Chapter 18 - Principles of Forging

788 I.C, February 15, Dracwyn: Underground Office, Evening

*click*

Cyrus looked back and found himself staring into the depths of a barrel, "What are you doing?"

Fletcher's voice boiled with anger, "I warned you, Cyrus."

Cyrus gulped and felt his tail drop, "I saved us."

Fletcher's face distorted into a human, but monstrous grimace, "Saved us!? You just handed two centuries of secret research to a fucking mercenary! You may very well have doomed us all!"

Cyrus raised his hands in the air and felt his heart rush, "We made a deal with him, we're still alive, that's a lot better than being killed and having those precious marbles stolen."

Fletcher gritted his teeth, "Yes, we did. Now the question is what I'm supposed to with you."

Cyrus could feel the presence inside Fletcher's gun, it was one of those darned marbles that rendered magic shields useless, "Killing me won't look good. Especially not when you meet the mercenary, and I'm your only means of getting around. Did you forget that?"

"All of which is worth nothing if I can't trust you!" Fletcher snapped.

Cyrus snapped back, "My actions were reasonable! I urged caution! I proposed a deal and everyone was offered the same chance! I didn't sell anyone out or stab you in the back! Why can't you see that!?"

Fletcher's brow twitched, "You gave him our only weapon against Everwinter."

Cyrus screamed back, "It was the only thing we had of value, and it worked!"

Amari looked up from the nearby table, "Fletcher?"

"What!?" Fletcher roared without breaking his focus on Cyrus.

Amari sighed, "He has a point you know."

Fletcher panted from the exertion, "You're defending this sleazeball?"

Amari motioned to Cyrus, "I'm not exactly fond of this piece of shit, but for now we need him, and there's something to be said about your zealotry as well."

"Zealotry?" Fletcher asked in wonder.

Amari focused on him, "You're acting on principle instead of what's practical. Calm down, will you?"

Fletcher looked over at Amari, "Calm down!? Agron is being invaded! Red Eye is nowhere to be seen, and we just lost our supply of bullets made by the Spire!"

"Didn't you notice?" Amari asked.

"Notice what?" Fletcher asked.

Amari leaned back with a sly smile, "We got the coyote, and Red Eye."

Cyrus and Fletcher blinked in confusion, "Huh?"

"You told me about the place where the bounty hunter was buried, the tiger. You found one of the magic bullets there, remember?" Amari asked.

Fletcher nodded, "Yes, so what?"

Amari continued, "Let's assume that the coyote and Red Eye was responsible for that, then it means they knew what the bullets are, correct?"

"Yes, and what's your point?" Fletcher asked.

Amari motioned to herself, "My shields were focused on the room itself, and my back was wide open for attack. Yet you told me that the coyote aimed at the crystal assembly rather than me. He shot at something with an active shield rather than aim at me. Why?"

Fletcher lowered his gun, "Perhaps he was just stupid?"

Amari shook her head and grew a glimmering grin, "No, he knew. He knew what you loaded in that gun, he recognized it, and he knew that it would pierce any magic it encountered."

"Why the hell didn't you tell us earlier?" Fletcher asked.

Amari made a warm smile, "What do you think would have happened if Dracwyn found out we had them?"

Fletcher looked down, "We'd never see them again. Dracwyn doesn't trust us, and we'd be placed under house arrest."

Amari nodded, "We have the upper hand now, we're making their papers, and we've cut a deal with them."

Cyrus raised his hands and chuckled in disbelief, "Hello? You are aware that we were looking for a red eyed human? Not a canine mutt."

Amari looked over at Cyrus, "We already know from the coyote's parents that Red Eye is a wulfkin child that supposedly didn't transform. What if that was a lie? What if he did transform along the way?"

"What if he didn't?" Cyrus retorted.

Amari glared back, "The mutt we made the deal with was using camouflage of some sort. I saw through it for a moment, black fur, red eyes, the appearance of a wulfkin. The coyote is Talwin, adopted son of the old Spy-master, and the one we call Red Eye is Avery from Everwinter."

Fletcher drew a deep breath and sighed, "It certainly makes a lot of sense. Let's say you're right, what happens next?"

Amari focused on Fletcher, "We keep working and let Dracwyn believe we haven't found them. Meanwhile we give Avery and Talwin their papers, observe them, and learn what we can."

"... Sounds rather passive," Fletcher answered.

Amari nodded, "After the incident there will be plenty of eyes on us, we can't act out of haste. Besides, Avery is a force to be reckoned with, and he now has access to a something far worse."

Fletcher nodded, "You've got a point, we'll let things calm down and learn what we can."

Cyrus smiled and clasped his hands, "This is great news, isn't it?"

Fletcher looked back at Cyrus in disgust, "We haven't decided what to do with you yet!"

Cyrus whisker's bristled, "Agron is my home, I'd-"

Fletcher interrupted him, "Bullshit! All you care about is your own fucking hide and precious research."

Cyrus drew a deep breath and huffed, "Yes, I value my own life. But I also care about my home, Agron. Can you truly say that I betrayed any of you?"

Fletcher gritted his teeth, grumbled, and stepped back, "Fine, given the circumstances, you may have done the right thing."

"Thank you," Cyrus said with a sly grin and a nod.

"Don't push it... In any case, we need to get their papers made until tomorrow. It'll be difficult to track them until then and there's a risk that someone will notice them."

788 I.C, February 16, Dracwyn: Outside Cromwell's guild, Morning

"So, tell me more about your friend: Leonard?" Talwin asked and nudged my shoulder.

"Well, he visited Everwinter once a year. Brought me books in exchange for rare minerals, and he traded ore for Krobian wine," I answered.

Talwin eyed me strangely, "Is that all?"

I leaned in, and lowered my voice, "He's a friend, Talwin. His books helped expose me to the concept that others aren't walking meals."

Talwin's ears perked with a rather sheepish smile, "That's... nice."

"Oh, hush," I said and poked his shoulder with a claw.

Talwin reached up, and took my hand in his own. His touch was soft, almost ticklish when his pads brushed against my palm. I tightened my grip into a warm embrace and inched closer to shield us from the prying eyes of others.

"Thank you," Talwin whispered.

"Huh?" I asked in surprise.

Talwin let go, eased back and made a warm smile, "Nothing, shall we head inside?"

I nodded, faced the guildhall, and looked up. The guild was located in a desolate area outside the market district. It was surrounded by a fence and tall bushes while the building itself was an estate with brick walls, wooden supports, and a tiled roof.

The windows of the estate were enforced with metal frames and those on the lower floors had iron bars. Even stranger was a tower that jutted out of the very center and reached above the surrounding buildings.

I started walking, passed through the gate, stepped up to the main door, and pushed it open. A bell rang when I stepped inside and saw a large reception hall framed with all manner of trophies and a big desk surrounded by archives. Standing by the desk was a canine I couldn't recognize and the tiger I had shoved into the mud earlier.

Both of them turned to look at us and the tiger made a welcome smile, "Welcome to Cromwell's Caravan, Bounty, andInsurance guild.Do you have an app-"

The tiger's voice trailed off with the noise of rushing steps. In moments a door by the back was forced open and Leonard came marching out with vengeance in his steps.

Leonard's eyes moved across the room like a hunting predator and locked on me with a glare, "YOU!"

How the hell does he do that...

I made a shy smile, raised my hand and waved, "Hi, Leonard."

The tiger looked at Leonard in confusion, "Leona-"

Leonard ignored him and marched toward me with a piercing stare, "I told you to wait! Those were the terms! Who are you!?"

"Calm down, Leonard," I answered and held up my hands.

Leonard stopped outside reaching distance, glared, and pointed a claw at me, "I'll calm down when I find out who you are, and why I let you into the city!"

I couldn't help but grow a cheeky grin, "You're different from what I remember, guess I shouldn't be surprised."

Talwin opened his muzzle to speak, but Leonard shut him down in an instant, "I have no idea who you are, so stay out of it."

"Leonard, could we speak in private?" I asked.

Leonard eased back a little while his ears flicked in irritation, "Yes, but your friend is staying right where he is."

I looked over at Talwin, "Is that okay?"

Talwin gave me a hesitant glance but nodded, "I'll stay here."

Leonard started walking, and I followed.

Once we were out of sight from the others, I spoke up, "So this is where you worked. Where's that unpleasant human from earlier: Cromwell?"

Leonard glanced back while he led me along, "It's strange, you feel so familiar. Have we met in the markets of Karashak?"

I shook my head, "Nope."

"Krobia? One of the farmer kids from long ago?" Leonard asked.

I smiled back, "No."

Leonard opened the door to a small office and motioned for me to step inside, "Here."

"Your ability is quite amazing, Leonard. I thought I had done a good job hiding my presence," I said and stepped inside.

"Are you one of the high mages from... No... I wouldn't feel like this about one of them," Leonard murmured, stepped inside, and shut the door.

"Feel like what?" I asked and faced Leonard.

Leonard looked up at me with a strained expression, "Enough playing around. Who are you?"

This will be fun...

I reached into my jacket, fetched the book I had taken from him the very first time we met, and then held it out, "Here."

Leonard tipped his head in wonder, took the leather-bound book, turned it over, felt along the worn edges, and eyed the spots of rain and mud. He then eased the book open and looked at the first page.

His ears clamped to his head, his muzzle dropped open, his fur bristled, and he dropped the book before looking up at me in horror.

The book clattered to the floor while I stared back in confusion, "Leonard?"

Without warning he turned around, lunged toward the door in panic. Leonard had already grabbed the handle when my body kicked into gear. I reached out, snatched hold of shoulder, and pulled to hold him back.

"Hel-" Leonard began to scream but stopped when I wrapped one arm around his chest, and used the other to force his muzzle shut.

"Quiet!" I snapped while he started to thrash and whimper in my arms.

Leonard kicked on my legs, flailed, and cried in panic.

"Stop! What are you doing!?" I growled and stumbled back with him in my arms.

Leonard made a muffled mumble, writhed, and stomped on my paw.

Pain flared in my paw and made me stumble, *YIPE!* "Ow! Damn-"

One of Leonard's arms slipped free and his clawed hand reached back. He batted at my face and I felt a growing sense of desperation that someone would hear the struggle.

Instincts flared, my arms tensed, and I slammed him down into the nearby table.

A pained grunt escaped his muzzle while I pinned him down and snarled in his ear, " Stop!"

Leonard finally stopped moving, and strained to look up at me with eyes that burned with hatred and heartache, "You killed him..."

I glared down at him and raised my brow, "What the hell are you talking about?"

Leonard bared his teeth with a low growl, "Wulfkin bastards! I won't help you!"

I leaned closer, "Leonard, I'm Avery. We're friends? Remember me?"

Leonard blinked in confusion, "... Huh?"

I let my camouflage drop and watched my fur darken into pitch black while my eyes itched. Leonard's body tensed up and his hackles rose in fright while his eyes became like pinpricks.

"Leonard, look at my eyes. I may be a tad furrier than last time, but it's me, I swear. I even brought your book back..."

Leonard relaxed a little but kept staring at me in shock, "I... I don't understand."

I kept whispering, "The reason I didn't mature was because there was some kind of spell on me, turns out that I was wulfkin all along. Understand?"

Leonard blinked in confusion while I lifted him off the table and eased him into a nearby chair.

"Are you all right? I'm sorry, I guess the book was a bad idea. Did you think..." I whispered.

Leonard rubbed his neck while looking up at me, "Is it really you? Avery?"

I crouched down, looked him in the eyes, and placed my hand on his knee, "Remember the last time we spoke? You offered to smuggle me out, you said that something about me had changed."

Leonard nodded, "I thought they had killed you, and were coming to hunt me down. It would have been fitting to hand me my book before delivering the killing blow."

"I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking," I said.

Leonard sighed, "So... You're a wulfkin. Can you still use magic?"

I held out my other hand and let a small flare burn in my palm, "Yes, I can."

"Tell me about the first time we met?" Leonard asked.

I grinned and felt my tail wag, "I remember being surprise that a mutt like you could read."

Leonard chuckled and shook his head, "Fine, I believe it's you Avery."

"Good," I answered.

Leonard's ears perked and he looked at me in surprise, "You're Red Eye... Aren't you?"

I shrugged, "I've heard the name thrown around a lot, I guess it's me that they're talking about."

Leonard's ears folded back, "Do you have any idea of what's going on across the continent? Everwinter cut off all trade, they hunted us to Goldport and then burned it to the ground. We were lucky to escpae on one of the ships."

"I did my best to warn you, but thing were out of my control," I said.

"It gets worse. The whole continent is being terrorized by wulfkins, and every damn mercenary is looking for 'Red Eye' and his coyote companion. There's something strange going on in the capitol and the king has taken steps to bring Dracwyn under his control. There's even talk of a giant explosion in Everwinter, so big and strong that the Krobians heard it."

"Seems that a lot is going. But so far I've tried to keep my head low," I said.

Leonard sighed, "What the hell did you do, Avery?"

"I escaped, I sought my freedom," I answered.

"Is that all? Really?" Leonard asked with a skeptical glance,

My tail flicked a little and I scratched my chin, "I might have done something else as well, but it's better you don't know, for now at least."

Leonard leaned back in his chair, and looked up at the roof, "It's a lot to take in."

I stood up and motioned to him, "Listen, Leonard. If my presence is problematic, then I can just go underground again. I can adapt my camouflage and make sure to stay away from you."

Leonard glanced to the side, and focused on me, "You escaped from that dreadful place, and I'm sure you did what you did with good reason. No one can blame you for that."

I smiled back, "Are you going to tell anyone who I am?"

Leonard shook his head, "Doing that would be a death-sentence. The mercenaries would kill everyone around here, drag you off, dead or alive, and Everwinter would get exactly what it wants."

"Guess so," I said.

"I want to help you, I really do. I just happen to be in a pretty bad spot right now."

"How so?" I asked.

Leonard's ears flattened while he shrank into the chair, "It's a long story, and a rather awkward one."

I chuckled to myself, pulled out another chair, and sat down, "I'm sure it is, but the only way forward is to get the cards on the table."

Leonard glanced at me with a morose smile, "I'm a smuggler, Avery. I deal with dark metals and rare substances that are considered... less than moral in nature. Dracwyn needs it, the underground makes it possible, and Agron keeps a blind eye as long it suits them. I'm not a good person."

I tipped my head, "You were willing to offer me help in Everwinter, you provided me with books, and helped me even when I no longer represented my family. Out of all the 'bad' people out there, you strike me as a pretty nice guy."

Leonard made a shy smile and clasped his hands, "Not to be abrupt, but what are you doing here?"

I motioned to myself, "I'm looking for a new place to call home. I've done my best to arrange a mercenary license, but I need the backing of a guild to stay here. I figured..."

Leonard drew a deep breath, "You figured you'd come to me for help? Unfortunately this guild is going under, and it's taking all of us with it."

"What have you gotten yourself into, Leonard?" I asked.

Leonard gritted his teeth, "Do you remember what I told you about. Wanting a shop for myself, how lucrative the trips to Everwinter were?"

I nodded, "Yes, I do."

Leonard's tail squirmed and tried to hide, "Large amounts of money attracts attention, and that's bad for a smuggler. Therefore the guild rewarded us in other ways."

"Oh?" I asked.

"Partial ownership, in the guild all it entailed: This building, our contracts, hidden goods, and information. One day we'd stop smuggling, clear our names, and cash out on all the goods and property we bought over the years."

"I see, so what happened?" I asked.

Leonard looked up with a pained expression, "This chaos happened, and the other guild leaders got wind of it. They cashed out while we were struggling to get back here. There's nothing left of the guild apart from this building, and a lot of debt."

"How's that possible? Isn't there a legal system in place?" I asked.

Leonard clutched his head, "The guild is just a hollow husk made to hold debt and act as a front. The real value were in unlisted goods and writs that were kept in the dark. The others just looted the lot of it and took off."

Leonard growled under his breath, "I can't go to the authorities. I mean, what am I supposed to tell them? That the others emptied our illegal stockpiles? That I've been smuggling dark metals for years?"

I spoke, "But ownership of the guild still has to be shared, right? They couldn't just leave that, even if they cashed out on all the hidden goods?"

Leonard's lips strained and his hands tightened into fists, "It is possible to leave the guild, but you have to pay your dues. The others paid off their debt using part of our stockpiles. Legally they've done nothing wrong, but it leaves me, Archer, and Casey as owners of the guild and the remaining debt."

"They're the others downstairs?" I asked.

Leonard nodded, "They haven't realized what it means yet. The stockpiles are empty, and we have no money to pay off interest on the loans. Soon the city inspectors will come here, and instead of having my own shop... I'm going to spend the rest of my life in servitude."

My voice grew faint, "I... I'm sorry, Leonard."

"I don't blame you, I played a dangerous gamble. An illegal one, and now I get to pay for it."

"How much?" I asked.

Leonard looked up, "What?"

"How much debt?" I asked.

Leonard closed his eyes, and pondered, "The guildhall is worth as much as the loans on it, and there are enough trophies downstairs for a hundred gold. That leaves about 900 gold in debt."

"Doesn't the guild do any legal work?" I asked.

"Of course it does, it would be a pretty shitty front if it didn't."

"But there's no money in it?" I asked.

Leonard shrugged, "A little, it's steady work but it can't pay the interest on 900 gold. Why?"

Guildhall... In an isolated area... Steady income... Connections with the underground...

I leaned closer and lowered my voice, "Could a mercenary own part of the guild?"

Leonard tipped his head in wonder, "Yes, if the guild owners agree to it, which would be me, Archer, and Casey."

"I was told that a mercenary has to work, would participation in a guild count as 'work'?"

Leonard shook his head, "Most of our security are hired mercenaries, and that qualifies as work. So does headhunting and a lot of other tasks. But ownership alone won't count as work."

"Can you arrange work like that?" I asked.

Leonard squirmed, "In normal cases it'd be easy, but the market is a tad limited these days."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

Leonard held out his hands, "Dracwyn in a state of crisis, Avery. There are wulfkins wiping out villages, trade-posts, and farmsteads. Unless you're willing to kill wulfkins, you won't find any contracts."

"They're going to have a hard time doing that," I said.

Leonard nodded, "The wulfkins strike from the depths of the forest, rush back, and disappear soon afterward. Dracwyn's supplies won't last forever, even with trade from the sea. Our borders need to be secured, or everything falls."

"And how are they planning to do that?"

"So far they've been offering huge bounties for any slain wulfkin or information on their camps. They suspect that there are transporter platforms in the nearby forests. But..."

"But?"

"All the teams they've sent so far have either come up empty, or never returned. It's problematic because they have no idea what they're dealing with, and it won't change until someone survives an encounter with them."

I shook my head, "Trust me, they won't find the transporters. They shielded from aetheric probes, and can passively sense the aether so that they can deal with any encroaching threat."

Leonard nodded, "I'm not sure what they're planning, but the Dracwyn guard has started to gather and the bounties keep growing."

"How much gold are we talking about?"

"A lot. But I hope you're not planning to... go after the wulfkins?" Leonard asked.

I pulled the chair closer, "At this point I'm just gathering information. But, what if I could solve your problems?"

"Huh?" Leonard asked in surprise.

"I need friends that I can trust and rely on, are you one of them, Leonard?"

Leonard was silent for a few moments, "Our relationship has always been a tad strange, but I still feel as if I've grown to know you over the years. I watched you grow from a malevolent devil to someone who faced the worst of what wulfkins had to offer. You've always been honest and you warned me to get out of Everwinter."

Leonard met my gaze, "My life is in tatters, and I don't know what you're up to. But if there's even the slightest chance that you can get me out of this situation, then I promise... no, I swear. That you can rely on me, and that I'll bring your secrets to my death."

I stepped up to him, touched his shoulder, and leaned down until we nudged our heads together. It felt proper, something primal within me that would build trust. My nose pulled a deep breath and I caught his scent, it swirled inside my mind and strengthened my memories of him.

"What are you?" I asked.

Leonard whispered, "I told you that my parents were farmers in Krobia, but I never told you they were my adoptive parents."

"And your biological ones?" I whispered.

"I don't know, I've never met them. I'm a mutt, like you said. Some kind of halfbreed with the uncanny ability of sensing the true nature of people."

"But you don't have much magic talent?" I asked.

"I can light a candle if I really try, but no magic talent to speak of. Other than this power where I can feel people in my head, some are pleasant, others are... less so."

"And me?" I asked.

"At first there was little difference between you and other wulfkins. Just swirling pits of darkness and a few hints of light being held back. The darkness still surrounds you, like tar clinging to your body, but there's something on the inside, a chained flare of the brightest white and streaks of red."

"Chained?" I asked.

"I'm just describing sensations. Your presence is messy as it is, but there's something riddling you, chains, restraints, shackles. It used to be a lot stronger, and I'm not sure if it's shielding you from the darkness, or if its keeping the flare from growing."

"And the red?" I asked.

Leonard shook his head, "That's new, and I have no idea what it is. It's powerful though, and when I focus on it feels as if there are needles in front of my eyes."

"Scary description. So why didn't you recognize me?" I asked.

Leonard leaned back, "My power might be useful, and your presence was familiar. But you neither looked, sounded, or smelled like what I expected, and that tends to override my other senses."

I smirked a little, "You smell like I remember, Leonard. Even better with the nose I have now."

Leonard chuckled and his ears perked, "And you smell like wine, with hints of coyote and wulfkin."

I muzzled his cheek and ear, "It's good to see you again, I missed you."

Leonard's tail started to wag with a swishing sound, "You must have so many stories to tell?"

I leaned back and nodded, "And I'm sure you do as well. But for the moment we have more pressing matters."

"What do you need?" Leonard asked and looked up.

"A place for me and Talwin, and a contract with your guild once I get my papers. How much time do you think you have before the inspectors come?"

Leonard shrugged, "A few weeks at least."

"Should be plenty of time."

Leonard smiled back, "If you say so, and don't worry about living space. There's more than enough here in the guild."

"Sounds good."

788 I.C, February 16, Dracwyn: Trade District, Midday

"You look troubled?" Talwin said and took a sip from his cup.

I glanced over at him and stirred my own cup, "There are too many things in limbo."

"What do you mean?" Talwin asked.

I lowered my voice, "The guild, our papers, the invading wulfkins. Not to mention that there's no more camouflage potion, a few days from now the effect will fade."

Talwin glanced around for a moment, "We won't have to worry about the papers much longer. Regarding that, isn't it strange that they haven't shown up yet?"

I chuckled to myself, "Oh, they're here. They're just observing us for the moment."

Talwin looked toward the street and murmured, "How do you know? I haven't seen them."

I shut my eyes for a moment and focused on the sensory web that had spread into the surrounding area. Amari and Cyrus essence pulsed from a darkened window across the street.

"Surges of aetheric energy create ripples that are easy to detect. If you're patient though, it's possible to spread a sensory web that's practically undetectable."

Talwin's ears perked, "That's why you wanted us to be early? So that you had time to set it up."

I nodded, "You're not that powerful when it comes to raw aetheric talent, but there's no reason why you can't learn to wield it well. Like that cat, Cyrus."

"What about him?" Talwin asked.

I raised my arm and waved toward the darkened window across the street where the others were holed up, "Cyrus has a surprisingly weak presence in the aether. His crystal on the other is brimming with power, it's almost as if it has become a part of him."

"His crystal?" Talwin asked in wonder.

"Yes, he keeps it near at all times. Could you sense it when we were fighting in the underground?"

Talwin pondered it for a moment, "Maybe, but it was very chaotic. It felt like the times I use too much magic, it burned on my skin and it was difficult to breathe."

Plenty of potential, but limited by the dice of genetics... If there was a way to change that...

I felt movement in the aether, looked up, and saw the other group exit the building. Fletcher focused on me and approached with the others in tow.

"How did you know?" Fletcher asked when he walked up to the table.

I motioned to the windows on the other street, "Obvious vantage point, and your companions give off quite a signature in the aether."

Amari frowned, Cyrus grew an amused smile, and Fletcher kept his focus on me when he spoke, "We have your papers. You can have them in exchange for what you took."

I sipped my tea, glanced up, and raised my brow, "No."

"What?" Fletcher asked while his frown darkened.

I set the cup down and started counting on my fingers, "Lets see if I get this right. I paid the underground for those papers, you attacked us, but I let you live in exchange for those fancy marbles. Now you ask me to hand over the only insurance I have, in exchange for what I've already paid for?"

Cyrus tail started wag while he looked over at Fletcher with a cheeky grin, "He's got a point."

Fletcher gave Cyrus a moment's glare and then looked back at me, "What do you want? Money?"

I leaned back in my chair, "How about information?"

Fletcher shook his head, "No way."

"Certain about that?" I asked.

Fletcher leaned closer, "Yes, and do consider this. We could cause a lot of trouble for you, even with the 'marbles', there's no way you'd be able to fight all of Dracwyn."

"True, but you do realize that I need insurance you'll stay out of my business?" I asked.

Fletcher stood tall and motioned to himself, "I serve Lord Sigmund of Agron, my word-"

Talwin interrupted Fletcher, "Sigmund, the spy-master. We'd be idiots to trust your word."

Fletcher looked over at Talwin for a moment, "Seems that you know a lot, coyote."

Talwin glanced away, "Nothing strange about knowing who the high lords are."

I raised my hand, "How about this: You get half of your precious marbles, and you give us our papers?"

Fletcher hesitated, made a reluctant nod, and then reached into his jacket, "Fine."

I reached down, fetched a small pouch by the edge of my paws, and felt the power of the marbles hum when I held them up, "Here you go, half."

Fletcher's eyes grew wide, "You kept them in the open like that, and you only half with you?"

I flashed him a toothy grin, "It would be stupid of me to bring them all, and these things aren't exactly friendly with mages."

Fletcher eyed me and handed over a stack of documents, "As agreed."

I looked through the papers for a moment, and handed them over to Talwin, "Do they look genuine?"

Talwin caught them, looked them through, sniffed them for a moment, and looked at me, "They look, and smell right. But it's the magic signature that's the real test, and I don't think any of us can verify that."

Fletcher pocketed the satchel, "The papers are genuine, though they won't do you any good unless you find a guild with contracts. We could assist-"

I interrupted him, "That has been taken care of."

Fletcher seemed stumped and blinked, "... Oh, you found a guild already? Which one?"

I rose from the chair along with Talwin, "We're not telling, but I'm sure you'll find out sooner or later."

Fletcher stepped back and made a courteous smile, "Suit yourself."

788 I.C, February 16, Dracwyn: Cromwell's Guild, Evening

I followed Talwin's scent, rounded a corner, and found myself in a rather large lounge with burgundy chairs, sofas, and a bar by the end of it. The floor was covered in a thick red carpet and heavy black curtains covered the windows.

The scent in the room made it clear that Talwin was here, yet I couldn't see him. Instead I sensed the aether for a moment and felt a presence by one of the windows, hidden behind one of the curtains.

I walked up to it, eased the curtain open, and noticed that there was a small balcony encased in glass behind it. Talwin was standing by the window and looked out at the streets beyond.

"So, what do you think?" I asked and walked up next to him.

Talwin looked over and raised his brow in wonder, "Why are we still here?"

"What do you mean?" I asked and brushed up against his shoulder.

"It's evening, we should have found a tavern for the night. I thought we were just going to visit an old friend of yours?"

"An opportunity has presented itself," I whispered.

"Oh?" Talwin asked.

"The guild has monetary problems, and it's now owned by Leonard and the other two. There's an unused tower above us, and a basement below us that could serve as a laboratory."

Talwin's ears perked and he sought my eyes, "You're thinking of..."

I leaned closer, so that our noses almost touched, "Lots of space, in a desolate area of the city. I can teach you the aetheric arts, alchemy, we can even create more life crystals for your father. This could become... our home, Talwin."

Talwin blinked and looked at me in confusion.

"No?" I asked in surprise.

Talwin looked out of the window, and remained silent for a few moments, "It's just... It caught me by surprise. I..."

"Yes?" I asked.

Talwin looked back, "Don't misunderstand, we always had our plan, and if things could end up like you say, then it'd be great. It's just that somewhere along the way I got caught up in the mindset that we'd keep running, forever."

"You've grown attached to it?" I asked.

Talwin made a sudden chuckle and shook his head, "Hiding in the night, never knowing who's going to figure it out, marching day and night... It had its charm, but no, I haven't grown attached to it."

I stepped back, reached up to the curtain, and pulled it back to reveal the luxurious lounge, "Pretty nice, isn't it?"

Talwin looked around for a moment, stepped out of the balcony, and seemed to ponder something. After a few moments he held out his hand, and let it hover near one of the leather bound seats. He hesitated for a moment, then set his hand down, touched it, and gave the fabric a gentle squeeze.

I followed and whispered, "Talwin?"

Talwin looked back, "Are you serious? Do you really think we'd be safe here? That we could make this..."

Talwin gulped, "Our home?"

I smiled while my heart fluttered in excitement at the prospect, "We can try, at least."

The sound of approaching footsteps made us look up, moments later the tiger called Archer stepped into the lounge and focused on us, "We were about to have dinner, you're invited."

I approached and nodded, "That would be wonderful, Archer was it?"

"Yeah, and you're the one who pushed me into the mud," Archer answered.

I stepped up to him and scratched my cheek, "Yeah... Sorry about that. I know you were just doing your job, but we had to get our bearings before entrusting ourselves to you guys."

Archer eyed me with caution, "You're also the human I saw in Everwinter, the one known as Red Eye on the rest of the continent."

My heart skipped a beat, "What makes you say that, Archer?"

"Leonard trusts me and Casey, so he told us," Archer answered with a flat and somewhat irritated voice.

"That's -very- dangerous information," I said.

Archer nodded, "I know. We're harboring the most wanted person on the continent."

I tipped my head and eyed him, "What's stopping you from betraying Leonard's trust?"

"Certain death, for one. Second, you wouldn't ask that question if you knew our past. Food is getting cold though, this way," Archer said and motioned toward the hallway.

Talwin and I followed Archer while I spoke up, "Would you mind sharing your story?"

Archer looked back at me, "What do you know about Leonard?"

"This and that. He was raised on a farm in Krobia by his adoptive parents. He wants a shop of his own. He's competent, yet kind," I answered.

Archer nodded, "I'll let Leonard manage his own story. But me and Casey are- were slaves raised in the hells of Karashak. Agron may be peaceful, but that doesn't stop them from considering slaves to be damaged goods. We're broken, permanently, and aren't trusted as a result."

I made a daring move, "Is that so unreasonable?"

Archer shook his head, "No, I guess it isn't. Slavery destroys people, and eventually you become twisted like your masters. Some of us are stronger than others though. Some of us can recover... what we lost, and regain some semblance of normality."

I motioned toward Archer, "And thanks to Leonard's power, he could see that aspect of you. Out of a hundred slaves, he picked you, and Casey."

Archer's eyes widened and he looked over in surprise, "You... know about that?"

I nodded, "Leonard trusts me as well, and he has visited me for many years at Everwinter. But I only saw you once, explain?"

Archer drew a deep breath, "Leonard freed us many years ago, but the guild leaders never trusted us and wouldn't let us join such a high profile mission. This year was the first time Leonard was chosen to lead the mission, thus, we were allowed to come along."

"I see. Then let me say that if Leonard trusts you, then I shall trust you as well, and I hope we'll become friends in time."

Archer slowed down and stopped within moments, he then looked up at me and spoke, "You can start by revealing what you really look like. So far I've seen you in three different forms, and let me tell you, it's really confusing."

I inched closer, "Are you sure?"

Archer hesitated for a moment and then nodded, "The former guild leaders betrayed us all. Leonard shoulders most of the burden but we share in the debt. We're going to end up in jail, or worse, and Leonard has made it quite clear that you are our only way out of it. He hasn't said how though, but I trust Leonard. So, please, let me see what you actually look like."

Unlike the eyes of a regular cat, the tiger's pupils were round and radiant when they stared at me. It almost made me wonder if he expected me to change shape.

"You are aware that it's only my fur and eyes, right?" I asked.

Archer made a slow nod, "Which is why it strikes me as odd. I remember what the wulfkins looked like, their ragged fur, monstrous appearance, the smell."

I let the spell that powered the camouflage dissipate, and watched darkness flow over my fur while my eyes tickled.

The tiger's eyes flared like saucers while I looked down at him, "Does that settle it?"

Archer's rounded ears folded back and his voice softened, "Yes... Yes, it does."

I engaged the spell once more and motioned to the hallway, "Please, lead the way."

Archer resumed walking and rounded a corner. Talwin and I followed into a smaller room that looked like a dining hall. Casey was already seated and stared at a large pot on set on a table in the middle of the room.

Leonard was standing by the entrance to the room and caught me when I entered, "I told them... I hope he explained why?"

I nodded, "He did. They're your companions, you trust them, and I'll trust them in turn."

Leonard smiled back in relief and then focused on Talwin before extending his hand, "I'm Leonard. We haven't had a chance to get to know each other yet, but I hope we do."

Talwin stepped forward, looked down at the hand, and shook it with a shy smile, "So do I, Leonard."

Leonard motioned to the table, "Please, join us. It's not much but we're still reeling from everything that happened."

Archer and Talwin got seated while I joined Leonard's side, "We have things to discuss."

"Business?" Leonard asked.

I nodded, "Yes, regarding my solution to your problems."

Leonard motioned to himself, Archer, and Casey, "We're the guild masters, any business with the guild needs to be heard by all."

A sly grin crept onto my muzzle, "Anxious?"

Leonard's ears perked and he clasped his hands, "I am curious about what you have planned."

I looked back at the table, and noticed that everyone were staring at me. I then walked up to the table, reached into my jacket, fetched the pouch with gems, and held it out over the table.

"You have a lot of debt, this is the solution," I said and then flipped the bag over.

Gems spilled out onto the table, piled on one another, and glittered with prismatic colors that danced on the surface. Archer leaned over the table with his muzzle wide open, while Casey sat frozen like a statue. Talwin grinned to himself in amusement, while Leonard blinked in awe.

"Think it'll be enough?" I asked and looked over at Leonard.

Leonard gulped, "... It's more than we need."

"Talwin and I want 40% of the guild," I said.

"Done," Leonard quipped without a moment's hesitation.

"We want the tower, and the basement," I said.

"Done," Leonard whispered and leaned over the table.

"And..."

Leonard glanced back, "Yes?"

"I want you to gather information on that contract to wipe out the nearby wulfkin camp," I said.

"We could arrange work that's less suicidal, you know?"

"I know," I answered.

788 I.C, February 17, Dracwyn: Marketplace, Morning

'Gryphon Armaments - Licensed maker of Kodon steel'

I pondered the sign for a moment and then down at the shop itself. There was little coming from inside, and the sign that indicated whether it was open or not had fallen off the door.

My hand grasped the handle, pushed the door open, and I stepped inside. A strange smell hit my nose, an acrid smell of alcohol mixed with a hint of puke.

The door shut behind me with a clack and I found myself in a small room where the walls were stacked with weapons and shields of all manner. By the end of the room was a counter and an opening that led into the backyard and actual smithy.

"Hello?" I called out.

There was a distant grumble and a shuffling noise. It made me sense the aether and I felt a presence by the floor behind counter, to my surprise the entity had a strong but distorted essence in the aether.

I stepped closer and felt another presence enter the field, it came from the backyard and was coming closer in a hurry.

A relatively young feline who wore a simple shirt and a protective apron rushed into the shop with a glass of water in his hands. The young man came to a sudden stop when he caught sight of me and some of the water spilled on the floor.

"Is everything all right?" I asked.

The feline had a slim yet muscular build highlighted by a short layer of vibrant fur in yellow.

"Just a moment," The feline snapped in a hurry and then crouched.

I walked closer so that I could glance over the counter and noticed that he had knelt next to a rather stocky person I couldn't identify. The humanoid was male, covered in gray fur, had a short but wide snout like a bear, wide but short pointed ears, and held a bottle in his hands.

The feline offered water to the burly beast and spoke, "Olsen, here's some water."

Without warning Olsen growled, swiped one hand, and knocked the glass from the feline's hand.

The glass shattered on the nearby wall and Olsen snarled, "Fuck off!"

I stepped up to the counter while the feline rose and looked at me, "I'm sorry, Sir. But we're closed."

"Need any help?" I asked.

The feline opened his mouth to speak when Olsen made a sudden grumble. I looked toward Olsen and saw his wide nose flare while he opened his eyes and looked up. His green eyes locked on me in an instant, and focused to become like pinpricks. There was a surge of aetheric energy in the air and Olsen's face twisted into monstrous grimace of anger.

GRAH!

Olsen roared and bolted from the ground like a madman. I stumbled in surprise while Olsen gripped the counter, and launched himself over it while magic flared in the air. The bottle in his hand glowed with energy, changed shape in a second flat, and became a sharp glass dagger.

GROAH!

I held up my hands in fright, summoned the power inside me, and felt a web of aetheric form in front of me like a spider's web. Olsen slammed into the shield, my body was pushed back, and his dagger pierced the shield with a crackling snap of energy.

" You killed them all!" Olsen roared like a feral while his body radiated flux and energy like an enraged wildfire.

I maintained the shield but Olsen's dagger had pierced it and provided a path for further attacks. Survival kicked in and summoned an attack of my own. Threads of aetheric energy gathered behind the shield, formed a bubble, and formed a pressure point. One end of the bubble strengthened, while the other weakened.

It popped and a shaped charge blasted outward. The energy slammed into Olsen, hurled him off me, and slammed him into the nearby wall. Several shields were knocked from the wall, Olsen's glass dagger fell to the ground with a clatter, and Olsen himself crashed to the ground with a grunt of pain.

I panted, felt adrenaline rush through my veins, and the air inside the shop began to glitter with wisps of energy. Olsen shook his head, looked up, and then reached for the glass dagger.

" STOP! Or that's the last move you ever make!" I snarled with a glare of anger.

Olsen froze while the feline stood by the corner with a petrified look of horror on his face.

Moments later Olsen turned his head and looked at me in confusion, "Wulfkin can't use magic."

I snapped at him, and bared my teeth, "Your fucking point!? Madman!"

Olsen's short muzzle dropped open and his eyes widened with horror, "You're not a wulfkin... What have I done?"

I raised a claw and aimed at him, "What the hell are you talking about?"

Olsen raised his hands, sat down on his behind, "I surrender! Forgive me! I was horribly mistaken!"

I eased down on the energy that now rippled through the air but maintained a shield around myself, "Explain yourself."

Olsen lowered his hands and looked over at the feline, "Matthew, it's all right. Fetch me some water, please?"

The feline nodded, and marched into the backyard while Olsen looked over at me, "You smelled like a wulfkin. I am terribly sorry, I did not intend to attack you. I was confused."

I kept glaring at him, "Confused? Or insane?"

Olsen bowed his head, "A thousand apologies. Please... My family, they... But you smelled just like..."

I motioned to myself, "I'm not surprised. I've thought them up close and one of them even pissed on me a few weeks ago. It's difficult to wash out the scent."

Olsen looked up with a tearful expression, "They... You've suffered at their hands as well?"

I nodded, "That I have."

Matthew returned with another glass of water, while Olsen got up on two legs.

Olsen then took the glass, drank a few gulps, and whispered, "Thank you, Matthew."

Matthew made a humbled smile, and nodded, "No problem, Master Olsen."

Olsen then looked at me once more, "My family were returning from a trip, they were all killed outside Dracwyn. I haven't been myself since, I am truly sorry for attacking you."

I sighed and tried to calm myself, "It's all right."

Olsen inched a little closer but stayed out of reaching distance, "You said you fought them?"

I nodded, "Yes, which is why I'm here. I need weapons."

Olsen blinked in confusion, "But how? There is no defeating them. They are immune to magic, too strong for any man, their armor repels any ordinary weapon, and the obelisks that accompany them sing the song of death itself."

"There are always weaknesses to be exploited, you just have to know about them," I answered.

Olsen made a reluctant nod, "That is true. I attacked you using magic, I have broken some of Agron's most important laws. If there is anything I can do to help, ask it of me and I shall provide it."

I made a slight frown, "I don't mean to insult, but you reek like a drunkard and your actions don't fill me with confidence. Why should I trust or pay you?"

Olsen shook his head, "No need to pay me. I am grandmaster Olsen of the Falgarean order, I am one of the few capable of forging Kodon steel. My talent is known throughout the continent and I shall provide my services for free to any that intend to fight the monsters from the north. What can I provide you, noble warrior and skilled mage?"

I drew a deep breath, "I'm not from around here, tell me about this 'Kodon' steel?"

Olsen nodded, held out his hands, and summoned a gentle blue light, "Kodon is an alloy of iron, carbon, and rare elements from deep within the mountains. It is forged using fire, elemental crystal, and aetheric energy to bind it as one. Kodon is without a doubt one of the strongest yet lightest materials that you can find in this world."

"Are they easy to manipulate using magic?" I asked.

Olsen made an eager nod, "The elemental crystal within it enhances handling, it can maintain spells of its own, and it was used to fight the necromancers themselves."

"I take Agron makes wide use of it?" I asked.

Olsen shook his head, "The army consists of many thousands, but the resources to make Kodon is both expensive and rare. The academy mages do not make good fighters, and it would be wasted on regular soldiers that cannot wield aetheric weapons."

"But you're offering it to me, that's generous," I said.

Olsen nodded and stepped closer, "Yes, on one condition."

At first you offered me anything, and now you demand something?

"Go on?" I asked.

Olsen bared his teeth and made fists of his hands, "Use them to deliver crush the monsters that have invaded our fair nation. Use them to deliver my vengeance, swear it!"

"If your goods are up for the task, then I swear I'll use them well," I said.

Olsen bowed, "Thank you. Now, what kind of weaponry would you prefer?"

788 I.C, February 17, Aetherius, Midday

Still alive...

Robert blinked and found himself huddled inside what looked like a dark cave. His mind was dazed and he found it difficult to remember how he had ended up here.

Aetherius... A garden of bones... I made my way here... Found shelter from the cold wind...

He moved and heard frost crinkle when it flaked off his fur.

So hungry... Starving... Need food...

In desperation he looked around and sought for sustenance. A rat, roots, a frozen corpse, anything?

Yet all that met his eyes consisted of dark rock and ice. Robert pushed himself onto all four with a groan, and then forced himself onto two legs. He glanced back, looked out of the cave opening, and saw a white landscape ravaged by a winter storm.

Death awaited in the storm and Robert turned his attention to the passage in the cave. He hugged himself tight to preserve warmth, and started stumbling into its depths. For a moment he found his mind drifting to the warmth of Agron and memories of times past. He smiled to himself in a daze, and felt a sudden push of wind against his body.

It made him snap awake and to his horror he found himself standing at the edge of a cliff.

Robert stumbled back with a gasp of fright, slammed into the wall behind him, and felt a burst of adrenaline that helped clear his mind. He gasped for breath, clutched his chest, and then looked ahead.

There was a giant cavern with gaps in the roof that allowed light and a steady dusting of falling snow. The cavern walls were lined with ridges, caves, and signs of crumbling black structures. In the very center of the cavern was an island surrounded by rushing torrents of icy water. Set upon the island was a gigantic obelisk with a reflective surface that glinted with the presence of runes.

The purpose of the crumbling structures became clear as he focused on the foundations, they were bridges that had single long collapsed into the icy waters below. His eyes caught on something by the other end of cavern, it was a still intact bridge and there were signs of activity near it.

Robert stared at it, squinted, and noticed flickering flares, and several camps. One camp was set on a ridge and it was full of tents, supply crates, and there were surprisingly large creatures moving about. Something seemed off about them, they were big, furred, and walked with the gait of beasts.

Wulfkins... What are they doing here?

He then focused on the island itself. There was another camp by the base of the giant obelisk and it was filled with tents and a lot of workbenches. Smaller obelisks hovered in the camp and there were robed figures mulling about in the camp.

Is this your idea, Conrad? Digging up artifacts of the old world to augment your power?

Is this where the Stone of Fate sought fit to bring me?

788 I.C, February 17, Everwinter, Evening

The sudden sound of a knock on the door made Javier jump in surprise. He snatched a knife from the table, turned to face the main entrance, and focused on the unhinged door.

"There's nothing left for you to take! Leave!" Javier yelled.

The door was lifted out-of-the-way and hurled to the side by a pair of wulfkins clad in dark armor plating. They then marched inside and stopped to stare with silent but devilish grins.

"What do you want!?" Javier demanded.

Within moments a third wulfkin entered, this one had black fur with a hint of gray around the muzzle, and was dressed in a black uniform belonging to the upper echelons.

"Long time no see, Javier," The well dressed wulfkin mused.

Javier pointed the knife toward the wulfkin, "I don't recognize you, who the hell are you?"

The wulfkin drew a deep breath, "You never did pay attention to your aides. I'm Tormyn, remember?"

Javier tipped his head, "No."

Tormyn adjusted the collar of his uniform, "You've been stripped of your role, Javier. I'm the one assigned to replace you."

Javier bared his teeth and growled, "They can't do that!"

Tormyn huffed, "They can, and they have. Your bloodline is tainted and worth shit these days."

"... No, you're wrong," Javier shook his head.

Tormyn sneered with a wolfish grin, "Don't worry. Until we catch or make a deal with the traitor you won't be killed."

"... A deal? With the traitor?" Javier asked.

Tormyn made a slow nod, "As frustrating as it is to admit, your spawn has eluded us so far. If we can cut a deal with him then you and the rest could serve as an offering. Hell, I wished I was there to see him scar you, and I'd pay to see him cut you in pieces."

Javier could only stare back in silence while his mind struggled with conflicted emotions.

Tormyn motioned to Javier, "I'm not here for you, or what little possessions you have left. I'm here for the tailless trash you call a son."

"The master ordered his confinement here, you're not taking him anywhere!" Javier snapped.

The two wulfkins beside Tormyn made dark chuckles while Tormyn raised his hand, "These are orders from Doros and the Master himself. We're here to transfer Raymond to another place."

"Where?" Javier asked with a glare.

Tormyn shrugged, "I only do as I am asked. Now bring him out or we'll throw you into the pits, and trust me, it's worse than ever before."

Javier looked to the side and was about to call out when he noticed movement near the den. In moments Raymond stepped out into the hallway and faced Tormyn in silence.

"Raymond?" Javier whispered and stepped closer.

Raymond didn't react, instead he looked in front with an unmoving gaze. His fur was clumped with dirt, one ear was missing, a simple loincloth was wrapped around his waist, and the large wound on his back had grown lumpy with scar tissue.

One of the wulfkin guards sneered in disgust, walked up, and snatched hold of Raymond's arm.

Javier's hackles rose and he was about to rush forward when Tormyn snapped, "Don't even try!"

Raymond looked over at Javier and made a slow nod, almost as if saying: 'It's fine, let me go...'

Javier's ears clamped to his head, he clenched his teeth and fists while he glared back with hatred.

The guard pulled Raymond along, and they disappeared into the depths of Everwinter.

788 I.C, February 18, Dracwyn: Gryphon Armaments, Morning

I stepped up to the store, noticed the sign that proudly said 'closed', and then knocked on the door. Within moments I noticed shadows moving within the shop, followed by a clack when the door was unlocked.

The door eased open and Matthew looked out, "Welcome, please come inside."

I stepped inside, shut the door behind me, looked around, and noticed that Olsen was nowhere to be seen, "Where's Olsen?"

Matthew held his hands clasped and kept his focus on me, "Master Olsen worked all day and night. Early this morning he left me instructions, and then... he just walked off."

"He went home?" I asked.

Matthew shook his head with a solemn expression, "No. Master Olsen walked toward the gates, he..."

"He?" I asked.

Matthew gulped, "I'm not sure we'll ever see him again."

"I thought that he was going to offer his services to anyone that needed it?"

Matthew drew a deep breath, "Master Olsen's family meant everything to him. The weeks since they died have been nothing but endless drinking and..."

"Are you going to be all right?" I asked.

Matthew's eyes wandered for a few moments, "Master Olsen gave me the smithy, but I'm just his apprentice..."

"Hey, Matthew?" I said.

Matthew made a sudden shiver and looked up, "Yes?"

"Are you going to be all right?" I asked once more.

Matthew nodded, "Yeah, I think so. I mostly handled the paperwork anyway. I'll keep doing that, hire another smith, and learn what I can."

I touched his shoulder and made a gentle smile, "That sounds like a good plan."

Matthew chuckled, "Thank you. Where were we... Your order, Olsen finished it."

"I was surprised that he managed to do it this quickly," I said.

Matthew stepped back, motioned to the backyard, and started walking, "Master Olsen worked with a ferocity I haven't seen in years. He seemed proud though, and he used up every scrap of Kodon to do it."

I followed him and spoke up, "Are you sure you don't want any payment?"

Matthew nodded, "This was Master Olsen's wish and I'll honor it. I want no money from you."

"As you wish," I said while we entered the backyard.

Matthew walked up to a giant forge with coals that still brimmed with heat, and then motioned to a covered stack next to it. He then reached down, grabbed the edge, pulled it back, and revealed a large set of spears.

Each spear was about the height of a human, pitch black, and shaped like a flat arrow in the front. I stepped closer and apart from a gentle glimmer in the black surface, they almost seemed like holes that cut through space itself.

There were 24 of them in total and I reached down to touch one of them. A gentle spark ran through my finger the moment I touched it. Aetheric energy flowed through it and hummed with a presence that reminded me of obsidian.

I took it in my hand, stood up, and spun it in the air. It was light, easy to balance, and the only question that remained was whether it was durable and sharp.

"Do you mind if I try it out?" I asked.

Matthew smiled and motioned to a nearby stack of logs, "Go ahead, try to pierce one of them."

I recalled one of the recent spells that Rastlin's Tome had taught me and summoned it. Threads of magic emerged from me, and coiled around the spear until it hummed with energy. Matthew stepped back in wonder, while the spear rose in the air and aimed at one of the logs.

An aetheric cannon, meant to accelerate physical objects to great speeds...

I triggered it, the coil flared with energy, and a high pitched snap was heard when the spear shot out.

CRACK!

The log split in two, splinters flew high into the air, and the spear itself settled deep into the ground.

"Whoa," Matthew whispered.

I stepped up to the splintered log, grabbed the spear, and pulled hard. It took some effort to wedge it from the ground, but it then popped loose. The sharp edge was unharmed, and to my surprise the dirt fell from the spear as if it refused to grow dirty.

Impressive... I wonder if the forges of Everwinter were capable of this...

I looked back at Matthew, "Master Olsen was true to his word."

Matthew nodded, walked over to a nearby table, and fetched an item wrapped in cloth. He then brought it over and held it up, "And here's the special order, precise to the millimeter, just as you ordered."

I took the wrapped item, unrolled it, and held it up in the morning sunlight. It was a dagger made out of the same black material, with a hilt covered in sturdy leather, and a socket big enough to fit one of mystical marbles.

"This is perfect. If you ever see Olsen again, give him my thanks," I said.

Matthew nodded, "Olsen poured his soul and our most precious materials into it. Please... Treat it as such, and deliver his vengeance."

"I will do my best, Matthew. I promise."

Matthew stepped back and drew a deep breath, "I'm planning to close the smithy for today."

"I understand," I answered and wrapped up the dagger.

I then reached out with my powers, gathered the spears, wrapped them in the cover, and walked toward the exit. Within moments of having stepped out I heard a familiar voice.

"There you are," Talwin exclaimed.

I looked to the side and saw Talwin with a large backpack and a pair of bags in his hands, "I guess you found me, did you get everything?"

Talwin stepped up to me with an eager nod, "Yep. Every alchemical ingredient on the list, and even some of the lab equipment you asked for."

"Good work, Talwin. It also seems that your father's recommendation of this place was right. Master Olsen was quite a smith."

"Was?" Talwin asked in surprise.

"It's a long story, I'll tell you more about it when we get home," I said.

Talwin broke into a smile and tipped his head, "Home, it's funny to hear that."

"But good, right?"

Talwin nodded and then lowered his voice a little, "I was wondering... Are we busy tonight?"

I tipped my head in wonder, "Well, I could be. Why?"

Talwin's ears flicked for a moment and his tail made a sudden wag, "Could I... Book you for the night?"

It caught me by surprise and for a moment I lost control of the aether. It made the spears rattle and sway before I restored control and steadied them once more.

Talwin smirked in response, "... What do you say?"

My ears felt warm for some reason and I couldn't help but smile, "Sure, Talwin. I'd love that."