Transcendence?

***Norfolk, Sarn-Valley***

“Kane! It has been a long time!”

I laugh and hug my friend. Kane came for a visit and he brought his girlfriend Tanith too. I signal them to enter the mansion. “You should visit me more often! So much is happening in the world and you leave me all alone here.”

Kane shakes his head. “Aren't you aware of the hard times we are facing? Especially for us merchants. Everyone suspects me of being a spy. There are stricter controls at all borders. The guys from Mislow even intend to introduce something they call a pass. Without it you can't enter or leave the country! Well, it's better than a complete shut down of the border.”

After a few steps I lead our guests into the living room, where I find Celestial playing with Sera. Kane stops and points at the child. “Who is that?”

“Ah? Didn't I mention it in my letters? That's Seraphine Asceron. My daughter.” Did I really forget it? There was so much to do.

Kane palms his head. “Not a word! We really didn't see each other for an eternity. Writing letters is just too inconvenient.”

“Hi, Kane. Hello Tanith! Greet them properly Sera. Uncle Kane is a friend of ours.” Celestial helps Sera to her feet. She still can't walk properly without help.

“~Hello.~”

“She is so cute!” Tanith drops to the ground beside Celestial and hugs Sera.

I shrug and leave them to their merry time. “So you said the world is becoming a frightening place? Even more so a reason for me not to leave my principality. I am tied down by many strings.”

“Don't joke with me! Your principality isn't less frightening! Carriages without horses? Boats without sails? There are lights in every house of the city? And what's up with those glass constructions which I saw from afar!?” Kane stabs his finger into my chest.

“That's nothing. You should see my army! Mwhahaha!” I take a seat on the sofa.

“You know that the other powers will go crazy when they find out what's going on at your mountain? Fortunately you are able control who is coming and going.” Kane places himself in front of me.

“Yeah, … But tell me. How is it looking for you?” I nod while Sarah enters the room with a few drinks.

“The only ones I can trade with are the guys from the Nation of Mist and Norfolk. Mislow is a big black hole in my finances and the Academy was never a good trading point. They may be powerful, but the only possibility to reach them is a Gate. It's crazy, no matter how you think about it. Which idiot builds a city in the deadliest desert on this world?” Kane waves his fist.

“Someone who wants to show that he can accomplish everything with magic?” I smile.

“Ha, Ha. Anyway. It should be obvious that I can't trade with Phenex and Jamaian since the war broke out. On top our naval merchant fleet is being reduced day by day. Either the ships are destroyed by Phenex warships, or the captains refuse to set sail.” Kane has a miserable expression now.

I grin. “You want faster ships? Ships which can't be caught?”

Kane's expression becomes doubtful. “You mean like those things without sails in your harbour? Do you know what will happen if I enter any port beside yours with such a vessel?”

“You wouldn't have to enter a port. And you could arm your merchant fleet.” Again a ridiculous suggestion from me.

“Hah? My company is for trading! Merchants don't fight.”

“Everyone has to defend himself. And it's time to announce our presence to the world anyway. What do you think about doing a little advertisement for my new products?” I smile at Kane.

“New products?” The merchant inside Kane awakens.

“I plan to take over the world! But I won't do it by force for the most part! The army just exists to defend my right to do what I want.” I sip on my glass.

“He plans to take over the world. He has a right to do what he wants.” Kane starts to mumble to himself. “So what are your -products-?”

“Artefacts! For whatever you want. Name it, we give it! Carriages without horses? Lights which work on their own? Boxes which cool your food. Plates which make fireplaces unnecessary.” Hah! World! Beware! The modern age is coming!

Kane looks at me like I am a maniac. “And you are sure that you can defend yourself from the other countries? And what's the use of a box to cool your food?”

Ah. I forgot that this world's people don't know how to conserve food by cooling it. “~Sugar cat?~ I will be in the kitchen for a while. I have to show Kane some of our products.”

“Sure ~honey bear~.”

I walk outside and Kane follows me with a gaping mouth. “Is something wrong?” I look back while walking.

“You called her sugar cat! And she called you honey bear! What's wrong? Aren't you hating each other? The child alone shocked me! I thought she had raped you! This didn't sound like you were playing it! And … and the atmosphere was so pink! What happened to you two?” Kane follows me while waving his hands.

I stop for a moment and scratch my cheek while thinking. “To tell you the truth, I am not really sure. But I think our relationship improved a lot since Sera joined us. Hm …”

***

“Zzzzzzzzz …”

We are back inside the living room and Kane is playing with my magical shaving tool. There are just shaving knifes in this world and I am horrible with knives. Every time I tried to use one on myself, I ended up with cuts. Afterwards the bath always looked like I had slaughtered a pig.

So my only option have been time consuming visits at a barber. Something I always disliked. So the magical shaver was one of my first creations when I started to live alone.

“We are surely able to sell this.” I can perfectly imagine Kane's eyes turning into gold nuggets right now.

“So what do you think? Will you carry my ideas out into the world?” Flooding the world with harmless devices is the perfect path to undermine the Inquisition. They will make a joke out themselves, each time they say something against my products.

Kane's expression becomes serious. “Of course I want the assurance to be the only one who is allowed to trade with those goods. And I will need a certain percentage of the sales for transportation, profit and marketing.”

I smile and give him a thumbs up. “But don't forget that I want resources and money. My industrial base is eating the raw materials faster than I can acquire them.”

“Why are you putting so much effort into your forges and sawmills? You already have twenty times the amount of what I would expect from a city of Sarn's size.” Kane looks a little confused.

“Because wars aren't won by men. Wars are won by industrial superiority!” I nod at myself and smile.

“Kane?”

Kane starts to chuckle. “We will see … we will see …”

“Kane!”

Tanith calls out for Kane, who wasn't paying attention. He straightens and turns towards his girlfriend. “Yes, my love?”

She has Sera on her lap. Apparently Tanith was playing with the girl the entire time, while we were talking. “I want one too!”

Kane becomes a little pale and his expression drops. “Want what?”

“A baby of course! No, two are better. If you put some effort into it, we might even manage three.” She smiles and turns back to Sera, who grins a little strangely into Kane's direction.

Did she have a hand in Tanith's decision? No, that isn't possible. She is too young and can barely speak a few words. Though that expression was definitely strange.

“M … My love! That's a really important decision! Maybe we should discuss that when we are alone. That … are …”

“Preparations!” I whisper from the side to assist him.

“That's right! There are preparations to be made! Such a decision can't be rushed!” Tanith and Celestial are looking at Kane like he is scum.

Sera is perfectly imitating them from Tanith's lap.

“Why don't you stay here tonight? We have several guest rooms.” I nod and smile at everyone. Kane looks at me like I am his saviour.

The gaze of the three furies wanders into my direction.

“There are even double beds.”

Kane expression drops again. I am sorry brother! But I can't have Celestial mad at me!

My eyes meet Sera's.

“And I think the walls are sound proof!”

“TRAITOR!”

.