The azure glow from Arpan's dagger hadn't even faded when the heavy iron doors of the forge swung open with a thunderous crash. The usual heat of the room seemed to vanish, replaced by a chilling authority.
A man clad in silver-plate armor, bearing the crest of a soaring phoenix, stepped inside. This was Sir Kaelen, a high-ranking Captain of the Royal Guard. His eyes, sharp as a hawk's, immediately scanned the room until they rested on Arpan's anvil.
"Who forged this?" Kaelen's voice was like grinding stones.
Master Grom rushed forward, bowing so low his forehead almost touched the soot-covered floor. "Captain! It—it was just an experiment, a mistake by a lowly apprentice—"
"Silence!" Kaelen barked, pushing past Grom. He picked up the Azure Soul-Dagger. As his fingers touched the hilt, the ornate patterns on the blade pulsed with a deep blue light, humming in resonance with the Captain's own internal energy.
[System Notification!]
[Danger Level: High]
[Target: Sir Kaelen (Level 45 Magic Knight)]
[Hidden Objective: Impress the Captain to unlock the 'Imperial Patronage' questline.]
Arpan felt a cold sweat on his neck. His [Metal Whisperer] skill was screaming at him—the Captain's armor was made of high-grade Star-Iron, a material Arpan could only dream of touching.
"An apprentice made this?" Kaelen turned his gaze toward Arpan. "You. Boy. This blade has a soul. It lacks the impurities of common steel. Tell me, what fuel did you use to reach such a heat?"
Arpan stood his ground, his hand subconsciously gripping his bronze pendant. "It wasn't the heat, Captain. It was the rhythm. The metal only follows the soul of the one who strikes it."
The forge grew deathly quiet. No one talked back to a Royal Guard. Kaelen stared at Arpan for a long moment, then suddenly, he laughed. "Rhythm? A bold claim for someone covered in scrap-dust."
He tossed a heavy leather pouch onto Arpan's anvil. It jingled with the unmistakable sound of gold coins.
"I have a broken ceremonial sword made of ancient Star-Iron. The best smiths in the capital failed to mend it. If you can fix it using your... 'rhythm', I will take you to the Royal City. If you fail, you will lose your hands for wasting my time."
[Ding!]
[New Main Quest: The Star-Iron Challenge]
[Time Limit: 48 Hours]
[Reward: 500 Exp, Level Up, and Access to the Royal Ore Vault.] "If you're enjoying Arpan's journey with the Bronze God's System, please don't forget to add this book to your Library! Your support through Power Stones and Collections helps this story grow. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!"