The sun hung low, casting long golden rays over the stone streets of Orario as the vehicle rolled through the western gate. The guards stared—not in alarm, but with that peculiar stillness one associates with disbelief. A few passersby slowed their steps, watching the armoured machine trundle past. The treads hummed, and the engine hissed. It was too large to be a cart.
By the time they arrived at the Hephaestus Familia compound, the workers had already gathered in the courtyard. Some leaned against pillars as most of them participated in creating some of the parts of the vehicle.
Hephaestus waited by the entrance to her secondary workshop; She watched as the vehicle came to a halt; her gaze shifted to Luthar as he stepped down, then to Tsubaki, who remained seated a moment longer than necessary, eyes shadowed beneath the rim of her goggles.
"Welcome back," Hephaestus said, then she stopped and spoke again." looks like somebody is enjoying too much to the point she forgot to invite me"
Tsubaki cracked a smile, but there was something off in it—thoughtfulness, perhaps. She didn't reply.
Luthar approached the goddess without a hint of theatricality. "what can we say you were too busy in the documents."
"do you have no idea why I am busy with documents," Hephaestus murmured, opening the ledger and flipping a page. She had already prepared the documentation.
She gestured to the interior. "Come inside. Let's finalize the agreement."
Inside the workshop, the air was cooler. Shelves lined the walls, filled with scrolls, half-finished prototypes, enchanted tools, and locked cabinets bearing the Familia crest. The table at the centre bore a single scroll—thick parchment, freshly inked, bearing terms of collaboration.
Luthar reviewed the document of prior arrangement—his exclusive control over the sale and distribution of his weapons, along with stipulations regarding the volume of materials he could acquire. In return, he was granted access to locations of several untapped mines and access to magic crystal supplies. The contract was dense, covering numerous contingencies, but nothing within it was unduly restrictive.
Tsubaki lingered at the doorway, silent, one hand resting on the wall. Her brow was slightly furrowed, her expression unreadable to all but Hephaestus.
The goddess's eyes flicked to her second-in-command. "Something bothering you?"
Tsubaki blinked, then shook her head slowly. "No. Just thinking."
Hephaestus didn't press—though she noted the hesitation. Instead, she dipped her pen in ink and held it out.
Luthar signed first, Then Hephaestus, her signature sharp and flowing.
With the document sealed, the deal was done.
"Now we just need to make a truck which is cheaper; we will also need some merchants,", Luthar said.
"it should be easy for you," Hephaestus replied. "I will also look for Merchants who are interested."
Luthar gave a nod, then turned to leave. As he passed Tsubaki, their eyes met briefly. She didn't say anything, he also said goodbye to her.
Once the forge door shut behind him, silence fell again.
Tsubaki stood there, unmoving.
Hephaestus set the quill down and leaned against the table. "You've got that look."
"What look?"
"When confusion is brawling in your head."
Tsubaki let out a breath that was almost a laugh. "You know me too well."
"I should."
Tsubaki crossed her arms. "he is ready to teach me but his words confused me."
Hephaestus didn't respond immediately. Instead, she turned her gaze toward the door, where the faint scent of heated copper still lingered.
"So," she said softly, "he's offering to teach you… but might have asked you to join him."
Tsubaki didn't answer.
Hephaestus smiled faintly—wry, not wounded. " I am curious. What do you plan to do?"
Tsubaki's voice was low. "I don't know while he doesn't mind staying as your Familia does not want me to treat somebody else as God"
"then what's the problem."
"but having your blessing and n ignoring your existence feels weird."
Hephaestus stepped forward and laid a hand on Tsubaki's shoulder.
"you have lots of time to think about this, but I have to remind you what you will see might not be all flowers."
Tsubaki looked up. "Even if I walked away?"
"I would still be with you," Hephaestus said without hesitation. Then, with a smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth, she added, "...and it's not like I can't join him."
Tsubaki blinked, startled. "Wait, A god, following a mortal?"
Hephaestus shrugged playfully. "It'd make history. Imagine the faces of all the adventures. Or Loki's expression. Worth it just for that."
Tsubaki finally had a smile on her face
"You're joking," she said, but there was a flicker of warmth in her eyes now.
Hephaestus grinned. "It's not a joke. I might look serious but even I am looking for something new."
Then Hephaestus added, more gently, "You don't need to decide everything now. Just don't run from it because it's strange. Let yourself follow what calls you—even if it's staying with a madman, for knowledge"
Tsubaki exhaled through her nose, amused. "Madman, huh?"
Hephaestus's eyes twinkled. "A brilliant one. Just happens to have the knowledge to reshape the world and everyone in it."
Tsubaki chuckled. "Doesn't make it easier."
"No," Hephaestus agreed softly. "But it does make it meaningful."
There was a beat of quiet between them—weighty, but not heavy.
The time both of them finish talking
Luthar had reached the gates of the church,
Inside the sanctum, the air was dim and quiet. The humming of arcane circuits and the low thrumming of the newly installed Compact Hyperflux Core pulsed through the stone walls like a distant heartbeat.
He crossed the hall, pausing only once—at the terminal, He tapped a few commands. A schematic unfolded: a crude but functional design for a supply truck—simpler, without any armour basically Old style truck.
The current vehicle, after all, was meant to serve another purpose.
Luthar exhaled; he wanted to rub his temple, but unfortunately, there was a mask on his face.
There were Too many gears. Too many tasks.
He closed the schematic and turned toward the heart of the church, where the slab waited, and finally prepared himself to start the main project.