Rise of the Living Forge
Chapter 444: A chance meeting

Materials littered the worktable that had risen around Arwin. He leaned over it as he organized the materials, trying to separate them out into general groups. This wasn’t even half of what he had to work with.

The Infernal Armory was holding onto all the useful monster materials that he’d brought back from the Blacktongue’s dungeon as well. It hadn’t brought them out to avoid completely filling the back room with components while he worked on identifying the first set.

A grin pulled at Arwin’s lips as he worked. The air smelled incredible. He couldn’t even say what the smell was anymore. There were so many different ones overlapping over each other that the only descriptor he had left was good.

He didn’t even want to think about how much magical potential he had on the table before him. Arwin just hummed to himself as he worked, letting his thoughts brush across the metal and establish communication with them to determine their desires.

It had been an hour since he’d started working, beginning with what seemed to be the weaker materials and working his way up toward the more powerful ones. But even the weakest of the materials on the table was more powerful than almost everything Arwin had worked with before. He was spending a considerable amount of effort just trying to keep his excitement contained.

Arwin was so focused on his work that he barely even noticed the energy creeping up in the back of his mind as he examined the crimson metal in his hands. He was pretty sure it was one of the more powerful components he’d received, but something about it felt odd.

Only when a wave of dizziness struck Arwin in a wall did he realize why. He swayed, barely managing to flop into a seated position before he found his vision going black as his consciousness was ripped from his body.

Then the world was gone and all that remained was a vision.

***

His hands were soaked a deep, crimson red. Life dripped from his fingertips and soaked into his clothes with a weight that no other liquid could ever bear. The smell of iron in the air was so intense that even a smithy couldn’t compare to it.

He stood in the center of a massive field that looked to once have been covered with lush grass. Now, any foliage that remained was matted and trampled to the ground. It had been turned into a bloody marsh of a battlefield.

But it was missing the one thing that battlefields always had in droves.

Bodies.

There wasn’t a single other being on the field with Arwin. Not one soldier or fallen corpse. He couldn’t even spot a weapon. There was nothing here but blood.

Even for Arwin, who had seen more battlefields than he could count, this was unsettling. He’d never seen this much blood in one place — or without a single body to attribute the crimson liquid staining everything to. It was like the sky had suddenly just decided that it was going to rain blood instead of water.

“Well, this is pleasant,” Arwin said, staring down at his hands with a grimace. “Hardly a very friendly vision. Am I remiss in assuming that you don’t take very kindly to my presence?”

And that this material might not be the friendliest one I’ve met? Seriously, it could let up on the anger problems a bit. Who greets someone by plopping them down in a bloody marsh?

There was no response to his question. Arwin’s eyes narrowed.

“Come on. You can’t pull me to this place and then ignore me. That’s just rude. You wanted to talk, didn’t you? So let’s talk.”

Still, there was no response.

Arwin repressed the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose. It looked like the metal was going to make him stand around for a while as it observed him.

“I’m a smith,” Arwin said. “But I’ve seen my fair share of fighting. More than my fair share, really. I’m making the most powerful suit of armor I’ve ever attempted. Something that can contain the soul of a living building. To do that, I need the most powerful materials I can get my hands on — and I need them on my side. I’m not here to force you into anything. My presence is an offer. You want to be a suit of armor? I’ll do my best to make you into the best damn suit of armor that anyone in this kingdom could. If armor doesn’t suit you, then I can find a different purpose for you as well. And if you don’t want that… I won’t touch you at all. The choice is yours.”

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

The only response Arwin received was silence.

He pressed his lips together. This wasn’t something he’d experienced before. The material had pulled him into a vision, only to up and give him the silent treatment. He could fight a monster. But this — there wasn’t much he could do if it didn’t actually show up to confront him.

“What do you want?” Arwin asked, his brow furrowed. “I want to do right by you, but that’s kind of hard if you aren’t giving me something to work with. Can’t you draw a picture in the blood or something like—”

A flash of light tore through Arwin’s mind.

He drew in a sharp breath, suddenly finding himself bolting upright. Cold stone pressed against his backside and his back was covered in clammy sweat. His heart thundered like a stampede of bulls trapped in his chest.

I’m back in the Infernal Armory?

Arwin blinked. He stared down at the piece of crimson metal in his hands. No thoughts or emotions came from it. It was just as still and silent as its vision had been. Confusion gripped Arwin as he slowly rose to his feet and set the metal back on the table.

What was that all about?

***

Esmerelda pursed her lips. She crossed her arms in front of her chest as she looked out at the street before her.

Well-swept stones of polished white. Shined boots and fancy fences and frilly dresses. The smell of flowers hung in the air like a gentle whisper and polite conversation danced between passersby

She didn’t like this. Not in the slightest.

Esmerelda threw a glance back at the alley behind her. There wasn’t so much as a single scrap of trash in it. No rotten apple cores or discarded food. She hadn’t even been able to find any signs of sleeping drunkards.

This street reeked of privilege. Of stuffy nobles that wouldn’t step a single foot into her store no matter what she promised to sell them because they didn’t dare get a speck of dirt on their fancy all-too-tight pants.

Why did my shop bring me here, of all places?

Esmerelda’s nose scrunched in distaste. There wasn’t a single adventurer on the street. Nobody here was going to be willing to take a single risk. They didn’t have to. And that meant there should have been absolutely no reason for her to be here, either.

I may have promised Arwin that I wouldn’t go around hawking evil cursed items anymore, but you can’t stop people’s natures. All I do is bring them to the store. There are some perfectly good items in there. Some magical. Some beneficial. And sure, maybe one or two or a dozen might be cursed. But if they choose to buy something… who am I to stand in their way?

All that was well and good. It also didn’t matter. Her shop never brought her somewhere she didn’t need to be. It was very talented at making sure she arrived at just the right place at the right time.

But Esmerelda didn’t have the faintest idea as to what in the world she was doing here.

Even trying to walk up to any of the people stumbling around on the street was likely to get the guards called on her. That would be a massive hassle and would probably end up costing her a few potions. Potentially even slightly sore foot if the situation arose in which she had to relocate it up someone’s back end.

“How odd,” Esmerelda said, scratching at the side of her neck. She stood awkwardly at the edge of the alley, glancing around like a lost schoolchild. The old woman honestly couldn’t remember the last time she’d been this at a loss for what to do.

Maybe the old shop has finally started to go senile. That or it wants me to murder someone. Perhaps it’s just hungry. That could be possible. I’d wager there are a few people wandering around here that absolutely nobody would miss, the pompous round pricks.

It won’t even be hard to pluck one of them off the street. To them, I may as well be invisible. Nobody cares about a wrinkled up old lady with—

“Whoa!”

Esmerelda blinked. Standing right in front of her, staring with wide eyes, was a young man. He was dressed in the same manner of pompous clothes that every other idiot on the street wore, but his eyes were alight with excitement and interest.

Interest directed at her.

Well, well. Would you look at that? A customer, perhaps? Or an eager snack?

“Aren’t you an energetic little thing?” Esmerelda asked, her voice little more than a croak. “You look like you might to make something of your life, lad. I might have just the opportunity for you. The chance of a lifetime. How would you like to become—”

“Gods, I can’t believe it!” the teen whispered excitedly. “I really can’t! There’s just no way.”

Esmerelda’s brow furrowed and she trailed off. “Oh, no. This is very real, boy. This chance has chosen you. How do you like the idea of getting a taste of real—”

“You’re Esmerelda!” the teen exclaimed, practically vibrating from excitement. “You are, aren’t you?”

“I — what? How do you know my name?”

“I know way more than your name,” the teen exclaimed. “You one of the hardest members of the Menagerie to find! I didn’t think I’d actually get a chance to meet you! This is so awesome. Did… did you bring your shop with you? I’ve heard rumors that you’ve always got an incredible stock of rare magical items. They say the shop travels with you, and you’ve been spotted all over the kingdom! Is that true? Could I see it? It’s here, right?”

Esmerelda stared at the boy, momentarily overwhelmed by the slew of questions. Then, finally, she ripped herself from her confusion. There was no doubt about it. This boy was the reason her shop had brought her here.

“Who are you?” Esmerelda asked. “How do you know me?”

“Oh, shoot. I’m sorry. I’ve done it again. I just never thought I’d meet you so close to my family’s house.” The teenager’s face reddened and he cleared his throat. Then he extended his hand in greeting. “I’m honored to make your acquaintance. My name is Thane.”