Is this going to help us to manipulate the Eshfa device, Xeen? Marcus asked while following the next commands of his companion.

Not directly. What we are building now will allow us to build the tools we need. You can now add the motivator in that slot. Marcus followed Xeen's magic pink dot and added another component to the whole. He looked at the thing he had built and had some basic ideas of what it was. Some kind of robotic assembly construct?

Yes, a very basic one, but it will allow us to build the tools we will need. Next is the computer setup and the design of the needed components. Even with the crude technology of Earth we can step by step reach the level needed to manipulate eshfa technology. But this will have to wait, you are already exhausted for today.

Xeen was right, for a whole week he had spent hours every day building this 'Micro-Forge' and it took a lot of concentration to perform tasks he didn't really understand. Several robotic arms, 3d printers, a soldering iron and other tools were already part of the contraption. The thing took up a good part of the room, and all that was missing now was the control unit and the designs they wanted to create.

Marcus stretched and left Kou's workshop, which had become his second home in the last week. It was already close to 11 PM when Marcus stepped outside and most activity in the estate had died down. He walked towards the villa and saw a familiar blonde head still moving around on the training field. Marcus changed his course to see what his disciple was up to.

Fin was walking in circles, throwing Bob into the air and every time the blob came back it had changed its form to some degree. It changed from a round ball to a stick, to a brick and so on. Bob was still very small, his size would only increase with Fin's scaling attributes. "Good evening, Fin," Marcus said, and the young man caught Bob as a little ball and turned to Marcus with a faint smile.

"Sir," he said, and Marcus could easily see Fin had a lot on his mind. "What is keeping you up, Fin?" Marcus asked. Fin looked at his teacher with some hesitation, but finally said, "I really enjoy playing with Bob and all the tasks you have given me, but… will this really make me stronger?" Bob had turned into a ring around Fin's wrist while he spoke.

"Are you worried about the mission tomorrow?" Marcus asked, and Fin nodded. "My ability, especially the way I have been using it, seems useless compared to the stuff the others can do. I have no power," Fin said quickly, and Marcus understood. "You don't need to be the hero tomorrow. Be helpful, use your rifle if you have to and most importantly, survive," Marcus said, but this didn't seem to help Fin a lot.

"Fin, your class needs time to grow strong and I have been avoiding combat applications on purpose. You have progressed much faster than I have hoped. In only a few months you have gained considerable control over Bob and that matters far more in the long run than a cheap combat technique that is outdone by a modern rifle," Marcus tried to explain, and this seemed to cheer up Fin a bit, but it was still not enough to make him smile.

"Stop worrying right now and go to sleep," Marcus said, and sent Fin to bed. He watched Fin open the door to the barracks using Bob as a tool to push the handle down. Marcus smiled, he was still using Bob for all his tasks as Marcus had instructed him.

He really is not the smartest, but he has a good work ethic and he trusts his teacher.

Let's hope his teacher knows what he is doing, Marcus thought and went to bed himself.

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Early morning on the next day, the estate was already busy. The rookies would go on a simple patrol mission in Algeria, for three days. The area had seen a limited monster incursion and the rookies had been hired to protect civilians and to clean up remnant monsters. Marcus stepped out of the villa with Janette in tow. "Fin!" He called for his disciple and the young man came running, fully decked out. Marcus gave him a short check and adjusted his backpack and some armor pieces to fit better.

"Come with us for a moment." Marcus walked away and Fin followed the two veterans, with an intrigued look on his face. They moved a bit aside the busy area, and stopped near the training field. "Hold out your hand with Bob on top. Make him into a ball," Marcus demanded, and Fin did so. Janette casually drew her pistol from a side holster and in one fluid motion put a bullet into Bob the blob. The little thing flew from Fin's hand, who screamed in surprise.

"Take a look at Bob," Marcus said, while Janette holstered her gun and calmed Luca who had come running. Fin quickly moved to his blob and the Shadow Mass jumped into his lowered hand. A moment later the small bugger spit out a bullet and Fin burned his hands slightly. The bullet dropped to the ground and Marcus picked it up, no problem. He showed it to Fin who looked surprised.

"Your Bob is much tougher than you think. Once he grows a bit you might be able to protect yourself or others through him. And I bet you might come up with a lot of other cool ideas, Fin." Marcus smiled and so did Fin. "Keep the bullet and go to your team." Marcus sent him off, and watched him a moment later showing the bullet to the rookies, explaining what happened.

"Look how happy he is because I shot his blob. That reminds me of the fun times we had when I shot you," Janette said, with a far away kind of look. Marcus squinted his eyes, but kept his answer to himself. "Thanks for helping," he just said, and started to walk to the workshop. "He is going to become really strong, am I right?" Janette asked with a smile, and Marcus turned. "You are building him up to something monstrous," she said, still grinning. Marcus smiled and continued to walk away.

After he had taken an interest in Fin Marcus had spent a lot of time researching Warlocks and their Shadow Mass. From his point of view they were wasting a lot of potential of the Shadow Mass by trying to badly emulate an Elemental Mage. The general consent was to create expanding spears and shields to fight at medium range. Yes, the penetration power was impressive and the protection acceptable, but that sold the Shadow Mass short, Marcus felt.

The pure physical strength of that material was impressive and it grew ever stronger with the Warlock. Even a level one Shadow Mass with a few scaling attribute points could stop a pistol bullet. In his eyes, treating the Warlock like some second rate range class was wrong. Ultimately, it would come down to Fin how things would turn out, but Marcus had some ideas….

Another six hours of toiling away in the workshop brought Marcus and Xeen closer to finishing their first project. Exhausted but also happy, Marcus left to join the rest of the team for some lunch. At least, he was hoping there was some tasty food waiting for him.

If you had a little more self control when it comes to food, we would already be done with this step.

Hunger, can't think. Need food. Was Marcus' reaction and like a zombie he shambled towards the kitchen. Three times blessed maiden Achara had made a giant pot of noodles with tomato sauce and meatballs. While Marcus was on his third serving Janette came into the kitchen, looking rather smug. Expecting trouble, Marcus quickly gobbled down his food and prepared to run.

"We are going to Berlin!" Janette said, and Marcus stopped his preparations to escape. "Why are we going to Berlin?" He asked, and his friend smiled. "Because we are going to visit Vivian Shan's exhibition. It is time you got some enchanted gear!" She said with a wide grin and Marcus was dumbstruck. "How did you get an invitation to that? Only the top clans and firms get invitations to her exhibitions," Marcus said, smelling foul play. "I called the organizer and asked him how he would like it if the Titan would show up to the event and he was all for it. Got a few tickets just by using your name," Janette said, with a wide grin.

That was actually an amazing opportunity, Marcus thought. Getting enchanted equipment or items first hand was nearly impossible, because all Artificers were under the direct control of nations. Only big shots like Cherry got direct access. But Vivian Shan was different, she was the only true independent Artificer and a damn good one too.

We will see about that.

By human standards.

This is what I am afraid of. But no matter what, it is a good idea to inspect the work of your Sorcerers.

"Great work Janette! We might not be able to afford anything she presents, but looking and maybe networking is worth the trip anyway," Marcus said, and Janette laughed. "Networking? Who is this man?! What have you done with the real Marcus!" She exclaimed, playing shocked. "Told you things have changed. It is time for me to be a bit more confident and proactive," Marcus explained with a grin. Achara cleared her throat, "Could we come too? We haven't had a holiday in ages" The other two shrugged their shoulders and agreed. "I see no reason why not," Marcus said, and suddenly it was a holiday trip.

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