Chapter 11 - Ink and Cheers

"Write it down. If you don't, the wind will carry your legacy away."

— Monastic proverb from the Abbey of St. Floran

The poster was something completely unique - unlike anything anyone in Eulenhof had ever seen in a poster. It was elaborate, something usually reserved for Clans or the wealthy, who could pay for multiple scribes to recreate an ornate design as a show of their wealth. The sheets all bore bold block letters that were astonishingly even, each line perfectly aligned as if a monk had spent days drafting it. At the top, in a gothic script painstakingly drawn by Theo - who had barely even learnt how to write - read the caption: "Words Made Real! The Miracle of the Printing Machine! Witness the Future Forged in Ink!" Theo had added his own touches to the design, including drawing little birds carrying scrolls around the margins of the page, and, at the very bottom, in a smaller sized font, there was an explanation that demonstration copies and custom designs would be "by appointment with the printer and his assistant (payment negotiable)".

After a brutal few weeks of building, failing, redesigning, and repeating before sprinting to get the prototype to completion, the Vogel Household, along with their unofficially adopted son, could finally erupt into cheers. Matthias had lit a few extra lanterns to give the modest home a festive glow, whilst Theo paraded across the living room holding his poster as though it were royal decree. Richard partook in idle conversation with Uncle Phil, something about learning carpentry from him, whilst Elisabeth slowly walked into the living room holding a hearty pot of Mossleaf stew, its nutty aroma clashing with a burning spice that travelled up the nose and to the eyes. They were finally finished.

Richard sat eagerly at the dinner table, looking as voracious as wolves in a famine, struggling to contain the drool escaping his lips. Theo, on the other hand, had tears in his eyes knowing that his future would be spent on the toilet. Throughout dinner, there was constant chatter.

"Never thought I'd be building a future instead of a fence," chuckled Uncle Phil, slowly dropping in his seat. "Not bad for an old goat."

"So, Rich, any other great ideas?" chimed in Theo, still repelled by his meal.

"Here's an idea for us," began Richard, bringing out a small canteen of wine he had snuck out of his father's private stash. A purple, fruity liquid filled his cup, which he then triumphantly raised to the air. "To progress!"

He sipped, and immediately spluttered, violently coughing, sending purple droplets across his vicinity.

The room howled with laughter.

"To children who think they're men!" made out Elisabeth, struggling to compose herself, her wiping tears from her eyes.

"To boys who build like men!" added on Matthias, ruffling Theo's hair.

Once the laughter eventually subsided, Theo asked his question to Richard once again.

"I think..." yawned Richard, "I think I'll play some Monsters and Cultivators at daycare first. Been too long since I got to be the giant spider beast."

Theo looked at him, blinked, and did a double-take before grinning.

"Classic."

***

Later that evening, Elisabeth and Matthias decided to walk Richard back home, the boy bundled in a wool coat, clutching a stack of posters tightly to his chest as though they were divine scripture. His little footprints in the snow seemed so small compared to the adults walking with him, yet they were, in a sense, equals and co-creators of the printing press. The walk itself was not long - quite short in fact - but Richard savoured each step he took, finally free from his own brain.

*knock knock*

Johanna opened the door in surprise, despite knowing who the visitors would be - the adults had planned a rota to take Richard home these past few weeks, and it was her turn to pick up her son later on in the evening. She would, however, never complain about having him home earlier than expected.

Gertherd waddled over to the door as well, greeting the two cultivators with a bow before jumping to his knees to give Richard a bear hug.

"You're here early, aren't you, little fella." He pat his smiling son on the head. "Now, to bed, little inventor - and not one word before I forgive you for taking my precious Rauchherz Reserve!"

Richard scampered towards his room, clearly in on the joke, and headed straight to a well-deserved sleep. His energy was at an all time low, but his heart was full.

***

The adults all stood around in the kitchen, fishing out some cheeses and wine to talk over. Richard had long informed his parents about the printing press - back when they thought they had a working prototype which immediately broke on reveal to his parents, and, upon seeing the pages in their son's hands, Johanna and Gertherd had recognised that it was finally a success.

"Cheers! And thank you both for humouring our Rich, and I hope him and Theo remain as close as they are forever," announced Gertherd, feeling somewhat smug about showing the guests his wine collection.

Elisabeth raised her glass in turn, her smile a little softer now. "Please, we're not humouring anyone - we really believe in his project. Your boy's got something rare in him; the kind of spark you don't see often. It's hard to believe considering his age!"

There was a pause whilst the adults all began sipping their drinks, each thinking of what to say next. Outside, a gentle flurry of snow began to fall again. Inside, a fire crackled in the hearth, an orange hue flickering against the kitchen walls.

"I suppose," began Matthias, glancing at his wife briefly, waiting for a nod from her. "I suppose, that's why we've been talking - quietly, mind you - about the possibility of a sponsorship."

Johanna's hand froze half-way through the motions of a sip, her forearms semi-pronated; the cup hovering awkwardly.

"Sp- sponsorship?" she choked on her words.

"The Adlerheim Clan," Elisabeth said. "They fund innovations from time to time, and I could put a word in with one of my cousins there. Usually, Richard wouldn't qualify on his own - he's too young I mean, but they can always make exceptions when it suits them. And I mean it when I say that this might suit them... And, together with Theo, the two could work together to explore their creative ambitions. In a couple years, we'll be sending Theo there for sect testing, and it's a wonderful opportunity for both of them to get acquainted with the local sect."

Gertherd said nothing. His gaze had narrowed just slightly, not out of offence, but calculation. He truly hadn't thought that far ahead, thinking that Richard wanting to be an inventor was just a childish aspiration; not something he'd achieve, no, excel at - to the extent of potentially getting a clan sponsorship. Perhaps it would be best for him. For him to invent at a clan rather than cultivate there.

"We're not saying that it has to happen now, soon, or even at all," added Matthias hurriedly, sensing the shift in both parents' attitudes. "Only that it's an option, and one we're willing to help with and expedite the process of. They'd be protected, funded, and safe."

Safe. That word echoed in Johanna's ears. She remembered the Detector's warnings of self-destruction and instability; that it'd be better for him to not cultivate at all. And, being associated with a clan, it's not impossible that Rich would be exposed to cultivation techniques and... maybe even go mad.

For a moment, the room was silent, save from the occasional breeze outside and the crackles of the hearth. The mood had quickly shifted into discomfort, with Johanna and Gertherd struggling to maintain eye contact. Finally, Johanna spoke.

"Thank you very much for the offer. It's truly very kind of you both. Truly. And... we'll think about it," she said, with a practised, polite, and perhaps slightly-too-tight smile.

Elisabeth nodded, slowly. "That's all we ask."

"Of course," blurted Gertherd. "We'd be fools to not consider!"

But even as the conversation meandered and moved onto other topics, back to village life and their lives before children, towards lighter topics like farming and the recent holiday, towards discussing the daycare incident involving their sons, both parents knew something had changed.

The door was closing on the quiet life they'd made.

And someone, somewhere, might soon come knocking.