The group began making their way back to the workshop, stepping carefully around the damaged earth. Nyla's ice wall dissolved behind them, revealing the full extent of the destruction the brief duel had caused.
"You know," Seth said conversationally as they walked, "when you said you wanted to test your weapon, I thought you meant like... swing it a few times. Maybe hit a dummy. Not recreate an apocalypse."
"It was a thorough test," Akhil defended.
"It was overkill," Aria corrected.
"Says the person who once destroyed an entire training ground testing a new skill," Akhil shot back.
"That was different! I didn't know the range would be that large!"
"Sure, sure."
Their banter continued as they entered the workshop, the temperature rising immediately as forge heat washed over them. The other dwarven smiths looked up from their work, eyeing the group with a mixture of concern and curiosity—they'd definitely felt those explosions.
