Orin I of the Veevatil Mines, the first dwarf born in the Midnight realm, the Hamr Deity, walked into the Innkeepers office. Though the pressure outside the Innkeepers office was great - so great that Orin felt like the weight of the underground kingdom had been placed solely upon his shoulders - he did not stumble nor did he slow down.
From the very early days of the Midnight realm itself, Orin had forged and mined the very mountains storing Veevatil ore itself! What weight had he not borne? What pressure had he not tolerated? When had he let the pressures and burdens of the world dictate him? Even the Heavenly Tree, in its pri, could not dictate Orin's actions.
Of course, the Heavenly Tree and the Innkeeper were incomparable. Orin understood well that the pressure he felt was not a deterrent or so grand display by the Innkeeper. Instead, it was the Innkeepers rcy. By allowing his guests to overco such an incredible hurdle, even if it was only a speck of his power, he made them feel like they had truly earned the right of an audience with the Innkeeper.
Such a feeling was very important. After all, if they did not feel like they earned the right of an audience, they may be overwheld by the grace of the Innkeeper eting them. This was a burden of those in power - sothing he understood well, as the leader of an entire race.
When Orin stepped into the Innkeepers office, he wasn't sure what to expect, yet he certainly didn't expect to find the Innkeeper so… welcoming.
His very presence was warm and disarming, causing Orin to subconsciously lower the guard of formality he had donned. The Innkeeper turned to look at Orin, his handso face wearing a soft smile.
"Welco, Orin, to my office. I hope you did not find it too troubling to visit here. I have been looking forward to eting you," he said, his tone and words so humble and Orin felt shaken to his core.
Such humility was not what one would expect from a lord of an entire realm, a being of unimaginable power, capable of shaping the lands according to his will.
"Nay, Innkeeper. It is my utmost honor to visit your office in person. It is only right that I co to you."
"Please, there is no need to be formal. Relax. We can talk as friends here. Take a seat - I have so matters I would like to hear your thoughts about."
Orin did not act pedantic. Since the Innkeeper had asked him to relax, the dwarf relaxed, leaning into the chair opposite to the Innkeepers desk as if he was in a lounge. The dwarf couldn't help but instinctively wish that he had his usual mug of Burnberry Brew, and even before he completed the thought, a massive wooden mug wafting a familiar scent appeared right in his hand.
Orin was surprised, and then ecstatic! Without a mont's hesitation he took a big swig from the mug, allowing the froth of the brew to coat his beard.
"Ahhh, now that hits the spot! This is true hospitality, Innkeeper! I see the reputation of the Midnight Inn is not in vain."
"I'm glad you enjoy it. In fact, I'm especially glad you enjoy it for a very specific reason. You see, I wish to build a very special forge within the Inn. I plan on gathering the resources of the Inn and creating a massive forge, fueled by divine energy, heated by dragon fire, quenched in the waters of the Chaos Sea, carved out of the very laws of the realm. But while I want to make such a forge, I also need soone who can use the forge."
The Inkkeeper looked at Orin for a mont, but did not directly offer the job, even though it was implied. Instead, he continued to elaborate on his plans.
"You see, even though so of the dwarves of your clan have cooperated with the Inn before, the scale of the projects I wish to take on next is entirely different. Each and everyone would use only the most powerful resources - resources that are finite and cannot be sourced over and over again.
"Each project would take countless years to create, and each one would be unique, perhaps in the whole universe. Projects like these… I cannot assign to anyone I don't absolutely trust, and they also happen to be projects that… absolutely cannot fail."
"I understand what you're getting at, Innkeeper," said Orin with a genuinely troubled expression. "The offer is incredibly tempting. With every fiber of my being, I can feel the anticipation towards each project that would be on such a scale… and yet… yet I have a duty to my own people that I cannot just overlook. I am not just their leader, but also the Deity who is at the center of their faith. Such responsibility… I cannot lightly give it up…"
"Orin, I think there is so kind of misunderstanding between you and I," said the Innkeeper, his tone and deanor still the sa, not at all displeased by the dwarfs' attempt to turn down the offer.
"Working at the Inn does not an your previous life disappears. In fact, as far as being a Deity and symbol of faith is concerned, the Inn is actually actively developing a Heaven so that Deities may actively beco a part of the Inn without compromising their faith.
"If anything at all, joining the Inn will allow you to grow to new heights, for yourself and for your race and followers. But, I do not want to pressure you, or feel like you must join the Inn. The decision, ultimately, is yours. The forge, we will continue to make. It is just that the treasures we need to refine will have to wait until another worthy of such a task can be found."
Orin looked troubled, still unsure of what to do, though the news of a Heaven being ford inside the Inn helped lighten his mood a lot.
"Can I… can I ask what treasure you want to forge?" Orin asked hesitantly.
The Innkeeper nodded, though for once his expression turned incredibly solemn.
"There are many I need forged, but the first one I want made… is a Karmic bead."
The Innkeeper showed Orin an image of a simple, black bead that looked like an ordinary Go bead, yet from the image Orin could feel a power he could not fathom even with his divinity!
The dwarfs' breathing quickened and his eyes began to turn red.
User Comments
0 comments from readers