"Finally done. Gods, I'm so bloody tired I could collapse."
By noon, we'd finished the cleansing and returned to the city. My body screamed for rest, but fate had other plans. Instead of heading to an inn, I trudged to Kara's Blacksmith, a forge near the city gates. Whispers claimed the smith there knew how to fuse runes into weapons—a rare skill I couldn't pass up.
The clang of metal greeted me as I stepped into the forge.
Clang. Clang. Clang.
A woman stood over an anvil, hammering a blade that glowed red-hot. Her shoulder-length orange hair clung to her face, damp with sweat. She wore the stained, functional attire of a mechanic. A craftswoman through and through.
"Welcome," she said, plunging the blade into water with a hiss of steam. She wiped her hands on a rag and walked over. "Feel free to look around. If you're here for custom work, we can talk."
Weapons and armor lined the walls, each piece a testament to its maker's skill. My gaze lingered on a gladiator's armor—polished steel, brutal in its design.
"Magnificent..." I murmured, half to myself. "Didn't think I'd see something like this in another world."
Then my eyes caught it: a dagger as black as a moonless night, etched with glowing blue runes. They pulsed faintly, like veins carrying fire.
"This..."
"Oh, that? The Embodiment of Devastating Flamedagger. It's crafted from Neronium and enhanced by Runemasters."
"Runemasters?" My voice betrayed my disbelief. Kara was no ordinary blacksmith.
She nodded. "But there's a downside. If you channel your Shu into it, the blade ignites with blue flames. Problem is, it drains your Shu twice as fast."
I picked up the dagger, feeling its perfect balance. It was a weapon that demanded power and precision—and punished recklessness.
"Did you make this?"
She laughed. "Not me. My father forged it."
"Where is he?"
"Out delivering an order. He'll be back soon. You can wait if you want."
I set the dagger down and leaned against the counter. The forge was hot, the air thick with the scent of steel and sweat.
"What's your name?" I asked.
"Kara. And you?"
"Ken."
She resumed her work, hammering a sword with steady precision. Sparks flew, the light catching the sharp edges of her determined face.
"Nice place," I said. "Named after you?"
"Maybe. My father renamed it when I was five."
There was strength in her, a quiet resilience that was as captivating as her craft.
The door opened, and a man entered, his presence as heavy as the steel he carried.
"Ah, Father's back," Kara said, setting her hammer aside.
"Good afternoon," I greeted him.
He nodded, his sharp eyes scanning me. "See anything you like?"
I pointed to the dagger. "That one."
"The Embodiment of Devastating Flamedagger," he said, his tone laced with pride. "You want it?"
"Yes, but I also have a request."
I pulled out my bag and emptied its contents onto the counter. Runes spilled out, their intricate carvings glinting in the forge's light.
"Runes..." he murmured, picking one up.
"Yes. Can you embed them into a sword?"
He examined the runes, his brows furrowing. "I've studied the methods. I've only succeeded once out of four attempts. Even then, the effect was weak."
"I still want you to try. Make it so I can channel Shu easily and switch elements."
"That'll double the Shu consumption," he warned.
"Leave room for non-elemental usage," I countered.
He hesitated, then nodded. "Two months. That's how long it'll take."
"Understood."
I handed over the payment for the dagger, its weight heavier in my hand now that it was mine.
As I left, Kara called out, her voice light despite the relentless heat of the forge.
"Come back anytime!"
---
The rest of the journey felt like a blur—purchasing flowers for Lenia's grave, navigating the sprawling city, and eventually setting out for Milson Village. The Verdant Forest loomed ahead, its trees impossibly tall and thick, casting long shadows over the path.
Hours passed as I trudged through the dense foliage, my steps accompanied by the occasional rustle of leaves or snap of a twig.
Then I heard it.
Groaaa!
A lone orc emerged from the underbrush, its hulking frame blocking the narrow path. Its eyes burned with hunger, and its fists curled into weapons of brute strength.
"Let's test this out," I muttered, drawing my new dagger.
The moment I channeled Shu into the blade, it came alive, flames of brilliant blue licking its edge. The dagger seemed to hum, greedily devouring my energy.
The orc charged, its roar shaking the ground. I sidestepped its wild swing and slashed at its torso. The blade cut through flesh like paper, flames searing the wound shut.
The creature staggered but didn't fall. I could feel my Shu draining rapidly, the dagger's power a double-edged sword.
"Damn," I hissed, letting the flames die. In the darkness of the forest, I could barely see the orc.
I fumbled through my bag and pulled out an Essence of Glowing Slime, tearing it open and throwing it at the beast. The liquid splattered across its chest, illuminating the orc in a faint, ghostly glow.
"Time to end this."
With a burst of speed, I darted forward, channeling just enough Shu to reignite the blade. The orc's eyes widened as I leaped, slashing its throat in one clean motion.
It fell with a heavy thud, its lifeblood pooling beneath it.
I stood over the corpse, panting, the dagger's flames dying once more. The battle had taken more out of me than I'd expected.
"One fight down," I muttered. "Let's hope there aren't many more."
The journey ahead stretched on, and somewhere in the distance, the faint silhouette of a shrine beckoned.