hotmtlnovel Chapter 415: The Way Forward
Chapter 415: The Way Forward
Chapter 415: The Way Forward
The night turned into most of the day. Even with Eury taking care of all the auxiliary things: working the bellows, bringing food, not to mention providing constant advice, the work was gruelingly hard. On several occasions Dallion felt exhausted to the point of fainting, but each time he would keep on.
Finally, by the next evening, the item was complete. Having to etch an intricate design on a material as hard as glass on a disk the size of a penny was extreme, requiring that Dallion measure every hit precisely and only use the sharp edge of the hammer.
Once he was done, holding the small element in the light of the forge, carefully held between his fingers, one thought passed through Dallions mind: he wasnt going to do that ever again, or at least not in the next few years.
Let me have a look? Euryale said, reaching out.
Dallion gave her the emblem, then went to the bucket of water in the room and splashed some on his face and neck.
Rather well done, the gorgon said, clusters of snakes extending to view the emblem better from all sides. Youve got the lines quite well. Id have made the ear a bit bigger. I assume youll use a sky steel chain to hold it?
Ive no idea. Dallion replied, leaning with both hands against the workbench. The thought of having to make a chain crossed his minding, sending waves of utter terror through his soul.
Ill try to find something. The gorgon flipped the emblem. Itll be my gift.
Youre the best, Dallion said with the enthusiasm of a snoring cat. I think Ill wash and go to bed.
Eury must have replied something, but Dallion could no longer register it. The next half hour passed in a blur. In some capacity, he remembered what had happened: they had cleaned up the forge, left home, even met some old acquaintance Dallion was in no condition to place. When he next woke up, though, it was morning and he was once again in bed. The major difference was that this time, legs, back, and entire right arm were screaming in pain.
This was the first time in quite a while that he had felt overworked, and by doing non-awakened activities at that. Normally, it was his head that wasnt able to handle thingsusing too much focus, trying to maintain his combat splitting for two long, or merely relying on his music skills a tad too much.
Onda? Dallion asked, looking around.
Im here. A reply came from the other room. You're fragile as glass.Who gets tired after one item?
Its my first time working sky silver, Dallion replied. There was no way he could remain mad at the guardian. Despite his cheek, the nymph had no ill intentions.
Are you ready for this? the gorgon asked, several of the snakes on her head twitching as she did.
Im close. Ive got two more levels until I reach the gate. In theory, he could continue trying to create forging masterpieces, but that was becoming more and more difficult. He had already created everything he had seen other smiths do, as well as the blueprints he was givenincluding a metal whip blade, although it too wasnt as remotely efficient as the one that he had given to Gleam.
Pass the trial, then Ill let you go on a solo hunt. There was a slight pause. This time I wont be there with you. Succeed or fail, its all up to you.
Dallion was fully aware of what she was saying. There was a real possibility that he might not return. That was what a real hunters trial was. There was a time when he wouldnt have dared. Now, though, he felt adequately prepared.
Thanks, Dallion whispered. Any news about Jiroh? She hasnt been to Hannahs.
Shell be back. Eury chose not to give any details. Ill make you some armor for when youre ready to set out.
Youre really different when youre serious, Dallion said to himself.
The issue was that Euryale had been serious a lot lately. It was normal for the near destruction of the city to affect her, but it was almost as if she had turned into a different person. The whole end of the world prophecy hadnt helped either. Whatever the gorgon had on her mind she wasnt sharing it with anyone very much like Dallion hadnt shared in the past. Always wearing a blocker ring, Eury tended to focus on the moment, taking it a day at a time. Now and then shed give a vague explanation as to what was concerning her, but even that involved a lot of guesswork.
Helping a close friend leave this world is more difficult than you can imagine, dear boy, Nil said. As you know, otherworlders attract each other. Severing such a bond would come with its consequences. For all we know, that might be the reason she doesnt like using echoes.
I thought you didnt like her, Dallion made a note.
The fact remains. Hunters arent the only ones whove seen otherworlders. Ive had friends as well.
You? That wasnt surprising considering the skill and age of the echos creator. Did they leave this world?
Some tried to. It didnt work out very well for all.
That was slightly ominous. Dallion understood the point, though. There were a lot of things on Jiroh and Eurys minds and he couldnt rely on them to get him out of trouble anymore. Passing the game and completing the solo hunt were proof that he had what it took to take care of himself. He had been given a chance to achieve that. Now all that remained was for him to actually do it.