Rise of the Living Forge - Chapters 266-267 (Patreon)

When night fell, the Menagerie stood in wait.

Lillia had briefed everyone on the meeting she and Arwin had with Raen as they arrived back from their duties. The day had been hectic with preparation but now they were all prepared, and in more ways than one.

Arwin had repaired and polished up everyone’s armor in addition to making himself three bracelets for the upcoming fight. They hadn’t been difficult, but they’d taken a little more time than they once had due to his new smithing technique. He had, however, chosen to avoid making any of them Cursed. He hadn’t tried eating a Cursed item yet, and this probably wasn’t the time to test out another new thing — he already had a new shield for that. The bracelets he made each served their own purpose.

One was for power, one was for speed, and one was for defense.

[Rough Band]: Rare Quality

[Roughhousing]: This item is imbued with the anticipation of old metal that seeks to perform one last time. Every attack made while it is worn will do increased damage at the cost of considerable magical energy.  

[Fluttering Band]: Rare Quality

[Light as a Feather]: The spirit of a dancing dove feather is imbued within this item. Its bearer’s movements are increased while it is worn at the cost of a continuous draw of magical energy.

Chitinous Band: Rare Quality

[Chitinskin]: Activating this item will turn its wearer’s body to chitin and greatly reduce their range of movement at the continuous cost of magical energy.

Arwin kept all three of the bracelets hanging from his plain belt. He had no desire to wear any of them early — their benefits were largely detrimental unless he ate them because of how much energy they consumed. Eating them would give him their benefits and use the magic in the item to power the effect instead of drawing on his own reserves.

He also had the Band Three, the mithril bracelet he’d made during Wallace’s test, in his other pocket. It sat there like a ten pound weight even though it couldn’t have weighed much more than an ounce.

 Arwin had yet to give it to Lillia. Something had been stopping him. At first, he’d thought it was his reluctance to expose her to Cursed items — but that obviously wasn’t the case. She had the new blade he’d gifted her hanging from her side like a sword rather than a kitchen knife.

 He’d yet to figure out what gave him pause, so it remained in his pocket. There was no need to rush it. Arwin was confident he’d determine what was giving him pause in time. Rushing something like this was indubitably a bad idea. It was better to be cautious when it came to Cursed items.

“I wish I’d had a chance to look more into Raen,” Rodrick said, running a hand through his hair and blowing out a small huff of air. “I don’t know much about the Dawnchasers yet. He’s definitely who he claims to be, but they’re a Merchant Guild. Those people never deal with just one avenue. We have to be prepared.”

“You’re paranoid, hon,” Anna said, nudging Rodrick’s foot with your own. “But your paranoia usually ends up being right. We’ve accounted for that, though. Don’t stress yourself into an early grave.”

Anna had several coin pouches hanging from her waist that Arwin hadn’t seen before. They were each tied shut with two black drawstrings, which felt like a lot of security for money — especially when the pouches were bulging with what seemed far closer to powder than money. She didn’t mention anything about them, and nobody asked.

Anna wasn’t the only one with extras. Lillia had a sealed wooden flask dangling from her left hip. It sloshed with some form of liquid, likely something that she’d brewed.

Olive had a new dagger hanging from her hip and the bracer that she’d gotten from Jessen’s dungeon. Arwin had almost forgotten she had it. He glanced at the armor to refresh himself on its abilities.

Sacrificial Bracer: Rare Quality

[Bloodwell]: Creatures killed while this item is worn will have their energy drained into the gem in its center until it is full. This item cannot contain the energy of any creature higher than Journeyman tier. 

[Sacrifice]: Activating this item releases the power stored in the Bloodwell, causing it to defend the wielder from physical strikes until the power is stored up. Activating [Sacrifice] will render [Bloodwell] inert until all the power within the gemstone has been spent.

“Don’t forget to hide that thing,” Arwin said as he blinked the words away and nodded to Olive’s arm.

She glanced down, then pulled her sleeve over her arm to cover the metal. “Thanks. Good catch.”

“Revealing your abilities to your opponents is only a wise decision after you have already killed them,” Madiv advised. The vampire sat by the counter, his chin in his palm. He, along with Esmerelda, were staying back to make sure nobody tried anything to the Infernal Armory or the Devil’s Den while the rest of them were gone.

I hope they’ll be enough. Madiv is strong, but I haven’t seen him in a real full on fight against someone his strength. I almost wonder if we should leave extra backup for him. Esmerelda might not be enough. And, speaking of, where is —

The door flew open with a bang.

Everyone spun toward it as Esmerelda waddled into the building, accompanied by loud, clinking glass. She had a huge bag strapped to her back. Multicolored vials poked out of its top and shimmered like a rainbow. From the bag ran a thick leather tube the width of Arwin’s arm. It connected to a cylindrical apparatus made of black metal.

The front of the object was shaped like the mouth of a tuba, just wide enough for Arwin to stick his fist into. It had two handles jutting from its bottom in a line, one of which Esmerelda held with one hand.

His eyes widened.

Is that —

“I’m ready,” Esmerelda said, her lips pulling apart in a toothy grin. “Let’s kill some children.”

“You’re staying here, to protect the street,” Madiv said.

“We are not killing children,” Anna said.

Esmerelda frowned. “You aren’t? I am?”

“What is that?” Reya asked, pointing at the strange contraption Esmerelda held.

Esmerelda grinned in response and held the object up, causing the tube to sway by her side. “An invention, dear. I call it a Gas-powered Undulating Neutralizer. It launches potions from my bag at anyone I find distasteful.”

“How?” Reya asked.

“Would you like a demonstration? I would be willing to sell you one for—”

“Absolutely not,” Olive snapped. She glared at Reya. “You know what your dagger will do if it notices you pining after another weapon. That damn thing is like a jealous ex.”

Reya cleared her throat. “Good point. Thanks for the save. I’ll pass, Esmerelda.”

The old woman heaved a defeated sigh. “Of course you will.”

Arwin eyed her warily. Suddenly, his fears for the street’s safety had evaporated. He was pretty sure it would be in good hands.

Esmerelda noted his attention. Her eyes lit up and she reached into her pocket, pulling out a vial full of a bright red liquid and corked with a black stone that had been melted straight into the glass. She walked over to Arwin and held it out to him.

“Here.”

“What’s this for?” Arwin asked.

“The feathers weren’t enough, were they?”

“Enough for what?” Lillia asked.

A bribe.

“A show of my competency,” Esmerelda replied with a wry smile. “I’m applying to join the Menagerie.”

“What do feathers have to with competency?” Reya asked.

“How many feathers do you have?” Esmerelda asked.

“Well… none, I suppose.”

“And I have many. Thus, I am better than you are.”

“That’s hard to argue with,” Reya muttered, glancing at Olive. She fought to keep a grin from forming on her lips. “Should I get some feathers?”

“Only if they’re still attached to the birds. I’m hungry.”

“Noted,” Reya said.

Arwin coughed into a fist. “Thank you, Esmerelda. Is this a healing potion?”

“A healing potion?” Esmerelda stared at him, aghast. “Who do you think I am? And the liquid in the vial is bright red. When has anything that vibrantly colored ever something you’d want to put in your body?”

“It looked healthy.”

“It’s not,” Esmerelda said flatly. “Just throw that at someone you don’t like.”

“What does it do?” Lillia asked.

“Not sure,” Esmerelda replied. “It’s the leftover of all the brewing I was doing today. It’ll probably rot someone’s dick off. Oh, if it does, bring it back for me. Lots of recipes need one of those, and there are never enough of them lying around on the streets.”

Arwin swallowed. He very carefully slid the potion into his travel bag. There had never been anything he’d been less keen to be carrying, but it would have been rude to refuse the gift — and one never knew where a mystery potion could come in handy.

Before anyone could say anything else, Rodrick tilted his head to the side. The former paladin nodded to the door, which still hung slightly askew from Esmerelda’s entrance.

 “He’s here.”

They all turned toward it. Several seconds later, a polite knock echoed out through the tavern.

“Come in,” Lillia called.

The door swung open. A young man stepped inside, sandy blonde hair swept over plain features. Two plain swords hung at his sides and he had the lean build of a warrior. The man stepped inside, his gaze passing over all of them.

“Raen sent me,” the man said. “My name is Yonas.”

“Pleasure,” Arwin said. “You have the key?”

Yonas gave him a sharp nod. “I do. I also have some extra men. Mercenaries. They’re all trained fighters, and—”

“Are not needed,” Arwin finished firmly. He and Lillia had already discussed this with the rest of the Menagerie. There had been a pretty good chance that Raen would try to fit more people on his payroll into the mission. He hadn’t looked too optimistic about their chances given Arwin and Lillia’s classes, both of which Raen knew to be crafting-related.

Yonas grimaced. “Are you certain? You may have armor, but this is not an easy dungeon. We haven’t cleared it yet. Neither have the Ardent Guild. I’m there to guide and back you up, but I won’t die for your mistakes. Replacing your weaker members with mercenaries is the wise decision.”

And it’s also the decision that leaves us with unknown people at our backs. I don’t distrust Raen — but I don’t trust him either.

“Our arrangement will not change,” Arwin said, his voice firm. “All six of us are coming.”

Yonas shrugged one shoulder. “Very well. We need to move quickly. There is much ground to cover until we can get to a portal gateway. My guild has one, but we’ll need to get out of the city and avoid notice to reach it. Do you all have cloaking skills?”

“No,” Olive said. “Nobody told us we needed that.”

Yonas let out a sigh. “That’s fine. The mercenaries will help provide cover as a caravan. It’ll cost, though. They’re top of the line, and they aren’t cheap. Two hundred gold per head should be fine. We can leave them at the gates once we’re outside.”

Arwin exchanged a glance with Lillia.

Trust a merchant to try and fleece you, even when you’re working together. But if it’s a portal gate they need…

“I’ve got a better idea,” Arwin said. “No mercenaries needed.”

“What, do you have a portal gate hidden away somewhere in this street?” Yonas’ voice was rich with disbelief. “Because, unless you do—”

“I do.”

Yonas blinked. “What?”

“Go get rid of the cling-ons. Then come back and let us know when you’re actually ready to proceed with things as we agreed upon.”

“Are you serious?” Yonas asked. “You have a portal gate? Didn’t your guild only just get ranked? How do you have a portal?”

Well, I’m pretty sure it’s a portal gate. I suppose we’re about to find out.

“The Menagerie are far more than we appear,” Arwin said with a cold smile. “I’d keep note of that if I were you.”

Chapter 267

Arwin headed into the Infernal Armory with Yonas and the rest of the Menagerie — Madiv and Esmerelda notwithstanding. Technically speaking, the only member of the guild that wasn’t there was Madiv. Esmerelda had decided herself that she was joining. Nobody had approved it yet.

That’s a problem to deal with later. I could definitely use the advice on Cursed items… but she’s going to have to tone down the mildly evil vibes.

 Arwin led them through the armory’s main room and into the workshop at the back. It was dormant, the lines that covered the floor and slithered up the walls silent in their sleep. The ground was suspiciously spotless for a blacksmith. It seemed that the Armory had cleaned up after Arwin once he’d left.

Convenient.

“We will have to move quickly. The mercenaries are standing by, but they will only wait for a few minutes before leaving,” Yonas warned. “If this does not work, we will need their help. The Dawnseekers have put too much into this plan to risk failure. We must ensure the Ardent Guild fall.”

“We want to get this dealt with just as badly as you do,” Arwin said, approaching the maw in the center of the room and placing his hand against the cold stone. “You have the key?”

“Yes,” Yonas replied. “I would not be here if I did not have the key. It is the portal that we lack.”

“Patience,” Arwin said. “You’re a jumpy one, aren’t you?”

Yonas’ brow scrunched in irritation as Arwin turned away from him and placed both of his hands on the maw. Before he could respond, a gentle rumble rolled through the ground beneath them. His eyes widened and jerked around the room as a dull creaking noise echoed through the stone.

“Arwin,” the wind whispered, its voice slithering past his head as red mist swirled up from through the stones. “Again? Do you think I am an infinite source of power?”

“Lillia, the building needs some fuel. It’s low on energy.”

“I’m on it,” Lillia said, reaching into her pocket and pulling out a round loaf of bread the size of her palm. She tossed it like a ball as she walked up to join him. “Open up, big guy.”

Stone trembled. The maw snapped open, the pointed protrusions running along its circumference flexing like the teeth of a venus fly trap. A shimmer of energy pulsed down the black veins running throughout the room as the Infernal Armory woke itself up.

“Godspit,” Yonas muttered, his gaze darting around. “What is going on? Are you speaking to the building? Is it alive?”

Lillia glanced at Yonas out of the corners of her eyes. “What are you, an idiot? Why would a building be alive? It’s just enchanted and needs energy to run. If you think this thing is anything more than a bunch of stones with a bit of magic powering them, then I’ll let you pay fifty gold to touch a real demon tail.”

“Really?” Yonas asked, tilting his head to the side.

“No,” Lillia replied. She tossed the loaf into the maw. “You can’t touch it. It’s fragile.”

Mist swirled around Arwin, but nobody else so much as noticed its presence. He made sure to pay no heed to it. Lillia was already doing a great job of making sure Yonas didn’t start thinking too much. He didn’t want to go undermining her efforts or making the man think he was insane.

He summoned a ball of [Soul Flame] to his palm and held it out over the building’s maw. Arwin poured power into it until the fire burned a brilliant blue. The stone rumbled as it curled up, the points around the maw reaching for the flame, pursing like the bud of a flower about to blossom.

Arwin gave the armory his Soul Flame and took a step back, leaving the fire burning upon the maw. Energy pulsed in the Infernal Armory’s veins. The maw opened up, pulling at the blue flame.  

It sputtered and turned a pitch black. The air hummed with energy and the fire grew, reaching out for itself. Magic pulsed down veins and lit the room with its intensity. Within moments, a bed of sickly night-colored fire coated its surface. The flames sputtered and rose into the air, forming into the form of a plain door.

Yonas’ mouth dropped open in disbelief. He stared up at the magical doorway, then blinked heavily and rubbed at the bridge of his nose. The door did not disappear. It remained in place, trapped within the smoldering flames.  

“This isn’t easy to keep up. Are you just going to sit around, or are you going to use the key?” Arwin asked tersely.

The Dawnseeker blinked, then shook his head furiously. He reached into a pocket and pulled free a bronze key studded with a blue gemstone. He looked from Arwin to the doorway. “I — yes. I’m ready. How do I—”

“Just stick it in the hole,” Olive deadpanned. “I hope you don’t have a wife.”

“Be nice, Olive,” Reya said. “I wouldn’t normally go sticking things in a burning door either. Being too adventurous is dangerous. There are times when it’s better to just play it safe.”

“That’s rich, coming from you.”

“I was trying to be inspirational.”

“How many guilds are left in Milten that don’t hate you?”

Reya opened her mouth.

“This one doesn’t count,” Olive added.

Reya closed her mouth.

Yonas cleared his throat. He looked from Reya and Olive to the molten portal, then held the key out to Arwin. “Here. You do it. I’ve never used this form of portal before. It would be bad if the key was damaged, so it’s better that we play it safe.”

Arwin took the key with a wry smile. Red smoke twisted down his arm and ran over to the crackling black flames. A faint force pushed against Arwin’s back, driving him forward. The Armory was getting impatient with him. It probably wasn’t too happy about wasting energy while they were waiting around.

He lifted the key and slid it into the hole in the door. It was a strange sensation for fire to put up physical resistance, but a faint click echoed out from the flame as Arwin twisted the key. The door swung open.

Fire poured out from its entrance, licking past Arwin’s face and dissipating into heat in the air around him as it swung open. Arwin squinted as a powerful, hot wave of wind rolled past his face. A moment later, the temperature in the Infernal Armory slipped back to normal as the portal stabilized.  

Beyond the black flame was a room paved with dull, red stone. Light flickered in it, both pouring in from the Infernal Armory and from dim yellow torches that hung from walls, poking out between brown vines that trailed down from the ceiling. The faint smell of brimstone and salt wafted free of the portal.

“That’s it,” Yonas muttered. “Impressive. A portal. And it will last long enough for us to clear the dungeon?”

That’s a good question, actually.

“How long are you expecting this is going to take?” Arwin asked, feeling like they really should have covered this earlier.

“That will heavily depend on your abilities,” Yonas replied, not even bothering to hide his skepticism. “If you prove capable enough to clear the first room, then I will be able to make a better guess — and we don’t know how powerful the boss is. I would expect that a group of experienced adventurers at my level could clear it in less than four hours. It depends how long we would have to wait and recuperate after each room.”

Mist twisted around Arwin, and displeasure prickled against his mind.

“Four hours,” the Armory whispered to him. “No longer. Return before then. I will be displeased if I have to keep this power running any longer than that. It would be an enormous waste of resources.”

Waste? Does that imply the Armory is doing something with the resources when I’m not using them myself?

Arwin couldn’t exactly ask with Yonas present. His eyes narrowed slightly and he let out a huff. “Four hours will be fine. It’ll hold that long.”

“Are you certain?” Yonas asked.

“You’re wasting time,” Arwin said, hoisting himself up onto the maw and reaching down.

Lillia accepted his hand and he pulled her up to stand beside him. She stepped through the portal and glanced around the room beyond before turning back to them and giving them a thumbs-up.

“Safe,” Lillia said.

“Of course it’s safe. What psychopath would use a key that led directly into a populated room? We aren’t amateurs,” Yonas said. “Our guild has standards.”

“Great,” Arwin replied, snapping his fingers impatiently. “Then let’s see them in action. Up we go.”

Yonas accepted Arwin’s hand and let the larger man pull him up to stand on the maw. He pulled his arms closer to his body to avoid touching any of the flaming parts of the portal as he stepped through it and into the dungeon beyond. Oddly enough, he looked more comfortable in the dungeon itself than he had in the smithy.

Arwin helped the rest of the Menagerie through the portal one by one until they’d all stepped foot into the dungeon. He paused for a moment at the edge of the portal. Arwin didn’t say anything, but he sent a pointed look at the askew backroom door.

We need to make sure nobody manages to find their way into the armory while we’re in the dungeon. Getting ambushed while we leave would be bad.  

The Infernal Armory picked up on Arwin’s thoughts. The door closed, locking itself with a click. It was out of sight of the portal, so Yonas couldn’t have seen it happen even if he’d been watching.

Arwin inclined his head slightly, then turned and stepped through the portal to join the others.

“Everyone ready?” Arwin asked.

He received a round of nods in response.

“We’ve got the dungeon scouted out already,” Yonas provided. “I’m not going to put myself at the front of the fight until I see what you lot are capable of, but I’ll guide you. Just remember you chose to not bring the mercenaries, not me. That call was on you.”

“I’m sure we’ll learn to forgive ourselves for that eventually,” Arwin said dryly. He reached out to [Arsenal]. Every piece of armor other than his gauntlets slammed down in place around him. Verdant Inferno took form in his right hand and his shield materialized in his left.

Yonas’ eyes widened. He took a step back. “What kind of smith ability is that?”

“Being a smith is more than hitting a piece of metal,” Arwin replied, thunking Verdant Inferno down on his shoulder with a clang. “Sometimes, you have to hit monsters as well. Rodrick, you’ve been leading the dungeon runs recently. Care to take over? I don’t want to trod on what works.”

“With pleasure,” Rodrick said, a smile crawling across his face. He cracked his neck and drew his sword. “Come on, Menagerie. We’ve got 4 hours and a record to beat. Let’s move out.”