The sun had gone down by the time L had returned to the village. He passed the guards without an incident and headed straight down to Kullburd’s smithery. Metal rang against metal in a now familiar sound, yet there was something slightly off about it. It’s pitch differed, it’s rhythm inconsistent. Seeing Kullburd bring his entire body up, the hammer clenched limply in his hand, and having him bring it down feebly worried L. He was not at an angle to see Kullburd’s face, but he knew Kullburd was in great pain.

His shirt and trousers were drenched in sweat. Even standing a few meters off, L could see the light of the orange flame glistening off his wet forehead. The heat was abysmal, barely breathable at all. The fire bellowed, sucking up hard iron and spitting out molten one.

Yet the hammer still went up, and it still came down, shaping the hot blade.

“This 6 weapon,” Kullburd wheezed out. The hammer rang stronger.

L opened his eyes wide, nodding to himself. How Kullburd knew he was there, L did not know.

Kullburd's progress was abnormally quick. It had to be some sort of advanced profession, or class, even. An iron sword took a couple days to make, a dirk slightly less than that, but it’s been nearly a week and Kullburd had already forged twice the number of weapons a typical blacksmith would have made. Tireless Blacksmith, that was the profession L was offered after having followed Kullburd’s Trail. It was a higher deviation of the common blacksmith, too, meaning that Kullburd had history behind his art. Where was he from? His skin color tells of the East, though that did not help much. Instead of Empires, the East of the Rojenteem Empire was a huge collection of stray kingdoms, all fighting within their own land for control. Kullburd could belong to any of the countless ones--countless not because of their huge number, but of rather how quickly kingdoms fall and raise.

Walking closer, L inspected the weapons lined up. Swords, dirks, daggers, spears, maces, axes were lined up on the wall. There were a dozen or two of them, most of the sub-par quality. He studied them curiously, allowing himself to be guided by the notification screens for each. They would not break easily, but upon picking one up, L felt it weigh a bit more than a decently made sword should have. It’s balance was also slightly off, and it did not seem like the sword would stay sharp for long. Quantity over quality, that’s how the profession goes, I think. Mostly useful for large deployments, when the many can outmatch the few.

Stolen story; please report.

“How large was your order?”

“As much as my hands can make.”

There will be war here, soon, L immediately guessed. “There are about 150 villagers, ay? Men and women? Half of them are armed, right?”

When Kullburd did not respond, L figured he was correct. He had counted 52 houses, and if each has a husband and wife, and maybe a son or daughter, then it would average at about that number. It has been only a year since the village was founded, which meant that most of the people who would have moved here are those who already have a grown family, or ones who started a family here. Many women around here were pregnant, which adds up. Most were young too, as those were the ones who were generally willing to move. It wouldn't be surprising if the village would reward those growing family, as base as that it is, growth is the final measure of a village on the outskirts.

The villagers, these villages at the very least, will probably not be deployed. Their growth was vital to the empire’s expansion, and they would not risk their demise. While some of these will go to arming the men and women here, most will probably be shipped to a different area. Maybe against the Gleeten Empire? Their nearest kingdom is Dluriam. There villages are also pushing this way. Maybe they’re going to take them over? Or will they open a new front, on the East? A most foolish decision, if they would commit to it. The Gleeten Empire is the only thing holding the Rojenteem from throwing their armies upon the separated kingdoms of the East. Maybe a feint? Maybe this is to lure to Gleeten into attacking? To the south is an ally, the Soltium, but they got their own issues.

L bit his bottom lip. These were all guesses. This world should be much more populated, and information should be much cheaper than before. If only I could logout and get to my contacts.

“When you take them?” Kullburd asked.

“Take who?” L said, twisting his head around. "What?" he followed up.

Kullburd sighed heavily, his hammer resting on the cooling metal blade. He shook his head. “Nevermind, nevermind. Come and help, there is much to do!” He waved his hand over. “Much metal, much to do!”

“I just washed these clothes...oh what the hell. Give me the hammer, you rest your body while I warm these guns up,” L said, slapping his upper arm.

“Guns? What is guns?” Kullburd asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Don’t worry about it. Now, what do we got here?”