The oak table in the suite had transformed into an improvised alchemy workbench.
The smell of burnt resin, fresh sap from Moonlight Herb, and medicinal essences filled the room while Diana worked with surgical precision. Using the stone mortar and the kit vials she had purchased, she transformed each ingredient stockpiled from the day before into high-utility consumables.
Rhea observed in silence, sitting on the edge of the bed, fascinated by the way Diana's nimble fingers measured reagents without making a single mistake.
[CRAFTING SESSION COMPLETED!]
- [3x Intermediate Healing Potion]: Instantly restores 80 HP. (Quality: High).
- [2x Arcane Vigor Elixir]: Restores 30 MP and reduces skill cost by 10% for 5 minutes.
- [2x Arcane Polishing Oil]: Applied to blades. Increases Physical Damage by +4 for 30 minutes.
[PROFICIENCY UPDATED]
- [Alchemy / Botany]: Level 2 (120 / 250 EXP)
- [Leatherworking / Weaving]: Level 2 (80 / 100 EXP)
Diana stashed two healing potions and one vigor elixir into her own belt pouch, handing the rest to Rhea.
"Keep these." Diana said, adjusting her tools. "Consumables bought at the market are expensive and diluted. The ones I made have 85% purity. If we take a heavy hit in combat, this will save our lives."
Rhea stowed the vials into her bag with almost reverent care. "Your crafting skill is amazing, Diana… You learned this in just three days!"
"It's merely mathematical logic applied to reagents." Diana said, trying to sound disinterested, though the session's success swelled her chest with satisfaction. "Now let me go. Master Volkan should have finished our commissions by now."
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Forge District - Master Volkan's Workshop
The heat radiating from Master Volkan's workshop was audible before they even passed the iron gate. The sound of a heavy hammer striking the anvil echoed rhythmically down the forge street.
The moment the two entered, the demon with four volcanic-rock arms turned his head, letting out a booming laugh that shook the tools hanging on the wall.
"Aha! The two audacious hunters return!" Volkan wiped sweat from his fiery forehead with a filthy rag. "You arrived right on time! The metal just finished cooling!"
Volkan walked over to the main workbench and pulled away a thick leather cloth covering the result of his labor.
Diana and Rhea held their breath.
Gleaming on the stone table were two masterpieces of the Second Circle's elite forge:
1. Dark Crystal Chestplate (For Diana): A fitted light armor crafted from dark steel plates interspersed with polished shards of the Salamander's crystal. The chestplate glowed with a sleek, dark aura emitted by the magic energy within its core. (Physical Defense +18, MP Regen +10%, Minimum Level 8).
2. Corrosive Crystal Twin Daggers (For Rhea): Two translucent dark crystal blades with razor-sharp edges, emitting a venomous greenish glow along the blade. (Attack +12 each, Elemental Poison Damage +15, Agility +2).
[ELITE EQUIPMENT ACQUIRED!]
Rhea approached the table with trembling steps. She grasped both corrosive crystal daggers by their leather grips and delivered two light slashes through the air. The sound of the air being sliced by the blades was sharp, crisp, and absurdly fast.
With the +2 Agility bonus from her new weapons, Rhea's Agility shot up to an incredible 25 points.
"They are… perfect…" Rhea whispered, her amber eyes glowing with emotion.
Diana donned the Dark Crystal Chestplate. The armor fitted her body flawlessly light, flexible, yet possessing a density of physical protection that made her old leather armor feel like cardboard. The MP regeneration bonus began flowing smoothly through her energy channels.
Volkan crossed his four stone arms, satisfied with their reaction. "A master's craft never fails, girl. That armor will take direct hits from Level 12 monsters without tearing."
Diana adjusted the leather buckles on the chestplate. She looked at the lit forge in the back of the workshop, the giant leather bellows, and the gray iron ore she carried in her bag.
An idea took shape in her mind.
"Master Volkan." Diana said.
"Speak, brat."
"I want to use your secondary forge for one hour."
Volkan raised his fiery eyebrows in surprise. "You…? Use my forge? Do you even know how to hold a blacksmith's hammer without breaking your own wrists, girl?"
"I brought my own iron ore." Diana said, pulling five pieces of gray iron from her pouch. "I'll pay 60 bronze coins for anvil rental and the use of your elemental coal. If I ruin my own material, the loss is mine."
Volkan stared at Diana for three full seconds. The nerve, determination, and absolute refusal of that human girl to accept limits amused the old smith like nothing had in a long time.
He let out another booming laugh.
"60 bronze for one hour of forge and coal? Done deal!" Volkan pointed to the smaller anvil in the corner of the workshop. "If you burn your fingers, don't come crying to my counter!"
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[FORGE RENTAL PAYMENT]
- Use of Volkan's Workshop + Elemental Coal: -60 Bronze Coins.
[TEMPORARY POCKET BALANCE: 10 SILVER COINS (1,000 Bronze)]
Diana tied her black hair back, put on the heavy workshop leather apron, and walked over to the secondary forge.
Rhea sat down on a wooden bench near the wall, watching with total fascination.
Diana used iron tongs to place the gray iron ore into the glowing coals. She worked the leather bellows with a steady rhythm, using her Intelligence 12 to calculate the metal's precise melting point by the color of the flame.
When the iron turned fiery orange, she pulled it onto the anvil and grabbed the blacksmith hammer.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
The sound of Diana's hammer strikes echoed through the workshop. Her first strikes were imperfect, bending the metal crookedly. But with each blow, adjusting her Strength 15 and muscle memory precision, the shape of a basic blade began emerging from the glowing block.
Volkan, who was observing from afar feigning disinterest, approached slowly, impressed by the speed at which the human girl corrected her hammer angle without anyone having to teach her.
After forty minutes of hard labor, sweat, and sparks showering her apron, Diana plunged the forged blade into the cold water tub.
HISSSSS!
A cloud of dense steam billowed from the tub.
Diana pulled the blade out and used the whetstone to give it an initial finish.
[SYSTEM: CRAFTING COMPLETED!]
- [Polished Iron Dagger (Crafted by Diana)]: Attack +4. (Quality: Basic).
[SYSTEM: NEW PROFICIENCY UNLOCKED!]
- [Metallurgy & Smithing]: Level 1 (25 / 100 EXP)!
Volkan picked up the iron dagger crafted by Diana, inspecting the blade under the firelight.
"The tang alignment is a bit crooked…" Volkan assessed with a clinical eye. "…but the temper of the steel turned out surprisingly even. For a first attempt with no master's instruction, this is a miracle."
The old smith looked at Diana, who was wiping sweat from her forehead with her arm.
"Listen here, girl." Volkan said, his voice turning serious. "Whenever you have rare ores and want to use my secondary workshop, the door is open. You pay 50 bronze for the daily coal fee, and in return I give you tempering tips. What do you say?"
Diana smiled. Having open access to the best workshop in the Second Circle along with guidance from a Master Smith for a paltry fee was a golden opportunity.
"Done deal, Master Volkan." Diana said, shaking the demon's stone hand.
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Upon leaving the Forge District, Diana and Rhea stopped by the commercial sector supply stall and sold the newly crafted iron dagger and spare polishing oils to a light weapons merchant.
The sale brought in 1 Silver Coin and 40 Bronze Coins, replenishing the group's balance.
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As they walked back to the inn under the greenish glow of the city lamps, Diana observed Rhea, who was testing stealth maneuvers with her new corrosive crystal daggers.
Diana looked at her own dark crystal armor and her bag filled with potions and tools.
Her analytical mind began calculating future steps.
An extreme-speed scout like Rhea is incredible… Diana thought, adjusting her coat over her new chestplate. And having a Master Smith as an ally solves the equipment part. But we are only two.
Diana observed the crowd of adventurers moving along the avenue.
If I want to dominate the High-Level Dungeons of the Second Circle, form an official guild, and take the resources of this sector… we need more people.
The idea of forming a larger party blossomed in Diana's mind.
In her pragmatic, arrogant mind, she would never admit that having more people around made the journey less lonely. She justified the feeling with cold mathematical arguments: "A heavy tank to absorb area damage, an elemental support mage, and a trap specialist would increase our hunting efficiency by 300%."
Yet the single fact remained: Diana was starting to like the idea of leading her own elite faction.
"Diana?" Rhea called, noticing her friend's intense gaze.
"What is it?"
"Are we going to the Hunters' Guild tomorrow?" Rhea asked enthusiastically.
"Yes." Diana smiled, a sharp, confident, ravenous smile. "Tomorrow we register our party officially and take Level 9 quests. It's time to reach Level 10."
Final Notes:
First piece of elite gear acquired! And ahhhh, what a exhausting day... the power went out right in the middle of this mess and I had to write half of it on my phone, but anyway, that's life.
What did you guys think of the gear?