Reinventing Magic: An Inventor's Tale-Chapter 71: The Path to Astral Nanites

The days that followed were a whirlwind of activity for Alric. He threw himself into his new role with the same fervor that had driven his success in Liora.

The transition was not without its challenges, but Alric found himself invigorated by the fresh opportunities that Bryndis presented. The territory was a blank canvas, ready to be shaped by vision and innovation, and he was eager to leave his mark.

With Alric now overseeing Bryndis’ economic landscape, Kael could finally shift his focus to a project that had long been delayed—the Project Golem. He turned to Alice, the human-golem hybrid, and issued his command.

"Alice, I need the Project Golem data," Kael commanded.

Alice’s eyes glowed faintly as she reached out to the console’s spirit crystal. The chamber filled with a soft hum, arcane circuits springing to life.

"Data transfer in progress," Alice’s voice intoned, a serene calmness in her artificial cadence. Moments later, the hum ceased.

"Transfer complete," she said, stepping back.

Kael’s fingers hovered over the console, anticipation and anxiety warring within him. "Thanks, Alice. Let’s see what secrets you’ve been hiding."

For the first time, he had an uninterrupted opportunity to thoroughly examine the entirety of Project Golem. All information related to its creation, theory, and execution had been stored within Alice’s spirit crystal.

The chaos of war and its aftermath had previously prevented him from truly understanding the depths of this research. Now, he had no distractions.

An hour passed as he combed through the data, deciphering the intricate details of the project. His eyes caught a familiar term—Astral Nanites. His breath hitched. The name dragged forth buried memories, the moment Alice first mentioned them... and Keira.

The weight of guilt pressed against his chest. No matter how much he tried to push it aside, the memory of Keira’s death at the hands of Count Gregor haunted him. Night after night, he relived that moment in his nightmares—the flash of steel, the helplessness, the regret.

He clenched his fists, then exhaled slowly, forcing himself to refocus. Time was running out. He turned back to Alice.

"Alice, it says here that the primary material needed to construct Project Golem is Astral Nanites. Isn’t that the same material you mentioned before? The one that can reconstruct a person’s body into a golem?"

Alice nodded. "That is correct. Astral Nanites were a technological marvel created over 5000 years ago. During that era, as the Rift began to open, scholars discovered a unique particle called nanorunes. Through extensive study and experimentation, they found a way to harness its power and refine it into what is now known as Astral Nanites."

Kael leaned closer, his interest piqued. "And what exactly are they made of?"

Alice tilted her head slightly, her synthetic voice steady. "The creation of Astral Nanites requires rare and mystical materials, each imbued with unique properties essential for their function."

Kael raised an eyebrow. "Such as?"

Alice listed them methodically. "First, Eldersilver—a rare metal found only in the depths of sacred mountains. It is renowned for its unparalleled strength and its ability to conduct magical energy."

Kael folded his arms, intrigued. "Go on."

"Next, Starshard Crystals—enchanted crystals that descend from the heavens during meteor showers. They act as energy reservoirs, capable of storing immense magical power needed for the nanites’ function."

Kael nodded. "I’ve read about those in old texts. And the others?"

"Dragonscale Dust," Alice continued. "Powdered remains of ancient dragon scales. This dust grants the nanites self-repairing and adaptive capabilities, making them incredibly resilient."

Kael smirked. "So, stolen from creatures that don’t take kindly to being looted. What else?"

"Phoenix Feathers," Alice said. "Feathers from the legendary phoenix, known for their unparalleled regenerative properties. When ground into a fine powder and infused into the nanites, they grant them the ability to heal and restore biological matter."

Kael exhaled sharply. "That explains the rumors of immortality linked to Phoenix remains. And the last?"

"Essence of Elementals," Alice finished. "Extracted from powerful elemental beings—fire, water, earth, and air. This essence allows the nanites to adapt to different elemental environments and resist adverse conditions."

Kael rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "That’s an absurdly rare list. No wonder these things were lost to time."

He absorbed the information before asking, "And how exactly are these nanites made?"

Alice responded without hesitation. "The process is incredibly complex and requires three crucial steps."

1. Ancient Alchemy - Ancient alchemical texts detail the intricate process of combining the materials. However, these texts are written in a forgotten language—one that must be deciphered before the process can even begin.

2. Enchantment Sequences - Once the materials are gathered, they must be infused with powerful enchantments in a precise sequence. Any deviation could result in failure or catastrophic instability.

3. The Fusion Forge - The final and most critical step. A specially designed magical forge is required to meld these materials together. This forge, using a combination of intense magical and alchemical reactions, is the only place where Astral Nanites can be successfully created.

Kael sat back, digesting the sheer scale of the endeavor. "This isn’t going to be easy... but if we can create these nanites, we might have a way to complete Project Golem."

Alice observed him silently, her mechanical yet expressive eyes unwavering. "Understood, Master Kael. I will assist in any way I can."

Kael took a deep breath, letting the weight of the information settle in. The list of materials needed for Astral Nanites was daunting enough, but he needed to know if Alice had any leads on their whereabouts. He turned to her. "Do you have any information on where we can find these materials?"

Alice met his gaze, her silver-gray hair cascading down her back, the glow of her spirit crystal pulsating faintly. "I have information on the locations of all the required materials," she said, her voice steady. "Except for the Ancient Alchemical Texts, the Enchantment Sequences, and any knowledge regarding the Fusion Forge."

Kael exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples. "That’s a problem." His eyes narrowed as he stared at the projection. "Without those, we can’t create the Astral Nanites. But perhaps... there’s another way. Alice, do you think we can track down any surviving sites of the ancient Arcanum? They might have the knowledge we need."

Alice nodded. "I suggest searching for remaining ancient sites. They may hold clues that could lead us to these missing components."

Kael mulled over her words. It was a logical step. The world was still littered with ruins of forgotten civilizations—places where lost knowledge slumbered, waiting to be rediscovered.

"Alright. But first, let’s start with what we can obtain." He turned to Alice. "Show me the location of the Eldersilver."

Alice raised her hand, and the spirit crystal embedded in her chest emitted a soft, bluish glow. A moment later, a holographic projection flickered to life in front of them, displaying a detailed topographical map. A marked location pulsed faintly on the image, deep within a mountainous region.

Kael leaned forward, studying the projection. "That’s... quite a distance." The marked site was beyond Bryndis’ borders, nestled within treacherous terrain. Even with his mana-enhanced physique, flying there unaided would be too exhausting.

He let out a breath. "Looks like I’ll need to construct another Aetherwing Skiff."

Alice’s expression remained unreadable, though there was a glint of curiosity in her eyes. "Shall I assist in its construction?"

Kael nodded. "Yeah. We’ll need to optimize it for long-range travel and high-altitude navigation. But before that, we need to gather Mythril and have the smith forge the necessary components. I’ll be the one to assemble them."

Alice inclined her head slightly. "Understood. I will assist with the assembly."

Kael turned back to the projection. There was a long road ahead, but he had no intention of stopping. The pursuit of knowledge, the advancement of his craft, and the promise of completing Project Golem pushed him forward.

He decided his next course of action. He needed to visit Alric. "Let’s get to work," he said, determination settling in his tone.

The following morning, Kael made his way to Alric’s office. The advisor was busy poring over reports, but upon seeing Kael, he immediately set them aside and stood. "My lord, what brings you here?"

Kael wasted no time. "I need you to send someone to procure a large amount of Mythril from Valteiri."

Alric’s brow furrowed slightly at the request. "If I may ask, my lord—what is the Mythril for?"

Kael leaned against the desk. "I’m building another Aetherwing Skiff. I need one that I can use for long-distance travel."

Alric’s eyes widened in excitement. Ever since he had witnessed the first Skiff soar through the skies, he had been captivated by its ingenuity.

"Understood, my lord. I will immediately arrange for the procurement of the necessary Mythril. You shall have it as soon as possible."

Kael nodded in satisfaction. With the resources on their way, the next stage of his plan was set into motion.

He didn’t have to wait long. Within two weeks, the required Mythril was transported to Bryndis, thanks in no small part to Alric and the infinite storage ring Kael had given him.

This particular ring was different from the one the Baron had originally sold to Alric—one of only three of its kind. Alric marveled at how effortlessly the Baron could create artifacts that were supposed to be exceedingly rare in this world.

Now that the Mythril had arrived, Kael wasted no time. He summoned the estate’s chief smith, a grizzled veteran of the forge named Dorian, and laid out the specifications for the components.

"Hire as many skilled hands as necessary," Kael instructed, his tone firm. "We need these components forged as soon as possible. Time is of the essence."

Dorian ran a calloused hand over his beard, studying the intricate schematics Kael provided. "Ain’t gonna be easy, lad. But with enough men, we can make it happen."

Kael nodded. "I’ll personally ensure that all required resources are available. And to keep morale high—I will give everyone a bonus if you can complete all components within a month."

At the mention of a bonus, the smith’s eyes gleamed with newfound determination. He knew his men would push themselves to meet the deadline.

With that, the smiths of Bryndis threw themselves into their work, the clang of hammers and the roar of forges filling the air as they labored tirelessly to complete their task. The rhythmic pounding of metal against metal echoed through the estate, marking the beginning of yet another innovation that would reshape the world.

This content is taken from (f)reewe(b)novel.𝗰𝗼𝐦