matches that image."
Mimicking Tekun’s nimble movements, I began carving the branch from the base toward the tip. Since the branch wasn't particularly thick to begin with, I finished in less than five minutes.
"Next is Refining. Again, just like the name says, you use knives and files to fine-tune the shape. This is actually the most difficult part and the core of staff-making... but it's probably easier to understand if you just experience it. Ryoma, try channeling mana through that branch."
"Like this?"
I funneled my mana into the wood as instructed. I could feel it flowing through the interior. It was a faint sensation, one I might have missed if I wasn't concentrating so hard, but it confirmed what Tekun had said—the mana flowed much more naturally when following the direction of the branch's growth. I also noticed mana leaking from the cross-sections I had carved.
"Looks like you felt it. To turn this into a staff, you have to carve it into shape, but that process damages the vessels that carry mana, causing it to leak out. To make a high-quality staff, you can't just fix the shape; you have to use your Mana Perception to track the flow, identify the state of the vessels, and adjust your carving accordingly. This is the most vital step for the final quality.
When you carve, keep the knife flush against the branch. You want to keep as many intact vessels as possible, but if a vessel is severely damaged, it's useless, so you should remove it. If you overthink it and carve too deep, you'll just cause more harm. Well, this part just takes practice. In your case, you already seem to understand how mana flows and leaks, so I think you'll be a quick study. Most apprentices have to spend years just developing that sense."
"I'm glad my hobby is playing with magic."
In all honesty, this was incredibly difficult. Between my childhood tinkering and using magic daily for work, I was very familiar with mana, but I don't think I would have grasped this otherwise. It required intense concentration to feel the mana while simultaneously moving my hands.
The three of us fell into a comfortable silence. Tekun and Lulutia had stopped talking, likely being considerate so as not to break my focus. I truly appreciated it. I had a fair amount of experience in woodworking, but I found myself stopping frequently as I tried to visualize the state of the damaged vascular bundles.
"Phew..."
"Alright, that's good enough. For a first try, that’s excellent work."
"I'm happy to hear that."
"I don't lie about craft. I actually expected you to struggle a bit more."
Tekun spoke while waving his hand as if brushing away dust, causing the scattered wood shavings to vanish instantly.
"After Rough Shaping and Refining comes Painting. In terms of woodworking, this improves the feel and protects the wood. In terms of magic, it reduces mana leakage. No matter how carefully you select and adjust those vessels, you're still working with a branch that's been damaged during processing. That’s why we add a little something to the paint to contain the mana that wants to escape."
"What is that extra something?"
"The easiest way is to mix mana stone powder into the paint. The compatibility of materials and the proper ratios vary wildly, so it’s all about research. For today, just use the one I’ve prepared. It’s a mix of Sticky Slime adhesive fluid and mana stone powder, so you can easily replicate it once you get home."
"Thank you for teaching me with something I can actually make myself."
I opened a container from the corner of the toolbox and followed Tekun’s lead. Using a soft-bristled brush, I applied the paint gently, spreading it toward the tip. Just like the refining stage, I focused on the mana, moving with the flow as if I were bundling the escaping energy together.
"By the way, when you're crushing the stones, make them as fine as possible. When mixing, make sure they're spread evenly through the paint. And when you're applying it, be careful not to leave any uneven spots. Uneven mana conduction makes a staff hard to handle. Small mistakes like that might seem minor, but they add up and ruin the quality.
Now, some master craftsmen intentionally create unevenness to specialize a staff for certain fields, but that’s not something for a beginner to worry about. Just keep it in the back of your mind. Basics first."
I committed his words to memory and returned to my work. We continued in silence for a while until the painting was done. Tekun reached out for the staff.
"...Alright, that looks right. Here."
"Huh? Ah, it's already dry."
"Normally you'd let it sit, but we don't have enough time for that today. I dried it myself. Next step."
He pulled a spherical mana stone about three centimeters in diameter and a small base—shaped like the bottom half of an eggshell—from the toolbox. The base was also made from Trent wood.
"The mana stone doesn't have to be a sphere, or even processed at all, really. But if the shape is irregular, the mana flow will be slightly biased. That can make the user feel like their aim is off. It's safer to polish it into a proper shape.
To attach it, you use a mixture of adhesive and mana stone powder. The trick is to ensure the base and the stone are in perfect contact with the staff so the mana flow isn't interrupted. Align the angles so it flows as straight as possible. You'll get the hang of it with repetition."
After bonding the stone and the base, I used a plain, bandage-like cloth from the toolbox to secure them. Normally, this would be left on until the adhesive set, but once again, Tekun skipped the wait time for me.
"If we were going further, we'd add decorations, but as far as a magic staff goes, this is complete. It was a bit rushed, but how was it?"
"It was a very thorough and helpful lesson. Thank you."
"Good. If you follow these steps perfectly, you should be able to make a staff that's quite usable for anyone from a beginner to an intermediate level. Try it on your own when you have the time. If you have questions later, feel free to ask. I'll answer what I can."
Having his support for the future was very reassuring. As I expressed my gratitude, a question occurred to me.
"Could I use a Heat-Radiating Tree as material? I'll have to buy the mana stones at a shop, but if I can use those trees, I won't have to worry about finding practice wood."
"You could, but I wouldn't recommend it yet. As a material, they're high quality and suited for staves, but that wood is extremely idiosyncratic and hard to process. It’s an advanced material. It's not really fit for beginner practice."
"I see. I'll have to order some Trent wood then... I should be able to gather some if I put out a request, just like Lord Bekkentine did in the past."
"If you need practice materials, Ryoma-kun, didn't you receive an experimental mountain from the Ducal House? Couldn't you just use the wood from there?"
This advice came from Lulutia, who had been watching us quietly. I felt a surge of hope. Tekun nodded in agreement.
"Ah, that's true. There's plenty growing there. In fact, among the thinned wood you piled up during your survey, there are some usable sections. The quality isn't amazing, but once it’s dried, it’ll be perfect for practice."
"That's lucky. That solves the material problem."
Now that I had a way to practice to my heart's content, the familiar light began to envelop my body. It was time to go back. Tekun had said it was rushed, and it really must have been down to the wire. He hadn't pressured me once while I was working, so I only realized it now.
"Tekun, Lulutia, thank you again. I'll come back soon—"
"Yeah. If you want to thank me, bring a staff you finished during practice."
"I'll be looking forward to it."
I couldn't even manage a reply before my consciousness was forcibly pulled back.
Afterward.
Having regained consciousness in the chapel, I left the church and headed straight for a mana stone shop in the city. I told the owner I needed them for staff-making practice and bought a significant amount. Afterward, I took a stroll. I had ended up in a district I didn't usually visit while searching for the shop, so I figured it was a good opportunity to explore.
I was just thinking that when I saw a familiar face walking toward me. The other person noticed me at the same time.
"Ah, Master Takebayashi!"
"I thought so! Jasper! It’s been a little while, hasn't it? I didn't know you were in Gimul."
The man I ran into was Jasper Pembroke, the newspaper reporter I had met recently. He had mentioned coming to report on the Jamil Duchy, but I hadn't expected to see him again so soon.
"Actually, I managed to reunite with my boss safely after we parted... but when I told him about how you rescued me and showed him the interview article, he immediately assigned me to cover Gimul.
According to him, 'From now on, everyone working in the Jamil Duchy, myself included, will be building a foundation from scratch in an unfamiliar land. If you've made an acquaintance, even a casual one, you should cherish that connection. Especially if that person is someone important.'"
"I get the logic, but your boss sounds like a very blunt person."
"I haven't even been able to properly thank you for saving me, yet here I am approaching you with such obvious ulterior motives. I am truly sorry..."
"It’s your job, right? I really don't mind, so please don't let it bother you, Jasper."
Seeing how genuinely apologetic he was, I could only think that he was a dedicated worker. Compared to some of the media figures from my previous life, he seemed incredibly wholesome.
"Are you out reporting today?"
"No, I finally rented a house yesterday and established a base for my life here, so I thought I'd start by getting to know the city. I want to find the markets and restaurants I'll be using from now on."
"I see. In that case, would you like me to show you around?"
"Eh!? That would be a huge help, but are you sure? You're a high-ranking official, Master Takebayashi. Aren't you busier than I am?"
"Not at all. Remember when we first met, I said I was in that area for work? That job finished yesterday, so I'm actually on break for a while.
...The thing is, my hobbies are basically my work, so when I'm on break, I don't really have anything to do. I’m quite bored, actually. That's why I was just wandering around places I don't usually visit—"
Saying it out loud made me realize once again that I was a complete workaholic. I found myself talking fast to avoid being misunderstood, but it wasn't that I didn't have hobbies—it was just that my hobbies always turned into work.
"—So, far from being busy, I'm actually completely free."
"I see... Then, if it’s not too much trouble, I would appreciate the help. I felt a bit heartened by the offer; I was feeling a little lonely in a new place."
"Leave it to me!"
And so, taking Jasper's requests into account, I showed him around the city much like I had for Eleanora. Since he had already explored the area around his house, we focused on the main street and the city center where most of Gimul's primary facilities are located.
"If you come to this area, you can find most things you need for daily life at reasonable prices. If you're looking for luxury goods, the shops get fancier as you go south."
"It was the same in Gaunago, but the people here seem very lively."
"The development of the new town to the south is moving along, and people are still coming from all over to find work. Come to think of it, the owner of the shop where I was just buying stones was smiling and saying it felt 'like the old days.'"
"By 'the old days,' does he mean when the city was at its peak during the mining boom?"
"I'm not sure if it was the peak, but the owner was quite an elderly gentleman."
"...If you don't mind, could you tell me where that shop is? I’d love to interview him about the history of Gimul."
"I don't mind the location, but you'll have to handle the interview negotiations yourself. Are you interested in the city's history too?"
When I pressed a little, Jasper's eyes lit up.
"I believe that to write better articles, I need to understand this city and its people on a deeper level. Since this is a long-term assignment, I want to dig as deep as I can until I'm satisfied."
He was just as full of passion for his job as a newspaper reporter as he had been when we first met. As someone who's an old man on the inside, that straightforward youthfulness felt a little blinding, but I liked it. I respected his commitment to researching before writing, and I wanted his hard work to pay off.
"Where can I read your articles, by the way? I'd love to see them when they're published."
"If everything goes well, you should be able to buy them at the Commerce Guild. I'm allowed to write freely, but the paper has to be sent to my boss for approval before it’s published, so I can't give you a specific date."
"That's just the nature of the job, I suppose. I'll wait for it with high hopes."
"Oh? Ryoma-kun, is that you?"
"Yes—ah, Kiara."
I turned around to see a Madam I often spoke with at neighborhood gatherings.
"Good work today. It's unusual to see you in this part of town."
"I had an urgent order, so I came to make a delivery. Are you out shopping with a friend?"
I introduced Jasper to Kiara and Kiara to Jasper, explaining his situation.
"My! A newspaper reporter from the Royal Capital? It’s a pleasure to meet you."
"My name is Jasper Pembroke. I'll be in your care."
"Gimul might not be as grand as the Capital, but it has plenty of its own charms, so please enjoy yourself. As a resident, it would make me happy if you wrote some good things about us. We run a woodworking workshop in the Craftsman District, so stop by if you ever need anything. My husband's a true professional."
"I certainly will."
"You're welcome anytime too, Ryoma-kun. My husband was very interested in that idea for the boxes you mentioned before."
"Actually, would it be alright if I dropped by in the next few days? I just happened to have some spare time."
"Of course! How about the day after tomorrow?"
"That works for me. See you then."
"I'll let my husband know. Well, I’ll be off. Good luck with your work!"
"You too, Kiara. Take care."
I bowed to Kiara as she returned to her delivery, and we resumed our walk.
"She seemed like a wonderful person."
"She is. She's always calm and bright. There are a lot of people like that in this city."
I had meant it as a casual comment, but Jasper smiled at me.
"You really love this city, don't you, Master Takebayashi?"
"I won't deny it, but why do you say that?"
"I just felt like your recommendation came from the heart."
He wasn't wrong, but I felt like there was a slight misunderstanding in the nuance. Still, it wasn't worth making a fuss over, so I just let it go and changed the subject.
After showing him around for a while longer, we had an early dinner at my shop—the one known for being cheap, fast, and filling—and then parted ways.
I didn't know what kind of stories he would uncover, but as long as he was in the same city, I was sure we’d run into each other again.