Rewatched HSOTD I definitely need more zombies... Anyways maybe in the future, I left it open for the future. I digress, enjoy and thanks for reading folks!

Trekking forward down the mountainous outcroppings of rocks and spruce trees, the trio leisurely made their way to the elven village. While Lisia and Andrew walked side by side, Kai stayed far to the rear.

In an attempt to distance himself from the man, Kai kept at least ten metres of distance between the two of them as the three walked. They had encountered a few wild boars that aggressively growled at the group but were stopped with a throwing knife to the throat. They kept going through the forest, only stopping to recover Andrew’s knives or Lisia’s arrows.

After around two hours later Andrew noticed they were missing the young elf. With a small sigh he stopped and called out to Lisia, “I thought the kid was your job?”

“He is, right now from what I can see, he is ‘relieving’ himself behind those bushes,” coupled with an indirect head nod, Andrew decided to keep going. Lisia soon followed, and then a loud cry came from the background.

“Remind you of someone?” Chuckled Andrew as the small elf came stumbling forward with his pants between his ankles towards the two. Andrew turned his head slightly to turn away from the elf. Although Taryk was seen far too many times for his liking, the kid was, at least in Andrew’s mind, a relatively normal person.

Smirking, Lisia feigned ambiguously, “not at all. Whatever could you be talking about?”

Feral growls erupted from the rear as Kai cried further as he ran. Andrew coupled with his massive ax, walked calmly to the front meeting the oncoming enemy. With a bushes shaking behind the child, Andrew and the young elf crossed paths just before the creature came out.

With glistening silver fur and two sets of razor sharp teeth, it roared at the group and pounced at Andrew.

As it advance it turned itself over in the air, curling itself in a small ball as it landed. As it backed away from the blade of Andrew’s ax it lowered his head submissively. While the two elves behind him could not understand him, Andrew spoke out to the wolf, “hey, nice save. Lay off the kid, he wouldn’t even be considered a snack to you. One quick question: Can your whor- ahem, your Den Mother, repair people’s eyes?”

Whimpering slightly at first, the wolf growled, barked, and swatted the ground a few times to get his point across.

“Ah, so you don’t know for sure, but you were there when I cut her leg off? Fair enough, if you get the chance, ask her for me please,” spoke Andrew while shrugging his shoulders and waving the wolf off.

The wolf turned around and bounded off into the forest in which he came and Andrew turned his sight over to the two. Lisia gently put her hand on his face, releasing a deep breath, whereas Kai openly gaped at the man.

Annoyed at the look the small elf was giving him, Andrew spoke with a pointed glare, “pull up your pants. Shameless brat, even if you are eight years old, it doesn’t mean you can run around naked - unless you’re a goblin? Because if that’s the case I can introduce a few more like Taryk to you.”

Still open-mouthed, Kai froze before quickly pulling up his britches. Evidently the goblin still terrified him nearly as much as the man standing before him. Seeing the man now moving, Kai summoned up as much courage before speaking hesitantly, “Y-you… know.. the wolves? The monsters of the night… it’s true?”

“Yeah, now get a move on. Lisia explained the other day to you, hey?” Said Andrew casually, not even turning his head, nor stopping his stride.

“Y-yeah, but… it’s real? Like really, real?” Stuttered the elf shambling along.

“Yeah, just about as ‘really, real’’ as the, ‘really, really, really scary monster’s,’ whose blood I was covered in last night. Hence, the new look on yours truly. Ah, that sounds arrogant, doesn’t it? It wasn’t intended that way, but oh well,” said Andrew as he leaned the ax to his shoulder once more.

“So are you… going to k-k-kill me like the rest of them..?” Mumbled Kai as hushed as he could possible speak. Earning him a sidelong glance with a horribly faked predatory grin on Andrew’s face.

Even with atrocious acting, the boy was terrified, squealing in fright until Andrew laughed cheerfully. Seeing their interaction, Lisia let out a rare, genuine smile thinking, ‘just like brothers - one of which being slightly vengeful, but nevertheless at least they are passing the whole, ‘let’s kill the other phase’.’

Pondering her thoughts afterwards, she became slightly perplexed as to how she came to such a conclusion. However, she simply shrugged it off as being inconsequential when she saw the outlying buildings from her village appear in the distance. With their familiar elegant feel, she felt like a long journey was finally over.

The small wooden buildings were intricately carved with flowing patterns mirroring that of nature’s own designs, lush verdant fields appeared all over the horizon interwoven through the forest itself. Slowly passing the near endless orchards of fruits and rows of strange vegetation, the three eventually made it to the town centre.

Tall and strong wooden buildings neatly surrounded the main square, being both decorated and supported by corinthian styled wooden pillars, seemingly carved straight from a cyprus tree itself. All of the main centres of business seemed to gifted with an exquisite design specifically for the them. Whether it was for the fletcher carving arrows under the skylight or the blacksmith who was ringing away in his forge, they all possessed a building seeming carved and built for them alone.

The fletcher’s pillars were carved with the image of a great elven man wielding a bow to defend his family. The blacksmith; a sword. The apothecary; a mortar and pestle. Continuing on throughout the square, with all bearing a unique feature and even a separate terrace for showcasing their goodes.

As Andrew was seeing this all, he was stunned, expecting a backwater village - not unlike the goblin camp. But, as it would seem, the elves here had prided themselves on their craftsmanship to an impeccable degree.

“Oh, brat you can run off now, go play in a sandbox or something. I have adult things to do,” spoke Andrew with a grin, as he turned to head towards the blacksmith, leaving Lisia forced to accompany him. Kai, on the other hand, with an indignant expression decided to trail behind the two out of idle curiosity.

Lisia, seeing the treatment of the small elf smirked before it turned into a small sigh, ‘hopefully he doesn’t get too crazed over something. It’d be next to impossible to settle him down without maiming someone - wait, I feel like I should be more worried than I actually am...’

Walking directly to the elven blacksmith made Andrew mutter breaking Lisia’s train of thought, “I thought elves were supposed to be peaceful, having a weapons shop seems to be kind of out of place…”

A high pitched voice came from the rear, “no, you’re mistaken! We elves pride ourself on being the very best warrior! So that we can protect our own and nature’s own children!”

“Really? Like really, really?” mocked the man gently.

“I only said that like once! Give me a break! Anyways, as I was saying…” started Kai as he took a long breath to prepare for his speech - only to be cut off by Andrew.

“Yeah, yeah, elves are cool, strong, and really, really, really, great. Now if you’re that important help me grab the best blacksmith.” Spoke Andrew with his usual indifferent response.

“Okay! His name is… wait! Don’t trick me you peasant!”

“Peasant? Oh my, this one is asking for a fight, right Lisia?”

“Don’t get me involved with your problems Andrew…” sighed Lisia as she turned around with a small fruit bought from a nearby vendor.

“I thought you were supposed to stop me from killing these people should I feel insulted, Mrs Guardian?”

“This and that are different things, he is but a child, I don’t see you lowering yourself to his level,” spoke Lisia through bites of a strange fruit she had just picked up.

“Could be fun?” Looking at Kai’s blanched face, Andrew smirked before telling the two to quiet down as they were attracting a fair bit of attention..

As they were stalled at the front of the terrace’s entrance talking, a large, scarred human male approached the trio asking politely, “Can you please move? I’d much rather not have to test this blade on you, so if you don’t mind?”

Immediately stepping to the side due to the man’s tone instinctively, Andrew took a moment to realise the man’s words. Withdrawing the massive ax from his inventory, that he thought would be conspicuous in such a place, he pointed it at the man in one hand wordlessly.

At first anger flashed in the man’s eyes, following that - pity. As soon as he took a look at the man effortlessly holding it; fear. With a quick back step the man bounded off to in the other direction.

Now that everyone’s eyes rested on the human with the massive ax, Andrew quickly ducked into the weapon shop’s terrace covered in elaborately designed lattice, with neatly trimmed vines creeping up.

Seeing no small number of few interesting designs on the weapons and armor displayed Andrew was once again astounded by the craftsmanship of the equipment he was seeing. Flowing engravings, sculpted pommels, and near perfect artistic renderings painted, carved, or simply forged into the steel. Given that all of his weapon so far were essentially hand-me-downs in one way or another, seeing mint condition weaponry caused him to lose himself in it all.

Kai didn’t linger gawking at the weapons, grabbing the main blacksmith - surprisingly human - still covered in black soot and nearly dragging the well built man out of his workshop. With smalls burn marks coating his forearms and a long nordic styled greying braided beard, that’d likely be a detriment to his line of work, the blacksmith looked at the man in front of him.

Seeing the Andrew’s interest in the wears, the smiling blacksmith patiently waited for his customer to be ready. With the Chief’s son as a guide, he was hardly in a position to do otherwise.

Taking about five minutes to scan through each and every item, Andrew finally sighed loudly as he turned to the blacksmith who was waiting on him.

“Hey, this is all well and good, but I was wondering if you could do a special request?” Spoke Andrew with hopeful eyes as he gazed at the other intricate designs on the metal.

“Depends on the go- “ started the blacksmith habitually, but stopped as soon as Kai gave him a scathing look, gently laughing to cover it up, he continued, “Of course, that is what I’d like to say, but materials will have to be provided unless you wish to purchase them from my humble shop?”

“Nah, copper, iron, and steel is usually solid - not so much copper actually - but I had something else in mind,” walking backwards to a clear area in the store front’s grassy exterior, he withdrew the first inky black door from his inventory.

With a crashing sound echoing through the district, most people came to see what the commotion was about from the opening of the terrace. Whether it was due to instantaneously appearing door, the crushing weight of it all, or the metal itself - or perhaps it was all three - but the blacksmith stood stock still, gaping at the scene.

No one else saw the object appear so they only questioned the reason for such a heavy door was placed on the ground in front of the weapon shop. However, they too were strangely quiet.

Lisia whispered at his side, “this man was known for his nearly infallibly composed face, be it work, home life, or even in war - he had seen it all. It’s next to impossible to surprise this man. He was a sergeant during the Great Wars before he fled to this village for political turmoil, killing hundreds of monsters and demons on the way. And never once has anyone seen him surprised in these last ten years. Most are probably concerned about that, if anything.”

“Great Wars? Hmm sounds interesting, anyways OG can you please respond now? I rather don’t like the attention, you see? Hello? Anyone home in there?” After a few minutes of coaxing the man out of his silence he was promptly guided into the shop’s rear with an almost mad barking coming from the old man’s mouth - ordering his two apprentices to drag it in.

Seeing the apprentices struggling to even lift the heavy door, Andrew quickly left the workshop under the intense scrutiny of the blacksmith’s gaze and dragged the door behind him. With the grass scraped to bare soil and the cobblestone flooring of the interior ruined, Andrew brought it into the room.

Noticing a fervent gaze locked onto the door, Andrew sighed at the man’s obvious desire to take possession of such an item.

“So that the problem with supply is dealt with, would you be so kind as to tell me if it’s possible to request something? Of course, the extra materials are yours to keep.”

Unhidden greed radiated from the man, practically yelling, “yes! Yes! Anything, just let me know what it is. It will be my first priority!” Bowing dramatically, he looked around after a short moment and forced his two confused apprentices down with him.

“Oh calm the hell down, it’s just a door - a really hard one - but yeah anyways, I have another item that should be put with my request,” dropping the two of the four wolf pelts, which covered the a large section of the room when they lay flat, caused the blacksmith to open his mouth once again.

“Y-you killed these creatures pack leaders…? To me and my men it’s difficult, however, not impossible. To find them though... “ started the Blacksmith sighing slightly in admiration. Moving forward, he spoke up once again with a quivering voice, “so what can I make for you… With such a large piece of metal it’s possible to do many, many things with it, but it’s up to you, I guess?”

“I’m surprised you recognise them as the leaders. You’ve got a good eye old man. Four door-metal short swords like this guy, maybe prettier? Nothing that’ll affect their function, however,” spoke Andrew as he tossed the sheathed golok to the man, “also armor made with the pelt and the door-metal - preferably light. Well, so long as it doesn’t get in the way too much, I won’t complain. And no metal on my shoulders. It looks really ridiculous and inconvenient for swinging weapons. Basically a black or grey leather jacket with metal inserts?”

Thinking, he took a look at his body in hopes of finding something he had missed, seeing it he laugh self-derisively, “damn, I’m still not wearing pants, huh. Those too. But yeah, something like that. Anyways you seem like you should be able to do something from that description.”

“Well… I can’t personally…” spoke the blacksmith in resignation, “but I do know who can… she’s difficult to deal with in regards to personal requests as she tends to like absolute control over the process and doesn’t like dealing with the ability to kill so much as artistic value… perhaps you can get her help with processing the metal, but I’ll get started on the leather base shortly.”

With a small wave of his hand, his two assistants sprung into action. Grabbing the two large wolf pelt from their spot on the floor, they quickly cleared a large workbench, with the blacksmith eyeing Andrew’s body critically. As the two were grabbing the pelt, the old blacksmith rubbed his soot-covered beard, shouting out Andrew’s measurements by eye to the two. With a few charcoal scribbles on a small hide used as paper, the old man motioned Andrew’s group forward.

In the blackened workshop rested a rather plain circular, iron door. With the blacksmith in the lead, he grabbed the doorknob located in the exact centre of the iron frame. It took a few veins to pop open on the man’s arms, but the door finally opened with a stiff creak.

As it was cracked open, heat poured out from the passageway. Immediately sweating because of it, Andrew complained loudly, “do you do your bloody work in a volcano or something? This heat is ridiculous. I’m not made for temperatures like that.”

“Well, it’s your fault for bringing a rare metal and asking us to do something with it,” sighed the man, not pleased with Andrew’s words one bit. “Oh, if you weren’t aware the metal is called Ravinite. About mid tiered in the rare metals category, though both special and legendary materials tend to be more valuable, they are almost impossible to find - or work with - so rare metals are essentially the best most people will ever see for standard purposes. This here has the benefit of being hard and strong, at the expense of it’s weight. Given the ax you are carrying, I doubt that’d be much of an issue… by the way how did it get cut? I heard it’s impossible with standard weaponry yet…”

“Oh, this guy did it,” spoke Andrew casually waving his ax, “I got angry that I couldn’t break into a vault, originally to steal some things, so I broke all the walls around the door. As you can see - it worked. Alas, there was nothing of importance in that vault.”

“... And no guards stopped you?”

At this point Lisia stepped into the conversation, “Edward, it isn’t polite to ask a person’s situations. I doubt Andrew would care all that much, but it was reclaimed from a deceased man’s vault - who happened to be a very bad individual - so it is hardly stolen. Just let it be.”

Waving her off in an annoyed man, he spoke, “fine Lis - wait Lisia? That’s you?” After his sudden realisation of Andrew’s companion, he spoke excitedly lowering his eyes, ”you look different. And smaller- AH WHY?!”

A quick smack on the face by Lisia was all it took to stop the man from speaking, however, she did cause his body to swivel and fly through the air in the process.

Casually commenting from the sides, Andrew spoke up, “huh, so agility can be used to generate more force too. Thanks Lisia, Old Man.”

“Why are you thanking me for being hit?!” Retorted the man in pain and confusion.

“Didn’t I say it clearly enough? Anyways, is that the blacksmith?” Sighed Andrew as he saw his supposed blacksmith.

An elven woman with pitch black, flowing hair, snow white, unblemished skin, and a willowy body slowly strutted forward with a confident and nearly seductive gait - oddly, refusing to look Andrew in the eyes. Andrew, however, was more irritated than anything else.

With her pale purple eyes batting bashfully, she cutely turned her head from Andrew’s glare. Speaking timidly with an oddly enticing voice, “have we met before? I don’t seem to recall you, though you seem to have something you wish to ask of me… yet, the animosity?”

Although he was still annoyed, it didn’t seem to be directly related to her so he indifferently asked, “know someone by the name of Sheylin, Sharlin’s brat?” Seeing her face stiffen slightly with an ugly scowl, he lightly bobbed his head before continuing with a wry smile, “oh, if you don’t know, that’s fine. Anyways, those two are something to the effect of work associates, but I believe we have business, correct?”

Recovering her bashful facade, the woman cleared her throat and spoke, “yes, yes. I overheard something about a rare metal and I gather your intention is to have us forge it into a weapon of sorts?”

“Four actually, this old man has the spec’s for both a weapon and armor build. As promised you can keep the rest, but don’t short me on it… Forge Mother?” With a mocking gaze directed at her, she slipped a vicious look in her eyes back to him before returning back to her normal coy self.

“Ah, such imaginative titles are far, far too distant, please call me by name - “ started the woman until a hysterical old man interrupted her.

With his reverent gaze falling, the old blacksmith cried passionately, “you who have never gifted us with your name, to give it to a stranger! What has such a person done to earn your respect - your trust?! Tell me so I that I can do the same!”

Admonishing lightly, she smiled brilliantly at the man, “Edward, such formalities are too intrusive. You’ve only had to ask,” turning her gaze back to Andrew - though looking at his side - she continued, “Alas, before I was interrupted I was about to say it, although you may already know of me, my name is Tarylin.”

Lisia seemed to follow the flow of the conversation well enough, but the little elf beside her seemed lost as he muttered, “is that such a big deal?” However, he was promptly quieted by Lisia.

“It’s rude to interject, anyways if you’d still like to know just ask after…well, after Andrew gets his new equipment. Alright, little one?”

“I’m not little! You are to be my wife, how can you say such things!” Kai screamed out, raising his hands in the air defiantly, earning him an iron dirk flying in his direction. With another small cut where he was previously targeted - he quickly quieted down.

Andrew, ignoring the whimpering elf, restarted their conversation, “so, I imagine this won’t be a problem? And sorry about that brat, he’s, well, a brat? I digress, weapons, armor, and now that I think about it some of throwing knives like these?”

Unceremoniously walking behind Kai, he grabbed the dagger that was embedded into the wall and tossed it to the woman’s feet. Earning an irritated look from both the woman and old blacksmith. It only lasted a moment before she righted her face and picked up the iron dirk. Testing it by tossing it up and down, she frowned slightly, commenting, “this is horribly balanced, for what will be a heavy blade, it needs a better form. Although I’ll take this as a reference it will not be the final design, if that should suffice?”

“Huh, you’re passionate about minerals, ah, I think I could introduced you to someone, hey Lisia?” Dodging a small blow on his back as a signal to stop his sentence, Andrew continued until the end, earning a curious look from everyone in the room, but an almost menacing one from Lisia. Laughing calmly, he kept talking, “Seriously, if you ever feel the need, just ask. However, I have to meet up with that work associate that I mentioned earlier to fix my eye. It’ll likely be a less than ideal trade for me, but it should be done sometime soon. Anyways, how long?”

“A week? No, I think, due to the special circumstances - with the metal, of course - I can speed it up to about three days or so. However, would you be willing to leave the original weapons here so that we can match them as closely as possible?”

“No problem, I have another, plus this one here,” said Andrew as he lovingly caressed the ax with a teasing expression. “Oh wait, you seem to be the olde- ahem, one the wisest people around here, I was curious if it’s possible to get coffee around here. Little brown bean, slightly addictive, bitter, any clues would be wonderful, Forge Mother.”

After his provocation Lisia sighed dramatically, muttering from the sidelines whilst speaking to herself, “... I swear that mouth will get you killed on day. I thought you were okay with it from before? Or is it about the slightly useless talking to wolves thing...”

“Maybe, no, and yes, respectively,” casually replied Andrew as he felt the room’s temperature soar. ‘Maybe I shouldn’t have called her old? It’s getting even more hot than before… Oh well, too late now,’ mused Andrew as he placed both hands on the axe’s handle.

“What. Did. You. Call. Me?” Spoke the woman as her coy face began to crumble, strained creases began to appear, and the once young looking woman seemed to age exponentially.

Andrew, while not afraid of the woman, absolutely detested the heat wave - to point he even decided to do something he normally would never have. Sighing dramatically, he spoke indifferently, “I need to learn some ice magic - fire would be nice, but only for eating not incinerating rooms with ambient temperatures. Hey, I think you misheard me.”

“Then, pray tell.” Seethed the Forge Mother, as even the blacksmith was realising her forced expression and became nervous.

“Such a young, beautiful, elegant, women would hardly crank up the heat for such a minor squabble. Due to your youthful, attractive features one can reasonably expect that they would turn down the goddamn heat.” Starting off acting with a dramatic flair, Andrew finally gave up as it was getting too hot for him to concentrate on such antics. Indifferent to the woman’s response, whether good or bad, Andrew turned to walk away.

The expected explosion did not happen, however, with a cheerful shout the woman threw herself onto Andrew’s turned back. Yelping loudly, he roared “get off! get the hell off! Damn it! Fucking bitch, I swear you must be burning hot right now!”

She took that as a compliment and only gripped harder, purring softly into Andrew’s ear, “I knew a man would come to love me the way I am, I knew this day would come, did you want me right here? Just say the word, hun~”

As she passionately kissed his neck, his modern undershirt began to melt and fuse unto his body. Shouting, “How about, ‘I will sever your fucking head head and shove it up your ass.’ Seriously, it’s hot! Stop. Fuck it, no new weapons. Don’t blame me then. Get off!” Dropping his ax, he quickly gripped his sheathed short sword. Reversing his grip, he stabbed at the women on his back furiously, eventually to a point where he even started cutting himself, but with the searing pain on his body he couldn’t even feel his sword slip across his skin.

But even as each stab feel into her body, it would only last a short moment before quickly healing again. However, that didn’t stop her from feeling the pain. Around the fiftieth strike she finally loosened her grip on his neck.

Andrew, quickly taking the chance, grabbed her still attached arms, pryed it off of his neck and literally threw her across the workshop. As she shattered a small wooden workbench Andrew was nowhere to be seen. With a small dust cloud rising at the entrance and his missing ax he was gone.

After a few tense moments, Kay was the first to speak the question everyone had on their minds, “... What just happened…?”

Startled and completely confused as what could cause Andrew to act like that, Lisia stuttered, “I don’t know… but… if i know him… Damn, Kai! Let’s go! NOW!” Shouted the elf in a panic as she raced out of the room after Andrew.

“O-okay?” Kai tried to keep up, but as soon as he exited the workshop Andrew was nowhere to be found.