Hineni stands downstairs in the ice-cellar, his ungloved hand running along the cold walls.

“Eilig?” he asks, looking around the room.

No response.

His eyes wander back to the ice, which is still intact and hasn’t begun melting. That means she still has to be around the house, right?

Hineni looks, peeping into the doll-house, which is held aloft in the air by strings of ice, dangling from the ceiling.

It looks like she’s managed to furnish it a bit with some scraps that she’s found around the place.

— He rubs the back of his head, feeling bad.

Maybe he should make her some furniture? He still remembers a bit of carpentry from his ‘other’ life. Not that he likes the prospect, but Eilig deserves nice things too. He feels like he can make that sacrifice.

But first he has to find her and Kleidet.

Colorful birds sit atop the roofs of the many houses of the city, chirping their spring songs and scooting around with youthful energy from side to side, performing an array of dances.

People are abound, walking along their routes on the way to their businesses, homes, shops, friends or just to anywhere at all really. Perhaps the dungeon. Perhaps to a nice bench in the park. It is impossible to say, as the faces of the people here are as many and as varied as the colors of the spring birds.

Hineni sighs, taking in a deep breath of the warming air of what promises to be a kind season.

The last hints of winter have vanished now for good, not only on the world all around them, but also on the faces of everyone present here. The mood, with the sun being brighter than it was before, the air being warmer than it was before, is noticeably changed from the way it had been in winter.

Now that it is warm enough to stay outside and that all of these good sensations are abound, people reflect that in their mannerisms. The groups walk slower than they usually would. Hineni marvels at this, remembering how fast everyone always was when he watched them through his window. Their conversations are more open and loud and loose. Even the shopkeepers and the street-vendors seem more generous with their handing out of free samples.

— Though this could also just be because he’s outside with the owl-god.

“Who~” she hoots excitedly, as Hineni hands her a piece of candied fruit on a small stick.

“So how come you don’t ever go to the dungeon?” asks Rhine, looking his way.

“The dungeon?” asks Hineni. He looks down the street, towards the silhouette of a large gate in the middle of the city. “Why would I?”

Rhine shrugs as they keep walking. “I bet you could destroy everything there with your magic!” he says, excitedly.

“Maybe,” replies Hineni, looking around at the shops around him. “I guess I don’t like it though. Destroying things,” he explains, walking for a while longer. “I like to think that I’m here to make stuff, you know?”

“- You mean 'make stuff that destroys things'?” asks Sockel.

Hineni thinks for a time.

It’s true that he could have gone into the dungeon after he left the orphanage and came back home. It would have been an easy way to make money. But he supposes that he simply hadn’t really ever wanted to use his magic. It was a topic he never wanted to go near.

He feels that now he doesn’t really think twice about his magic anymore. He’ll use it if he has to, but he still prefers just crafting things.

“Huh…” says Rhine. “What about you, Sockel?”

“What about me?” she asks, lifting an eyebrow. “I worked a desk job at the other guild.”

“Sure, but why?” asks Rhine. “You could’ve just killed your way through the dungeon too.”

She looks his way. “Do you have some trauma or something, or what’s your deal with violence right now?” she asks. Rhine blinks, rubbing his lip with the back of his thumb. “I like working desk jobs,” explains Sockel. “You’d get it, if you grew up in the forest.” She shoots Hineni a sideways glance.

He supposes that the secret of Sockel’s work is just that, a secret that is between the two of them.

Rhine nods, not catching this. “…What about you?” he asks, looking at the owl-god.

Obscura stops, holding out an arm to the side. “Foolish boy,” says Obscura. “Wise Obscura does not sully her jewel talons with grubby monsters,” she explains, lifting her other arm. “As the Hineni-wife-to-be, she is provided for in full. There is no need for her to work.”

“Huh…” says Rhine.

“Was I informed about this?” asks Hineni. He looks at Sockel and points at Obscura with his thumb. “Sockel. Cut her wages.”

“You got it, boss-man,” replies Sockel, wandering over to a stand selling drinks.

“Who~!” protests Obscura. “The sock-elf will do no such thing!” she hoots. “Obscura has need of her pretty coins!”

Hineni looks towards her, grabbing her hand. “It was just a joke,” he says. “Anyway, what do you even buy?” he asks. “I’ve never seen you spend money.”

“Obscura has a great need of many things!” hoots the owl-god. “Do not question her extravagant heart’s desire for fine luxuries!”

“I saw her buy a bunch of frog-shaped candy once,” says Sockel, coming back with two bottles she just bought. She gives one to Rhine.

“Thanks, Sockel,” says Rhine.

“SILENCE!” screeches Obscura. “The sock-elf will one day learn respect!”

Sockel shrugs. “Sure. Whatever.” She nods her head. “Come on, twerp,” she says, sipping her drink. “There’s a cool place over here that sells poison in the back if you tell them a secret password.”

“Really?!” asks Rhine excitedly, running after her.

Hineni sighs, looking back at Obscura.

“I didn’t know you liked candy,” he says, squeezing her hand.

“Who…~” she sadly hoots. “I bought the Hineni-man candy for their thirty-third day together, yes?” He nods, remembering. “However, her heart was ensnared by the devilish sweets,” says Obscura, squeezing his hand. They walk after the other two, who are scooting on. “I like to rip them open and nibble on the fluffy insides.”

Hineni stares at her. “That must be very detailed candy.”

“…They are expensive,” replies the owl-god, lowering her head.

“Don’t worry,” says Hineni. “We’ll manage,” he says, making a note to buy some later.

He eyes the crowds as they wander through it.

It is the next day.

Crackling embers fill the air, dancing in the forge-light as the Hineni and Rhine are busy at work, lost in a deep flow after an hour of simply working quietly next to each other. Rhine, after these months of hard work, has really adapted to the forge.

The order of pikes is about complete and now they’ve started with the axes. Rhine is making new molds right now. So in the mean-time, Hineni is experimenting around with various blends of metal. The sterling-silver is nice and it fits well to thematically heroic weapons like the pikes and spears. But for the axes, Hineni feels like he wants something a little more… gritty.

- [Adamantine Ingot] -

- Quality -

Normal

- Composition -

Adamantine: 99.9%

Impurities: 0.1%

- Quality Effects -

None

Adamantine: Applies a STONE/NATURE effect to any created items

Adamantine, sometimes referred to as simply ‘adamant’, is a rare and incredibly hard metal with magical properties relating to the elements STONE and NATURE. Weight: 5.0kg Value: 5000 Obols

They’re getting into wild territory here, he realizes. The price of these ingots doesn’t even shock him anymore. Here he is, making normal axes out of them for random foot-soldiers. Some might call this a waste. But they would be wrong. Hell, if anyone needs an incredibly powerful, expensive axe, isn’t it the grunts at the front lines of the fight?

“Hey,” says a voice, interrupting. Hineni looks towards the door, where Sockel is standing, holding a piece of paper. “I got something.”

“On Eilig and Kleidet?” asks Hineni, rubbing his sweaty forehead off on his shoulder.

“Maybe. Take a look,” she replies, walking over and handing him the paper note.

Hineni narrows his eyes, trying to decipher what he’s looking at.

“Tubers with gravy?” he asks. “Chicken soup? A new knife? Sockel, why are you showing me another grocery list again?”

She tsks, rolling her eyes. “It’s not a grocery list. It’s our kitchen’s inventory.”

Hineni stares at her. “Sockel.”

“Yeah?”

“Why are you showing me our kitchen’s inventory?” he asks, looking back down at the paper.

“The owl-god must really be with you for your personality,” says Sockel, pointing at the amounts listed. “It can’t be anything else.”

“Don’t push your luck,” replies Hineni, following her finger.

“How come Sockel never has to sweep when she says things like that?” asks Rhine from the side.

Sockel shoots a sharp glare his way.

Rhine straightens up and gets back to his work.

“Because I expect more from you than I do from her, Rhine,” says Hineni, trying to get one in back.

“Look!” she says, exasperated. “I compared the amount of restocking the kitchen paid for to the number of meals we’ve sold,” says the elf. “Take away a couple things here and there for mistakes, dropped items and all of that and we’re still lower than the amount of food we should have listed here,” she explains. “Despite being two people less, we’re using the same amount of food.”

Hineni raises an eyebrow. “Sockel, don’t you think this is a reach?” he asks. “You’re telling me that Kleidet and Eilig are not only still inside of the house, but that they’re able to get to the kitchen without being seen to grab food in secret?” he asks. “For days now?”

“Yes,” replies Sockel. “And there’s only one place where that could be. Right behind the kitchen.”

“— The library…” says Hineni, realizing.

Hineni steps into the library from the corridor downstairs, leading from the kitchen.

“Seltsam?” he asks. “You here?”

Something moves above on the other side of the shelf.

“Y- yes! Hello!” replies the librarian.

“Hey,” says Hineni. “I need a book a exotic statues,” he says, waiting for the sound of her movements, before opening his coat and letting out a small owl.

“Uh… huh, yeah!” replies Seltsam, her voice traveling. “Hold on, I know where t-”

The door upstairs opens, he can hear it.

“Seltsam?” calls Rhine from above. “Hellooo~?” he calls.

“Ah! Rhine! I’m here! Uh! I- wait!” she says, her voice traveling towards another direction, becoming a little unsteady.

— The lower door to the receptionist’s desk opens.

“Selty?” calls Sockel. “You in?”

The librarian yelps, shuffling away into a different direction.

“Who~” hoots a voice, from behind a view shelves. Obscura had snuck in beneath Hineni’s coat and landed on the far side of the library while she was distracted.

“IAH!” yelps Seltsam and Hineni can hear her scampering away. “W- wait!” she calls, rounding the corner. “T- There’s too many of you!” she says, her voice traveling in the only direction left as the others close in the gap.

Hineni leans against the shelf, listening to her steps rounding the corner straight towards him.

“Seltsam,” says Hineni, crossing his arms, as a figure moves out from behind the shelf in an effort to escape her pursuers. “We know they’re here. It’s ov-”

He stops mid-sentence, staring at the figure who rounds the corner in a terrified panic.

She screams.