Prince of Gluttony: Born from Betrayal

Cain had not expected the meeting with Mira to unfold like this. When he agreed to let her tag along and speak privately, he imagined she wanted to talk about business, maybe even ask him for a favor regarding the shop she managed near the Academy grounds. Instead, the girl who stood before him now looked nothing like the oil-smudged artisan he remembered from just a few days ago. Her hair had been washed and braided neatly, her outfit was free of soot, and even the faint calluses on her hands had been polished down. She carried herself with an air of quiet pride that clashed against the humble storefront owner he had come to know.

Cain studied her with narrowed eyes. Mira was sharper than he had first thought. She rarely attended classes because of her responsibilities with the shop, which explained why no one seemed to know much about her. He had underestimated her, placing her in the mental category of "useful ally" and nothing more. But now, seeing her cleaned up, her amber eyes gleaming like molten metal, he began to understand why she carried a different weight than most students.

Mira reached into a small pouch and produced a bracelet. It was a simple design, wrought in silver with faint runic etchings that shimmered when the light hit them just right. She held it out with both hands, cheeks turning pink as she forced herself to meet his gaze.

"I know I was a little too late," she said, her voice unusually soft, "but I made this for you."

Cain blinked, his usual calm expression flickering. "You… made this?"

Her blush deepened. "Yes. I did not want to hand it over in front of everyone else. It is a defensive artifact. It will repel attacks up to a certain threshold and absorb some of the impact."

For a moment Cain did not say anything. He stared at the bracelet as though it were something sacred. Then his eyes snapped back to her face, narrowing with suspicion. "Did I hear you right? You made an artifact?"

Mira nodded once.

Cain's lips parted. He felt a genuine shock crawl down his spine, something rare for him. Artifacts were not trinkets that anyone could forge on a whim. They were the legacy of ancient heroes and divine craftsmen, creations that required rare materials, deep knowledge of runes, and weeks or even months of painstaking labor. In his entire life, Cain could count on one hand the number of people who could forge a true artifact. And Mira, whom he had last seen barely four days ago, had created one for him?

"That is impossible," Cain muttered. "It takes more than just skill to make something like this. Do you expect me to believe you finished it in less than a week?"

Her pride flickered in her eyes as she straightened her back. "I am the descendant of the God of the Forge. It would be an insult to my bloodline if I could not meet such a challenge. You said before that you doubted I could live up to that name. This is my answer."

The air between them shifted. Cain studied her with new intensity. He had thought Mira was merely competent, a girl who happened to have access to certain knowledge and tools that would be useful in keeping his Gluttony Skill hidden from the Academy. He had thought she could serve as a shield, a cover, someone to divert attention when the heat grew too much. But now he realized he had been gravely mistaken.

This was no simple craftsman's daughter. This was a prodigy who could casually create an artifact in less than a week. To call her talented would be an understatement. She was a monster in her own right.

Cain accepted the bracelet, turning it over in his palm. He traced the runes with his finger, noting how precise and fluid the lines were. No wasted strokes, no flaws in the etching. It was perfect craftsmanship. When he slipped it around his wrist, he felt a faint pulse of energy hum against his skin. His senses sharpened instantly, as though the artifact had acknowledged him as its rightful bearer.

Mira's lips curled into a small, proud smile. "It fits you well."

Cain let out a slow breath. He almost never praised others, but this time he could not help himself. "You truly live up to your lineage. The God of the Forge would not be ashamed to call you his descendant."

The effect was immediate. Mira's entire face lit up with pride. Her amber eyes glowed as though his words had kindled a fire deep within her chest. She had been called a genius before, but praise from Cain was something entirely different. She could see in his gaze that he was not flattering her, nor trying to manipulate her. He meant every word, and that truth sent warmth rushing through her veins.

"You really think so?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

"I know so," Cain replied.

Mira pressed her lips together to keep from smiling too wide, but she could not stop the joy bubbling inside her. She had long struggled under the weight of her heritage. Being a descendant of a god was not always a gift. It was a responsibility. People expected her to achieve greatness without understanding the pressure it placed upon her shoulders. Yet here, at this moment, Cain's simple acknowledgment made the burden lighter.

Cain's thoughts, however, were not as gentle. His mind churned rapidly, reassessing everything he had assumed about Mira. She was no mere ally to hide behind. She was worth far more than that. With her skills, she could forge weapons and armor that might rival the treasures of kings. With her talent, she could help him build a foundation strong enough to withstand even divine scrutiny.

He had intended to use her discreetly, nothing more. But now he saw her for what she truly was: an invaluable asset, perhaps even someone who could stand beside him in the storm to come.

Cain looked at her again, this time with a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "You have exceeded my expectations, Mira. I will not forget this."

Her cheeks turned red again, but her chest swelled with pride.

For a moment, the two stood there in silence, the weight of the gift lingering in the air. Cain flexed his wrist, feeling the power thrumming beneath the surface of the bracelet. This was not just a token of affection. It was a shield, a promise, a declaration of Mira's strength.

And it forced Cain to realize something he had not considered before. Mira was not someone to be overlooked. She was not just a tool to manage his secrets. She was someone he would need to account for in the grand design of his future.

Cain found himself actually enjoying the conversation with Mira. Her insights into metalwork and the subtle theories behind forging enchanted gear fascinated him more than he expected. The way her eyes lit up when she described the temperature needed to meld mana into steel, or how she could feel the difference in resonance when the hammer struck properly, made her voice carry a warmth unlike anyone else's he had met.

"You speak about the forge like it is alive," Cain remarked, arms folded while leaning back against the wall.

Mira grinned, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Because it is. The forge is more than fire and tools. Every strike of the hammer is a heartbeat. Every flame carries the breath of the smith. My ancestor, the God of the Forge, said that weapons are extensions of the soul. If you cannot give them life, then you do not deserve to hold them."

Cain chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief. "You certainly live up to his name then. The way you talk about this, and what you just gave me, proves it."

Her cheeks reddened slightly, but pride welled up behind her eyes. The praise clearly reached her in a way few things could. "I worked hard to make it worthy of you. It is not perfect, but it will deflect at least one deadly strike. Think of it as a promise. I will forge better for you in the future."

Cain raised a brow. "You made an artifact in less than a week." His voice dropped lower, as if he was speaking to himself more than her. "Do you realize what that means? Do you know how rare that is?"

She tilted her head innocently. "I suppose. It was not too difficult once I got the design clear in my head."

Cain stared at her with wide eyes. The last time he had seen her was only three or four days ago. That meant this girl had sat down and created a working defensive artifact in less than a week. The sheer absurdity of it made him want to laugh, but also forced him to reassess everything he thought he knew about Mira. He had originally considered her as someone useful to quietly help him with maintaining his Gluttony skill, someone who could forge without asking questions. But now, standing here with the bracelet in his hand, he realized she was worth far more than that. This was not just talent. This was genius on a monstrous level.

Cain smirked faintly. "I really underestimated you."

"I take that as a compliment," Mira replied, folding her arms but smiling softly. "Besides, you will need someone like me around. You break too many things."

Before Cain could reply, a sudden roar ripped through the quiet air. The sound of an enraged woman cut through the stillness like a war cry.

Cain stiffened, Mira's words halting on her lips. Both of them turned toward the sound at the same time.

There, standing with her hair practically blazing in the light, was Jayden. Her fiery red locks flowed wildly, and her jade green eyes were burning with fury. Every inch of her body radiated righteous anger as she locked her gaze on the scene before her.

Cain blinked. He had never seen her look so murderous, and for a moment he wondered if he had missed some kind of world-shaking crime he had apparently committed.

Jayden's glare shifted instantly from him to Mira, and then back to him. She snarled, her voice sharp as steel. "You bastard."

Before Cain could even open his mouth, Jayden dashed forward and launched herself into the air. Her body twisted with frightening grace as she attempted to dropkick him straight in the chest.

Cain's reflexes kicked in instantly. His form blurred and he blinked out of the way, reappearing just a few feet to the side. Jayden's kick passed through empty air and she landed with a thud, her boots grinding against the stone as she spun around to face him again.

"What the hell, Jayden?" Cain asked, genuinely bewildered.

"You think I do not see what is happening here?" Jayden growled, pointing a finger at Mira like she had just unveiled the culprit of some terrible crime. "I do not approve of you meeting with some unknown hussy behind my back!"

Cain was torn between laughter and tears at the accusation. He rubbed his forehead, trying to find the patience to deal with this. "Unknown? Do you even hear yourself? She is not someone unknown. This is Mira. The blacksmith I recruited. My personal blacksmith."

Jayden froze. For the first time, her expression faltered. She had charged in fully fueled by rage, but now, standing there with all eyes on her, the fire in her gaze wavered with sudden embarrassment.

Mira, on the other hand, looked thoroughly amused. She lifted a hand and waved at Jayden with a playful glint in her eye, the corner of her lips tugging upward. "Hello there."

Jayden's face turned crimson. Her wolf ears twitched and flicked back against her head as if betraying her inner turmoil. She avoided Mira's gaze, her glare instead turning to Cain, though the anger had softened into something closer to pouting frustration.

Cain let out a long sigh, the faintest smirk tugging at his lips as he glanced between the two women. "This is going to be troublesome."