Chapter 101

Azo took Aaron for a walk around the fair.

Aaron liked this approach of a meeting rather than taking around people or in a closed room.

"You know, the tradition of the artifactors fair started around a 100 years ago. It was started to let new and blossoming artifactors showcase their talent. "

"There are number of mages on the continent of Contura. And the number of artifactors are no less. It was difficult for budding talents to showcase their ability due to various reasons. One of them being the background. I think you know all of that. "

Aaron just nodded.

"The purpose of the fair seems to be lost over the years. Now even famous and old artifactors put up stalls just to show off. The different factions fight for the top places. Even the judges are manipulated sometimes. The credit of artifact making is stolen and all kinds of things happen. "

"But the fair still provides the best platform for people like you. "

" If you perhaps approached tbe association directly with your invention, it would have perhaps been gobbled up by your heads and you might be even silenced. "

" Don't give me that look. This has happened before. "

"Why are you telling me all this? " Aaron asked in a wary tone. He knew a lot of things might happen in the dark, but why was Azo telling him all this. What was his intention?

"The reason is simple. I want you to to know what it meant for Rogan to stand besides you. He had staked a lot by doing that. "

"If he didn't do what he did, we might not have been having this conversation now."

" Don't judge me so soon. " The age lines on Azo's face appeared even deeper now.

It was like he could read Aaron's mind. Aaron had indeed judged him in his mind.

"I used to be young and joined the association thinking that I would change it on my own. "

"It's not that I haven't been successful. I have been fair in my evaluation and did whatever I did to promote new talent. But sacrifices have to be made. "

"Sometimes I do have to close my eyes. You might think I have enough power to fight against it. But I don't. If I don't bend, I will be broken. It's the leeway I have to give in order to maintain the position I have. We have a truce going which means both of us don't push others too hard. "

" What I achieve from this is that I am still able to support new people by sacrificing a few. I don't know if this is a right choice, but it is the choice I have made. "

"You perhaps know how valuable your artifact is. I was informed you are a space mage. A rare true mage. Maybe you would have made it safely based on that. But there was no guarantee. "

"Rogan perhaps would have been a very strong mage had he not spent most of life making the fire sword. He still knows people and have enough clout to make sure you would be safe. Don't take his sacrifice for granted. He would need to pay the price for what he did today. "

" Enough about all that. Let's come to your invention. Words I can use to describe could be many, but the word I have chosen is breakthrough. You have passed an existing chasm in what you did. Although the application for it on weapons is restricted by who can best use it, but I could see what you had in mind with those mining tools. "

"Now, you have two options. You could either decide to sell the rights for your artifact at a fixed price to the mage association. Or you could continue to make them yourself and sell it through the association. Both would provide you with enough merits to hold a small permanent position with the association as an official. "

He went silent after saying that last bit.

Azo had shed light on a lot of things. Now did Aaron truly understand his intention. He had presented Aaron a rough scenario of the situation at the association. He told how even he could not offend some powers. Aaron had grown in his understanding about the association.

He had come to a decision.

"I would like to sell the rights for my artifact. " Said Aaron finally.

Azo finally gave Aaron half a smile.

"You have made a wise decision for your age. You shouldn't cherish things you don't have the power to protect. The artifact is too big a deal for you to handle. Sooner or later you would have to part ways with it, with or without consent. "

" Rogan wouldnt be with you all the time. Nor could be up against everyone. Forget the association, you would even be the target of the mage families. "

"You would still be a target, but not the only one now."

"You should go back to your stall now or roam around in the fair to have a look. Do whatever you want. We will contact you in a couple of days with a offer. I will indeed do my best to give you the best deal. We would of course need the sample weapons you had on hand. A good demo goes a long way. "

Aaron allowed Azo to take away the weapons he had on display. He heeded Azo's words and decided to have a look at the fair.

"You don't need to keep thanking me. I did what I did for myseld. I wanted to see that old fool loose out to a youngster. " Rogan said while eating cotton candy. He still enjoyed it occasionally.

"Whatever your reasons were, it had helped me immensely. How can I not thank you enough. You should probably have a part of my earnings. " Aaron said enjoying his own candy.

Having candy, going around the fair with interesting displays, performers and the big crowd reminded him of his childhood back on earth.

"I need to have a word with Azo. God knows what he told you. Look, I don't need any part of your money. But if you insist, just treat me to good food time to time. "

" Deal. " Aaron would only later find out what a big eater Rogan was.

As they were walking around. A stall suddenly grabbed Aaron's attention.

He quickly went towards the stall. Seeing Aaron hurry, Rogan followed him as well.

The stall owner was demonstrating his artifact to a couple of people.

"What's the use of your artifact? It just stands their and rotate. If could move around, it would be something. Come, let's go to another stall. This is such a waste. "

Said the man who was looking at the artifact.

It was truly as he said. It was just a spehere which was levitating in the air and rotating on its axis.

"What's there to watch? It's probably something meant as something for decoration. " Said Rogan.

Aaron didn't reply to Rogan and asked a question to the stall owner instead.

"What's the purpose of this thing?"

"I don't know really. Maybe it is what the person next to you said. It could be used as a decoration if we use it in that way. I could perhaps cover it up with different things and sell it that way. I will indeed have to thank you for the suggestion."

"I made it by accident and thought it was interesting. I just put it up here thinking someone would find it interesting enough to buy it. Would you like one?" the stall owner asked.

"Although I could perhaps make one now myself seeing it, but since you gave me the inspiration I would buy it. Tell me your price."

Aaron soon help the sphere in his hand with his head full of ideas.

"Why did you say so much for this? Although you are going to be rich, why waste money? He overcharged you. "

"I know. But the thing is, he doesnt know the value of what he had created. I have just paid a very small price for what I would end up making eventually. "

Aaron perhaps held something which would change the future of this world forever.