Maggie, looking pale, glanced back into the forge at the glowing blade before sprinting through the shop door into the street fleeing to find help.
Having made it into the shop proper with the aid of Von, the healer began assessing the three master smiths and the strong boy who aided her. Examination of their appearance, everything seemed normal. Perhaps they might be a little tired, or it could just be the situation.
Extending her aura into each of them, she examined their bodies learning physically, all four seemed to be in good shape. Next, she tried to examine their auras as this would tell a lot about how they were really doing. The three smiths' auras were significantly fainter than expected.
Generally, as one reached an older age, they had a more profound effect on their surroundings and their auras typically were strong and resilient. Although it was strictly rumor, Oren Moonrise was said to be ancient, even among the elves in Sungrove, while Vorolen Battleborne was alleged to be in her late seven hundreds. Grimdon Smith was the youngest of the three and even he was said to be in his seventies which was middle aged for an imbued human.
The aura of each of the smiths should be strong providing everyone in their immediate vicinity a small detail of their strength, but as she read them, Mr. Moonrise's aura was that of a much younger being as was Miss Battleborne's. Grimdon's was that of an adult human, which may have been normal for him, but she personally didn't know. Firstly, she was a gnome and barely 90 years old herself. Secondly, she just recently completed her journeyman exam having returned a few weeks ago and was hoping to graduate to the rank of expert.
She had met a large number of humans; their auras were never quite the same as any other. A child might have a strong aura while a centenarian might have faint aura despite being in perfect health. Humans were odd when it came to things magical and when dealing with auras. A great example stood before her. Grimdon had an average aura, while the boy in front of her had an aura stronger than Mr. Moonrise. One just never knew when it came to them.
She kept an eye on the four of them and watched their auras closely. Much like her own, the three master smiths seemed to be recovering at a good pace, getting stronger by the minute. She wasn't sure if the boy was at his peak, or if he still needed to recover, but he did seem physically exhausted.
With both a stone and wooden wall between the group and the sword, plus the stout iron plated door now closed, the four were beginning to relax. They could still see faintly notice the pulses of green from around the imperfections in the doorway, but they seemed to cause no additional problems other than a minor light show.
Feeling safe, Von sat with his back to the wall and rested his eyes. He sat there thinking about what happened with the two weapons. Imbuing the dagger wasn't so draining, but the sword was something else entirely. Maybe it was only because of the way he did it, not imbuing it first, then naming it, maybe there was something wrong with the core. He didn't have enough experience to know yet.
Opening his eyes, he asked the three smiths that very question. "Did it make it so much tougher because I imbued and named it at the same time, or is there something more? Could the beast core have been the problem? Was it too big for me?"
As Von posed his questions, the three master smiths exchanged thoughtful glances, considering the possibilities he presented. Since Oren was the eldest and most experienced among them, he was the first to respond, his voice measured and calm.
"It's possible that attempting to imbue and name the sword simultaneously may have contributed to the difficulty you experienced," he began, his brow furrowed in contemplation. "Combining these two processes is inherently more complex and demanding, so much so, even we don't attempt to do it because of it requiring a greater level of skill and control and the strong likelihood of ruining the creation if you fail. It's almost a guarantee this compounded the strain on your aura and led to the unexpected results."
Grimdon, the fiery-haired dwarf, nodded in agreement. "Aye, lad, I agree it could very well be the case. Imbuing and naming are intricate tasks on their own, and attempting to do both at once increased the challenge exponentially. As for the beast core, it's hard to say for certain without further examination. Swamp dragon queen hearts are potent sources of magic, but basic swamp dragon hearts are fairly easy to work with. The weyr queen hearts are more difficult and if not properly handled, they can overwhelm journeymen and many expert smiths."
Vorolen, the seasoned dwarf smith, chimed in with her own perspective. "Indeed, the size and nature of the beast heart could have played a role in the difficulty you faced. Larger hearts contain more magic, which can be both a boon and a burden. The stronger the more imbuing the item can bring out, but at the same time, it's more difficult for many smiths to work with to begin with. So, yes, it's possible the sheer power of the swamp dragon core overwhelmed your aura, causing it to behave erratically, however, the fact you were able to use your metallomancy and successfully forge it so smoothly and create the weapon to begin with, then, add a conflicting heart as the cross guard with no mishaps. This means you should have been easily able to handle the imbuing process and the naming process. More likely though it was the fact you attempted to do both at the same time."
Von listened intently to their explanations, absorbing their insights with keen interest. It was clear he still had much to learn about the intricacies of metallomancy and magical forging. From their explanations, it was likely the fault lay in his attempt at a shortcut, and nothing to do with the core he used. It reminded him of Mrs. Coopers saying about heeding the guidance of your elders. Perhaps, with their guidance, they could unravel the mysteries of Marshfang and still unlock its true potential he had infused into it.
As Von was pondering their insights. the heavy iron door of the shop creaked open, several mages from the academy stepped into the vast space, their robes billowing around them as they moved. Their arrival stirred a ripple of anticipation among the assembled smiths, their expressions a mix of curiosity and caution.
Oddly, leading the group was Mistress Hellyne, her stern countenance softened slightly by a look of concern as she surveyed the scene before her. Beside her walked Master Tavrin, his piercing gaze taking in every detail of the shop with keen interest. Following close behind were a handful of adept mages, their expressions a mixture of apprehension and intrigue.
Mistress Hellyne wasted no time in addressing the group, her voice firm but compassionate. "What has transpired here?" she inquired, her gaze shifting between the weary figures of the master smiths and the young apprentice.
Oren stepped forward, his voice respectful, despite Hellyne, the demonkin, being the leader of this group, and he began to recount the events that had unfolded in the forge. He spoke of Von's attempt to imbue and name the sword Marshfang, the unexpected surge of power that followed, and the subsequent struggle to contain its vampiric aura.
As Oren spoke, the mages listened intently, their expressions growing increasingly grave as they absorbed the gravity of the situation. It was clear that Marshfang posed a significant threat, one requiring immediate attention and expertise to address.
Hearing the details of the incident, Mistress Hellyne nodded thoughtfully, her mind already turning to possible solutions. "It's a good thing they called for me. As you know, being part demon, I have certain abilities and immunities which should allow me to contain this threat," she declared, her voice resonating with authority. "Marshfang's vampiric nature poses a danger to most, but I should be able to neutralize it. It may not be wieldable afterwards, but it also won't be a danger to others. who may come into contact with it."
With a sense of urgency, Mistress Hellyne and Master Tavrin began to formulate a plan, drawing upon their knowledge of magical artifacts and ancient lore of her demon heritage to devise a strategy for dealing with Marshfang. The other mages listened attentively, offering their insights and expertise as they worked together to find a solution.
As they deliberated, Von watched from the sidelines, his mind swirling with questions and concerns. How would they neutralize the weapon? Would she really be immune to the vampiric effect? What would happen if she wasn't? These were all questions weighing on his mind—and the fact he caused the mess.