Stronger Together chapter 149 (Patreon)

I could have held back and talked up the metal but I suspected  Svartalves knew their stuff better than I did. I tossed the ball across  the table, and with a fluid movement Etri snatched it from the air and  looked at it. He cocked his head to one side as he studied the orb of  shimmering metal, running his fingers over it as if searching for any  flaws. There were none of course, the thing had been sculpted with  magic. I might not be able to make fancy designs as good as theirs but  you can't really fuck up a perfect sphere.

Etri stared the  ball of metal for much longer than I expected, but I didn't interrupt.  This guy was the one who called the shots here, if I wanted to learn  from them it was up to him. Finally he spoke. "This metal, what is this?  I have never seen nor felt it's like. It resists my call. I can work  it, but only very very slowly. To even imprint my fingers on this small  sphere would take me weeks. But it also drinks my magic, the power flows  into it only to be magnified inside the structure. Take that alongside  it's exception shine and this ore is priceless. Is your business a wish  to sell this to us? We would pay handsomely for such a substance."

I  smiled brilliantly and pulled off my glove, exposing my living metal  limb. "Not exactly. See, I can make the stuff, as much of it as I want  if I have the power. I use an alloy of it for batteries for my business  but the pure stuff is only found in a small ring owned by the Lady of  Summer. However even with the ability to shape it to my will my  craftsmanship falls far short of yours. I'm willing to offer you  exclusive rights to the stuff. No one aside from your people and myself  will have access to it, if you're willing to teach me and help me learn  to work it once it's stabilized. As you noted, altering it once it sets  is...problematic."

Etri's eyes...well if he were human I  would have said they lit up, as it was it was more that his facial  muscles lifted in a way that implied happiness or interest? Regardless  he was clearly intrigued "Well that is certainly a generous offer. Our  secrets and craftsmanship are a very personal private affair." He  focused on my uncovered arm "But clearly this ore is an integral part of  your own power and sharing it constitutes great personal sacrifice. The  objects we could make once we were given access to such a marvelous  material would be awe inspiring." His voice was getting faster and more  excited as he spoke, clearly getting lost in the possibilities.

But  sadly you don't become leader of a Svartalf enclave by collecting  bottle caps, to steal a phrase from Harry. he managed to pull out of the  tail spin, his voice leveling out. "That said, this is not something I  can decide of my own accord. I must consult with the others. I will get  in touch once a decision has been reached, in the meantime we still have  armor to pick out for you and yours do we not?" Part of me really  wanted to push him a bit, but I'd lost out trying too hard before back  on my own world and I tried not to repeat my mistakes.

Instead  I just smiled and spread my arms in a welcoming gesture "We are  obviously anxious to see more of your beautiful treasures, whether ones  of your own design or ones from your clearly amazing collection. I must  admit, given the quality of your weapon selections I can't wait to see  the powerful artifacts you surely have for us." That was laying it on a  bit thick, but only a bit, the Svartalves clearly had insane resources  given what we'd already seen from them. I wouldn't be shocked if they  had Zeus's shield tucked away under this place somewhere.

Etri  gave a polite smile tinged with what I thought was amusement, obviously  noting the flattery but accepting the truth of the comments as well. He  snapped his fingers and another three chests were dragged out, these  ones being much bigger. "We do indeed have some amazing wares for you  today, though sadly only enough to match the weapons. After all as you  humans say, powerful defensive artifacts do not 'grow on trees'" Etri  smiled, showing this was clearly a joke and we all chuckled politely.  Satisfied his attempt humor was successful Etri went back to his  presentation.

His smile returned as he glanced down with  wonder at the boxes. "As a sign of our good will towards both yourself  and the all father we've brought out the crown jewels of our collection.  These three pieces of armor are the most powerful and ancient artifacts  of their kind we possess. First of course we will present our own  wares. Fjaorhamr." He opened the chest closest to him to show a  billowing cloak of white feathers. "We crafted this for the goddess  Freya many millennia past. It provides powerful protections and is  enchanted to grant its wearer the power of flight"

I had  to admit the thing was gorgeous. The feathers were so white they hurt to  look at. Unfortunately the flight thing wasn't super useful since most  of the girls could already fly, and of those who couldn't Barb wasn't  really into flash. But thinking of it this was something Yang would  definitely love. The billowing feathers would compliment her flaming  hair well and she could use more mobility. I could definitely see her  zooming around in this thing, crowing about how amazing she looked. Plus  in terms of defensive strength Yang, Barb and I were the weak links. I  smiled at Etri and nodded in appreciation, which was clearly enough  because the Svartalf moved on.

He opened the second chest  "This was not made by us, but by the dwarves of Nidavellir. The armor of  Orvar-Oddr. This silken mailcoat was worn in battle against the eldest  of all kraken. It's completely impenetrable by any known means." He saw  my face light up and held a finger up in warning. "Impenetrable is not  invincible. The mailcoat may be indestructible but it doesn't make the  body that way. It's exceptionally useful against sharp attacks, but  blunt and crushing force can still kill you while it adorns your body.  Still, it is one of the great treasures of our people and has inspired  many an imitation, though none are it's match."

The  thing lived up to it's name. The rings of chain mail were so tiny at  first glance it looked like woven thread. It shimmered and was soft and  smooth to the touch as I picked it up. It was gorgeous. It made my  effort with the scale male look like a first grader's finger painting. I  tried to feel out the rings individually, but the interlocking mail was  so finely woven and the links were so thin and small I could barely  feel where they ended or began. It was like running my fingers over  actual silk. I activated my magic eye and sure enough the mystical  bindings woven into it were astonishing.

Every  ring was enchanted to the same extent as Harry's whole duster. Not just  pure power but the actual bindings were just as complex and winding,  they were just spun from such spider web thin threads the entire spell  could fit into the miniscule rings. The craziest thing was that the  bindings were layered in a strange way, they nor only linked to the  parts of the enchantment beside them but also portions of the spell work  seemed to actually form more complex traceries of spells out of those  very connections. Like one of those giant letter's made of tiny versions  of the same letter, only like seven of those at once somehow spelling a  word that if you read it different ways could make a whole sentence.

I  snapped the spell off and hissed with pain, the coat was way too high  level for me to try to recreate right now. Not just magically but even  in terms of craftsmanship on a physical level. I could sense that each  ring was subtly different in a way that made them fit seamlessly  together. I put it back down in the box with a wince, but rather than  get offended Etri smiled approvingly. Clearly my curiosity and interest  spoke well of me as far as he was concerned. The Svartalf was warming up  to me even more. That was good for my chances of getting that  apprenticeship.

Etri  closed the box and finally reached gingerly down to open the third and  final box. This one seemed bigger somehow, like what was inside it was  more important. I tried to guess what it might be, maybe some kind of  legendary breastplate, or a powerful shield like Aegis. It was  actually...a robe. A course looking red robe woven from some kind of  hair. I must have looked underwhelmed because Etri laughed. He had  clearly been expecting some kind of downcast reaction and had hyped the  thing up so he could watch me be let down, but if they had this thing it  couldn't be normal or ordinary. The Svartalves didn't keep junk.

His  laugh ended with a gentle smile "Apologies, I always like to watch  people get their hopes up about this one. Don't discount it though, the  Robe of the Fire-Rat. Aside from being completely immune to flame it has  the side effect of being a powerful magical insulator. It prevents  magic of a more mental and subtle nature from affecting the wearer and  can hel absorb or deflect evocation. It's fairly sturdy as well, easily a  match for any normal set of plate. It is admittedly a bit drab visually  but it's a wonderful piece of armor for anyone facing a powerful magic  user. The wolf twins are known to be quite proficient in the mystical."

I  had to admit that would come in handy. Honestly mental magic scared me a  million times more than being crushed or stabbed or even burned alive. I  was massively paranoid about having my brain violated. Granted that  fear became a bit less pressing once the thing was reinforced with  divine metal that seemed to mess with magic but it was still more than  possible to trap me with psychomancy and that was one of my worst fears.  I would wear this thing everywhere I possibly could. I wondered if I  could find normal around the house clothes that would match it. It  seemed like it wouldn't go with much.

I  had to smile at the amazing wares they had busted out for us. I was  more than convinced that if this had just been a show for Odin they  wouldn't have gone to so much trouble on the armor. That silken mailcoat  was a one of a kind piece of gear. They definitely wanted to work with  me. I stood up, smiling at Etri and bowing deeply to him. "I have to  thank you, my friend. These are worthy and powerful objects, and even  though you bestow them on us for Odin's sake we recognize the quality of  your goods and appreciate the time and effort you put into obtaining  them. We will put them to good use."

Etri  grinned back with a laugh and stood. "Please, no need for formality. As  you said we are friends not are we not? Call me Etri. I look forward to  your return after you finish your matters with the beasts. We have much  to discuss, and I believe we can come to an arrangement in regards to  your request. As mentioned I must gather support for the idea, but I  believe I can move my brothers and sisters. Provided I can keep this  sample?" He held up the orb and I nodded, he smiled back at me even  wider "Then I look forward to seeing you again soon, and good luck."