The Runesmith

"My Lord, your steed is ready."

"Ah… how time flies…"

Arthur paused, his gaze settling on Gareth, one of his most trusted knights. Gareth stood patiently, holding the reins of a snow-white horse - Arthur’s personal steed. For a moment, Arthur simply stared at its silvery mane, unmoving, as if his legs refused to carry him forward.

"My Lord, perhaps someone else could–"

"No… no, I have to be the one to do this. I need to know the exact numbers."

Mary was there as well, accompanied by an entourage of lesser knights and soldiers, all prepared to escort their lord to the city’s bank. Established not long ago, the bank had grown rapidly since the discovery of the second dungeon. Now, Arthur was setting out to secure the necessary funds for the expedition - and to strengthen his army. The culling of the monsters could begin at any moment, and they needed money.

“Let’s depart!”

The soldiers saluted and stood at attention, waiting for Arthur to mount his horse. He glanced around, his expression unreadable, though inwardly, he was still adjusting to this newfound authority.

Not long ago, he had commanded almost no one as his only loyal retainers were the three who had accompanied him from the start. Respect had been scarce, given only by those few. But now, things had changed. He could see devotion in the eyes of his soldiers and in some, even fear.

It was a strange, empowering feeling, yet he reminded himself that this was only the beginning. There was still much work to be done if he was to succeed in his ambitions… and perhaps, one day, claim the Duke’s title as his own.

‘It’s just a temporary loss, we’ll make the money back in a few months or perhaps a year… Roland always seems to have a plan but he is also a gaping void when it comes to spending… ’

While riding through the streets, Arthur's mind remained preoccupied with the weight of his decision. He knew the risk involved in taking such a large loan, but the potential rewards far outweighed the dangers. With the right investments, they could potentialy win the upcoming culling competition but also solidify Albrook as a true stronghold in the region.

As they approached the National Bank of Caldris branch, Arthur took a moment to appreciate the transformation that had taken place since its creation. While it had never been too modest, the size and outlook had been enhanced to accommodate more customers. 

The stark white stone structure stood in sharp contrast to the medieval surroundings of Albrook, its pristine facade exuding an air of exclusivity and power. Towering Greek-style columns lined the entrance, each adorned with intricate gold filigree depicting the royal crest and arcane runes of protection. The NBC was more than just a bank; it was a showcase of noble prestige.

The moment Arthur reached the main steps, a group of elite guards in immaculate plate armor stepped forward, their spears forming a crossed barrier to prevent entry. Their faces were expressionless, their posture rigid - uncompromising professionals who served the wealthiest and most powerful of the kingdom. Not even Arthur, who was a Duke’s son, could impose on these people as they served the crown. 

“Present your identification.”

Arthur reached into his coat and retrieved his obsidian bank card, embossed with his family crest. The moment he held it up, the guards examined it closely, their eyes flickering with the faint glow of magical detection spells. After a brief pause, they nodded and stepped aside.

“Welcome to the National Bank of Caldris, Lord Valerian. You may proceed.”

With a subtle gesture, Arthur signaled his entourage to remain outside. Only Mary followed him in, her ever-watchful eyes scanning the area for any potential threats. The interior of the NBC was a marvel of craftsmanship and magic. The marble floors gleamed under the light of floating crystal chandeliers, their soft glow providing a refined yet efficient illumination. Tall, arched ceilings stretched overhead, enchanted murals depicted moments of great financial history. 

Standing at key positions throughout the grand hall were multiple massive golems, their dark metallic bodies adorned with golden insignias of the bank. Their eyes, burning with a steady blue glow, tracked every movement within the building. These sentinels were not mere decorations as they were the final line of defense against any would-be thieves or assailants. Arthur knew that Roland would love to study their enchantments but any attempts would be seen as a hostile attack.

“Lord Valerian, welcome,” 

An elegantly dressed banker greeted them with a low bow. His fine silk robes bore the sigil of the bank, and his demeanor radiated the kind of cool confidence only those accustomed to dealing with nobility possessed. 

“I am Alistair Grendholm, Senior Financial Overseer. How may we assist you today?”

Arthur met the man’s gaze and immediately knew this would not be an easy opponent. He had come here not only to borrow money but also to negotiate favorable incentives. These could rise to over fifty percent if he failed to secure a good deal. Everything depended on his reputation and his ability to sell himself.

The man before him was a professional lender - someone who would not part with a single coin unless he was convinced of Arthur’s ability to repay. Arthur did have a few assets he could use as collateral, the most significant being his recently expanded luxury mansion. However, the auction house was off-limits, as it belonged to the Valerian family and remained under his father’s control.

Arthur took a slow breath, steadying himself as he met Alistair Grendholm's cool gaze. The banker’s shrewd eyes glimmered with amusement, as if he already anticipated a long and arduous negotiation.

“I seek a loan, a substantial one.”

Alistair arched a brow, his fingers steepled together as he leaned forward slightly. 

“A bold opening, Lord Valerian. I admire directness. Might I inquire as to the sum?”

Arthur glanced at Mary, who gave a barely perceptible nod. His hands shivered slightly as he pulled out a piece of parchment he had marked the amount of gold coins he wished to borrow.  The sum was quite high and the man raised an eyebrow before speaking out in an amused yet respectful tone.

“Ah, a young noble with ambition. This is quite the sum, My lord. But may I ask what collateral you intend to offer?”

“My personal estate in Albrook. Additionally, I have secured a large stake in the dungeon’s resources. Once our operations are fully underway, we anticipate substantial returns from rare materials and monster cores.”

The banker tapped his fingers against the polished oak desk. 

“The dungeon does intrigue me. However, valuing an as-yet-untapped resource is… difficult.”

He paused, studying Arthur’s face for a reaction. When none came, he pressed on. 

“The estate is valuable, but for a loan of this magnitude, we require firmer assurances.”

Arthur frowned. He had expected resistance, but it was clear that without additional leverage, the bank would either reduce the sum or increase the interest to an unacceptable level. He needed something more compelling. Before he could speak, the man proposed something himself.

Alistair leaned back slightly in his chair; his fingers still steepled as if weighing Arthur's words with practiced calm. His gaze flicked over to Mary who was standing further in the back.

“ When dealing with a loan of this size, one must consider all the potential risks. The dungeon’s resources may be valuable, but they are not guaranteed. And while your estate in Albrook is well-regarded, it alone may not be enough to cover such a large sum, so may I propose something?”

The man asked and Arthur nodded to allow him to speak. Even if Arthur was the one trying to get money, his status was still above this man who was nothing more than an employee of a bank.

“Perhaps… the High Knight Commander himself could offer some assurances?”

Arthur blinked, confused. 

“Sir Wayland?”

The banker’s smile was small, but it was there. “

If I may be so bold.” 

Alistair said, leaning forward just a fraction more, 

“Given the High Knight Commander’s illustrious reputation, his involvement in this venture would certainly bolster your position. The bank could consider his services as collateral.”

For a brief moment, the room was silent. Roland wasn't there for Arthur to ask if he was fine with it, but Arthur already knew the answer to that question. His friend had been the one pushing for this small loan of thousands of gold coins and had told him to secure a good deal for them. Legally, Arthur was Roland's superior and could lend out his services to others. He wasn't sure what the bank would ask of him, so he needed to probe for answers. He would not lend himself out if they were planning to have him kill people on their behalf.

“Could you elaborate? What do you mean by ’services’?” 

Arthur asked, his voice steady.

“Of course, Lord Valerian. What I mean is, the High Knight Commander’s reputation in rune smithing precedes him.”

“Rune smithing?”

Arthur was a bit confused, he thought they wished to hire him as a mercenary but this was about Roland’s crafting skills.

“Yes, we are aware of Knight Commander Wayland's skills, we would just require the earnings from his creations to be redistributed towards the loan.”

“I see…”

This didn’t seem as bad as he thought. Roland was still producing runic weapons, armor, and even golems at his workshop. Some were being sold directly at his shop but others at the Valerian auction house.

“If that’s what you want, I suppose I could agree to a compromise… However, I propose that the bank receives earnings only from the commissions at the auction house, not from Sir Wayland’s personal store or projects.”

Alistair’s polite expression did not change, but Arthur could tell the man was reassessing the deal. The auction house was where Roland’s highest-quality runic equipment was sold to the elite - nobles, knights, and wealthy merchants willing to pay a premium. The bank would certainly earn a hefty sum from those commissions. But Roland’s personal store, though profitable, catered to a broader audience at more accessible prices and sold more in bulk. Arthur didn’t care much about the revenue he would lose so he just wished to tie this deal to his own profits. 

“A reasonable adjustment.” 

Alistair admitted, nodding slightly. 

“The auction house does see most of the traffic from affluent buyers…”

He started tapping the desk again, clearly trying to calculate the potential profits. Normally, they would be unable to get money from the auction house, as it belonged to the Valerian Duke. However, Roland’s earnings were tied to Arthur, as he was his personal knight, so they could take those for themselves.

“If we are to forgo direct earnings from the High Knight Commander’s private business, I will need to adjust the interest rate to be slightly higher.”

Arthur resisted the urge to scowl. The bank was not about to let him walk away without squeezing as much out of the deal as they could. He had anticipated this. Luckily, this was still within his acceptable range. If the interest rate was only marginally higher but the loan amount remained intact, it would be worth it. Arthur was willing to even go over the limit as Roland presented him with an earning amount that would easily pay off this sum within a year or two. 

 "Adjustments? Are you sure you won’t reconsider?”

Even though everything was within his calculations, that didn’t mean he would just agree to it outright. If he could shave off even a fraction of a percentage from the loan, he would. Soon, the two men were engaged in an animated conversation about the city's earning potential and how easily Arthur would be able to pay off the loan. He knew that as long as the bank was assured they would get their money back, they would gladly work with them.

Mary stood in the corner without moving, her gaze fixed on the golems that posed a potential threat to her lord. Time passed, and after about half an hour, the two men seemed to reach an agreement. Eventually, Alistair snapped his fingers, and one of the other employees carried over a parchment with a prepared contract.

"Please, look through it, Lord Valerian."

Arthur nodded, surprised by the swift arrival of the document. It meant that someone had been listening to their conversation and preparing it as they spoke. He took his time reading through it, which took another half an hour.

After ensuring that there were no hidden pitfalls within the contract, Arthur exhaled softly and reached for the quill offered by Alistair. With a smooth, practiced motion, he signed his name at the bottom of the parchment and completed it with a Valerian stamp, sealing the agreement.

"Excellent." 

Alistair said with a pleased nod, rolling up the parchment and affixing the bank’s official seal upon it. 

"The funds will be transferred to your designated accounts within the next three days. Should you require any further financial assistance, the National Bank of Caldris is always at your service."

"I appreciate your cooperation, Overseer Grendholm. I trust this will be a mutually beneficial arrangement."

"That is always our intent, Lord Valerian. May fortune favor your endeavors.

With that, Arthur rose to his feet, signaling Mary to follow. The weight of the deal settled on his shoulders, but rather than burden him, it only strengthened his resolve. He had secured the funds, and now, he would ensure they were used wisely.

As he stepped out of the grand banking hall, the afternoon sun cast its golden glow upon the polished stone steps. His escort was waiting, their disciplined ranks standing at attention. Gareth, his ever-loyal knight, held the reins of his steed, ready for departure.

After mounting his horse, Arthur considered giving an order to inform Roland about the deal but quickly decided it was unnecessary. In the distance, his gaze caught one of the golemic turrets, its eye fixed in their direction, and he knew his friend was likely aware of his every move. He still wasn’t sure how he felt about this level of oversight from his ally, but at the moment, he had little choice.

Turning away from the monitoring device, he signaled his men to escort him back to the estate. Once the money arrived, he would have to sign a mountain of paperwork to put it to use. Not a single coin would go to waste - his future depended on it.

******

‘Arthur seems to be keeping his part of the bargain, now it’s up to me to do the rest.’

Roland sat in his workshop, looking at the larger display screen as Arthur and his men returned from the bank. He knew that he didn’t have to worry about getting the funds but he was still interested in the bank along with the golems within along with the cards they had. While normally Arthur would just be able to use the card, the sum they needed was much bigger than a few handful of gold coins. They needed enough to finance the dungeon project along with many buildings in the ever expanding city.  

One problem Roland had with the bank was his inability to peek inside. Both the bank and the church denied him access to their establishments. All of his turrets and cameras were positioned outside, but they refused to allow any inside. They also rejected the installation of runic appliances, which were spreading through the city like wildfire. Many people were already enjoying hot baths and refrigerators, but the bank knew better than to allow foreign runic equipment within its walls.

‘I still have no idea how to access those cards, and getting one for myself isn’t possible…’

Although he wasn’t a noble, he technically met the minimum requirements to obtain one of those elusive black cards. The problem was that acquiring one would require him to fully expose his status. There was no way around it, and that was the main reason he chose to avoid it.

Asking Arthur to let him examine his card was an option, but if something went wrong, he had no idea how the bank would react. He had heard stories of mages and runesmiths attempting to crack the cards - none of those stories ended well.

‘I’ll have to give up on that notion but I wonder if my debugging skill will work on it or not… it has not been able to evolve. ’

This skill of his that had dictated much of his life had reached its limit and had not leveled up in a while. He was not sure if it ever would as it was something he took from his old life.

‘Well, I have other things to worry about…’

He eventually turned of the screen and stood up from his chair, it was time to establish his metal farm within the dungeon and see what was behind that wall.