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Chapter 21
The Blood of Stone and Forest
In almost every fantasy world, dwarves were known for one thing above all else.
Blacksmithing.
It was a truth as solid as the mountains they called home.
Deep beneath towering peaks, inside vast underground halls filled with fire and smoke, dwarven craftsmen forged weapons that the rest of the world could barely imagine.
Blades sharp enough to cut through enchanted steel.
Armor strong enough to withstand dragonfire.
Warhammers capable of shattering castle gates with a single strike.
But in the world of Chronicles of the Ruined Empire, dwarves were famous for something even greater.
They were the greatest creators of ranked artifacts.
Artifacts were divided into ranks according to their power.
F Rank — basic enchanted equipment.
E Rank — reliable weapons used by experienced adventurers.
D Rank — equipment capable of breaking magical defenses.
C Rank — items that could greatly amplify a mage's power.
B Rank — artifacts powerful enough to change the tide of battles.
A Rank — treasures that entire nations would wage war to obtain.
S Rank — legendary relics spoken of only in myths.
In the vast Ether Empire, even creating a ranked artifact was considered a remarkable achievement.
The most talented human blacksmiths could only produce C-rank weapons at best. And even those rare craftsmen were treated as national treasures.
A single C-rank weapon could sell for thousands of gold coins — enough to buy several villages.
That was why dwarves dominated the continent's blacksmithing industry.
Their understanding of metal, mana, and magical inscriptions was unmatched.
Yet even the greatest blacksmith could not create a ranked artifact without one crucial thing.
Rare materials.
And such materials could only be found in the most dangerous places in the world.
Labyrinths.
Dungeons.
Mysterious structures that had appeared across the land centuries ago.
No one knew where they came from.
Inside their twisting depths lived countless monsters, ancient ruins, and treasures beyond imagination.
The deeper one ventured, the greater the danger.
But the rewards also became greater.
Mana-infused ores.
Dragon bones hardened by elemental energy.
Spirit crystals filled with pure magic.
Even shadow steel, a rare metal said to be born in darkness itself.
Without these materials, ranked artifacts simply could not exist.
And dwarves had perfected the dangerous art of turning those deadly resources into legendary weapons.
Some ancient records even claimed that dwarven masters had once forged S-rank artifacts — weapons powerful enough to shape the fate of empires.
Because of this unmatched skill, every kingdom desperately wanted dwarven craftsmen.
Kings offered mountains of gold, noble titles, and protected territories just to secure their loyalty.
And yet…
The dwarves standing before Prince Alex looked nothing like the proud figures described in history.
They looked exhausted.
Their bodies were thin and worn.
Their clothes were torn and dirty.
The chains that had bound their wrists and ankles only minutes ago had left deep red marks on their skin.
Some trembled slightly.
Others stared silently at the floor.
But when Alex looked closer, he noticed something else beneath the dirt and despair.
Pride.
The quiet pride of craftsmen who had once shaped metal with their own hands.
Suddenly, a weak voice broke the silence.
"Your Highness…"
Alex blinked.
He realized he had been staring at them for quite a while.
"Oh… sorry about that."
He rubbed his forehead and gave a small, awkward smile.
"I got lost in my thoughts."
The dwarves exchanged confused glances. A prince apologizing to them was not something they expected.
Alex stood up from his chair and slowly walked toward them.
His footsteps echoed softly through the chamber.
He stopped a short distance away and looked at them carefully.
"So," he said calmly, "what are your names? And who among you is the leader?"
At the same moment, he spoke silently in his mind.
System. Scan them.
A faint blue window appeared before his eyes.
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Name: Kael
Age: 85
Title: Half-Blood
Talent: Blacksmith
Potential: B Rank
---
Alex narrowed his eyes slightly.
Half-blood… interesting.
His gaze shifted toward the dwarf standing at the front of the group.
Unlike the others, this one stood a little straighter.
His beard was shorter than the traditional dwarven style.
And his ears…
They were slightly pointed.
Alex spoke again.
"You. What is your name?"
The dwarf stepped forward carefully.
"My name is Kael, Your Highness."
Alex crossed his arms.
"And you're their leader?"
Kael hesitated before nodding.
"Yes… I suppose I am."
Alex studied him for a moment.
Then he asked the question that had been on his mind.
"Then tell me something, Kael."
"How did a group of skilled dwarven craftsmen end up as slaves?"
The atmosphere instantly grew heavy.
Several dwarves lowered their heads.
Kael remained silent for a long moment before letting out a tired sigh.
"It isn't a long story," he said quietly. "But it isn't a happy one either."
Alex gestured calmly.
"I'm listening."
Kael looked down at the stone floor.
"Long ago, dwarves and elves had a good relationship."
"We traded often. Dwarves provided metal and weapons, while elves supplied rare herbs, enchanted wood, and magical resources."
"For centuries, caravans traveled safely between the mountains and forests."
He paused.
Then his voice grew softer.
"But something happened that should never have happened."
He placed a hand on his chest.
"My father was a dwarf."
"My mother… was an elf."
The other dwarves shifted uncomfortably.
"They met during a trade caravan," Kael continued. "They fell in love."
"But neither race would accept such a union."
"Dwarves value pure bloodlines."
"And elves consider their blood sacred."
"So my parents hid their relationship."
"They met secretly for years."
"And eventually… I was born."
Kael smiled faintly, though sadness lingered in his eyes.
"At first, people were shocked. But some were curious as well."
"A child with both dwarven and elven blood."
"My father taught me blacksmithing."
"My mother taught me mana control."
"For a while… it felt like a blessing."
Alex glanced at the system window again.
B Rank Potential.
Not bad at all.
But Kael's expression darkened.
"Then everything changed."
"Over the last ten years, relations between dwarves and elves became worse."
"Trade stopped."
"Arguments turned into hatred."
"And when hatred spreads…"
"People start looking for someone to blame."
Kael clenched his fists.
"And that someone… became me."
"The dwarven elders said I carried tainted blood."
"They called me a disgrace."
"So they exiled me from the mountain."
One of the older dwarves behind him spoke quietly.
"We followed him."
"He was our friend… our brother."
"We couldn't abandon him."
Kael looked back at them with gratitude.
"We left the mountain together."
"But we had nowhere to go."
"No clan would accept us."
"No city trusted us."
"So we wandered for weeks."
His voice became cold.
"Then bandits found us."
"We were exhausted… unarmed."
"They captured us."
"And sold us to slave traders."
The story ended.
Silence filled the chamber.
The dwarves stood with their heads lowered.
Alex remained quiet for a moment.
Then he stepped closer.
"I see."
He looked at each of them.
"You lost your home."
"You lost your people."
"You lost your freedom."
Kael lowered his head.
"Yes, Your Highness."
Alex stopped directly in front of him.
"But that was the past."
Kael looked up in surprise.
"You may not have a home anymore," Alex continued.
"But from today onward… you can consider the Ether Empire your new home."
The dwarves stared at him in disbelief.
"I don't care about your race," Alex said calmly.
"Dwarf, elf, human… it doesn't matter."
"If you work honestly for me, I will treat you with respect."
"No chains."
"No scorn."
"Only the value of your skill."
He smiled slightly.
"All I ask for in return… is loyalty."
He looked directly at Kael.
"So tell me."
"Do you accept?"
Kael's eyes trembled.
Slowly, he dropped to one knee.
"We accept… Your Highness."
One by one, the other dwarves knelt.
"We accept!"
"We accept, Your Highness!"
Alex chuckled lightly.
"Stand up."
"You don't need to kneel."
"You are craftsmen, not slaves anymore."
The dwarves slowly stood up.
For the first time in months, hope appeared in their eyes.
Alex turned away casually.
"You must be exhausted."
"Go rest."
"Eat properly."
"Tomorrow we will discuss the forge you'll need."
Kael bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Prince Alex."
After they left, the room became quiet again.
Suddenly—
DING
A familiar voice echoed in Alex's mind.
---
System Notification
Host has achieved the first step toward saving the world.
---
Alex raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
Another message appeared.
---
Level Up
Level 2 Achieved
---
Alex laughed softly.
"Well… that was unexpected."
Then another message appeared.
---
System Update Initiated
Update Time: 2 Days
---
Alex stretched lazily and looked out the window.
"Oh. So I'm getting an upgrade too."
Outside, night slowly fell over the empire.
Torches lit the streets.
In the distance, the mountains stood silently against the dark sky.
Somewhere out there, dungeons were awakening.
Monsters were stirring.
The world was slowly beginning to change.
But for the first time in a long time…
Alex was not facing the future alone.
He had gained more than skilled craftsmen.
He had gained loyal hearts forged from both stone and forest.
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