Chapter 136: Speech

Excerpt from the book “Dungeons and Diving” By the veteran diver Duncan

I am often asked, “what was your most difficult dive.” Now, depending on who asks, I respond differently. The arrogant nobles, none are difficult. Now, outside of that small minority, I speak the truth.

The most dangerous dungeon dive I ever took part in, was something I will never forget. This is no spontaneously generated battle tower or ancient nether fortress. It was actually on paper, a rather tame dungeon dive. But enemies were easy to avoid and stupid enough to hit themselves.

You might ask, “why was it your most difficult then?” Because I underestimated its size. With my escape charm a failure and dwindling water and food, I had to turn to feeding off monsters. There blood my water, meat my food, bones my weapons. It took me over a month to escape that damnable labyrinth.

Advice always brings enough water and food to last 5 years. You will thank me later.

“I have to attend a small gathering today.”

“What for?” Cassie enquiries.

“We are releasing some air travel recipes.”

“I see; good luck.” She says, placing her hand on her under her head and bowing.

“What was that motion?” I ask, mimicking what she did.

“I just prayed for you.”

“You believe in Felix?”

“We call him, Oran, here.”

“I see; an interesting way of praying. Back home, we used to draw a cross on our bodies.” Doing it as an example.

“Why the cross?” She says, mimicking the gesture.

“It was believed in Christianity that God’s son died on a cross.”

“I see.”

“Earth had a lot of religions,” I state, recalling the ungodly amount of gods we came up with.

“Really? We have a handful.”

“Yeah, even within each religion, tons of variations existed.”

“Sounds familiar.” She says, hand on her chin.

“Anyway, I have got to go; Average will be mad if I don’t attend.”

“Who is Average?”

“Ah, yes, you don’t know his name. It is the Mayor’s name.”

“You are on a first-name basis with the Mayor?”

Shrugging, “guess so.”

“You know, he is an important man. Being able to call him by his name is a privilege.”

“What made him so important?”

“You know he was a knight, right?”

“Yeah.”

“He wasn’t just any knight; he was a hero. He saved a lot of lives from bandits, monsters, dimensional disasters. He was always there and always helped.”

“I see, that is cool.”

“It is a shame Jody died, lost all his steam.”

“Who is Jody?”

“His school sweetheart. Rumor has it, she promised to marry him if he became a high-knight. Well, he did it, and they got married. Adventurous soul, she disappeared one day. It was years ago; no doubt she is dead.”

“I see, I feel for him.”

“Well, get going.” She says, shooing me out my own door.

Waving goodbye, I head to town. Opting to walk, clearing my mind. Walking through the gate unimpeded, waving towards the guards. They wave back with smiles. It is nice to be known.

It doesn’t take long for me to spot the small office estate. A stand and podium were erected out front with a small group of people socializing. Swallowing my saliva, taking a deep breath, and stealing my focus, I step forward.

Average immediately spots me, picking me out of the crowd and walking over. I’m just wondering why this town feels so much smaller now.

He pulls me out of my thoughts with a strong shoulder grab. “Ah, hi Average,” I say, spotting him.

“Good you could make it.”

Fake laughing, “you know I had no choice.”

He scoffs, “Yeah, now let’s go.”

Guiding me through the crowd towards the back of the stand. “We will begin the event in 20 minutes.”

“Okay.”

“Got a speech ready?”

I just unfocus; he looks at me with a smile, “ a no then.” He adds.

Massaging my helmet, “I forgot, I forgot, I am stupid.”

Average claps my shoulder, recoiling in pain. “Damn, that is some armor. Anyway, don’t worry. I have had to wing a handful of speeches before.”

“Really?”

“No, I am not stupid enough to not prepare one,” he says laughing while walking away.

“Well, this is bad,” I say out loud.

A feminine voice speaks behind me, startling me. “What’s bad?”

Turning around, I see a slightly aged woman peering down at me. Heat rushes to my cheeks in embarrassment; I sigh. “I forgot to prepare my speech.” Shame filling my voice as I say it.

“Want some help?”

“Well, anything would be appreciated right now,” I say, nodding in thanks.

“Okay, what is your speech?”

“I don’t really know. My recipes are being released today.”

“Ah, I see. So you need to speak about the why. Potentially who it would impact, how that is good. Always use a good objective for a speech, irrespective of your goals.”

“It is already a good objective.”

“That’s the spirit, sweety.”

“Okay, okay, any tips?”

“Confidence, first and foremost. You need to believe what you are saying. Second, be adaptable. See how the crowd is swaying, good? Keep going. Bad? Change how you are speaking. Also, don’t say anything you don’t need to. The fewer facts you speak, the less you can get caught out.”

“This sounds like how to manipulate the crowd,” I say with a conflicted expression.

“You are not wrong. But sometimes it is needed. Good luck, little thing.” She says, waving me goodbye.

I just frown; that is some strong advice. I spent the remaining time quickly thinking up my speech. I hear Average step onto the stage.

“Hello, Ladies and Gentlemen. Today is a special day, the day a generous man is releasing recipes to the public. Some of you might be skeptical, but I assure you with a small act.” He loudly clicks his fingers. Like a choreographed play, several ships fly overhead.

“These airships are quickly becoming a valuable means of travel. We are releasing the recipes to make them. A demonstration will be given right after a short speech from the creator of the recipe. Please welcome, Aeternum.”

I step onto the platform, getting a round of applause. A lot of people recognize me, pointing at me and whispering.

Walking towards the podium, Average steps away, gesturing for me to stand behind it. Once I am behind the spruce podium, I clear my throat with a quiet cough. Nervousness is causing butterflies to hatch in my stomach. Suppressing my desire to run away, I open my mouth.

“Hello, welcome to this… recipe release.” Freezing, not knowing what the event is called. “I hope you are all looking forward to the demonstration; I sure am,” I say with a smile. A few people smile at that.

Keeping the sway positive, I internalize. “I am releasing these recipes in the hopes of advancing the world. We have stagnated for far too long; I hope this little bit of generosity can push civilization forward.” The group of nobles didn’t react.

“And, of course, make a lot of money doing it,” I say with a sly smile. The crowd breaks into light laughs. Humanity is predictable no matter where you go.

“Do we have any questions?” I ask the crowd. Immediately regretting it as several hands shoot up.

Pointing at a random hand, an older silver-haired woman, speaks. “wouldn’t you lose money by releasing the recipes?”

“An intelligent deduction. Yet, reputation is far more valuable than money.” Buttering her up before giving a half-truth. A few hands dropped after my response.

“You,” Pointing at a middle-aged man this time. The crowd seems to all be above the 40 years old line.

“How can we get access to this published recipe?”

“You will have to direct that question to your Mayor. Although, it shouldn’t be difficult.”

“Are these vessels safe?”

“We have completed several successful test flights. We can even show you the onboard heavy artillery if you so desire.”

Which got a grateful nod from a frail and thin-looking woman.

“How expensive is the recipe?”

“The core, cheap. The resources to build the vessel? On par with ships, if not more. We strive to use good materials for our vessels for safety.”

After that, I managed to deflect all further questions to Average. Slinking away like a snake. Mentally exhausted from the speech. Stepping to behind the stage, I watch as Average returns to the podium.

“I assume you are all excited for the demonstration?”

A loud uproar of excitement appears.

“Good.”

With another click of his fingers, a group of builders appears. Hastily they construct a vessel while the mayor shows the helm.

“The helm, the brains of the vessel. When used with balloons, it allows flight. You need a fifty, fifty ratio of balloons to blocks.” Walking towards the fully constructed vessel, he places the help.

A young man walks up and sits in the cockpit. Starting the vessel, in moments, he flies away.

“As you can see, they are easy to make, and flight is simple to learn.”

A whole army of noise bursts from the crowd. Shouting throughout, while others raise their arms politely.

“One at a time.” Average say’s, lowing his arms.

It is at this point that I unfocus, slipping into a chair and having a break. Opening a book, I lose track of time. Eventually, I feel a push on my shoulder.

“Nice one out there, like a true politician.”

“Thanks,” I say in reply to Average. I can almost see that woman smiling behind Average. “How do people access the recipes?”

“They walk into any governmental building and apply.”

“Doesn’t that restrict people?”

“No, it just stops people who are lazy from using it. Simple delay tactics, everyone can have it, as you requested.”

“I see, good.”

“Walk with me.” Average say’s.

“Okay.” Walking beside him.

“How is everything?”

“Good.”

“Glad to hear; what have you been doing?”

“Traveling dimensions, practicing magic, you know, just alleviating boredom.”

“Some advice, don’t talk about magic so easily. Unregistered magic users can get in a lot of trouble.”

“How do you get registered?”

“It is complex.”

“Well, that doesn’t help.” I sigh.

“Normally, you are born into a family. They have internal policies that sort it out.”

“I thought this was the empire of magic.”

“It is, but magic is dangerous. It is controlled and regulated.”

“This is the first I am hearing of it.”

“No surprise there.”

“Rude,” I say with a laugh.

“No, generally. The public isn’t normally exposed to magic or its policies. It is all internal. They wouldn’t have been able to tell you.”

“I see. So what do I do?”

“Either, keep it on the low, or… I will think of something.” He pauses for a moment in thought. “Might have to appeal to the royal family, as I doubt you are willing to join a restrictive magic family.”

“You know me well. Thank you.”

“Sometimes, I feel like I don’t know you at all.”

“No surprise there.”

Which got an in-sync giggle from both of us.

“You know, I have never thanked you for everything you have done for this town. I have no doubt in my mind I could achieve the same, but you have sped up the process a decade; thank you.”

“Errm, no problem,” I say with a shrug. “Getting on in age, sure you can think that far into the future.”

“Cheeky sod.”

“I should say thanks to. You, instead of throwing me out of your office, helped me out. I think I might be at odds with the government if you hadn’t supported me.”

“It was better than letting you run around. My judgment was proven wise, as you… Blew up the lake!” The last part was a shout.

“Sorry.”

He rubs his eyebrows. “You are such an anomaly.”

“Thanks.”

“Anyway, get going. I have the stuff to do.” He says, heading off.

I head home, shoulders lighter with the task complete.