You keep using too much magic, Onda criticized, though in a far softer manner than usual.

Ever since Dallion had defeated Giaccia in combat and effectively become ruler of a quarter of the world, the hammer guardian had shown him a lot more respect.

Half as much would have worked, he added.

“It’s not wasted,” Dallion said, completing the frame of his crossbow.

With the imperial ceremony over, he and Eury had rushed back to his capital as quickly as possible. The only person who had been faster was Pan. The copyette hadn’t even waited for it to start, using a long range teleportation spell to vanish the moment the tide of the fight had decisively turned in their favor.

Since then, Dallion had taken the opportunity to spend some personal time—divided between Euryale and crafting—while delegating everything else to his closest friends.

SPHERE ITEM CREATED - CRESCENT CROSSBOW

A rectangle emerged. Although all the fragments were yet to be physically connected, the magic threads holding them together fulfilled the requirements of making this a whole item.

After all this time, Dallion had finally created a magic origami item he was pleased with. The knowledge obtained in the grant citadel had proven quite useful, though also caused a feeling of unease to linger within him. This was only a fraction of what the archbishop knew.

As Dallion tightened the magic threads, the elements of the crossbow snapped together, fully completing the weapon. It was massive—larger than him in height, capable of shooting four spear-sized bolts in one go. It also had multiple integrated spells, making it capable of shrinking to the size of a flashlight.

“It’s ready, Lux,” Dallion said, wiping off the sweat from his forehead. “What do you think?”

Threads of blue light emerged all over the crossbow. Even at Dallion’s level, creating it had proved tiring. Apart from the weapon itself, he had also integrated the kaleidervisto within the item.

Thanks, boss! the firebird chirped from within his realm. There’s lots of space!

Coming from Lux, that was a high compliment, although the familiar would have found something positive to say no matter the case.

“Have fun getting used to it,” Dallion went back to the bellows. “Don’t break anything.”

The crossbow rose up in the air. Multiple segments bent into themselves until they took the form of a bladebow, which then flew out of the window.

“That’s Lux for you,” Pan said from the corner of the forge, still in his human merchant form. “Make him a masterpiece that could take any shape and he instantly transforms it into a toy.”

“It’s his home.” Dallion cast a spell on the furnace to bring up the heat, then went to gather a new set of metal ingots.

“I caught two more. I think that’s all of them.”

“That’s what you said yesterday.”

“And I was right. These are new ones. I think they came in with the wind as leaves or blades of grass.”

“I’ll talk to Veil about it.”

“Already done. He’ll try following a new pattern.”

Dallion nodded. One of the things he had picked up from the archbishop was how to make settlements invisible. It wasn’t about the spells, but making sure that the city didn’t remain on a single stop. Since then, the overseer had been given the cumbersome task of moving Alliance up and down the eastern coast.

“Were things like this when you tried to take over the world?” Dallion gathered a generous amount of sun gold ingots along with a bit of Moon platinum. There was a time when he’d struggle to get enough metals of any type. Now, scarcity was no issue.

The faint emotions that emanated from the copyette abruptly ceased.

“I can’t tell you that,” he said.

“I’m not asking what you did. Rather how you felt.”

“And I thought you’d ask something difficult.” Pan sighed, then made his way next to Dallion.

The pile of sun gold seemed rather large, prompting him to take one from it.

“Things were very different when I had my go,” the copyette tossed the ingot in the air, quickly catching it again. “No one had done it before, which made it a lot easier at the start and a lot more difficult further on. To be honest, I was more afraid of my allies than of my enemies. I was convinced that there was no outer force that could stop me, so I shifted my focus within the empire. After that…” He waved his hand, still holding the ingot. “Well, you know how it ended.”

“Just like Tamin,” Dallion remarked, causing the selected pieces of metal to levitate. Initially, he had wanted to forge the shield the old-fashioned way, but decided to use a bit of magic instead.

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Fingers of both hands moved around the lump of metal, drawing various magic symbols for heat. The motion made him think about Gleam and Ruby. It had been a while since the shardflies had roamed freely in the real world, not that they complained. Gleam was just as content within his realm, and as for Ruby, he was happy to stay close to her.

“Did you do what he did?” Dallion glanced at Pan.

“No.” The copyette placed the ingot back on the workbench he had taken it from. “But I was considering it.” He took a step away.

“Do another check,” Dallion said. “And tell Adzorg to create more illusion barriers. I don’t want anyone peeking.”

“Sure.” The copyette shifted to liquid form, trickling out of the room between the tiles on the floor.

In the meantime, Dallion focused on the ball of metal. By this point, all ingots had melted, creating one homogenous whole. Thousands of markers emerged around the molten lump, illustrating what actions one had to take to create the desired form. Dallion had chosen to base his design on the blueprint of an armadil shield—it was something he was used to and, more importantly, something that Vihrogon would appreciate. Naturally, there would be a few minor adjustments. The shield would be made strong enough to withstand dragon flames, and also have a far greater freedom of changing form.

Not everything has to shift shape, Onda remarked.

“Let an old man have his fun,” Dallion said, not cracking a smile. “The base form will be as it should.”

With the speed of a hummingbird’s wings, Dallion adjusted the shape before him. No tools were used, only fingers coated with magic threads. If someone was to see him, they might mistake him for an overgrown dwarf.

Working it like a sculpture, Dallion combined magic, forging, arts, and scholar skills into one. What should have taken days, or at least hours, was achieved in minutes. The level of control was just short of Moon-like, maintaining everything from the air currents and overall temperature to the proportions of the materials within every part of the item. The base shape of a shield emerged.

Holding his breath for a moment, Dallion split the whole into an inner and outer section, then divided the outer circle into individual slices. Magic threads were woven in-between each of them like a fine mesh. Then, while the quasi-shield was still molten hot, he cast the portal spell to the banished realms.

A miniature vortex emerged. No larger than a coin, it achieved a direct link through the realms to the place from where one wasn’t normally supposed to return.

You certainly took your time. The cheerful voice of Vihrogon echoed in Dallion’s mind. Here to get me, or just visiting?

“I thought you knew me better than I knew myself.” Dallion focused on maintaining the vortex. “What do you think so far?”

About you or the shield? The dryad asked. The shield looks fine. You—not so much. Spending your free time tinkering with your toys instead of being with your wife… he let out an over-dramatic sigh. I knew this would happen if I left you.

SPHERE ITEM CREATED – ARMADIL SHIELD

Surprise and confusion emanated through the vortex.

I know you haven’t had much experience in this, but the trick is to summon me before the item is fully formed, the dryad said.

“Really?” Dallion asked in mock astonishment. With a sharp pull, he moved the vortex away from the shield, placing it in the middle of the room. Then, adding a few additional spell circles, he extended it until it was three feet in diameter.

Green light emanated from the portal, followed moments later by the top of Vihrogon’s head.

“How about this, then?” Dallion asked as the rest of the former guardian emerged in the room.

Identical to his form within the realms, with the exception of the ornate battle armor he was wearing, the former sword marshal looked around. He was not one to be at a lack for words, but the unfolding events made him question whether this was a dream or reality. For several seconds, he stood there, not breaking eye contact with Dallion, as if out of fear that doing so might throw him back into the banished realms.

Having completed its purpose, the portal faded away, vanishing from the real world. Vihrogon, though, remained.

IMPOSSIBLE REUNION

(+5 Empathy, +5 Magic)

You’re the first to have brought back a dryad into the real world. Hopefully, you won’t regret your action.

“You’ve gotten better at this,” the dryad said, reaching out and touching Dallion’s shoulder.

“I’ve grown a few levels since last time.” Dallion laughed. “So, about that shield.” He turned around, gently shaking the dryad’s hand off. “I’m thinking of giving it to Gem, since you won’t be able to use it.”

“Gem? Sure.” The dryad remained still in the center of the room. “You know what you just did, right? You brought a banished race back to the world.”

“I’m hardly the first. Besides, it’s not like you to get impressed by something I’ve done.”

“If I were in a realm, I’d have used a dozen comebacks by now…” The dryad reached out. Vines emerged from the palm of his hand, reaching all the way up to the ceiling before flowing back in his hand again. “I’ll need a few minutes.”

“Never thought I’d render you speechless.” Maybe summoning him into the real world like that without warning was a bit sudden. Even so, Dallion needed people more than he needed guardians.

Meanwhile, the armadil shield glowed bright purple. Hearing that he’d get a new home had made Gem quickly fill up the new item before Dallion even had a chance to link it to his domain. At some point, he’d have to have a talk with the aether companion about that.

“So, how about—” Dallion began.

“Go home,” Vihrogon interrupted him.

“Huh?”

“Returning after all this time is a shock, but that’s my problem. You have other things to worry about.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I know you better than you know yourself, remember?” The dryad winked. “You’ve cut all ties with the capital. What you thought was your family there is now gone. That made you think about your other family in this world.”

Using his music skills internally, Dallion closed up his emotions. He hadn’t expected that Vihrogon would be able to glean that much. That was a stupid mistake, given that he knew the dryad had the empathy trait.

“You kept your promise, so there’s nothing keeping you from going there and saying hello. Plus—” The dryad’s expression hardened “—I’m sure that you have a few questions for your grandfather.”

Dallion had a lot more than a few. The old man wasn’t just some minor noble who had annoyed the wrong person; he had been the head of the secret Order and someone who had been admired. Why hadn’t he mentioned that before? And what was the real reason for his banishment? Above all, was there anything he could tell Dallion about his grandmother? All these were pertinent questions that Dallion wanted answers to, and now was a good time to get them.