The blistering heat of the forge drove away the morning chill as Thalindra hammered the metal with precision. Each strike echoed like a testament to her perfectionism.
The furnace roared behind her, casting flickering light over the scattered sketches on her worktable. Among them, the incomplete elemental gauntlets continued to gather dust—a constant reminder of her frustration.
She set the hammer down and wiped the sweat from her brow with the back of her hand. Her keen eyes assessed the freshly molded piece. If it's not perfect, it's useless, she thought.
The sound of boots at the entrance pulled her from her thoughts. Frowning, she turned as the door swung open, letting in a gust of cold air and a bit of snow.
A wind elf and a human with a white crow on his shoulder stepped into the forge.
—I see you're early risers. That's a good sign. —Thalindra commented, a mix of approval and caution in her tone.
Yuna stepped forward with a polite smile.
—We were told you open early. The barkeep mentioned it last night.
Thalindra nodded, eyeing them both with scrutiny.
—Dwarves don't need as much sleep. We can work for days without rest—that's why Molgaroth is called "The City That Never Sleeps." Don't underestimate us.
Haruto, still adjusting his coat, let out a light chuckle.
—That explains how you manage to maintain such an impressive level of craftsmanship.
Thalindra raised an eyebrow, visibly satisfied.
—My father forged the King of Estelaris' sword. It took him five years to perfect it. I can't afford to be any less than that.
Yuna blinked, surprised.
—Do you work with him?
—No. He's the King's personal blacksmith and lives in the castle. I run this forge on my own. —she added with pride.
Suddenly, a flash of light illuminated the room. Kizuna appeared floating, as theatrical as ever.
—So this is the famous Thalindra! —Kizuna exclaimed excitedly, twirling in the air before adding in a teasing tone—. The "loli" Haruto-kyun kept talking about!
The words hit like a bucket of cold water. Thalindra raised an eyebrow, gripping her hammer a little tighter.
—What is that floating thing? —she asked, pointing at Kizuna—. And what does "loli" mean?
Haruto tensed, feeling cold sweat forming at the back of his neck.
—W-Well, you see…! Yes! Where I come from, "loli" means Great Artisan. —he said with a forced smile.
Thalindra eyed him with sheer disbelief, gripping the handle of her hammer just a bit more firmly.
—Great Artisan? —she repeated slowly, her tone sharp.
—Oh, come on, Kizu! Everyone knows "loli" means— —Kizuna began, before Haruto clamped a hand over her mouth.
—Kizuna… stop making things worse. —he hissed urgently.
—Don't mind her. —Haruto quickly tried to change the subject—. She just enjoys messing with me.
Yuna, offering a nervous smile, stepped in.
—It must be the altitude and the snow. It's his first time in the mountains.
Thalindra watched them skeptically, crossing her arms, but chose not to press the matter further.
—Alright, enough games. What's the job you need me for? I don't have all day.
Yuna nodded and closed her eyes. With an elegant motion, she extended her hand, and in a soft flash of light, her sword materialized before her. The silver blade reflected the fire's glow, its engravings shimmering with a faint radiance.
—This is my sword. It's called El—
—Elven Sword. I know. —Thalindra cut in flatly, her tone indifferent.
Yuna blinked, caught off guard.
—How do you know that?
Thalindra let out a scoff, as if the answer were obvious.
—Why do you think they sent you to me and not to another blacksmith? There are plenty of dwarves with my skill level—some even better. But this sword… I recognize it.
—Did you forge it? —Yuna asked, even more incredulous.
—Of course not. This sword must be at least a thousand years old. —Thalindra ran her fingers along the blade, admiring every detail—.
—It has been worked on by my family for generations. My ancestor, Durnir, was the one who forged it.
—My grandfather, Galdin, added an Aeresite stone to it sometime later.
She paused, her voice taking on a nostalgic tone.
—My father, Borin, last saw it when he was still young. An elf and his daughter came to have the Aeresite replaced. If I remember correctly, that elf's name was Ayumi.
The name hit Yuna like a distant echo. Her expression changed instantly.
—Mother… —she whispered, pressing her lips together as her gaze fell upon the sword.
Haruto looked at her with concern but remained silent. Only the crackling of the forge's fire filled the quiet space.
Thalindra crossed her arms and spoke with certainty.
—If this sword is here, and you're a wind elf… then you must be Ayumi's daughter. But tell me… do you also have her bow?
Yuna nodded slowly. Without a word, she extended her other hand. An ethereal glow materialized in her palm, forming the Elven Bow. Its light illuminated the forge, reflecting its intricate design.
Thalindra let out a quiet sigh of admiration.
—Seeing them together… it's truly a spectacle. —she murmured, her gaze tracing over both weapons—. These pieces represent the true perfection I strive for.
Yuna and Haruto exchanged a glance.
—Do you know what makes them so special? —the dwarf asked, a rare spark of excitement in her eyes.
Haruto frowned.
—Isn't it because of your ancestors' craftsmanship?
—Yes, but there's more to it. —Thalindra lifted her gaze, her expression serious—. They're partially made of Astrium.
Yuna's eyes widened.
—Astrium?
—It's a metal that comes from the stars. Very rare, mind you. —Thalindra ran a hand over the blade with reverence—. These weapons aren't just tools; they're legacies.
Haruto crossed his arms, intrigued.
—So… what happens now?
Thalindra placed the weapons on the table and looked at them intently.
—Well, you've piqued my interest, and this is something my family has been doing for generations, so… I accept the job.
She folded her arms, thinking.
—Do you want to replace the stone, or do you want it imbued with Aeresite?
Yuna pulled out a pouch of coins, setting it on the table along with a high-purity Aeresite gem.
—You're the expert. What do you recommend, considering our budget?
Thalindra inspected the pouch, spreading the coins across the table while examining the stone with a critical eye.
—Ten Gold Yue… enough for two options: speed or excellence.
Haruto tilted his head.
—What's the difference?
—I can inlay the Aeresite in one or two days. If you want to maximize its potential, I can imbue it with runes—that's my specialty—but it'll take me at least five days. Your choice.
Yuna took a breath, glancing at Haruto before speaking.
—And what's your recommendation?
Thalindra placed her hands on the table, leaning toward them with a determined gleam in her eyes.
—If you truly want these weapons to reach their full potential, they need to be imbued with runes. Without them, they'll be good weapons… but not exceptional.
Haruto nodded slowly.
—Is the extra time worth it?
Thalindra crossed her arms, her sharp gaze unwavering.
—That depends on you. Do you want something functional and fast, or something that will make a difference on the battlefield?
Silence settled between them as Yuna and Haruto exchanged glances. Finally, Yuna spoke with determination.
—We want the best. Imbue both weapons.
A satisfied smile crossed Thalindra's face.
—Good choice. —She carefully took the pouch of coins and the stone—. Get ready to wait. Perfection takes time, and I don't work with anything less.
Haruto chuckled lightly.
—We're used to it.
—Perfect. —Thalindra stored the Aeresite in a wooden box—. Come back in five days. If everything goes as planned, the weapons will be ready.
Before they could leave, Thalindra gave them a curious look and pointed at Simo, who was resting peacefully on Haruto's shoulder.
—Before you go, I have a question. That crow… it's not something you see every day. Where did you find it?
Haruto exchanged a quick glance with Yuna before answering cautiously.
—It's a long story, but let's just say Simo is just a crow.
Thalindra raised an eyebrow, clearly unsatisfied with the answer.
—I don't like vague answers. Is it from Netheria?
Yuna frowned.
—Why do you ask? We found him in Mythara, and he's traveled with us ever since. He's a friend, nothing more.
Thalindra sighed, crossing her arms.
—I'll be direct. I'm looking for a rare material called Umbranite. According to rumors, it's common in Netheria and is used as a catalyst for demonic magic. And that crow… might be the key to finding Umbranite.
Haruto ran a hand through Simo's feathers, his expression turning more serious.
—I don't know what you're talking about, but I can tell you that Simo is not a demon, and I don't think he's from Netheria. —The crow nodded in agreement.
Thalindra watched them closely, analyzing their reactions before continuing.
—I'm not saying you or your crow are demons. But rumor has it that they can detect where Umbranite is.
Yuna took a steady breath, keeping her composure.
—Thalindra, we don't know anything about that stone. Simo has been with us from the start, but if we come across any information on Umbranite, we'll let you know.
The dwarf held their gaze for a moment before letting out a low grunt and turning back to her tools.
—I guess I'll find out in time. For now, that's enough questions. Come back in five days for your weapons.
Haruto and Yuna left the forge in silence, with more questions than answers swirling in their minds. Outside, the snowfall had stopped, but the air remained sharp and cold.
—So, what's next? —Haruto asked, breaking the silence as he glanced at the streets of Molgaroth.
—I want to go to the guild. —Yuna replied, crossing her arms—. It would be good for you to train by taking on some missions.
Haruto nodded, adjusting his coat as they made their way toward their next destination.
The cold of Molgaroth contrasted with the warmth of the mission ahead, but elsewhere in the city, far from the bustle of the forges and snow-covered streets, someone else was facing a different kind of dilemma.
Submerged in the warm waters of the private onsen at Star Lumina, Melodía let out a sigh. Steam curled around her silhouette as snow piled up outside.
She let the water cover her face, her restless thoughts swirling.
—Can I really trust them? —she murmured, closing her eyes.
She remembered Yuna in the Aeris tribe, always surrounded by admiration, while she struggled to stand out. No matter how much effort she put in, it never seemed to be enough.
—I do so much… but it's never enough. —she whispered, watching her distorted reflection in the water.
The echo of her father's words resonated in her mind. "Excellence is not an option; it is your duty."
—Should I apologize? Or just return to Astralith?
She submerged herself completely, searching for an answer in the silence of the water—but none came.
Haruto always seemed distant, Yuna carried a serenity she envied. How did they manage to complement each other so well? Maybe… if she stopped competing and simply trusted them… but how could she, when she wasn't even sure of her own place?
She surfaced again, still without a clear decision.
—I only have two options. —she murmured, wrapping herself in a towel with her usual grace—. Go back to them… or return to my family in Astralith.
But at the thought of the second option, a shiver ran through her body.
She walked toward her room, gently drying her golden hair. Upon arriving, her gaze fell on an envelope slipped under the door.
She recognized the Luminis family seal instantly.
Her heart tightened.
—Father… —she whispered, holding the envelope in trembling hands.
The warmth of the onsen faded. A different kind of cold, one far deeper, crept over her.
She traced a finger over the seal before breaking it, wondering what awaited her in Astralith's words.