"Agh? Seventh Elder! It's been a while...." Argo said as he put his bottle of liquor aside, his face brightening up at the arrival of the
unexpected guest.
"What brings you to my humble forge today?" he said as he wiped his hands on a soot-stained cloth, the corners of his mouth curling into a toothy grin.
Chaosbringer stepped closer, his boots echoing faintly against the stone floor as the heat from the forge wrapped around him like a thick blanket. "It's good to see you again, Master Argo," he said as his tone softened with genuine respect. "I wish this were a casual visit, but I co bearing news of great importance."
Argo's brows lifted slightly, the humor in his eyes dimming as he sensed the gravity in Chaosbringer's voice. "News of great importance, you say?" he said as he crossed his arms, leaning slightly on the anvil beside him. "Well, out with it then, lad. You've never been one for small talk."
Chaosbringer hesitated for a mont, his gaze flickering to the molten light spilling from the furnace before returning to the old smith. "It's about the Great God Soron," he said as his voice dropped lower, calm yet reverent. "He has returned."
For a long mont, the forge went silent. Even the hiss of molten ore seed to fade as Argo's expression froze in disbelief.
"Is it true?" Argo said as his eyes widened, the blueprint sheet in his hand lowering slowly until it touched the ground. "Is Lord Soron truly back?"
"It's true," Chaosbringer said as he nodded firmly, his gaze steady.
"The Great God has returned to Ixtal and liberated it from Righteous Scum.
His outrage knows no bounds now that he's discovered what's
happened to the Cult in his absence, however, while he's roaring for battle, he doesn't seem to have a weapon that's worthy enough to channel his power.
He has many blades made by so of the Cult's best Blacksmiths across history, however, none of them can injure fellow Gods.
That however, can change if soone forges a blade from this new alloy he's procured.....
However, only the best Blacksmiths in the universe can process sothing so complex."
He implied, as his words hung in the air like thunder before Argo finally let out a shaky breath, his lips parting in awe.
"By the Heavens..." he said as a tear rolled down his soot-streaked cheek. "After all these years... the Great God returns to us.... Hahahaha!"
He laughed then, a deep, guttural laugh that carried both disbelief and unrestrained joy. "Well, of course I'll do it!" he said as he tossed the blueprint aside and straightened his back with renewed energy. "You don't need to ask twice! All this talk of retirent never sat right with anyway."
He said as he reached for his liquor bottle and took one final swig before setting it aside with a sharp clink.
*Clink*
"The doctors tell I haven't got it in anymore, but I say to hell with them!
I was born for the forge, not for sitting idle counting the years go by!"
He said as his voice rose, full of defiance.
"EMMOND! BRING MY HAMR!"
He said, as his apprentice gasped before turning and rushing towards the storage shelf, as tears of joy streaked down his face.
*Clink*
*Crash*
Breaking the glass container that stored the old master's hamr, Emmond retrieved it at once and handed it to Argo, who held it like it was the most precious thing in the universe.
"Agh.... I feel a couple decades younger already!"
He said, as his expression brightened instantly with his hamr in hand, its familiar weight bringing with it a lifeti of muscle reflexes. "If the Great God Soron needs a weapon, then I'll forge him one. I'll muster whatever strength these old bones have left to create a blade worthy of carrying the hopes and dreams of our people into battle!" he said as he raised his hamr slightly, the firelight reflecting in his eyes like molten gold.
"A blade forged from the fury of our spirits," he said as he struck the air lightly, the sound echoing through the forge. "A blade that will
bring redemption to us all."
Chaosbringer's lips curved into a smile as relief washed over him, the burden in his chest finally lifting. "Thank you, Supre Master," he said as he bowed his head deeply.
"You honor both the Great God and the Cult with your resolve.
Please take a few days to gather your apprentices and supplies....
But once you're ready, please depart for Ixtal imdiately."
He said, as Argo nodded firmly, his shoulders squaring as the firelight danced across his face.
"Understood, Seventh Elder,"
"I'll forge this blade to perfection, even if it's the last thing I do....."
He promised, as Chaosbringer gave him a firm handshake before
turning to leave.
(anwhile, The Eternal Garden, Veyr's POV)
Veyr waited for Raymond, his eyes unfocused as he sat in silence, lost
in thought.
He had been doing this often lately-staring blankly at the sky, letting ti slip away as the sa question circled in his mind like a curse.
Was he doing the right thing?
The thought just wouldn't leave him, as no matter how he tried to justify it, a part of him knew that teaching those forbidden techniques
to Raymond was dangerous.
Each move he revealed was a piece of the Cult's soul, a fragnt of their legacy handed to the very man who sought to destroy
everything the Cult stood for.
"Three techniques... three already, have I given him much more than I should?" he muttered, as he doubted whether he was on the right
path?
"And still, I'm stuck here. Still waiting.... Still playing Raymond's ga
like a fool."
He said with disbelief, as although he wanted to believe in Raymond's promises of freedom, of escape, of redemption....
Unfortunately, the more he thought about it, the more it all sounded like manipulation and carefully crafted lies ant to keep him
cooperating.
"No.... Enough is enough!"
He said, as he clenched his fists and hardened his resolve.
"I need proof.... If he really has a way out of this place, then he needs
to show that it can be done.
So, for my next reward, I'll ask him to take out of the Garden. Even
if it's only for a few minutes."
He muttered to himself, his voice firm.
"As only then will I teach him the fourth move."
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