The group was getting ready to eat breakfast as Quinus sat next to Rya's left while Nieren sat to her right.

"Good morning, everyone! Breakfast is served!" A servant announced cheerfully as they brought out their plates.

"You know, Prince Quinus, this is the first time I've met a human that I can actually speak to," Nieren commented.

"Really? Did you only talk to the dwarves?" Quinus asked curiously.

"Yes. I guess when my kingdom fell at the hands of humans. I started to fear them and so I stopped talking to anyone. Even when I met the dwarves I was reluctant to talk to them. But I decided to try again. So far, I haven't been bothered by any of the dwarves either," Nieren explained.

"Sorry to hear that Lady Nieren. Were there no other elven villages nearby?" Quinus asked sympathetically.

"No. There were many, but none of the elf's villages survived," she sadly responded. "I fear that most of the wood elves have been enslaved or are in hiding. My mother thought Ironside to be the safest place for us."

'Grrah! I'll be there to help free them Nieren. I won't rest until all the savers are dealt with.' Rya thought as she was getting worked up from her own experience of getting collared.

Rya put her hand on hers and squeezed gently. 'It's okay, I'm here now,' she comforted.

Nieren was taken aback by the gesture and blushed.

'They all said dark elves were evil. They're all wrong! Rya is the best! She's going to be my best friend!' Nieren thought excitedly.

"Well, what will you be doing today?" Quinus asked politely as he picked up his fork.

"I was going to tell my mother that I'm going to be Lady Rya's, lady-in-waiting and retainer. I don't know how she is going to take it?" Nieren replied anxiously.

"Hmm? Well, if she's fine with you working with Rya she can come with us. It's never a bad thing to have a Noble elf to teach Rya in the ways of etiquette," Quinus said reassuringly.

"Thank you, Your Highness!" Nieren said happily.

"Hey! Do I really need to learn etiquette? I mean I've been around you guys and you didn't seem to care about it too much," Rya joked with a smile.

"Oh, I think the most important part of being a noble is knowing the proper way to act, dress, and speak when in public," Lady Fyrella said as she look at Rya from across the table.

"What are you saying?! I'm not a noble!" Rya laughed.

"Yes, you are! You're going to be our future Queen and you need to act as such," Lady Fyrella argued.

'Damn! This old dwarf woman is going to make me behave like a noble! But I don't care about this noble crap! Haah... Fine! I'll do it for Quin's sake,' Rya thought as she started to get annoyed.

"Okay, okay... I'll try to learn the rules of etiquette. Although, I am not sure if I'll be able to pass it since I already know everything," Rya replied sarcastically.

"You'll learn! Just trust me! Just follow your Lady in waiting's advice and you'll do great!" Lady Fyrella said smiling.

Rya sighed out loud in annoyance.

'Yeah. But I'm not going to like it.' Rya thought grumpily.

Lady Fyrella smiled before...

*BAM!*

The door opened to a thunderous sound.

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"What is the meaning of this interruption?!" Zellin shouted as he stood up from her chair and glared at the intruder.

Quinus, Rya, Fyrella, Hajdah, and Nieren stopped eating to see what was going on.

At the opened door was a older dwarf with a white bread, leather apron, gloves, and a few swords slung behind his back, while covered in soot.

"BOY! That's no way to greet your father!" Arathar Coldforge shouted angrily.

"Father!? What are you doing here!?" Zellin asked confused.

Arathar shook his head, "Tch! I don't know how you're into all this cleanliness stuff! If you want to impress me and your mother... then go and get a wife! I'm tired of waiting, boy!"

Fyrella didn't react to her husband's outburst. Instead, she just took a sip of tea.

Zellin responded, "Well, I'm working on that! And if you were worried about training the next great blacksmith, you should have given me a sibling or two! But it's just me and you gave me the barony when I turned 50 years old. You shouldn't have to worry about the barony."

"Bah! Don't be foolish, Zellin! I would never want to damage your mother's perfect figure! We were playing with fire by her having you! She did her part and it's up to you, to do yours!" Arathar retorted angrily.

Fyrella tried to keep a stone face but she blushed when she heard her husband's compliment.

Hajdah snickered, "Well... This doesn't get old... I wonder what kind of woman my son will pick out?"

"ENOUGH! Why are you here, Father!? Tell us why you came out of your lair to the dining hall! I can't stand these insults anymore," Zellin said in rage.

"Why? I came to greet the Prince and to get measurements to fit a sword for the Saintess that I heard about." Arathar said as he turned his attention from Zellin to Rya and Quinus.

'Huh? When did everyone start referring to me as the Saintess? I guess that's what I get for healing all those soldiers,' Rya thought as she looked at the blacksmith

Arathar smiled at Quinus, "I wasn't sure about you and your father when I heard about the arranged marriage. But after what you did for my people these last couple of weeks. You've proven yourself worthy to me and for that, you have my forge at your disposal, Quinus,"

Quinus bowed, "Thank you, Arather. I'll be coming by often to use your services."

Arathar snickered, "You better! Especially if you keep giving me liquid ether to smith with! Hell! If I had a daughter I would have married her off to you!"

Zellin yelled back, "Father! Show a little restraint!"

Fyrella glared at Arathar for his bluntness. 'He's going to kill our son by secondhand embarrassment.'

"Anyway, I came to thank the crown prince for all he's done and to get some measurements for a sword that I need to be made. Thank you, Your Highness," Arathar said as he gave a formal bow to Quinus.

'Well, he's a eccentric one? I wonder what he needs to get measured?' Rya thought to herself.

Arathar turned to Rya, "And who is this lovely creature you brought with you, your Highness?"

'Creature? I'm not a creature!' Rya thought to herself.

"Oh, this is Rya. She's a powerful earth mage and a healer, she's saved my life more times than I can count." Quinus said with pride.

"She's saved us from Rodulf. For a second there, I thought we were done for," Hajdah said as he nodded his head while looking at Rya.

"Hmm... Who would have thought a dark elf would become an ally of the humans and dwarves," Arathar said as he walked around Rya. Examining her from multiple angles.

'What is he doing? I'm getting the creeps from this guy,' Rya thought as she tried to ignore the man.

"Alright! So you want me to make a sword for her with the Liquid Ether? Are you sure, Quinus? It's not every day you get to make a legendary weapon for yourself." Arathar asked as he eyed Rya.

'What? This guy does think I can handle a sword? This guy can go fuck himself!' Rya thought as she was getting annoyed with Arathar.

"Father! Please, don't anger her now. That's the last thing we need right now," Zellin said as he noticed Rya's temper rising.

Hajdah scoffed, "You shouldn't judge her, Arathar. Otherwise, you'll have to deal with the prince as well as her wrath."

Quinus was looking at Arathar. Wondering if he should reprimand him or not.

"Haah... Yes, I want you to create a legendary weapon for Rya. And stop acting like she isn't here. Rya doesn't need my help to end you Arathar. So don't push your luck." Quinus warned him.

Arathar took a deep breath, "Alright! Fine!" He then looked at Rya again. "Alright then! Let's see what you got!"

Rya was confused as to why Arathar was acting so strange.

"Go on... Stand up, now. I need to see you handle a sword so I can make you a fitted sword perfectly for your style of fighting." Arathar ordered as he gestured for Rya to stand.

"Hmph! If I use one of those swords, I'll destroy them all. I can't trust these things to hold up." Rya said as she crossed her arms.

"Oye! I like to see you try Lassy! And if you do break them, it's fine. They're meant to be a base sword for measurement purposes only. After I can see how you like to use a sword, I will make the perfect blade for you." Arathar said as he pointed towards the pile of steel swords.

"Fine, whatever. Just don't get mad after I break these weapons. I just know that I warned you," Rya said as she stood up and picked up a short sword.

'Hmm. I haven't used Dark Earthly Blade in a while. I wonder if I can hit all the candles in this room? What can I do?' Rya thought as she lined her sword up with the candles.

"Sigh..." Arathar sighed as he watched Rya try to cut through the candles.

"Dark Earthly Blade!" Said Rya as she channeled her mana inside the sword before swinging it.