The first time Sharath left the Darsha estate, he noticed two things:
The roads were terrible.
The world was even slower than he'd feared.
Carts wobbled like drunks. Wheels cracked under uneven cobblestones. Merchants shouted at donkeys who seemed to be staging a quiet rebellion against civilization itself.
No wonder it takes two weeks to deliver grain five leagues away, he thought grimly, scribbling in his notebook while bouncing in the back of a well-guarded carriage.
❖ Destination: House VelmorinHouse Velmorin was a minor noble family, historically loyal to House Darsha. Lord Velmorin's son, Edrin, had recently written a glowing letter about Sharath's "clever device."
When Sharath's father gave cautious approval for a demonstration in Velmorin's public square, he knew it was both a test and a message:
"Let them see it. But let them choose it freely."
The journey took three days.
Sharath used every hour to:
Measure bump intervals on the road.
Interview guards about saddle fatigue.
Record average cart speeds by load type.
And, once, convince a goat to help push a stalled wagon.
(That last one worked surprisingly well.)
❖ The DemonstrationThe Velmorin square was a bustling hub—half-market, half gossip exchange, and 100% skeptical when the Darsha convoy rolled in carrying what looked like a chair strapped to a spinning table.
The crowd gathered.
Sharath emerged—calm, confident, and absurdly young.
He wheeled out Trike Mk. III. Lighter. Smarter. More stable.
He mounted. Pedaled.
Gasps. Laughter. Running children. A shopkeeper dropping a bag of onions.
Sharath dismounted and gestured to the wheel.
"It works on your roads," he said simply.
❖ Questions in the DustThey came quickly.
"Can it carry flour?" (Yes.)
"What if it rains?" (Waterproofed joints.)
"Can I put a chicken in it?" (Legally? Maybe.)
Then came real questions:
"Can a smith build this without an enchanter?"
"Will the Guilds accept it?"
"Can this create jobs?"
Sharath answered with clarity.
And he watched the expressions change—not to joy, but to hopeful calculation.
The kind of look people give when they see the next thing coming and want to be early.
❖ Return and ExpansionBy the time Sharath returned to House Darsha, three letters had already arrived requesting blueprints.
But back home, something more exciting had happened:
❖ The Workshop ExpandsMina and Dayo had taken initiative.
They'd recruited:
Two carpenters from the market district.
A retired dwarven gear-maker with hearing problems and excellent tea.
A leatherworker who insisted on calling every design a "saddle."
Together, they'd converted the eastern wing storeroom into a dedicated invention space—now called "The Turning Hall."
Inside:
Tool benches lined the walls.
Blueprints hung from ceiling rails.
Storage labeled by component, not by whim.
And a central worktable displayed Trike Mk. IV, half-built and humming with potential.
❖ First Steps to Mass ProductionSharath was amazed.
Mina showed him their first jig—a wooden frame for assembling trike wheels with precision.
"Same size every time," she said proudly.
Dayo revealed the new metal templates for gear alignment.
"We can make ten in the time it used to take for one."
They weren't just building—they were scaling.
Sharath nodded.
"It's time," he said. "To teach others."
❖ The Bicycle Training ProgramThey created scrolls and diagrams, labeled with easy-to-follow runes and step-by-step drawings.
The program taught:
Basic trike operation.
Maintenance routines.
Emergency repair spells (minimal magic).
Safety protocols for riders.
They called it The Rider's Primer.
And already, nearby families were asking for copies.
❖ Log Entry – The Road and The RiseTravel Complete: House Velmorin Demo ✅Reception: Curious → Cautious OptimismInquiries: 5 new requests (1 noble, 3 craftsmen, 1 very loud baker)
Workshop Expansion:
Craftsmen Recruited ✅
Mass Production Tools: Initiated
Dedicated Space Named ✅
Training Program: Primer scroll created
Next Objective: Spread program to local villages. Study long-distance endurance rides. Draft standardization guide.
Sharath closed the log with a sense of gravity.
This was no longer just invention.
This was a movement.