“So,” Reya asked, looking around the makeshift forge and shifting from foot to foot. “Where do we start? Are you going to teach me how to forge?” “That would be an interesting idea if we had more time,” Arwin said as he tossed his [Soul Flame] into the hearth. “Teaching basically forces you to master topics, so it’s a good way for me to improve as well. Unfortunately, I don’t think I’m qualified to teach anything.” “What do you mean? You’re insanely good at making stuff!” “I don’t think I am, actually.” Arwin headed over to the warped metal on the ground that had once been a suit of armor and picked it up, placing it in the hearth to heat. “My class is guiding me.” “Isn’t that basically the same thing?” “No,” Arwin said. “It means I’m good at following directions, and that I’m learning what to do. But, the more I work, the more I realize that actually understanding what I’m doing and working with a purpose are the real keys to actually creating something powerful.” “So you’re not going to teach me?” Arwin chuckled and put his hand on the metal, rotating it to try to get it to heat faster and wishing he had a bellows to intensify the [Soul Flame] faster. “If you decide you want to know more when I get better at it, then I’d be willing to share. But, until then, I’m going to be focusing on creating rather than teaching. See, I learned something when I was working with the helmet that Zeke… left me.” Reya’s hands tightened at her sides. “What was it?” “That doesn’t sound very safe.” “Only one way to find out,” Arwin said, hoisting the hammer and giving it a pointed look. “Just touch it slowly. I think it should register that I’m letting you use it and you aren’t trying to steal it.” “Should?” Despite her doubt, Reya walked to stand beside Arwin. She brushed the back of a hand across the shaft of the weapon. When nothing happened, she slowly reached out and wrapped her hands around it. “See?” Arwin asked, slightly more relieved that she hadn’t gotten burned than he cared to admit. It had still been a possibility, and even if Anna could have healed a burn without too much trouble, it still would have been very unfortunate. “Right. So what do I do?” Arwin moved behind Reya, adjusting her grip on the hammer. “Try to lift it. See how it feels.” Reya raised the weapon, then shifted her stance to better her stability. She let out a surprised grunt. “It’s so much lighter than I thought it would be.” “Don’t let it get away from you,” Arwin warned. “It still hits like a bull. Start out swinging it a bit less than you think you need to. The hammer is heavy enough to do a lot of the swing for you, and we’re only trying to work the impurities out of the metal right now.” “Okay. Do I swing now?” “Go for it,” Arwin said, keeping a light hold on the back of the hammer. Even if it was tolerating her now, he didn’t want it to burn Reya the moment he let go. Reya raised the hammer, then brought it down on the metal with a resounding clang. She glanced at Arwin over her shoulder and he gave her an encouraging nod. “One down. A few hundred more to go. Keep at it.” Reya got tired. If anything, she managed to keep at it for longer than Arwin had expected. She was half his size and had considerably less muscle, and swinging a hammer for hours on end was exhausting. He’d fully thought that he’d have to take over before the metal was ready to start working with, but he’d been incorrect. Reya managed to completely finish working the impurities out of the Brightsteel sheet they’d been preparing, not stopping until Arwin had judged it finished. “Well done,” Arwin said as Reya returned full control of the hammer to him. “Thanks,” Reya said with a weary smile. “It… feels good. To be able to do something.” “You’ll be able to do more in the future,” Arwin promised. “But, for now, this is more than enough. Thank you. It gave me some time to rest.” “Do you even need rest?” “Everyone needs rest,” Arwin replied. “Even me.” Reya’s stomach grumbled and her cheeks reddened. “Might be time to get some food,” Arwin suggested, nudging her toward the door. “Could you send Rodrick over as well? I’ve got a favor I’d like to ask for him, and I’d imagine he probably wants to do something just as much as you did. Also, if you can get me some leather at some point, that would be really useful as well.” “Yeah, I can do that,” Reya said. She paused at the door and sent a glance back at Arwin. “Thanks. It feels nice to be able to do something. I just wish I could do more.” With that, she stepped out onto the street and headed off. Arwin picked up the large sheet of metal that she’d hammered out, watching the light reflect off the shimmering steel, and sighed. I wanted a relaxing retirement, but I don’t think that’s going to be happening anytime soon. If I want peace, I need to be strong. This wasn’t the way I wanted to be reminded that I’m really not the Hero anymore, but I’m not going to be forgetting it anytime soon. The door creaked and Arwin turned as Rodrick stepped into the building. “Arwin. Reya said you needed help?” Rodrick asked. “I’m not sure how much I’m going to be able to do with smith stuff, but I’ll do what I can.” “Oh, I don’t need any help with that right now,” Arwin said. “I need something else.” Rodrick blinked. “Really? What?” “The Iron Hounds don’t know you beyond someone who just happened to buy gear from me,” Arwin said. “And I don’t want to spend all this time making armor only to find out I have no idea how to find them.” “So you want me to sniff ‘em out?” “Yeah. Starting with Tix,” Arwin said, his features going flat. “She’s involved, but I don’t know who else is.” “I’ll find out,” Rodrick promised. “That shouldn’t be too hard.”