There was a strange floating platform with a black chair attached to it, cushioned with soft blue fabric and pillows. And on the chair was a delicate looking girl wearing a dark blue dress that shimmer under the light with a large amount of light blue laces and frills. The girl’s black hair was styled in a manner of high nobility of the Elysius Theocracy, a straight bangs with long bands that reached towards her waist. 

“Good day.”

The girl said as she greeted a worker running to and from, although there was a certain fragility to the girl her voice was clear and unhindered. The worker responded with a respectful smile before returning to his work. 

“Good day, Lady Alice.”

Years had passed since Alice had arrived in Alestra, with the passage of time many things had changed. Even the memories that accompanied her years ago seemed like a distant dream. She had become a full fledged mage now and was studying under Black while Olivia had left Alestra to attend Elysium’s Knight Academy in order to become a knight for Alice.

The estate no longer resembled the peacefulness that it possessed over five years ago. Now most of the area behind the mansion was cleared of all grass and instead more large warehouses were constructed. The grass was all replaced by cement to ease the transportation of the numerous wagons and crates.

Passing through a few more workers, Alice entered the main Mecha Research Laboratory as Black had called it. MRL for short. 

And inside she found her mentor in a rare state that she had not seen from all the years Alice had known her. Her mentor, Black, was no longer dressed in an elaborate dress but rather what could be termed as a utilitarian military uniform of black and edge in gold. 

Black had an unfocused gaze in her eyes as she stared at the open notebook in her hand. Rather than looking at what was written or drawn on the sheets inside the notebook, Black seemed to have seen something else through the notebook and a noticeable melancholic aura could be felt around her. Black did not seem to notice as Alice moved her Autonomous Seat behind Black to peer over her shoulder to gaze at the large notebook in her hand.

The notebook had schematics for the Golem Knight that Black was attempting to create. However besides the schematics there was also the drawing of a blocky humanoid of white, with a blue and red torso, with a strangely shaped open faced helmet that had an upward v-fin and a sharp red beard coming from its chin.

Clap!

Alice was brought out of her inspection as the notebook suddenly closed shut and Black turned around with a slight smile on her face with none of the previous melancholic aura seen, as if it had never existed. 

“Alice, what brings you here?” Black asked.

“Lady Adam, I…” Alice swallowed the rest of her words before she returned to her previous smile, one that was oftentime seen on Black. “I heard that the Golem Knight was going to be scheduled to be tested for functionality. I came to see how the test worked.”

Black nodded, ignoring the fact that Alice seemed to have wanted to say something else at first. “Well, all the parts have been separately tested for functionality. This is the first time it’s going to be tested with all of it connected and using the cockpit though.”

Black and Alice turned their gaze towards the humanoid in the center of the warehouse. It was approximately thirteen meters tall, the height that giants rarely even grew to.

It was a metal frame that resembled the structure of a basic skeleton of a humanoid and on it were silverish blue “muscle”, known as Steel Flesh created to function as the muscle of the Golem Knight.

Originally Black had been building a hydraulic system that used pistons for movements, but Black had no experience in the field and after making no progress for the first year, developed what was known as Steel Flesh to power the movements of her creation.

Unlike autonomous golems that were powered and moved through pure magic that stemmed from the magic core, a crystalized product able to store mana and very hard to produce outside of skilled mages of Elysium, the Golem Knight needed to use Steel Flesh otherwise the drain on mana would be far too much to be feasible.

Even then the drain on mana was still something that had to be considered. On the arms and the legs were four large blue orbs, processed from magic gems, to serve as a core and make the flow of mana from the main magic core hidden in the torso easier and not burden it as well as increasing the overall capacity. 

Throughout the frame were gold lines that connected the various parts, these were the nerve circuits created using a special alloy that Black created. Aside from Black, no one knew the exact ratios of metals used in the creation, but there was no doubt that adamantine was one of the metals needed.

And unseen by Alice from her viewpoint, there were numerous pieces of parts that were inscribed with runic symbols forming a system. As the creator and foremost expert in runes, Black had created this new system for the sole function of bringing her creation to life.

There was no head on the frame and there was a strange hole in the chest, that hole was where the cockpit was and where the pilot would control the entire Golem Knight.

Very soon the prototype golem knight was brought out the from laboratory and into a wide flat ground even further inside the estate and surrounded by walls higher than the ones that separated Alestra from the outside world.

Alice sat on her Autonomous Seat beside several other members of MRL as they watched with anticipation at the golem knight that was currently laying on its back on the platform that wheeled it out from the laboratory. 

The one with the greatest anticipation was perhaps Gazil. He was a dwarf that had bulging muscles greater than dwarf knights and a full bushel of beard with a bald head. A bandana was currently covering his bald head where a pair of goggles also rested. As the chief blacksmith of MRL, Gazil had devoted more time into the project than anyone else including Black. Alice felt she could feel the sheer passion radiating off the dwarf as it buffeted her skin.

While Black may have sudden bursts of passion, she would often have slumps. But Gazil poured his heart and soul into the project and often had sleepless nights from working on the intricate details of the Golem Knight frame without any days off for the past years. 

There was a loud sound of oiled metal whirring upon each other as all the air seemed to be sucked towards the prototype Golem Knight. The nerve circuits glowed like molten gold. 

“Alright, I’m going to try to get it to stand up now.” 

Black’s voice wasn’t loud but seemed to reach everywhere, Alice felt her interest pique at the delicate control of the spell that allowed Black’s voice to be heard. But for the others, they watched with bated breath as one of the legs began to move.

It was excruciatingly slow to the members of MRL as they watched one leg rise and bend at the knee. There was a creaking sound of metal scraping as the torso began to rise. Finally the Golem Knight sat up on the platform.

Many members such as the spellsmiths and blacksmiths released a small cheer, but Gazil remained stoic as his gaze bore into the Golem Knight.

Black did not cheer either as the prototype Golem Knight began to stand up. First it moved into a kneeling position off of the platform, but as it started to rise up due to the imbalance the prototype was forced back onto its knees and the only reason it hadn’t fallen onto its side was because Black had used her magic to stabilize it.

The members sighed, but despite so they didn’t leave and instead continued to watch. Inside the cockpit, a barrier that consisted of runic symbols surrounding Black as she began to alter the symbols and adjusted them. After the adjustments were done, the runic barrier disappeared into the circular cockpit wall. In truth this was the runic script that was engraved into the shell of the cockpit and was connected to all the nerve circuits.

Had it been anyone else, they would have needed to disassemble the cockpit and remove the outer shell of the cockpit in order to alter the runes inscribed onto it. But to Black, this was an extremely simple process to alter the inscribed runes inside the cockpit. 

Black once again tried to command the prototype Golem Knight to stand up once more, alas the imbalance still existed and the prototype Golem Knight remained on its knees. Black once again adjusted the script on the cockpit. After numerous failures and attempts the prototype Golem Knight finally stood on it’s own two feet.

There was a loud roar of excitement as Black finally managed to get the Golem Knight to stand. But the Black wasn’t done testing yet.

Gazil even released a sigh of relief before his eyes hardened when the Golem Knight started to move forward. “Oi, oi, oi! What the hell are you doing!?” He shouted. “You daft bastard, you can’t rush it! One step of a time!”

Alice looked over in amusement, the dwarf was far braver than she accounted him for. Considering that Black was the head of MRL and held full power over the selection of members, even the chief blacksmith could be fired at a moment's notice should she feel like it.

“THAT’S NOT WHAT I MEANT WHEN I SAID ONE STEP AT A TIME!!!” Gazil shrieked, rather amazing considering that the voice held both the high pitch of a scream and the baritone constant in a dwarf’s voice.

The prototype Golem Knight had taken a step forward as if mocking Gazil’s rebuke. The audience watched with bated breath as the prototype Golem Knight took another step, and then another.

Soon another it broke into a full sprint under the disbelieving eyes of the audience. 

“It’s actually moving?”

“The iron giant can actually move this quickly?”

“So this project isn’t hopeless?”

Disbelief was expressed by the audience and members of MRL. Despite the scope of the project and the clear aims of creating a Golem capable of being piloted by a warrior without using magic, it was only now that they fully comprehended that this wasn’t a hopeless endeavor. 

Just as their emotions rose to the peak, the prototype Golem Knight suddenly jumped causing their peaked emotion to immediately sink into their stomach. 

They all uniformly heaved a sigh of relief as the prototype Golem Knight landed onto the ground without any issues. But their hearts were not given any rest as Black controlled the prototype Golem Knight to jump over five meters high causing their hearts to sink even deeper out of their stomach and almost out of their bodies.

Alice glanced to her side where the chief blacksmith stood petrified as he watched on with growing horror as Black controlled the prototype Golem Knight to perform physically intensive tasks.

The prototype Golem Knight began to run through many martial arts forms, performing numerous quick punches, kicks, and even leaping attacks. Surprisingly despite the large movements, the tremors were light and did not cause the surrounding audience to stumble onto the ground.

From the high spirited passion the members of MRL came out during the morning to the spiritless gait they attained when the sun had set and the test had finished, the extreme contrast was startling.

The contrast was even larger after the prototype Golem Knight returned to the laboratory without the aid of the platform and Black exited the cockpit. Black’s skin seemed to gleam under the light and the satisfied expression that she wore.

“Lady Black, I think you went a little too far today.” Alice couldn’t help but say to Black who had returned to her desk in the laboratory.

“Sometimes you gotta run before you can walk you know?” Black said giddily, obviously on an emotional high at the moment. 

Alice never had a chance to finish as a shriek was heard throughout the wide space. Black and Alice turned to look at the origin of the scream, Gazil who was cupping his face as he stood petrified with his body seeming unnaturally thin and gaunt despite his stout physique. 

Although the reactions of the other smiths and mages weren’t as pronounced, all of them had ashen faces as they stared in shock at the prototype Golem Knight. 

The reason wasn’t obvious at first but the light reflecting off of the metal frame soon revealed the reason. Numerous cracks spread throughout the frame with some parts having chips falling off. The reason was due to metal fatigue from all of Black’s intensive actions that caused the metal’s structural integrity to weaken immensely. 

“I guess, there’s got to be runes inscribed to reinforce the structural integrity. Good thing the test revealed this issue early, otherwise if this problem were to appear down the line it would have been an even bigger issue.” Black lightly said.

Alice looked away from the throbbing vein that had appeared on Gazil’s forehead.

A few months later when Alice gazed upon the prototype Golem Knight once again, it was no longer just the skinless frame as black skin covered the whole body and shiny silver armor plated the whole body making it resembled a knight more than the first few armor that was created for it.

When she had asked Black why the armor became curvier and organic instead of the angular armor it had worn before, Black replied, “Because air resistance.” 

Naturally confused, Alice had asked what air resistance was and Black explained it allowing her to have a grand revelation of why the structure of Alestra’s transportation device all had soft edges.

But that's besides the point, there was a strange tension in the air as today was the combat readiness test. Every so often a member of the MRL would glance warily at Black. 

Throughout the past few months whenever tests occurred, the test pilot, Black, would invariably push the Golem Knight to perform more tests that were not scheduled often causing unneeded stress to the crew.

Black continued to talk to Alice seemingly as if she couldn’t notice the gazes, and she indeed didn’t. Having lived so long, she had gained the skill of ignoring the gazes of others unless those gazes contained ill intent.

Surprisingly it was the Vimana that had arrived above the estate to ferry the prototype Golem to the testing grounds. The prototype Golem Knight was fastened with strings to the airship with a large cloth covering the exact form, as the project was still technically a secret. And aboard the Vimana were the two of the three sages stationed at Alestra and Richard Lionel, Knight Captain of the Sentinels.

“Lord Lionel, Sage Phoebe, Sage Trishur.” Alice greeted three of the most prestigious members of Alestra if you ignored Black’s existence. “I did not expect to find Three Lords of the Five Lords of Alestra here.”

Sage Phoebe, an elderly woman with white hair and long ears, smiled kindly at Alice. “Miss Alice, how could we not. Aside from possibly a new sub branch of magic being fully realized, the implications of a Golem Knight for the forces of Elysium are quite deep. Isn’t that right, little Lionel?”

Richard couldn’t help but furrow his brows at the provoking name, but he calmed himself down and soon he was expressionless and the picture perfect example of a Knight Captain. “Indeed, while I do not fully comprehend the capabilities it is estimated that a single Golem Knight will be equal to a full company to a battalion of knights, equal to a Drachen. Theoretically, it will be easier to find a knight capable of piloting a Golem Knight than someone with the potential to be a Drachen. Just not needing to be proficient in magic allows for a larger pool of applicants.”

“Oh, I see.” Alice however did not understand how the Golem Knight would change the dynamics of the Elysium army. One portion of her understanding was due to having been locked up for the majority of her life in the tower and aside from the close relations with her, she did not understand how the larger organization worked, such as the size and strength of the army.

The other portion was her exposure to Black, an absurd existence to the eyes of an average human. 

Capable of casting high level spells without first constructing a magic circle or even using catalysts. Not just high level spells, but the sheer numbers of spells Black casted and other magic disciplines such as alchemy, golemancy, and even metallurgy made Black seem like a living library. The legendary staff that accompanied Black seemed more as an accessory that Black sometimes remembered she had most of the time to onlookers.

And thus Black’s actions, although unknown to Alice, were deemed as a standard of normality to Alice in comparison to the average citizens of the Elysium Theocracy that knew of what true normality was.

Speaking of Black, many of the crew couldn’t help but occasionally glance at her not because of her state of dress but her attire. It was a leather bodysuit with gold lines running through it, with how perfectly molded it was to Black’s body it left little to the imagination and even with Alice’s “sheltered” upbringing her face couldn’t be helped but tinged with pink when she first saw Black in it.

When asked, Black simply said it was a pilot suit much to the confusion of many members. But since Black, as the head of MRL insisted on it being the proper attire to pilot the Golem Knight no one dared to say anything.

Luckily Black’s current body had the looks of a young girl many years before her coming of age ceremony and thus her beauty was mostly seen from a objective few. Unless you were one of those types that had a certain preference.

Although judging by the blushing crew, some may have awoken to such preference. 

The Vimana didn’t have to travel far as it left the safe walls of Alestra and into the inner lands where a group of knights and mages had restrained a demon of over ten meters tall. It was the shape of a large and muscular bear with rabbit-like ears and a spiral horn on its head and it’s arms and legs were cuffed with iron shackles that chained it to the ground.

With the closing distance between the Vimana and it, it seemed to have entered a frenzy as it struggled against it’s taut chains to charge towards the airship. Had the knights not already cleared the area, perhaps more demons would have rallied together due to Alice.

But the chains held strong and no matter how much the demon raged, it could only watch on as the Vimana descended and the Golem Knight became unfastened. 

The knights and mages who had captured the demon watched with fascinated eyes as the Golem Knight was revealed to them. It looked to be a giant in a black full bodysuit with silver armor with a peculiar helmet. 

They watched fascination as the chestplate bulged outwards and opened to reveal a specialized seat, the cockpit. And Black levitated onto the cockpit and with her inside the cockpit closed and inserted itself back into the Golem Knight.

Alice stayed on the Vimana and watched safely in the distance, her eyes glancing warily at the demon. Her hands whitened as she tightened the grip of her fists, her nails sunk into her palm as blood began to leak from them.

Richard however decided to descend from the ship along with a few others to have a more grounded view of the fight.

The Golem Knight stood in front of Vimana, a large shield in its left hand with a knight’s sword sheathed in it. And in front of the Golem Knight was the bear-like demon roaring with greed as it continuously glared at Alice upon the airship.

The knights and mages began to back away from the demon and the Golem Knight to a safe distance. And upon command the mages released the spell linking the chains to the ground allowing the bear-like demon free.

With a mighty roar the ursa demon charged forwards, its eyes not even deeming the Golem Knight worthy of a single glance. And so it charged on all four legs, each step a stomp that left a deep impression in the ground.

The Golem Knight raised its shield in front of it as it dug both of its legs into the ground at the oncoming charge. There was a thundering bang as the demon crashed into the Golem Knight, the Golem Knight’s feet dug into the ground as it was pushed back leaving a trail of overturned grass but the ursa demon’s charge was stopped.

Time seemed to stop as there was no sound, even for the ursa demon as it too was stunned that its charge had been blocked. 

However it soom regained it’s bearing and reared back onto its hindlegs allowing it to stand at its full height that even topped the Golem Knight’s height of thirteen meters. The ursa demon unleashed it’s paws as it began to batter the Golem Knight’s shield, trying to topple the obstacle that was the Golem Knight.

Black inside the Golem Knight remained calm as she used the shield to deflect the oncoming blows for a while, before she commanded the Golem Knight to bend down and charge forward. 

Unprepared for the sudden shield bash and not having the stability of four legs, the ursa demon was forced onto its back but in a surprisingly show of dexterity rolled sideways and back onto all four legs, its fang bared as the demon recognized the threat that was the Golem Knight.

The Golem Knight remained stoic under the ursa demon’s growling and calmly unsheathed it’s sword before brandishing it at the foe in front of it. The sword wasn’t anything special if you discounted the sheer size, it had no runes or enhancement casted on it but the sheer size was intimidating enough.

The ursa roared as if enraged and once more charged forward. This time Black shifted her posture so that her left side was angled towards the ursa demon with the shield in front. Once the ursa demon clashed onto the shield, Black shifted the shield slightly to the left and the demon veered leftwards exposing its flank.

Black twisted the Golem Knight’s torso and unleashed a diagonal slash that cut deep into the ursa demon’s flank. The ursa demon roared in pain before it rolled away once more and this time back onto its hind legs and staring warily at the Golem Knight, its left flank bleeding profusely from the deep gash.

Black could discern the sound and sensation of bones cracking from her blow as she stared down the ursa demon although it could see Black but it sensed a murderous intent coming from the Golem Knight causing it to shift backward.

But Black wasn’t intent on being on the defensive anymore as she commanded the Golem Knight to charge forward, its shield in front of it. It was another shield bash, but the difference this time was that the Golem Knight initiated the attack with its charge increasing the force behind it.

The Golem Knight’s speed was unnaturally quick despite its large size and weight with it leaving an even deeper imprint into the grass. The ursa demon attempted to catch the shield as it came forward but the Golem Knight’s shield easily broke the demon’s hold and impacted the chest where a loud crack sound could be heard all around and not just by Black.

But the Golem Knight wasn’t done yet as it tilted the shield upward still charging before suddenly stopping causing the ursa demon to be flung into the air. But the assault wasn’t done yet as the Golem Knight bent its knees before initiating a gigantic leap with its sword posed to pierced the ursa demon’s heart.

There was nothing the ursa demon could but roar in fear and fury as the sharp end of the sword pierced through its shattered rib cage and into its heart, the force behind the leap causing it to rise even higher in the sky.

There was silence all around at how the Golem Knight dominated the ursa demon. As the Golem Knight landed onto the ground, the demon’s body slid off still twitching, and it’s front splattered with the dark red blood of the demon giving the impression of a war god of steel.

Inside the cockpit Black had a pleased smile. “Not bad, far better than my prediction. With this success, it will be a shame to call you a mere golem.”

“How about this, an Overknight. A knight beyond knights.”

“Primus the first Overknight.”