Ravenna, Hughes, and John arrived at the blacksmith's workshop, a hive of activity where steam engines hissed and groaned, tirelessly churning out steel arrow components. Blacksmiths moved with practiced precision, assembling rapid-fire crossbows using the parts produced by the mechanized forges. The air was heavy with the scent of molten metal and soot, the clang of hammers on steel blending with the rhythmic hum of machinery.

  However, their purpose here wasn’t solely to oversee the production of crossbows. In the center of the workshop, five smaller and intricately designed ballistas stood out, gleaming with fresh metal. These were no ordinary siege weapons—they were something new, something revolutionary.

  Nille, the chief blacksmith, noticed their arrival and quickly stepped forward, bowing slightly. "Your Highness! I didn’t realize you had arrived."

  Ravenna nodded, her expression calm but focused. She gestured towards the ballistas. "We’ve just arrived. But I want you to brief the knight captain and vice-captain about these immediately."

  Nille followed her gaze and motioned toward the weapons. "These are spring-powered ballistas," he began, his tone tinged with pride. "They operate on the same principles as the rapid-fire crossbows but on a much larger scale."

  He stepped up to one of the machines and gestured for a knight to assist him. The knight carefully loaded a cloth-covered steel javelin into the weapon's chamber as Nille continued his explanation.

  "With the help of the steam engine, we’ve managed to produce five of these so far. Unfortunately, even with the engines speeding up production, assembling these weapons is a labor-intensive process. The blacksmiths are exhausted, and I estimate we might only be able to produce one more before the attack."

  Ravenna acknowledged his report with a slight nod, her sharp eyes scrutinizing the ballistas. Meanwhile, Hughes and John stepped closer, inspecting the mechanisms with curiosity and awe.

  Hughes, his voice tinged with a mix of nervousness and excitement, asked, "Does that mean... does that mean these can also rapid-fire, like the crossbows? Powered by the spring mechanism?"

  Nille smiled faintly. "In theory, yes. Not only that, but their range and accuracy should be more than ten times that of standard ballistas. The mechanism has been tested extensively, but we haven’t yet had the chance to test their ability to fire multiple steel javelins in rapid succession. We simply don’t have the time."

  John frowned. "We can’t risk deploying these untested in a real battle. If they fail, it could cost us dearly."

  Hughes nodded. "Agreed. A full test might not be feasible, but we need to conduct at least a basic trial to gauge their capabilities before including them in our strategy."

  Ravenna’s gaze remained steady as she considered their words. "Then let’s not delay. We’ll test them on the beach immediately."

  The team moved swiftly to the beach, accompanied by a small group of knights and priests acting as engineers. The spring-powered ballistas were loaded onto carts and transported carefully, each weapon treated like a precious artifact. On the open sands, the weapons were set up facing the ocean, where their performance could be assessed without risk to anyone nearby.

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  Nille began overseeing the preparations. "We’ll start with a single javelin shot to test range and accuracy. Then, we’ll attempt a rapid-fire sequence to see how well the mechanism handles repeated use."

  The first ballista was loaded with a steel javelin, its spring mechanism wound tightly. A knight stepped back after securing the weapon, while another manned the trigger.

  "Ready!" Nille called.

  "Fire!" Hughes ordered.

  The ballista released the javelin with a sharp thwang, the sound of the spring reverberating through the air. The projectile shot forward with tremendous speed, slicing through the air before landing far out in the waves, kicking up a spray of water.

  One of the priests, watching with a spyglass, whistled in amazement. "Nearly a kilometer! And dead-on accurate!"

  Ravenna’s expression remained composed, though her tone betrayed a hint of satisfaction. "Good. Let’s see if it can handle rapid-fire."

  Nille nodded and directed the knights to load three javelins into the ballista. The weapon’s spring was adjusted to ensure continuous tension, and the firing mechanism was set for sequential release.

  "Ready for rapid-fire testing!" Nille announced.

  "Proceed," Ravenna commanded.

  The trigger was pulled, and the ballista unleashed its first shot, quickly followed by a second and third in rapid succession. Each javelin soared through the air, maintaining a consistent trajectory. However, after the third shot, the mechanism emitted a faint grinding noise, and Nille signaled to stop.

  "Three consecutive shots," he reported, examining the ballista. "The mechanism is intact, but it’s clear that sustained rapid-fire will cause strain. With some adjustments, it could handle more, but for now, three shots in quick succession seems to be the limit."

  Hughes crossed his arms, deep in thought. "Three shots is still very impressive; this can literally change our defense strategy’s outcome."

  Ravenna turned to Nille. "Ensure the blacksmiths focus on refining the mechanism of the existing ballistas. Even if we can’t produce more, improving their performance will be vital."

  Nille bowed. "Understood, Your Highness."

  As the team packed up the ballistas, the knights were abuzz with excitement. Though the weapons were far from perfect, they represented a significant tactical advantage—a glimmer of hope against the coming assault. For now, Ravenna, Hughes, and John felt a small measure of relief.

  In this world, ballistas, trebuchets, and catapults reigned supreme as the primary tools of large-scale warfare, alongside the ever-present influence of mages. The existence of mages had significantly stagnated the practical evolution of industries. Where people on Earth might have pursued scientific innovation to address complex challenges, this world had leaned heavily on the convenience of magic.

  For instance, medical advancements often relied on healing magic, while the creation of snow or refrigeration was effortlessly achieved by mages using a few enchanted flowers. This heavy reliance on magic stunted the development of many technologies that might have otherwise emerged, such as steam engines, advanced metallurgy, or the widespread use of chemical propellants.

  One striking example was the absence of cannons, a staple of medieval defense strategies on Earth. While certain regions had experimented with magical versions of cannon-like weapons, the concept of a gunpowder-powered cannon was still far from realization. The lack of urgency to innovate in this direction stemmed from the ease with which mages could substitute magical solutions for traditional engineering.

  For Ravenna, the prospect of developing a cannon was entirely out of reach given the time constraints. However, after the success of spring-powered crossbows, the idea of scaling up the same principles for ballistas seemed feasible. This was why she had prioritized their creation, recognizing their immediate practicality.

  Back in the study, Ravenna, Hughes, and John gathered to discuss the day’s progress. The room was dimly lit, the soft glow of lanterns casting long shadows over the sprawling map on the table.

  “Now we have a way to ensure the ships don’t retreat,” Ravenna said, her tone firm and resolute. Her piercing gaze scanned the map, which displayed key locations of strategic importance.