It took far longer than it should have. Far too long.
Hestia followed Hephaestus from forge to office, from office back to the central furnace, talking the entire way—more like a child pestering her parent for attention or candy.
"Hephaestus, just listen to me properly for once!"
"I am listening," Hephaestus replied flatly, not looking up from the strange blade in her hands. Due to the constant pestering from her friend, she kept forgetting what test she wanted to perform next.
"You're not! You're staring at that sword again!"
"Oh, you noticed? I almost thought I was the one with the defective eye."
Hestia puffed her cheeks. "My issue is more important!"
"Somehow, I don't disagree at all."
Hestia stomped her foot. "I know someone who might be able to heal your eye!"
The hammer in Hephaestus' hand stopped mid-air.
Slowly, she set it down—almost as if she had heard nonsense of such magnitude that even her divine mind couldn't comprehend it.
"…Repeat that."
Hestia straightened proudly. "You heard me."
Hephaestus turned fully this time, her single visible eye sharp and unblinking.
"Hestia," she said evenly, "nothing in the lower world can heal a god's scar. Not divine injury. Not something carved into our very existence. Do you really think I wouldn't have tried if there was even a hint of possibility that I could somehow heal this?" She pointed at her own face, at her eyepatch.
"I know that!" Hestia snapped. "I'm not stupid!"
"Debatable, but go on."
"H-Hephaestus!"
The red-haired goddess sighed faintly. "You are speaking of impossibilities."
"I saw the impossible!" Hestia shot back. "A severed arm restored completely. Flesh. Bone. Nerves. All of it!"
Hephaestus' gaze hardened slightly. "A mortal arm is not comparable to divine damage."
"I'm not saying it will definitely work," Hestia admitted, her voice softening. "But what if it does?"
Silence stretched between them.
The forge crackled behind Hephaestus.
"You truly believe this?" she asked quietly.
Hestia hesitated only a moment. "Yes! Yes, I do. Orio— I mean… I believe the person I'm talking about can do it."
Hephaestus' eyebrows rose. "Is there any particular reason you are not saying his name in front of me?"
Hestia crossed her arms. "I'll tell you who after you agree."
Hephaestus stared at her. Seemingly, her annoying little shut-in friend had changed quite a bit.
"You are bargaining with me?"
"Huh… hmm. Yes. I am."
Hephaestus sighed. There was no escaping this, was there?
She turned back toward the table where the mysterious weapons rested.
"I do not have time for hopeful fantasies. I am studying something unprecedented. These weapons alone could reshape forging standards in Orario."
Hestia stepped closer, lowering her voice.
"You've carried that scar for thousands of years."
Hephaestus' shoulders stiffened.
"Just try," Hestia pressed gently. "If it fails, nothing changes. If it works…"
The words lingered unfinished.
Hephaestus closed her eye briefly.
"…You are as stubborn as always."
"Of course I am."
A long exhale left the forge goddess.
"Very well," she said at last. "I will entertain this absurd proposal."
Hestia's face lit up instantly. "Really?!"
"Only to end your pestering," Hephaestus added dryly. "Do not mistake this for hope."
Hestia grinned triumphantly. "Deal!"
Hephaestus shook her head faintly.
She did not believe it would work. But it was a friend looking out for her. A very annoying, silly friend—but a friend nonetheless. Even if it didn't work, Hestia's thoughts counted.
—-<>—-
[Inside the dungeon]
The Night Wraith dissolved with a shriek that tore through the moonless field. This boss dungeon area was indeed one of the most unique arenas he had seen so far.
Golden light cleaved through its spectral body—the Golden Order Greatsword blazing like dawn against eternal midnight. The final strike did not cut flesh.
Holy radiance erupted outward, and the spirit unraveled into ash and fading mist.
Silence returned.
That was how it ended. Once Orion figured out that the Golden Order Greatsword could damage the ghost, he was on a roll.
"…That was annoying."
At his feet, something shimmered. It was the essence of the Night Wraith—the essence of a specter.
He had no idea what he could use this for in this world. But inside the dust-like remains of the departed soul, he found something more.
A silver wolf's head medallion lay atop the magic stone dust.
He picked it up.
The metal was cool, finely crafted, the wolf snarling in eternal vigilance. As he closed his fingers around it—
It vibrated.
A soft, faint hum, and the design was immediately recognizable. It was the same medallion Geralt of Rivia possessed. More like the games than the books.
After the hum, it stilled.
"Witcher medallion," Orion muttered with satisfaction. "Nice."
[A trinket that quivers at unseen forces? How quaint.]
Orion smirked. "It detects magic and spiritual anomalies. Especially danger."
[Then it shall spend most of its existence trembling in thy presence.]
"…Rude."
He slung it around his neck anyway, not even bothering with Marika switching back to her old English style. At this point, it was normal for her.
She only did that in front of him.
His gaze shifted to the weapon in his hand.
The Golden Order Greatsword shimmered faintly, holy engravings fading slowly now that the battle was over. It wasn't even truly a blade.
Not metal—but rather pure golden grace solidified into a tangible sword.
It was mesmerizing, if anything.
"This sword saved my ass."
[Indeed.]
There was a pause.
Then—
[And pray tell, Orion… from whence didst thou acquire such a blade?]
He didn't hesitate. "Inventory."
[…Explain.]
Her eyes narrowed. What in the name was happening? That sword was a sacred blade from her order. How was it even possible for it to appear in his hand?
"When I level up, stuff appears. Weapons. Items. Materials. Sometimes random. Sometimes useful."
Another pause.
[Thou expectest me to accept that armaments of divine caliber simply… appear?]
"Pretty much."
She sighed harder. Strangely enough, she couldn't sense any lie in him. What was she supposed to think of it now?
Marika's presence felt thoughtful.
[I sense no deceit within thee.]
"You're a goddess. Do you really think I would ever deceive you?"
[Certainly!]
His smile stiffened.
'Come on. If you believe that, then fine—but do you have to say it out loud…?'
"Well, good for you, I'm not lying then." Orion shrugged.
[Yet I comprehend it not.]
"Welcome to my life."
The medallion gave another faint vibration.
She narrowed her eyes.
"…Relax," he muttered, glancing around. "It's probably just dungeon magic residue."
The medallion stopped.
[If that device shrieks at every passing goblin, I shall cast it into a river.]
"Perhaps we can recalibrate it…"
He hoped. Marika, however, was not that optimistic.
After gathering the dropped items, Orion stretched his shoulders.
"Floor eleven clear."
[And now?]
"Now we backtrack."
[Thou hast already conquered the floor.]
"Yeah. But I've gotta earn my keep somehow, right? Or you can let me challenge another floor."
A pause.
[No.]
'Thought so.'
["…Thou art returning merely for coin?"]
"Money is important."
["Thou wieldest holy blades from beyond reason, yet scramblest for goblin coin."]
"I assure you, gold is gold no matter which creature holds it. I'm certain it will still buy bread all the same."
A faint, amused warmth filtered through their link.
[Very well, frugal champion. Go forth. Slay thy goblins.]
Orion grinned and began making his way upward, cutting through respawned monsters with efficient strikes.
The wolf medallion rested against his chest.
And on the upper floors—
"Are you certain he didn't enter while we were at the entrance?"
"I'm certain. Just wait here. We met him here yesterday—he should come here today as well." Lefiya was sure of it.
xXx
A/N: What do you think about this chapter, guys? Good enough? I intend to move the plot faster soon, after a bit more exploration of Orario.
Right now, we are in the exploration phase, you know.
Hope you liked the chapter. Consider sending power stones and reviews. Much appreciated.