[THE WEEPING FOREST, INTERIOR REGION — ELEVEN AM]
"Alrighty, all done."
Jace dusted off the flat-soled shoes Nahasch had prepared for him and stood on his feet. He cocked his head to the side and examined the robe he wore: a white, long-sleeved outfit similar to Hisagi's hanfu, decorated with a blue sun on his back. Thin blue and silver-like lines created engravings around his collar, cuffs, shoulders, and leggings, but near his waist — as if they were residuals from the image of the sun on his back — came drifting waves of flame that gave the impression of simmering heat floating across his body.
"It's kind of stuffy," he grunted while pulling at his tightly tucked-in undershirt. "I'll have to change it later."
He turned around to reveal his full outfit to Aryeh and her cubs who had been watching his change. "What do you guys think?" he asked. The huntress blew air out of her nose and rolled her eyes. Her daughter rolled around on her belly, raving with laughter, while her son stared at Jace with sparkles in his eyes. He, at the very least, was always interested in what Jace would do.
"Hmph. Should've known you'd still be bitter," Jace pouted. He pointed at a white bandage on his left cheek and laughed at Aryeh. "You're still mad because I bit you for scratching my face during training, aren't you? Well, get over it!"
Aryeh shot Jace a nasty look, but he ignored her. Her son ran forward and circled Jace happily. The boy had been around the young cub to know what he wanted when he did that. With a happy smile, he picked up the small lion and put it on his shoulder.
"At least you like me, right, Leon?" he asked. "Your mom's just a big meanie."
The cub responded by licking his face and resting lazily against him. Jacender had given him the name Leon on a whim just a week before and he'd been so happy to have one, he'd come running to the boy's side whenever he was called.
CRRRRRRRRR
The trees behind Jacender opened, revealing a white path.
"Looks like I can finally get out of here, huh?" he mumbled to himself. I wonder how strong Aleximus is now… And Hidemi… Is he doing alright?
"Hwraa!" Aryeh growled, interrupting his thoughts. She wagged her paw at the exit.
"Tsk!" Jace groaned. He stuck out his tongue at her and muttered, "I'll go when I wanna go, you bastard!"
Foreseeing what would happen next, Leon removed himself from Jace's vicinity by jumping from his shoulders and running towards his sister.
As he had expected, his mother stood up and flexed her thick muscles, baring her fangs within seconds.
Though he flinched, Jace raised his fists and sneered cockily. "Bring it on!" he yelled and pounced. The lioness tackled him in midair, both of them landing on the ground with a loud thud! They tussled back and forth for a time, with Aryeh comically dragging the boy back towards her whenever he tried to escape and Jace animalistically gnawing at her arms and legs.
"Gah—!" he groaned, trying to crawl away. " I—"
Aryeh dug her claw into his thigh and dragged him closer to her. "YAAAIEEEE!!!" Jace cried, looking for Leon's support. "HELP ME!"
The young cub pretended he couldn't see what was happening and looked away nervously, for fear of what his mother might do if he intervened.
"YOU TRAITOOORRR!!" Jace screeched.
Aryeh scoffed and dragged Jace away into the path of light. He couldn't see it, but she wore a sly grin; she'd grown fond of putting him in his place.
It seemed even after all this time, he still couldn't match the fearsome lioness.
-------🅰🆂🅷🅵🅸🅴🅻🅳-------
[THE WEEPING FOREST, DWARVEN TRAINING VILLAGE]
Aryeh swiftly tossed Jace through the opening in the forest and stepped to the side.
Jace groaned wearily and shook his head. "W-Where are we..?" he asked as he took a look around. His eyes were met with the one-story houses Nahasch had created for the freed dwarves training Hidemi in the forest.
Around them, several dozen dwarves were lined up in four rows facing the village square. Each of their faces was solemn, and it seemed that not a single person was missing.
They all also held oddly designed Sanctum-Smithing hammers, unique to each person. Longer than normal, with the width of a sledgehammer, the sleek long chisel of a brick hammer, and the sturdy cheek of a blacksmith hammer — it was clear that these tools were not ordinary. Jace knew then that these must have been the sort of hammers often used in Xastol. They seemed too special not to be.
"Excuse me," he asked, tapping the closest dwarf. He was a man with burgundy hair and a patchy mustache.
"Yes?"
"Why's everyone so serious? Is there a reason you're all standing like that?"
"Ah, you're one of those humans from a few weeks ago. Young master Hidemi's friends, yes? Look forward, it's about to start."
Jace was confused but did as he was told. What's about to start?
"ATTENTION!" a voice announced, bringing all eyes to the front. Standing before all the freed dwarves stood someone Jace almost didn't recognize. Hidemi Murong.
The boy's face was serious as he looked forward, not giving Jacender a single look. His long shaggy hair had been cut and washed of its grime, giving it a rich golden-brown sheen. The parts near his nape had been lifted and tied with a steel, dragon-shaped hair tie, giving him a royal aura. Nothing made that truer than the new outfit he sported: a sleeveless silver and brown hanfu that exposed the fading forge burns around his muscular arms and a light blue sash that was wrapped around his waist.
He no longer looked like a beggar from the street. He bore the look of someone worthy of the surname Murong.
BRRNGG!!!
A few steps ahead of Hidemi, Shuo — his teacher — let go of the great hammer in his hands and allowed it to sink into the floor with a devastatingly loud crack!
It was an enormous smithing hammer equipped with a thick and sturdy handle twenty inches long and a head nearly the same size. What's more, it was a one-handed tool that would prove almost impossible for any normal person to lift using physical strength alone. But somehow, Shuo managed it.
"The Binshu!" he shouted sluggishly. Two nearby dwarves scuttled forward with a massive blue container marked with glowing gold words in a language Jace didn't understand. That must be that Sanctum-Etching Nahasch talked about… he thought.
The two dwarves dropped the large container and quickly backed away from it. Not only were their palms purple, but they were practically frosted over as well. Whatever the Binshu was, it looked dangerous to approach without thought.
Despite that, Shuo pulled himself forward and gripped the slab of titanium that served as its cover, tossing it over with one primal growl.
The Sanctum Energy echoing off the words dimmed, but something sloshed within the container. A blue energy that sent a chill through the spring air.
"Ice water..?" Jace murmured to himself.
"Shut up." someone next to him ordered. "You'll distract them."
Jace turned, ready to argue, and met a familiar, crimson-eyed gaze. "Aleximus!" he beamed, barely containing his excitement.
At his side, as if he had materialized from thin air, stood his brother, who also wore a dwarven-inspired outfit. His was of a scarlet color with red outlining his cuffs, collar, and shoulders just like Jacender's. On his back sat a black moon, bathed in the darkness of the night sky and the clouds drifting around it.
"When did you get here?" Jace asked him. Aleximus pointed behind them so he'd see the closing path in the forest.
"I just got here. Nahasch told me to come."
"Oh…"
Jace turned back to the showcase up front and whispered, "What do you think he's doing?"
"I dunno," Aleximus responded. He tried shoving his hands in his pockets but became annoyed when he remembered he didn't have any. Tch… What a dumb outfit.
"Whatever it is, he's Sanctum-Smithing. That's for sure."
Just as he said that Shuo rolled back his sweat-drenched sleeves and beckoned Hidemi to step forward, the boys watched as the half-dwarf stepped closer to his senior and grabbed a sleek, golden handle from the anvil Shuo had finished hitting his hammer against just moments before.
That's what he was making? All that effort for a… handle? Aleximus wondered. No. I should know better than to doubt people from the outside world now. It's got to be important.
For some odd reason, it was not a slab of metal ore as it would ordinarily be in forging. This object already had shape and form.
"Young master Hidemi," Shuo's heavy voice breathed. "Thanks to the Lord of The Weeping Forest, we were able to painstakingly procure four pieces of Neodymium — the only substance other than Illodium to be born from pure Sanctum Essence. It cannot be molded into anything unless the Sanctum-Smith molding has an idea of what the finished product will look like and brings it to life by pouring Sanctum Energy into it around the clock, twenty-four-seven. The greatest ideators amongst us have spent the past two weeks pouring energy into the slab we've formed to take the shape of the greatest hammer handle we could ever create with our current skills. These past two days have been my turn, and as such, I have left no drop of Sanctum Energy unused in our efforts."
A bead of sweat ran down Hidemi's temple. The pressure was heavy, but he was ready for it. Shuo noticed and smiled softly.
"Now that this Neodymium handle has been filled to the brim with unfathomable Sanctum Energy, you must shape your smithing hammer's head with the Binshu eel water and finish the process. Only then will your tool become complete."
All that work for that hammer?! Jace marveled. Who knew they were ready to risk this much for Hidemi?
"OWA!" Hidemi boomed heartily. He approached the Binshu and raised his arm. His fingers wrapped around the Neodymium hammer so tightly, Aleximus he feared they would become conjoined.
Hidemi thought of Hisagi's terrible words to him at the gate:
"You were banished. And he will never be free."
Hidemi's arm came down in a blur, but for him, everything was slow. He recalled a time when he'd been pushed onto the floor, bullied by the other children in Xastol City:
"Damn menark! Stay away from us if you know what's good for you, got it?!"
Even their parents — the adults — wouldn't lift a finger to help. They would stare at him with scrutiny and contempt as if he were a cockroach — a pest that needed to be removed before more problems would arise.
"What was Ivan thinking?!" they'd whisper, unaware Hidemi could read lips. "Having a child with a human? Preposterous! He's stained Dwygrand's legacy with such insult! And for what? To be Paragon with those dangerous humans?"
LRNNN!!
The handle in Hidemi's hands shone as it came down towards the Binshu, just a few seconds away from contact.
Aleximus was the first to notice the tear welling in the boy's eyes. Was he sad? Angry, even?
"You want to learn to Sanctum-Smith?" a voice played in Hidemi's mind. It belonged to his father, Ivan. Hidemi remembered his father's face fondly. His long pointy beard, his squinted eyelids when he'd concentrate, and his lowered gaze whenever he'd feel sad or disappointed. He remembered all of it.
It was a time years ago that Hidemi could hardly recall, but he remembered his father. He thought back to how Ivan's face had lit up with joy when his son had signed to him with the hopes of learning how to Sanctum-Smith.
"Sure!" he had said as he pulled off his greasy gloves.He'd placed his calloused palm on Hidemi's head and ruffled it happily. "We'll start you off with the basics! You'll be a genius in no time! Just like your mom wanted!"
LRNNNN!!
The last image that flashed in Hidemi's mind before the handle struck the cold water, was of Jacender and Aleximus. This was no vision. In fact, Hidemi's eyes — unknown even to him why — traveled past Shuo, who stood in front of him. They looked past the dozens of dwarves saluting him, frozen in the moment with joyful exclamations ready to pour forth.
It was only the twins that his eyes had chosen to focus on. Jacender held up his hands to his mouth, shouting something indistinct, but encouraging. But surprisingly, it was Aleximus — who had always given him the cold shoulder before with promises of never liking him — who stuck up a peace sign at him. His face was turned to the side, adamant to not meet Hidemi's gaze, but it was enough. Aleximus didn't have to say the message for him to hear it.
"You've got this." reverberated in Hidemi's mind like a gong struck by the heaviest of mallets.
In that split-second, the boy's head jerked upward as he drew in a sharp breath. On his face was no longer confusion. It was no anger or sadness either. Instead, it was the largest grin he'd ever worn in his life. A grin where he accepted the tears flowing down his face with grace.
"OWWWWAAAAA!!!!!"
DWOOOOM!!!!!!!!
The energy that Hidemi had been releasing through the Neodymium handle had ceased before anyone could even register what had happened before an ethereal torrent of golden energy rushed instead from the Binshu water below him and blasted forward, meeting the handle as if in preparation for its contact.
A loud whirr clicked in Jacender and Aleximus's minds, causing them to wince, but it was over after just a moment.
"That's—" one of the dwarves gasped.
"He's done it!" another cheered while grabbing onto someone nearby.
Hidemi thrust out his arm and drew his newfound hammer to his side. Its design was breathtakingly beautiful; a black-silver masterpiece of ancient dwarven craftsmanship.
Its massive head looked as if it were carved from obsidian-like metal, etched with intricate but sinuous designs of a daring young dragon that coiled around a circular swirling gemstone core with a hue, not unlike that of the Binshu eel water. Slightly below it rested the carved surname of "Murong", prominent in all its majesty.
The handle itself was smooth yet sturdy as if fashioned from dark polished Ash tree wood interlaced with silver inlays. It also bore three rings: one touching the base of the head, and the other two below it just centimeters apart. The top ring glew with a shining rock burrowed deep within the wood, subtly shifting from jade green to radiant white, to dark red.
The rest of the grip was wrapped in finely stitched black leather that was soft to the touch, yet unyielding in its hold. Gold dimly grew in between the seams — a remnant of the Sanctum Etching from the Binshu.
"IT'S COMPLETE!!" Shuo announced proudly.
Everyone there erupted into cheers and thunderous clapping. It would've been an understatement to say they were just happy. Not a single person there had doubted Hidemi's Sanctum-Smithing prowess, but the question of "what if?" had remained behind each person's mind. Now, things felt clearer.
Yes, this went beyond even elation; for them, it felt like destiny.
"RAISE YOUR HAMMERS, AND SALUTE THE 3,001ST SON OF THE MURONG CLAN — THE SON OF OUR SWORN MASTER IVAN — HIDEMI MURONG!!!"
THOONG! THOONG! THOONG!
Every dwarf there without exception, did as they were told and saluted the boy, sending beams of Sanctum Energy into the sky as they roared.
"Hail the young master!" they boomed in unison.
Jacender threw his fist up as well, grinning ear to ear as he joined the dwarves in shouting Hidemi's name. And though he tried to hide it, even Aleximus couldn't help but smirk with pleasure at Hidemi's accomplishment.
So he managed to do it after all, huh?
"Young master," Shuo said as he touched Hidemi's shoulder. Hidemi wiped away his tears and beamed at him. "Owa!"
"Your new hammer is certainly marvelous, but it is customary to name your Origin tool to officially bind it to you. Do you have one in mind?"
Hidemi thought hard for a moment before coming upon an answer. "Ah!"
He signed slowly with his free hand, spelling out letters for Shuo to read.
"G… W…E…N…"
Shuo's eyes widened. So that's what you've chosen..?
He spun around and faced the crowd of dwarves. "Master Hidemi has chosen to name his hammer Gwentyn! A tribute to his late mother!"
He smiled sadly to himself. A fitting name indeed. Master Ivan, you should be proud. You've raised an outstanding dwarf.
"Hidemi!!" Jace shouted as he rushed for his friend. Hidemi's head perked up with a single, "Owa?" before the white-haired boy crashed into him and sent them both tumbling onto the floor.
"That was so cool!" Jace grinned after the dust he kicked up settled. "Your Sanctum Energy went 'whoosh!', then 'bam!', and 'thung!' How'd you do it? Huh? Huh?"
A foot drove itself into Jace's back. "Get off of him you idiot." Aleximus tsked. "Don't get him all worn out before the Dwanivit!"
"B-But—" Jace started with a whimper.
"Can it," his brother said before he could finish. "You can't fool me with your fake tears."
He paused for a second and then extended his arm to Hidemi.
Hidemi accepted his hand and rose to his feet. He wasn't sure if he should say anything to him, to avoid getting yelled at, but to his surprise, Aleximus spoke first.
"You've… gotten stronger. That's good."
His cheeks reddened slightly as he said it, earning him a snicker in the background from Jacender, to who he shouted, "Shut up!", with a quick spin of his head.
Hidemi laughed at the sight of them quarreling, happy that they hadn't seemed to have changed too much.
Shuo silently surveyed the three boys and was nearly moved to tears.
To think… To think that dwarves and humans can coexist like this… It makes me all the more sure that you were not wrong, Master Ivan. These three can change our people's rotted worldview for the better; I'm sure of it!
FSSSSHHH!
The trees surrounding them all began to pull to the side as footsteps emanated from the darkness. "It seems you are all finally ready," a voice said as it approached.
They all knew who it was.
"Took you long enough," Aleximus crossed his arms. "We were starting to think you disappeared."
The Lord of The Weeping Forest smiled, amused at the jibe, and revealed himself to the crowd of dwarves. At his side slithered Tannin, his white anaconda.
"You three will walk with me. I will escort you to the outskirts of the forest and discuss your next steps."
He looked at Shuo and inclined his head contentedly.
"You've done well, Forgemaster Shuo. Your efforts here have prepared these children for what is next. Know that all of you here played a part in changing history."
"We're honored," Shuo bowed. The others followed suit and bowed their heads with respect for their liberator. After all, without him, they would have never had the chance to help their master's son.
The path in the forest opened yet again, this time with Xastol City at the end of its trail.
"Come," Nahasch ordered them as he stepped through. "The Dwanivit will start soon."
[DAY OF DWANIVIT]