In the morning, the duo skillfully avoided the players combing through the frozen landscape and made their way back to the horses.
"Nice," Daisuke said triumphantly. "They didn't get eaten by monsters overnight. Talk about a lucky break."
As if personally offended by the nonchalant remark, his horse snapped its teeth just inches from his nose.
Tiphanna laughed.
"Not funny," Daisuke murmured with a hint of petulance.
"What can I say, it's rare to see you get flustered."
***
Upon returning to the city, Tiphanna wasted no time. She apologized to Josephine for causing her worry, then rushed into her workshop, eager to get to work. The furnace roared to life as she carefully stoked the flames.
After handing over most of the Glacium Heartwood and several other materials to the excited elf, she quickly retrieved a large metal tub and began filling it with a thick substance.
"Now that we've obtained the Glacium Heartwood," she explained. "It needs to be steeped in a rare thermal oil called Embermaw. It's extracted from a sac inside the bodies of fire-breathing monsters, particularly the Cindralisk Salamander. This allows the wood to store heat and burn longer. The downside is that the steeping process lasts for several weeks."
"Several weeks, huh?" Daisuke murmured. "That's fine. If I'm lucky, I won't have to deal with another armored—"
Before he could finish his sentence, he was abruptly yanked back by the collar. Lumielle, who had been waiting at the storefront since the crack of dawn, seized him with a look that said she had run out of patience hours ago.
Tiphanna spared them only a brief glance before returning her attention to her work. She placed a familiar dagger into the glowing crucible, her movements smooth as she shifted into her usual rhythm.
"Haxks! We were worried sick!" Lumielle exclaimed in a hushed tone, her eyes flashing with anger.
"…Speak for yourself," Lyndoria muttered from her corner, grinding her teeth in frustration. Curses! The spell didn't work after all.
"Rawrwu," Zephyr grumbled from atop his head, clearly sharing his own displeasure.
Daisuke shrank back, hoisting his hands in surrender.
"What happened?" Lumielle demanded.
Daisuke rubbed the back of his neck, remorse spreading across his face. "While hunting, Tiff and I—"
The princess growled, jade green eyes narrowing with disapproval.
Daisuke stopped and quickly cleared his throat, wisely refraining from using the nickname. "Tiphanna and I ran into some trouble, which led to us setting up camp in the mountains."
Lyndoria scoffed, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, is that all? Are you sure you're not leaving out any important details?" She smirked, clearly enjoying the opportunity to stir the pot, fanning the flames of misunderstanding.
Lumielle leaned in, her face inches from Daisuke's, delicate eyebrows crinkled, her cheeks puffed out. "Y-You haven't forgotten your promise, right?" she pressed with a blush, fingers curled into fists. "About helping me? About saving the kingdom?"
"Of course not," Daisuke assured her. "I just explained what happened. We were nearly flattened by a powerful monster and had no choice but to spend the night in the mountains."
"Th-Then… you're not... romantically involved with that woman at all?"
Daisuke's response was quick and firm. "We're just friends."
The princess held his gaze like a fuming toddler, weighing the sincerity of his words.
"Tch," Lyndoria clicked her tongue, peeking at the silver-tongued womanizer from one barely opened eye. I bet if I didn't defile that pudding cup, this vermin would be in the deepest pits of hell by now.
***
A few hours later, Tiphanna emerged from the workshop, moving sluggishly like a small marsupial rousing from a long winter's hibernation. In her hands, she held a dagger and shield, her face streaked with soot from the furnace.
"Haxks, you're still here?" she said upon spotting him in the main area of the store, a hint of color returning to her cheeks. "I thought you would've left by now."
Josephine raised an eyebrow and tilted her chin slightly. "I told him I'd be more than happy to deliver the items once they were ready, but he insisted on waiting."
Daisuke shrugged. "Things are about to get a bit hectic on my end," he explained, gesturing toward the items in Tiphanna's hand. "Figured I'd at least take these two back before I head out."
"…Sorry it took so long," the elf mumbled, glancing up at him sheepishly.
Lumielle growled beneath her breath.
"It's fine," Daisuke appeased as he accepted the dagger. He twirled it between his fingers before holding it up, inspecting it with a critical eye. "Even someone like me knows that quality takes time."
Tiphanna blushed.
Lumielle's frown deepened.
After acquiring the Glacirius Core from the Cryosirentis Field Boss, Tiphanna took it upon herself to melt down one of the Dark Upheaval daggers and completely reforged it. The result was a new weapon, imbued with ice and lightning elements instead of its original fire and lightning.
[Dark Upheaval +3 (Frost)]
[Rank: Unique
Type: Dagger
Melee Attack Power: 364~407 | Magical Attack Power: 603~690 | Durability: 125/125 | Attack Speed: +9%
A weapon masterfully forged by the blacksmith Tiphanna Eryndoril using the remains of several fearsome monsters. Infused with the resilience of apex predators, its blade regenerates upon damage, ensuring it never loses its deadly edge in the heat of battle.
Each strike carries the raw power of its monstrous origins, allowing the wielder to imbue their attacks with ice or lightning at will. Ancient runes carved into its surface grant the user complete command over its movement, enabling the dagger to levitate or return to their grasp with but a thought.
▪︎ 30% chance of inflicting «Frostbite»
▪︎ 30% chance of inflicting «Paralysis»
▪︎ 40% chance of dealing an additional 30% damage if the enemy is afflicted with an abnormal status
▪︎ There is a 30% chance of inflicting «Bleed»; foes afflicted with this ailment have a 25% chance of having their defense ignored
▪︎ Unlocks the «Thermal Shock» skill
Conditions of Use: Lvl 50+ | Strength 150+ | Stamina 100+]
[Dark Upheaval +3 (Blaze)]
[Rank: Unique
Type: Dagger
Melee Attack Power: 364~407 | Magical Attack Power: 603~690 | Durability: 125/125 | Attack Speed: +9%
A weapon masterfully forged by the blacksmith Tiphanna Eryndoril using the remains of several fearsome monsters. Infused with the resilience of apex predators, its blade regenerates upon damage, ensuring it never loses its deadly edge in the heat of battle.
Each strike carries the raw power of its monstrous origins, allowing the wielder to imbue their attacks with fire or lightning at will. Ancient runes carved into its surface grant the user complete command over its movement, enabling the dagger to levitate or return to their grasp with but a thought.
▪︎ 30% chance of inflicting «Burn»
▪︎ 30% chance of inflicting «Paralysis»
▪︎ 40% chance of dealing an additional 30% damage if the enemy is afflicted with an abnormal status
▪︎ There is a 30% chance of inflicting «Poison»; foes afflicted with this ailment have a 25% chance of having their defense ignored
▪︎ Critical Hit Chance increases by 9% every three attacks, stacking up to five times. Once maxed, the effect enters a 20-second cooldown
Conditions of Use: Lvl 50+ | Strength 150+ | Stamina 100+]
Nice! Daisuke smirked, admiring the elf's craftsmanship. Two extra debuffs? That's perfect for my fighting style. He grinned to himself. Honestly, I felt a little incomplete without the Bleed debuff. It would've made dealing with that damn eel a hell of a lot easier too.
"So?" Tiphanna urged, cupping her hips. "You like it?"
"Are you kidding? You literally just gave me the first ever skill with range attack capabilities. Of course, I like it!"
The elf's face lit up with a proud smile. "I'm glad," she said, then handed him the shield she had restored and enhanced with the Frost Treat Core.
Daisuke took it, his gaze flickering over her exhausted expression, which made him feel a tad guilty.
"Don't worry about it," she reassured, catching his concern. "You may have a pretty face, but I wouldn't push myself like this if it wasn't for a good reason."
"Yeah, but—"
"No buts," she interrupted, a teasing smile playing on her lips. "I'll have plenty of time to rest later. For now, I needed to provide you with the tools to keep us all safe. It's a pity the Heartwood takes so long to marinate, or I would've started on the next weapon right away."
Daisuke chuckled, the edge of a smirk tugging at his mouth. "And here I thought I was the workaholic."
[Ironhide Bulwark +2]
[Rank: Rare
Type: Shield
Melee Defense Power: 46.2 | Magical Defense Power: 72.6 | Durability: 71/71
The Ironhide Bulwark is a formidable shield, its surface embossed with the menacing visage of an Orc chieftain, forever immortalized in iron. The creature's fierce glare and battle-worn scowl seems to challenge enemies to strike, only to meet an impenetrable wall. Reinforced with layers of hardened steel and the power of a Frost Treant, this shield excels at repelling both physical blows and magical attacks, making it an indomitable defense for any seasoned warrior.
▪︎ Knockback Chance +58%
▪︎ Petrification Chance +40%
▪︎ Summons a translucent vine barrier that absorbs damage equal to 50% of the caster's max HP. Lasts for 15 seconds. Cooldown: 2 minutes.
▪︎ Grants nearby allies a protective barrier equal to 20% of their max HP. Lasts for 10 seconds. Cooldown: 3 minutes.
Conditions of Use: Lvl 52+ | Strength 208+ | Stamina 130+]
"This shield will definitely come in handy in a tight spot," Daisuke said upon stowing it in his inventory. "Thanks, Tiphanna… this really means a—
Chuu~
Before he could finish his sentence, the elf hovered close and pressed a light kiss to his cheek, her ears flushed pink. "I thought I told you to call me Tiff."
Zephyr smirked mischievously as Josephine and Lyndoria glanced at Lumielle, but the princess was oddly calm.
"You said you're about to get busy," Tiphanna continued, a tinge of sadness in her tone. "Think of that as a good luck charm. Take care of yourself, okay?"
With a faint blush, Daisuke pressed his fingertips to the spot where her lips had just been. "You, too… thanks."