The guild hall was still lively when Ren and Lyra stepped inside. Adventurers crowded the request boards, noisy groups argued over rewards, and the scent of roasted meat drifted in from the small tavern space.
Kara, the receptionist, noticed them immediately and smiled faintly.
"Back already? Didn't expect you two until late evening."
Ren placed the herb-filled sack on the counter."We didn't find the Earth Golem yet, but we gathered herbs and some ores. We want to sell these first."
Kara opened the sack, her eyebrows lifting slightly as she sorted through it."You two collected quite a bit. Good quality too."
Lyra puffed her chest proudly."I helped!"
Ren nodded."She did."
Kara weighed and counted carefully, then handed Ren a small pouch.
"Total: 23 silver coins. Not bad for a half-day hunt."
Lyra leaned toward Ren whispering,"Ren, now we're closer to buying weapons!"
"…Actually," Ren said, turning back to Kara, "before we do that, I wanted to ask something."
Kara arched a brow."Oh? What is it?"
"Does the guild have a forge?" Ren asked. "Or maybe a workshop space? I want to try forging a sword for myself.If it works… I'll try making a dagger for Lyra too."
Lyra's eyes shone like he had just promised her the moon.
Kara blinked."You? Forge? Ren, do you know how difficult weapon forging is?"
"I've seen blacksmiths work," Ren replied."And I understand the basics.If I don't try, I'll keep buying subpar gear."
Kara gave him a look that hovered between amusement and concern.
"Well… the guild doesn't have its own forge. But—"She leaned closer."There is an old workshop behind the guild. It belongs to Master Haldor, the retired blacksmith. He still lets certain adventurers use it—if they can earn his approval."
Lyra raised her hand."How do we do that?"
Kara tapped the counter thoughtfully."You'll need to talk to him. If he thinks you're serious, he'll lend you the forge. He's strict, but fair."
Ren nodded immediately."Where can we find him?"
"Out back. If you hear hammering, that's him."
Ren and Lyra walked around the guild until they reached a small workshop made of dark stone and oak beams. Smoke drifted from the chimney, and the rhythmic sound of clang… clang… clang echoed from inside.
When they stepped through the doorway, a broad-shouldered man with gray-streaked hair paused mid-swing.
His gaze was sharp enough to cut metal.
"You two," he grunted. "What do you want?"
Ren stepped forward respectfully."Master Haldor, I'm Ren. I'd like permission to use your forge to craft my own sword."
Haldor snorted."Another youngster thinking he can beat metal like it's simple."He leaned the hammer on his shoulder."What makes you think you can do it?"
"I've worked with weapons before," Ren replied calmly."And I found some iron ore today. I want to try refining it and forging something useful."
Lyra stepped forward, bowing slightly."And Ren also wants to make a dagger for me!"
Ren's calm expression cracked slightly."…After I manage the sword."
Haldor stroked his beard, eyeing them both.
"You've got guts. That's good."He paused."But guts don't forge steel."
He pointed his hammer toward a side table where a pile of unrefined metal chunks lay.
"Bring me a properly smelted iron ingot from your ores. If you manage that without ruining the metal…I'll let you touch my forge."
Lyra whispered,"That sounds easy…"
Ren whispered back,"No. That's the hard part."
Haldor dumped Ren's ore pieces into a tray."Use the small furnace. And don't burn my workshop down."
Ren took a breath and started.
The furnace roared to life. Heat washed over him as he fed the ore into the crucible.
Lyra stayed behind him, watching intently like a curious cat."Ren, it's melting!"
"That's the idea."
He stirred the molten metal, skimming off impurities, focusing intently. Sweat formed across his forehead, heat biting his skin.
"Careful," Haldor grunted from behind them, arms crossed. "Too much heat and the metal weakens. Too little and it won't bind."
Ren adjusted the airflow, controlling the flames until the molten iron glowed a rich, deep orange.
Minutes later—He poured it into the ingot mold.
The room fell quiet.
Haldor walked over, tapping the cooled surface with a metal rod.
"…Hmm."He grumbled."You didn't ruin it."
Lyra lit up."So he passed?"
Haldor grinned for the first time."Aye. He passed."He pointed at Ren."You can use the forge tomorrow morning. But listen—my forge, my rules. You break it, I break you."
Ren nodded seriously."Understood."
Lyra beamed triumphantly.
"Ren! You did it! Now you can make your sword!"
Ren wiped his forehead and allowed a small smile.
"Tomorrow," he said quietly, "I start."
The permission to use the forge was only the beginning.The next step… was preparing for the cold.
The sky had dimmed into a soft grey, the kind that warned travelers of the early winter approaching. Ren and Lyra stepped into the marketplace, where the crisp wind moved through wooden stalls and fluttering fabrics.
Lyra tightened her cloak around herself.
"We need proper winter clothes, Ren. For you. For the kids. For all of us."
Ren nodded, already stepping toward the first stall selling cloaks.He wasn't rich. Not yet.But he'd never let his siblings freeze again.
A merchant waved them over, her arms crossed over piles of fur-lined winterwear.
"Ah! Young man! Looking for something warm?"
Ren took a deep breath."Yes. Nine cloaks. All sizes."
The woman stumbled a little."N… nine?"
Lyra, standing with arms crossed and eyes narrowed, stepped forward before Ren could answer.
"He means nine. But not at that price."
Ren sighed internally.Here we go.
Lyra examined the cloaks, tugging at seams, running fingers along the fur, flipping hems.
"This stitching is uneven. This lining is going to shed after two washes. This one is fine. But for nine cloaks, you'd better bring the price down."
The merchant frowned."Miss, these are high-quality—"
Lyra raised a brow."I'm an adventurer. I've worn worse and better. Give us a deal."
The merchant exhaled sharply."Fine. Forty silver."
Lyra leaned in closer."And gloves."
The woman stared.Lyra stared back, unblinking.
"…Alright! Gloves too! But you're draining my pockets!"
Lyra turned to Ren with a victorious smile."There. See? Easy."
Ren stared at her."Lyra… I'm starting to fear you."
Lyra put her hands on her hips smugly."You should."
And so it continued.
Warm shirts.
Padded trousers.
Wool socks.
Steeled boots.
Thick scarves.
Lyra negotiated every stall into submission.
Ren purchased:
Straw mattresses for the younger ones
Soft padded sleeping mats for the older ones
Seven thick quilts for the siblings
Two heavy blankets for him and Lyra
A merchant, watching Ren pack the blankets, murmured softly,"You must love your siblings very much."
Ren paused.
"…They're all I have."
Lyra's expression softened as she slipped a scarf around his neck."You're a good brother, Ren."
His cheeks warmed a little, though he blamed the cold wind.
The next morning, cold fog clung to the ground as Ren and Lyra reached the blacksmith's workshop.
Haldor was already swinging his hammer, shirt sleeves rolled up, arms thick as tree trunks.
"You're early," Haldor grunted. "Good. The forge waits for no one."
Ren bowed lightly."Thank you for the chance, Master Haldor."
Lyra set down her basket of snacks.
"And I came to supervise!"
Haldor stared at her.
"You came to hover like an overprotective cat."
Lyra puffed her cheeks."That too!"
Ren sighed.The two are going to kill me before the forge does.
Haldor gestured to the iron ingot Ren refined yesterday.
"Put it in. Slowly. Do not scorch it. Let the fire breathe around it."
Ren lifted the tongs, hands steady but heart pounding, and slipped the ingot into the roaring flame.
The color changed gradually from Dull grey to Dark red then Bright cherry red and finally Glowing yellow
Haldor nodded."Good. Now take it out."
Ren gripped the tongs, removed the ingot, and placed it on the anvil.
"Raise the hammer."
Ren lifted it.
"And strike."
CLANG!
The impact rattled through his bones.His grip quivered.The ingot barely flattened.
Lyra gasped."Ren! Don't drop the hammer!"
Ren glared."I wasn't going to."
Haldor smirked."Nervous, boy?"
Ren gritted his teeth and struck again.
CLANG!CLANG!CLANG!
Sparks scattered like fireflies around him.
With every swing, his muscles screamed.With every swing, sweat rolled down his forehead despite the cold outside.
Lyra fanned him with her hands.
"Ren! Don't overheat! Drink water!"
Haldor sighed."Girl… this is forging, not a picnic."
Ren kept hammering, breath steady, movements smoother each time.
Minutes turned into hours.
Heat.Hammer.Shape.Reheat.Hammer again.
The metal slowly stretched, widening, lengthening, taking the faintest whisper-form of a blade.
Haldor watched him with an unreadable expression.
Lyra sat nearby, munching on dried fruit, eyes glued to Ren as if he were performing magic.
"You're doing well," she said softly.
Ren exhaled, wiping his forehead.
"It's… harder than fighting goblins."
Haldor snorted."That's forging for you. It's the art of stubbornness."
Ren struck again — this time more confidently.
CLANG!
A near-perfect curve formed.
Haldor's brows lifted slightly.
"Not bad."
Ren froze."D… did you just praise me?"
Haldor grumbled."Don't get used to it."
Lyra laughed."That was praise, Ren!"
Ren smiled faintly, feeling a strange warmth in his chest that had nothing to do with the forge.
Hours later, Haldor finally raised a hand.
"That's enough. You've shaped the foundation. Tomorrow, we refine. Temper. Quench. Sharpen."
Ren placed the heated metal aside and rolled his shoulders.
His arms felt like lead.His fingers trembled.His breath was ragged.
But…
He felt something in his heart.
A pride he never felt before.
Lyra approached with a soft cloth, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
"Ren… you did great."
Ren blinked, caught off guard.
"T-Thanks."
She smiled brightly."It's your first sword. I'm sure it will be amazing."
Haldor crossed his arms, nodding once.
"You have talent. Raw, unpolished. But talent nonetheless."
Ren stiffened.
"Do… do you think I can forge a proper sword?"
Haldor stared deeply into his eyes.
"If you keep striking like today…You'll forge more than a blade.You'll forge your path."
Ren's chest tightened.
For the first time in years…He felt like someone saw more in him than a struggling boy raising seven siblings.
He bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Master."
Haldor grunted."Don't thank me yet. Tomorrow will break your arms."
Lyra burst out laughing."That means he likes you!"
Ren turned bright red.