"The rift?"
I said that out loud both familiar and unfamiliar with the word. Danuja responded.
"Yea, though I don't know much about those things myself, what I can tell you is that it's a place where many people journey to. Many risk their lives in an attempt to successfully enter and return alive."
Then Hernando interjected.
"Let me explain. It'd do you both good to know anyway. The rift as it's called, you can think of as an illusory place. Not quite of our world. Yet it has a substantial presence here as well."
"As Danuja said, many people venture from who knows where to enter it and gain treasure."
"There are mainly ancient ruins down there. As well as hordes of monsters."
"One can join one of the many guides here and form a party though some also choose to go solo. Actually they're officially called antiquarians."
"These artiquarians traverse into the rift sometimes their journey can take a day. Others, months or even years depending on their goals and circumstances."
"Others can perform more mundane tasks, such as escort duties, monster subjugation, or even more mundane and requests posted by civilians, though the variety of these tasks one can take up depends on the guild."
"In fact there are some who live there permanently. Building civilizations in the depths of that place."
"Some never come out at all being born and raised there to such an extent that the real world is strange and odd to them."
"However when one does return they can sell their spoils. Whether it be a monster remains. Information on monsters or unexplored regions or even ancient artifacts."
"If done right one can go into the rift once and come out rich never having to worry about money again."
" But it's not as simple as it sounds. There are strict rules and regulations one must follow when entering the rift."
"The most glaring one being that all artifacts must be screened. If you're lucky enough to find something of value and not a monetary one. But one of deep knowledge you are-"
Hernando paused as if trying to find the right words.
"Strongly encouraged, if not outright strong armed, into handing them over. Not for free of course they will compensate those who comply."
Sinoda continued driving his full attention seemingly on steering the carriage. And soon the carriage arrived at its destination. Pulling to a stop in front of a store.
It was a bit shabby but well built and maintained. We rode quite far, maybe thirty minutes out. Near the outskirts of Kenzington city. Sinoda and Hermando got out of the carriage so Danuja and I followed.
Then Sinoda who barely did so the whole ride spoke.
"Remember this place well. It belongs to, possibly, the most adequate artisan you'll ever meet."
I looked at the building some more, my eye looking at a sight just above the door labeled, Lorenzo's Smithing.
Sinoda opened the door and we walked in, a bell rattled a bit as the door swung. Ding, ding, ding, ding. A sound that was both close and far resounded throughout the building.
A faint sound of what sounded to be metal hitting metal Ding... the sound continued, we made our way towards the desk and Sinoda shouted in a not too loud but sufficiently deep voice.
"Lorenzo, get out here. It's me."
One more clang rang out before it came to an abrupt stop. A bit of silence ensued. Followed by rummaging noises. The door next to the desk slid open with a loud bang. And a man walked through.
He's quite different from what I imagined. Pretty slim but still with good muscles here and there. He also looked pretty young for a black smith.
Black smudges covered his face and neck. As well as partially covering his neck were goggles hung.
He wore an almost black brown leather vest and cargo pants. His whole attire seemed to be covered in black dust and grim.
"Hey you bastard, who do you think you are yelling at in someone else's shop!?"
He looked pretty angry to the point that he spitted as he shouted.
Sinoda on the other hand looked rather calm. It actually looked like he enjoyed the reaction. He held both hands up as if surrendering and a slight smile appeared on his lips.
"Hey, hey my bad, no need to get so worked up."
The man, Lorenzo snorted
"Yea, alright whatever. So, what brings you here today?"
"Oh you know, the usual. However I do have two new potential customers for you."
"So your business is in fact with them. Hey kid you wanted a blacksmith, here he is. I don't have to do the talking for you right? I'll be outside yall'll can sort things out yourselves."
Kid? That's the second time he's called me that. A bit annoyed I spoke up. The ratting of the door being open and closing sounded in the background.
"Hey, Im Brian Brigade. As you heard I'm looking for a smith."
The man smiled
"Yea? Well I'm Lorenzo, just Lorenzo unless you want to add smith to the end. So do you have something for me to appraise or do you want me to provide the material? My services ain't cheap, kid."
I felt a pang of annoyance at being called a kid once again. But pushing it down I grabbed the pole wrapped in cloth and held it up with both arms. Placing it atop of the desk for Lorenzo to inspect.
"I have this ore"
While revealing the ore I asked him "
"You know what this is right? Tell me whether or not you can forge it into a spear."
I placed it down and Lorenzo grabbed it. Inspecting every nook and cranny of the thing.
"Huh, interesting. You've got yourself a decent piece of ore here. Not something thats easy to come by. How'd a kid like you get your hands on it?"
I gave him a non chalant shrug and answered
"Some group I was traveling with. Let's just say they destroyed something of mine and gave me that in return."
Lorenzo paused for a moment then said.
"Huh this isn't something you'd just give to anyone as an apology kid. You're quite lucky. Why not sell it?"
"I'm sure with the money you could buy a couple of decent spears. And have much of it to spare."
"Hell, I'll buy them at market price."
Really? I thought that this was just a random piece of ore I was given. But if it has that much value. Let's ask more questions.
"What exactly is this ore? Does it have any special properties?"
"Give me a moment."
Hernando answered then went back through the door behind the desk. I could hear him rummaging through stuff as he was likely looking for something. The noise stopped and he walked back out book in hand.
He then flipped through the pages in quick succession. Finally stopping at one.
"Ok lets see here"
He was murmuring as he skimmed over the words.
"Here it is. This ore Abzand.