Alex stood facing the dwarves kneeling before him. The scene immediately made him uncomfortable.
"Please… stand up," he said awkwardly.
He didn't like this kind of submission, and their hopeful gazes disturbed him even more.
"Instead, start by explaining the situation to me."
A stocky and muscular dwarf, bald, with a thick red beard falling onto his chest, sharp eyes, and calloused hands, Avudar, was the first to stand. His tired yet burning eyes locked onto Alex.
"We need you. Well… more precisely, we need your talent for forging."
Alex blinked, completely taken aback. Him? Forging? He knew well the legend of the dwarves, renowned for their unmatched craft, their talent far surpassing his own.
"Why would you need my skills when you are better than me?" he asked, genuinely troubled.
Avudar sighed, as if he carried years of shame and suffering on his shoulders.
"Listen to our story, and you'll understand."
Alex eventually sat down on the floor, crossing his legs.
"All right… I'm listening."
Avudar drew in a deep breath, then began to speak.
"Dwarves are born with an innate talent for crafts. Thanks to this, our kingdom quickly rose to prominence, forging the most incredible weapons in the world. Most of the Master Artisans, the title given to the greatest creators, were dwarves. But this glory came at a price."
His voice turned bitter.
"Over time, the dwarves grew arrogant. When a new king took the throne, he established a cruel law: any dwarf without talent would be banished."
Alex widened his eyes.
"Banished?!"
"Yes." Avudar nodded gravely. "We were torn from our families. My son, Asudar, and I were cast out, while my wife and daughter remained in the kingdom."
He clenched his fists.
"But there is an ancient law that was never abolished: if a dwarf forges a sword stronger than the king's, he takes his place. That is why we, the banished, strive to create a weapon so incredible that it will overthrow the king and abolish this absurd law."
A heavy silence followed his story. Then Alex took a deep breath.
"I understand… So, you want me to help you reunite with your families and friends?"
Avudar dropped back to his knees, his eyes shining.
"Yes…"
Beside him, his son Asudar clasped his hands and added in a pleading voice:
"Please, help us!"
A smile spread across Alex's face. His red eyes glowed intensely.
"Anyway, my goal has always been to forge incredible weapons… Very well. You may serve me and help me create this kind of weapon."
The dwarves exchanged stunned looks before leaping for joy, hugging each other like children.
"Thank you, Alex!" Asudar exclaimed.
Alex folded his arms, amused.
"No. From now on, it's no longer Alex. It's… Boss."
"Boss…?" they repeated in unison.
A small laugh escaped Alex.
"Or Master, if you prefer."
A little later, Alex, the dwarves, and even the slimes had gathered in a large hall where the dwarves once held council. The room was old, with stone walls covered in moss and beams blackened by time. Massive tables lay overturned or split, and an old stone hearth stood at the center, filled with cold ashes. Alex stood before a board, chalk in hand. The dwarves and slimes, sitting quietly, listened attentively.
On the board, he wrote in large letters:
CRISIS MEETING
"All right. We'll list the important points here. First problem: this village desperately lacks food. We need to refill our supplies."
Avudar spoke up.
"We tried, but this forest is too dangerous. The monsters are too powerful. And then… there are the Kings."
Alex raised an eyebrow.
"The Kings?"
"Yes. The most powerful monsters in this forest, each ruling its own territory. But recently, an even more terrifying creature appeared… a white bat with red eyes, strangely similar to yours, Boss. It hunts the strong… and even managed to kill one of the Kings."
Alex felt a chill run down his spine.
"…This King that died… by any chance… was it a panther?"
Avudar's eyes widened in shock.
"You… you already knew? Yes… it was indeed a panther."
Alex scratched the back of his neck, visibly embarrassed.
"Hmm… let's move on."
He tried to keep his composure.
"So, hunting is impossible unless we directly challenge the Kings…"
A heavy silence settled in. Alex sighed.
"When I was alone, things were so much simpler…" he thought.
Suddenly, a stocky dwarf with red cheeks and a braided beard raised his hand.
"Boss! I know a secret place with huge fruits."
Alex's eyes lit up.
"Excellent! And your name?"
"Mechar, Boss!"
"Very well, Mechar. Consider yourself promoted once I assign positions."
The dwarf puffed out his chest proudly.
"Thank you, Boss!"
Alex wrote his name on the board.
"Next point: materials. Your current resources are… useless for our project. We might be able to make some pans, but that's it. Any ideas?"
The dwarves thought hard. Even the slimes seemed to be racking their brains.
Asudar timidly raised his hand.
"What about… the Mine of Wonders?"
A shocked silence swept the room, followed by an uproar.
"What?! Are you crazy?!"
"Impossible!"
"We'd all die!"
Even the slimes mimicked the general panic, rolling and flailing around like the dwarves, without really understanding what was happening.
Alex stomped his foot.
"EVERYONE CALM DOWN IN THIS ROOM!"
A stunned silence fell. Alex grinned, amused.
"I've always dreamed of saying that… Anyway. Instead, explain to me what this Mine of Wonders is."
Avudar sighed.
"It's a cave filled with metals and incredible crystals."
Alex's eyes widened, and he nearly drooled like a child in front of a cake.
"And what's the problem then? Let's go!"
Avudar paled.
"You don't understand, Boss… One of the Kings of the forest guards it. And he is incredibly powerful."
But Alex burst out laughing, his red eyes glowing like those of a demon.
"Powerful, huh? So what?! Let's crush that damned monster and empty this mine! With it, we'll forge weapons so marvelous that even the celestials would be jealous!"
The dwarves exchanged a look, then shouted in unison, raising their fists to the sky:
"HYYYYYYNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!"