Fates of Grenora: Return of the Night

Tang

Tang

Tang

"Alright now!" Ruthik shouted to Aldrin over the roaring black flame that was greedily consuming the impurities of the Aurichalcam.

Aldrin pricked his finger once more, letting another bead of crimson-black blood fall into the flame. The shining blue-silver ore of Aurichalcam instantly changed into the crimson-black color matching Aldrin's blood.

"By the Old Gods, boy!" Ruthik shouted, almost euphoric from the notice. "I can't believe it! A new ore! Never would I have thought this would happen in my lifetime!" He turned to Aldrin with a maniac glint in his eyes. "We are making more! Grimhaven is going to shit!"

Aldrin couldn't believe his eyes either as he read and reread the notification. "How much Aurichalcam do you have..?" he asked in disbelief.

Ruthik vehemently shook his head and waved his hands. "There is no need. If your blood is an evolutionary catalyst, then any ore we use it on will transform into its opposite equivalent!" He rushed to pick up an unrefined Runed Iron ore. "This!" He held it out to Aldrin. "The runes here are fixed, but if we drop your blood during the smelting process, who knows what will happen with them!"

The arcane forge behind him popped and sizzled, reminding the two of the ore that lay within. "Right! One thing at a time!" Ruthik said and jumped right back to making the first piece of armor for Aldrin. He hummed a tune that made the black fire dance within and the melted Nyxrahium swell into different forms. "To the crate to your left, there are skins of a Basilisk. Grab two folds of them and place them on the table over there!" Ruthik told Aldrin as he was busy focusing on the new metal in front of him.

Aldrin wordlessly complied and grabbed the scale skin and took them to a wide wooden table. A presence entered his sense sphere, and he turned to see Svestra elegantly striding to them. Her spider half still unnerved Aldrin as he tried his best to block out the spindly legs moving in perfect harmony. "Hello dear, I have returned. Grimhaven said he would be on his way in a little bit." She moved closer, peering over Ruthik's shoulder as he was focused on the metal. "Oh, my gods. A new ore?" She gasped in surprise, her small hands slightly raising to her mouth.

Ruthik gave a curt nod and reached his hands outwards. The molten metal slowly rose as Ruthik carefully guided it into the mold for a chest piece. Sweat dropped in rivulets from him as he morphed the metal to the shape of the mold. "Svestra, honey, get ready to start threading." Ruthik strained, his arms beginning to shake as the metal refused to comply.

Svestra saw the effort and quickly rushed to the table, grabbing the two folds of Basilisk scales. Aldrin stepped aside, letting the spider-woman work. Sharp talons grew from her fingernails that easily cut through the scales as two of her forelegs untucked from where her two halves met and moved in a dizzying manner. Her hands glowed white next, and right before his eyes, Aldrin saw the scales form the shape of padding for chest armor.

"What do you need next?" Svestra asked Ruthik, who finally relented, helping the metal cool into place.

"Spider thread," he rasped, then grabbed a small gold hammer from his belt and lightly tapped it against the mold.

Svestra looked sheepishly at Aldrin. "Excuse me," she murmured, embarrassed about what she was about to do. Then, to Aldrin's horror, she started pulling webbing from the back of her spider half's abdomen.

Aldrin wanted to look away, but the grey spider silk laced with blue glitter entranced him. When she deemed she had enough, she neatly swiped it, leaving a neat pile of thick spider silk. She scooped it up and then put it in her mouth, holding it in place as her hands and forelegs started separating and weaving the spider silk together.

CRACK

Aldrin looked at Ruthik, who pried the metal chest piece from the mold. He brought it over to Svestra's table, placing it near the Basilisk leather, then went back to the forge, dumping more Aurichalcam ore into the flames. "Aldrin! Again!" he commanded.

Aldrin came back over and pricked his finger, dropping the blood onto the rapidly melting ore. The process was quicker as it shifted to Nyxrahium, and Ruthik got straight to work. This time he pulled out a mold for bracers. The process repeated as he finished the set and brought it over to Svestra, who was busy combining the scales, the metal chest piece, and her silk to form the first of the set.

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Aldrin read it but found it was still lacking the extra oomph he was looking for. He decided to wait until the entire set was complete to see if that would change. Ruthik and Aldrin stayed by the forge, Aldrin donating his blood whenever Ruthik called for it until the last piece of the set, his greaves, finished.

Ruthik crumpled to the ground, heaving breaths that would rival any blacksmith's bellows. "Good lord, boy… you pushed me up five levels just from that. I'm now a Level 87 Arcane Forgemaster." He grinned tiredly at Aldrin.

"I've finished my love," Svestra quietly said. "Come see," she reverently whispered. Aldrin helped Ruthik up, and they walked over to the table where Svestra leaned over. Much like Ruthik, Svestra looked haggard from the long, arduous process of crafting.

The armor itself was grey and cracked in places like dried skin. Aldrin felt some resonance, but it was faint, like it was waiting for something.

"Claim it," Ruthik weakly told Aldrin. Svestra scuttled aside to let Aldrin in the center. With tentative steps, Aldrin peered down at the armor, his armor that held a part of him.

Aldrin selected yes, and the armor changed from its inert grey color to a deep crimson-black that rhythmically pulsated and hummed with power.

The armor shook violently, startling the three who watched it before it leaped off the table and encased Aldrin within, forming around him like a second skin. It breathed a sigh of relief before tightly snuggling itself closer to its new owner. Aldrin felt complete with the armor on, like it had always been a part of him just waiting to make itself known. He moved around in it, and he felt no stiffness or pinches in weird places. It moved exactly how he wanted it to move, accommodating him for efficiency.

"This feels incredible," Aldrin breathed as he opened and closed his hands, the armored gloves feeling thin and flexible. He looked at Ruthik and Svestra, who held warm smiles on their tired faces. "I can't thank either of you enough," he wistfully said, looking between the two.

Ruthik stepped forward, holding his hand out for Aldrin to shake. "You are going to do a lot more than you know. Fate has shown me." He solemnly said.

Aldrin took Ruthik's hand and shook it. "Still, is there any way I can repay you?" He asked gently.

Svestra clasped her hands in front of her. "When you get settled, come for us and we will be among your first followers." Ruthik smiled his agreement to his wife and Aldrin.

"What-" Aldrin began before heavy booted footfalls demanded his attention. He turned to the entrance of the forge to see an old dwarf skid to a stop. His grey eyes were wide, along with his busy grey eyebrows raised all the way to the top of his head with flecks of food ‌stuck in his beard. The old Dwarf darted his eyes between the three.

"What in tha actual fuck, Ruthik…" The old Dwarf stammered. "I thought ya said this was an emergency like on yer deathbed, last wish kind'o thing?" His face turned red with rage.

Ruthik let out a wheezing laugh while Svestra tried to stifle her laughter. Aldrin just looked confused as the old Dwarf stomped past the entrance and right up to Ruthik. "Explain yerself," he jabbed a thick meaty finger into Ruthik's chest.

"Grimhaven," he said with mirth, "meet the Vampire Progenitor, Aldrin." He pointed at him.

Aldrin dipped his head. "A pleasure, Grimhaven," he greeted with a small smile.

Grimhaven turned even redder, but not from anger. "Apologies, my lord," he quickly bowed.

Aldrin stopped him before he went any further. "Please don't bow. It makes me uncomfortable," he admitted.

Grimhaven shot back up and glared at Ruthik, who was trying his best not to laugh again. "I'll make us more tea, darling," Svestra smiled and leaned down to kiss Ruthik's cheek before scuttling away.

"So it's time then?" Grimhaven asked Ruthik.

Ruthik's star-laced eyes glowed briefly, then he grinned. "Aye, my old friend. It's time."

"Time for what…?" Aldrin asked tentatively.

"Clan Grimhaven will be forging for your armies, my lord," Grimhaven said, shocking Aldrin, who became lost for words at the statement.