Norbert walked to the next blacksmith place, several houses down. Walking in, Norbert moved the curtain out of the way as is custom and saw the more square shop compared to before. He saw lines and shields stacked against the wall all sizes.
He was about to walk away when he saw a shimmer, changing his vision to magic as he confirmed with what he saw, a rune poking out behind a shield. Norbert moved to the shield, pulling the one in the way out of it as he looked down at the shield with the rune.
The white rune was pained on a red shield, and multiple parts of it formed on the top side. Norbert placed the shield back in place, hoping they had a better idea of what to do with his helmet.
Walking over to the counter, Norbert saw the stool once more standing there, leaning around the counter to see where the blacksmith was hammering away. Standing on their platform, the blacksmith was hammering away. Norbert was leaning on the counter, the helmet pieces resting there, as he waited for the blacksmith to turn around to Norbert.
After some time, the blacksmith placed the piece they were working on, the metal nearly as big as themselves, before hopping down, scurrying towards the stool by the counter, climbing on top as they looked down at the two pieces of the helmet Norbert placed there.
The blacksmith looked down at the piece, the distinct mask with its design, before looking up to Norbert. Not wanting to lose another silver, "You can expect something if you accept the work. So, can you fix it?"
The blacksmith nodded in acceptance as they looked at the two pieces of the helmet. He was turning them about to look inside, Norbert hearing a nod. They placed it back down again and slid it over to Norbert.
“Even you can’t?”
“No can do.”
“But you could do the shield with the rune?” Norbert pointed towards the front of the shop with the shield he looked at.
“That wasn't me, but a joint effort brought from my home,” the blacksmith told Norbert.
Frowning at it, he saw the massive city around them, and there wasn’t any enchanter around. “So none around that can do any enchantments? Not allowed to apply runes?” Norbert thought about all the housework needing a rune replaced as he eyed the furnace to the side.
“Runes for everyday use are fine here, but those for weaponisation or added to elements that can be are heavily monitored here.” The blacksmith flipped it around and pointed again to the sigil the previous blacksmith pointed to. “I think I know someone who can crack this, but it’s honestly iffy if they can and may impact how it works. Best to go to its original creators to get it repaired.” the" locksmith said with a final nod, completing their thoughts.
Norbert nodded his head as he considered the implications, seeing all solutions pointing to him getting out of the city and somehow needing to bring the kids with him as well.
Norbert turned around and gave a wave, knowing his next target to find would be Commander Sally and if she could get him and the kids out of this city. He was turning on his heels, looking around to orient himself as he wondered where the commander could be residing.
Only two possibilities came to mind: in the stadium in the main box, where he was sure there was one above and underground, or in Morenas Street, where he had been instructed to take residence. From the assessment of his other companions in the contest, he was sure the street would be deserted now due to the Kreevss.
Figuring there should still be competitions going on, Norbert made his way to the stadium, looking out for any Kreevss that would still be hanging around the centre of the city. He did not know why, as Norbert had never before shown himself there when he had finished his fight.
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Quickly making his way back, still hunched over, Norbert made his way across. Only a handful of Kreevss were walking about, sticking in groups as they tried to look over everyone. The rest of the city folk avoided them. News had spread as Norbert clung to the group he was currently walking in, keeping his head down and making sure nothing on him would rattle around.
Finding where he believed the right passageway was, Norbert ducked inside, hugged the right wall, and went up the third entrance, hoping he remembered the correct doorway. As he started going up the stairs, seeing behind him the slime from there, Norbert rushed up them quicker than before, getting to the landing as he looked around, the guards on either side staring at him.
Before they could intercept, a slime appeared in front of Norbert, forming out of the ground in front of him. Turning back down the stairs, I saw nothing following up after him. The slime's disembodied voice echoes, “Name and reason for entrance here.”
Norbert swallowed as he looked at the guards, confirming neither was Kreevss. Reaching into his top, Norbert pulled out the piece of metal with his identification. “Norbert” were the only words that came out of his mouth. The two guards behind him raised their eyebrows as they realised who they were talking to.
“And I’m here to see Commander Sally from Morenas, leader of the group I recently joined,” Norbert added, hoping that would give him enough credibility to the slime that he wouldn’t be thrown out immediately.
The slime read over his tag as it waited, and Norbert was about to ask the slime again if it was broken. “Approved, follow,” it stated again, heading down the hallway that Norbert had found himself on. The two guards stepped back, allowing Norbert to pass seamlessly between them.
Making his way down the corridor, Norbert went up a flight of stairs as he navigated his way around the Colosseum. Hunching down once more, he confirmed that his identity tag was once more tucked underneath his clothes so as not to reveal his presence in case a Kreevss or someone else they might have banded with appeared in front of him.
The slime stopped at a doorway. Norbert heard nothing from inside, so he turned to the slime to make sure that he was at the right spot. The slime dissipated into the ground, leaving Norbert alone, apart from the two guards on either side of the door.
Looking between them, Norbert knocked his hand on the door, not knowing what would be on the other side. Bent over, Norbert made sure that nothing was showing as the door slowly opened, and someone bowed on the other side as the sound came out.
Norbert stepped forward into the long room, nobody giving him any attention, the door closing behind him. Turning around, the person by the door looked down at the ground, and the voices talking to each other grabbed his attention as he looked to see where Sally would be.
The woman looking right at him, having their back to the others in the room. Norbert gazed at them as he went utterly still, seeing a Kreevss looking down at the fight below. The sound of the commentator quieting around him.
Sally quickly approached him, heading to the door as it was opened. Norbert was pushed through as Commander Sally continued to walk away from Norbert, not looking back to see if he was following her.
Straightening up his stance to catch up, Norbert followed behind. He saw the woman go into a side room, the door kept ajar as he followed in behind her. He saw a cosy office here in the massive Colosseum. Sally was sitting at the desk, turning to look at Norbert. Going into the folds of his clothes, Norbert passed over to Sally the two pieces of his helmet one at a time.
“Need to get back to Alasium to repair the mask,” Norbert told her.
The commander looked down at the gash, placed the two pieces together, and saw how properly it couldn’t be there. “That’s it?”
“And I need to move at least fifty people out of this city.”
Sally" whistled in response, giving the two pieces back to him. Catching them out of the air, Norbert placed them in their spot: “I can "help with transporting you to Alasium, but the rest is up to you.”
Norbert nodded as he leaned back on the door, mind running through as avenues were cut off.
“Know anybody that can assist?”
“Not pulling in a favour like that for you now, sorry.”
Norbert tilting his head at the words, “Guess "hat Vivienne was saying was correct, things are starting to boil.”
“And were all in the pot together.”
Norbert just nodded his head, remembering one of the times he saw Obsius.
“Oh, do you know where Obsius is?” Norbert asked Sally.
Over in Alasium waiting for you. But enough about that; I had something to tell you as well.”
“And that is?” Norbert asked, waiting for a proper response instead of Commander Sally just holding out on information.
“You need to leave the tournament. Sigma Eight needs you for a mission soon.”
The words drummed in Norbert's needing to leave this dust bowl of a city.