Warhammer 40k: Shattered Steel Soul

"I've learned a lot, Morse.

Andos clenched his hand into a fist and pressed his knuckles meekly against the surface of the door without knocking. Kalifon followed her brother and heard the conversation between two people in the room.

This door was originally extremely simple. Like any simple residence of Lokos, it was made of common earth and stone. However, just facing a wooden door, the sons and daughters of Damex had already seen something from it. Traces of various designs.

It is a drawing board, a prototype of carving. The spiral pattern unfolds from the center of the door and is cut by square straight lines. Each block is formed by different precise geometric divisions, some of which look like the carver randomly practicing during practice. Some of the cut-out irregular areas look like harmonious patterns formed by carefully designing the overall layout.

Different people look at their own life experiences and draw different interpretations from the door.

If this feature were placed in the prophecies of the divine religion, Callifon would definitely hate it. However, what she sees now is a work of art that does not limit the means of interpretation. So the open picture provided by the creator , you can enjoy it slowly and happily again.

She felt relieved for Andros.

When Andos insisted on coming here to visit the rising star of Lokos, Callifon was worried that the boy in the rumors was not as talented as everyone said.

These patterns have a tendency to extend from the wooden door to the side, but now they are still like insect nets, clinging to the area restricted by the wooden door, because there is another creation on the surrounding walls—— It is no longer a pure carving pattern, but a combination of pasting and shaping art, using clay, tanned leather and roasted soft wood strips to carve out prominent patterns. If the door has a recessed hollow, then the wall will have a raised pattern.

Callifon was not very proficient in this area, so she turned her face to the side and curiously looked at the expression on the face of her brother who was good at this.

Strangely, she didn't see how much Andos admired these delicate patterns. On the contrary, this gentle prince was frowning, as if there was a key element missing in these boys' creations.

Callifon sighed inwardly, alert, ready for the soft words she would fill the gap in the argument if conflict arose.

Her eldest brother was always gloomy and regarded power as very important, while her second brother was too gentle and too humble. Little did he know that his nobility in being tolerant to others often made narrow-minded people hate and envy him.

"Tell me about it." A male voice said, and Callifon noticed the cold seriousness in the man's tone.

This should be Morse. When people talk about the legend of Perturabo, they often avoid a name intentionally or unintentionally.

"Yesterday I went to the person in charge of the mining site, and I communicated with him where the minerals from the mine go. Red copper and bronze are used to make daily utensils used by the Lokos people, such as medical equipment and other fine instruments. to gold and silver, but some of the materials required for the utensils in ancient books cannot be found anywhere in Olympia; iron is used to make weapons and armor, as well as many tools and mechanical components, and lead appears in gold and pipes. Silver, as a symbol of wealth and currency, appears wherever the person placing the order wishes to demonstrate his status."

"Tell me what you think."

"Steel. Steel is the basis of everything, even if it's not necessarily known."

"What are the properties of steel?"

"indestructible."

"In the process of forging it is not hard, you will see the light of melting and the weakness of surrender."

"But through forging, it always becomes unshakable."

Callifon heard Morse laugh, and he said: "Come in, sons of Damex."

Andos pushed the wooden door gently with embarrassment and uneasiness. His morals made him deeply ashamed of his behavior of hiding outside and eavesdropping on other people's conversations, even though he was one of the future owners of Lokos.

Callifon saw this. She first stepped into the room, and before taking anything into her eyes, she lowered her head, which was neatly braided in a bun, and apologized for her brother in a neither humble nor condescending manner: "Morse, Perturabo, we apologize for our actions, all from the house. The carvings on the wall are truly exquisite masterpieces, and we are very pleased and deeply impressed by them.”

She waited for Andos to continue speaking, but she didn't expect that after a while, she didn't hear a word coming out of Andos's mouth. She couldn't help but feel angry and funny: something that could make her brother so fascinated that he forgets etiquette, probably There is nothing like it in Olympia.

She heard the sound of a boy's feet hitting the floor as he jumped out of his seat.

Perturabo rushed to her brother's side and asked very directly: "How do you like this soldier model?"

Morse's eyes fell on the top of her head, and she had the illusion of being doused with ice water for a moment, although there was no hostility in Morse's words, and there was an understatement of detachment.

"Raise your head, Califon, come and sit. We welcome you both."

Califon raised his head as he was told, and looked at Andos with his peripheral vision, who was looking at the soldier model that Perturabo was talking about, showing his wandering thoughts.

After confirming that everything was safe there for the time being, she boldly walked towards the black-haired man in strange black clothes who was sitting on the wicker chair in front of her, and sat down on a high chair that appeared out of thin air.

"Thank you, Mr. Morse." Callifon said as she looked around the crowded room, which looked much larger inside than outside.

She didn't know whether to describe this place as "chaos" or "orderly".

Countless tools are placed in different places, whether they are drawing pads, set squares, handles, scissors, wax molds, pen holders, files, dye trays, all scattered on several different steel sheets without clear rules. A quality tabletop, but a moment's imagination shows that when a person sits in the right chair, everything he needs is within easy reach and in the most comfortable way.

There were half-finished paintings hanging on the walls as well as the murals themselves. Some blackboards had huge or subtle design drawings pinned to them, full of complex lines that she couldn't understand, while dozens of gorgeous and exquisite flashlights were placed on the shelves. There are beautiful creatures, armor-piercing men, forged plows, winding vines, swimming fish, miniature harps, everything from animals, characters to manufactured products.

One of the particularly weird ones is a half-finished stone statue. The weirdness is not because it is unfinished, but because it is obviously much rougher than other works. It is like a child who has not learned any craft knowledge. Engraved.

Callifon wasn't sure if this was an early work by the rumored prodigy Perturabo, but if it was, then she wanted to smile.

She pursed her lips and lowered her voice to say hello to Morse. She was thinking about how to take care of Morse's face in this crowded room without disturbing the conversation between Perturabo and Andos. Then she heard a magical voice sent directly into her mind.

The powerful unknown force made her dizzy, and she felt as if biting ice was embedded in her head. Callifon secretly clenched her left fist, her nails digging into the skin of her palm, enduring the pain that roared through her, trying not to resist Morse's ability.

With a sharp neighing sound, she finally heard Morse's voice ringing directly in her heart with incomparable clarity. She calmed her heartbeat and accepted it all.

+What about Harkon? + Morse asked, + Where is the eldest son of Damex, the eldest prince of Lokos, who will wear the iron crown? What prevented him from visiting? +

Morse's first question made her start to get chills again.

Callifon glanced briefly at Morse, and saw a dark abyss in his eyes.

She calmed herself down for a moment, sighing secretly for her eldest brother. She did not want to reveal his recent suspicion that Perturabo would shake his position. She just responded to Morse in her heart tactfully and unfamiliarly.

+Thanks for enquiring, the foreign enemies have made other moves recently. My father asked my brother to go to the military camp to reorganize the defense, but it is really impossible to come. +

Morse shook his head slightly, and cold laughter echoed in Callifon's mind.

+Stop playing complicated tricks with those words and stop making excuses for him. If you insist on doing this, I will lower my impression of you. +

+Sorry, Mr. Morse. You are my father's distinguished guests, how can I not be respectful? +

+Dignified guest? +

Morse savored the word, no longer competing with Damex's eldest daughter over words.

Although this tyrant's daughter is younger than her brothers, her character and demeanor are already at the level of assisting the king - if possible, the word "assist" can be eliminated.

He changed the topic and casually talked about the customs and customs of Olympia, and generously introduced the various furnishings in the house, such as the silver butterfly-patterned flask on the shelf, which was made by Perturabo who wasted a lot of raw materials. He was doing two things at the same time. Looking at the situation on Andos and Perturabo.

"...This is...amazing." Andos spoke very slowly. If silence is the sound of a person thinking, then everyone present can hear his thinking.

"You are skilled enough." Andos spread his hands and guided Perturabo's line of sight with his five fingers. "These silver statues and these wood carvings have no flaws in processing. This is something I can't It’s hard to imagine how to create such a seamless combination, such as this connection.”

"Yeah." Perturabo answered in the simplest syllables, "What about my theater design?"

The boy picked out the roll he was talking about from a pile of thick rolls, smoothed the drawing, and unfolded it on the table.

This is just a section of the huge theater he wants to build. He has not yet finished drawing more building modules, but he obviously feels that the current results are enough for display.

Perhaps the two children of the tyrants who had just arrived here would think that the boy was secretive in his emotions and anger, and his likes and dislikes, but Morse could see that Perturabo readily accepted every compliment, just like a glutton. As a child, he quietly accepts every piece of candy and biscuit given by others, and also pretends in front of his parents that the bit of powder at the corner of his mouth is not the residue on the biscuit.

+Perturabo was happy. +Thinking of this, Morse told Califon. He received a surprised eyebrow raise and a gentle laugh from the psychic channel.

He added: + A little tip for you, if you come here next time and put his name in front of my name when you say hello, he will immediately introduce you as a confidant. +

Callifon nodded, a new light shining in her eyes.

Andos did not touch the drawing itself rashly, but hovered his fingers above the drawing to help position his eyes.

He tried his best to carefully analyze this extremely complicated drawing, then slowly shook his head, and sincerely apologized before Perturabo misunderstood: "I am not a designer of the city...I cannot imagine out of thin air areas that I have not been involved in for a long time. work, but it will definitely be a masterpiece.”

He thought for a while and continued: "I can start learning from today."

Perturabo was immediately alarmed by this: "Can you learn it? Who do you want to learn it from, Morse?"

"What? No... I can learn it, but I will find another teacher." Andos looked a little confused, "The architect of Lokos, if the Kaldis people are accompanied by a designer when they visit, I will also Will visit.”

"Do you think they are better than Morse?" said Perturabo grimly.

"I didn't say that...he's your teacher."

"Are you implying that I am where I am today because Morse was my teacher?"

Morse curled his lips and did not participate in Perturabo's one-sided verbal battle with his enemy. Kalifon was calm and calm, and was not in a hurry to go up and cheer for her brother. She was observing everything that was going on, which was where she had always been.

+Where do you think Perturabo's talent lies, Callifon? +

+Is it building things? +

+No, it’s the speed at which he makes random guesses about others in his mind. The interval between each heartbeat can bring him tens of thousands of words of over-analysis of other people's psychological activities. +

+This sounds really...+

+I'm curious about your adjectives. +

+Childish. +

Callifon reluctantly chose the most euphemistic words.

Andros was about to be defeated, and this gentle man had no problem with giving in verbally.

"I'm sorry, Perturabo. I never meant that...anyone can see in your work a man full of talent and hard work," he said cheerfully.

Perturabo felt as if he had punched into a pile of soft fabric, his anger nowhere to be released.

He glanced quickly at Morse and then stopped.

The boy said gloomily: "Okay. Since you don't understand architecture, what are you good at?"

"Wood carving, stone carving, iron..." Andos said one by one. According to his character, if he dares to describe an ability as good, then he has definitely been immersed in it for many years and even has his own art theory. .

"I want to compete with you." Perturabo interrupted Andos, "You choose the topic."

"Huh?" Andos was quite confused.

"I haven't competed with anyone yet. I don't know how my talent compares to others." Perturabo said confidently.

Kalifon pinched the skirt on her knees and frowned slightly, looking like she wanted to stop Andos from agreeing. It was obvious to her that no matter who was winning or losing, Perturabo would widen the rift in their relationship with Lokos out of thin air.

She looked at Morse for help, but Morse was indifferent and just gave a sarcastic answer.

+I will urge this child to learn philosophical theory from today on to save his disastrous thinking pattern. +

Callifon had no choice but to leave his seat in person and advised: "Mr. Perturabo, an individual's ability will eventually be exhausted, and my brother is not an all-rounder. Although he has many skills, there are always skilled craftsmen in Lokos who are skilled in their own crafts." Go further than Andos. Why not show off your talents in a grand competition by defeating the craftsmen of Lokos one by one?"

"What should I call you?"

"Califon, daughter of the Kingdom of Lokos."

"Califon," Perturabo nodded, "This is a very good idea. If Damex is willing to host, I will guard my ring. But first, I want to start with Andros."

Just as Califon was about to say something more, Andos raised a hand, attracting the attention of several people: "I don't mind participating in the competition...the topic is stone sculpture?"

"Weapon?"

"No, not necessarily weapons. Callifon said you don't like war," Andros said.

Perturabo looked at Callifon with new eyes, as if seeing the eldest daughter of the tyrant again.

His attitude quickly softened.

"Okay, Andos. Will you set the time?"

Morse suddenly said: "I'll make the decision. In one month, you two will be welcome to the workshop where we are now. Please bring Prince Andos's works."

His eyes stayed on Perturabo's face, and the smile he showed was as warm as ever: "I hope to see the finished product of your original work by then, Perturabo. It has made me curious for a long time."

My speed is only 1,000 words per hour, so I can’t go any faster...