The castle halls buzzed with life as Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, Olaf, Lioro, and General Mattias, along with his soldiers, gathered in the grand dining hall. The long table was filled with warm food and lively conversation, a stark contrast to the tense events of the past few days.
Kristoff leaned back in his chair, sighing in relief. "So, everything's finally settled, huh?"
Anna grinned, elbowing him. "You don't sound too excited about it."
"Oh, I am," Kristoff defended, raising a fork. "Just… still processing the whole Lioro destroying the dam with some crazy magic while summoning a water horse spirit part."
"That was pretty cool," Olaf chimed in, his stick arms waving dramatically. "But I must say, I wasn't impressed. After all, as a fellow master wizard, it is only correct for Lioro to have some powerful spells. Just like me!"
Lioro, sipping from his goblet, glanced at the talking snowman. "…You can cast spells?"
"Oh yes!" Olaf puffed out his nonexistent chest. "Just yesterday I cast an incredibly powerful summoning spell! And poof!, I appeared in the middle of summer. Clearly, that was magic."
Or maybe it was sunrise?
Anna covered her face, holding back a laugh. Kristoff groaned, while Elsa, smiling lightly, added, "And what about the time you ended up stuck in a chimney?"
"That was an experimental teleportation spell!" Olaf huffed. "A minor setback on my path to magical greatness!"
Lioro remained silent for a moment before responding dryly, "Uh-huh."
Kristoff smirked. "Well, at least you've got ambition, Olaf."
"Exactly!" Olaf nodded proudly. "Now, all I need is a wise and powerful master to guide me! Perhaps someone who also knows powerful magic…" His round eyes sparkled as he slowly turned toward Lioro.
"No."
"…That was fast," Olaf muttered, deflating slightly.
"Don't worry, Olaf." Anna patted his head. "You'll figure it out… someday."
Elsa chuckled.
"I promised to make armor for you guys, so do you have any preferences?" Lioro said.
"Wait," Anna raised a hand. "You're actually going to make the armor?"
"I don't say things I don't mean," Lioro replied simply.
Kristoff's eyes lit up. "Oh yeah! You really meant that?"
"Yes," Lioro confirmed. "For show only, as I said before. No magic, no enchantments, just good craftsmanship."
Of course even without those things, how can a perfect of equipment made by the divine smith be truly ordinary?
Kristoff grinned. "I won't complain! I'll finally have something cool to wear!"
"So what would you like?"
"A full-body plate armor! Just like the one you used but in golden color!" Kristoff said, his eyes beaming in excitement.
Lioro looked at him, then nodded and turned to Anna.
"Please make something beautiful," Anna said, making a praying gesture with her hands.
"Alright."
Finally, Elsa.
"I'm okay with anything you make...."
Yeah, all of their choices weren't really choices.
Just as Lioro was thinking about the design, a hopeful voice reached his ears.
"Can I get one too?" Olaf asked, looking at him with shining eyes.
Lioro looked at him. "…No."
"Why not?"
"Because you're made of snow."
Olaf looked offended. "So? That doesn't mean I can't have style."
Anna laughed. "Maybe next time, Olaf."
Lioro stood up. "I'll need time to forge the armor. If you're curious, you can come watch."
Elsa's eyes glimmered with interest. "I'd like to see it."
Anna blinked. "We can watch?"
Elsa nodded. "Lioro's abilities are fascinating. And… I want to see how a weapon is made."
Kristoff stretched. "Well, I won't miss the chance to see my armor being made. I'm in."
Olaf raised a stick hand. "I, too, shall bear witness! As a soon-to-be archmage, I must understand the ways of the forge."
Lioro sighed. "…Let's go."
The castle's smithy was a simple yet well-equipped workshop. A large furnace crackled in the center, illuminating the room with a warm orange glow. Tools lined the walls, and various metal ingots were stacked neatly in the corner.
Lioro approached the metal ingots, selected a few, then grabbed a hammer and came to the workbench.
Putting the ingots on the anvil, he turned up the heat and started hitting the metal in a rhythmic fashion.
Clank
Under the guidance of his Epic class divine smith, Lioro entered a state of divine focus, giving the onlookers an ethereal feel.
Seeing the scene, Elsa unconsciously opened her mouth and started singing.
Melodious and soft, Elsa's voice filled the air, her notes rising and falling like the waves of the sea.
"When the fires burn and the metal bends,
A dream takes shape, a tale that never ends,
In the flicker of the flames, in the dance of light,
Forge my strength, in the dark of night."
For some reason Anna, Kristoff and Olaf also joined her....
'Damn Disney!', Lioro shouted in his mind but continued forging, focusing on the task at hand.
After a few hours, three sets of armors were presented before them.
Kristoff's armor was a grand, full-body plate design. The golden armor gleamed under the light, with intricate engravings of reindeer motifs etched into the breastplate, flowing seamlessly into the pauldrons and gauntlets. The helmet was a masterpiece, shaped like the head of a reindeer with horns curving outward, a true testament to Kristoff's love for his sled team. Despite its heavy appearance, the armor was light and flexible, designed for both durability and mobility.
For Anna, Lioro crafted a lighter set of armor. A sleek, form-fitting design made of polished silver and ice-blue accents, the breastplate carved with delicate snowflakes that shimmered as though they were alive. The armor was perfect for Anna's agility, light enough to allow her swift movements but tough enough to protect her in battle. Her helmet was a simple crown of silver, with a design of intertwining branches that matched the elegance of her personality.
Elsa's armor was just as graceful, though more powerful in appearance. A delicate set of white and sapphire-hued plating that shone like the northern lights. The armor clung closely to her form, providing a strong protective base. The pauldrons, shaped like frozen wings, reflected Elsa's unique connection to ice and snow. Her helmet was minimalistic, designed to resemble a crown of frost, with a translucent visor that glowed faintly, adding an ethereal aura to her already commanding presence.
Looking at the three sets of equipment, Elsa murmured, "Lioro... how did you learn to do all this?"
A mage, a blacksmith, and who knows what more?
Lioro paused then said in a deep voice.
"I'm built different."
".....built different?" Tilting her head in confusion, Elsa repeated his words.
"Elsa, you failed the vibe check!"
"What?!"
While Elsa and Lioro were talking, Kristoff had already started inspecting his armor.
"It feels so light...."
Kristoff said, feeling the smooth texture of the golden armor.
"It might feel light, but trust me, no swordsman, as long as they're mortal, can break through the armor's defense."
Lioro mentioned in a calm voice.
"Can I try it?" Kristoff asked innocently as he picked up a metal sword.
Lioro shrugged his shoulders. "Go ahead."
Tightly holding the metal sword, Kristoff slashed it down at the golden armor.
And as soon as they touched.
Clank
The metal sword broke in half and bounced off the light golden armor, not even leaving a scratch behind.
Kristoff looked in disbelief at the half-broken sword in his hands.
"Holy shit, this is powerful!"
With bright eyes, Kristoff hugged the armor and started putting it on.
"This is incredible! I thought armor would feel heavy, but this is... perfect!" he exclaimed, flexing his arms.
Lioro nodded. "A good blacksmith accounts for both protection and usability. If armor is too heavy to move in, then it's nothing more than decoration."
Anna ran her hands over her own armor, admiring the fine craftsmanship. "Lioro, you really went all out. The engravings, the details… it's beautiful!" She spun around, testing its flexibility. "And it doesn't feel restrictive at all!"
Elsa looked at the chest and black side of her armour and fell in doubt.
'Why does it feel like it will fit perfectly?'
Her gaze inadvertently went to Lioro.
'Is it magic? If not then how does he know...'
She tried to ask in a roundabout way.
"It almost feels like ice… but warm. How did you make this?"
Lioro simply replied, "Skill."
'Is it really skill?', Elsa blinked in confusion.
Can a blacksmith really reach such a level? To know her three sizes from a mere glance?
Anna rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on. Give us something more than that!"
Lioro smirked lightly. "It's a combination of material, technique, and experience. When forging, I focus on more than just durability—I shape the armor to match the wearer. Yours is made to be light and elegant while keeping you safe. Elsa's was crafted to channel her presence, something befitting a queen."
Elsa's eyes softened as she admired her armor. "Thank you, Lioro. This means a lot."
Olaf, still standing off to the side, pouted. "I still don't get why I couldn't get one."
"You're made of snow," Lioro repeated with a sigh.
"Exactly! That means I could have the lightest armor ever!" Olaf argued.
Kristoff laughed. "Olaf, you'd probably just melt in all that metal."
"A small price to pay for fashion!"
Before Lioro could retort, the smithy doors creaked open. General Mattias entered, looking impressed as he observed the newly forged armor. "I must say, Lioro, your craftsmanship is beyond anything I've seen. The royal armory could use talent like yours."
Lioro shook his head. "Not interested."
Mattias chuckled. "Didn't think so. Still, I had to ask." His gaze lingered on the armor before turning to Elsa. "Your Majesty, with gear like this, I imagine your next journey will be a safer one."
Elsa nodded thoughtfully. "Yes… and speaking of journeys, we should start preparing soon."
Anna's expression sobered at the reminder. "Right… so you're really going?"
Elsa hesitated for a moment but then gave a firm nod. "Yes. I've thought about it, and I want to see the world beyond Arendelle." She glanced at Lioro. "And I know I won't be alone."
Anna sighed, then smiled. "Well, I guess that means we need to have a proper send-off."
Kristoff clapped his hands. "I vote for a feast!"
Olaf jumped excitedly. "Ooh! Can we have cake? Lots and lots of cake?"
Elsa chuckled. "Of course, Olaf."
Lioro crossed his arms. "If you all are done celebrating, we should start making arrangements."
"Right, right," Anna waved him off. "But first, food."
With laughter filling the smithy, they all turned to head back to the castle.
A journey awaited them, but for now, they would enjoy the moment.