Reinventing Magic: An Inventor's Tale-Chapter 60: The Birth of Bryndis

The war was over.

Gregor’s forces had crumbled, his vassals scattered and either executed or stripped of power. Valtieri banners now flew over what was once Gregor’s domain, and with the aid of Duke Marveil, the transition was swiftly formalized. The people, weary of war, welcomed the change, hoping for stability under Count Edgar Valtieri’s rule.

The grand hall of the newly conquered fortress was filled with lords, knights, and soldiers. They had gathered to witness the official annexation of Gregor’s lands into Valtieri’s domain. The hall’s stone walls, adorned with Valtieri banners, echoed with the murmur of anticipation. Chandeliers cast a warm glow over the assembled nobility, highlighting the tension and relief etched on their faces.

Count Edgar stood at the center, his presence commanding and resolute. At his side was Duke Marveil, a figure of wisdom and authority, ensuring that the transition of power would not be questioned.

Edgar’s voice echoed through the hall. "By the authority vested in me as Count of Valtieri and with the blessing of Duke Marveil, I hereby declare the lands of Count Gregor formally annexed. His rule is no more, and his betrayal will serve as a lesson to those who seek to defy order."

A murmur rippled through the gathered nobility, a mix of relief and trepidation. Justice had been served, yet the reshaping of power always carried uncertainty.

Edgar’s gaze swept across the room before settling on his son. "Kael Valtieri, step forward."

Kael moved to the center of the hall, his expression composed but his heart weighed by the losses endured. He had fought for this, but the cost had been steep.

"For your valor, for your contributions in securing this victory, and for the role you played in the war’s resolution, I name you Baron of Vilaria, the largest of Gregor’s former lands," Edgar declared, his voice firm.

Kael knelt, accepting the decree. But as he did, he raised his head, his gaze meeting the Duke’s. "Your Grace, I have a request."

The Duke arched an eyebrow. "Speak."

"I wish to rename Vilaria," Kael stated, his voice steady but carrying an unmistakable weight. "In honor of the one who fought beside us, who gave her all for this victory—Keira Bryndis. I wish for this land to bear her name."

Silence followed. The weight of his words settled over the assembly, and for a moment, nothing was said. Then, Duke Marveil nodded, understanding the significance of Kael’s request.

"Very well," the Duke declared. "From this day forth, Vilaria shall be known as Bryndis."

A mix of emotions swept through Kael—gratitude, sorrow, and an unspoken promise to the friend he had lost. The name would live on, even if she did not.

Edgar continued, listing those who had proven their loyalty and those who had failed their oaths. The three viscounts who had remained loyal to Gregor until the bitter end were executed, their lands redistributed. Those who had remained passive during the war were spared but stripped of their holdings. In their place, new barons were appointed—Victor Dalmont among them.

Victor stepped forward, kneeling before the Count. "Victor Dalmont, for your unwavering loyalty and your courage on the battlefield, I grant you the title of Baron. May you serve this land well."

Victor bowed his head. "I shall serve with honor, my lord."

With the new order established, the nobles pledged their fealty, and the restructuring of the former Gregor territories was set in motion.

After the formalities, Kael returned to Valtieri lands. There was one task left unfinished—Keira’s burial.

In the solitude of his workshop, Kael stood, shadows enveloping him, with Alice beside him. The dim light from the single lantern cast long shadows on the walls, amplifying the silence of the room. He summoned Keira’s body from his spatial storage. Time had stopped within the void, preserving her as she was, untouched by decay.

His hands trembled as he brushed a stray lock of hair from her face. She looked peaceful, as if merely asleep. A pang of sorrow pierced his heart, intensifying the silent storm within him.

Alice, standing beside him, finally spoke, her voice a soft tremor. "Master, there is something I would like to say...I saved her essence within my spirit crystal."

Kael’s head snapped up. "You did what?"

"If we gather the right materials... we can revive her."

His breath caught. "You’re saying..."

Alice met his gaze. "We can bring Keira back. But... she would be like me—a hybrid."

Kael’s mind raced. A chance to bring her back? But at what cost? Could he truly let go of the person she was and accept what she would become?

As he looked at Keira’s still form, a new determination took root within him. This was not the end.

Alice’s gray eyes met Kael’s, and for a moment, she hesitated before speaking. "I should have told you sooner," she admitted. "But my system was in conflict. I wasn’t certain if it was the right thing to do."

Kael’s brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"The probability of success is low," Alice continued, her voice steady but laced with an uncharacteristic hesitance. "Logic dictated that the risks outweighed the benefits. But..." Her silver-gray hair shimmered under the workshop’s dim light as she lowered her gaze. "Something inside me stirred when I saw you mourning her. It was... irrational, but I couldn’t suppress it. That is why I decided to tell you."

Kael stared at her, taking in her words. Alice, a fusion of human and golem, was not bound by mere calculations. Somewhere within her was something more—a will of her own.

"We’ll need a high-grade aether core and a spirit crystal," Alice explained, her voice calm yet resolute. "Something that can house her essence without degrading. And the most crucial material is Astral Nanites. This substance will reconstruct her entire body into that of a golem."

Kael clenched his fist, his mind racing. Astral Nanites—he had never heard of this material before, but from the way Alice explained, he immediately had an idea of what it was for.

Alice continued, her voice tinged with urgency. "There’s also the matter of her physical vessel. Her body is intact, but reviving her won’t simply be reanimating it. She would need an anchor—a spirit matrix—like mine."

Kael exhaled, the enormity of the task settling upon his shoulders. But there was no hesitation in his resolve. If there was even the slightest chance of bringing Keira back, he would do whatever it took.

"That essence you’re talking about, can you explain it further?" Kael asked, his voice trembling with both curiosity and determination.

"It’s her spirit," Alice answered solemnly.

Kael’s mind raced as he recalled the moment he first identified the spirit crystal. It wasn’t just any gem—it was a vast magical repository, capable of storing knowledge, spells, even memories. Like an arcane vault, it held the essence of those who had wielded its power. And now, it was the key to Keira’s revival.

Victor entered the workshop, his presence a steadying force amid Kael’s turmoil. The air grew heavy with tension as Victor’s sharp gaze flicked between Alice and Kael before settling on Keira’s still form. "What’s going on?"

Kael met his gaze. "We might be able to bring her back."

Victor’s breath caught, his usual stoicism faltering. "How?"

Kael turned to Alice, and she recounted everything she had told Kael.

---

The chamber was dim, the soft glow of mana-infused crystals casting restless shadows along the stone walls. Keira lay upon a bed, her face serene, as if merely asleep. The crystals pulsed with a faint blue light, reflecting off the polished surfaces and creating an ethereal ambiance. Kael stood at her side, tracing the intricate etchings of the spirit crystal in his trembling hands. This was it—the answer he had been searching for.

Victor stepped forward, his boots echoing against the cold floor. "Young Master, we need to talk."

Kael didn’t look up. "Not now, Victor." His voice was hoarse, weighed down by exhaustion and something deeper—desperation.

Earlier, after Alice had told Victor about the possibility of reviving Keira, Victor had opposed it vehemently. The idea of tampering with such profound forces unnerved him, and he had voiced his concerns sharply. But Kael, driven by his unyielding determination and the faint hope of seeing Keira again, had resolved to press forward despite Victor’s objections.

"Yes, now," Victor insisted. "I’ve heard Alice’s theory. I know what you’re trying to do, but this isn’t right."

Kael’s grip on the crystal tightened. "Not right?" His voice rose, edged with frustration. "She’s our friend, Victor. How can you just stand there and tell me to let her go?"

Victor sighed, stepping closer. "Because this isn’t about bringing Keira back. It’s about bringing something back and calling it Keira."

Kael’s breath hitched, his heart pounding. "You don’t understand," he muttered, shaking his head. "Her memories, her essence—they’re still here. We can restore her."

Victor’s jaw clenched. "And if we do? What then? Will it truly be her, or just a shell wearing her face? Would she even want this?"

Kael recoiled as if struck. His vision blurred, and for a moment, the weight of grief crashed down on him like a tidal wave. He thought of all the battles they had fought together, the laughter they had shared, the fire in her eyes. Was he so desperate that he would ignore the consequences?

Victor’s stance softened. He placed a hand on Kael’s shoulder. "I know what you’re feeling. I miss her too. But we can’t let our grief turn us into something we’re not."

Kael trembled beneath Victor’s touch. He wanted to fight back, to argue, to prove that this was the right thing to do. But deep down, the truth gnawed at him—Victor was right. Even if the experiment worked, it wouldn’t be Keira. It would be something else, something that only resembled her.

His knees buckled, and he collapsed onto the cold floor, the crystal slipping from his grasp. "I... I just wanted her back," he whispered, his voice breaking. "I can’t lose her, Victor."

Victor knelt beside him, gripping his arm firmly. "We haven’t lost her, Young master. She lives on in us, in our memories, in the choices we make moving forward. Don’t dishonor her by turning her into something she’s not."

Tears spilled down Kael’s face as the fight drained from him. For the first time since Keira fell, he allowed himself to grieve, truly grieve. Alice watched silently, her mechanical fingers curling as if grasping for words she could not speak.

Kael exhaled shakily, finally surrendering to the truth. "You’re right..." He swallowed hard. "You’re right."

Victor gave a solemn nod. "Then let’s honor her the way she would have wanted."

Kael wiped his eyes and turned to Keira one last time. He placed the crystal beside her on the bed—a silent promise that she would never be forgotten. Then, with a heavy heart, he turned away.

Keira Bryndis would not rise again.

But she would always remain with them.

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