Chapitre 31: Jolly Smith (1)

"I'll cover Paci and Kira, Trania. You can cover Victor and Inga."

Alessia looked over towards the curvaceous, quiet Catkin, who nodded and turned towards the other two members of our team with a contemplative expression, studying the muscular giant and lithe, winged woman.

"Now, c'mon~! The 'Jolly Smith'... even though he and his wife are anything but..."

"Eh, I dunno Alessia. For Dwarfs they're rather amusing, but that isn't saying much, y'know? Have the same humor as an anvil, the lot of 'em."

Paci tilted her head before striding into the simple, squat building, its stone brick structure expertly made and well maintained, containing the hammering that sounded out from its interior as we made our way in.

Alessia just nodded, a small smile on her lips as she turned towards me and asked "Have you ever met a Dwarf, Kira?", voicing her curiosity and continuing to walk by my side; Paci had already given us a few steps of privacy, the other Dogkin instead going to inspect the various weapons lining the walls.

Inside, the 'Jolly Smith' boasted an open floor plan that proudly displayed the various racks of weapons and armor to any who entered, while allowing the two people in the back hammering away at whatever projects they were working on to inspect their customers, even if the third person was the one who approached us.

"I have, yes. Long time ago, and they were... eccentric for a Dwarf. Instead of shaping metal, they were a woodcarver and a farmer. Lived amongst the forest with animals instead of people..."

"Sounds like ye didn't meet a Dwarf, but instead an Elf! Hah, how ye make that mistake is beyond me, mixed blood."

Around four feet tall, the stocky, bearded man looked up at me with a proud, yet neutral gaze as he crossed his burly arms across his chest, displaying the muscles that many warriors could only pray to achieve.

I chuckled, shaking my head as I replied "No, they were indeed a Dwarf. He just... took a different path is all. Swore off metal and took up nature instead; an oath he made to a comrade of his, he said."

Memories of someone I had once played with entered my mind, making my heart clench for a brief moment as I wondered about their own whereabouts and if they had made the mistake of playing Twin Moons of Eden...

Returning to reality, I met the gaze of the Dwarf in front of me, just shrugging as he curled his lip in distaste as he heard that, the inherent love for all types of metal being put on display with that simple reaction.

"Well, we're not like that lass! I'll have ye know that right now! Hah. Now, how can I help ye, Talonmasters? What brings you to the 'Jolly Smith'?"

Rubbing his hands together, the red bearded, pudgy faced Dwarf looked between Alessia and Trania, with Alessia answering "Custom weapons for these four. They earned them."

"Custom hah? Ey Ma! Pa! The Talonmaster's want custom gear!"

He reached up for his beard and shouted back at the two Dwarfs in the back, who put their hammers down and looked at us with a keen eye, both of them wiping off their sweat and approaching.

The father of this Dwarf looked much like his son; ruddy red hair, sullen, pudgy cheeks and a deep set of obsidian eyes, while his arms bulged out with veins aplenty, his reward for a life of hard labor in his forge.

Metal trinkets laced his red beard, clinking and clattering as he approached us, his darker, leathery skin slick with sweat and shimmering in the orange light that permeated the shop.

The one who spoke though was the woman, who's hair was an ashen gray that was pulled into a tight braid straight down the middle of her skull; both sides of her head were shaven clean, giving way for the knotted runic tattoo that was inked into her head.

Sharp, imposing silver eyes appraised each of us, while the sleeveless blacksmiths apron revealed her smaller, yet still impressive physique, her muscles solid yet dense compared to the bulging muscles of her husband.

"Custom, ya say? Hah... We can do custom, but we want proof that ye deserve custom. Just cause yer soldiers don't mean yer strong and worthy of custom Dwarven craftsmanship. No amount of coin or prestige buys something that impressive, ye hear me? Now, c'mere. The two with Alessia; I'll test ye. The other two, over to me husband."

A hair shorter than her son, the female Dwarf looked up at us with narrowed eyes, a frown etched into her freckled face that made her even more imposing as she asked "Tell me, Red: what does a blade mean to ye?"

Paci tilted her head as she followed behind the woman, blinking a few times before pursing her lips as we stopped near the woman's anvil, which had an unfinished blade resting atop its metallic surface.

"A blade's meaning... Depends on the blade. My spear is an extension of my arm, a partner to get me through a battle. It helps me protect my comrades and kill my enemies, and I love it for that."

Snorting, the woman tapped the still hot blade on her anvil, her silver eyes still as sharp as before as she said "And for blade's that aren't yer spear?"

"A tool meant to be used. A knife is great for cutting my steak into strips or cubes. A sword can be used to cut through vines and overgrowth as well as flesh. A hammer can break stone or splinter wood. They don't mean much to me because they aren't what I like to use. I'm a rather selfish gal, after all~!"

Grinning at the Dwarf, Paci watched the woman nod her head, before she turned towards me and narrowed her gaze, her frown deepening as she asked "And ye, half blood? What is a blade to ye?"

"Something to aid me in my journey. A tool to be used, a weapon to fight with, an ornament to be praised. Depends on the blade, depends on the tie I have with it."

I gave her my blunt answer, watching as her frown deepened for a moment before she asked "Half blood, do ye use magic more often in yer fights, or yer weapon there?"

Her gaze landed on the hilt of my falchion, and I followed her eyes and pursed my lips, thinking over it for a moment before answering "Both. Likely an equal amount. I use my magic to create an opening for my sword, and my sword to create space for me to cast my magic. Why?"

"Hah... Yer blood. Are ye part Elf?"

"Perhaps."

Silence descended between us, broken only by the conversation of the other party and the crackling of the furnace.

Meeting her silver eyes, I didn't flinch or look away, instead meeting them head on and showing her that her dislike of Elves didn't bother me one bit - even though I wasn't an Elf, but the last thing I wanted to do was say I was Fae.

If that was a secret option locked behind being a Legacy Player, then I imagine they were meant to be a rare race; and from my experiences in Battle of Eden, well... Fae were countable on one hand.

Three, to be exact, that I could name right now.

"Nature lovers... no respect for a good weapon. Hah. Very well. I can work something out even for one as lost as ye. Tell me, what is yer budget? Timeframe?"

"Let's... Goddess be damned, whatever. 50 Gold each, Leslaina. We need 'em done in five days as well."

"Five days... I can do five days. Alright then; let's see what I can do for ya."