Zirko placed the carved head atop the soon-to-be golem's chest. The head, or helmet, depending on how you looked at it, had a neutral, mouthless, hollowed-out face. Taka felt like the empty face was staring at him, which was even more strange considering it was about to be his face, sort of. Like how the protagonist of a mech show was one and the same as their machine, at least that was how Taka wanted it to be.

  Taka sat on his plate, which was just small enough to fit directly inside the head of the golem, in the castle workshop. Taka had no idea Kronkswell had a workshop until Zirko took him to the detached building a short walk away from the training grounds. A stocky lizard man with an eyepatch covering one eye named Garek was in charge of the workshop and the only creature Taka had seen while Zirko worked on the golem. According to Zirko, Vanz'goran wanted to keep the circle tight on all of their current plans, and Garek was one of the few beings that the retired Demon Lord said they could fully trust to help prepare for the mission in Modonia. Garek was a lizard man of few words but always gave Taka a toothy smile whenever their gazes met.

  Marg sat in the corner of the workshop, reading a book Taka didn't recognize. the sun was setting, and the last rays of light illuminated the front of the book; the title read The Marked, and appeared to be a romance novel based on the intertwined figures on the cover. It had been 3 days since the attack, and Bick was still in and out of consciousness, but getting better by the day. Marg had stayed by his side until Zirko asked her to join in testing the golem, and Taka felt far too guilty to face Bick, so he did his best to avert his gaze from the kind orc's wife. Zirko grunted and stretched out his hands, slapping the golem on its back.

  "Construction is complete," Zirko said with a grin. "Let's make sure you fit, yes?"

  Taka used his telekinesis to fly the plate above the head, and Zirko flicked a level which popped open a hatch on the top of the golem's head. Taka lowered the plate into the head and settled it on its base on the inside, fitting snugly.

  Taka had already used his TELEPATHY skill earlier to open a link with Zirko, but he used it again to open a link with Marg.

  What do we do next? Taka asked them both.

  Zirko stared at the golem for a moment, then nodded, clearly satisfied with his work. Marg got up from her chair and joined the lizard man, staring warmly into the head of the golem.

  "There are two more larger steps. The first is casting the magic to make the golem operational, as well as you becoming comfortable with controlling it, Sir Filo," Zirko said. "The second is for Marg to cast an illusion spell on the head of the golem to hide you visually as well as conceal your magic presence."

  Illusions can conceal Magia? Taka asked excitedly. He was unfamiliar with illusion magic, and had incorrectly assumed that it was restricted to visuals.

  "Yes," Zirko confirmed. "Although there are very few mages who are able to cast the spell at such a high potency. Marg is one of the most competent light mages I've met, but even so, the illusion will not last more than a day each time its cast."

  So that's why Marg has to come with us, Taka thought to himself. He had been wondering why Marg couldn't stay with Bick, or if someone else could take their place and cast the illusions for Taka, but she was the only one skilled enough for the mission. The mission, when did I start thinking like that...

  Taka's thoughts trailed off as Zirko circled the golem, examining it now that Taka was inside.

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  "The biggest challenge will be controlling the golem naturally, as if you're not inside of it," Zirko said. "Golems do not move on their own, which partially works in our favor, but it could prove dangerous if it is easy to deduce that the caster is directly inside of the golem's head, especially if we are forced into combat. Thankfully, what we are attempting is far from common, which should stave off most suspicion."

  How will we explain how the golem moves, then? Must I be around one of you at all times? Taka asked.

  Marg gave Taka a weak smile.

  "Yes, either myself or Maeve," Deon said as he looped around the golem to face Taka. "I am well-versed in earth magic, and Maeve has enough mana to fool anyone who might question it."

  Taka nodded. It made sense, but he didn't like the idea of having a babysitter.

  "Word travels fast, and anyone with a connection to the fae who worship Valish would immediately know who you are," Zirko said. "Now, shall we?"

  Yes, are you going to cast the spell?

  Zirko nodded, "I shall do it first, demonstrate how to maneuver the golem, then you can practice."

  Zirko raised his hand toward the golem but paused, lowering it so he could look Taka in the eyes.

  "We are leaving tomorrow at first light, so do your best tonight," Zirko said softly.

  Zirko put his hand up toward the golem, stepped forward to touch it, then closed his eyes. Taka felt the battle mage's earth mana flowing from his scaly hand into the wood of the golem, spreading out like blood filling the veins of a creature that had dried up long ago. It was an entirely different sensation than he had felt when he had accidentally created the Lily Minion, and felt much more controlled. Zirko removed his hand from the golem as Taka felt it shift beneath him, unfurling its body to stand.

  The golem wasn't terribly big, but Taka felt like a giant standing at four feet tall after weeks of being only a few centimeters long. The golem was crafted to be a humanoid shape per Taka's request, but Zirko picked the size. Supposedly a golem of this size would be ideal for use in a city area with other creatures of similar or larger size, and would avoid drawing attention to Taka.

  The golem's trunky legs stretched below Taka, and its arms pushed out, then in, then back out again. The golem began to walk around the room in a circle, each step making Taka feel a little queasy, but he pushed through. The golem began to move faster, at a slight jog, and Taka got used to the movement. The golem slowed to a halt, then sat down, literally folding in on itself as its torso nestled between its legs and its arms wrapped around its neck. Taka could see surprisingly well out the front of the head, the opening in the face reminiscent of the bridge of a starship, or the Zords from Power Rangers. Taka saw Marg give Zirko a nod of approval as the mana in the golem began to fade away.

  "The golem is functional, Sir Filo," Zirko boasted. "Take it away."

  Marg sat back down and picked up her book while Zirko joined her in the chair by her side, but he continued to watch Taka. Taka felt more eyes on him and saw that Garek was also watching with a curious intensity that made Taka want to squirm around. Focus, Taka told himself. Focus and do what you can.

  Deon had already explained the differences between creating golems and minions, but that didn't stop Taka from worrying about making the same mistake again. Taka took a deep breath and closed his eyes, gathering mana in his body and feeling the earth around him. He then poured his mana, filtered earth mana, into the golem, a little at a time. He started with about 5% of what he used to create the Lily Minion, and was shocked at how quickly it spread through the golem. Either minions took significantly more mana than golems, or Zirko's mana had greatly reduced the amount Taka had to use -- neither posed a problem, so Taka didn't dwell on it. Taka continued to stream his earth mana into the golem and felt it coming to life around him, not alive, but... awake, like powering up a tool. When he hit about 10% of what he had first put in the Lily Minion, the golem felt full, and so Taka slowed down the mana he was feeding the golem to a trickle to maintain its current level. Taka could feel the Magia flowing throughout the golem, but it wasn't exactly how he pictured it, it was less intuitive than Zirko's skillful manipulation led him to believe it'd be. Taka focused on the legs of the golem and tried to make them stand up the same way he had used telekinesis to move objects around, but instead, the golem's jerked upwards and almost sent Taka's flying as its torso and head shot up in a jolting motion.

  Zirko chuckled at the golem's sudden movement, "let's get to work..."