The Masons And The Savants

"The tea is ready savant, have it while it's warm, And I hope you feel awake"

Spoke Mr. Rios, while he placed the tea on the savant's desk, 

There is really little free space on his desk, as the desk is piled with parchments of documents,

Savant Shin is the head of council of planning, although the Viyeshak has four ruling councils, but the council of planning is most important among these four, 

The other councils, implement the plan and provide funding, but the policies are always written here at the council of planning,

This is the reason that the person who is assigned as head of council of planning in Viyeshak is said to have the same power as the king of any country,

 But again due to the share of power, 

It's not unbridled hence there is restrain in his position, 

And thus the reason why the exams conducted for the council of planning is different from all other councils which to be exact is, to make practical inventions and propose new techniques, and thus only 4 members were qualified to participate in round table committee in the council where the four grand savant take decisions together. 

 The remaining three councils on the other hand just conduct written exam and physical test for military and constabulary selection. 

Among all the grand savants, Savant Shin is the most prodigious scholar, he is the genius behind water Mill and also suggested various metal combinations make Alloys including stronger and durable steel, 

Sometimes, the way he explains his ideas in great details with exact measurements and phenomenon behind them, it always seems that is his consciousness is touched by some divine being because we never get to know from where he got this knowledge? 

He always says that it was taught by his late father who was also one of the greatest scholar in history of Ishkvak. 

But the things he suggests always seems otherworldly like it doesn't belong in our world, and this knowledge is bestowed from some divine far away land that we may never know but maybe, savant knows if it exist or not. 

"Allow me to thank you for your effort, this savant is grateful and appreciate your assistance, " said Shin to thank Rios for preparing his tea and Mr. Rios again replied to shin to not humble himself as Rios was doing his duty.

Shin was awake and hence he has begun his work again to draft policies for the upcoming years while discussing the matters with his sub Ordinates.

He was reading the reports from the other three councils regarding their interests, their proposals and upcoming plans.

He was enjoying the sips of the tea and glancing on the reports that were piled on his desk, he rearranged those reports and begin to write the remarks on the parchments.

One such report among the bunch piqued his interest, with his lips slightly curled up, a noticeable faint smile and eyes gleaming with satisfaction, he was carefully reading that report.

Rios was watching the whole scene, it couldn't be helped that curiosity got better of him and he asked with his formal etiquette 

"May this humble adherent of yours, allowed, is he? To be the apprehender of the motives that coerce ye to simper? My esteemed savant, the faint titter of yours proffers the essence of auspiciousness"

The savant consumed the sips, in a posture with the spine straight he sat, and glanced towards the young man, to gratify his curiosity, spoke the savant.

"Hear my expergefactor, It is indeed auspicious dear adherent, affirmed reports we have, by the parchments from the council of economy and commerce, ye must know, we have plenty of capital to spend, blessed aren't we? To have the vaults filled with gold gillards? 

And now we shall focus on the construction of the walls of the citadel savoir and must the pavements of the streets be laid promptly. 

The purchase of the waterwheel is better than we thought it would be, as long as the sells stays stable, then blessed we will be and the treasury will not be short on gold gillards."

With great economy comes increased salary, and it means more spending, the more spending means more tax and with more tax comes increment in the economy and it is followed by the higher standard of living and better development of humankind with nutritional food and healthy mind.

The gillards are the currency used mostly on continent of Hadestisis. 

For reference, 1000 bronze gillards are equal to 1 silver gillard and 100 silver gillards are equal to one gold gillard.

To give the reference of the economy,  

One bronze gillard is enough to buy a loaf of hard bread, ten bronze gillards can buy a loaf of white bread, having 100 bronze is enough to buy used clothes, and minimum 500 bronze is required to buy normal new clothes, 30 gillards per day can guarantee for the decent meals two times. 

 5 silver per month is required minimum income to live a decent life.

Rios was joyous hearing the information from savant, he was sincerely happy for the economic progress, but the other new regarding development made him frown a little.

"The words of esteemed savant are indeed auspicious, but the savant must be the knowth of our miseries, known by the words that we have  received, The guild of the masons have not yet responded with any positive response, how without the art of masonry and the alchemy of mortar, how we are supposed to firm the walls?,  and how not to mention about the expansion of university, the buildings of public toilets and the pavements of the streets?"

Spoke Rios while worrying about the deadlocks that withheld the development plans for the town, worried with deep lines on the forehead, he leaned towards the desk of savant shin and passed the reports in which he he conveyed the current situation of the conscription he made.

"The count stayed at one hundred and sixty two, the workers makes for one hundred and forty six and the remaining are sixteen craftsmen that has responded after the conscription notice., healthy and well they all are, and Ready for the labour, yet we do not have enough mortar, for now they have been told to toil in quarry and the craftsmen are grinding the stone. But for how long? "

He leaned more and pointed his finger towards a section of the report to reconcile shin's attention and addressed again.

"Auspicious it is, indeed, for the economy, But ye must know pertaining enough time that we do not possess. The stone production is already on the rise and must the arrangement of mortar be made as soon as possible "

Savant shin observed his reports, he was frowning with his finger on his brows and then he moved palm beneath his chin

"Terrifically dependent we are, on guild of the masons, why? Shall the federation mustn't try to produce mortar ourselves? And what were the words that we received in their response pertaining our request? Is that so that our offer is too less that they do not wish to come here? "

To his query, answered Rios

"Known by the words we have received from the guild, The reason they claimed is that they do not recognize the technocratic federation of Viyeshak as a nation, and complained for how far it is from the mainland that none of their masons are ready to leave mainland to reach here, 

five folds higher is the amount I offered compared to normal amount they might receive in mainland, but very persistent they are, 20 times higher is their demand,

The report to the council of economic and commerce is conveyed by me to review if we can accommodate their demands "

Henceforth Hearing the words of Rios,Shin exclaimed hastily. 

"No!!….. You need not to do that, we the savants ,represents the ruling councils of Viyeshak, we must not bow our heads, at least not this quickly,

The federation must not rely on the those who doesn't recognize its authority and it's existence as nation"

Savant shin stood up from his chair, he pondered upon the future affairs and decided that it's the right moment to become independent for the self sufficiency of Viyeshak

"If it is just about the mortar and tools of masonry, I will try to think something, let us make Our own mortar and lay the foundation of the industry so that we might be independent from the guild, " spoke shin

Observed by Rios were the shining eyes of the savant with determination and a little bit of anger, he knew that the words of savant shin are always possible to attain. And as always, he decided to trust shin and agreed to assist. 

"If it is what the savant wish for, then this adherent of yours will let the councils know about your plan " spoke Rios with a little hint of doubt but a strong determined trust.

  

Savant shin somehow could feel the hint of doubt in the words of Rios, but he couldn't blame him, the guild of masons keeps the art and the alchemy of mortar strictly secret, his Doubt is justifiable. 

"Be Afeared not Rios, This savant is sincere towards the progress of Viyeshak, And do posses a plan, let the Union council be known that we require lots of lime and fine clay. The tuffs too, if possible. 

Blessed are we to have many hot springs on the great mountain range of Khremier, move towards the northern side of narrow slope and look for tuffs" 

spoke shin to begin his plan and to assure the mind of Rios. 

"tuff? "asked Rios ad he was not familiar with the unknown term

And then it clicked shin's mind that tuff is the definition from the realm of earth and folks of viyeshak might not know about what it is.

"hmm, let me write it down for you, ye must look for a rock ,identify it , light in weight and surface filled with cavities and pores. , the receptands of the union council must be informed, They need to expidite for the expedition" the savant was affirmative that the tuffs will be easily identifiable near the hot springs.

Though indeed Rios's trust in savant is firm, yet brimming with questions of curiosity, He enquired within his mind that if savant really knows the alchemy to make mortar or not? , and if so, then how so? He does not remember esteemed savant being the member of masonry guild. How is it that he knows the art of masonry and mortar? He Gulped down his questions and decided to go along with the plan of savant, yet little bit of hesitance in his tone , reluctantly ,he asked

"Will we.... Use the mentioned resources to produce mortar? "Asked Rios 

It is when the savant shin jolted with a sudden realization, if asked by Rios to explain about the source of his knowledge of producing mortar, how will he explain? If he reveals the truth that this knowledge belongs to the domain of legerdemain known as the realm of earth, who will believe him? Is it not like fairy tales of tikes? How ironical it is that he cannot reveal the truth even if he desires to do so?, and even if he reveals the truth, will Rios trust him him again? , will he not think that Shin is jesting with his trust? 

So to not let those questions arise, shin decided to carefully change the flow of the subject and then he diverted the conversation towards the required upcoming tasks to implement his plans. 

"Indeed, we will, and I will require the assistance of yours, We have a new water mill that is slightly larger than the normal. Though Not active yet, but we will use the mill to grind the stones into fine particle, I will visit the banks of Redquarz river and the mill will be proctored for the errors by me, and there I will counsel with Mr. Kornell to prepare a very large kiln as soon as possible"

Spoke Shin while he gathered his belongings in his bag he arranged his messy desk in order 

"And for my adherent, I must entrust you to convey my message to Union Council to begin the expedition for tuff and after that persuade the council of commerce to proccure as much lime as possible "

Without any further exchange of words, Adherent Rios silently gave an affirmative nod and he too prepared his desk to leave for the task

After the whole discussion, Savant Shin hastily left the council office followed by adherent Rios, they left towards their respective areas as assigned in conclusion to begin the work of establishing a mortar industry.

And yet from here begins another journey to know the unknown. How blessed are those who are hallowed with the walls around them and a roof above their heads, and that's why the walls of the citadel and homes for natives were the first priority of Viyeshak, 

And thus the technocratic federation of Viyeshak begun its journey to be self reliant for the mortar.