All of them finished breakfast with light hearts and full stomachs. Little Lila waved them off with her usual bright smile as they stepped out of the Silver Lantern Inn and made their way through the morning streets toward the blacksmith's forge. The capital was already awake—merchants opening stalls, horses clattering over cobblestones—but Luo Feng, Miya, Kael, and Lin Wang walked together in easy silence, excitement building with every step.
They pushed open the heavy door of the forge. Heat and the scent of hot metal washed over them. The broad-shouldered dwarf sat on a sturdy stool in the corner, a tankard of strong wine in one hand and a satisfied grin on his bearded face. When he saw the four travelers, he slammed the tankard down and rose with a booming laugh.
"Ye're right on time!" he bellowed. "Come, come—let me show ye what the ancestors helped me forge!"
He lumbered over to a long wooden table covered with thick cloth and whipped it aside in one dramatic motion. There they lay, gleaming under the forge light:
Two elegant Mithril swords, perfectly balanced, their blades slightly curved like the ones hanging on the wall.
One long, graceful katana of pure Adamantite, its single edge shining like black moonlight.
A slender Adamantite dagger beside it, wickedly sharp.
Three full sets of lightweight Mithril armor—two for men, one shaped for a woman with reinforced plates at the chest and hips.
One spare set of Adamantite armor, smaller and lighter.
The dwarf began explaining each piece with the proud voice of a true master craftsman. They listened closely, eyes wide.
"These Mithril blades," he said, lifting one, "will never dull and can cut through steel like butter. Light as a feather, strong as dragon bone. The armor sets are the same—flexible enough to move in, tough enough to turn aside an A-rank monster's claw. The Adamantite katana and dagger… well, ye drew the shape true, lad. That katana will slice the wind itself. And this dagger?" He tapped the small blade. "I tested it myself. It can cut even the strongest S-rank dragon's hide without chipping. Pure Adamantite, forged under the right stars. The spare armor is the same—wear it and laugh at anything short of a demon lord."
He went on for a long while, pointing out balance points, hidden runes for durability, and how each piece had been tempered exactly to Luo Feng's drawing. The four of them stood in respectful silence, taking in every word.
When the dwarf finally finished, wiping his hands on his leather apron, Luo Feng stepped forward.
He handed Kael and Lin Wang their new Mithril swords and the two matching armor sets. "These are yours," he said simply. "Wear them with pride and protect the village."
The two young men bowed deeply, eyes shining with gratitude and awe.
Then Luo Feng turned to Miya. He lifted the shining Adamantite katana and the full set of female Mithril armor, offering them to her with both hands. "For you, my love. So you will never need to fear anything on the road again."
Miya's cheeks flushed with joy and love. She accepted the blade and armor, holding the katana like it was the most precious gift in the world. "Thank you, Feng," she whispered, eyes misty.
Luo Feng kept the Adamantite dagger for himself—slipping it into a simple sheath at his belt—and tucked the spare Adamantite armor set into his Storage Bag for safekeeping.
The dwarf watched them with a satisfied nod. "Ye've got fine taste, lad. Those pieces will serve ye well for a lifetime."
Luo Feng bowed deeply to the master blacksmith. "Thank you for your work. We will never forget it."
With the weapons and armor now theirs, the four companions stepped back out into the bright capital streets, the weight of new steel at their sides and a cart waiting to carry them home.
The long road back to Eden Village lay ahead… but for the first time, they would walk it armed, protected, and ready for whatever came next.