Sunlight pierced through the thin mist, spilling over the rudimentary rooftops of Blackstone Town. From the stables came Ed's boisterous voice, occasionally interspersed with the indignant grunts of the rhino calves.
Leylo pushed open his door, and a wave of warmth—scented with a mix of fodder and livestock—hit him. Ed was clumsily attempting to brush the hide of one of the calves. The little creature was clearly unappreciative, twisting its sturdy body and nearly knocking him over.
"My Lord, you're awake!" Ed saw Leylo and flashed a hearty smile, a brush still gripped in his hand. "These two little rascals are in high spirits! We fed them fodder and gave them water last night; they slept quite soundly."
Leylo approached, noting the two calves whose obsidian hides were growing increasingly lustrous. They seemed to have adapted to their new environment, no longer as terrified as they were the night before, merely impatient with Ed's "harassment."
"Mm, they look good," Leylo nodded. "Continue looking after them; I'm going for a walk through town."
"You got it!" Ed replied.
With the number of Sand Rats increasing, Leylo had tasked Old Buck with organizing a town-wide extermination. An inspection early this morning revealed that the simple trip-wire traps were somewhat inefficient. Perhaps he could find the town's blacksmith to brainstorm better solutions—designing more sophisticated and durable rodent-trapping devices. This was the perfect pretext to visit Hook the Blacksmith, the man who possessed the secret of Dwarven forging.
The blacksmith shop of Blackstone Town was located slightly west of the town center—a low stone building with a chimney that belched black smoke year-round. From a distance, one could hear the rhythmic ting-ting-dang-dang of hammering.
As Leylo drew near, Hook was working shirtless, his bronzed, solid muscles rippling as he swung a heavy sledgehammer. Each strike against the glowing red iron sent a shower of sparks flying. He looked to be in his forties, with a rugged face and focused eyes.
"Master Hook, busy?" Leylo stood at the doorway, waiting for a round of forging to finish before greeting him.
Hook set down his hammer, picked up a nearby ladle, and gulped down several mouthfuls of water. Only then did he turn, wiping sweat with a grimy towel draped around his neck.
"Lord Leylo?" Hook was surprised; he hadn't expected the Lord to visit in person.
"I've come to ask a favor of Master Hook." Leylo stepped inside, where the scorching air was thick with the smell of coal smoke and metal. "The town is suffering from a rat plague. The simple traps the townspeople made have yielded mediocre results. I was wondering if you could forge something sturdier and more sensitive—proper rat traps?"
Leylo's gaze swept across the shop as he spoke. In the corners were piles of farm tools, horseshoes, and a few semi-finished weapons. The craftsmanship appeared noticeably better than that of an average village smith. His eyes finally settled on a semi-finished short-axe near the anvil. Its lines were fluid, carrying a subtle sense of heft that differed from ordinary ironware.
"Master Hook's skill seems quite extraordinary," Leylo mentioned casually.
Hook's eyes flickered. He picked up the short-axe and flicked the blade with his finger, producing a clear, resonant hum. "A man's trade has to look the part," he said plainly, though a hint of professional pride leaked through his tone.
Leylo stepped closer, pointing to an inconspicuous hammer-mark on the axe-head. "This style of forging... I've only seen similar textures on ancient Dwarven relics."
Hook's grip on the axe tightened suddenly. His gaze became sharp and wary as he looked at Leylo. "You understand smithing?"
"A little," Leylo smiled. "I've seen a bit of the world in my travels." He didn't expose the secret directly, instead waiting for Hook to speak.
The shop fell silent, save for the occasional crackle of the hearth. Hook's voice grew low. "When I was young, I worked as a miner deep in the Blackstone Mountains. There was a cave-in once, and I was trapped. I stumbled into a hidden chamber revealed by the collapse... a Dwarven secret room."
He paused, as if recalling the ordeal. "The place was ancient. Inside, besides broken tools and armor, there were stone tablets carved with Dwarven forging techniques. I was trapped for days and memorized the methods on those tablets. After I was rescued, I left the mining crew and came to Blackstone Town to open this shop."
Just as the intelligence said.
"Dwarven forging..." Leylo repeated softly, his tone laced with just the right amount of wonder. "That is a lost treasure. Master Hook, with such skill, don't you feel it's... a waste of talent to stay in this small town just making farm tools and horseshoes?"
A trace of bitterness appeared on Hook's face. "What else could I do? Dwarven things are too conspicuous; they invite trouble. Moreover, many high-level techniques require special materials and tools—some even require assistants. Alone, I can't get the materials, nor can I do the work." He sighed. "To live peacefully here and make a living is enough."
"What if," Leylo looked Hook in the eye, his tone becoming solemn, "Master Hook, if you are willing to pledge your loyalty to me? In return, I will provide the best conditions possible to make you a truly respected Master Smith, not just a blacksmith in a remote town."
Hook's chest heaved as he struggled internally. On one hand was a stable but mediocre life; on the other, an opportunity full of unknowns but capable of realizing his ambitions. He looked at his rough, calloused hands, then at the short-axe that held his heart's work but remained imperfect. Finally, he gritted his teeth and said deeply, "Fine! My Lord, I'm with you! Whatever you need, just say the word!"
Years of suppression and resentment found their outlet in that moment. No man wants to remain anonymous forever.
"My Lord, if I may, I have one request..." Hook added.
Having secured Hook's loyalty, Leylo was in high spirits. He laughed, "Master Hook, speak freely. There is nothing I won't grant."
"I have a son, Huba. If possible, I hope he can become your squire and learn the knightly arts." Hook pulled a young man who had been assisting him and had him kneel before Leylo.
Leylo smiled. "Master Hook, I agree to take Huba as my knightly squire."
Hook was overjoyed and immediately knelt to thank him as well. Leylo laughed and helped the father and son up.
"Ed, Huba is my first squire. Until he becomes a knight, he will follow you to learn the knightly arts. You must teach him everything you know so he can grow into an official knight as soon as possible," Leylo said to Ed.
Ed immediately accepted the order.
"Very well," Leylo showed a satisfied smile. "I will have Mayor Buck organize people for you to teach, Master Hook. While they assist you, you can pass on your skills. We don't need many—a dozen or so bright, hard-working youths will do."
"No problem!" Hook agreed instantly, looking as if he had been reborn with new vitality. "My Lord, I will teach them everything!"
"Rat traps aren't difficult to forge; it's perfect practice for the apprentices. Rest assured, leave it to me!" Hook promised, patting his chest. Both he and his son now had a bright future, and he was bursting with drive.
Having settled the matter with Hook, Leylo felt excellent. A blacksmith possessing Dwarven techniques was of immeasurable value to his territory.