The Master Craftswoman of Ancdam

The sound of metal striking metal can be heard within the small, two-story house. The one inside was too busy tweaking and straightening the material she is currently working on that she did not realize that the sun was already past its zenith. If not for her rumbling stomach, she wouldn't have stopped her craft.

Brushing the sweat off her face, she took off her working clothes and placed them atop a chair in the same room. She chugged a glassful of water, rehydrating herself from sweating too much. The temperature of the room exceeds the average room temperature, most of which was contributed by the forge that was ever-burning in the center.

Various materials, orbs, and failed products are scattered within the room. It wasn't messy in any sense, but the fact that the workshop was packed to the brim is a testament to the amount of dedication the craftswoman indulged in her craft.

She took another glassful of water, chugging it down relentlessly. Some water spilled on her neck, sliding down as it follows the curvature of her body. She didn't mind it at all, in fact, she does not care for anything else as long as she could finish the item she was working on.

A basket was prepared neatly on one of the tables. She walked over and took out the contents, a simple lunch. A note was attached to the basket that reads "DON'T FORGET TO EAT LUNCH,". The woman chuckled despite herself, before finishing the rest of her food in a single swallow. She licked the leftover cream on her cheeks, before returning to her forge.

As soon as she sat down, the repetitive sound of metal striking metal was heard once more.

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"Here we are!"

Fei and Sofia are now in the middle of Ancdam. Sofia was familiar with the area, as she usually walks down in the area to the guild. It was a simple two-story house whose design matches the surrounding buildings. No one would expect that Ancdam's best craftsman resides there.

Fei walked over to the door. Grabbing the knockers on the door, she slammed it thrice, before taking a few steps back. Soon after, they heard the clamoring sounds of footsteps as they descended the stairs, followed by the sound of someone falling down the stairs, then hitting himself on the door.

Soon, the door opened, revealing a man wearing an apron with pair of broken reading glasses. His hair is messy, and a trail of blood is slowly dripping from his nose.

"A-are you okay?"

Sofia rushed over to the man, helping him stand up. She then gave him a handkerchief, perhaps to stop his nose from bleeding.

"Yes, thank you for the concern. Now, how can I help you?" he asked while cleaning the blood of his nose.

Fei stepped in and waved at the man, smiling.

"Yo, Chris! Is Brit here?"

"Oh my, if it isn't Fei? What a surprise. You should have sent us a letter that you were coming over," the man named Chris replied upon seeing Fei. "Please, come in," he gestured to them inside the house.

Once inside, Fei and Sofia were offered seats and some refreshments.

"Brit is still working on an item, but she is only working on the finishing touches. She should come up once she's done," the man said.

"Great! We'll wait here if that's alright with you,"

"Yes, please. Brittany isn't expecting anyone to visit, but I know that she will be delighted to see you," he said. "But before that, care for some tea?"

"We wouldn't refuse an offer, right, Sofia?"

"Yes, please."

"Okay, I'll be right back," the man disappeared into the kitchen. From their seat, they can hear the clattering of plates and mugs, perhaps Chris was hastily making the tea for them. In just a few minutes, he returned with a serving of tea and additional snacks.

"Here you go. Enjoy," he said.

Fei and Sofia took a sip of the tea and a bite of the pastries served to them.

"Oh! What is this? So delicious!" Fei exclaimed after tasting the treat. Sofia agreed, nodding her head as she munches one of her own.

"I've baked it just this morning. I'm glad that it was to your liking," the man said.

"You should open a bakery, Mr. Chris," Sofia commented, finally finishing that one piece she got, and picking up another one from the stack.

"You jest. Besides, I've already had my hands full with work in this house," he said. Surely enough, the inside was neatly arranged, not even a speck of dust can be seen atop the tables and chairs, as well as the sofa and the windowpanes.

Soon after, they heard the sound of someone coming upstairs.

"Oh? She must have finished her work," he said as he turned towards the stairs leading to the basement.

Soon after, a figure of a woman can be seen as she entered the living room.

"Hey, Chris! I'm soaked! Can I have some fresh clothes?" the woman said as she peeled off her sweat-soaked shirt to the man. Chris was surprised but was able to immediately catch the clothing with his hand.

"Oh, and my pants are soaked too-"

"What are you doing Brit!? We have guests, you know?"

The woman was starting to take off her trousers when Chris managed to stop her just in time. After hearing the word guests, she looked around, before seeing Fei and Sofia sitting on the couch, munching on the treats that Chris served them.

"Heya, Brit! Long time no see!" Fei said, all the while chewing on her treat.

"Fei!?"

The woman, Brit, was surprised by this unexpected visit.

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After changing into a fresher set of clothes, Brittany seated beside Chris. Directly across from them are Sofia and Fei.

"You sure know when to visit when I least expect you to," she said.

"He he, I can't help it," Fei was somewhat apologetic, but she knew that her friend wouldn't mind a sudden visit.

"So, what made you come here so suddenly?" she asked Fei.

"As sharp as always! You see, I have a commission for you,"

"A commission?"

"Yes, a commission. Remember the gauntlet you made for me?" Fei asked.

"Yeah, the one with the magic-absorption ability. What about it?"

"Well, I need to have it 'mended' as soon as possible, and the guys at the guild told me that the creator is the only one skilled enough to repair it,"

"Uh-huh. And?"

"And I want you to upgrade it using the materials I got from the chimera,"

"A chimera, huh? What are its base forms?"

"Hmmm? Well, a wolf, bear, snake one and a lion, goat, scorpion one," Fei recalled the appearance of the chimeras they faced back at the academy.

"Hmmm ... an interesting combination you've got there. What about their magic cores?"

"Oh, I have the magic core of the lion, goat, scorpion one. The tri-horned one, I gave to Sofia here,"

"A tri-horned you say!?" Brittany suddenly rose up from her seat after hearing the word. "Can I see it for a bit?" she asked Sofia.

Sofia nodded and fetched the chimera's magic core.

"Here," she said as she handed her the core.

Brittany took out what looked like a magnifying glass and started checking the chimera's magic core. It took her a while, after which she placed the core on the table.

"It is indeed a tri- horned's magic core and is of a higher quality than most. Just where did you get your hands on this thing?" she asked them.

"Well, you know, from questing," Fei answered. "Actually, Sofia would also be requesting you to forge her a staff using that very same magic core,"

"A staff, huh? So, you're a mage, huh? What are your dominant magic traits?" she asked her. "I needed this information to keep in mind when crafting," she explained.

"Well, I am most proficient in LIGHT and ICE magic," Sofia replied.

"Hmmm... ice and light, huh? Okay, I can make this work. And what about you, Fei? Any special request?"

"Actually, I was kind of hoping you could make the gauntlet sturdier, but also lighter. Also, can you add some self-restoring properties to it? Oh, and can you also make some shoulder guards with it?"

"You sure have a LOT of requests, but OK, I have something much better in mind. Just leave the materials and you can come back for it later," Brittany said. "As for the commission fee, for Sofia here, since this is her first commission, I will not be charging her anything"

"Oh! That's great, right, Sofia?"

"Ah, yes ..."

"And as for you Fei, I'll only be charging you 10 Gold Coins,"

"Oh, I see. 10 Gold Coins, what a bargain! Wait, did you just say ... gold?"

"Yup. Gold coins, and I want half of it upfront,"

Brittany extended her arms toward Fei. Fei, with tears in her eyes, placed 5 Gold coins in her hand.

"Hu hu, I thought we were friends?"

"Yeah. But there are no friends or family when it comes to business,"

Brittany flashed a wide smile as she placed the coins into her pocket.