Changing the topic, Jonas brought out some impact absorption material. “Now, then, Lord Volf has inquired whether this could be affixed to the backs of broad shields.”
“Ah, to prevent the shieldmen’s wristbreak, I see.”
“Sorry, Lord Bernigi, could you explain to us what you mean by ‘shieldmen’s wristbreak’?”
“When defending against an attack or bashing the monster itself, it is easy to break the bones in the wrist. Many monsters are quite tough, see.”
“Oh, broad shields could be used offensively as well?”
“Indeed. Padding might be better tailored to the individual. These gloves eliminate direct skin contact with bare metal, and if they wear, they can be changed out.”
Perhaps they might have a chance to visit Randolph soon to fit the material on his shield. It was worth it to minimize injuries to the Beast Hunters—so Dahlia thought during their discussions as the day came to an end.
Lucia returned to the Tailors’ Guild and Idaea to the Adventurers’ to report today’s meeting to their respective bosses, while Dahlia remained in the workshop going over the materials that Jonas had restocked.
“Master Dahlia, Jonas, could I trouble you two to make some cushion fill for me? My missus has been pestering me about it, and, of course, I shall pay for the cost and your labor.”
“A present for your wife?”
“No, it aids in stretching out her back, she said—she has already stolen mine.”
After a beat, Jonas said, “I hope you can make as much as he desires, Master Dahlia. Will it be possible for you to make more of the mixture?” There was definitely a smile with his eyes, emotionless though his tone might have been, and Dahlia agreed with pleasure. “I hope you can excuse me, as I need to return to Lord Guido’s side. Should there be anything you need, please ask Marcella in my stead.”
“Thank you very much for taking time out of your day for us, Master Jonas.”
After he walked out, Marcella entered the room. “Excuse my intrusion.” His brow was beaded with sweat, perhaps as a result of his riding lessons today.
“Ah, Marcella, we were just about to craft more of the bead fill; as lying sideways is difficult for a woman so close to childbirth, perhaps your wife would find comfort in a cushion as well?”
“Thank you very much for the concern. Would that be possible, Chairwoman?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Then let us work together and make more!” As the elderly man shot to his feet, a deep crack! came from his leg. Bernigi was about to topple over when Marcella flew to support him.
“Lord Bernigi, are you okay?! Get a physician, Dahlia!”
“On it!”
“Marcella, Master Dahlia, I’m fine! Nothing has happened to me—the core of my prosthetic leg split is all.”
“Your prosthetic?”
“Your prosthetic leg?” Marcella and Dahlia wondered aloud at the same time. Certainly, Bernigi walked around with a cane, but it hinted nothing at him having a prosthesis.
With the aid of Marcella, the elderly man returned to his seat, and he removed the kneepad and leather boot from his right leg. Inside his footwear was a thin metallic plate wrapped around a wooden pylon, and there was now a diagonal fracture through the wood. Its construction looked simple enough. “Apologies—a lady ought not to be subjected to such an unsightly thing.” He had likely mistaken her gaze as one of shock instead of curiosity. Bernigi cast his eyes down and began to put on his boot over the cracked pylon.
“No! I was just interested in seeing how it is constructed. If you wouldn’t mind, could you please tell me about your prosthetic leg? Perhaps I could replace the broken part.”
“The wooden core has snapped, something that happens from time to time. It would be much sturdier if it were metal, but it would become quite cold in the winter.”
“Is there, um, any cushioning in between?”
“It is easy for cushioning to become dislodged, so I wrap thick cloth under the dressing. And you needn’t fret; I wear an anklet enchanted with unicorn horn, so it causes no pain.”
It causes no pain? You mean you just don’t feel it. The bandaging on his knee was certainly white, but the inner lining of his boot was reddish-black—evidence of repeated staining by blood.
“Do you happen to have a rod or plank about the length of the core, Master Dahlia? It will only have to be sturdy enough to get me to my carriage.”
“Would it be okay with you if I made something out of metal instead? It’s easier for me to shape metal than to carve wood; I can also process it afterward so that it’s not so cold.”
“Ah, a magical toolmaker can do such a thing?”
It was a technique that many alchemists and magical toolmakers learned and also something that college offered, though not everybody was capable of doing it, as the magic required the right affinity. Metal was also more magically conductive than wood, so it wasn’t too hard to shape. As Dahlia removed the wooden pylon and then measured and recorded its dimensions, something caught her attention. “Considering your prosthesis is inserted into your shoe, is it not difficult to use your heel?”
“Hm? I am unsure if I understand what it means to ‘use my heel.’”
After Dahlia drew a large T on a sheet of paper to represent the human foot, she explained how the whole thing, from heel to toe, came into contact with, then pushed off the ground.
“Ah, like how a real foot behaves. But would a heel not be too fragile? Metal would be sturdier, but perhaps that would be too heavy?”
“Excuse me for interrupting, Lord Bernigi, Chairwoman—may I share my opinion?”
“Aye, Marcella; no need to be reserved.”
“The prosthetics that commoners use are made by cutting and shaping soft woods, making them quite affordable but not long lasting.”
“Is that perhaps something that affects someone in your family?”
“Rather, it is something I have learned from my time with the Couriers’ Guild—I had a coworker there who had suffered a terrible injury during a long haul and could not return to the capital within seven days.” Even the most severe injuries to limbs were often completely cured, though this seemed to be a privilege for those living near the capital, which had a temple. Marcella proceeded to sketch a wooden prosthetic leg that looked something like a curved board, though its form suggested that its user could do without a cane once they mastered the technique.
“So, this is what commoners use? Without a shoe, however, it is plain to see the leg is artificial.”
“Would that be a problem, Lord Bernigi?”
“Nobles either hide their injuries or they remain confined to their homes, especially in the capital—not having treatment brings the financial situation of one’s family into question, and moreover, others may consider it ignoble, see it as a sign of failure for a knight, or otherwise find unreasonable faults...” The pain in his voice shone a light on the gloomy parts of nobility. Improvements to prostheses meant improvements to mobility; there shouldn’t be any shame in this.
“Pish, what drivel! We should make a prosthetic so amazing that it can be something to boast of!”
“Marcella, I— No, you make a good point.”
To describe the former vice-captain of the Beast Hunters, someone who had lost his leg while defending one of his knights, as a failed knight was blasphemy. Furthermore, the prosthetic leg was something that could help the disabled, something that gave support to those who needed it—it was nothing short of a wonderful invention. As a craftsperson, Dahlia could not understand why anyone would disparage it. And if it wasn’t noblelike enough, then “a prosthesis so amazing”—something with enhanced capabilities and better design—was called for. “Shall the three of us make a new kind of prosthetic leg?”
“How do you mean?”
“Heck yeah, Dahlia! Let’s make something that will trample over all else!” Marcella then promptly apologized for letting his raw emotions show too plainly, but Bernigi once again proved to be a broad-minded man and laughed it off.
However, a prosthetic leg was far different from a static magical tool—it had to be as sturdy as can be. The material Dahlia thought of was the same one used for the Galeforce Bow, and there was quite a lot in stock here. She retrieved the white, uniquely shaped object from a shelf, and the eyes of both men before her grew wide.
“If my eyes do not deceive me, Master Dahlia...”
“This is green horse, yes.”
“Horse bone, huh?”
Despite the doubt in Marcella’s voice, he was on the mark. Green horse bone’s magical properties made it great for use as an enchanting material, but its physical properties also made it great for processing—its combination of toughness, elasticity, and durability made it very useful. Shaping it required a gentle stream of powerful magic, a more delicate touch than when working with metal. As she kept in her mind a streamlined shape for ease of use, Dahlia formed the piece of bone to the shape of a pointed shoe at one end. “This should be close to the correct length; I will now form the socket.”
“I thank you.”
Bernigi was somewhat lean, but his frame was large and his back was broad. Therefore, his right knee was likely under a lot of stress, so Dahlia made an impression of the space between where his right knee and the prosthesis would connect, then she molded body heat conservation material and impact absorption material to the cavity. She gave the suspension system elasticity and extended it up to connect to his thigh so that it wouldn’t come off without warning. “Could I have you give it a try?”