The forge breathed like a living beast.
Heat rolled through the stone chamber in heavy waves, thick with the scent of burning coal and molten iron. Each strike of hammer against steel echoed with purpose, ringing through the cavernous space like a steady heartbeat. Sparks scattered across the floor, glowing briefly before fading into darkness.
At the center of it all stood the dwarf.
Steel Beard.
Short in stature, yet impossibly broad, his presence filled the room more than any flame or machine. His beard was thick and unkempt, streaked with soot and ash, and his left arm mechanical, humming faintly shifted as he worked, adjusting tools with practiced ease.
He stopped.
Slowly, he turned his head.
His eyes landed on Solarynth.
"You," he said, voice rough and blunt. "Come here."
There was no politeness in his tone—only command.
Solarynth stepped forward, his movements still carrying that unnatural smoothness, though faint stiffness lingered from his recent injuries. His vision pulsed slightly, a dull ache forming behind his eyes as if something inside them had not yet settled.
Steel Beard approached without hesitation, closing the distance between them. He leaned in close—closer than most would dare—his sharp gaze scanning Solarynth's eyes with unsettling intensity.
"…Yeah," he muttered after a moment. "Thought so."
Solarynth remained still, though he could feel it—that strange sensation of being seen through, not just looked at.
"You forced it," Steel Beard continued. "Whatever that thing you did out there was… you pushed it too far."
Grace, standing nearby, crossed her arms. "He didn't exactly have the luxury of holding back," she said.
Steel Beard didn't look at her.
"Everyone's got a luxury," he replied flatly. "Some just waste it."
Solarynth spoke then, his voice quieter, still adapting, still learning.
"My eyes… they still hurt."
The words were simple, but they carried something deeper—confusion, discomfort, and something else he could not yet name.
Steel Beard studied him for a moment longer, then turned abruptly and walked back toward a cluttered workbench. He began rummaging through stacks of old papers, blueprints, and broken components, muttering under his breath as he searched.
"Where the hell did I—ah."
He pulled out a single sheet.
Old. Worn. Edges burned and curled. Covered in layers of notes scribbled over time.
He slammed it down onto the table with a heavy thud.
"Look here."
The group gathered closer.
Solarynth's gaze fell onto the blueprint. It was complex—interlocking structures, lens-like mechanisms, channels that seemed designed to regulate something invisible. It wasn't just equipment.
It was control.
"What is it?" Solarynth asked.
Steel Beard smirked slightly.
"A leash," he said.
He tapped the center of the design.
"For your sight."
Silence settled briefly as the words sank in.
"You're not going blind," the dwarf continued. "You're seeing too much. Your brain's trying to process everything at once—movement, muscle tension, blood flow… intent."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Maybe even more than that."
Solarynth didn't respond, but something in him stirred. He remembered the moment clearly the way the world had opened, revealing layers beneath reality itself.
It had been… overwhelming.
"This device," Steel Beard went on, "filters it. Stabilizes it. Lets you control what you see instead of drowning in it."
Grace stepped closer, her expression serious. "And the damage he's already taken?"
Steel Beard shrugged.
"It'll still hurt," he said. "Just won't destroy him."
That was enough.
Solarynth straightened slightly, his gaze sharpening despite the lingering pain.
"I need it."
Steel Beard let out a loud, rough laugh, shaking his head.
"Of course you do."
He reached beneath the table and pulled out a worn piece of parchment before thrusting it into Solarynth's hands.
"Then you're getting the parts."
Solarynth looked down at the list.
Steel Beard began explaining without pause.
"First—Burst-Blooded Fluid. Comes from a frog in the Dark Vern Woods. Harmless creature. But extracting the fluid without ruining it? Not easy."
He raised another finger.
"Second—Aether Crystal Shard. You'll find it in deep ground veins. That stabilizes energy flow. Without it, your brain fries the second you activate that ability again."
"Third—Veil Spider Silk. Rare. Lives in cave ceilings. That's what filters your perception. Without it, you won't just feel pain—you'll lose control completely."
"Fourth—Ember Core Dust. Comes from fire-based creatures or refined forge remnants. Burns off excess energy. You're going to feel that one."
His grin widened slightly.
"Fifth—Luminous Nerve Thread. That's what connects everything to your body. Without it, the whole device is useless."
The list was complete.
Heavy in Solarynth's hands.
"And after that?" Solarynth asked.
Steel Beard leaned back, crossing his arms.
"I build it," he said simply. "And you pay me."
There was no negotiation in his tone.
Only fact.
Before Solarynth could respond further, Steel Beard turned away, his attention shifting instantly.
"Now," he muttered, cracking his neck, "about that royal problem you dragged in here."
His eyes moved to Captain Louis.
"That knight of yours," he said, voice laced with irritation. "What does he want? Armor thick enough to match his big ass skull?"
Omen let out a faint chuckle. Rook remained silent, though his gaze sharpened slightly.
Louis, as always, remained composed.
"High durability," he said calmly. "But he still needs mobility. And he requested a new weapon."
Steel Beard snorted, grabbing a chunk of metal and slamming it onto the forge table.
"Of course he did," he muttered. "People like that always want everything."
He raised his hammer.
Rook stepped closer to observe, his experienced eyes scanning the forge and tools with quiet judgment. Omen wandered slightly, curiosity getting the better of him as he examined a nearby blade.
Outside, Grace moved calmly between the horses, feeding them and adjusting supplies. Vex stood steady, snorting softly as she worked, the quiet rhythm of her actions contrasting the intensity inside the forge.
Then—
Clang.
The hammer struck metal, sending sparks bursting into the air.
Steel Beard paused briefly, glancing once more toward Solarynth.
"You've got power," he said.
Another strike.
"…but no control."
Clang.
The sound echoed deep into the stone walls.
"Come back when you've got the materials," he added, his voice steady but firm. "Then we'll see if you're worth the effort."
He turned fully back to his work.
"But don't take too long."
The fire behind him flared, casting long shadows across the room.
"Power like yours…" he muttered,
"…doesn't wait."
With a final, thunderous clang, Steel Beard brought his hammer down on the glowing steel, the impact sending a burst of sparks scattering across the forge like fireflies.
The upper half of Alexander's armor lay before him—freshly shaped, still radiating heat, its surface dense and unyielding. It was nearly complete. Only the lower half remained unfinished, waiting its turn beneath the hammer.
Steel Beard rolled his shoulder with a low grunt, setting the hammer aside for the first time in what felt like hours. His mechanical arm hissed softly as it adjusted, releasing built-up tension.
"Good enough for now…" he muttered.
Without ceremony, he turned away from the forge and stomped toward a nearby grill set against the stone wall. Thick cuts of meat sizzled over open flame, the smell rich and heavy, filling the air with something far more inviting than iron and smoke.
He grabbed a slab with his bare hand—ignoring the heat entirely—and tore into it with a savage bite.
Juice ran down his beard as he chewed, eyes half-lidded in satisfaction.
"Now this…" he grumbled between bites, voice rough but pleased, "…this is real work."
Another bite. Slower this time.
Satisfied.
For a brief moment, the relentless blacksmith wasn't forging armor or solving impossible problems—
He was just a dwarf enjoying his meal, his body tense and flexes, tighten, his skin began to harden by just eating meat alone, his ridiculous power is something else.
Solarynth stood still, the list held firmly in his grasp, his eyes faintly aching as the weight of everything settled in.
For the first time, he understood something clearly.
Power alone was not enough.
Control had a cost.