“L-lapis, what are you saying?”

“You asked me for my judgment,” Lapis responded shortly. “I gave it.”

Looking slightly taken aback, Gabbro leaned forward. “I know she’s your daughter, but of all people, I didn’t think that you would act so willful.”

“You dare call me willful?” Lapis’s eyes appeared to ignite with lightning, and Gabbro immediately put up his hands.

“M-maybe… if you explain your thought process…”

“Hmph…” Lapis crossed her arms angrily. “Next time, just say you want an explanation rather than accusing me of dishonesty.”

I perked up as well. I had worried when Terra had selected Gabbro. I had thought we might lose. I was glad Lapis chose my blade, but I was curious if she had seen what I hoped she had seen.

“G-go on…” Gabbro responded, clearly just as curious.

“It’s true that your blade does contain a better balance. The skill placed into its construction is superior to the other. Overall, it’s a better knife.”

“Then-”

“However, the point of the competition was not to create a well-rounded and all-purpose item.” Lapis cut in before he could interrupt her. “When it comes to weapons, the other blade is superior.”

“Wh-what?”

“Look at this blade, it’s designed specifically for quick, jagged movements.” She moved the blade in her hand swiftly and smoothly. “Each strike intending to cause the maximum damage. While your knife could be used to stab a man or open a letter, this blade only has one function, destruction.”

“Th-that… that’s…” Gabbro found himself unable to come up with a reply.

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“Your blade is practiced, but how could it not be? It’s just like every typical dagger ever produced by the dwarves. There is nothing to it, no ingenuity, no creativity, no thought…” Each word she spoke caused Gabbro to grunt like he was being hit brutally. “Meanwhile, this blade took into consideration the monster it had to fight. Weightless wraiths, shadow creatures with rapid attacks and no mercy. You don’t need to block such an enemy, you need to destroy it before it attacks you!”

“Lapis?”

She closed her eyes, and as she did so she squeezed the dagger in her hand. “I can feel the lore of this blade. It has a purpose. It has a story. This is the kind of blade from which legends are formed.”

“How did I never see it?” Terra asked, looking very unhappy.

Her judgment on it had been extremely surface value. Although she was the appraiser, she had seen only the most surface-level features of the blades and judged them on that.

“What are you saying? Show me that…” Gabbro stepped forward, and Lapis put the blade down for him to see.

He picked it up and then moved it slightly. As he looked down at it, his frown intensified.

“Well, it seems like I’ll be needed after all.” Pait declared, standing up.

“I don’t get it. This isn’t a magical blade. It’s not a soul blade either. Yet, she’s right… there is lore in this blade, baked into its very essence. All these years… I thought I reached the pinnacle of blacksmithing, but all I was doing was shaping metal. Purpose? Goals? I had long forgotten that the most convenient wasn’t always the best.” He seemed to be muttering to himself now.

“Um… well… anyway, I can see that this blade is quite good…” Pait picked up Gabbro’s blade.

“I concede.” Gabbro suddenly declared, causing all the dwarves to burst out in cries of shock.

“You can’t concede!”

“The treasure!”

“Gabbro,” I interjected, causing his eyes to focus on me. “How about I offer an alternative proposal.”

“What is that?’ He asked suspiciously.

“One judge has voted for one of us, and one for the other…”

“I can’t change my vote?” Terra asked tearfully.

“No!” I cleared my throat. “I mean, how about we draw.”

“Draw?”

“We both have our demands met,” I responded with a smile. “We’ll cut the treasure in half. Dwarves get half, and Chalm gets the other half. The dwarf’s debt to me will be considered done with that. You won’t owe me anything. Finally, you will take on Sapphire as your apprentice!”

“You would sacrifice the dwarf’s debt to you?” He frowned.

“I don’t want to force you to work with me.” I shrugged. “I’d much rather be allies. Let’s work together from here on out, okay?”

He watched me for a few more careful moments, and then he put out his hand. “Deal.”