(Damn, what a nap)
― Dalia ― Already awake? she said angrily, crossing her other leg. (Ah, I think I'm going to die…)
● ― Hi. ― She punched me in the gut, almost hitting me in the... ― What's going on? ―
― Dalia ― How dare you keep that secret from me. ―
● ― What secret? ―
― Dalia ― I can't believe you didn't tell me! Is it really that hard to trust me? What else are you hiding? Do you think it's fair to leave me out of something that important?! I'm not a child, okay?! I don't need you to protect me, I need you to be honest with me! If you can't even tell me this... are we really together, or am I just someone you use when it suits you?... ―
After Dalia's long and exhausting scolding, I started preparing something to eat. I also made her some juice from a fruit very similar to an orange, only it's pink.
I sat next to her on the couch. We got into a rather emotional and difficult conversation, since, as she said, I had messed with her trust and she felt deceived and betrayed. I told her it wasn't out of malice or to make fun of her, but because I didn't want her to see me differently for being from another world and a messenger of Tolmas. I also told her that even though Durman and Astrid knew almost everything, they didn't know what the subdimension looked like from the inside either.
Even while she was still upset with me, she started asking about the artifacts inside the house. She asked about everything. From the bathroom faucet, to the kitchen, and how the lathe worked. But before we could get up and head to the workshop, Hunt showed up accompanied by Sena and Selene. And two others, according to the scan, they were Selene's household servants. Two siblings from Hemer, the brother was 25 and the sister 24.
We said goodbye to them, and I went with Dalia to the bed in her house. Even though she was still angry with me, she didn't refuse to sleep together.
In the morning, after breakfast with Durman, Astrid, and Heny, I went straight to the blacksmiths' guild with Durman. On the way, while we talked about our plans for the day, we ran into Orlan.
― Orlan ― You, boy, you're the one who took Solomon last night, right? ―
― Durman ― Orlan, what's going on? ―
― Orlan ― Durman, I know this boy is your apprentice and it's really important for him to go work with you today, but could I borrow him for a moment? I need to speak with him and Mr. Hunt at the merchant guild. ―
― Durman ― Is it that important? ―
― Orlan ― Yes. ―
― Durman ― Neo, go on. Let's see what crazy request he has for us. ―
● ― Should I go with you, Mr. Orlan? ―
― Orlan ― No, no. Head to the guild, we'll meet there shortly. I need to pick something up from my company. ―
...
After our meeting, I went back to the blacksmiths' guild, where I found Durman and Ruki arguing. In the background, a few guild administrators were trying to climb a ladder up to the top of the chimney.
● ― Hey, hey, what's going on? ―
― Ruki ― This decrepit old man doesn't even know how to add. ―
― Durman ― Who are you calling a decrepit old man, brat? ―
Both Ruki and Durman grabbed wooden swords and started fighting.
― Branik ― Hey Neo, what's up? ― he said while watching Durman and Ruki's duel.
― Thorn ― Don't even bother. Once they start arguing, they won't stop until one of them gives up. ― he said, stopping me just as I was about to intervene.
● ― Do you know why they're arguing? ―
― Thorn ― They were calculating something, but their numbers didn't match. ―
● ― And they're fighting over that? ― I said, a bit stunned. ― Show me what they were working on. ―
― Branik ― That stuff on the table. ―
While they kept arguing and the other blacksmiths laughed in the background, I reviewed the calculations and the issue itself. Apparently, the smoke from the main chimney was bothering several neighbors, and the proposed solution was to make it taller. Durman agreed, apologizing for the inconvenience.
About half an hour ago, the head of the builders' guild asked them to measure the current height for structural planning. The problem? No one knew how to measure it.
(This is literally an elementary school exercise...)
I grabbed a long wooden stick, roughly a meter long by eye, and set it upright on the ground, propped up with some crates. The first time I got it wrong—I hadn't seen the tower's shadow. I adjusted everything, waited a few minutes for the light to settle, then measured the stick's shadow. After that, I measured the tower's.
● ― If I multiply by ten, that's 497 divided by 15... that gives 3. 3 times 15 is 45. 49 minus 45 leaves 4. Bring down the 7... 47 divided by 15 is again 3. 47 minus 45 is 2. Not divisible, so I add a decimal. Bring down a 0, 20 divided by 15 is 1. Leftover 5. Bring down another 0, 50 divided by 15 is 3, and again there's a remainder of 5. Result: 33.13, more or less. 33 with repeating 13. ―
— Branik — By Vasli's beard... —
— Thorn — How did you do that? —
I knelt down and drew a triangle on the ground with some chalk:
● ― It's the same as a triangle. If the stick casts a shadow, it forms a right triangle. If you know the stick's height and the length of its shadow, and you do the same with the tower, you can use a simple ratio. You don't need to climb or measure it directly. ―
I ended up giving a basic trigonometry lesson to Durman and a few curious blacksmiths who wanted to listen.
...
Before we left the guild, Ruki called Durman over to go over the budget for the upcoming month. I could already see the vein in Durman's neck starting to throb, so before they started fighting again, I interrupted them.
● ― I can help. ―
Over the next hour, I took the liberty of gathering all the guild's purchase data from the past few months—going back five years. I modeled some equations based on the ones Hunt used at the merchants' guild. I'll admit, the supercomputer was really helpful here. But just like with Hunt, I had to explain to Durman and Ruki how equations work and how to build matrices...
When I finished, Ruki got mad at me.
― Ruki ― You've just wasted my time. And now you tell me we need one ton of iron. ―
● ― Yes, that's what the calculations show. ―
― Ruki ― Durman, don't listen to him again, he's just wasting our time. ―
― Durman ― Hold on, I want to check something first. Neo, according to your "equations," how much iron did we use and order two years ago in the fourth month of the year? ―
● ― If I can just look at the tables… ―
― Durman ― No, don't check the data. Tell me based on your equations. ―
● ― We used 985 units of iron and ordered 800. ―
Ruki was speechless when he saw my equations gave the exact figures for iron usage and orders.
― Ruki ― But how is that possible? ―
● ― Interpolation. It's easier than extrapolation. ―
After explaining the difference between interpolation and extrapolation, Ruki apologized for his earlier rudeness and asked me to teach him how to do those same calculations. I laughed at him a little and told him, "Some other day. It's late, and we have to go to the guildmaster of the merchants' house for dinner."
I had told Durman earlier, but apparently he had forgotten. He rushed to pack everything up, thinking Astrid was going to kill him for making her rush out of the house to be on time.
Just as I expected, we ended up practically running through the city, cutting through alleys to make it home in time.
― Durman ― Can't we use your subdimension shortcut thing? ―
● ― Durman, I can only open one door or portal at a time. And if I lose focus, the portal closes—and it's dangerous if someone's halfway through when that happens. ―
― Durman ― Then what if we fly? ―
● ― Let's not. It's still broad daylight, someone could see us. ―
Durman got mad at me and didn't say another word the rest of the way. It felt more like a child's tantrum than an adult's anger.
● ― If you want to fly, we'll go outside the city one day and I'll teach you. ―
― Durman ― Outside the walls? No way. I'm not going out there again. ―
I didn't say anything. We were almost at the house, but his comment reminded me of the same fear Dalia has—of leaving the safety of the city.
― Durman ― Astrid! Dalia! ― he shouted as soon as we stepped inside. Astrid was the first to show up. ― Quick, get ready. Sena invited us to dinner at her place. ―
― Astrid ― Darling, this is so sudden… we've almost finished cooking dinner... ―
● ― We're going no matter what. ―
A few seconds later, Dalia and Joan showed up, clearly curious.
― Durman ― Dalia, go get changed. We have to go have dinner at Sena's house. ―
― Dalia ― Wait, what? What's the rush? ―
● ― They invited us earlier today and I forgot to tell you. We have to be there in an hour. ―
― Astrid, Dalia ― In an hour?! ― both said angrily.
● ― By the way, Joan, you and the other three are coming too. So get ready. ―
― Joan ― Of course, right away. ― he said, half-running toward the kitchen to let the others know.
― Dalia ― But Neo! I don't even have time to shower and dry my hair, let alone do my makeup in an hour... ―
The whole house was in a frenzy. Dalia and Astrid were scolding us, the servants were nearly running trying to wrap up dinner and get ready themselves.
● ― Everyone, come here! ― I shouted. ― Now! ― I waited until everyone was in the courtyard.
● ― Nobody stress out, please. We'll do this calmly and smart. Astrid, Dalia ― I opened the subdimension door ― You two go to the cabin's bathroom and bathe there. Durman, Peter, Heny — head to the workshop. You've got everything you need there. If not, go to my room — I've got towels, soap, everything. Joan, Eliza, and I will handle the dinner and store it in the subdimension so it doesn't spoil. Got it? ―
Just like I told them, everyone went off to follow their assigned task. While I was finishing the dinner calmly with Joan and Eliza, Durman and Peter showed up. (We've got two showers in the workshop, in case I hadn't mentioned.)
― Durman ― I'm ready. ―
● ― Out of the kitchen, Durman, you'll end up smelling like food. ―
Durman left without a word.
● ― Joan, Eliza — one of you go to the subdimension and shower with Durman. Tell Heny that when he's done, he should let us know. Then the other one can go. ―
They looked at each other for a second, so I had to tell Eliza to go first.
Eventually, I went to shower too. I went to the workshop, expecting it to be empty, but caught Durman snooping through my tools and Dalia, towel on her head, inspecting my rune-carving set.
― Astrid ― Durman Blackforge, who said you could touch that? ―
● ― Dalia Blackforge, what do you think you're doing going through someone else's tools? ―
Astrid and I said at the same time.
They both jumped in surprise and ran off through the workshop's back door. (Guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.)
After I showered and joined everyone in the living room, Dalia, Astrid, Joan, and Eliza were still drying their hair, so I brought out the hairdryer — a carved Magiston crystal that heats up and blows warm air.
● ― Did anyone lock the house? ―
― Peter ― What do you mean, "lock it"? ―
● ― Go lock it. Just in case. I'll ask Hunt to open his subdimension door so we can get there and back quickly. ―
After sending a few messages, Hunt opened his door right in the middle of Sena's courtyard. Everyone passed through into her house. Even Durman was amazed at how fast the trip had been.