Third Person's POV
'Its affiliation with the royal family makes it one of the most prestigious weapon forges in the empire.'
She paused for a mont before adding,
'Of course, due to its deep-rooted ties to the Ignisfel Royal Clan, it is banned in the Empire of the Abyssal Dominion who are their long-standing rivals.
No noble or warrior from that empire would ever set foot in one of these halls.'
Ethan absorbed the information with a thoughtful nod.
At the entrance, the armored guards remained motionless and their keen eyes scanned the group.
However, they made no move to obstruct their passage.
It was clear they assessed visitors based on appearance and attire and only allowed those who exuded a certain level of status and refinent to enter freely.
Ethan didn't mind.
As long as they didn't interfere with his business, their scrutiny was irrelevant.
Stepping inside, he was imdiately struck by the grandeur of the hall.
A magnificent chandelier hung from the high ceiling and its warm golden glow cast a soft yet majestic light over the interior.
The polished floor was so pristine that their reflections shimred upon its smooth surface and this only amplified the sheer opulence of the establishnt.
The walls were adorned with deep crimson banners with each proudly bearing the sigil of the Empire of the Infernal Sovereignty which was the snarling horned demon's face wearing a crown wreathed in infernal flas.
The sheer ferocity in its design gave the illusion that it was watching them with its gaze that seed to be filled with both dominance and nace.
But Ethan spared it only a passing glance before dismissing it from his thoughts as his focus remained only on the true purpose of their visit.
The walls of the establishnt were adorned with an extensive array of weaponry and each of them was ticulously arranged to showcase its unique craftsmanship.
There were straight longswords, wide broadswords, short swords, thin rapiers, and curved sabers with each varying in design.
Their blades glead in different hues that ranged from polished silver to ominous black while the hilts bore intricate carvings that catered to warriors of diverse fighting styles.
Spears lined the walls as well and their spearheads ranged from sleek and deadly to broad and imposing.
But what caught Ethan's attention the most was the vast assortnt of axes.
There were double-bladed war axes, compact hatchets, and crescent-shaped halberds and all of their deadly forms exuded raw lethality.
So pulsed with a brilliant golden glow while others radiated an eerie darkness as if hungrily consuming the surrounding light.
One set of axes was coated in an icy blue sheen and emanated a piercing frost aura so intense that Ethan could feel its chill even through the protective glass barrier.
While the others were volcanic red and exuded a continuous wave of heat that was blocked by specialized glass containers containing them.
Taking a mont to appreciate the weapons, he finally turned his focus back to the task at hand.
At the reception desk, a beautiful demon girl around her early twenties greeted them.
Her deanor was polished yet welcoming but Ethan didn't waste ti in exchanging pleasantries and got straight to the point.
She was watching him with wide eyes when without warning, he tapped his spatial ring, causing a wicked and curved dark saber to materialize in his hand before he placed it on the counter.
The sudden action startled the receptionist as her eyes widened in shock and she instinctively flinched back.
Ethan, however, remained unfazed by her reaction and his expression was calm as he rested his hand lightly on the table.
"I would like to commission a custom sheath for this saber," he stated smoothly.
The demon girl who was still reeling from the abrupt appearance of the weapon, blinked several tis before hastily regaining her composure.
"I... I will call for the master forger at once. Please wait here for a mont."
Her voice wavered slightly and betrayed the lingering remnants of her surprise and timid personality.
She then bowed quickly before disappearing through a gate beneath the staircase.
Ethan observed her small stature and slightly flustered deanor that had an air of innocence clinging to her actions.
Rather than finding it irritating, he chuckled softly and was amused by her frantic yet earnest attempts to maintain professionalism.
---
Alia hurried up the grand staircase that led to the master forger's chamber but her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts.
She pressed a trembling hand against her cheek and felt the warmth steadily rising as her heart pounded in her chest as she rembered the young man just now.
Upon reaching the top floor, she halted before the last door at the far end of the hall.
A polished signboard was affixed beside it and elegantly inscribed upon it was the designation and na of the esteed occupant.
Master Argos, Three-Star Master Artificer.
Her fingers twitched slightly as hesitation crept in.
The re thought of the man within made her uneasy.
His temperant and unpredictable moods were well known to those who worked under him.
But there was no turning back now.
Taking a deep breath to steel her nerves, she knocked firmly on the heavy door.
"Hmm, who is it?"
A gruff arrogant voice echoed from within.
The familiar tone sent a shiver down the spine of the already timid girl but she quickly patted her chest and steadied herself before responding in a slightly shaky voice.
"It's , Alia, Master Argos. A distinguished custor requests your expertise in crafting a custom sheath."
She delivered the ssage in a single breath and pressed a hand over her rapidly rising chest to calm herself.
A brief silence followed before the voice responded once more but now it carried a tinge of curiosity as well.
"Hmm, a distinguished custor? Describe them to , Alia."
Alia hesitated only for a mont before recounting what she had observed about Ethan and his group.
However, her focus and resulting explanation remained largely on Ethan.
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