Mana Tendrils (3)

In a rented out workshop in Klance City's commerce District. A petite red-haired dwarf was standing in front of an anvil and forge. Beads of sweat trickled down her forehead while she stood still, catching her breath. With the repeated hammering and forging that went through the whole morning, she was slowly reaching her limit.

"[Second Wind]." Zes stood a distance from Aima, casting reinforcement spells when needed.

With renewed vigour, Aima repeated the painstaking process of hammering and cooling down the heated iron. The end goal for today was a piece of the blade to replace the current one in Jin's glaive. "Get ready Sebastian."

Hearing his name, Sebastian stood up from the corner of the blacksmith workshop they rented out for this event. He then stirred his entire mana pool and reproduced his mana tendrils, although he was the only who could see it.

"Aima, we'll do it as planned. I'll wrap my mana tendrils around it while you're actively smithing it. Hopefully, it will be imbued in the blade when we're finished."

Hammering and dipping the heated piece of iron in oil, Aima focused on the task at hand, only sparing a few glances to Zes and Sebastian who were with her.

When the dwarven blacksmith was about to finish the initial forging process, she looked up to remind Sebastian about his part and the reason why they were doing this in the first place. However, she didn't need to mention anything when she saw the golden hue from his irises. Focusing on the blade in front of her, she began to hammer continuously as if she was reproducing a certain melody.

Zes was the first one to notice it. While Sebastian was supposedly imbuing his mana into the blade, he started to lose colour and waiver. He was still holding his hand out. To the naked eye, it looked like he was trying to grab something but it was being blocked by something invisible. His hands started to shake and his breath came in shallow pants.

"[Heal]." Unsure of what was happening, Zes judged that Sebastian was expending his mana in large amounts and it was taking a toll on him. She let out a sigh of relief. Sebastian's colour came back and his hands became steady once more. She wasn't even sure if Sebastian noticed it as he was still focused on the blade in front of him the whole time.

TANG!

With a thunderous metallic clang to signify the end of the process, Aima placed her hammer down. She then placed the blade in a special container she prepared beside her. Wiping the sweat off her forehead, she finally looked up and stared into Sebastian's eyes. The first time she did so ever since she started the smithing process. "This part is finished. Now we need to cool it down. I usually do so with magick. Is it safe to do it with this blade?"

Sebastian also wiped his forehead with a towel Zes handed to him. "I think it should be alright. If our theory is correct, the mana should be absorbed by the metal when it is being heated or forged. After that, it should be the same as usual. Please go ahead as to how you would normally do."

They spent the rest of the day smithing the glaive and applying finishing touches. The result was an enhanced version of Jin's glaive. It still utilised a reinforced black carbon with an intricate weave for the handle, while the blade had a subtle shine on it. It almost seemed like it was emitting a pale light itself. The two adventurers who took part in the smithing process and Zes who supported them throughout puffed their chests out in pride when they practised wielding it and using its hidden properties.

***

Jin placed his flagon down the table after finishing the entire drink in one swig. "It's really difficult when you're out of your element. Back in Wildecross City, I can simply ask the guards for information and I would be sure to get it. I'm a nobody here."

"Don't be too hard on yourself Jin. You actually did well given our circumstance and we still found some useful information." Mel left her ale untouched while she was picking on the side dishes they ordered.

"That's good to hear. Good job you two. Let's hear it then." Sebastian finished off his ale in one go, not losing out to Jin.

Mel waited for Sebastian to finish drinking before she continued. "As we suspected, Yokkun is buying mana stones and iron ores en masse. His shops all give the same answer when asked. That he wants to focus more on smithing weapons and armour. The mana stones are merely a form of investment. That is what they say anyway. Also, he still has 3 active shops left from the 6 he had before."

"Coming from a merchant's perspective, that doesn't make sense. The only time you reduce shops is when the upkeep is too much for your expenditures. Yet he still continues to buy mana stones and iron ores. Also, you haven't seen him even though you said you were the ones who escorted his recent shipment right?" Aima added her opinion to the table.

"That's right. Jin and I couldn't even go into his office. There was always an excuse of some sort. When we said we had more iron ores to sell they just introduced us to a supposed shop manager. His staff also claim that they haven't seen him in the past few weeks."

Sebastian placed his second mug down, keeping up with Jin. "This calls for a different approach then. Jin, I need to talk to you in private, please. Not in this pub. Ladies, we'll head off first. Zes, please accompany them to the inn when you finish here."

As if expecting this, Jin placed a couple of coins on the table before standing up to follow Sebastian.

*

A few minutes away from the city wall, in a secluded area of the forest. Jin was holding his upgraded glaive returned by Sebastian.

"We spent an entire day on it. Please check it first before you use it." Sebastian wrapped his winter cloak tightly over his fur coat. Winter had arrived in full force and showed no signs of letting up.

After moving it in his hands and making practice thrusts and slashes, Jin showed a satisfied smile on his face. "It's lighter and sturdier than before. But why were you so adamant that you wanted to upgrade this? You said you also wanted to try something on this right?"

It was Sebastian's turn to smile now under his winter hood. "Try running your mana through it."

"What?"

"You heard me. Run your mana through it. No need for any spells whatsoever, just your mana."

Although he was suspicious, Jin still followed what Sebastian suggested. His eyes slowly widened before staying wide open while he was holding his glaive. "I don't understand. Why?"

Before Jin sank into more confusion, Sebastian explained. "Your glaive blade has magick properties. I couldn't control what properties I could endow it with, but it seemed to be sharpness and tenacity. It will cut smoothly, and it won't break easily."

"..."

"Jin, it's the real deal. We tested it out a few times after we finished it. Well? How is it?"

"I-It's a magick weapon!"

"Ah. You're actually right. I didn't think about it in that sense. Then I won't charge you for it, but can you keep this a secret? Aima and Zes have sworn secrecy. They should be informing Mel at the moment as well."

"Even if you charge me for it, I doubt I'll be able to pay this off in this lifetime. Haa... You forgotten ones are really something. To think that I'd see the process to make a magick weapon and receive one as well. Should I name my kid after you or something?"

"Ahaha. I don't think that's a good idea. You first need a wife you know."

"Don't look down on me just because you have Mel and Zes! I'll have you know that I'll make it big as an adventurer and I'll be able to have multiple wives!" Jin pretended to pout, but since he was holding a magick weapon and was dressed warmly, he looked more threatening than anything.

"Wait. You said that you are planning to have multiple wives. Like a harem? What?" It was Sebastian's turn to be surprised as he tilted his head to the side and tried to remember what Jin said mere moments ago.

"Eh? I thought you knew. Polygamy is not frowned upon here. People, especially adventurers, die easily in this world. I'm sure they would have told you this before. If we continued with monogamy then Kalonia would be barren a long time ago. As long as your partners agree with it and if you can support them then you can have a wife or two. Or three even." Jin said the last one as he looked blankly into space.

"I think there was something like that. However, Rivie was cautious with telling me about slavery and stuff. I think she might have omitted that part as well to spare me from shock."

"Really? Sorry to break it to you then. Don't worry, your partners won't go looking for other husbands. Like I said, as long as you are able to support them in all aspects then they should be loyal to you."

Sebastian felt that the long walk back to their accommodation was quick because his head was filled with thoughts and outlandish scenarios.

***

A few days later, Sebastian's entire party laid hidden in the snow a few days' outside Klance City walls. They were waiting with weapons drawn, eagerly waiting for something specific to pass by.

"This is where the carriage is going to pass right Mel?" Sebastian turned to the snow-covered adventurer beside him. They were both buried under the snow, but they used their mana to maintain their warmth. Sebastian circulated his mana while Mel received reinforcement spells from Zes who was situated behind them.

"Yes. According to the shopkeeper we managed to finally bribe, he said that Yokkun is expecting another shipment. This is the route they will use today. Our carriage met mutated beasts last time so they're trying new routes. It should have minimal guards. You're looking for one carriage bearing his silver and black colours."

"Got it. Thanks." After the quick reply, Sebastian focused his enhanced senses on the path before them once more.

After what seemed like a few hours, Sebastian suddenly tensed up. He lifted his hand up and outside the snowbank as he opened and closed his fist 5 times. It was the signal to wait for his preemptive strike before Aima and Jin announce their presence across the path opposite them.

Sebastian readjusted his hood and mask, prompting Mel and Zes to do the same as well. The ladies even hid their long hair under their hood to conceal as much of their identities as they could. Sebastian's muscles audibly tensed before he shot out and disappeared from the snow bank.

A single, solitary carriage was coming around a bend at a decent pace. Since it was a new route, the coachman wasn't quite familiar with this part of the woods. He remained tense even with the two adventurers staying vigilant beside him.

The elven archer who sat to his left suddenly tensed up. She was an experienced adventurer who successfully completed all of her escort quests. With such an impressive record, her services didn't come cheap. However, since it was a new route, Yokkun didn't want to take any risks. He hired her for her outstanding quest completion rate, even though he expected this delivery to be a quick one.

Turning to the companions beside her, Delsanra shouted to break the silence. "Keep going no matter what! Kori draw your weapon-"

BLAM!

Before she was able to finish her instruction, a white figure darted out from the woods on their left side. It travelled with blinding speed, making it difficult for them to make out its identity. With its speed and ferocity, it might have been a mutated beast. Using its blinding speed, it slammed into Delsanra and knocking her off the carriage. With the white figure and Delsanra gone, the world remained quiet once more with nothing but the occasional carriage sounds and the heavy panting from the coachman and Kori on it.

With her reinforced body, Kori attempted to fill the position of a scout temporarily. However, with the carriage's speed and the now-rough driving by the coachman, it became too difficult for her. She was left to trust her instincts while holding her sword and shield in a combat stance.

It came without warning. She saw what looked like a spear jut out from the snow banks on the right side. She couldn't yell out in time to warn the driver and could only helplessly watch as the horses and the carriage wheels ran through it. With the fatal damage to the horses and the carriage, they were forcefully flipped to the side. Kori managed to jump out before the carriage crashed, however, she was met with a kick from the familiar white figure in mid-air. Even with her reinforced body, it was no match for a single kick from the white ghost.

The last thing she saw was the snow-covered trees before her consciousness forcefully faded to black.