The Craftsman's Doubt

The study was filled with the scent of parchment and polished wood as Vincent and Zach sat side by side. Sunlight streamed through the windows, casting long shadows over the table, where the makeshift game board still lay. Zach had redrawn it onto proper parchment, making slight improvements since his first version on the dirt. Today, they were expecting a visitor one who would bring the first step toward turning this idea into something real.

A knock on the door interrupted their thoughts.

Sebastian entered with a bow. "My lord, the craftsman has arrived."

Behind him stepped in a broad-shouldered man with graying hair, his thick hands calloused from years of labor. His clothes were simple but well-kept, and his eyes gleamed with the quiet arrogance of someone who knew his worth.

"Gregor, at your service." The craftsman thumped a fist to his chest. "I was told there's a special project Lord Ravennest himself wishes to entrust to me."

Vincent nodded. "That's correct. We have a design we'd like crafted into a functional board game."

Gregor raised a bushy brow. "A board game?" His gaze flickered between Vincent and Zach, lingering a little too long on the child. "Pardon me, my lord, but… a child's game?"

Zach smirked but said nothing, waiting for his father's response.

Sebastian stepped forward, clearing his throat. "You should know, Gregor, that Lord Zacharias is the creator of this game."

The craftsman blinked, then turned to Zach, taking in his small stature. He hesitated before forcing a polite nod. "I… see."

"Is there a problem?" Vincent's voice was calm, but there was a warning beneath it.

Gregor straightened. "Not at all, my lord. I was merely surprised. You see, I've worked on many things in my time thrones, weapons, even the great banquet tables of the royal court but never have I been asked to craft a game by a child."

Sebastian coughed into his hand. "Gregor is one of the artisans responsible for the king's throne itself."

Vincent's expression didn't change, but Zach saw the approval in his father's eyes. "Then I expect you'll have no trouble with something as simple as this."

Gregor let out a gruff chuckle. "Hah! Fair enough, my lord. I won't question the task, but I'll admit I'm curious." He turned to Zach. "You're telling me you designed this game yourself?"

Zach met his gaze and grinned. "That's right. And I can assure you, it will be a great success."

Gregor exhaled, rubbing his chin. "Hmph. Well, let's see it then."

Zach eagerly unrolled the parchment, revealing the revised game layout. He pointed at various features, explaining the concept. "Players move across the board using a number-drawing method. Some tiles help you move forward, while others send you backward. To make it more exciting, I've added special 'demon' tiles that force a player to start over if they land on them."

Gregor studied the design with furrowed brows. "Hah. So it's a game of luck and strategy."

"Exactly." Zach leaned forward. "And I plan to sell it. That's why we need a well-crafted board."

Gregor let out a thoughtful grunt. "I see… but making a board game isn't like crafting a chair or table. It needs to be lightweight, portable, and durable." He looked back at Vincent. "What material do you have in mind?"

Vincent glanced at Zach, allowing him to take the lead. Zach thought for a moment before answering. "Wood would be best for the first version. Something smooth, polished, but not too expensive."

Gregor nodded. "A fine choice. And the playing pieces?"

"Wood as well, but carved into different shapes. We can use small figurines to make it more engaging."

Gregor chuckled, crossing his arms. "You certainly have a clear vision for this." He studied Zach again, this time with more respect than doubt. "Alright, young lord. I'll take on the task. I'll bring a prototype tomorrow for you to inspect."

Vincent gave a firm nod. "Good. If this turns out well, you may find yourself with more work in the future."

Gregor smirked. "Then I'd best not disappoint."

As he left, Zach couldn't help but grin. The first step toward turning his game into reality had begun.

The next morning, Gregor returned to the lord's manor, carrying the prototype of the board game in his arms. As always, his chest was puffed out with pride, and he walked with the confidence of a man who had just created a masterpiece.

Sebastian led him into Vincent's study, where Zach and Vincent were already waiting. The moment Gregor placed the board onto the table, he dramatically waved his hand over it. "Behold! The first of its kind! A board game crafted by these very hands!"

Vincent raised an eyebrow. "You certainly seem proud of it."

Gregor grinned. "Of course! It is only natural. I have crafted many things in my life, my lord, from fine furniture to the very throne of the king himself! And now, I have brought to life this… peculiar game your son has devised."

Sebastian coughed and nodded. "I can confirm that Gregor was indeed involved in the crafting of the royal throne."

Vincent exchanged a glance with Zach, who gave a small, amused smile. The man might be boastful, but his reputation was solid.

Gregor pulled back the cloth covering the board, revealing an intricate design. The board was now sturdier, with a polished wooden surface. Instead of numbers scribbled onto paper, the tiles were elegantly carved, and each space had clear markings. Small drawers were built into the sides to store game pieces, and rather than using scraps of paper to determine movement, there were now finely carved wooden number tokens.

"I have taken the liberty of refining the design," Gregor explained. "Instead of writing numbers on parchment, we now have these wooden tiles. Simply pull from the drawer, and fate will decide your steps."

He then reached into a pouch and pulled out four wooden pieces, each carved into different figures a prince, a knight, a merchant, and a joker. "I thought simple tokens would be dull, so I designed these instead. Each represents a different walk of life. The prince, destined for greatness. The knight, steadfast and honorable. The merchant, shrewd and ambitious. And the joker, unpredictable yet full of potential."

Zach's eyes sparkled. "This is amazing! You really went all out on this."

Gregor smirked. "Naturally. Even if I had my doubts about a child creating something marketable, my lord's request is absolute. And I must admit… after working on this, I grew quite interested myself."

Vincent chuckled. "Well then, shall we put your work to the test?"

Gregor's grin widened. "A craftsman must always ensure his work is functional. I accept the challenge!"

The First Test Game

Sebastian arranged for a table in the lounge, and soon, the players gathered. Zach, Vincent, Gregor, and an excited Mia each took a seat, selecting their game pieces.

Zach chose the prince, Vincent the knight, Gregor the merchant, and Mia happily grabbed the joker.

"Alright," Zach explained, "we each draw a tile to see how far we move. Some spaces have demons, and if we land on them, we get sent back. First to the final tile wins."

Gregor rubbed his hands together. "Then let us begin!"

They each drew their first number:

Zach: 2 (Moved to Tile 2)Vincent: 3 (Moved to Tile 3)Gregor: 2 (Moved to Tile 2)Mia: 3 (Moved to Tile 3)

The game progressed steadily, with everyone moving forward, but the tension rose when they reached the middle tiles:

Zach: 5 → Tile 30Vincent: 6 → Tile 31Gregor: 4 → Tile 28Mia: 5 → Tile 29

Then came the first setback:

Zach: 4 → Tile 34 (Safe)Vincent: 5 → Tile 36 (Demon tile!) → Back to Tile 10Gregor: 6 → Tile 34Mia: 2 → Tile 31

Vincent groaned. "Not again! This game is cursed."

Mia giggled. "Papa is losing!"

Gregor smirked. "The game is unforgiving, my lord."

By Tile 50, Zach was in the lead, but then came disaster:

Zach: 5 → Tile 55 (Demon tile!) → Back to Tile 20Vincent: 4 → Tile 40Gregor: 3 → Tile 37Mia: 6 → Tile 47

Zach threw his hands up. "Nooo! I was so close!"

Mia laughed. "Brother lost! Brother lost!"

Then, karma struck Mia:

Mia: 5 → Tile 52 (Demon tile!) → Back to Tile 5

Mia's laughter turned into wails. "NOOO! NOT FAIR!"

Zach winced. "Mia, it's part of the game"

"Papa and brother cheated!" she wailed.

Vincent sighed, patting her head. "That's how the game works, Mia."

Gregor chuckled. "Ah, the agony of defeat. A true test of character."

Mia sniffled but pouted determinedly. "Next time, I'll win!"

The game continued, with Vincent making a strong comeback. By Tile 90, the final stretch began:

Zach: 3 → Tile 93Gregor: 4 → Tile 92Vincent: 5 → Tile 95Mia: 6 → Tile 88

Final move:

Vincent: 5 → Tile 100 (Victory!)

Vincent smirked, arms crossed. "And that, children, is how you win."

Gregor clapped. "A well-earned victory, my lord!"

Zach groaned. "I was so close…"

Mia huffed. "I should've won."

Gregor laughed. "Then let's play again, shall we?"

As they reset the board, Vincent turned to Zach. "You really have something here. Let's begin preparations for production."

Zach grinned. "Let's make this the best game in the kingdom!"