This princess will not back down

chapter 26

The sun was high in the sky as Arnold made his way back to the main mansion for lunch. The inviting aroma of freshly prepared food greeted him as he entered, joining Eva, Eldan, Elyra, and Seraphina at the dining table.

The atmosphere was lively as they engaged in light conversation, sharing stories and laughter. Arnold couldn't help but feel a sense of camaraderie and belonging among this diverse group of individuals.

As they settled into their seats, Eva took the lead, positioning herself at the head of the table with Eldan and Elyra on one side, and Seraphina and Arnold on the other.

"Arnold, your first assignment," Eva announced, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Arnold leaned in attentively, eager to hear what task lay ahead for him.

"We need an energy orb that can act as an engine and be recharged," Eva explained, outlining the challenge that awaited Arnold.

"You can start working on it from tomorrow onwards. We will provide you with mana stones to work with," she added, emphasizing the importance of utilizing magical resources for their inventions.

"And Seraphina, will collaborate with you to create a mana-driven carriage," Eva continued, delegating responsibilities with precision.

"But how do you recharge it?" Elyra interjected, her curiosity piqued.

Eldan shot her a warning glance, but Eva simply smiled and addressed the question. "That will be another special task for Arnold. But for now, let's focus on this assignment."

The conversation flowed effortlessly as they enjoyed their meal, exchanging ideas and suggestions for the upcoming project. Once lunch was over, they reconvened in Eva's office to discuss further details.

"Seraphina, I've made some modifications to the blueprint. Could you take a look and see if it's feasible?" Eva asked, handing over a set of documents to Seraphina.

Seraphina examined the blueprint with a keen eye, her expertise evident in her thoughtful analysis. "A narrow rectangular slit on the engine box?" she remarked, noting Eva's proposed modification.

"For recharging," Eva confirmed with a nod.

Seraphina's eyes lit up with understanding. "I see what you're aiming at. This is a great idea. How did you come up with it?" she asked, genuinely impressed by Eva's innovative approach.

Eva chuckled modestly. "Just a stroke of inspiration."

The room buzzed with excitement as they delved deeper into the technical aspects of the project, brainstorming ideas and strategies to bring Eva's vision to life. Arnold listened intently, eager to contribute his skills and creativity to the endeavor.

Days flew by swiftly as Arnold dedicated himself to the task at hand, tirelessly working for two weeks until he finally crafted an energy orb that seamlessly fit into the socket inside the carriage's engine box. He marveled at Seraphina's impeccable designs and was pleasantly surprised by how quickly he had completed the assignment, thanks to the abundance of mana stones provided to him. In the past, such a feat would have been a costly endeavor, but now, with access to state-of-the-art tools and machinery, he felt like he was living his dream.

Eager to share his accomplishment and learn about his next task, Arnold hurried to the mansion with the orb cradled carefully in his hands. Bursting into Eva's office, he was greeted by her calming presence.

"Slow down now, Arnold," Eva said with a gentle smile, motioning for him to take a breath.

"What's the rush?" she asked, curious about his eagerness.

"The orb is done, master," Arnold replied, using the term out of respect but unaware of Eva's inner thoughts.

"Master? Not this again. He even called me a devil before," Eva thought to herself, amused by the contrast.

"Great, show me the results," Eva said, leading Arnold outside to the awaiting carriage where Seraphina was already present.

Arnold carefully inserted the orb into the engine box, feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment as he did so. Seraphina took her place in the front seat, and with Eva and Arnold in tow, they embarked on a journey to the southern shore using the magic carriage. The smooth ride and efficiency of the orb left Arnold beaming with happiness, and Eva couldn't help but share in his joy.

"Well done, you two," Eva praised as they returned from their trip, impressed by Arnold's ingenuity and Seraphina's expertise.

"Can you brief us on the orb's capacity, Arnold?" Eva inquired, curious about the technical aspects.

Arnold enthusiastically explained the orb's functionality, detailing its energy output and recharge capabilities. Eva nodded in approval, pleased with the results.

As they settled back in the office, Arnold's anticipation for his next task grew palpable.

"Master, what is it that I must do next?" Arnold asked, eager to delve into another project.

Eva leaned back in her chair, contemplating for a moment before outlining the next assignment.

"I want you to create mana-filled coins that fit into the slit in front of the box covering," Eva instructed, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she explained the potential business opportunity behind this endeavor.

Arnold listened attentively, absorbing every detail and envisioning the possibilities.

Over the following days, Arnold immersed himself in the creation of the mana-filled coins, experimenting with different materials and enchantments to achieve the desired effect. With Seraphina's guidance and Eva's encouragement, he made significant progress, refining his designs until they met Eva's high standards.

As Arnold delved into creating the mana-filled coins, he kept Eva's advice in mind. He designed the coins to be one-time use, ensuring they would disintegrate after transferring their mana to the orb. Moreover, he made sure the disintegrated materials were easy to remove and clean.

Excited about his innovation, Arnold sought Seraphina's expertise. "Seraphina, do you think you could create something inside the box near the orb? It would help collect the waste material," Arnold suggested.

Seraphina considered his idea carefully. "That's a good thought, Arnold. We could design a compartment to catch the disintegrated materials. It should be simple yet effective," she replied, intrigued by the challenge.

With their combined efforts, Arnold and Seraphina worked on implementing this solution. They designed a small compartment within the box, strategically placed near the orb. This compartment would catch the waste material from the disintegrated coins, making it easy to remove and ensuring the smooth functioning of the mana transfer system.

The introduction of the carriage with the orb as its engine marked a significant milestone in the market. The carriage proudly displayed the emblem of Obsidian, symbolizing quality and innovation, with Seraphina's sign beneath it. Meanwhile, the orb too had the emblem but with Arnold's signature.

As the news of this groundbreaking invention spread, the market buzzed with excitement and anticipation. The value of the carriage skyrocketed, and business deals flourished under Eldan's expert handling.

In conversations among traders and customers, the name of Lockheart and his invention faded into obscurity, replaced by the newfound fame of Obsidian's carriage powered by Arnold's ingenious orb. This shift brought Arnold a profound sense of satisfaction, knowing that his contributions were making a tangible impact in the world of innovation and commerce.

Eldan remarked with pride, "The demand for our carriages is unprecedented. Arnold's orb has truly revolutionized the industry."

Seraphina nodded in agreement, adding, "And with Obsidian's reputation for excellence, we are poised for even greater success."

Arnold, humbled by the recognition, simply smiled and continued to work diligently on further enhancements and inventions, fueled by the joy of seeing his creations making a difference in the world.

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To be continued...