"So, you do it like this," Fornos instructed, his tone calm and deliberate as his hands moved deftly over the woven steel. He was wearing a pair of thick leather gauntlets, the fingertips elongated and needle-like, designed for precision work. Goggles with etched, rune-like engravings shielded his eyes from the occasional sparks that flew as he adjusted the thin metal fibers.
Konos, the old man standing behind him, stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Yes, making a muscle structure should be done with utmost care and respect," he remarked, his voice a mix of admiration and skepticism. "But I never thought you'd return, young master."
Fornos smirked without looking up from his work. "Liar. I heard you signed the contract the moment you encountered it."
Konos coughed awkwardly. "You're not wrong. It was... a good opportunity. Better than the mess I was in." He watched as Fornos continued weaving the steel into a flexible lattice, connecting it to the metallic joints with practiced ease. "Though I have to say, sir, I didn't expect a merchant to know this much about golems."
Fornos paused, adjusting his goggles before continuing. "I learned by myself when I was eleven. My parents bought me a butler golem—an older model. One of the arms kept getting stuck. I couldn't stand it, so I took it apart and fixed it."
Konos chuckled. "A child taking apart a golem? Sounds like a headache for your folks."
"They weren't too pleased at first. But when I got it working again, they didn't stop me from tinkering. After that, I kept experimenting. I realized that if you understand the structure, you can make it better. Not just repair—improve."
The old man gave a low hum of approval. "I suppose it makes sense. Still, there's a difference between tinkering with an old butler and making functional golem muscles. This is advanced crafting."
Fornos tightened a knot of the steel fiber, pulling it taut. "That's why I hired you. Your previous project wasn't profitable, but your designs were interesting. Too expensive, but conceptually sound."
Konos' face tightened at the mention of his failed project. "It would have worked... if I'd had better materials."
"And better investors," Fornos added, cutting off the last thread with a snip. "Your concepts had merit, but your execution was flawed. I'm not interested in perfection. I'm interested in functionality."
Konos rubbed the back of his neck, visibly uncomfortable. "You're surprisingly harsh for someone so young."
Fornos shrugged. "I don't have time to sugarcoat things. If something doesn't work, fix it or move on. There's no value in clinging to failures."
The old man glanced at the woven muscle structure now gleaming on the workbench. "Your mindset is very... efficient."
Fornos placed the muscle structure onto a brass frame. "It has to be. Nobles can afford to waste resources, but merchants like us can't. Every mistake costs money and time. I have neither to spare."
He attached the muscles to the joints, testing the tension with calculated movements. The steel fibers contracted smoothly, the new design allowing for greater flexibility without sacrificing strength. Brassheart stood nearby, its dull eyes reflecting the workshop light.
"Brassheart," Fornos called out. "Extend arm."
The golem raised its left arm, and Fornos attached the new muscle structure to the limb. Once secured, he gave a command. "Tension, sixty percent."
Brassheart's arm flexed, the muscles contracting in a fluid, lifelike motion. Konos leaned closer, inspecting the movement with keen eyes. "That's... impressive. Usually, there's more stiffness in the first integration."
"I mapped the muscle structure to mimic human tendons," Fornos explained. "By distributing the tension more evenly, the movement becomes smoother. I'll need to test durability, though."
Konos couldn't help but smile. "You're sharp. Most crafters your age would still be stuck on basic gear assembly."
Fornos glanced at him. "It's not enough. Understanding the Macular system is crucial if I want to upgrade Brassheart to handle more complex tasks. Gears and Spheroids can only take you so far. Real muscle flexibility can change how golems move on the battlefield."
The old man's gaze softened. "You're preparing for something, aren't you?"
Fornos didn't answer immediately. Instead, he began tightening the bolts on the muscle attachment, lost in thought. After a moment, he spoke, his voice quieter. "I can't stay still. If I don't improve, someone else will. I've seen what complacency does to people. It makes them weak. Ineffective."
He paused, remembering his father's words about balance and relationships. Fornos respected his father, but he couldn't afford to rely on gentle methods. Not in this world.
Konos broke the silence, his tone thoughtful. "You remind me of a young knight I once knew. Always pushing himself, always trying to be better. He didn't have your sharp tongue, but he had your determination."
"What happened to him?" Fornos asked, still focused on his work.
"He burned out. Didn't know when to take a break. One mistake during a battle, and it cost him his life."
Fornos tightened the final bolt. "I'm not him. I know when to be cautious. Besides, if I push forward hard enough, I won't need to worry about being left behind."
Konos didn't respond. Instead, he watched as Fornos continued integrating the muscle structures, calculating weight distribution and adjusting tension points. The old man could see the ambition burning in the boy's eyes—an ambition that bordered on obsession.
As the sun dipped low, painting the workshop in hues of orange, Fornos finally leaned back, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Test successful. I'll have to reinforce the arm plate, though. The muscle tension might bend it if strained."
Konos patted his shoulder. "You're on the right track. Just remember, young master, even the strongest golems need maintenance. Don't wear yourself out."
Fornos offered a faint smile, uncharacteristically warm. "I'll keep that in mind."
After Konos left, Fornos leaned against the workbench, feeling a rare sense of satisfaction. Progress was being made. Brassheart was evolving—slowly but surely. With the new muscle system, it would become more agile and adaptable.
As he watched the golem go through a series of movements, Fornos couldn't help but think about the future. One day, Brassheart would be more than just a symbol of his determination. It would be a weapon—a testament to his ambition and ingenuity.
For now, though, it was just another step forward.