To the Smith

"A'm unfamiliar wi' th' term Manasteel, bit a'm kenspeckle wi' forging mithril. Bring whit needs tae be dane 'ere 'n' ah will tak' a keek at it." Jim said while quenching a blade. Although Nissa had been around Jim before, she still hadn't come close to understanding any word that came from him.

Jim was short for a name that no one could pronounce. He was a rough looking middle age man with arms as thick as tree trunks, and a well known accent from his highland people who were experts in metal forging.

"I'm pretty sure he's insulting me... or is he complementing me?" Fenrir puzzled.

Luckily Jim's apprentice was able to step up as his Master went back to continue his work. "Master Jim can look to your request an hour before dusk, Guardian Nissa." He stated as he finished looking over his master's schedule.

"Thank you, We'll be back then." Nissa replied and then began her walk back to her abode with guards and Fenrir in tow. Her new home was situated near the center of the city, instead of the tent near the outskirts.

It was nice to get out a tent, and have walls, floor, and a roof. One of the benefits of putting down their roots here in Dawns Hope was the transition from field living to normal living; something Nissa hadn't experienced in three years.

It almost didn't feel real, the sudden absence of fatal combat situations could make her think the last two peaceful weeks were but a long dream.

Now back in her office, Nissa sat back down into her chair and motioned towards her assistant who began to hand her the paperwork of the afternoon. Glancing at the hastily made Timekeeper on her wall, it showed that she had three hours before the impending appointment.

Fortifying herself, she pulled out the top sheet of paper and got to work.

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Thanks to Fenrir's supposed good mood, he informed Nissa of Halvor's approach and the manner of it too.

Nissa had only been waiting outside of her abode for a few minutes when, instead of a flash of lightning, a familiar silver portal opened and Halvor stepped through it. He was dressed in the same manner he was for the Council, but instead carried his breastplate in one arm and wore a leather jerkin in its place.

"Guardian." He acknowledged in that same apathetic tone.

'That's weird. How did he know that title?' Having her suspicions, Nissa raised an eyebrow as she eyed Fenrir who looked sheepish.

"It's the name most of your people call you, and Boss has troub.." Fenrir was cut off as Halvor intervened and stated "Fenrir.... Shut up." His grey eyes seemed to bore into Fenrir hoping he would get the unsaid hint. The wolfs ears drooped knowing his mistake of saying too much ... again.

Wanting to break up the tense setting, Nissa spoke up "If you would follow me, I'll take you to the Smith that'll look to your repairs."

Halvor sent one last glare at Fenrir before he brought back his gaze to Nissa and replied "Lead on then."

As the small group set off to the area that sounded of hammering anvils, they were approached every now and then by people who were rescued by Halvor. In similar fashion, they would approach, thank him for his actions, and then leave once he gave either a nod or grunt in response. Nissa wanted to start a conversation, but settled to study him as he interacted with those who owed their lives to him. It puzzled her, even after seeing a particularly teary husband and reunited wife voice their gratitude, nothing seemed to move him. His emotions were unchanged from its apathetic song, and only showed the barest hints of other fleeting emotions.

Thankfully it was towards the end of the day and the crowds were thinned out else they might of spent thrice as long trying to get to Jim. Coming up to the front of his establishment, they met the smith smoking on a log with a gnarled wooden pipe in his mouth.

He grunted in lieu of a welcome as he looked over the group until his eyes laid on Halvor, or more specifically on his equipment.

"Manasteel eh? let's tak' a keek at it oan mah bench." Jim stated as he emptied his pipe and waved at Halvor to join him near his worktable. Once there, Halvor placed his equipment on its rough surface and awaited the opinion of this master smith.

As Jim looked over the chest piece, Nissa noticed a deep cut beneath the left armpit and several other places that were either scratched or dented inwards. However the deep cut was the one that preoccupied her thoughts the most.

'He could heal from that? It definitely punctured a lung.' Her eyes quickly scanned Halvor's chest who seemed completely health from such a deadly wound.

Jim then pulled out a small hammer engraved with a mixture of runes and started to softly tap various points around the armor before pulling himself back and saying "Tis different wey o' forging mithril, yin a'd lik' tae study, bit a'm sure ah kin fix it. Juist gimme an oor or twa."

Nissa's mind raced as she put together what Jim said, only for Halvor to suddenly answer. "You can study it as you work on it, but we will return in two hours Master Smith."

' 'You can understand him!?!' ' Fenrir and Nissa both yelled internally.

Jim grunted "Gey weel, 'til then." and then began to bring his forge back up to temperature to begin his repairs.

It then clicked in Nissa's mind 'Two hours! I can use that.' Halvor raised his left hand and she felt his magic pool until the beginnings of the same silver portal expanded into existence. That didn't stop her, not this time, speaking up Nissa asked "Could you spare a few moments of your time Halvor?"

His grey eyes looked at her as if judging if it was worth the effort. Nissa met his gaze and was determined to convey the want and need to converse with him. The silence between the two was occasionally punctuated by the sounds of Jim's work until a third voice stepped in.

"It's only a minute or two Boss, I'm sure my cousins will be fine." Nissa was grateful for Fenrir's support as Halvor's gaze turned towards the wolf who met it with his own. It seemed an unspoken conversation passed between the two and then the gateway dissipated into the wind.

Halvor broke their impressive staring contest and looked at Nissa once more before answering her request. "Fine."

Nissa internally rejoiced at his answer and said "Thank you, If you'll follow me we can speak in a more peaceful setting." She concluded as a stern shout from Jim's Smithy echoed from its depths.

"Tis stoatin! This wull revolutionize mah wirks!" Thankfully no argument was found as Halvor nodded in agreement while stepping next to Nissa who beckoned them towards a quiet area she had visited previously.