Chapter 70 – A Challenge for Him

Chapter 70

A Challenge for Him

Date : Day 5 of Grimleaf 1024 Aethellgard Concord Year.

Morning came for Hyoren and Elise. The light of the dual suns filtered through the window. The curtains swayed slightly with the morning breeze. Both stirred at the same time. The rhythm of their bodies had synced.

Hyoren looked down at his shoulder, watching Elise's eyes flutter. Her eyelids moved. Waking from the world of dream. The transition from sleep to consciousness was gradual but peaceful. Her silver hair was splayed across his chest. Tangled and messy, but beautiful.

She then opened her eyes, and looked up. The emerald orbs were hazy at first. Still clouded with sleep. But clarity came quickly. Recognition followed. A soft smile formed on her lips.

Hyoren kissed her. Light. A morning kiss. A start of the day. The touch was gentle. Brief. Intimate. A greeting without words. A promise renewed.

Not long after, their lips parted. The separation was reluctant. But necessary. The day awaited. Responsibilities called.

"Good morning, Elise, my love."

Elise smiled. Content. The expression was soft.The morning light caught her features. Illuminated her face. Made her seem to glow.

"Morning, Hyoren."

The new morning ritual for them. Intimacy. A practice born from shared nights. From proximity. From love. The routine was new. Yet already precious.

"I love this..."

Elise said. Tracing her fingers on Hyoren's chest. Her touch was light. Feather-like. Following the lines of his muscles. Drawing patterns on his skin.

She didn't need to elaborate what she loved. Hyoren already understood. The moment. The closeness. The simplicity of waking together. He smiled widely. The joy was evident.

"Me too, Elise."

Both of them then sat up. The blankets fell away. The cool and refreshing morning air touched their skin. They gathered their discarded clothes which were sprawling on the bed and floor. The garments were scattered haphazardly. Evidence of the night before.

Their morning routine then started fully. The familiar motions. The practiced actions.

Dressing up. Fabric sliding over skin. Buckles clicking into place. Armor being secured. Washing their faces. The cool water shocking away the last remnants of sleep. Hyoren shaved his stubble. The razor moved carefully and precisely. Leaving smooth skin behind. Elise tied her silver hair into a ponytail. The familiar and practical gesture. She was returning to her ranger persona.

Not long after, they were ready and went downstairs to eat breakfast in the communal room. The wooden stairs creaked under their feet. Familiar sounds. Familiar path. The smell of cooking drifted up.

Martha smiled warmly when seeing them. The mother-like figure stopped wiping the counter and greeted them. Her face was kind. Welcoming. Happy to see them.

"Good morning, dears! Breakfast?"

Elise trod to the counter and sat. Her steps were light. Energetic. The hunger was evident in her movements.

"Yes, Martha, breakfast please. Extra portion for me! I'm peckish."

Hyoren smiled and sat beside her. The motion was natural.

"Good morning, Martha..."

Martha then went to the kitchen to fetch their food. The door swung open. Sounds of cooking drifted out. She came back with a tray full of food. The spread was generous. A proper breakfast for adventurers.

"Here's your breakfast, dears."

She put down two bowls of hearty vegetables and meat stew with soft bread. The steam rose from the bowls. The aroma was rich and savory. The looks was satisfying. Elise's portion got two breads instead of one. Extra for her extra hunger. To complement the food, she also gave them refreshing juice. The liquid was cool.

Elise beamed seeing the food. Her eyes lit up. The hunger was visible. The anticipation clear.

"Thank you, Martha! I love you!"

Hyoren also nodded. Agreeing with her. The gratitude was shared. Mutual.

Martha smiled. She wiped her hands on her apron.

"Now... Now... eat a lot. I know you two spent a lot of energy last night."

She winked. The motion was subtle. But loaded with meaning.

Hyoren and Elise froze hearing her. The words hung in the air. Heavy with implication.

 Elise's hands stopped in mid-air during scooping. The spoon hovered. Frozen. Hyoren's mug was glued to his lips as he froze during mid-sipping. The juice touched his mouth. But he couldn't swallow. Couldn't move. Couldn't process.

Martha then leaned forward. Whispering to both of them. Her voice was low. Conspiratorial and amused.

"It's nice to be a young and new couple. But please mind where you are, okay? Be careful with how loud you are when doing the deed. I could hear everything from downstairs last night. Fufufu."

She then turned around. Leaving the frozen couple alone. Back to her work of serving other guests. The smile never left her face. The amusement was evident. The teasing complete.

Redness started to creep on both of them upon realization. The blush spread. From their necks. To their cheeks. To their ears. The heat was unbearable. The embarrassment overwhelming.

Both of them put down their spoon and mug. Then faced each other. The eye contact was brief. Shared mortification between the new lovers.

Elise's eyes were watered—full of embarrassment tears. The corners of her eyes glistened. The shame was too much. Corner of Hyoren's eyes dropped—ashamed. And his lips were pressed close and tight. Both knew what Martha's words meant. The implication was clear.

Hyoren recovered first. His voice was strained. The words came with difficulty.

"Elise... we should be mindful... next time."

Elise nodded meekly. The motion was small. Barely visible. The shame was too great. The embarrassment too fresh.

Both of them turned to their food. But they ate automatically. Mechanical. Without thought. The weight of the revelation made them too embarrassed to actually enjoy the food. The stew could have been anything. The bread could have been cardboard. The taste didn't register. Only the heat in their cheeks. The weight of knowledge. The awareness that others had heard. Had known. Had listened.

After eating, they bolted from the communal room, towards the exit. Not wanting to spend more time under Martha's mother-like but knowing gaze. The escape was hasty and desperate. The door couldn't come fast enough.

Martha sent them off with warmth. Her voice followed them. Unconcerned by their embarrassment. Tickled by their reaction.

"Have a safe trip, dears!"

She waved at them. Watching them leave with a tinge of red still enveloped their ears. The sight was amusing. Endearing. The folly of young love. The passion of new couples. She had seen it before. Would see it again. And found joy in witnessing it.

***

The chilly morning air of autumn greeted them as they left Wanderer's Rest behind. It helped cool down their flushed faces and skin. The cold was welcome after the heat of embarrassment.

They stood in front of the door for a while. Trying to catch their breath and process their embarrassment. The morning sounds of the city drifted around them. Carts rolling. Distant voices. The day was beginning. Life continued. Unaware of their mortification.

Hyoren recovered first. He smiled wryly. The expression was sheepish.

"Okay, Elise. Let's be careful from now..."

Elise nodded. The motion was slow. Still processing. Still recovering.

"Yeah, Hyoren... When we did it in the wilds on our first time. We can go wild as no one can hear us. But we completely forgot the fact that sometimes the inn wall might be thin."

Wind blew from their side. It made Elise shudder. The part where her green leather armor left bare caught the chilly air. The cleavage. The upper arms and shoulders. The part between her stockings and short skirt. The gaps in her armor were aesthetically designed. But it left her skins exposed to the cold.

Hyoren noticed that, and asked. His brow furrowed slightly, concerned.

"Elise, should you get a different kind of armor?"

Elise tilted her head.

"Huh. Why, Hyoren?"

She swirled. Trying to see if something was wrong with her armor. Her eyes scanned her own attire. Looking for the issue.

"Is something wrong with my armor? Or do you dislike the design?"

Hyoren scratched his cheek. The gesture was self-conscious. A bit awkward.

"No, Elise. I like the design and it suits you so much."

He then touched her shoulder which covered by small mantle—barely, as winds still can easily went in. His touch was warm and full of affection. Trying to envelope her shivering body with his own heat. The contact was gentle and comforting.

"But I noticed you shivered under chilly air recently. And soon winter will come. The weather will be colder."

Elise smiled. Understanding. Warmth spread across her features.

"Fufu. I love how thoughtful you are. But I think it's no problem. We can wear our temperature-controlled cloak if the weather is too cold."

Hyoren nodded. Removing his hand from Elise's shoulder. The contact ended. But the warmth remained.

"Hmm. Well that's true. Okay then, let's wear our cloak whenever we can, Elise."

Both of them then took their cloak from their own storage bags. The fabric materialized from the void. They wore it. And poured Aethell on them to activate the temperature control runic arrays. The magic flowed. The runes glowed faintly. Then settled into warmth.

Elise closed her eyes. Satisfied as the warmth started enveloping them. The shivering stopped. Her body relaxed.

She then faced Hyoren. Her expression was content and grateful.

"But maybe you are right. I don't think I will buy a new one, but maybe I will ask Jena for her opinion later. Maybe put more fabric on the parts where the armor left bare. Modified it without changing the core aesthetics and designs. She is good at that!"

Hyoren remembered the leatherworker Jena. The artisan who crafted his Ramtauro armor. He then nodded. Her work was flawless. The quality undeniable.

"Hmm. That's a good idea, Elise."

Hyoren then asked Elise. They were done processing the embarrassment. They needed to move on. The day awaited. Responsibilities called.

"So, what's the plan today, Elise? Went to Oria's to finish our quest? And Borin's, to get my spear?"

Elise's mood soured a little with the mention of Oria. A subtle shift in her expression. But she swallowed her thoughts. Pushed the feelings down.

"Right. Let's go to Borin's first as it's close. Then we can go to Oria's."

Hyoren nodded. Agreeing with the plan.

"Let's go then."

Both of them then started walking side by side. Leaving the Wanderer's Rest. To start their day. Their steps were slow, but steady. The morning was young. The city was waking.

Their footsteps echoed on stone pavement. The side road was sparse. Few adventurers went in and out. Maybe going to their first quest. Or preparing to go to guild to take a quest. The rhythm of the city. The routine of adventurers.

After walking a few steps, Elise turned her face. Her expression was thoughtful. Hesitant.

"But after we're done with Oria, can I go somewhere alone, Hyoren?"

Hyoren was surprised. His eyes widened slightly. He slowed down a bit, before catching up with Elise. The request was unexpected, caught him off guard.

For the past three weeks, he was always with Elise. They only separated when they took a bath or did private stuff. Even during sleep, they slept together. They were almost inseparable.

But realization dawned upon him. The request was normal. Even the closest and most romantic couples. Or a loving husband and wife. They would get their own schedule. Sometimes they worked in different environments. Their circles of friends were different. Their hobbies might even be different.

Always being with Elise as she was his first partner was taken for granted for Hyoren. And he just realized it now. The understanding came slowly.

He understood everyone needed their own time sometimes. He didn't want to be labeled as a possessive guy and not let Elise get her own friends, her own times, and her own enjoyment. The thought was uncomfortable for him.

He smiled. His expression was warm. Understanding. Accepting.

"Of course you can, Elise. Now that I think again. It's weird that we are always glued together."

Elise chuckled. Her voice was like a melody.

"Fufufu. That's right. But it can't be helped. We journeyed together. And when we arrived at this city, you were still so clueless I couldn't leave you alone. I needed to teach you a lot of things."

She then gestured to the city. Encompassing the streets, buildings, and the people.

"But now you should already understand most of the city's districts, right? And to be honest, you can ask anyone for directions. The people of Akela are friendly. And a guard or knight would gladly help you if you get lost too."

Hyoren nodded. The information was reassuring.

"Okay, Elise, understood. Will do."

He then faced Elise. Curious. Open.

"So, what's your plan after we're done with Oria, Elise?"

She tucked strands of her silver hair to the back of her pointed ears. The gesture was unconscious.

"I plan to go to Jena's. I promised her to chat over tea when I'm free."

She looked at Hyoren, and smiled widely. The expression was bright. She was excited.

"And now there's a lot of things I want to tell her. Fufu."

Hyoren smiled too. He understood what she meant without her telling him. Their new relationship. Elise's trauma processed. The conversation that needed to happen. She want to share the happy news to her close friends. Warmth spread over his chest.

She then looked down at her leather armor. Practicality returning. Planning ahead.

"And while at it, I will discuss with her about my current armor."

Practicality combined with private talk. Very Elise.

Hyoren nodded. Agreeing with her. The plan was sound. Efficient.

"I see. I understand. Have fun with Jena then."

He smiled widely. Watching his lover connecting with her close friends. It also warmed him. The joy was shared. The happiness mutual.

Elise weaved towards a small crowd of housewives who chatted about gossip. Their voices carried through the morning air. Snippets of conversation drifted over.

"Hey. Have you heard about that thieving cat?"

"Who is her target now?"

"No. People said she was mellowed recently."

"Impossible."

"Hahaha."

Laughter of the housewives could be heard fading in the background as Hyoren and Elise ignored them. They didn't care about idle gossip. Their steps were purposeful. They walked confidently.

Elise then turned to Hyoren with curiousity.

"So, do you have any plan for yourself, Hyoren? Or are you going to rest at our Inn?"

He tapped his own chin. The question was valid. The day was open.

"Hmm. I don't know. I don't want to spend my time in our inn the whole day."

He looked around. Trying to find something to do. The city offered many possibilities. Many paths. Then he remembered something.

"Oh. I want to learn more about this world. Are there any book stores or libraries, Elise? Books are the windows of the world. And I loved reading books since my old life."

Elise smiled. She knew the city well, she knew where to guide him.

"Yes there are, Hyoren. You can find a book store in Merchants' District. For the library, there's basically three places you can go."

She raised one finger.

"First, the biggest one. Castle Repository. You can request to browse them. The bureaucracy is a bit long as you need clearance from a few places in the Administrative District. But it is a great place to look for a book."

She raised another finger.

"Second, Luminara's Church Library. Their collection is also vast plus anyone can browse there. But the majority of their collection is theological books. There is definitely books about other knowledge, but yeah..."

Hyoren nodded. Understanding and weighing options.

"I see. Luminara's Church Library might be my option. But Castle Repository seems a hassle just to enter. I will skip it for now. And the last one?"

They exited the side street of Adventurer's District. The bustling main street greeted them. The transition was immediate. From quiet to loud. From sparse to crowded.

Street vendors shouting their wares. Movement of mass walking from and to their own destination. The energy of commerce. The rhythm of daily life.

Elise then turned to one direction. Her movement was automatic. She knew the city. The landmarks. The paths.

She then looked at Hyoren on her side. Her third finger raised. The final option.

"It's actually my recommendation. Adventurer's Guild Reference Room. I think you would like to start from there. Monster Encyclopedia. Territory Mapping. Books about Skill. Books about how to train effectively. Basically knowledge on how to adventuring or how to get stronger."

Hyoren widened his eyes. The surprise was pleasant. The option was perfect.

"Woah. That's exactly what I want."

He nodded.

"I will go to the Guild Reference Room then. I want to know how to efficiently get stronger from now on. Thanks, Elise, for your recommendation."

Elise chuckled.

"Fufu. Let's enjoy each of our day then."

Hyoren nodded. Agreeing with her. The plan was set.

"So, when should we meet after we're done, Elise?"

Elise avoided and overtook slow wagons which blocked their path. The vehicles were heavy. Slow and loaded with farm produce. Before putting her fingers on her chin.

"Hmm. I don't know how long I might spend talking with Jena... sometimes we talked the whole day..."

Elise's pointed ears twitched. Slight pink crept over them. She was embarrassed. The admission was honest.

Hyoren nodded in understanding. He knew girls' talk could be long. Could extend. Could consume hours without notice.

"No worries, Elise. Have fun with Jena. How about we just meet at our Inn during dinner? If I become bored with reading, I will go explore the city by myself."

Elise looked up at Hyoren. Her expression beamed.

"Really? Thanks, Hyoren! There are a lot of things to catch up with Jena. I was worried we will talk until night."

She was fidgeting. Then she quickly tiptoed. And pecked Hyoren's cheek. Quick, but full of affection. The gesture was spontaneous.

"I love you!"

Hyoren flushed. The place where she kissed him warmed. The sensation lingered.

"Don't mention it, Elise. And I love you too."

Elise smiled widely. The joy was radiant.

"Okay then. That's settled. Fufu."

Elise then started walking again. The pace was lighter.

"Let's go, Hyoren. Your spear is waiting."

Hyoren caught up with her. His steps were light and steady. With a purpose to finally get his own weapon. Not a borrowed Iron Spear anymore. But a legacy of hundred years of mithril alloy dagger, turned into a spear with his request. The anticipation built. The excitement grew.

Not long after, they arrived at their first destination. A sturdy building with "Grit & Gear Arms" sign. Ironhand's Borin shop. The building was robust. Built for a blacksmith's work. The place where his new weapon awaited.

***

Hyoren and Elise entered the building with a clink of bells. The sound announced their arrival. Sweltering heat greeted them. Forge and anvil inside. The sounds of clank clank echoed through the space. The smell of heated metal. The distinct aroma of a blacksmith's workshop. The temperature shifted dramatically from the cool autumn morning outside. The warmth wrapped around them like a blanket.

Borin, who was hammering some steel, looked up. His muscular frame was covered in soot. The dwarf's beard was singed at the edges. His hands held the hammer with practiced ease. A craftsman in his element.

"Oh, it's you two. Come... Come..."

He smashed his hammer one last time, then put the steel inside the quenching liquid. Steam hissed as the hot metal met the cold water. The sound sharp and brief. He reduced the heat from the forge, then crossed over from his workshop to the counter of his store. His steps were heavy and deliberate. The floorboards creaked under his weight.

Hyoren greeted him. Shook his hand. The dwarf's grip was firm and calloused. The hand of someone who worked with metal every day.

"Borin. I came for my spear. Is it done yet?"

Borin smiled. The expression was knowing. A craftsman proud of his creation.

"Just in time. I finished my last touch last night. Wait a bit."

He then went to the storeroom in the back. His footsteps receded. The sound of things being moved and shuffled. Then he returned with a spear. He put it on the red velvet cloth on top of the counter. The fabric was luxurious. A stark contrast to the workshop's rugged environment.

"Here. Your order. Custom-made Mithril-alloy Yari."

He smirked. Proud of his own work. The dwarf's eyes glittered with satisfaction. He pointed at the blade with a thick finger.

"As I said before… This blade is a hundred years old yes... But the actual quality exceeds my expectations. The mithril content is higher than I anticipated. And the quality of the blade. Whoever forged this was no ordinary smith—this is masterwork."

He glanced at Hyoren. The appraisal was quick. Measuring.

"This isn't a weapon for iron or copper ranks. Bronze at the very least—perhaps even silver."

His gaze hardened slightly.

"Do you fledglings truly think you can match it?"

Hyoren gulped. The weight of his weapon suddenly became so high. The responsibility. The expectation. The challenge embedded in the question. But before he answered, he was surprised by Borin's laughter.

"Hahahaha. Caught you! Surprised?"

He then smiled. The serious expression melted away. Replaced by amusement. The trick revealed.

"Don't be afraid, Hyoren. I know you just started. But, somehow I can see you going to match this weapon. Soon. This weapon will serve you well."

Elise then stepped up. Her voice was confident. Defending her partner's potential.

"Of course, Borin! This Hyoren will match, or even surpass this weapon!"

Borin smirked. The expression was teasing and knowing.

"If you say so, elf."

He then looked down at the spear on the table. The weapon gleamed under the workshop's light. The dark metal polished to perfection.

"I didn't do much to the blade itself, it was already masterworks. I only sharpened and restored the crossguard."

Hyoren nodded. The dark blade now gleamed. No more dull black steel. It shone under the light. The edge was keen. It looks both dangerous and beautiful. The crossguard was reinforced.  The whole weapon looked complete.

Borin then traced the shaft. His finger followed the wood grain. The texture. The craftsmanship.

"I did a lot of things for the shaft though. I did as you told me. The length should be perfectly two meters. But you said you want Ironwood as a shaft. That's when I got creative."

He picked up the spear. And throwing it toward Hyoren. The motion was quick. Testing his reflexes.

Hyoren caught the spear. His eyes widened slightly. The sensation was unexpected.

"It was... lighter than I think."

He did a few practice swings and thrusts. Testing its balance. Its weight. The spear moved through the air with ease. The wood flexed slightly with each swing but returned to form immediately.

"But the balance is great. Especially the added counter-weight."

The spear was lighter than it looked. And the wood was not dark like Ironwood. But yellow. Golden almost. There was also a counterweight on the butt-end. It could be used as a blunt point when a crushing attack was needed. The design was thoughtful, to make the weapon more versatile.

Borin crossed his arms and smirked. The stance was proud and confident.

"Instead of using Ironwood which is only hard. I used Yew-wood. It's as hard as Ironwood, but flexible at the same time. It is also way lighter."

He then leaned forward. His voice dropped an octave. The tone became conspiratorial. Sharing a secret.

"And I put the mithril-alloy core inside the shaft. It will make the spear conduct Aethell better."

Elise gasped. The realization hitting her. The value of the materials. The generosity—or madness—of the dwarf.

“Borin! Yew-wood and mithril-alloy core? How many expensive materials do you use? We only paid 600K Kres! Mithril-alloy core alone should already cost over 500K! Combined with the Yew-wood? It should cost us more than millions!”

Borin waved his hand. His gesture was dismissing. Unconcerned. The cost meant nothing to him.

"Pah. Noisy elf. I made this without expecting profit. I made this to give this guy a challenge. Will he become worthy of this weapon or not. Hahahaha."

His laugh came. Unbidden. Genuine. The sound of a craftsman who found entertainment in his work. A game played with materials and skill.

Elise was exasperated. Her hands moved. Expressing her disbelief. The frustration of dealing with a stubborn dwarf who refused to charge properly.

"Borin you... You really never changed... Always do this whenever you find an interesting newbie."

Elise shook her head. The gesture was resigned. Fond. The behavior was familiar. Expected.

Hyoren on her side gulped. The challenge was laid before him. A bar to reach. A standard to meet.

"A challenge."

He gripped the shaft even more strongly. The wood pressed against his palm. Solid. Real. A promise and a test combined.

"I can't even put my Aethell on my weapon yet. I can't even utilize this weapon for half of its capabilities."

His eyes then locked onto Borin. Burning with excitement. The fire of determination. The will to grow. He gripped his new spear—Mithril-alloy Yari—even stronger. The weapon felt right in his hands. An extension of himself waiting to be realized.

"But I accept your challenge, Borin. I will prove to you I'm worthy to use this weapon."

Borin laughed. The sound was booming. Filling the workshop. The joy of a craftsman seeing potential.

"Hahahaha. Good... Good... I hope my eyes are not wrong then. Now young man, elf. Go away. I still have a lot of work to do."

Hyoren bowed deeply. Grateful. Full of gratitude. The gesture was sincere. Respectful. The bow of a student to a master. Of someone who received more than they paid for.

Elise was still exasperated. But she still managed to say thanks to Borin. The words were genuine despite her tone.

"Well. Thanks, Borin, for your flawless work as usual. We will come back."

Hyoren then put his new spear in a storage bag, and pulled out the loaned Iron Spear. The weapon that served him well. Simple. Functional. But now replaced by something greater. He put the loaned Iron Spear on the table.

"Thank you, Borin. And this is the spear I borrowed before."

Borin just snorted, and picked up the Iron Spear to store it. He then waved his hands. Dismissing them. Before going back to the forge. The workshop called him back. The metal waited.

Hyoren and Elise then left Borin's store. Leaving the weird dwarf smith doing his own work. Leaving the sweltering blacksmith, and back to the busy Adventurer's District. The cool autumn air greeted them again. A welcome relief after the heat. The noise of the streets returned. The spear was secured. The challenge accepted.