“It’s important to consider the options.”

Balder folded his arms and argued with Anvi, with a firm expression. He shook his head when the blacksmith demanded the use of complimentary materials suited for defence. Daiden poured some water onto a mug and watched the two men throw a fit. Kir sat nearby, meekly drumming his fingers without opinion. The two men finally turned to Daiden to settle the argument.

“If Balder thinks it’s better to sacrifice a bit of the defence for better options, then I’m open to that line of thought,” admitted Daiden, with a shrug. “It might be better to work with versatility than one-dimensionality. But I’ll need to know what you’re thinking about before we reach an agreement.”

“Anvi and I aren’t enchanters,” started Balder. “But given the right materials, we can create something that is aeter-infused by production. The cores and the exoskeleton are highly aligned with the sand elemental, and the parent fire elemental as well; this encourages options for fire and sand resistance. Anvi wants to use Grim Falcon hides to absorb and increase the options for those resistances.”

Daiden nodded at the explanation. “That sounds good. What’s the argument about?”

Balder scratched his chin, cautiously recommending a bold variation to Anvi’s original design. “What if I’m able to create something that benefits your offensive aeter pattern, your Sword Aeter as well? Aeter isn’t one-dimensional, and armour doesn’t only have to protect. We just need to forge the right conditions.”

“And what would we need to make that happen?” asked Daiden.

“You’ll need to be more honest,” said Balder, with a smile. He removed something from his bag, a strangely transparent piece of cloth, and spread it out on a table. “I made this with the skin of a Colourless Lizard, the only living organism in our world with Mioveroldian Affinity. They’re everywhere, in blizzard-ravaged mountains, across harsh deserts, in flower fields, rivers, and oceans even!

“And they survive by being able to absorb any kind of aeter. Fascinating, isn’t it?”

Daiden agreed. It excited him a little, the existence of a creature compatible across elements. “Ah! It’s so, so fun to know that this world can still surprise me.”

“But what was that bit about honesty?” asked Daiden.

“He wants you to taint the cloth with your Sword Aeter,” interjected Anvi, with a huff. “While not as prominent as it is with Elementalists, even Wielders possess low amounts of elemental affinity. Be careful though. That’s an expensive, expensive piece of cloth.” He turned to Balder and added, “How much are you charging the boy for this?”

Balder cocked his head with an innocent expression. “Well, I obviously have to charge him for it. What do you take me for, an idiot?”

Daiden spat an exhausted sigh at the exchange. “Fine, fine. How much for this?”

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“I cherish the potential of our relationship,” said Balder, his eyes in half-moons, with a sly smile. “Five hundred bloodstones, or…”

“Or?” probed Daiden.

“Or, you manage to make me another cloth of this quality by the end of our production journey,” said Balder, with a crooked laugh. “You can use the materials from my store, but do remember that I will charge you for failed attempts. Well, what do you say?”

Daiden folded his arms and hummed, in thought. He frowned as well. “This is tough. I have a safety net with my capital, especially with Anvi loaning me the difference without interest.” He slumped onto a chair and titled his head towards the ceiling. “But! I’m only as profitable as my investment in the craft.”

With a slight nod, Daiden arched forward with a burst of energy. “I agree to the terms. Thank you, for being generous that is. And besides, I’m assuming that I’ll be allowed to buy my way out of this arrangement at any time?”

Daiden made sure to quickly turn to Anvi and assure him of the decision. Though unconvinced, the latter conceded the agreement without protest.

“Yes, it’s not binding,” said Balder, reassuringly. “Let’s go ahead with the experiment, then! Place your hand atop the cloth and inject your aeter into it.”

Daiden gulped and slowly moved his hand over the colourless cloth. With a deep breath, he exhaled, in a whistle, and closed his eyes. His aeter sparked around his finger trips, merely a haze at first, and then to a radiant white colour. He inhaled once more, in search of another source now, stronger at its core. It slowly seeped into the white, then in a flood to overcome the colour entirely. Anvi, Balder, and Kir clenched their fists with different reactions. They swallowed a lump in their throats as the aeter slipped onto the cloth, crackling to shades of blue, in a sprint across the strands.

After another moment, the aeter splashed, dispersing mid-air into particles altering between a soft blue and a jade colour. Daiden retreated his palm with a closed fist, pursing his lips with uncertainty. He looked towards the three for an answer, but was met with silence instead. Anvi broke the tension when he tapped on the table with his thick fingers.

Balder woke from his trance as well. He cleared his throat and stared at the cloth some more, until the colour dissipated.

“It’s certainly a unique aeter form,” said Balder, carefully. When Anvi and Kir nodded, he continued, “But from what we can tell, your closest affinity – strong at that – is with the lightning elemental. Powerful, fast…it suits your preference, yes?”

Daiden recalled his experience during the raid against the Sand King, when Carla armed his Jade Serpent’s Breath for a transformation. The memory pinched at his skin in pins and needles. He nodded at the group.

“Brilliant!” exclaimed Balder, with a sparkle in his child-like eyes. He quickly turned to Anvi and said, “I’ll begin the leatherwork with the hide from a Luminescent Elk. This will be our greatest piece yet, a one-of-a-kind, revolutionary armour!”

Anvi shook his head at the suggestion and moved towards Daiden, wearing an expression of concern. “Listen, you need to know about the risks here. Balder mentioned this. We’re not enchanters, we’re only trying to replicate the result. The Grim Falcon’s hide will give you a better chance for something remarkable. Why risk that for a vague outcome?”

Daiden patted Anvi’s shoulder encouragingly and pointed his chin at Balder. “He told me that his is the only business in Craftsman’s Cross that promises and guarantees quality. I’ll live with very good if you fail at reaching great. Didn’t you want to advance your skills? It takes risk.”

“That’s right, father!” said Kir, pounding his chest with pride. “We can’t back down from this challenge. We’re Ironsides, aren’t we? We’re bloody Ironsides!”

Daiden laughed at Kir’s enthusiasm. But as Anvi relented to the atmosphere, Balder snuck over to the Godvildian trainee’s side. “In addition to the colourless cloth, there’s one other thing I want you to make. It’s for your armour. Let’s make this a three-way collaboration. You’ll have to pay for the materials, of course.”