Kael was bent over the anvil, the familiar rhythmic clang of hammer against metal filling the smithy tent. The sharp smell of heated iron and mana-fused oils surrounded him as he meticulously inscribed an intricate rune into the blade of a soldier's sword. The weapon, still glowing from the forge, sizzled and sparked under his touch, his enhancements weaving into the metal like threads into fabric.
The flap of the tent rustled, and Kael glanced up, expecting another weary soldier in need of repairs. Instead, he was greeted by familiar faces—his original party. Aldric, the retribution paladin, stood at the front, his heavy armor battered and streaked with mud. Beside him, Lireak, silently examined her bow, the wood cracked and the string fraying at the edges. Nyxara, was the last to enter, her robes torn and caked with leaves, her usual calm demeanor marred by frustration.
Kael straightened, wiping the sweat from his brow as he set the sword aside. "You look like you've been through hell," he said, giving them all a once-over. "What happened?"
Aldric let out a heavy sigh, removing his dented helm and tossing it onto a nearby bench. "The forest happened."
"Forest?" Kael frowned, stepping closer to inspect the damage on Lireak's bow. "I thought you were scouting near the river."
"We were," Lireak muttered, clearly irritated. "But orders changed. They sent us deep into the woods. We thought it would be a simple scouting mission—no real threats, just beasts and trees. But something's… wrong in that place."
Nyxara crossed her arms, her expression darkening. "The plants attacked us, Kael. The trees themselves seemed to come alive, roots shooting up from the ground to grab at our legs. And the creatures… they weren't normal. Every beast that crossed our path had this unnatural aggression, like they were driven mad by something."
Lireak nodded, adding, "My arrows barely pierced their hides, and Aldric's armor—well, you can see how it fared. Whatever those things were, they were more than we bargained for. Our gear isn't cutting it."
Kael's eyes swept over them, taking in the state of their equipment. He could see where the wear and tear of the forest had pushed their gear to the limit. Lireak's bow wasn't just cracked—it looked like it had been struck by something impossibly strong. Alaric's armor had deep gouges, as if claws had raked across it, and even Nyxara' staff seemed dulled, as though it had been leached of power.
"You're saying the forest is fighting back," Kael said, more to himself than to them. His mind was already working, running through the inscriptions he'd been using on the soldiers' gear and realizing none of them would be suited for this.
"Whatever magic is at play in those woods," Nyxara continued, "our equipment isn't suited for it. We need something that can withstand the corruption in the plants and the strength of those beasts."
Kael's lips pressed into a thin line. This wasn't a problem he could solve with the usual enhancements—durability and sharpness weren't enough for this. They needed something more specific, something that could adapt to the unpredictability of a forest that fought like a living thing. His mind raced through the possibilities as he turned back to his workbench.
"Alright," Kael said, determination settling in his voice. "I'll need to make some changes. If the forest itself is fighting against you, we'll need to adjust your gear to counter it."
Lireak raised an eyebrow. "You can do that?"
Kael smirked, already gathering his tools. "I've got a few ideas."
He started with Aldric's armor. The paladin sat quietly on a bench, watching as Kael knelt beside him, running his fingers over the dents and scratches. "We'll need to harden the metal, but not just for physical strikes," Kael muttered, mostly to himself. "If the plants are animated by magic, I'll weave a binding rune into the plates—should lessen the effect of anything trying to constrict you."
Aldric nodded, silently trusting his friend's expertise. He had been on the receiving end of Kael's enhancements before, and they had always made a noticeable difference.
Next, Kael turned to Lia's bow. "Your arrows need more penetration, but also flexibility," he said, inspecting the fractured wood. "I'll reinforce the bow with mana to strengthen the frame, and I'll add a wind charm to reduce resistance—help your arrows fly faster and hit harder."
Lireak's frustration melted away, replaced by cautious optimism. "That sounds… good. I hope it works."
Kael glanced at her and gave a reassuring nod. "It will."
Finally, he approached Nyxara. The sorcerer handed over her staff with a slight frown. "The magic in the forest was wild. Unpredictable. My spells were losing potency the further in we went."
Kael examined the staff, noting the dullness of the once vibrant runes etched along its surface. "We'll recharge the mana conductors," he said, "but I'll also weave an amplification rune into the core. That should help stabilize your spells, even in chaotic environments."
As Kael set to work, the room fell into a quiet rhythm, the soft hum of magic and the crackle of mana weaving through metal and wood. Hours passed, but Kael didn't stop, his focus unwavering. His companions sat nearby, watching as their equipment slowly transformed under his careful craftsmanship.
By the time he finished, the sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the war camp. Kael stood, wiping his hands on his tunic before presenting the newly enhanced gear to his party.
"These should do the trick," he said, holding out Alaric's armor first. "The binding runes will keep anything from grabbing hold of you, and the armor's durability has been increased threefold."
Alaric hefted the breastplate in his hands, feeling the subtle change in weight and the faint hum of magic within. "Impressive," he said, admiration clear in his voice. "Thanks, Kael."
Next, Kael handed Lireak her bow. She strung it carefully, testing the tension with a few experimental pulls. The bow felt lighter, more responsive in her hands, and the arrows she nocked seemed to shimmer with a faint glow. "It feels… better," she said, a smile breaking through. "Much better."
Finally, Kael gave Nyxara his staff. The sorcerer ran his fingers over the newly inscribed runes, feeling the surge of mana within. "I can feel the difference already," he said quietly, his previous frustration easing.
Kael grinned, though exhaustion tugged at him. "Good. Now go test them out."
As the party gathered their gear and prepared to head back into the forest, Alaric clapped a hand on Kael's shoulder. "We owe you one. We wouldn't last another day in that cursed forest without this."
Kael shrugged, but his grin remained. "Just don't break everything in the first fight."
With a laugh, the party left the tent, their spirits lifted by Kael's work. And as they disappeared into the twilight, Kael returned to his workbench, already thinking of what else he could do to keep his friends safe.