"May I ask what that was?" This time, I made sure to speak respectfully.

Kaerith stood gracefully. "I performed a spell to summon spirits. They have the ability to see an individual's condition and communicate it to me."

Gronn crossed his arms and spoke up. "I didn’t know your kind had magic."

"It's more that we know how to craft practical spells for our purposes, like the natural alchemists we are," Kaerith replied with a calm expression.

Of course, that made sense. As Gronn had told me before we arrived, the nagas had mastered alchemy. It wasn't healing magic they used, but their ability to create potions for different purposes.

"Give me a moment, and I'll have the formula ready. You can wait here in the meantime," Kaerith added, keeping her serious demeanor.

I walked toward the stream with Gronn to wait. This place felt like another world. The air wasn't heavy, and it wasn't all dirt and rock. There was life down here. A gentle breeze made the environment feel peaceful, almost relaxing.

"Have you been here before, Gronn?" I asked, looking around.

"Yes, but only to the entrance for trade exchanges. I didn’t know what it was like inside or that they had spells like these."

I chuckled and glanced at him sideways. "You were right about one thing. They do share similarities with you: just as reserved and just as dedicated to their craft."

Gronn let out a short laugh. "Yeah. Still, we need to tread carefully. I don’t fully trust them."

"I agree. For now, let’s hope this task goes well."

A few minutes passed before Kaerith returned. She carried a small crystal vial containing a dark purple liquid. Without saying a word, she handed it to me. I took it, unable to avoid looking at it with curiosity.

"This looks like it’s alive. The movements inside are hypnotic," I murmured. "What ingredients are in it?" I asked, slightly apprehensive.

Kaerith raised an eyebrow. "What? Are you an alchemist? Don’t ask stupid questions and just drink it." Her brusque tone caught me off guard.

I widened my eyes, a bit annoyed, but I didn’t reply. I looked at the vial again and sniffed it. It had a strong smell, a sharp mix that made me recoil. Still, I couldn’t hesitate. I had to trust.

With determination, I brought it to my lips and drank it all in one go. The taste was so intense it made me cough uncontrollably.

"Damn it, Darius! Are you okay?" Gronn asked, rushing to my side.

I raised a hand, trying to calm him down. "Yes, I’m fine. It’s just that the taste was... intense." My voice came out strained.

I turned to Kaerith. "How long will it take to take effect?"

She smiled—a smile that unsettled me. Before I could say anything else, a sudden pain shot through my body. My bones began to creak, making me double over in agony.

"What did you do to him, naga?!" Gronn roared, gripping my shoulders as I staggered.

Kaerith laughed mockingly. "What do you think, brainless giant? I did what was necessary to fulfill the request."

The pain was unbearable. I felt like my bones were shifting inside me. If it weren’t for Gronn, I would’ve collapsed. My groans echoed through the cavern, but little by little, the pain began to subside. I took a deep breath, trying to compose myself.

"Damn... I thought I was going to die," I muttered, still shaken, looking at Gronn.

"Hey, little guy... your face isn’t swollen anymore," Gronn said, a mix of surprise and relief in his voice.

"What are you saying?" I touched my face with both hands. There was no swelling. I had completely regained my sight, my throat no longer hurt, and I could move without issue. I inspected my body and found no sore spots.

"What the hell just happened? I feel completely healed."

Kaerith, arms crossed, raised her chin proudly. "Still doubting?"

"I didn’t expect it to be this effective," I admitted, staring at my hands. "I thought it would just improve partially and over some time, but never like this." I continued examining myself.

Gronn, still surprised, remained silent. Kaerith looked at him with a provocative smile. "And you, giant, what do you think? Was it effective?"

Gronn grunted with a displeased expression. "Yeah, it was effective. Good work."

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Kaerith seemed satisfied.

"How much will this cost me?"

Her tone turned more serious. "Now, this is my proposition, Darius. I understand you’ll face those creatures you mentioned again. Bring me samples from one of them, and we’ll be even. Does that sound fair?"

Gronn and I exchanged hesitant glances. He was the first to speak. "What kind of samples exactly?"

Kaerith relaxed, as if the question were obvious. "Bringing me an entire body would be ideal. But I understand the rest of the world is a bit squeamish about these things. I’ll settle for tissue, scales, fur, blood... anything I can study."

"Study for what?" I asked.

"We’re naturally curious and like to study new things. Plus, maybe I can answer your theory: whether they’re under a spell or not. By examining their remains, I can determine what they really are."

Gronn stroked his chin, thoughtful. "She’s right about that, Darius. It could help us get that information."

I considered it for a moment before nodding. I extended my hand to Kaerith. "We have a deal. We’ll bring you the samples as soon as we can."

Kaerith shook my hand with a satisfied smile.

----------------------------------------

The naga guards escorted us to the exit. Once we reached the surface, Gronn gave me a sideways glance.

"Are you really fully recovered?" he asked skeptically.

I nodded with a genuine smile. "I feel brand new. Though, honestly, I’d rather never find out what was in that potion," I said nervously.

Gronn laughed heartily. "It probably wasn’t just common herbs."

I laughed along with him as we approached the Skarnill. There they were, calmly waiting for us. I grabbed Aeryn's reins and prepared to mount.

"Relieved I can climb on without needing your help this time," I joked.

Gronn smirked slightly. "We’d better hurry back."

With a more serious tone, I nodded. "Let’s go."

The sun wasn’t fully up yet, so we estimated we’d arrive by dusk. Along the way, we talked about what had happened.

"Do you think it’d be possible to form a more formal alliance with the nagas?" I asked, raising my voice over the sound of our rapid pace.

Gronn kept his eyes forward as he replied. "That’s something we’d have to evaluate. We don’t know their true intentions or if they can commit to other races. Besides, I’m not sure the semihumans would easily accept them."

"We should at least bring up the possibility when we reach the village," I suggested, sounding reflective.

Gronn nodded, though I noticed the doubt in his eyes.

The journey went uninterrupted, and by late afternoon, we arrived at the outskirts of the semihuman village. I was surprised by the changes: the village was now surrounded by a sturdy wall made of wood, earth, and rock.

"How did they manage to make so much progress so quickly?" I asked as we got closer.

"There are several giants helping with the construction," Gronn answered without much surprise. "And the semihumans are skilled in these things. Also, I’m sure Eldrek did his part with his ability."

"Wow, really impressive," I murmured, admiring their work.

At the entrance, a tall gate dominated the wall. Above it, a few semihumans stood watch. Once they identified us, they gave the order to open it. The gate began to move slowly, emitting a faint creak. It was heavy, clearly designed to withstand strong impacts.

As we entered, the atmosphere buzzed with activity. The semihumans were tirelessly working: some were cutting wood, others gathering materials, and a few were discussing the evacuation of women and children to a safer place.

As we moved forward with the Skarnill, several semihumans greeted me, recognizing me. Some of those I helped rescue approached briefly, surprised at my condition.

"Darius! You look completely renewed. I thought you were in bad shape," one of them said with a smile.

"Thanks," I replied, nodding. "Where’s Eldrek?"

"In the central plaza, resting," another answered, pointing toward the center of the village.

Without wasting time, Gronn and I headed there. Upon arrival, I saw Eldrek sitting on a bench, a cup of herbal tea in his hands. He was trying to catch his breath.

I jumped off Aeryn and quickly approached him. "Eldrek, what happened? Why are you like this?" I asked, concerned.

Seeing me, Eldrek looked up, his expression shifting to a mix of surprise and relief. "Darius? How...? It seems your visit to the nagas went well."

I nodded. "Yes, I’ll tell you all about it. But what’s wrong? You look exhausted."

Eldrek sighed and raised the cup with a tired smile. "I’ve used a lot of magic to speed up construction. It’s taking its toll, that’s all. Right now, I’m just taking a break before continuing."

Thalrik, the village chief, who was beside him, added, "Don’t be modest, Eldrek. You haven’t stopped working since they left. It’s rare to see you resting like the others."

"There’s urgency in this," Eldrek replied firmly. "We can’t afford to get complacent."

Gronn and I exchanged a silent look. Eldrek was doing more than anyone could have expected.

Eldrek stood up with effort. Despite being sweaty and visibly drained, his gaze was determined. "Come with me. There’s something we need to see immediately."

I followed him, intrigued, with Gronn walking behind me. Eldrek led us to a tent set up in a corner of the plaza. Upon entering, I heard him rummaging through his belongings, moving tools and boxes. Shortly after, he emerged holding a sword.

"Is that sword...?" I began to say, surprised, but Eldrek cut me off.

"Yes. While you were dealing with those creatures, Gronn and I took the opportunity to forge the last sword."

He handed me the sword, still sheathed. I took it carefully and slowly drew it out. The first thing I noticed was the peculiar shine of the blade. Intricate details were etched along the edge, resembling tiny channels flowing toward the tip. The guard was sturdy yet elegant, with a design that resembled interwoven branches. The handle was wrapped in black leather, providing a firm and comfortable grip.

"It’s beautiful," I murmured, inspecting it. I could feel the dedication behind every detail.

As I examined it, Gronn spoke about the technical aspects of the forging. "This time, we followed my idea. We created internal cavities within the blade and embedded crystallized fragments of the mineral inside. The crystals are evenly distributed to allow mana to flow better and prevent overload. Eldrek used his ability to stabilize the process."

I nodded, impressed by their collaboration. "You’ve done an incredible job," I said sincerely, looking at both of them.

Eldrek gave a faint smile before adding, "Tonight, we’ll test it. But first, you’ll need to infuse it with your mana, like we did with the others."

I frowned, a bit worried. "But Eldrek, that part of the process is draining for you. Are you sure you can handle it in your current state?"

Eldrek sighed, but his tone was resolute. "That’s why we’ll wait until tonight. That way, I’ll have time to recover enough before moving forward. If this weapon works as we hope, it’ll be crucial for you to face those creatures."

I looked at him, recognizing the determination in his voice. I nodded, gripping the sword firmly. "You’re right, Eldrek. This weapon could make all the difference."