"Rima, is our 12:30 order here ?" A deep voice resonated from the back of the shop.
It was Valar, the blacksmith, who appeared in the workshop, wiping his forehead with a rag. The apprentice turned toward him, a smile at the corner of her lips, and replied:
"Yes, Valar, she's here." She pointed to Relia and Helydia.
Relia greeted him with a slight nod, and Valar, with a light smile, motioned for them to follow him to the back room.
The two women obeyed without hesitation and followed him into the room where a comforting warmth filled the air, quite different from the coldness of the forge at the front. Several tables were set up to work on jewelry, runes, and weapons, with tools scattered here and there. Another furnace, larger than the one visible at the front, stood at the back of the room. It was off, but its imposing size suggested it had been used for larger-scale creations.
At the center of the room, on an armor stand, rested their order.
The armor, with its refined and elegant beauty, seemed to be made of gold, though it looked almost too perfect to be true. It gleamed with a nearly magical glow under the dimmed lighting of the room.
The chest plate was adorned with delicate floral patterns that caught the light with every movement. The shoulder pads, slightly rounded, were finely decorated with sculpted curves and tilted outward, enhancing the elegance of the silhouette. The gauntlets and elbow guards, also decorated with complex patterns, rested beside the armor, adding a noble touch to the whole. The skirt armor, made of fine metal, flowed smoothly, imitating the grace of a dress while still offering optimal protection.
Relia stepped forward, her eyes shining with admiration.
"Wow," she exclaimed, "it's magnificent."
Helydia, equally fascinated, nodded in agreement. "This armor is stunning," she added.
However, Relia seemed slightly concerned. "But I thought an armor made of gold was a bad idea ?" she asked curiously.
Valar, the blacksmith, smiled with amusement. "Indeed, that's why this armor is made of tempered steel, an alloy of iron and carbon. I've only applied a thin layer of gold to give it an aesthetic touch. A compromise between beauty and strength. I thought it wouldn't disorient you from the color of your original armor."
"A sort of gold plating ?" asked Helydia.
"You could say that, yes," Valar replied.
Relia nodded, but Helydia, still astonished, couldn't help but ask another question: "And you made this masterpiece in one day? How is that possible?"
Valar seemed a little embarrassed. He scratched the back of his neck before responding. "Well... let's say I have... a special skill that helps me a lot in my work, but... I can't say more, sorry."
At that moment, Rima, the apprentice, stood behind him and said with a sly smile, "You know, it's not for nothing that they call him 'Valar the Soulforger.'"
Suddenly, a loud horn blast echoed from outside. Relia and Helydia exchanged a quick glance. They knew what it meant.
the beginning of the plan