The Ethersmith [Runesmithing Progression Fantasy]

Vivi never thought of Eem as the type of person to get nervous. The fiend bounced around wherever she wished, living life as she liked, while annoying demons with a wide smile on her face.

In the carriage ride toward the mines, however, after being told she needed to stay put for a job, Eem actually looked thoughtful. She had her hands on her knees and eyes pointing low. She wasn't bouncing around in excitement.

"No need to stress," Vivi said. "We're visiting the mines. You can smell metals, right?"

If you can smell metals, or if you have some ability to find metals, the mines might be the only place where you will be treated as more than just a pet.

The ride grew less bumpy as they approached the upper levels. The mines resided in the very corner of Shivenar's highest level, where the back-mountains met city walls. The street had paved paths, but the dormitories that surrounded it didn't match the sophistication expected on the higher levels. The mine seemed to be treated as its own district away from the usual nobility.

Stepping out of the carriage with Eem on her shoulders, Vivi spotted the nervous bunch of men in overalls lined up a short distance away. They seemed to be waiting for something. Spotting Vivi, they fixed their postures. One of them waved.

Right, Vivi thought. They're waiting for me. I'm famous around here…

"Vivian Runeblessed, is it?" the middle-aged man at the front asked. He was tall, and appeared even taller when Vivi looked up at the horns poking out of his helmet. He wore a clean leather jacket, but the overalls beneath were definitely straight from the mines. He had probably slapped his best jacket on in the short time he had before Vivi's arrival.

His features themselves were mostly clean. Everything underneath the helmet was shaven, though his cheeks were slightly stained by something black from the mines. From his idle aura, he seemed to be maxed out, though he wasn't good at channeling ether.

"I'm Vivi, yes," she responded.

Vivi still felt uncertain about how she should act with the authority her name offered now. These men knew Vivi's reputation, and they clearly saw themselves as a lower class than Vivi.

Well… Vivi did have over forty million ether now. Perhaps this kind of treatment wasn't surprising.

"This is a great honor, Runeblessed," the man said with his head low. "I'm Ealan Cutfin, the overseer of Shivenar's mine network. I've been informed you wish to examine the mines, though I apologize, I did not have time to prepare the mines into a presentable state. Work is still ongoing."

Vivi nodded, while Eem remained nervously on her shoulders. "I came to ask two small favors. I need to see how the mines operate here."

Ealan eyed her dress, probably wondering why someone in such an outfit would want to examine a mine, but the agreeing smile stayed on his face. "We don't typically offer tours to ladies like you, though I suppose you are a runesmith beneath the outfit. Would you like to change first? Oh, or your dress must be moonweaver's silk, is it? In that case, a coating of ether will keep it clean and intact, of course. Silly me."

Oh, a coating of ether keeps it clean as well? Vivi thought, only now learning that. Well, that's handy.

The miners led Vivi into the mines through a large hole in the mountain, akin to the dungeon entrance in Zand. The walls radiated a light amount of ether, also a similar feeling to Zand's dungeon, but here it was less hostile and not quite as strong. Nature's ether must have been abundant here instead of the live and void ether that reanimated monsters.

The large entrance cavern was busy with miners and filled with thick metal storage containers. Walls were lined with tools and equipment—pickaxes, helmets, even large ether-powered drills—as well as uniforms, which seemed to be the mining overalls. In the corner was a small canteen serving water and coffee. A few miners were on breaks. They saluted as Vivi passed.

Seems like a decently healthy environment, Vivi thought.

"I apologize again for the lack of a proper reception," Ealan said. "Most nobles tend to send their butlers or servants for trade negotiations, or we often visit their establishments. The mines themselves, well, we focus on productivity here. It's very much a work-environment."

"I'm used to cave-environments, don't worry."

"The caves here form a network of a classic levelstone mine," Ealan said. "Meaning, the levelstone here is cracked. We don't necessarily mine here; metals are found by spelunkers crawling deep into tight spaces of the levelstone."

Vivi's head perked up at the mention of crawling. "The mines have tight crawl spaces?"

"Indeed," Ealan said. They descended deeper into the mines through a descending tunnel of stone, with a stairway leading down.

"Metal and ether roots grow in the walls, thanks to the ambient ether dwelling inside the mountain," Ealan explained as they walked. "Though the growth process takes decades, sometimes centuries, and the metals appear in tiny amounts. Drilling the mountain itself is rarely worth it. The real generation of metals happens in the levelstone itself. Sometimes we mine a batch of ore, only for a new one to start growing weeks later in the very same spot."

"My Grandpa taught me the very basics of levelstone mines," Vivi said. "But he told me not to study too much about where our metals came from. My job was always to focus on runesmithing."

Ealan laughed. "Seems like your Grandpa's advice worked, then, considering your achievements. We're soon at the first crack."

Vivi wanted to ask more about what kind of reputation exactly she bore amongst more common folk like Ealan, but the stairway stopped before they could. The ground was now levelstone itself, recognizable by its smooth surface. Levelstone looked much like real stone—just harder, and much more concentrated with ether. The tunnel continued straight with levelstone as its floor.

Here, however, the levelstone was cracked. As Ealan said, crawl spaces descended down. The smallest cracks were barely wide enough to fit a finger through. The largest could fit two humans. Eem eyed the place with curiosity.

A bit further ahead, a gathering of miners held a length of rope. They noticed Vivi and Ealan and fixed their postures, suddenly nervous.

Ealan paused a short distance away. "This is how it looks when a spelunker crawls down to check on metal growth, and to possibly collect ore," he said. "Rope is always attached to decrease the risk of getting stuck."

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The workers continued doing their job, but they suddenly looked self-conscious. Vivi had the urge to smile, knowing how they must have felt. With someone watching, the tasks that were usually performed without thinking always found way to the very front of the thoughts, and suddenly, every movement became stupid.

Eem watched the cracks intently. She didn't care about the spelunkers at all. She was just awed by the mine itself.

This seems like a perfect environment for Eem, doesn't it?

"She'd certainly have more room to misbehave," Lucius said.

"Ealan?" Vivi asked. "Can I ask you for my second favor now? I'd like to talk in private for a minute."

"Of course. Follow me."

Before that, Vivi grabbed Eem and placed her down. "Eem?" she asked. "Stay here for a minute, please. Don't run off. Wait patiently, okay?"

"Ivwi?" Eem asked.

"Can you promise me you won't run off?" Vivi asked.

Eem stared at her, doubtful, then nodded.

Vivi returned the nod, then walked after Ealan.

The mine overseer led Vivi to a smaller "room" within the tunnels. It looked like a break-room with a table, though currently empty. Ealan sat and faced Vivi. He crossed his hands, eyes serious. "Is this favor related to a business offer, or is it a more… uncommon type of favor?"

"The latter," Vivi said. "But my request is simple enough. That fiend, Eem, has an uncommon ability. At least I think she does. She can smell rare metals."

Ealan raised his eyebrows. "Elaborate, if you please."

Vivi wasn't sure how to elaborate. She didn't know how Eem's ability worked. Hell, she wasn't even sure if Eem had any abilities at all. It was just a hunch. For now, she'd need to play along with that.

"I believe Eem comes from a family of miners," Vivi said, thinking of something. "And I'm fairly sure she has some sort of innate ability to find metals. I've brought her here to figure out if she could actually be useful. So the favor…" Vivi thought about her words. "I'd like you to give her a chance. To see if Eem could be useful in a mine. She's already a very nimble spelunker, considering her size, and she loves cave environments. I believe she can be of use finding metals."

"Curious," Ealan said. "I don't believe I've ever heard of such an ability. But since it's you asking, I am inclined to listen to your request."

"You don't have to pay her a wage or anything," Vivi said. "I don't think she understands how trade and exchange works. She's a bit chaotic. Keeping track of her will probably be troublesome. But…" Why does it sound like I'm warning him? "I'm just hoping Eem could find a place to belong. She doesn't talk, but she's a nice person, and a hard-worker. I want you to give her a chance."

Ealan eyed her, considering. "The mines are dangerous. This is certainly not a daycare for a child. Though you are correct, smaller spelunkers are useful, and this ability to smell rare metals would be useful indeed."

"I want you to see for yourself if Eem can work here," Vivi said. "If she brings too much trouble, let me know, and I'll take her back. But please try to treat her well. She's my good friend."

"Does she understand commands?" Ealan said.

"She understands full sentences if spoken clearly," Vivi said. "And she can convey basic needs, though she struggles to form words."

Ealan thought about it. "Very well. I will give Eem a chance. She will not receive a wage during her test-period. After that, we will evaluate her performance and see if she can be hired for real. If she causes us trouble, I will send her back to you. Does this sound fine?"

"That's perfect," Vivi said. "Thank you."

"Oh, no need to thank me," Ealan said. "I wouldn't dare decline an offer from the world's first inside-carving runesmith. Let's get your friend introduced to the job."

Eem waited nervously where Vivi had told her, though she wobbled around where she sat, struggling to stay still. When she spotted Vivi, she bounced back to her feet.

"Eem, was it?" Ealan asked, smiling at the fiend. He spoke slower, trying to make his words clear.

Eem took a defensive stance, facing him. Hesitantly, she nodded.

"Your friend, Vivi, tells me you want to have a job as a miner," Ealan said. "Is this true?"

She glanced at Vivi, blinking. Determination suddenly appeared on her face. She nodded twice at Ealan.

The mine overseer lowered to his knees and faced Eem directly. "My name is Ealan. I am your boss. From today onward, the men around you are your colleagues. You will start as a rookie. You will follow orders and work hard. Your job is to search for rare metals. Understand?"

Eem's expression looked overwhelmed with emotions—fear mixed with awe. She nodded. "Mm! Mm!"

Ealan stood and spoke to Vivi quietly. "Looks like she does indeed understand words. Let's get her dressed. Eem, please follow."

They headed back up the stairs. Eem marched after them with exaggerated steps, her face slightly red, trying her best to appear confident. She failed miserably, performing the most nervous little march Vivi could imagine.

Up at the mine entrance, Ealan faced the hangers with uniforms. Immediately, it became clear they had nothing for Eem's size. "Looks like we'll need to tailor something…"

"The cloak will do for now," Vivi said.

Ealan nodded. He picked up a helmet, placing it on Eem's head. The helmet dangled loosely on Eem's head, covering her entire forehead. Then Ealan gave her the smallest pickaxe they had, which still had a handle almost as long as Eem was tall. He knelt down to tighten the helmet around Eem's head and patted the fiend on the shoulder.

"All set," Ealan said. "Today, you will become a spelunker."

Eem clutched the pickaxe with both hands as if it was the most valuable item she had ever held. She turned to Vivi, eyes serious and determined, yet face red and afraid at the same time.

"Work hard, Eem," Vivi said. "Don't cause trouble. Ealan is your new boss. Follow his orders like you would mine. From today on, you are a miner."

Eem took a deep breath, and stood as tall as her little back allowed. Her pink eyes were halfway hidden underneath the helmet. She hugged the pickaxe with one hand, face red, and saluted up at Vivi. "Mm! Mm!"

"Good luck, Eem," Vivi said. She knelt down and hugged the fiend one more time. "And let me know if you find enirium."