The forge's warm glow flickered in the dim workshop. Hephaestus sat in a worn chair, her sharp gaze fixed on Hestia, who knelt before her on the rough stone floor. The air smelled of molten metal, the distant clang of hammers a faint rhythm.
"Hephaestus, please," Hestia said, her voice steady despite her trembling hands. "Bell needs a weapon—something only you can forge. I know I can't pay, but he's worth it."
Hephaestus sighed, her fingers tapping the armrest. "You're asking for a miracle, Hestia. Why should I help?"
Hestia leaned forward, eyes fierce. "Because Bell's my family. And I believe in him. Please, give him a chance."
Silence fell, broken only by the forge's crackle. Hephaestus' expression softened. "Fine," she muttered, rubbing her temple. "I'll make the weapon. But don't expect handouts again."
Hestia's face lit up, and she clasped Hephaestus' hands. "Thank you!" she beamed, scrambling to her feet.
As time passed, the forge came to life once again. Hephaestus focused intently on Bell's weapon, the task at hand far more complex than she had anticipated. Her hands worked tirelessly, shaping and molding the blade.
The rhythmic clang of her hammer echoed throughout the workshop, a steady pulse of determination. She was determined to make the best weapon she could—a weapon that would define Bell's future.
Finally, with a breath of relief, Hephaestus placed the completed weapon on the workbench, examining it with a critical eye.
The door creaked open, followed by a quiet but firm step. Tsubaki entered, her usual confident air tempered with a certain seriousness. She carried two long cloth bundles, one in each hand.
"Did you go out today?" Hephaestus asked without looking up.
"Had to check something," Tsubaki responded. She placed the bundles carefully on the table, unwrapping them one by one.
The first blade she revealed was simple—practical and nothing too remarkable. Hephaestus glanced at it briefly, noting the unmarked hilt and clean, smooth edge.
"Unmarked?" Hephaestus asked.
"Came from the crate of discounted weapons at Mechanica," Tsubaki explained. "Only about 4,000 valis. But there's something about it. The forging technique is quite superior without any mistakes. Not the kind of craftsmanship you expect for that price."
Hephaestus examined it closely, noting the balance and texture. "Hmm. Functional. Could serve a beginner well, I suppose. But something's off. I don't see any of the usual signs of forging—no layering, no true shaping. It looks like it was just melted down into a sword shape."
"If somebody can do that, then soon we'd be out of business," Tsubaki said, taking out the second sword.
This one was far more impressive—quite superior, with a subtle iridescence to the alloy. Just below the hilt, a small skull mark had been engraved, gleaming white against the dark metal.
Hephaestus's gaze sharpened immediately. She took the sword in her hands, running her fingers over the intricate hilt and the blade's gleaming surface.
"That mark…" Hephaestus muttered, her voice trailing off in recognition.
Tsubaki nodded. "Should be from its creator. This one… it feels different. More refined. At first, I thought it had Adamantium in it, but when I checked, I only heard steel and iron."
Hestia, who had been standing quietly at the edge of the room, finally spoke up, her voice a mix of awe and recognition. "This... this looks like a sword made by Luthar."
The name dropped like a stone, and the forge fell silent for a moment.
Tsubaki raised an eyebrow, her own curiosity piqued. "Luthar, huh? I didn't see him in the shop—probably forging new weapons."
Hestia nodded slowly, her eyes not leaving the sword. "It's him. There's no mistaking it. I've seen that symbol many times around the church—even the things he makes that fly look like skulls."
Recalling all the weapons in the shop, Tsubaki turned to Hestia with a raised eyebrow. "Lady Hestia, did he make all his weapons by himself?" she asked, her tone skeptical. "It's impossible for one person to make and sell that many weapons."
Hestia hesitated. She hadn't seen Luthar forge anything herself, but she had witnessed his incredible ability to overhaul the church in just one day. After a brief pause, she spoke with a thoughtful expression. "I haven't actually seen him making the weapons... but if anyone could craft this many weapons by themselves, it's him."
Tsubaki studied Hestia's face for a moment, trying to gauge the sincerity in her words. Before she could respond, Hephaestus, who had been silently observing the conversation, spoke up in a tone that carried both curiosity and caution.
"I don't know for certain if he's making them all himself," Hephaestus said slowly, her gaze sharpening. "But something about the quality of these weapons... It's not humanly possible without special skills. The knowledge, the way the metal is forged—it's something I haven't seen before."
The room fell silent for a moment as the weight of Hephaestus' words settled in. Then, in a teasing tone, she added, "If you already know him so well, shouldn't you be asking him?"
Hestia's lips quirked into a playful smile, her shoulders relaxing as the mood shifted. "I already got a simple sword from Luthar, and he's even providing shelter, so I can't ask for more," she replied, her voice lightening. "And you're my best friend, Hephaestus. You are the only person I could ask for help to get a better weapon."
Tsubaki snorted softly, shaking her head. "Just let him join your family, then you won't have to worry about money and weapons."
"Well," Hestia hesitated, "he doesn't look like somebody who needs a family." Closing her eyes, she started to recall all the time spent with him. "He's like an evil Loki, but more rational and calculating."
As she said that, she felt a little bad for speaking ill of someone who was already helping her.
After this, all three of them discuss a newly forged weapon for Bell, and as the conversation continues, the topic shifts to other things.