Aron shook with irrational fear in front of the Dryad. She had a petite figure, dressed in a white dress that dropped around her shoulders and turned golden towards the legs.
She exuded a terror deep from her seemingly harmless stature, a terror whose origin he couldn't quite pinpoint. Even with her kind and gentle appearance, Aron couldn't help fearing her on a primal level.
"Ah, just like Shelia, terrified yet brave. She raised you well, wonder how your siblings are like. Come, I'll tell you about myself as we walk around town. I'll treat you to lunch as well."
Oh well, Aron told himself, at least she has manners.
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"Rene," A gruff old voice called out from behind the closed door.
Rene shuffled, the pair of tongs in her hand held up the red hot piece of iron that shaped quickly under her hammer, turning into a piece of flat blade she'd need to sharpen.
"Gimme a second, old man!" She screamed at the top of her lungs. Once the shape of the blade satisfied her, she immediately plunged it into a pot of shimmering silver liquid. A huge hiss escaped the pot along with plenty of aromatic steam.
She blew off the steam and admired her own work: a piece of gleaming steel, ready to be imbued with magic gleamed in her hands. She brought out a chisel and immediately started working on engraving patterns on the blade.
An old dwarf, the size of her waist, impatiently walked out of his office, grumbling about how focused the girl would become. In his hands he held a longbow that looked strong and beautiful. On its handle: For Carlos was engraved in neat cursive.
He set aside the bow and got to work supervising Rene as she engraved complex runes and symbols across the piece of metal. He humphed in satisfaction as a small chill exuded from the blade once she was done.
"You've gotten well at engraving runes and enchanting. This sword right here, is perfect for the feeble boy."
"Thanks gramps!" Rene grinned, absolutely proud of her work.
He grinned back at his disciple and handed her an open box with a jet black feather and a jade pendant inside.
"Attach the pendant to the hilt of the sword, and the Raven feather to the bow."
"Gramps…you actually had emotions?" Rene gawked, seeing the old dwarf make a nostalgic expression with his face.
The dwarf sighed, "I too had a best friend who was everything to me once. I too understand how those two feel Rene. They remind me so much of myself, so much talent and potential."
Rene muttered under her breath, "He's still as shameless as ever."
"I heard that." She yelped at the old dwarf's angry reply. He shook his head and retrieved a ball from his room. "For Aron" was written on a tag attached to it.
"This is a Tao Stone. It allows one to make their own beast and train it. Unlike the others, Aron has no talent in any combat art…Ophelia and I thought it best to provide him this."
"And finally, this here, is my proud creation. I call it the dragon mace. A hammer that hits like a dragon! It should be perfect for that boy, Dunst" Old Dwarf surprisingly lifted a mace that weighed no less than sixty kilograms with a single hand.
Rene was touched, her grandmother's only two friends looked after them so well after all!
"Also, Rene" With hesitation in his eyes, the Master picked up a box he had hidden beneath his desk, "Happy birthday girl. Sheila would be proud of you if she were here today."
A small tear escaped Rene's eyes as she nodded and opened the box in which lay a bracelet made of red rubies. She realized it was the accessory he had been working on for days.
"It turns into an actual hammer, and you don't need a forge with that thing around. Produces enough heat to shame hell fire." The old man proudly listed off the feature of the magic bracelet.
Rene wiped away her tear and giggled as she lifted the final gift, a pair of earrings that shone orange and would help alchemists. The earrings were a perfect gift for Lydia. With them all prepared, she was all set to welcome the New Year with her beloved siblings.