CHAPTER 69: 69. THE WORKSHOP WITH WHEELS

They had a viable plan by the end of the second week. The carriage would be big enough to hold twelve people comfortably, and it would have a separate section for forging tools that could be used when the carriage was stopped.

Protective spells would be used to strengthen the outside, making it almost impossible to break. There would be comfortable seating, storage for things, and even a small sleeping area for long trips inside.

Greg’s contribution was the power source, and he already thinks for the design that it’s going to be a crystal core that he charged with enough energy to keep the enchantment going. His system almost crashed when he was done making it.

[Item Made: Eternal Engine Core]

[Quality Rank: SSS]

[Properties: Can make an endless amount of energy, has a magical field that keeps itself going, can change to meet power needs, can’t be used as a weapon, promotes harmony with the environment in the area, and has a minor healing aura]

[Note: You have made a clean energy source that never runs out.]

[The gods have stopped writing fanfiction and are now taking notes.]

"Of course it has a healing aura," Greg said to himself. "But, why the hell not?"

"You were probably thinking about how to keep everyone safe while they traveled," Lylia said as she brought lunch to Greg. "Your work always shows what you want to do."

When Lylia made that statement, Greg believed it to be true. His creation always cares for others, so he must have that kind of intention but not fully realize it.

It took three more weeks to finish the building. Everyone in the workshop brought their own skills.

Bork did the metalwork, shaping the frame with such care that it looked like art. Elwen put layers of magic on things to keep them safe, make them more comfortable, and make them work better. Seraphine kept checking and rechecking every magical formula to make sure it was stable.

Felix and Donetta worked on the inside design, making sure there were comfortable places to sit and smart ways to store things. Mira insisted on putting everything in order according to what she called "optimal energy flow." This meant that Greg couldn’t find anything where he thought it would be.

Lylia helped by making sure the small kitchen area worked, using some of her magical cookware. She insisted, "If you’re going to be traveling, you need to eat, right?"

"You’re goddamn right! Enjoying food while on the road is probably going to be one of the best feelings ever!" Greg raised his thumbs up.

...

Greg continued to work late into the night as the project neared completion. In the larger workshop yard, the carriage was taking shape. It went from a bare frame to something that looked almost alive with magical energy.

Greg’s hand went to the communication crystal at his neck without him even thinking about it during one of these late-night work sessions. It had been a few weeks since the Crimson Falcons left for the Sunken Citadel.

They should have come out by now and told him how well they were doing. But the crystal didn’t say anything.

"There’s not a single call yet from Marina?" Lylia asked, showing up next to him with a cup of coffee.

"Nothing," Greg said softly. "It’s been almost two months."

"The expedition was only supposed to last four weeks at the most." Greg’s face started to look worried for Marina and all the other adventurers.

"Marina’s tough," Lylia said, but Greg could tell she was worried. "And she has your tools. She is the only one who can make it down there."

"I know. But I can’t shake the feeling that something is wrong."

"Then we finish this carriage as fast as we can," Lylia said with determination. "And if they’re not back by the time it’s done, we’ll go look for them."

Greg nodded, thankful for her constant help. "Thanks, Lylia."

"That’s how family works."

...

Six weeks after they started, they finally finished the carriage on a clear morning. It was in the workshop yard, shining with polished metal and softly glowing with magic energy.

The car was bigger than Greg thought it would be at first. It was almost the size of a small house on wheels.

The outside was classy, with smooth curves and reinforced plating that looked good and served a purpose. Windows made of magical glass let in lots of light while keeping people safe. The wheels were huge, and each one had runes on it that let it go over any kind of ground.

Elwen said while shedding a tear, "It’s sooooo beautifuuuuul... this is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in all my life."

Bork said, "What are we waiting for!? Let’s fucking test it!"

"I want to find out if this thing really works."

They all got in and were amazed at how big it was inside. With soft cushions and secure restraints, the seating area could easily hold twelve people. The forging section was small but fully stocked, with a portable anvil, tool racks, and even a small furnace that could be turned on when needed.

Greg took the operator’s seat at the front, where Felix had put in a steering wheel and a number of control crystals. The Eternal Engine Core pulsed softly in its housing, ready to give power.

Greg said, "Okay," and put his hands on the controls. "Let’s see and hope that this works for the first time!"

He put a little bit of mana into the activation crystal, and the carriage came to life. The sound was smooth and nice, like an instrument that had been tuned well. The wheels slowly started to turn, and the car moved forward without any jerking or wobbling.

"It works!" Felix yelled. "It really works!"

Greg drove the carriage around the workshop yard to see how well it steered and sped up. The controls were easy to use and did what he wanted them to do. When he used the braking mechanism, they came to a smooth stop without any jerking.

"This is amazing," Seraphine said as she hurriedly wrote down notes. "The efficiency is much higher than I thought it would be."

"The core of your engine is giving off three times the power I thought it would."

Greg said, "Of course it is," but he was grinning. "Should we really drive it around?"

"Of course," Bork said. "Let’s see how this beauty does on a real road."

They left Ferndale and followed the main road to the village next door. The carriage moved smoothly over the rough ground because the suspension system absorbed bumps that would have made a regular wagon unbearable. People stopped and pointed at the strange car that moved without horses as they passed by.

Lylia said, "We’re going to cause a lot of trouble with this," waving at the confused villagers.

"Okay," Greg said. "Let them talk."

"People might hear about what we’re trying to do soon."