Divine Beast Ascension

“Can’t I go sell them today? Then I can get to work right away,” reasoned Rykard.

“If you’re willing, then go for it. But we don’t yet have a proper place for you in Iron Town. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting to make a deal with a smith so soon. But we can have a place built for you within one sun. How’s that? In the meantime, you can make Oli’s dual essence weapon,” Eeole replied.

Rykard nodded emphatically and turned his attention to Oli, not hiding the utmost curiosity in his eyes. He stared at Oli like he was afraid of breaking a valuable gem. “How are we doing this? You mentioned the qualifier, so do you have the time to incorporate your own essence?”

Oli shook his head. “Sorry, but I don’t. However, I still have two death essence cores, one peak-elder and one early-elder. Is that enough?”

“That’s perfect! One will be the core and the other will power my tools!” Rykard suddenly rushed down the hall toward his workshop, until he remembered that Oli hadn’t handed the cores over. “Sorry, I need those! And do you have earth cores too?”

Happily handing the four cores over, Oli beamed with excitement.

.....

“I’ll have it done by the end of the week, and no need to pay or supply anything else. I might as well use up all of my current resources before making the move. What else can I make throughout the sun?” asked Rykard, looking back and forth between Oli and the shadowy man.

Oli answered, “While you’re at it, why not make an ice-based, peak-elder broadsword, but the one-handed design?”

“Done.”

Suddenly, a sword was casually tossed onto the table. Before Oli could pick it up, Rykard asked, “What else?”

“Uh, can you make frosted mantles?”

“Yes, but they’re a bit more labor intensive. I’ve got two on hand though.” Two frosted mantles were the next items to hit the table. “At best, I can tush to make two more mantles within the week, but only if I don’t make your weapon.”

“Don’t worry about that,” chimed in Eeole. “We still have almost a moon and a half till the qualifier, so I can make sure the mantles get delivered in time. And you can save the peak-perennial sword and axe for after you reach Iron Town. That way they’ll be made with the wielder’s essence.”

Catching onto the hint from both Eeole and Rykard, Oli asked, “Is crafting it with the owner’s essence that much better?”

“Oh, undeniably so!” Rykard passionately answered. “So long as the smith knows what they’re doing, bound weapons are the strongest there are. Those make the greatest weapons for clans as well because they can even be crafted with a touch of the clan’s bloodline. That would increase the essence efficiency of any clan member wielding the weapon, and possibly decrease the essence efficiency of anyone who wields it that’s not a clan member.”

Oli was momentarily in awe after hearing that. “Then... I can’t wait to see the weapon that gramps chooses!”

“Gramps? You have a powerful grandpa?! What essence types?!”

“Cool it, Rykard. Oli’s grandpa is the secret king with earth essence ruling the territory. So you’ll actually have to craft him both a peak-perennial weapon and the most powerful king grade weapon you’ve ever created,” Eeole explained, boiling the smith’s blood with anticipation. “We’ll even cover the cost of the failures, so long as you don’t rush the process. Got it?”

“Yes, Masters!” Rykard gave a full bow to the shadowy man and Oli each. “This is the happiest day of my life! At least until I finally craft a peak-king weapon, and then a godly weapon! OH! And craft with gravity essence!!”

Rykard had become a standing, walking bundle of sheer excitement. There was no more bottling it or attempting to lessen it after hearing that order from Eeole.

Cough, cough...

Suddenly, Rykard slightly calmed down and glanced at the hall leading to the entryway. There stood the casually dressed housekeeper. But Rykard quickly returned to his jovial smile and rushed to grab the older-looking man’s hands. “Dad! You won’t believe where we’re going!”

“Huuuh... I see. So someone finally convinced you to relocate.” The man smiled and let his son jump around like a hurled bouncy ball. He soon turned his gaze to Oli and the shadowy man, asking, “Would you mind if I join him? Someone has to keep an eye on this one to make sure he doesn’t get so enraptured in smithing that he starves himself, again.”

Oli and Eeole both broke out in laughter and nodded. Oli answered, “Of course that’s fine. But you’ll also have to disappear from the public eye.”

“That’s more than fine. My wife passed years ago and he’s our only son. Though I’m a high-perennial and can provide for myself, this kid insists on hiring me since no one else can take care of him properly,” chuckled Rykard’s dad. “But I don’t mind it. He provides more money than I can ever get on my own, so I can’t turn him away. My name is Ryssel, by the way. And it’s an honor to be working with such amazing benefactors.”

“A high-perennial? May I ask, what abilities do you have?” Oli asked. “You can’t just become a perennial and only know how to housekeep.”

Ryssel answered, “I’m also a smith, but I focused more on armors while only dabbling in weapons. However, my cultivation keeps me from progressing. In just a decade or so, I’ll probably pass from old age... But it’s great to know that my son has finally found a benefactor that will care for him after I’ve passed on.”

Another sly grin appeared on Oli’s face. “Really? Then, what if we helped you ascend?”

A ray of unexpected hope widened Ryssel’s eyes. “... That’s possible.”

“I believe so. Isn’t it?” Oli turned toward Eeole, letting him give more details.