Library
Search
Home / Fantasy / The Least Common Denominator / IV.I Product
IV.I Product
Author: MokouFriedChicken
last update2020-09-02 17:01:08
*CLANG*

"Crimson, sweetie~ Can you make me a new rapier?" a muffled voice echoed from beyond the wooden door.

"Of course, Ma'am!"

*Drip*

Beads of sweat trickled down my cheek before I returned my attention to my work. The fires from this forge weren't as blistering as the ones down at the Furnace, but it was still dangerous if left unattended. My mind, however, was still the same old wandering dog that keeps getting distracted at the slightest hint of new stuff. Or was it not like that back then? Either way...

How long has it been?

*CLANG*

I honestly forgot after the umpteenth time that Arya requested that I make another weapon for her. I think I've been at this for just shy of a year, what with Olivia actually starting to grow a bit bigger for her old clothes. When did she get so big?

"Hey, Big Sis!"

"Good morning, 'Livia."

*CLANG*

I smiled at my little sister in all but blood. She'd learned much after we got out of the Furnace. Technically, she can already hold her own in terms of being a decent Denominator, but anytime our illustrious Madam broached the subject, Olivia just seemed to fail every job that she got.

Quite the nifty pretender, if I do say so myself.

*Drip*

"Hey, sis,"-'Livia sauntered into the smithing room, her blue dress billowing behind her-"watcha making?"

*CLANG*

"Well,"-I stared blankly at the molten thing in my tongs-"I guess it's a rapier now."

"Can I help?" The not-so-small-anymore brunette asked me with a twinkle in her eye. "I mean, only if you want to."

I fought the urge to agree for as long as I could-

"Okay, 'Livia. Same routine?"

She hefted her trusty hammer with both hands. "Of course!"

But how can I deny such a precious little flower?! Well, she's not so small anymore, but who's reading my thoughts anyway? I relented to my baser instincts as I ruffled the top of her head.

"Ready?" I asked my apprentice as I laid the glowing metal on the anvil.

"Ready."

*CLANG*  

The molten piece of metal bent to our will as Olivia struck it with her hammer. Sparks flew as we forced our will onto the metal, our arms our way of expressing ourselves through the art of smithing and inscribing the runes necessary for this piece of equipment to work.

*CLANG*

Huh. Haven't had a thought like that in a good while.

*Drip Drip*

I ignored the sound of dripping water from my face as I turned the now cylindrical piece of glowing-hot iron for another round of good old whacking.

"'Livia," I called for the girl's attention before her hammer descended down on the anvil. "Don't flatten the blade too much. it's a rapier we're making, after all."

"Of course," she nodded without any other form of childlike expression.

*CLANG*

When did she start acting like that, I wonder. I suppose after about a few months after we got drafted by Madam Arya? All of a sudden, she was very professional-like whenever we're working.

*Drip Drip Drip*

God, why am I so sweaty today? Ugh... I scrunched my brows as the thought stuck to me like peanut butter on the roof of my tongue.

"Something wrong?" Olivia paused as she turned her head to face me.

"Nothing. Nothing..." I waved with my other hand as I turned the forming rapier. "Just wondering when did you get so professional."

*CLANG*

"Silly you," my cute sister flashed me a smile while she hefted her hammer above her head once more. "I learned from the best."

*DRIP*

The best? Who's that?

"Really?"

"You taught me that we must always respect our craft," she elaborated with a knowing look on her face. "That our job demands that we maintain a steady focus to make sure that our product comes out all 'quality-like,' as you put it."

*DRIP DRIP DRIP*

I paused for a brief moment before pulling the thin rod back to begin working near the base of the hilt. The sound of trickling water also started getting louder for some reason. "I did?"

"Don't you remember?" Little Sis replied with a hint of worry coloring her face. "That was one of the first things that you taught me back at the Furnace."

*CLANG*

I glance back down on our work as I felt my mind try to recall the event. Back at the Furnace... So little over a year ago? Strange... I feel like I'm forgetting something...

*TRICKLE*

*CLANG*

I almost jumped at the sudden ring of clashing metals. In front of me, Olivia had already set her hammer aside. Having seemingly deemed that we've done enough forming and straightening, she pulled out her chisel and began the slow process of manually etching the Runes onto the thin piece of weaponry. Her technique was slow, and yet she glided through the length of the blade with an eerie familiarity. Almost like...

"'Livia,"-I slowly turned to face her, concentration affecting my face a tad too much-"Who taught you how to etch Runes like that?"

"Whaddya mean?" She asked, puzzled. "You did."

*TRICKLE.....*

I felt a few gears click in my head as a realization dawned on me like a sore thumb.

*Thud*

The dull thud of my own hammer hitting the floor seemed so far away compared to the current realization that was bombarding my mind.

"Sis?"

My memory's getting spotty... I'm forgetting things I shouldn't have forgotten so easily...

*GUSH!*

"Sis?!"

What am I missing!? Quick... My name's Crimson. That's easy. I'm forty- no. I'm eighteen. Why did my brain readily offer that information up? I grew up in a [city] Town! On the outskirts of a little town!

"Sis!" I felt myself being embraced in something warm. "B.e.the!"

Throughout my childhood, [I was a straight-A student] I worked throughout the house and on the surrounding fields. [I took pleasure in reading and playing video games] I was taught how to fight by Mother when I was [thirty-three] nine after I [entered high school with the expectations of getting top grades] asked her how to defend myself.

*WHOOSH! SPLASH!*

A searing pain started spreading throughout my head as I felt myself crouching down on the ground. A fluid-like sensation ebbed and flowed in my head. What are these conflicting memories!?

[I used to love anime] I took pleasure in cooking supper for my parents.

*WHOOSH*

[Magic isn't real] Numerators are inherently more powerful than Denominators.

[My name is...] My name is...

*TRICKLE*

The sound of trickling water echoed in my mind. My name...

*DRIP...*

C.im.on

Say it. Come on! I should know this!

*Drip....*

Crim...

That damnable leak in my head keeps on distracting me! Come on... Just on the tip of my tongue.

*drip...*

One more...

*drip*

One more...

Crim... "Crimson"...

I felt a dam erect itself inside my mind, sealing off the incessant cacophony of water. In an instant, a serene calm washed over me. The blissful sound of silence.

Yes... Crimson, that's my name.

That was the last thought I had on my mind before darkness swallowed my vision.

⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛

Oh noes. This is what I get for writing off the seat of my pants. I'll think up of something, don't worry. I'm not one to leave stuff unfinished, no matter how long it would take me to actually get the job done. In the meantime, read my other stories that have actually had years of planning go into them.

Sorry for the lack of quality. Writing's hard.
Previous ChapterNext Chapter

Related Chapters

  • The Least Common Denominator   IV.II Product

    When I came to, it was to the excruciating sounds of my little sister crying on top of me."Hey," I reached to her face, trying to wipe a tear off her cheek. "Don't cry over me.""B-But-""No buts, dear." I groaned as I made my back leave the cold, hard ground. "I'm supposed to be the big sister in this relationship."I tilted my head as I observed my surroundings. I guess I'm still in the smithing room judging by the fact that I'm still beside the anvil that we were working on. Speaking of which..."How's the rapier?""The rapier?"Huh? "The...rapier? The one that we're supposed to make for Madam Arya?" I found myself lilting at the mere mention of our patron's name. Arya... Oh beautiful Arya... Gotta have to finish building that 'special' thing for he

  • The Least Common Denominator   IV.III Product

    "Oookay?" I sarcastically remarked as I picked myself up from the nearest wall. Not really the strongest of attacks that I've tanked through, but it still hurt like getting the wind punched out of you. "Madam, what was that for?"*DRIP DRIP*"Oh! Sweetie~" The beautiful Arya, to her credit, looked absolutely sincere with the amount of remorse she was putting out. "I'm sorry~ I didn't mean to get you wet~"I found myself chuckling at the obvious innuendo. How typical of her to hide it under her seemingly innocent tune."Oh, I don't mind, Madam," I quipped back as I wiped the excess water off of my face. "I just never expected it to be so... soon."I had vivid memories of our... promiscuous activities with one another. It was usually whenever the Madam ordered Olivia away for some errand, leaving just the two of

  • The Least Common Denominator   IV.IV Product

    *CLANG!*Sparks flew from our blades as my katana made contact with Arya's rapier, anger and disbelief fueling me as our swords ground at each other."How could you?!"*CLANG! CLANG!*"Cri- Crimson, dear," The blue-haired maniac had the audacity to look horrified as she tried her best to disengage. "Please, understand-""Oh, I understand alright," I pursued the backpedaling Numerator, my arms poised for a downward slash. "You manipulated me!"I aimed my downward strike with the same ferocity as the one that Mother taught me all those years ago. With my right foot forward, my arms moved in quick succession, delivering a flurry of slashes that wouldn't look out of place from a samurai game.*CLANG!*A pause... Let the opponent

  • The Least Common Denominator   V.I Hidden Variable

    "How have they still not discovered the body yet?"I whispered to myself as I evaded yet another batch of surprisingly inept guards. The winding hallways of the barracks seemed to stretch on endlessly as I hefted my unconscious cargo on my back. It shouldn't be this easy to evade what was assuredly highly trained soldiers. I mean, I'm far from a trained infiltrator, with my only knowledge of stealth techniques coming from the few stealth games that I played back in the day. So as I bob and weave our way through the sun-kissed hallways of the building, I found myself wondering..."How the fuck are we not caught yet?" another whisper escaped my lips.I hid behind another large flower pot as I prepared to round the next corner. I might as well shout it for all of the world to see since these scarecrows masquerading as soldiers don't seem to even notice me and my still k

  • The Least Common Denominator   V.II Hidden Variable

    *SHIIIIIINNGGGG!!*"AArgh!!"Surprise colored my face as the blade went through the armor like a hot knife through butter. The resistance was almost non-existent as the blade seemed to keep its momentum; going further and further down the tin can's back as it exposed the now bleeding flesh beneath the metal."AAAARGGGGH!!"The man shouted in agony as his spine was horrifically exposed in one fell swoop. All the while, I stared dumbfounded at the damage that I had inflicted.*SQUEEEELCH!!*This wasn't right. It should've been as simple one-and-done thing; stab and move on. Even now, I should be trying to get this dude to shut up, preferably by killing him. This is borderline torture.*Thud*I stared as the guard fell on the f

  • The Least Common Denominator   V.III Hidden Variable

    "STOP THEM!"The Decimals shouted at us just as we reached the lowermost part of the stairway we've been descending. The tin cans were still a ways away, their armor hindering them from sprinting down the flight of stairs as fast as we could. So we still had some time before they got here. For now...We have to find a way to open the large wooden doors in front of us."'Livia, can your sword pierce through?" Her weapon was unnaturally sharp for its make. Perhaps it can cut through?Nodding, the brunette pointed her shortsword towards the door before applying a forward thrust towards the center-most portion of the doorway. The sword wedged itself in between the two wooden doors, but it seemed to have cut through the wood fairly well."I did it, sis!"Olivia beamed at me like our liv

  • The Least Common Denominator   V.IV Hidden Variable

    As we moved deeper and deeper into the center of the Furnace, the heat intensified to the point of almost smothering the air around us. Behind me, Olivia panted as the heat made it unbearable to even breathe. As for me...I found it strangely comforting.Don't get me wrong, I was still sweating bullets, but the fires of the Furnace offered a weird sense of familiarity; the warmth diffusing into my very core for some reason. A strange development, since I've hated the disgusting warmth of the summer season for as long as I can remember."Sis..." 'Livia breathed as she trailed behind me. "Are we there yet?"<

  • The Least Common Denominator   V.V Hidden Variable

    "Why are you bowing?"I immediately straightened my back at his curious observation. I really have to stop doing that."It's a sign of respect, sir," I explained as I raised my head to meet his confused grey eyes. At the edge of my periphery, Olivia quickly bowed as soon as my explanation came from my lips."Never heard of that kind of behavior in my long years of living," the old man wondered while rubbing the scruff of his grey beard. "And stop calling me 'Sir.' I am Backus. I'm no Imperial Dog.""As you wis

Latest Chapter

  • CV.V Cotangent

    I don't even know what's happening anymore..."Huh... That looks far too complex even for you, Crimson," Phillipe snarked at my work. Technically Anne's as well, to be honest. "A square rune with that many parts? I don't think that'll work out in the long run.""You and me both," I rolled my eyes with the sarcasm of an overflowing dam. "Seriously, why are you here?""You're being annoying."I raised an eyebrow at the blunt delivery of his oh-so-important announcement. Giving him the best sarcastic inquisitive eyes I could muster, I let out a scoff as I began whatever this talk was going to end up as.'Right behind you there.'You always are, Ica. "And?"Phillipe smirked at me as if he knew exactly what I was thinking, "You're wasting

  • CV.IV Cotangent

    "Let's go crazy..."With a borderline manic whisper, I let my imagination cut loose as my hand moved on its own. Traps within traps, earthen sigils meant to sprout at a moment's notice, the world was my oyster as the goodies slowly accumulated with each stroke of my charcoal.'Don't get too carried away, Master.'I know. I'm not dumb enough to overload the thing before it even came to fruition.And that was the biggest risk to such a massive array as well. With so many moving parts, any wrong line or overlapping rune will pretty much make the whole thing explode. I couldn't stress it enough, even to myself. Do not make this thing more complicated than it already is.'And yet here you are having fun with it.'Don't test me, Ica. Or maybe I'll just assert me being

  • CV.III Cotangent

    Fiiiineee... You win, my precious Ica.The stuttering that ensued at the back of my head was like a soothing tune as I looked over my work. The communication arrays were gonna stay, as would the Essence storage runes at strategic parts of the palace grounds. Hmmm.... Wouldn't the communication arrays be two-way anyway? So why even bother with surveillance runes like last time?My hand moved to remove the minor additions I added on the dirt parts of the grounds, leaving me with more space to work with in terms of... well... anything, really. What kind of runes would even work on shaky ground? Dirt couldn't hold anything beyond the basic types of runic arrays. Anything more complex than a three-layered circuit would blow up instantly from the strain. I could maybe run- wait... why not just do that?The charcoal streaked across the outskirts of the pa

  • CV.II Cotangent

    *ruummbbllee...*The sound of a sputtering engine echoed from behind me as I drew up yet another set of circles on the board. While I kind of put the general purpose of the massive multi-circuit array at the back of my head, I really should try and solidify that stuff properly before making the main control array, shouldn't I...'Good thing you remembered that, Master.'I grumbled through the dull pain I was feeling at my knees as I focused myself back on the doodle that was supposed to be a defense system for the palace grounds. It was far too small of a circle, now that I thought about it. The size of the drawing did little to help me ascertain the types of circuits that I drew on it in the first place. Squinting even further, it felt as if I was reading my own handwriting from how jumbled and nonsensical it all looked with hindsight.

  • CV.I Cotangent

    Plans upon plans upon plans. I feel like I'm repeating myself whenever I say that I'm obsessed about things going right, and if not, to have plans to be able to properly react to the failure. Fool-proofing something small was easy. Doing it again for something on the scale of a war, however, was a completely different beast. The number of variables at play, hundreds to even thousands of moving parts to look over and take into account. The time, the weather, morale, even individuals that might have other ideas and could stray from the plans put into place... It was so much to think about that hours or even days of pouring over the relevant information wouldn't be enough to take everything into account into one's plans. And even if you think you somehow managed to achieve this impossibility, there will always be something so monumentally out of left field that could just absolutely destroy any and all plans along with its sub plans and

  • Interlude XXXIX: Grigori

    GRIGORI⬛⬛⬛*RRRRRUUUMMBBLLEEEE!!!! RRRRUUMMBBLEEEE!!!*"What's wrong, Lord Stone?! Finally getting tired in your old age?!"Grigori grumbled in annoyance as he found himself standing his ground in his self-made fortress. Truth be told, the former Prime expected his fight to be over over ten minutes ago. However, he severely underestimated his enemies' hidden tenacity and downright stubbornness."I'm just getting started, kid!" he boisterously replied. "I'm far from being done!"Still, even as he said those words, Grigori was beginning to feel more tired than he initially expected. His reserves were starting to run dry from the constant back and forth that the combined forces of Lords Breeze and Inferno were throwing at him. And that's not to mention the current

  • CIV.IV Transistor

    OLIVIA⬛⬛⬛"So Lord Iron truly took care of the problem?"Olivia held her breath as she found herself taking in the state that the young Num was just found in. Broken, battered, and bleeding all over, Tesla had clearly taken a beating of a lifetime as her head lolled in her unconscious state, her face marred with cuts and bruises as her white hair was stained brown with dried blood."Damn... I guess the ranking in the Prime Thirteen's not a joke, huh...""Lord Iron's the Sixth, after all. Lady Static's the Thirteenth...""Fuck..." Olivia swore under her breath, her teeth gnashing as she watched the Imperials gawk at her fallen friend. "How the hell do I get her out of there safely..."The warrior Den tuned everything out as she focused on the unenviabl

  • CIV.III Transistor

    OLIVIA⬛⬛⬛*c..crackle....*The faint sound of electricity seemed to crackle from the distance as Olivia stood in the middle of her self-made carnage. The lack of common sense that she was witnessing honestly made her feel more irritated than amused as she slowly walked towards the panicking commander. Olivia had places to be, and possibly someone to save depending on whether or not Tesla could somehow relay to her that she was okay."No matter," she sighed. "You idiots wouldn't understand, I guess.""No!-"*SLASH!*With a quick step, the commander didn't even stand a chance. His sword fell with an unceremonious clang onto the ground as his head rolled off his neck like a piece of meat. Olivia didn't flinch as the idiot's terrified fa

  • CIV.II Transistor

    OLIVIA⬛⬛⬛*CRACKLE! CRACKLE! KRAKATHOOM!*Olivia ran through the streets of Mathema like a woman possessed. Wreaking havoc across every Imperial contingent she came across, lightning followed her path as she relied on Tesla's ever-encompassing presence to deal massive damage on the enemy while despite being outnumbered by at least a hundred to one. She knew that Her Sister would no doubt disapprove of her current tactics, but if it worked, then why bother changing it?"If it ain't broke, don't fix it, right?"*KRAKATHOOM!*"AAHHH!!!!""IT BURNS!"With a smile on her face and blood on her blade, Olivia uttered her Sister's own words out loud as a reminder. Lightning crackled behind her, screams of her fallen enemies saturat

You may also like

Scan code to read on App