Riox woke up an hour later as Darag left. He rubbed the tiredness out of his eyes and stood up.
- My baaaack ... - he stretched a bit.
As he looked around, no one was there, started to wonder where the smith would be. Riox noticed the paper on the dest, walked close to it and read.
*Good job, kid! You made a nice pair of daggers. I saw you asleep so I left you to relax. I will come back later. To mention the deal we made, I let you freely use anything in my posession, but you need to get the materials!*
- So he was here. I'm not planning to wait for him to come back, so ... where can I find a pen? - Riox searched for a pen in the shop, and when he picked up one, quickly wrote a message on the other side of the paper.
*This should do it. Now let's grab my bag and leave. Ayla is waiting for my return, I'm sure. See you later, geezer, hihi.*
Riox left the workshop to return to the cave, where his loved one waited for him.
Meanwhile Darag returned to his place, but now he didn't find Riox anywhere.
- Huh?! Where the hell did that kid go? Son of a ... - as he started to call him in a different tone, he noticed the daggers were put on the chair where the kid was with the paper he left behind.
- What did he do? - he picked up the paper and started to read it.
- "I have a matter I need to solve first. I will come back later, and don't forget our agreement! Also, the daggers are yours. Do anything with them as you want, I heard some customers of yours would order a dagger from you ...", he wrote. This kid is full of mystery. - he just kept his hand on his forehead.
The time it took for Riox to return back was less when he went to Taya. He already knows the way to go back the fastest. He didn't waste more time and hurried back to Ayla.
With only one breaktime, he stood up before the entrance of the cave within one and half a day.
- I'm back!
- Finally!! Welcome home! - Ayla greeted him but did not show up.
- Where are you? - Riox wondered where Ayla should be.
- I'm in the back ... - she answered.
Riox put down his empty bag and walked towards Ayla's voice. For a big surprise, she sorted some pieces of stones.
- What are you doing? - Riox asked her with a lifted eyebrow.
- When you discovered the cave, I saw these crystals took your interest, so after you left, I tried to mine them with the pickaxe you brought. - she told honestly.
Ayla put the crystals on the ground for Riox to observe them. 10 pieces of thumb-sized crystals lie before her with the color of clear sea water. On the edges, it was blurry, but the middle was as clear as glass.
- Where did you find these? - Riox just asked with wonder.
- Huh, it was a bit hard, but I solved it! - Ayla just smiled back at him.
*I saw these these crystals with the level of purity on the ceiling of the cave ... What the hell did this girl do for me? But I know what I should do with these!*
- So what did you find in that city? - Ayla asked.
- Huh, not that much yet, but! In the outskirts I found a smith and made a deal with him, so we are lucky because I can use his workshop for free!
- That sounds amazing! We needed some tools and weapons by the way ... - she answered happily.
- Thats what I thought, so after I finished the preparations, I came back to tell you this matter and also ask you.
- Ask me? About what? - Ayla wondered.
- What kind of weapon or weapons would you hold? The materials I got from Dreng are enough for 3 or 4 weapons! - Riox told her the facts he was well known.
- Huh? What kind? - Ayla didn't understand the meaning of the Riox question.
- I mean, would you prefer using a sword, spear, blade, dagger, bow, etc ... ? - he explained.
- So that's how you meant! Hm ... I think ... - she started to think hard about this.
Ayla stood up before Riox and imitated the movements she remembered from the time they trained with Lok.
She kept her hands like she held a spear. The movements were smooth, but uncertainty.
- Maybe the next ... ? - she whispered to herself while changing her stance.
Ayla's next try was the dagger, it felt a bit comfortable, but not the best. The following weapon was the one-edged blade.
- This last one was a complete mess ... ah, come on! - Ayla felt a bit exhausted.
The next was the sword. The stance was stable, her movements like a paintbrush on a canvas, definite and precise. Riox's eyebrow lifted as he saw Ayla's performance, what she did with only her imagination.
- Beautiful! - Riox clapped as a praise.
Ayla blushed a bit when she heard Riox's congratulation, but she needed to hold herself together for the last.
She stood for the stance once more, with the imagination of a bow. Her face was focused, nothing could distract. Even though there was nothing there but air, Riox clearly saw what he needed to.
- I think we found the best weapons for you! - he walked towards Ayla.
- Uh, d-do you think? - she was a bit tired and nervous.
- Yes, your performance was awesome! - Riox hugged Ayla tightly.
*So her weapons must be a sword and a bow! So the next thing I should pick this one ...*
- Ayla. What do you think, which weapon suits me? - he asked her because of his doubt.
- You? Am ... The sword definitely is your weapon! You were on pair with Lok when you sparred! - she answered without hesitation.
- Do you think so?
- I'm sure of it!
As Riox calculated the materials, a problem occurred. There was not enough ore to forge a second sword for him.
*I don't want to waste these precious materials, but for a second sword, it's less than I need. Maybe a dagger? Nah, I'm not that familiar with daggers. Should I try to make a blade as a second weapon for me? That's a hard challenge, but I think I can manage it ...*
Riox thought they were around the weapons while he cared for their dinner next to the campfire.
*Wait! The crystals Ayla got for me, with that, it will be enough for a perfect blade! For a second sword is still lacking, but for a blade! I'll do it that way!*
- Ayla! I will go out in 4 days to go back to Taya! - he said this with a raised voice, because Ayla took a bath in the pond.
- Okay, then let's prepare your stuff well before you go. - she walked towards him while she wiped her wet hair with the furry leather they got by the boar hunt.
She made towels from it.
- Then its my turn to take a bath ... hooh ... I've been waiting for this since I left! - Riox stood up and swapped their positions.
Riox dropped a kiss on Ayla's cheek when he walked next to her.
- Ayla, your weapons will be a bow and a sword, will it be okay for you?
- Yes, definitely! But try to get some arrows too!
- Don't worry, I will forge some special ones and get a packet of normal arrows too.
Riox sat in the pond, relaxing his body and mind.
*Ahhh! I missed this sooo much! ... I'm feeling better myself ... It seems Ayla stood up from the shock she got by the events of the village. I'm sure she doesn't tell me she misses Mira and the others. I hope she will forget those things, but I can sense, she has the same feelings as me ... the untrustworthy behavior towards other people ...*
Riox finished his bath, dried himself up and went back. Ayla already slept. Riox just lied behind her and hugged her.
- Good night, Ayla. - he whispered into her ears and kissed her forehead.
*Let's prepare for those forging marathons! I will come back next time with treasures I made for you.*