"Hello, young lad. What brought you here? Are you here for repairs? Or perhaps want me to create something?" The gruff voice belonged to a burly man, his face tanned and weathered, his eyes sharp and observant. He hammered a sword on the anvil, a steady rhythm that echoed through the forge.
Blaft entered the blacksmith shop, his gaze drawn to the glowing furnace and the tools scattered around the workshop.
"Uhmm… I just want some repairs. My armor looks sturdy. I want you to polish it for me."
The blacksmith, a man known as Zaldo, surveyed Blaft's armor, his brow furrowing. "Your armor really is in a bad shape. What if, I just create you one?"
Blaft hesitated. He knew that a new set of armor would cost him a fortune.
"Don't worry, it's free. But, the durability of the armor is low. So you need another replacement for it. With that, you'll need to gather me materials for the replacement I made for you."
Blaft's eyes widened. "Free?" he asked, stunned.
"I'll give you the list of materials you need to gather. Take this," Zaldo said, handing Blaft a piece of parchment.
"And here is the armor," Zaldo added, handing Blaft a gleaming set of armor, expertly crafted and polished.
"That's fast. I thought you would create me my new armor. But you just gave me the already made one," Blaft said, bewildered.
"Well, if I craft you armor, it'll took time. Anyway, that armor is also suit at your size and hasn't been used yet."
Blaft put on the armor, and it fit perfectly.
"It suits you," Zaldo said with a nod.
As Blaft reached for his sword, Zaldo noticed something. "Oh. That sword. Could you give me that? I'll sharpen it for you."
Blaft handed Zaldo his sword. The blacksmith took his hammer and began to work, his movements swift and precise. A few minutes later, he handed Blaft the sword back, its edge sharper than ever, shimmering with an almost magical light. Blaft sheathed the sword and prepared to leave.
"Thanks, Old man," Blaft said, his voice filled with gratitude.
"You're welcome," Zaldo replied.
As Blaft left the shop, he found the rest of the adventurers waiting for him.
"Oh! You're here, scaredy cat!" Libera exclaimed, her voice laced with amusement.
"Blaft, we've been searching you this morning. We thought you ventured alone and left us," Virgo said, his expression laced with concern.
"Why would I do that?" Blaft asked, his brow furrowed.
"I'm sorry guys, I didn't think to wake you up when I leave. I just bought medicines for our travels and bought some equipments. Sorry guys for not telling you," Blaft explained.
"No worries. All we just want to say is don't leave us behind when you want something. You know, we came here altogether. So you shouldn't left anyone behind," Libera said, her tone laced with a playful admonition.
"I'm sorry," Blaft said, his voice filled with regret.
"Anyway, we also wanted to repair our armors. Wait for us, outside," Libera added.
"Yeah, buddy. Wait here," Virgo chimed in.
"Okay," Blaft replied, watching as the others entered the shop.
He heard them calling out to Zaldo.
"Hey! Zaldo! How's it been?" Virgo said, his voice filled with warmth.
"Oh! you little brats. How are your hunting?" Zaldo asked, his voice tinged with amusement.
"We're almost a goner, you know? There was a big dragon out there attacked us," Libera said, her voice still laced with a hint of adrenaline.
"The Dragon?!" Zaldo's expression shifted, his eyes widening in shock.
Zaldo noticed Blaft standing outside, and he called out to him. "Hey! Young man. Come inside," Zaldo said, beckoning Blaft into the shop.
Libera had already told Zaldo about Blaft's presence. "Oh, he's with you? Why did you come here before buying that sword?"
Libera and Virgo stared at Blaft's sword, a hint of amusement dancing in their eyes.
"You know, if you told Zaldo that you're with us, no need to buy that sword. He'll make you one for free. Haha!" Virgo said, his laughter echoing through the shop.
"Besides, that sword you bought was from me. Sololo bought that sword from me for 200 spina," Zaldo added, his voice tinged with a hint of amusement.
Blaft felt a wave of shock wash over him. "What? I'm being scammed!"
"I bought this sword for 1,000 spina," Blaft said, his voice tinged with anger.
"Anyway, about the Dragon you said earlier," Zaldo said, turning his attention back to Libera and Virgo.
"It was Decel. The Guardian Dragon," Virgo replied.
"Decel?" Blaft asked, his brow furrowed. "If he's a guardian Dragon, why did he attack us?"
"I too, didn't know why? It seems like he is being corrupted by something," Virgo replied, his voice laced with confusion.
"Yeah, I also feel something odd. It seems like he is in pain while he attacked us," Blaft said, his voice filled with a sense of unease.
"Yeah, maybe that's what happening to him. He might be being controlled," Libera said, her voice filled with a hint of fear.
"Long ago, Iruna, besides being governed by Gods, Dragons are the other entity that's protecting the balance of the World," Zaldo explained, his voice filled with a sense of history and reverence.
"Finstern, the three-headed Dragon, Yelb, the Grass Dragon, and Decel, the Rainbow Dragon, are prime protectors of the Forest of Iruna. But in the past, Dragons were the rulers. Despite being Rulers, they're hostile creatures. They attacked whoever trespassed in their territory. Not all Dragons are good in nature. Only three of them were known that aids Heroes and protectors of Nature. Other Dragons are Destructive, flying to the skies, destroying everything on their path."
Blaft listened intently, his mind racing.
"Before the Cataclysm, Dragons assisted Heroes on their quest to defeat Zenobia. Decel, after the Cataclysm, returned to the Nisel Mountain and became the Dragon protector of Sofys."
Blaft looked at Zaldo, his eyes wide with curiosity. The story of the Cataclysm, the Enemy God, and the Dragon Decel, the guardians of Iruna, all felt interconnected, a tapestry of events that led him to this point.
He was Blaft, a warrior of Iruna, and he had stumbled into a world filled with mystery, adventure, and danger. He had a lot to learn, and he felt a growing sense of purpose. He would protect his friends. He would fight for this world.
And he would uncover the truth behind the Dragon Decel and the Cataclysm.