Days passed, and Eldrek and I worked hard forging swords in the workshop. As he taught me the art of forging, Eldrek explained that the time needed to complete a weapon varied depending on its specifications; some could take months to finish.
However, thanks to his ability to control the earth, Eldrek managed to significantly shorten the process. “If I ever fully master this power,” he’d say while hammering the red-hot metal, “I could probably reduce the time even more.” I’d nod, amazed by what he could achieve with his hands and his magic.
Little by little, I noticed that the village giants were starting to get used to my presence. At first, they could barely stand to look at me, but I hardly heard any more muttering about me; it almost seemed like they no longer cared. From time to time, Gronn would join us in the workshop, and, as he had since the beginning, he dedicated himself to pestering me.
Other times, he’d stop by Eldrek’s house, and the three of us would share a cup of herbal tea together. Our conversations became increasingly friendly, and somehow, they managed to make me feel a bit less out of place in a place where I was clearly unwelcome.
Gronn had a unique personality, and thanks to him, I could relax for a moment.
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After a tiring day of work, I told Eldrek I was going to wash up and then head straight to bed. He nodded, giving me a pat on the shoulder and saying, “Rest up; we’ll keep working tomorrow.”
I sighed and replied, “Yeah, yeah, I know…” I couldn’t help but think that weekends weren’t a thing around here. I didn’t even know what season it was—just that I was too tired to keep overthinking.
I lay down on the floor and immediately passed out. The next thing I remember is waking up, my eyes heavy, my mind foggy, still lying on the floor, but something was different. I wasn’t in Eldrek’s house.
I sat up slowly and rubbed my eyes, trying to focus. Shadows enveloped everything around me; the space was vast but empty. In the distance, I heard a strange noise, like thick liquid dragging itself, echoing through the place.
I got to my feet, trying to locate the source of that sound, and that’s when I realized I was back where I lost my memory. In front of me were the three enormous entrances, each with a peculiar glow showing hazy, shifting images. The images seemed to be producing those strange sounds.
I shook my head, confused, trying to clear my thoughts. “Eldrek!” I shouted, but only heard my own voice echoing back into the darkness. No one answered.
A strange sense of déjà vu washed over me. Was I dreaming? I looked around, studying the dark, shadowy space, and cautiously approached the entrances.
When I got close enough, I could make out the images more clearly. The first entrance showed the giant village, with giants moving around. In the middle entrance, I thought I saw a more advanced civilization, bustling with activity.
The images shifted, showing different parts of that world: a busy market filled with people of various races, a bar, and a silver-haired woman serving adventurers.
Finally, I turned my attention to the third entrance. The scenery changed to desolate places, devoid of life, where horrible creatures roamed. Different scenes of grim places flashed by, and among them, I saw the figure of a woman standing on a hill with her back turned.
At first, she was far away, but suddenly, the image zoomed in, and I saw her face clearly when she turned her head. She was a woman with black hair and silver eyes.
My eyes widened as I focused on her. Suddenly, a wave of images flooded my mind: I saw myself in that desolate place, glimpsed an elderly man who looked like a wizard, other times fighting various creatures, and that same black-haired woman. I saw myself walking and laughing with her in a desert landscape.
My head was spinning, and I murmured to myself, “Who is she…? I know I know her…” I paused, trying to remember. “Lyr… Lyra?” Then I looked up, with a newfound determination, and said out loud, “Lyris… I think her name was Lyris.”
At that moment, I felt a hand grip my shoulder roughly, making me turn, and heard a spectral voice whisper, “Remember.” Before I could react, the last thing I saw was a hooded figure in a long cloak, with blue eyes glowing in the darkness.
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I woke up suddenly, gasping, sitting on the floor of Eldrek’s house. It was still dark outside. Just then, Eldrek opened the door to his room, and when he saw me, he commented with a slight smile, “Well, this is new. First time you wake up before me.”
Still dazed from the dream, I replied in confusion, “I think I had a nightmare… or something, I’m not sure.” Eldrek looked at me with curiosity and asked, “Want to talk about it?” I rubbed my face with my hands and stood up, moving closer to him as he, as always, began to make herbal tea.
“I think I saw images of places I’ve been and people I thought I knew… and also a rather creepy figure that woke me up.” I paused, then asked him, “By any chance, do you know anyone named Lyris?”
Eldrek shook his head confidently. “No, and I’m sure because we giants generally have a good memory.” I nodded, biting my lip. “Mmm… everything was so strange. I don’t think it was just a simple dream.”
I murmured to myself, “Who could that old wizard have been…?”
Eldrek, hearing this, stopped and looked at me intently. “Did you say old wizard?”
“Yes,” I replied, trying to remember better. “I saw an elderly man in a simple robe, but adorned with ancient symbols. I don’t know how to explain it, but that’s the impression he gave me.”
Eldrek stopped what he was doing and sat down across from me, serving the tea. “You see,” he began, “it might have nothing to do with it, so don’t get your hopes up, but in this world, there are very old legends.
I nodded as I remembered the forest, “Oh, yes, about the ones called the sages.”
Eldrek continued, “And it’s said they take the appearance of old wizards, each carrying a magical staff.”
My eyes lit up, and I almost interrupted him. “The wizard I saw had a staff too! Where can I find any of them?”
Eldrek looked at me seriously and replied, “I don’t know. I don’t know anyone who’s seen them. They’re only known from stories passed down through generations.”
I sighed, frustrated. “Damn… for a moment, I thought I’d found my next goal, some clue that might help me recover my memory.”
Eldrek took a sip of his tea and, with a thoughtful tone, said, “I think you’re not just any ordinary human, Darius. That much is clear. I’m also sure that, with time, your memories will come back to you.”
“I hope you’re right,” I replied, looking into my cup before taking a sip and savoring the hot tea.
Our conversation was interrupted by loud, obnoxious knocking on the door, startling me. From outside, I heard Gronn’s unmistakable voice: “What are you two slackers doing? Time to get to work!”
I turned to Eldrek, half-smiling, and said, “What a friend you have.” He, as he got up, replied with his usual calm, “I think the same.”
Outside, we also heard the voice of the neighbor who had greeted us when we first arrived at the village. “You’re old enough to stop acting like a child, Gronn,” said the elderly giant in a stern tone.
“Oh, shut up, you grumpy old man!” Gronn replied, not losing his mocking tone. “All you do is criticize everyone. Keep your bitterness and your tobacco to yourself.”
Eldrek and I stepped out of the house and saw the elder rising from where he was seated, clearly irritated. “Do you think you can insult me like that, Gronn?” he said, frowning. Gronn let out a defiant laugh, but before things escalated further, Eldrek intervened, pushing Gronn forward.
“Come on, Gronn, time to work,” he said firmly. As he walked away, Gronn turned to the other giant and added with a mischievous smile, “Another time, Varnak.”
I could see Varnak’s look of displeasure as he returned to his seat to continue smoking.
Taking advantage of the moment, I asked Eldrek, “Does that giant not work in the workshop?” Eldrek shook his head. “No, he never has. He takes care of maintaining a garden for the village. He may be a grumpy old man, but he plays an important role. Feeding so many giants isn’t easy.”
“That makes sense,” I commented. “Can’t be an easy task.”
Gronn, still walking with us, chimed in, “Ugh! Anyone could do that. But since he’s one of the oldest, he thinks he can criticize everyone whenever he wants.” Then, changing the subject, he asked us with curiosity, “Anyway, how’s your project coming along?”
Eldrek replied with a slight smile, “We’re close to finishing the first stage.”
“That sounds good!” Gronn exclaimed, raising an eyebrow with interest. “If you manage to pull it off, you’ll become a sensation. The first magical weapons in the world… unimaginable in these times!”
And he was right. I thought about the weight of his words as we continued toward the workshop. If we succeeded, this would be huge. So important it could change a lot.
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A few more days passed, with no rest whatsoever, until finally, Eldrek turned to me with a satisfied smile and said, “I can say we’ve completed the first part.” I looked at the three swords we had managed to forge. They were almost identical, although you could distinguish small differences in the blade curvature, handle design, and some decorative details.
I moved closer to inspect them, and I couldn’t help but admire Eldrek’s work. Despite having completed them in record time, the dedication and level of detail in the forging were impressive. No wonder giants had a good reputation as craftsmen.
“We can start working on the mineral now,” Eldrek said, brushing the dust off his hands. “We have to process it in a way that allows us to bind it to the swords. It’s going to be a challenge; I haven’t yet perfected that part.”
I patted him on the back, trying to encourage him. “This time it’ll work, I’m sure,” I said, with a confidence I wasn’t sure where it came from but that I needed to believe in.