Reincarnated in another world with a Gunsmithing System

Guests from afar

The appearance of a human eye on someone’s hand was a shocking phenomenon even in this magical world. Ezra looked shell-shocked by the incident.

“What the hell is this?” he gasped, grabbing his trembling right hand with his left.

The eye that had suddenly popped open had a pale blue iris and coral-red blood vessels, which darkened as it throbbed spasmodically.

Ezra could feel a sharp pain in his hand, but he gritted his teeth to suppress his urge to scream. People around him already treated him like a freak, and he did not want to attract any more attention to himself.

Keeping his calm, Ezra walked up to his study table and got hold of a compass. Curling his fingers around its cold, steely legs, he prepared to pierce the eye.

But just as he was about to stab his hand, the eye disappeared.

Beads of cold sweat rolled down Ezra’s neck as he looked at his hand. Dropping the compass, he brought his right hand close to his face.

The eye was no longer there, and his hand had stopped hurting. Ezra wondered if he had been hallucinating due to stress, but it all seemed too real to be his imagination.

“I should probably get some sleep,” he mumbled, before heading to his bathroom.

After taking a nice cold shower, Ezra dried himself and looked in the mirror. There were heavy bags hanging under his eyes, and his face looked pale. He had spent far too many sleepless nights, trying to find a cure for his condition.

As Ezra climbed into his bed, his father’s words kept ringing in his ears. He had been rejected from the Dragon Claw clan, and his dream of becoming an Ace Gunner had been shattered to pieces.

***

The following morning, Ezra was woken up by a gentle rapping on his door. He still felt groggy, and his eyes were heavy with sleep, but the voice from outside made him sit up straight.

“It’s already noon, little brother. Time for you to get up and train. I have a surprise for you, so why don’t you open the door?” Aurelia called out from the other side.

Ezra wasn’t a big fan of surprises, but hearing his sister’s voice, he got out of bed and put on a clean set of clothes. Slipping into his sandals, he stretched himself out before opening the door.

He was expecting Aurelia to be waiting with a gift box, but instead, she was holding a small green pouch with a red string tied around its mouth and was accompanied by an old man with gray hair dressed in a lavender robe.

“I don’t understand. Who’s this?” Ezra asked.

“He is Zang Wu Ling, an Arch Maester from the eastern city of Shangzo. I got word he was visiting Aranor to acquire healing waters from the Fountain of Erelor and decided to pay him a visit,” Aurelia replied. “He doesn’t usually like treating foreigners, but in your case, he has chosen to make an exception.”

Just by looking at the old man’s face, Ezra could tell why he had made an exception in his case. The Arch Maester hadn’t come here of his own free will but had been compelled by Aurelia.

“You really didn’t have to do all this for me,” Ezra said. “I’ve tried every damn thing and nothing seems to work.”

“But you haven’t tried the fabled eastern herbs have you?” Aurelia said shaking the pouch she was carrying. “Now get back to your bed and let him have a look at your hands.”

Ezra unwillingly went back to bed. He wasn’t too hopeful about Eastern medicine being able to fix his condition, but he knew Aurelia wasn’t going to accept no for an answer.

The Arch Maester took a good look at Ezra's hands before reaching into his pocket and pulling out a red sponge and a vial filled with a viscous green liquid.

“I will need a bowl. A clean one,” he said.

Aurelia quickly fetched the copper bowl lying on Ezra's table and put it on the bed.

“Some clean water as well,” Zang Wu added.

Aurelia called for her maid, and she entered noiselessly carrying a clay jug containing the healing waters from the Fountain of Erelor. She carefully poured the water into the bowl and then backed away.

“You can go now.” Aurelia dismissed her maid and turned her attention to Ezra. “You will get better in no time. Just do as the Arch Maester says.”

Zang Wu seemed confident he would be able to heal Ezra’s hands. “The fingers have gone cold. Need warmth and care. Qi still surges through the boy’s veins. All he needs is to focus his energy and channel it into his fingertips."

“Don’t you think I’ve tried that already?” Ezra asked, a bit annoyed by the Arch Maester’s suggestion. “I can’t keep my hands from shaking, and my fingers…they are all twisted. I can’t even hold things for too long.”

“The warmth will help,” Zang Wu said as he poured the green liquid from the vial into the bowl filled with water. It quickly started bubbling, and the water turned lukewarm and turbid.

“Now soak your hands in it. Do this every day for two weeks, and then dry your hands and apply the herbal paste your sister is carrying. Your hand should be better in no time.”

Ezra was still listening to the Arch Maester when he felt a tingling sensation in his arm. He shivered and pulled his right hand back, remembering the eye which had appeared on its back.

Aurelia noticed his strange behavior and asked if he was alright.

Ezra nodded. “It’s fine. I think I will stay in my room for now.”

“I shall be taking my leave now. And please do not call on me again,” Zang Wu said as he got up to depart.

Aurelia, however, still had something to say. “I hope you are not leaving Aranor soon. If my brother doesn’t notice any improvement in a week, I will be back at your lodgings. And this time, I might not be so considerate.”

Zang Wu clenched his fist but still managed to smile peevishly. If they were in his own country, he would never have allowed such a threat to go unpunished, but now that he was in a foreign land, he had no choice but to remain calm.

“Do not worry. I know what I am doing. Your brother is still young and virile. He will heal soon,” he said before leaving.

Ezra wanted to trust the Arch Maester, but after all his disappointments with different potions and tinctures, he was doubtful about the efficacy of Eastern medicine.

“Thank you for everything you have done, and continue to do for me,” Ezra said in a humble tone, his adulatory eyes fixed on Aurelia’s loving face. “I wish you could be proud of me, but things just aren’t in my control anymore. That accident ruined it all.”

Aurelia touched him lightly on his right shoulder and said, “I am proud of you already, brother. You still have great potential in you, so don’t fret about it. Your arms will heal eventually, and you will earn your rightful place in the clan.”

Ezra thanked her again and was about to get back to his books when Aurelia stopped him.

“We have guests visiting us today. You need to join us in the hall,” she said. “Put on some clean clothes and wash your face before coming downstairs.”

Ezra wanted to ask more questions, but Aurelia left without revealing anything else about the guests. It made Ezra anxious because he had a hunch this visit involved him in some way.

***

Half an hour later, Ezra came downstairs wearing his cleanest linen and joined Aurelia and the rest of his family in the hall.

However, they weren’t alone. A couple of strangers were already sitting on the couch facing the sturdy wooden table in the middle.

One of them was a middle-aged woman wearing a sable green gown made of the finest velvet paired with a turquoise fedora decorated with a parakeet feather.

There was a ring under her gloved finger which suggested she was married, and her glossy black hair fell in curls along her shoulders, which rested taut and straight.

Beside her was a younger girl, nearly the same age as Ezra. She was dressed in a fine yellow silk corset worn over a slim summer gown adorned with lacy frills.

Unlike the other woman who had a serious expression, this girl seemed to be calm and composed. She had a delicate face with pretty pink lips, but her gaze was fierce and keen.

“Careful how you conduct yourself, little brother. These two hail from the Rodel family of Stonewell City. Her husband owns a firearms factory in Moren district,” Aurelia whispered to Ezra. “I have met them once before, but this is their first visit to our home.”

Before Ezra’s father could begin introducing his guests, they were joined by another: an elderly gentleman dressed in black robes and wearing a red dragon pin on his chest, which suggested he was an Elder in the Dragon Claw guild.

“Greetings, Lord Sebastian. I hope I did not keep you waiting for too long,” the man said almost too courteously. He then turned to the other two guests and added, “Lady Lillian, it is good to see you after all this time. I wish your husband could have joined us.”

“The pleasure is all mine, Lord Cornelius,” Lady Lillian replied with a polite smile. “My husband dearly wishes to join the deliberations, but unfortunately his business keeps him away.”

“I am sure you can represent your family just as well,” Lord Cornelius replied before turning to Ezra’s father. “Now, Lord Sebastian, I think you are aware why we are here.”

Lord Sebastian’s expression became serious as he knit his eyebrows. Even Ezra and Aurelia could feel the tension in the air.

“Lord Sebastian, I think you already know your son’s repeated failures have tarnished not only your family’s reputation but the glory of our clan as well. He was once a brilliant boy with a bright future, but now he is nothing but a burden to us.”

“I have already informed him that he will not be joining the clan as a Gunner,” Lord Sebastian replied.

The Elder, however, shook his head. “I am afraid that won’t suffice. Your son isn’t even fit to be an honorary member of Dragon Claw. In fact, it would be best if you never connect his name to our clan.”

“He is my own blood.” Lord Sebastian retorted, clenching his fist, his eyes blazing with repressed fury. “You know he is a gifted boy. Nothing can change that.”

“I do not care about his gift,” the Elder sneered, giving Ezra a condescending side-eye. “Just look at his hands. If he weren’t your son, even the local tavern wouldn’t employ him.”

“You should watch your tongue, Lord Cornelius!” Lord Sebastian reprimanded. “My boy is going to become the Lord of Stonewell someday.”

The Elder laughed at this. “You should not harbor such misconceptions.”

“What do you mean?” Lord Sebastian asked with a puzzled expression on his face.

“I am here to tell you that Lady Lillian’s family would like to dissolve the betrothal between her daughter, Lady Cecilia, and your son, Lord Ezra,” the Elder announced.

Unfurling a scroll, he presented it to Lord Sebastian. “Please sign here, and as for your son…he can just use a thumb impression since he cannot even hold a pen,” he sneered.

“I will not stand this impudence!” Lord Sebastian reprimanded angrily. “I refuse to allow this betrothal to be dissolved!”

At this, Lady Lillian stood up. “We wanted our daughter to be engaged to Ezra because he was a gifted child at that time. But look at him now.”

She turned to face Ezra and continued. “He is nothing more than a cripple now. How do you expect me to wed my daughter to a boy who can’t even hold a pen, let alone a gun? Is he even fit to be a part of the Dragon Claw clan?”

Those harsh words stung Ezra's heart. But he knew Lady Lillian was only speaking the truth. He looked at the young girl on the couch and faintly recalled having seen her before, but he didn’t remember anything about their betrothal.

Clenching his fist, Ezra spoke up. “Even I would never want to marry a girl whose mother is as arrogant as you. My arms may be crippled for now, but I am still an E-level magic user! I can get someone far better than her.”

This infuriated Lady Lillian and she tore into Ezra. “How dare you? Do you think I don’t know what people say behind your back? You are the black sheep of your family. A worthless cripple with the lowest shooting score! And I also know your dear father has already informed you that you will never join the Dragon Claw clan as a Gunner!”

Before the Elder could intervene, Aurelia joined the discussion. “What about your daughter? I have heard she has taken a tumble in the hay with more than a couple of lovers, one of whom was a stable hand.”

“Lies! My daughter is an honorable young lady!” Lady Lillian retorted.

But Aurelia merely smiled at her. “Ohh, but you do know rumors spread like wildfire. And I am quite good at pulling strings.”

“That’s enough!” Lord Sebastian finally cut in, silencing the bickering ladies. “Both of you are crossing the lines of decency here. This matter needs to be handled diplomatically and with a calm mind.”

The Elder nodded in agreement and calmly presented his ultimatum.

“I believe you have two choices here, Lord Sebastian: either dissolve the betrothal or step down as the Prime Patriarch of Dragon Claw Clan and let Lady Lillian’s husband, Lord Lucius Rodel take your place. It’s either your crippled son or your position. You cannot keep both.”