âWhatâs in it for you besides our goodwill and gear down the road?â Tom asked. âI mean, you seem to think we need to give you more than we already do.â
Everett held up his hand, storing the clipboard and moving to the stone counter where the two other men were standing.
âWait, Iâm curious,â Everett said, his eyes focused intently on Max. âYouâre telling me that you might have access to a homeless epic crafter?â
âIs that a problem?â
Taking a massive breath, the Faction leader let it out slowly as he rubbed his eyes.
âIâm not sure you can imagine the improbability of finding someone like that. What it takes to become a crafter like that is almost impossible. The time spent in dungeons, money invested⊠itâs just begging how they got where they are. Everyone would wonder who or what they are running from.â
âExactly!â Tom exclaimed. âSomeone spent a lot of money investing in that person, and for them to⊠why are you smiling like that?â
âDo you want to meet them or not? Iâll tell you how the guild can improve and grow, but youâll have to wait to find out how all this happened,â Max informed Tom. âThey would prefer no questions asked, privacy, and being open to making things on their own. Trading for materials is what they want also.â
Putting both hands on the stone counter, Everett leaned against it, shaking his head slowly. âAnyone else but you and I would probably kick you out⊠yet Tom is right. I can tell you have something and someone in mind. When can they come?â
âTonight, Iâll go and let them know. Just know this,â Max replied, his tone changing as he spoke. âHe doesnât like questions and wonât just join the faction. Maybe in time, but for now, heâll craft weapons and take payment in materials.â
Tom stared at Everett and watched his friend try to deal with the situation before them.
âEverett?â
Slowly, the Faction leader turned and held Tomâs gaze, nodding slowly. âWe need to. You and I both know it.â Everett stood up, shaking slightly and appearing to be struggling with something Max felt still had to come from the loss of Baldin. âTell them to come by and ask for me. Iâll be waiting.â
Nodding, Max moved toward the door. âIâll go tell my friend.â
After the door shut, both men stood in silence, staring at the closed door.
âHe at least believes the person he is going to get is a crafter. Youâre really going to give them a shot?â
Everett nodded at Tomâs question and frowned. âEither that kid is a magnet for gold, or someone is fooling him. Either way, weâll find out tonight.â
âI must say that when you told me we couldnât stay at the Faction house tonight, I hadnât expected you to leave me here by myself.â
Max kissed Tanila and shrugged. âWe both talked about this, and the day before we attempt the fifth floor, I need to see what materials I can get. You and I both know that in order to someday craft what we were given, I have to find out what materials will even work with it.â
âItâs a good thing you are so handsome, or I might be mad,â Tanila replied, kissing Max. âNow go. Iâll force myself to enjoy this massive tub and the food you were smart enough to order. When should I expect you?â
âTomorrow morning.â
As Max prepared to turn the handle, Tanila called out, âRemember what I said? Act totally different, walk differently, and try to hide your voice. The item you have only does so much. If you donât pretend to be someone else completely, they may realize it is you.â
âI understand. Watching you change in a moment when you reveal yourself made me believe I could do this also.â
âSo youâre Sethâs friend?â Tom asked. âWhy isnât he here?â
Max shrugged and ran a hand through his brown hair, grinning like a fool. âHe mentioned something about spending the night with his female friend. I didnât pry and raced over to see if you two were interested.â
âAnd you can craft?â
âWe can dance or go to a crafting area, and I can show you. Honestly, Iâd prefer to skip the dancing portion and just show you what I can do.â
Everett cleared his throat and nodded. âAlright, Joshua. Letâs see what you can do.â
Max stood in the room, grateful for one that had magical controls of the forge, not requiring him or anyone else to keep it heated. On a table were an assortment of reagents and materials, all calling out to his skill.
âWhat would you like crafted? A dagger? A sword?â
Tom ran his tongue over his teeth as he watched Max standing next to the items they put out. Years of watching Baldin's work had given both of them the knowledge of what could be crafted, and depending on what was made, they already knew the quality to expect.
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
âYouâre pick. Weâll just watch while you work.â
Max grinned again and nodded. He slowly limped toward the table, doing his best to move differently and even hunching his back slightly.
He could feel Tom and Everett's gaze as he moved along the table. Three of the ore bars they had were not very good and would be decent for an uncommon item, maybe rare at best with his skill. Two other bars would be useful for an epic-quality weapon, and mixed between all of them was one bar that would be legendary-worthy.
Other items sat on the table, including possible handle choices and even a box. Opening it up slowly, Max tried not to appear shocked when he saw some different elemental essences inside.
Holy goblin shite⊠theyâre really going all out on this test!
His mind began to work at the possibilities of what he might be able to make. His skill told him that it would take about twelve hours to craft a single dagger with a simple handle and one of the elemental essences. If his luck held and everything went right, it might just turn out legendary instead of epic.
âThis is going to take a bit. Do either of you mind getting me some water and a snack?â
Tom didnât hesitate, moving from his stool, pulling some food and a water skin from storage, and setting it near Max.
âThanks.â
A grunt came as Tom sat back down.
After a long drink and a quick snack, Max picked up the ore he had chosen. It was pink, and he could feel it begging to be shaped into the image in his mind.
âTime to get to work.â
The hours passed quickly, and at the halfway point, Max had formed his blade and was working on his handle.
Tom was not happy when he stored the blade, but Everett held up a hand. They knew it worked that way for one with a skill as Max claimed to have.
âThat was impressive metalworking, Joshua,â Everett said as he watched Max start working on the handle. âAre you done with the blade?â
Shaking his head slightly, Max didnât look up. Using his tools, he was focused on carving the bone handle he had selected. Unsure what type of bone it was, his skill had told him that it would be perfect for housing the power of both the blade and elemental essence.
Almost done, Max put on a metal glove sitting on the counter and opened the box once more, pulling the ice element from inside. Transferring it quickly to his storage, he made his way to the blade that was held fast in the clamp.
He could feel the eyes of both men, fighting back the fatigue their faces showed, watching as he stood over the blade.
âNow for the tricky part,â Max muttered. Taking the elemental essence out, he laid it on the blade and took an essence tool, dragging it slowly back and forth along the blade, watching its power start to enter.
Slow⊠move slowâŠ
His mind told him the truth about how important it was to be steady of hand and fast. This wasnât the time to race; with each pass of the essence along the blade that he had etched with a few runes, a little more entered the pink metal.
After over a hundred more passes with the essence as it was almost gone, it vanished, and the blade shimmered blue for a moment.
Each man in the room let out a breath at the same time, all of them holding it during the last few moments.
With that part done, Max moved to the final part.
He sharpened it and did everything required except wipe it down one last time.
Holding the rag that finished the dagger, Max grinned and gave it a quick wipe.
[ 10 Experience Gained ]
[ Legendary Dagger Created ]
âI donât believe it,â Tom said, moving from his stool. âYou really are a weaponsmith!â
Yawning, Max nodded and handed the blade to Tom. âI havenât checked its stats, but Iâm ok with that. Did I pass the test?â
Tomâs eyes widened, accentuating the bags under his eyes as he stared at the stats.
He turned, moved to Everett, and handed the dagger to him, watching as his friendâs face reacted in shock at what he was holding.
âJoshua⊠youâre a legendary crafter⊠how?â
âI thought we agreed on no questions,â Max replied. âIâm happy to offer my services for materials. As you can see, I can make quality weapons.â
Both men looked at the dagger and then at each other, each one nodding.
âWe did agree upon that, but we honestly didnât believe you were a crafter⊠or not one as high as Seth said you were.â
Max was putting his tools away, wrapping them up, and storing them. âI understand. I work on my own schedule just so you know. Iâll show up when I can and do what you want, but please remember our agreement.â
âYou realize that if you signed up with us, we could offer you far more than just crafting items,â Tom said, his voice almost pleading. âIâm certain you know that every other Factionââ
âI donât want that life,â Max said, waving his hand and cutting Tom off. âIn life, we all want certain things. For me, itâs crafting items. Beyond that, I donât need a home of my own right now.â
Storing the dagger, Everett stood up and moved to where Max was, holding out his hand.
âI agree with your terms, Weaponsmith Joshua. Iâll start creating a list of items we need and the required materials. The next time you come, Iâll have them ranked in order of importance. Do you have any idea when that might be?â
Max shook his head. âI donât, but hopefully, it will be in a few days. I promised someone else I would help them.â
âHelp them?â Tom asked, wincing after he realized what he had done.
Grinning, Max nodded. âCount that item as free. You donât owe me for this one, but Iâll slowly start figuring out what materials I want. Iâll need a list of everything you have and would like to look over all of it. Obviously, I donât plan on taking the list, but it will help me prepare for it down the road.â
âIâll see what I can do to meet that request,â Tom said.
âAnd I mean all items,â Max said as he pointed at the door. âIâm okay working for something that costs more. Now, if you donât mind, can someone lead me out of here? I need to go and sleep.â
Tom nodded, moved toward the door, opened it, and instructed the person outside to take Max to the gate.
âThat boy craps gold⊠no stuff more valuable than gold,â Tom said, leaning his head against the counter. âYou and I both knew Joshua could craft the moment he made that blade.â
Everett nodded, inspecting the dagger from every angle. âItâs flawless⊠a legendary blade with four stats and an ice element. I can think of two people in our ranks who would fight for this.â
âAnd youâre ok trading materials with that boy? I mean, he doesnât look that old. How can he do legendary gear already?â
Shrugging, Everett yawned and put the dagger up. âI have no idea, but he isnât the only one who needs some sleep. Iâm turning in.â