Alvis's rest and retreat ended, burning like Cole on a dying fire, like the mourning parties that rocked the streets with a hangover and early morning meetings.
He found himself in the bowels of Shinji's workshop, a massive forge with a grated floor on top of an enchanted pool of lava, grumbling below his feet
Through a magic control panel on the edge of the forge itself, the lava temperature and mineral properties can be adjusted to any weapon crafting situation, no matter the race or plane
Shinji shot out a sharp whistle. It pounded the elf's foggy head, calling him to a table where three sets of items were spread neatly on a massive red velvet tabletop
" i have some good news and more of an annoyance. "
" good news, please, Shinji "Alvis pinched the bridge of his nose
" Yggdrasil recognizes you as an officer involved in a surprise invasion and, in this time of bubbling tensions, has authorized you to do military equipment approved by a certified war forger. "
Pointing to himself, he walks to the left end of the table where a full suit of metal and white leather armorer lay folded, decorated in decorative branches and miniature stencils of Yggdrasil
Patting it around and pulling it in some areas, he gives the armor a final inspection; checking the white-furred collar satisfied, he pinches at the center chest of the armor
The whole suit turns white and collapses inwards into the center like a vacuum till a small gray shirt pin remains with an image of the Tree of Life. he hands it carefully to Alvis
" I added the storage enchantment, but this armor set is a favor from an elite unit. Atlantian dragon hides, royal Svartar Titanium, and enough defense and offense enchantments that you could probably have a betting chance boxing a giant."
Alvis put the pin on, but when he tried to channel mana into it, the pin rejected his magic. A visible twist on his face made the human continue
" it does come with a catch: as an officer, you keep the peace, and military gear, in the government's eyes, disturbs the peace. Unless the enemy satisfies the pin's idea of danger, it will not trigger. "
" This must be the annoyance you were talking about. I get new items, but i am on a tight leash. " Shinji nodded before going on to the next item
A short sword is lying on top of a sheath of the same metallic color and decorations as the armor. Shinji picked the blade up, giving Alvis a closer look
" This is my design. I call this the sword wand, a magic blade useless in a fight unless you know mystical blade techniques. Its entire purpose is to enhance your fighting style with a multi-tool knife for any magic you use. ANY MAGIC"
The two shared a knowing glance, but Shinji's eyes said, "Things are getting real. Be prepared actually to fight like a blood elf," or maybe it was Alvis overthinking the finale statement
" same catch as before? Won't unsheath unless the enemy is dangerous."
Shinji let out a correct before sheathing the blade and handing it to Alvis; the blade hung on his belt like a baton does to any police officer
The last item needed no introduction and explanation from the war forger. It was alvis's arm identical to the 'civilian' version Shinji created, except it was heavier, and the mythical craftsmanship bled off of it
Brokkr, Sindri, Ptah, Hephaestus, and Goibniu had a hand in creating the arm. Before the police, before the adventurer in years lost after his duel
He became a warrior for the new gods, shielding them out of indecency into the pillars of strength that now wage war with the gods of ancient. This arm is not just a weapon but a secret badge of honor finally worn again, but its owner
A sense of comfort washed over the elf when the arm attached to him, yet the comfort would peel away with every piece of clothing he put back on that he stripped when reattaching his arm
He was fully clothed in an opened blue short-sleeve police jacket, white button-down shirt, blue tie, and matching blue work pants, everyday clothing that felt foreign to him now after his fight.
Holstering a new pistol as well, Shinji handed him the car keys and started to escort him out of the shop to the street
"I told the police the arm is the civilian issue, not the god one… it is loaded with real slabs too, though it won't interfere with the armor and swords danger detection, so go wild if you need to,"
Alvis muttered a thank you before waiting for Shinji to ask something he was dreading
" Oh, another thing, the short sword and gun have a recall on them, so you won't lose them."
Breathing a sigh of relief, Alvis spoke, "Thank you for all this shin-"
" did you call Duckworth?" shinji interrupted, alvis attacking him with his guard down
" No, it feels different. This time in the past, after i became a cop, any conversation with her was an argument that escalated into it not bothering her or me, but this, this, i don't know."
" i am human, and we are known for our apparent bipolar personality changes, but my take was always that we acknowledge our past, and it doesn't take two hundred years for us to grow into ourselves."
" i just had a mysterious god lecture the king of Olympus about my childish attitude. I don't need you telling me I need to grow up."
" I am saying you grew the hesitation, which means you grew Alvis, and calling Duckworth will make you grow more. "
Alvis mauled the words while the pair stepped into the streets covered with wet posters and half-finished melting murals from a just-finished light rain. A cold chill wisped between them
Alvis didn't realize he was already on the curbside looking at his friend in the doorway. The two locked eyes
" stay safe, Shinji," the human muttered you too before closing the door
Alvis pulled his keys from his back pocket, clicking the unlock button. The keys flew from his hand, dematerialized, then materialized onto the street into a black Dodge Monaco police car
The elf hoped onto the street into a small puddle that hid a damaged poster that clung almost magically to his foot, forcing him to rip the poster off with his metal hand
The color and message were weirdly intact: a political poster of the tombstone the troll from Beauty and the Beast in a stylized stencil headshot in the colors of blue and gold with the words GROW AND OVERCOME at the bottom of the poster
It was too on the nose. Alvis felt in his heart that this 'curse' was something else; he felt like a small child being led in a school learning activity
The train of thought gave him a headache, which was increased by the seemly deafening ring of his phone—it was Duckworth…