As Alaric departed, the forge settled into a brief silence—until the door swung open again.
Standing at the entrance was Garrick, arms crossed, his usual sharp-eyed gaze fixed on Kalem.
"I heard you refused a research collaboration."
Kalem sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Did you come to berate me too?"
Garrick smirked. "Not really. Just wanted to confirm if it was true."
Jhaeros leaned against the workbench, arms folded. "It's true. And he's being infuriatingly vague about why."
Lyra exhaled sharply, still clearly annoyed from earlier. "Not like he ever explains anything until he feels like it."
Kalem chuckled. "That's because explanations take time, and I have better things to do."
Nara grinned. "Like what? Brood over some metal?"
Kalem's smirk widened. "Not quite. Actually, I was waiting for all of you. Your orders are ready."
The shift in tone was immediate. Lyra blinked, her irritation momentarily forgotten. Jhaeros straightened, his ears twitching slightly. Nara's grin widened. Even Garrick raised an eyebrow.
Kalem turned, walking over to a sturdy wooden chest near the forge. He unlatched it and pulled out the first item.
Nara's Battle-Gauntlets
He held up a pair of battle-gauntlets—sleek yet durable, made from reinforced steel-alloy mixed with resonance crystal dust. The metal gleamed under the forge's light, the knuckles adorned with subtle, runic engravings that pulsed faintly.
He tossed them to Nara, who caught them effortlessly. Slipping them on, she flexed her fingers, testing their weight.
"Light," she noted, clenching her fists. "But solid. And these runes…?"
"They enhance the impact of your strikes," Kalem explained. "You won't need to channel energy manually—they'll absorb and amplify the force of your blows naturally."
Nara's grin stretched wider. She punched the air once, and a faint shimmer trailed her movement.
"Damn, Kalem. These are perfect."
Jhaeros smirked. "That means she's going to be even more of a menace now."
Nara cackled. "Oh, absolutely."
Jhaeros' Twin Daggers
Next, Kalem pulled out a pair of twin daggers. Their blackened steel seemed to swallow light rather than reflect it, the edges honed to a razor's precision. The blades had slight curves, optimized for swift, fluid strikes. Small, well-placed grooves ran along their surface—perfect for dipping in poisons.
He handed them to Jhaeros, who took them with careful reverence. The Ilvaar turned them over in his hands, testing the weight, running a thumb along the hilt wrapped in dark leather.
"Balanced. Fast." He flicked one upward, catching it effortlessly. "I like them."
"They won't dull easily," Kalem added. "And the material resists magical interference, so you won't have to worry about enchantments messing with them."
Jhaeros nodded approvingly. "Practical."
Lyra's Alchemical Forge
Kalem turned to Lyra, lifting what at first glance seemed to be a cauldron-like apparatus. Unlike traditional cauldrons, this one had a lightweight metallic frame, sleek and sturdy. A small-runic network was carefully etched along its base, glowing faintly as Lyra touched it.
She frowned, studying it. "This… isn't just a cauldron, is it?"
Kalem shook his head. "No. It's an alchemical forge. You can adjust the temperature, infusion process, and even elemental enhancements. No need for external fire or catalysts. The runes will do the work."
Lyra's eyes widened slightly. She ran her fingers over the engravings, already deciphering their purpose.
"This… this changes everything," she murmured.
Jhaeros tilted his head. "Isn't this just a fancy cauldron?"
Lyra shot him a glare. "You don't get it. Normal cauldrons require constant heat adjustments, separate components for elemental integration, and an external magic source to stabilize mixtures. This does all of that at once."
Nara whistled. "So… you're saying Kalem made you an overpowered cooking pot?"
Lyra's glare intensified. "It's an alchemical forge!"
Kalem chuckled. "Take good care of it."
Lyra huffed. "Obviously."
Garrick's Plate Armor
Finally, Kalem turned to Garrick. The blacksmith pulled out a full set of reinforced plate armor—thick yet refined, designed for maximum durability without sacrificing mobility. The chest piece bore subtle engravings that reinforced its structure, while the pauldrons were carefully shaped to allow a full range of motion.
Garrick stepped forward, running a hand along the metal.
"Sturdy," he muttered. "Heavy, but not restrictive. You balanced it well."
"Of course," Kalem said. "It'll hold against most weapon strikes, even high-impact magic. And unlike standard plate armor, the inner structure is layered to distribute force."
Garrick nodded in approval. "Good work."
Jhaeros smirked. "No complaints?"
"I paid for mine," Garrick said simply. "I expected quality. And he delivered."
Kalem chuckled. "Glad to meet expectations."
A Satisfied Group
Nara punched her fists together, small shockwaves rippling from the impact. "Alright. Now that we all have fancy new toys, when's the next fight?"
Jhaeros twirled one of his daggers. "Whenever it happens, I'm ready."
Lyra was still running calculations in her head, mumbling about testing different mixtures with the forge.
Garrick simply adjusted his new armor, nodding in satisfaction.
Kalem leaned against the forge, watching them. "You're all happy with them, then?"
Nara grinned. "Hell yeah."
Jhaeros smirked. "Acceptable."
Lyra sighed. "This is going to change how I work. So yes."
Garrick simply nodded. "A job well done."
Kalem exhaled, finally allowing himself to relax. "Good. Then I'd say that settles it."
Jhaeros narrowed his eyes. "Settles what?"
Kalem's smirk returned. "My debts."
Lyra groaned. "You're never letting that go, are you?"
"Nope."
As the group laughed, the forge settled into a familiar rhythm—the sound of metal, of plans forming, and of friendships strengthened by shared purpose.