The Unknown God

Chapter 32 - Sigil Ring

Excitement raced through Rex. He received his new weapons with trembling hands. He secured the two scabbards to his belt. Grasping the handles, he drew his weapons out for the first time. They fitted him perfectly. In a trance, he began practising the movements his father had taught him.

Pleased with his work, Simply added more wood into the forge bringing the temperature higher. The smithy's door opened. The old man had returned. He spotted the sword-wielding teen first. A surge of anger appeared in his mind. Fortunately, he noticed the silver-haired youth waving behind the teenager.

"Is he with you?" inquired the old man.

Simply nodded, "Yes. He just came to collect the swords I made for him. He will be leaving. Now."

Waking up from his sword trance, Rex bowed respectively towards his lord and then to the strange elder.

"Oh. You are pretty fearless? Show me your swords kid."

Rex was unsure of what to do, but after a slight nod from Simply, he handed them over. The old man visually scrutinized the gladius. His brows creased after contemplating them.

"These are well made, especially for someone of your level. A shame that you didn't use better materials. Very impressive. You even managed to make them almost identical." The old man returned the gladius to Rex. "Alright, go and get used to them."

Rex exited the smithy under the watch of the two blacksmiths. Clank. The door shut, the old man spoke to Simply.

"You have awoken a bloodline. Moreover a pretty strong one. Tell me, how did someone without a single drop of draconic blood, gain such an ancestry?"

Simply blinked. "Let me ask you the same question. Tell me, how did someone who runs is a shady, rundown smithy without any clients, detect that I have a bloodline? When even the town guards are ignorant."

"A long time ago, I was asked to forge a dagger. The client provided the materials. Among them, was what I would later learn, a dragon bone. I shaped the blade out of it. One of the hardest materials I have ever worked with. Tougher than dark steel. It possessed a subtle aura. Similar to yours. Now tell me, how did you come into contact with dragons."

Simply told the old man his discovery of the lake. The trials that he underwent which led to his bloodline awaking. He decided to leave the fiery realm and Celebrim out.

The old man stroked his beard. "This is intriguing. You said you were scouting for a possible place to settle, does that mean that you are the newly appointed knight of Zakir?"

Simply nodded.

The blacksmith continued, "I take it that you received a building order from the City Lord. And that you have been tasked with setting up the next outpost as well as run it. If so you will need an experienced craftsman. As long as you give me the title of Master Forger and a forge I'm willing to join you."

A smile lit up. "I can promise you a forge and the title. However, the title of Master Forger is not permanent. Every month I will host a competition to elect the next Master for the month."

The senior smith extended his right hand towards Simply. "Very well. I, Yngol Forgefire, accepts the role of Master Forger for your future outpost."

They shook hands. "Master Forger, would you have any experience in forging dark steel rings?"

"Darksteel, oh! Yes, I do. Oh, but of course I forgot that you were the one who slew the steel predator. A ring you say? Well yes, I do. It is quite tricky, but I will manage. Any specific design?"

"A sigil ring, more precisely. Duke Astrus gave me the honour to found my own household. The only thing I need is a sigil ring." Simply removed his leather armour and showed Yngol his back, "as for the design can you make it this?"

The majestic silver dragon etched into his shoulder was the symbol Simply had chosen for his Household.

"Well, that is going to complicate things even more. Also a dragon! Maybe your bloodline wasn't by chance! Alright, give me two kilograms of dark steel." Simply handed the requested amount of dark steel over to the elder blacksmith. "Come back in four hours."

---

Kicked out of the forge, Simply headed towards the tailor. He asked him to tailor his house flag. He paid five gold coins to have it done within four hours. Once he was done with his tasks he notified the town hall. He contacted the expedition's second in command and informed him that they were to set out tomorrow at dawn. On the way back to the tailor, he came across a street urchin. He had noticed an increase of these homeless kids roaming the streets after the arrival of the fleet. A plan began taking form.

"Kid, where are your parents?"

"With the fishes." the kid fiercely looked at the well-dressed man that had asked such a pointless question. Everyone in town knew that a lot of a.d.u.l.ts had died at sea due to the harsh weather. Kids had been spared by the disease that ravaged the a.d.u.l.ts. A few sh.i.p.s had sailed completely void of anyone above the age of sixteen. Now there were around six thousand kids in Eternal Landing. They were doomed to die before the end of the month. Even if the government helped, there was just not enough food to go around.

"I see. Gather all your friends that have lost both their parents and meet me in an hour at the eastern gate."

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Level 22 (87%)

Name Simply Umbra

Class Imperial Dragon Knight

Bloodline Golden Dragon Ancestry

Race Human | Golden Dragon

Health 456 (420) (+8.5%) { (vitality-10)/10 x 2.5 = X% }

Mana 236 (220) (+7.25%) { (Intelligence-10)/10 x 2.5 = X% }

Stamina 462 (420) (+10%)

Intelligence 39 (35) (+10%)

Wisdom 33 (30) (+10%)