The Runic Alchemist

The next morning, all guests were instructed to request sanctuary guards when they wished to leave.

Some with family and other responsibilities took up the offer after breakfast, telling the Sanctum officials they would be back if possible. Some more free ones extended their stay to see the Sanctum academy, research center, and the public dungeon opening.

They were all staying inside the army headquarters buildings anyway and eating together with the army as well, so Sanctum didn't have to make any additional preparations for them.

The streets were still too crowded. But the flying ships were leaving full of people towards the borders as well. Staying in Sanctuary City was costly—it was better to stay in a nearby town or go back through the waygate on the borders to their countries. The biggest attraction was undoubtedly the open dungeon.

Damian had said ten days, five of which had already passed. In five days, they would have to refine their dungeon processing system perfectly to welcome and serve thousands of people daily.

Today was also the promised meeting. Damian had not made any deals with any country's royalty in the past five days. Even though they tried to discuss it with him, he never gave a straightforward answer. Telling them to wait for the day they could do it without any disturbance.

One of the reasons he was avoiding this was that he knew most of them were going to order runic machines from him anyway. The Sanctum shop was already facing a backlog of orders; they didn't have enough workers or runesmiths to finish all of them on time.

One of the large halls on the middle floors was emptied, leaving only a very fancy large table and custom-padded chairs. People seated all wore formal dresses from their respective positions and cultures.

The seven sanctum heads in their traditional attire—Sam in his white military general suit that had gold lining, Einar in a similar suit but color changed to red, Souldealer in her golden flowing dress, Evrin in her custom green Eldoris-style fancy dress with gold highlights, representing the sanctuary side, and then Torvin in his grey, Ashenvale-style traditional clothes.

Lucian, beside him, had a blue dress with good lining similar to the others. And lastly, Damien himself wore his black robes with gold patterns.

All three Highsword members were present. As were three from Faerunia, the emperor and his wife, and Vidalia with Ilvanya. This was going to be the common joint meeting. Once it ended, Damian would also have to spend half an hour with each party to talk in private.

Some topics could be discussed in the open, and then there were some that required secrecy.

"As we discussed, it is better to discuss as many topics as we can together to save everyone's time. For private matters, wait until this ends." Damian started.

"Ughm.." Hellstorm drew everyone's attention. "Before we start, is it safe for a mundane human to be in such a mana-heavy environment?"

Torvin smiled and pulled back his gray sleeve to show a Sacrium accessory resting on his right arm.

It was bigger than all six Sanctum heads. But only the one cm layer was sacrium—the rest was Blazur alloy. Damian had to make it wide and long like a bracer instead of a bracelet. So he could fit in several small pockets for storing the liquid mana necessary to power the runic tool. It could be turned on and off with a single push button.

"Our Lord Keeper has prepared for that. We tested this thing with all five of our transcendents releasing their full aura and mana—and as you can see, I have survived to tell the tale." Torvin explained.

"A layer of pure seven-element mana. How did you manage that? It took me centuries to learn that." Landbreaker spoke up, looking towards Damian.

"My skills help in learning new spells. One of the perks of being a transcendent Runesmith." Damian replied.

"Are we to assume that everything you showed us can be included in a deal?" The queen of Faerunia asked at the correct time, changing the topic.

"No, the projection showing recordings is off the table. Only Lady Mindseer can operate that thing anyway. Moreover, before asking for big things, do understand that our runesmiths are working day and night just to finish the orders the sanctum has already given them. If you want something built, you will have to provide runesmiths for it." Damian replied.

"Can we get a waygate to this dungeon island placed at the border or near our capital?" Ilvanya asked.

"No, you will have to use the floating platforms," Einar answered.

"You underestimate the risk of traveling for normal people in the mainland. To reach our capital or your borders is not an easy task. That is, if you have already thought of it and have decided to keep things as it is." The emperor said.

"What do you suggest then? Because you are not getting any more waygates out of me." Damian replied.

"How about your floating platforms?" Vidalia suggested.

"Safety will be a big issue. Inside the Sanctuary, they have the instant recivers to alert Sanctum when they are in trouble - that wouldn't work outside our borders." Sam interjected.

"Not to mention, for travelling the whole mainland that stretched for hundreds of kilometers, it will need to store a lot more liquid mana," Evrin added. "Then we will have to make more of those, for safety reasons, only our Keeper makes them, so a lot of his time. Added with more pressure on our liquid mana production and risk of getting attacked for having so much valuable liquid mana onboard."

"I would like to ask if the receiver system can be extended to us? Other than alerting the Sanctum, there are plenty of other good features that people could use. Of course, you don't have to make it the same - a limited version will do." Alex asked.

Damian smiled, "Floating platforms, Receiver system.. -Will you guys just keep asking or offer something as well?"