Master Of None

"Of course we have an adventurers guild branch. If we didn't we would lose valuable access to monster materials and trade routes. We have them guard many of the merchants we send out and many that come in. They normally come to the city in droves but lately we have not allowed them due to the issues we face. Not that the issue will exist much longer. We should be back to normal operations within the month from the things your party appears to have done." 

The elder had taken some details from what they had told him and began to assume the issue with the slimes had been more or less erased. He wouldn't doubt the party at all since they had been able to assist him in changing something that had stopped the dwarves' dreams for so long. 

"Then that will be perfect. I can have the guild bring the materials I find that you can experiment with. I can also have some sent to grey." Walker furrowed his eyebrows, "Why did you make Grey go and craft golems when he first brought us in?" 

"That? He is always slacking and working on his experiments with monster or animal golems. He forgets that his job requires him to make golems for the city and army. Not that any would force him anymore. But I wish to see him more than live up to the expectations. I have a feeling he will make something amazing though. He wants a sentient golem capable of its' own growth." 

The elder was guiding them down many corridors that seemed to be leading underneath many buildings. The passageways were not populated and somewhere in between the pipes from the furnaces and the forgeing floors. It was somewhere only a very experienced smith would know how to use. 

"Have you ever heard of the fairytail the golem king? It was written based on a dream a master golem builder had. He found a writer system user and had them create it. It's one of the most popular children's tales in the kingdom, sadly there is no truth to it. But there are those who wish to see truth come to be." The elder spoke as if he was reminiscing on old times. 

"I can't say I have ever heard of the story. A golem king sounds interesting though." Walker wasn't sure where this conversation was going, but had the feeling that this very story was an inspiration to Grey. Especially since Grey wanted to make a golem with sentience. 

"It is interesting. The story is mostly about a dwarf that creates a golem through mysterious forging methods. The golem is the average golem. Nothing bulky and very dwarf like in appearance. As the story is told the builder constantly tries to make it better but perishes in the process. Yet, the golem never stops moving even without the mana supplied to it." 

The elder paused as he opened another door to another passageway. The path they were taking was tougher to traverse but was much easier for the elder since he wouldn't be stopped by the other dwarves. " The golem can gather its' own mana and one day breaks its leg off. Instead of just stopping and awaiting repair it grabs tools and foxes itself."

"Even more, it started to build another golem from the leg that broke off. Then another and another. By the end of the story there is a sentient golem that has built an entire gear city. There are golems that can do anything along with magic. It is an entire city just full of golems made by golems. All exactly like us." 

Walker thought that this was a very interesting tale. It was something that only someone who truly cared for golems could imagine. "I can't imagine what an entire city made by and for golems would look like. But I am sure it would be an amazing sight." 

"It would be, but if it ever comes to be, then what of the dwarves? Would we still mine? Would we still forge? Or would a sentient golem even be possible? Personally, when the fairytale comes up, I would prefer a tale of golem and dwarf coming together. Exactly the same as the spirit and dwarves will soon be doing." 

The elder saw a different view in comparison now. The fairy tale was a great one to inspire golem builders and infatuate children. But if they were together Walker could see a different future. If he was understanding the elder correctly then the dwarves might be able to work with golems on a way. Potentially riding and fighting next to the monster like ones. Sharing jobs or careers with the golems developed for crafting. They would be more like extensions of themselves than just mindless creations. 

Walker had fallen in to deep thought about this and how the golem building path would need to change over time. However, the introduction of spirits was a wild card. There was no precedent for what might be possible. Not only that, but there were also different tiers of spirits along with battle spirits that could potentially dwell within a humanoid golem. It was too much to theorize on. 

"If you stop like that in front of the side door to the treasury then you will be left behind." The elder had brought them to a dead end. The only thing that stood out were the multiple gears that appeared to make up the wall in front of them. "Well, ya didn't think that it would just be some wooden door with a knocker, did you?" 

The elder showed great amusement on his face while Midnight and Walker just started at the slowly clicking gears on the wall. Every once in a while a small puff of steam would come from between them. The elder himself started to push and adjust these pieces causing the rotations to change. 

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