“500 lumens of storage for your enemies, 500 twilens for your friends. Powered by Rillinquartz. Easy to use, easy to power, easy to store. By the end of the week, I could have your whole army outfitted with these suckers.”
I give the Archsinger my darkest, dullest frown. He smiles slightly. That’s a bad sign. “Is there something wrong, Your Shadiness?”
He clears his throat and rasps out, “It is a curious thing you have invented, artificer, and your claims are bold. We believe that a demonstration is required before we consider you further.”
“Of course, sir! If you’ll please step right this way.”
I lead him to the testing range where the apprentices have set up a roaring bonfire and attach Sir Kabavick’s Wondrous Lightduster Bracers to my arms. “Please stay behind the line Your Duskiness, this device has got a kick.”
He looks at me quizzically. “I see no legs.”
“Just an expression sir. Please stand back all the same.”
When he’s a decent distance away I take aim at the bonfire. Normally I wouldn’t go anywhere near an Arch Dusksinger; not if it was high noon in the middle of summer with glowing clothes and a torch in both hands. Dusksingers terrify, astound, and should be avoided at all costs, and the Lightsingers are no better. But I’ve never been very bright.
I chuckle as the bracers begin to hum. Not very bright. That’s a good one. His Duskiness would like that.
The bracers fire, and a stream of dark energy pours from the palms of each one on a direct path to the fire. My arms jolt as the connection is made, and ever so gradually, the fire begins to dim. Not go out, just dim—which is entirely different—until it looks completely gone. But the smoke remains behind.
The beams stop, and the spent crystal capacitors pop out of their sockets. “Observe,” I say, crumpling up a piece of paper and flinging it out over the logs. It catches and crumbles almost immediately.
The Archsinger opens his mouth, but I cut him off before he can respond. “Wait, wait, you haven’t seen the best part!” I insert fresh crystals into the bracers, turn a dial on each, aim, and fire.
Entirely different streams of energy pour out in two black lines, slamming into the invisible fire and filling it with dark, until a luminescent gray has completely replaced its former orange flames.
The Archsinger doesn’t just frown at that. He closes his eyes and groans, and I can practically see the darkling aura around him as he takes energy from the fire. When he opens his eyes, the whites have been completely eaten by his pupils. His rasp is gone when he speaks.
“Outstanding,” he growls gutturally. “I am not easily impressed, but I may make an exception here.”
“I knew you’d like it, sir. That’s what I’ve always admired about Dusksingers: you know quality when you see it.”
“What is the price per unit?”
“500 gold ridians.”
He grins, flashing a full set of teeth filed to needle points. “That is outrageous.”
“Maybe. But I’ve never been very bright.” I wiggle my eyebrows.
He blinks, and the smile disappears to be replaced by a deep-throated rumble that could have been a laugh if I believed hard enough. “You’ll get paid after you deliver.”
“How about we keep it sweet and you pay half up front, half when you win the war? Look, just for you, I’ll even throw in my own personal model and a batch of Rillinquartz for your troubles.”
He nods, taking the Lightdusters from me. “Deal. It has been a pleasure, artificer. I look forward to future business.”
“Likewise, Your Murkiness.”
The Archsinger leaves and I smile at his back, mumbling, “Sucker.”
I just showed him how much control I had over light and dark and he predictably only saw how it could be used to fight his most hated enemy. I whistle a merry tune on my way to my next appointment.
When the war is done and both Light and Dark have spent their power, I’ll take it all from them. Then it will be the people like me, the regular schmucks caught between the two powers for centuries, who will finally be in control.
I open the door to the meeting room and give my brightest, most beaming smile to the Arch Lightsinger patiently waiting for me. “Pleasure to finally meet you, Your Luminosity! Are you ready to see Sir Kabavick’s Wondrous Nightbuster Bracers in action?”
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