A week passed, and the tension in Eyrendyl only grew thicker.
It was late evening when Lyra called for a meeting. The chosen place? Kalem's forge.
The forge wasn't grand, but it had become something of a sanctuary for their group. Kalem had rented the place out of necessity, but with the owner well past his working years and barely showing up, it had become his in all but name. The walls bore the scars of countless hours of work—scorch marks, dents, and discarded scraps of metal. Tools were meticulously arranged, and half-finished projects lay on the main worktable. The rhythmic scent of iron, oil, and burning coal lingered in the air.
Kalem leaned against the anvil, arms crossed, as Lyra paced in front of the table. Nara sat on a stool nearby, sharpening a dagger, while Jhaeros leaned against the doorway with Velka lying at his feet, ears twitching. Garrick, the towering warrior with an ever-present smirk, leaned against a support beam, watching the conversation unfold.
Lyra took a breath before she spoke. "I need to tell you something serious. I've been gathering information, and I think we're dealing with a Blood Night."
Garrick's smirk faded. Nara stopped sharpening. Jhaeros's gaze flickered with interest. Kalem, however, remained still.
Lyra continued, "For those who don't know, Blood Nights aren't just assassinations. They're an event—a war fought in the shadows. Whenever multiple factions want someone dead, they start hiring, and when there are too many assassins, things spiral into open conflict. The underworld thrives on it, and entire cities can be reshaped by who lives and who dies."
Jhaeros frowned. "That would explain the sudden rise in disappearances."
"And the demand for poisons," Lyra added. "I heard senior alchemists talking. Someone is stockpiling."
Silence settled over the room.
Then Kalem spoke. "I know."
Four pairs of eyes snapped toward him.
"…You know?" Nara narrowed her eyes. "Since when do you care about politics?"
Jhaeros studied Kalem carefully. Even Velka lifted her head.
Lyra blinked. "Wait—you already knew? But how?"
Kalem simply shrugged. "I had a feeling."
"That's not an answer." Nara crossed her arms. "This isn't some street rumor, Kalem. You're saying you already knew a Blood Night was happening?"
Kalem met her gaze evenly. "Yes."
The room fell into an uneasy silence.
Lyra pursed her lips. "Kalem… we trust you. But if you knew about this, why didn't you say anything earlier?"
"I was waiting to see if it would escalate," Kalem said calmly. "And it did."
Jhaeros folded his arms. "Then let me ask this—do you think we're in danger?"
Kalem considered the question for a moment. "Not yet."
"Not yet?" Nara repeated. "That's not comforting."
Lyra shook her head. "If the Blood Nights are starting, it won't be long before students get involved. We might be nobodies in the academy's political landscape, but we're strong. That makes us potential targets."
Jhaeros nodded. "And if factions want control over students, we might be seen as valuable assets… or threats."
Kalem pushed off the anvil. "That's why we need to be careful."
Garrick finally spoke, his deep voice cutting through the tension. "Careful is good. But prepared is better."
Kalem smirked. "I was hoping you'd say that."
With that, he walked over to one of the workbenches and pulled a large crate forward. He pried it open, revealing neatly stacked steel plates, each with an almost mirror-like sheen.
"What's this?" Jhaeros asked, stepping closer.
Kalem picked up one of the plates and flexed it slightly. "Flexible steel. I designed it for protection against daggers. It's thin enough to wear under clothes but strong enough to stop a blade."
Garrick let out a low whistle. "And where the hell did you get material like this?"
Kalem smirked. "Remember that cheap reward I asked The Bank for?"
Jhaeros raised a brow. "You mean the stuff they sent you a crate of before deciding to send you an entire bulk shipment out of embarrassment?"
Kalem nodded. "Turns out it's perfect for lightweight armor."
He set down the steel plate and pulled out a set of thin, overlapping metal sheets—enough to cover a torso without restricting movement. "I made these for us."
He handed one set to Jhaeros, then another to Garrick.
Garrick tested the material in his hands, twisting it slightly. "Damn. This stuff's good. Light, but tough."
Jhaeros nodded in approval. "This will help."
Kalem turned to Nara and Lyra, hesitating.
Lyra narrowed her eyes. "Where's ours?"
Kalem exhaled. "…I didn't make any for you two."
The room went silent.
Then Nara burst out laughing.
Garrick smirked, and even Jhaeros let out a quiet chuckle.
Lyra just stared at him. "You forgot us?"
Kalem scratched his head. "Not exactly. I just… don't know how to make armor for women."
Nara was wheezing. "You've never made female armor?"
Kalem frowned. "I've made gauntlets, boots, and belts, but… torso armor? No."
Lyra pinched the bridge of her nose. "Unbelievable."
Garrick leaned against the table, grinning. "I mean, it makes sense. The guy's been crafting weapons and gear for himself and random mercenaries. When would he have had to make women's armor?"
Nara wiped away a tear. "This is too good. Kalem, the genius blacksmith who can make anything, but the moment he has to deal with female armor, he's lost."
Kalem sighed. "I'll figure it out."
Lyra crossed her arms. "You better."
Still chuckling, Nara punched his shoulder. "Don't worry, we'll help you, genius."
Jhaeros nodded. "I'd recommend you get some input before you start hammering away."
Kalem grumbled. "Fine."
Garrick stretched. "Alright, joke's over. What's the next step?"
Lyra's expression turned serious again. "We stay alert. We watch for signs. And we don't get caught up in something we don't understand."
Kalem looked at the stack of flexible steel, then at his friends. He had been preparing for something like this before he even knew what was coming.
Now, all that was left was to see just how deep the Blood Nights would go.