Chapter 22

The days in Sekania has passed according to the schedule so filled up that students rarely could rest. The opportunity to try dynamite wasn't showing up for a long time, but Galaspiael didn't want to do it alone, so they were still waiting.

A large part of the Sekanian quarters was located underground, but like the room hidden in the prince's house, they were not cold and damp basements. Kalena, like most guests, lived in a specially rented house but saw underground rooms during sightseeing. Apart from the lack of windows, there was no difference from normal rooms, but could hardly imagine living in such a place. Sekanian apprentice explained to her that usually, they spend free time somewhere else. Underground they only keep their personal belongings and sleep. Education always took place upstairs.

The first swimming lessons could not take place on time, due to a sudden change in the weather, so the students got a few hours off. It was the chance Kalena and Galaspiael were waiting for.

For the first time then Kalena had the opportunity to see the city and the worldwide famous Astinian lookout tower. Climbing to the top was arduous and the girl had the impression that the winding staircase would never end, but as she later admitted, the view was worth it.

The Astinian lookout tower, the greatest achievement of the Sekanian architecture, was, in fact, a great lighthouse. People said that its light could be seen standing on the other side of the ocean on a cloudless night, but Galaspiael told Kalena not to believe it.

From the last floor, not only the whole city could be seen, but also the isthmus and the mountains behind which Yagn-Sho was hidden. When they stood there, it seemed that everything was nearby and you could get there in a few minutes.

"The secret is the big beams you saw as we climbed the stairs. The whole building is held on a special skeleton, thanks to which they could build it so high. It has always impressed me, although I have been here one time in a row," Galaspiael admitted, looking at the reaction of his student, who was walking from window to window in a trance, soaking up the view.

"It's beautiful," she said finally.

"Someday maybe I will take you with me to the palace of King Sekania. There are probably ten towers, but they are not as high as this one. I hope the guards would let you see them."

"Why would they want to stop me?" The girl asked with undisguised surprise. "Look at the people! How tiny they are!"

"Because Sekanian girls are forbidden to enter here. To be clear they're forbidden to enter any tower. This place is known for being a favorite destination of unhappy brides and wives who have had enough of their lives. A jump from here is certain death." Galaspiael leaned on the windowsill and leaned out. "You can see people there? Great ancestors, I didn't think I have such broken eyes."

"You really can't see?" Kalena pointed her finger. "Here they are! Right there. The blue coat."

"I don't see very clearly," he admitted, "is this a coat? For me, it's just a blue spot." Galaspiael smiled when she looked at him anxiously. "Well, knowledge has its price. I don't know a Scribe who can see well in old age. I suspect that someday I may lose my sight completely."

"How can you talk about it so relaxed, it's terrible!"

"Maybe if I was an archer, it could be difficult," he nodded. "But I will have other senses. I would not see the beautiful view anymore, but I will feel the wind on my face, hear the sound of the sea... Something that you do not pay attention to when you have healthy eyes."

"You won't be able to fight..."

"I won't?" Galaspiael repeated in surprise. "Haven't you heard that the greatest Scribes-warriors were blind?"

"I heard," she admitted, "but they are legends."

"So it's not true?"

"No, I just..."

"You just never met someone like that," he finished. "And I met and I know it is possible. Take a look and come down. A storm is coming, it's a good time to blow something up."

Before they went to the beach, they had to go down the steep and winding stairs, which was as hard as the way up. When they went outside, the rain began to sprinkle.

"You have to save yourself," Kalena went on again. "Light up a second candle or don't work so much in the dark at all."

"I will," he said in the tone of the child, who nods to his mother before leaving the house so that she would let go faster. He wasn't going to listen to her at all, at least until he could see the letters clearly on paper "Come faster! I am excited. Today is high tide, so all the traces will be taken by the sea. Water spirits favor us."

It was not far from the beach. Kalena saw the sea from the tower for the first time, but when she came closer she seemed quite different. Bigger. She trembled with excitement thinking about trying a new invention.

"I made a mechanism that starts the whole thing," said Galaspiael, putting the bag on the ground and taking out a long black tube. "Here you break and remove the lock so that the two liquids mix. And now..." He ripped the string from the bottom end.

"Is it supposed to be this way?"

"This requires some fixes. Give me the next one!"

She complied quickly. Galaspiael cursed under his breath, seeing that this sample was faulty.

"I have to change something," he muttered.

Kalena at that time took another tube, shook it hard and threw it forward. There was a bang, of an unexpected loudness. The sand hit them, ejected at dizzying speed.

"Works exactly as it should." The boy grimaced and rubbed his ear. "I just don't like the shaking part. It takes too much time and the attack is not smooth. I suspect that if there was a box full of it there could be a chain reaction, so it's still good. But on the battlefield, you rarely have time to put up a few pieces."

"Even Madegaldian dynamite does not work immediately."

"True. It takes a few seconds for the fire to get inside." The prince looked at the slightly thicker tube in his hand. "However I wanted Kagolanian dynamite to be better. I thought for a long time about how to replace water nephrite and I think I found such an ingredient. This is my unique dynamite, although made based on a recipe from the Empire. I need an even longer thread... preferably elastic. Give me the next tube, please.

There was no explosion this time because one of the parts broke and all the liquid spilled out. Kalena silently waited for Galaspiael to fix everything. She was afraid to speak because she saw that he was upset by so many failures.

"We don't think we realize how lucky we were," her master murmured and smiled sourly. "The bag is wet inside, a spark would be enough for me to burn alive."

They only managed to test successfully two more samples. With each flaw, they discovered Galaspiael was more and more discouraged. He noted down all the mistakes he had made, but he seemed not to enjoy the fact that he had achieved the goal. He still wanted this Kagolanian dynamite to be better than any other.

They came back soaking wet, occasionally plugging and closing their ears because of the strange squeak they both heard. Galaspiael said he would prepare ear protectors for the next time.

They arrived in the city quickly. The girl sighed when they were home

"How do you like it here? the boy asked. "A little different than at our place right?"

"Much different. I don't like the way these houses are built… Can the neighbors peep at someone, for example in the bath?"

"No, but they can eavesdrop. The walls here are quite thin. If you say something in the evening, be sure the next morning your neighbor will ask what was going on. Keeping members of the Association secret is a real challenge here, but women have found the way. They use a cipher. It sounds like a conversation between two housewives to a stranger. They also add the right gestures, so it's hard to understand the real message. They learn the code as a separate language."

The white walls of houses slightly grayed under the influence of rain. The wide street was completely deserted. Finally, they reached their temporary accommodation; a small room that was rented to travelers.

In the middle of it there was a place to cook, and in the corner were laid two mats to serve as bedding. Everything was perfectly ordered and clean, only their personal belongings spoiled the whole order.

"I'm glad I bought food." Galaspiael nodded. "I'll try to cook something. Do you want?"

"Stupid question, I'm starving!" Kalena took a dry shirt and pants from her bundle. "Turn around."

"I look at the pot all the time," he replied. "Now you can go back to study calmly since we have accomplished our goal. It's good that I pulled it to the end. I was afraid that I would not make it before the coronation."

Kalena looked at him.

"It's coming soon, right?"

"Yes. When we come back I will have to complete some formalities related to the wedding. My twentieth birthday falls in two months. I regret that I survived to this day"

"Stop! Don't say such things!"

"Oh ..." He wanted to say something else, but looked into the pot and laughed. "It's already burning. I don't know if I will be a good king, but I would be a terrible chef definitely!"