Vorn sighed as he watched the exchange unfold.
"Mind ye don't scare the lad half to death, yer foulness," he rumbled. "He's a guest of honor under me roof."
"My," Magus said as she turned to him, lips curving faintly.
"Master Dwarf, have I not earned the courtesy of being addressed more formally? And am I not a guest of honor, seeing as I, too, have entered the abyss and lived to tell the tale?"
"..."
Vorn regarded her in silence for several heartbeats, then let out another slow breath.
"Ye humans," he said flatly, "ye weave more theater into a breath than most folk do in a lifetime."
"Hmh." She hummed, leaning back into her seat and draining the rest of her tankard in one unceremonious chug.
"Thank you, master dwarf. This was very delicious… And once more, I thank you for the fresh outfit."
Vorn nodded.
"I wish to use the lavatories. You do have them, yes? Preferably clean ones."
"That way." Vorn jerked his chin toward a side passage in the forge.
"Wonderful. Then I shall excuse myself…"
She rose from her seat and headed for the lavatory, brushing past me close enough that barely an inch separated her from my armor. I didn't move, my head still turned away.
"Wait for me, young knight, why don't you?" she said lightly as she passed me, "I'll be back shortly, so don't fret too much. Ah,"
She stopped just before entering, smiling at me once more.
'She sure smiles a lot considering the state she was at.'
"Calling me Magus right now might be confusing, isn't it? You can use my birth name…"
"It's Amoria."
The lavatory door closed behind her.
And just like that, only me and that dwarf remained at the table.
"...."
"...."
"Are you a craftsman—"
"Lad, did ye see—"
We both stopped, speaking at the same time. This time, I firmly planted my arms, leaning against them on the table as I fully turned to face the dwarf.
"I need to make a weap—"
"That whelp sure is—"
Once more, we cut each other off.
"..."
"..."
'.... What is this situation?' I thought as I watched Vorn scratch at his ear, eyes lowered while he squinted at the tabletop.
Vorn finally drew in a deep, audible breath.
"That lass," he said slowly, "were broken badly earlier." He glanced toward the lavatory. "And now she struts about as if naught touched her. Sturdy thing, for a royal whelp."
"..."
'He might have a point,' I thought, flicking one last glance toward the lavatory door, recalling the mess she'd been.
'But…'
'I couldn't care less. Right now, that Black Steel matters more than anything.'
"Alright," I said at last, turning fully toward the dwarf. "Are you a craftsman?"
"I am," Vorn answered. "The finest ye'll ever set eyes on."
"Can you make armor? Weapons, if I asked you to?" I leaned forward onto the table.
Vorn's eyes sharpened slightly, and for a moment, it almost looked like he approved.
"Hm…" Vorn studied me for a moment, scratching his long blond beard as his gaze traced my frame.
"Aye. If it's for you, I'll forge something far better than that heap of scrap ye call armor."
He snorted.
"Free of charge."
'…Scrap?' I repeated internally, blinking beneath my visor.
"Scrap?" I echoed aloud.
"Aye. Scrapheap," Vorn said without hesitation. "How ye crawled through the Abyss wearin' that tin coffin is a wonder I've yet te' make peace with."
"...."
'Inspect Item,' I cast as I glanced down at my chestplate.
[Item: Tempered Iron Chestplate]
[Rank: Uncommon (D)]
[Description: A chestplate forged from iron. Sturdy enough for common soldiery.]
'…How did I never once think to inspect my own armor?'
"Alright," I said after a moment. "Then what Rank can you make?"
Vorn frowned.
"Rank?" He snorted. "What in the Metal God's name are ye prattlin' about? There's no Rank. There's shoddy work, honest work… and work that outlives its maker."
"..."
I just stared at him.
"..."
Vorn clicked his tongue.
"Last time I had me equipment appraised, it was A-ranked," he said flatly. "That were near a hundred years ago when I started smithin'. And I've not stopped improvin' since."
'So dwarves live long,' I noted silently.
My gaze drifted past the dwarf.
Along the far wall of the forge, half-hidden behind hanging chains and tools, rested a sword mounted on iron hooks. No ornamentation. No gemmed hilt. Just a long, clean blade, its darkened steel catching the forge-light in quiet, steady bands.
"What about that one?" I asked. "When did you make it?"
"'Round twenty years back," Vorn replied.
'Inspect Item.'
[Item: Steel Forgeblade]
[Rank: Very Rare (S)]
[Description: A master-forged blade tempered through layered folding and deep quench. Edge retention far exceeds standard alloys. The balance is precise enough to respond to intent. Made to endure wars, not battles.]
'Whatever the fuck that means. 'Balance precise to respond to intent', what the fuck even is that.' I thought, rolling my eyes at the description.
'But I see. S-rank.'
"Try it outside," Vorn said as he walked over, lifting the blade from its hooks and placing it into my hands. "One of me finer works."
He studied me for a moment, eyes sharp.
"That way, I'll know what truly suits you best."
"I have a material for you—"
"Don't matter," Vorn cut me off.
"I can't make ye something without seeing how ye handle yerself. It's how I made that Guard his sword." Vorn said, pointing outside to where Hicks had left to drink his ale.
I stood up, gripping the blade.
"Alright."
"Makoto."
She called.
"Remember how much you cried when Rina broke your toy truck? Even after I got it fixed?"
"That's why, when you go to her house today, be careful. She'll be sad too if you break something she loves."
"...?"
Vorn raised an eyebrow, clearly noticing my pause.
A moment of silence passed as I looked again at the sword Vorn had given me.
'I have [Overgear] though…' I rolled my eyes. 'Even if it does break I can just repair it. So pointless.'
"What if I break your sword?" I asked anyway.
"..."
Vorn pursed his lips for a moment.
Then, with a grin breaking through his beard, he let out a booming laugh.
"Hah! Then I'll drink te her name!" He laughed again, louder this time. "And besides, this is VORN-STEEL, ya hear!? Don't go thinkin' ye can dent it, whelp!"
We moved toward the forge door. I walked beside him, blade in hand, my eyes flicking once more toward the bathroom the princess had disappeared into.
'...'
Hearing soft hicks and wheezes mixed with sniffling coming from within.
'Yeah.' My gaze lingered on the closed door.
'No one needs to see that.'
"She caught yer fancy?" Vorn asked, a smirk tugging beneath his mustache.
'... Only I can hear it, I guess?'
"No."
"Then quit starin' and get a move on!" the dwarf barked, pushing the door open.
I stepped outside with him.
"Oh, Master Vorn! I've very much enjoyed your ale," Hicks said, seeing us walk outside as he sat down just beyond the forge.
"Didn't doubt it fer a second," Vorn gruffed.
"Where is Her Highness?"
"Takin' a dump. Mind yer business." Vorn spat, waving him off.
"Oh. I see." Hicks nodded.
Then his gaze shifted.
He noticed the sword in my hand.
His expression changed almost immediately, tensing.
"Alright," Vorn said, planting his hands on his hips. "Swing."
"...As hard as I can?" I asked.
"Aye," Vorn grunted. "Don't hold back now."
Hicks swallowed.
The wind had gone still; even the forge crackle behind us seemed to fade.
Vorn's eyes kept flicking between me and the sword, narrowing as if he was trying to make sense of what he was about to witness.
Hicks took a few steps back, lowering his chin as he also narrowed his gaze.
I raised the blade.
"Alright…" I faced the trail leading to the forest clearing. The wind blew against all of us.
'I should use my skill,' I thought. 'If he'll see how strong I am, he'll know what sword to make. That, and I don't want the sword he'll create for me to snap … Right?'
'And that way…'
I glanced at Hicks.
'By their reaction, I'll know where I stand in terms of power.'
"Hard…!"
Then—
Crack.
CRUSH.
"...!!!"
The hilt burst apart in my grip before I could swing.
The blade toppled, shattering into a rain of glittering fragments that clattered across the ground.
I blinked at the jagged remnant still in my hand.
Vorn's fingers twitched as his lip curled.
Then a half-mad grin spread beneath his beard, his eyes gleaming like molten ore catching flame.
"LAD!" he roared, voice booming through the courtyard.
"LOOKS LIKE IT'LL TAKE A WHILE!"
He strode forward, eyes flicking between the fragments and me. His grin widened, teeth flashing.
"'Cause I'M GONNA FORGE YE THE GREATEST WEAPON THAT EVER EXISTED!"