“So, what brings you to the village lad?” Pon curiously asked.

In response, Zycor reached into his bag and pulled out two of the swirling, rainbow ingots of Unobtanium. He went on to explain, “I was looking for someone who may be able to forge these for me. I was told that everyone else who was asked outside this place was unable to do anything. Would you happen to be able to or know someone who could forge it for me?”

Pon reached out his hands and Zycor handed the ingots over to him. As Pon inspected them, his eyes shifted between fascination, surprise, awe and slight terror a few times. Pon grinned, “Well lad, it just so happens I am quite familiar with these ingots. In other words, it may be possible for me to forge them into a weapon.”

Zycor’s response was interrupted by Lizali frantically shouting, “You know what those things are!?

“Shout at me again and any explanation you might be hoping for will be lost to you!” Pon angrily shouted back.

Lizali instantly went silent, though the sparkle of fascination and curiosity in her eyes spoke for her. “I would also like to hear about these ingots Mr. Pon. My mom left them to me after her… death, so I would like to know what they are as well.” Zycor inquired.

Pon let out a hefty sigh before beginning his explanation, “Well, since you are asking, I suppose I should up-hold my offer, so I won’t be charging you. I was actually the one who originally sold these ingots. Many decades ago, a man was walking through the city where I had my initial smithing shop set up. He was walking around and collapsed in front of my store. I quickly grabbed some water and rushed over to him. He inhaled that water faster than I had ever seen before. He jumped up from the ground and started screaming something along the lines of ‘I feel alive again!’ Honestly, he was certainly a character. Anyways, when he calmed down a bit, he thanked me and reached into his pockets. I still don’t know how he pulled these ingots out of his coats’ pocket, especially when they were so big, but it happened. He handed them to me, saying to accept it as payment and apologizing that he didn’t have any actual money. He then stood up and seemingly vanished, the only thing remaining being a soft swirl of dust around where his feet were. I never did catch his name, but that white hair was unforgettable. I didn’t think children as young as he was got hair like that. I digress, I then spent the next few years trying to forge and work with the ingots, but never could get anything to make them work. I eventually sold them to a merchant for a high price. After that, I discovered some ancient smithing techniques and began to study them, but was shunned by the world for it. Apparently, those techniques were a part of the ‘old era,’ the study of which has been outlawed in nearly all nations. I soon left and ended up at this village. It was a few years later I came across this one on one of my expeditions outside the village to obtain some more materials.”

Pon pointed over at Lizali whom everyone looked over at. She nervously waved back to everyone. Pon continued his story, “She said she was looking for some place to study and become stronger. Since I had been studying a great deal of matters concerning old era technologies, crafting techniques and smithing techniques, I figured I could use an apprentice to help with it all. Well, that is a story for another time. Perhaps it was fate or maybe destiny that these ingots found their way back to me.”

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“Thank you for the information, but I still do not believe my initial question has been answered. Can you forge them?”

Pon chuckled, “Lad, if I can’t forge them, no one can. Time to push our imitations of the old era’s technology to the limit!”

Zycor nodded and pulled out the other two ingots along with a piece of paper. It had a rough idea for the new gauntlets he had been working on drawn on it. There were even notes on what Zycor wanted the gauntlets to do and personal improvements. Taking everything from Zycor, Pon examined the crude blueprint outline and thought for a moment, his foot tapping every other second. He finally spoke up, “I will need at least three days to sketch out proper blueprints, and around an additional nine or so days to work on it.”

Remembering how long the initial gauntlets took to construct, Zycor voiced his concerns, “Are you sure? That seems like an absurdly short amount of time.”

Pon grinned, “Lad, the functions you asked for are common day items here, unlike outside. Honestly, most of the time is going to be spent trying to figure out which method would best fit forging this material. Not to mention you already have said material, so that saves me the time and trouble to go and procure it myself.”

Zycor’s eyes lit up as he thanked Pon. The latter chuckled, “No need to thank me lad! Now, I can get started as soon as I have my payment!”

Everyone but Zycor went eerily silent, now staring at him. Pon grumpily questioned, “What? I am running a business here, and I already waived the fee for his questions. What more do you want from me?”

Zycor reached into the bag Aisha had given him while he chuckled, “Alright, Mr. Pon, how much will it cost?”

With an all too happy expression, Pon replied, “Ah, and you know how to properly do business, great qualities lad! For you, it will be only 2 Volnium!”

Aisha cried out, “What the hell is that?! We could buy a house to house all of us for that!”

“I assure you, it is a reasonable price for what is being asked, not that I owe you an explanation missy. I also discounted the cost because the lad has been so respectful, now shut yer yapper!” Pon snapped back.

With Aisha now silent, Zycor pulled out the coins from his bag and handed them over to Pon. The latter questioned, “You have been chuckling for a while now, is there something funny I am unaware of?”

“Sort of. It’s just, the way you conduct yourself in terms of business reminds me of how my mom did things.”

“Ho? Then I suppose your mother and I would get along! Who is she anyway?” Pon inquired further, his curiosity now piqued.

When Zycor went to answer, Mylon and Baz, who had been paying close attention, covered his mouth. They began to drag him out of the store, Mylon nervously chuckled, “Sorry, I just remembered there was a time sensitive matter we needed to attend to. Please keep us updated on your progress, and if you need anything just ask! Anyways, have a good day!”

Aisha and Aislin clamored after them, confused. Nalea apologized for their unprofessional exit and left as well. Pon asked, perplexed, “Liz, are you aware of why they left in such a hurry?”

Lizali remained silent, knowing why, sweat bullets while she thought, “Why do they always do this to me? I am not good with stressful situations at all! What on earth do I do?!”

Pon shrugged as he turned to walk into the forge room, “Ah well, not like I need to know that stuff anyways. Time to get to work!”

With a sigh heavy enough to be heard through the village, Lizali thought, “Oh my goddess, I survived”