Chapter 79: Gears And Progress

    Abaddon soared effortlessly through the air, his dark wings slicing through the winds like blades.

    A mild smile remained on his lips, his earlier "entertainment" still fresh in his mind.

    The twisted joy of watching humans succumb to their basest instincts had left him in high spirits.

    But suddenly, he halted mid-flight, hovering in the vast expanse of the sky.

    His sharp, white abs black eyes widened slightly as he spoke to himself.

    "Oh my, it appears I''ve forgotten something very important..." His tone was almost playful, like a child realizing they''d misplaced a trinket.

    His smile faded as it dawned on him.

    "I left no one alive to send back a message to that noble..."

    He glanced over his shoulder, as if considering the battlefield far behind him. For a fleeting moment, his brows furrowed, his face adopting a thoughtful expression.

    Then, his lips curved upward again into a devious grin, his sharp teeth glinting in the light.

    "Well... I believe that isn''t necessary to worry after all."

    He chuckled softly, his laughter carrying an edge of cruelty.

    "That coward of a noble must have witnessed all of it from a safe distance... Perhaps trough a magic artifact... Yes, yes, human nobles have always tended to do that. No doubt trembling behind his walls after he witnessed my power. So..."

    "I need not concern myself."

    Abaddon''s tongue flicked across his lips, his grin growing more sinister.

    "Such repulsive sin."

    "Fear, betrayal, desperation... What a delightful cocktail of human depravity. I would like to savor it again soon."

    "I''m sure Arkanos will not disappoint me."

    He closed his eyes briefly, as if relishing the memory of the despair that had occourd. A low, satisfied chuckle escaped his throat as his wings flapped again as he continued towards the capital.

    ...

    The fiery heart of the Dwarven Forge was practically pulsing with energy as molten metal hissed and sparks rained down like tiny, fleeting stars.

    Arkanos stood in the center of the workshop, thus time in a more simpler attire, his sharp emerald gaze scanning the dwarfs working around him.

    The repeated hammering of dwarves at their anvils, the roar of the bellows feeding the massive central furnace, and the occasional bark of orders created a gave it this... industrious vibe that filled the cavernous space.

    Grundar Ironmaul, the head of the forge, approached with a grim expression. His braided beard was streaked with soot, and his leather apron has fresh scorch marks.

    In one hand, he held a thick ledger, its pages smudged with notes and calculations.

    "Your Majesty," Grundar called out with his gruf voice. "The progress on the engine''s parts is steady, but we''ve hit a snag—materials."

    Arkanos arched an eyebrow and turned to face the dwarf fully. "What kind of snag, Grundar? Speak plainly."

    Grundar laid the ledger on a nearby stone table cluttered with blueprints and tools. He flipped it open to a marked page, revealing a detailed inventory list.

    "We''re runnin'' low on key resources, particularly mithril and refined steel. And don''t get me started on the firecrystal powder—we''re nearly out of it entirely."

    Arkanos frowned, his hands clasped behind his back as he leaned over the ledger.

    In a the organized chaos stood Lady Sephira and Advisor Arvel, overseeing the grand project that would soon revolutionize transportation in the empire.

    Lady Sephira, clad in white and green dress, as elegant as ever, moved among the workers.

    Her voice echoed over the noise with a commanding tone.

    "That rail is not aligned properly! Shift it three inches to the left! And make sure the sleepers are evenly spaced—precision is key!"

    Advisor Arvel stood slightly behind her, a rolled-up blueprint in one hand, his polished monocle pressed to his right eye with the other.

    His brows furrowed as he studied the schematic.

    "Lady Sephira, if I may suggest—this incline here," he said, pointing to a section on the blueprint.

    "will need additional support. A retaining wall, perhaps. Otherwise, we risk the tracks sinking over time."

    Sephira turned her sharp gaze toward the area he indicated and nodded.

    "You''re right, Arvel. Foreman!" she called out, gesturing to a burly man overseeing a group of workers.

    "Yes, m''lady?" The foreman wiped sweat from his brow and jogged over.

    "Double the supports on that incline. Build a retaining wall to ensure the foundation remains stable."

    The foreman nodded. "Aye, m''lady. I''ll get a crew on it right away."

    Nearby, two workers were struggling to carry a heavy rail into place. One of them, a wiry young man, groaned under the weight.

    "By the gods, do they make these things heavier just to spite us?"

    His companion, an older man with a thick beard, chuckled.

    "Quit whining, lad. You''ll grow muscle yet. Besides, think of the stories you''ll tell your grandkids—''I built the empire''s first railway!''"

    The younger man snorted. "Assuming my back doesn''t break before then."

    Sephira walked past them, her keen ears catching their exchange.

    "Less talking, more lifting!" she said with a death glare, though there was a faint smile on her lips causing the men to visibly shiver.

    "Yes m''lady!"

    "And lift with your legs, not your back, if you value walking upright."

    Arvel adjusted his monocle and stepped closer to Sephira. "I must say, Lady Sephira, your ability to motivate these workers is... impressive. Perhaps a touch intimidating."

    Sephira smirked. "Intimidation gets results, Arvel. But so does clarity. These men need direction, and I won''t have them guessing."

    Arvel glanced back at the blueprint. "Speaking of direction, we''ll need to curve the tracks slightly as we approach the western wall. The terrain there is a tad bit uneven."

    Sephira nodded and called out again. "Foreman! Recalculate the track alignment near the river. I want a smooth curve, no sharp turns."

    The foreman cupped his hands around his mouth. "You heard the lady! Shift that pile of rails to the east! And someone fetch the surveyor—we''ll need new measurements!"

    As the workers adjusted their tasks, a group of women carrying buckets of water moved through the site, offering refreshment to the laborers. One of them stopped by Sephira and Arvel, holding out a ladle. "Would you like some, m''lady? Sir?"

    Sephira shook her head. "I''m fine. Make sure the workers stay hydrated, I can''t have them dissapoint his majesty."

    Arvel accepted the offer, taking a sip before nodding his thanks. "Much appreciated."