Edge started walking toward the east end of town, heading over to a portion of the crafters’ quarter that was known as the Iron Boulevard.

His surroundings changed the moment that he crossed the street dividing the hunters’ and crafters’ districts. Although both quarters were industrial in nature, the ambiance was rather different between them.

Instead of plots filled with beasts and crops, there were boxes and cranes lining the streets. Wagons filled with ore and coal were making deliveries to the foundries, and the scent of oil hung heavy in the air. The buildings were made of stone and brick, rather than wood like the rest of town, to reduce the odds of fire spreading if there was an accident.

The quarter was filled with chatter and bustle, busy people going about crafterly things. The tension wasn’t as bad as it had been in the commercial side of town, as people lost themselves in their work instead of ruminating on their problems. He made his way past a long row of factories, smoke rising from the chimneys like a host of dragons was slumbering inside.

Edge could hear the music of the Forge well before it came into view. The heavy clang of a hammer working over an anvil formed a vibrant rhythm that he could feel in his bones.

The various crafters that called the Forge home had formed a collaborative workspace, with each member specializing in different substances, techniques, and products. Complex jobs often required the skills of two or more craftsmen, and this setup let them get the job done faster and cheaper than would otherwise be possible.

It was a big building surrounded by a cluster of auxiliary structures. There were pipes and ducts running along the walls and smokestacks jutting from the roof. Most of the space was for members only. But there was a section up front where people could come in and request custom orders, like Edge was doing today.

He walked in and came to a stop in front of the counter, content to observe the various projects underway. In addition to a pair of forges, there were benches outfitted for woodworking and leatherworking. Ceramic and glass. Machinery and stations whose purpose was beyond his ability to identify.

He waited for someone to get to him, knowing that many of the skills used in these processes couldn’t be interrupted, or it would ruin the result. It shouldn’t take too long. Edge could leave the request with any of the senior members. They would negotiate a price, then figure out who was best suited to the task.

Twenty minutes later, one of the smiths working the anvil pulled his latest work out of the fire. He ran a critical eye across it from every angle, before dipping it into a pool of oiled water to temper the steel. Then he took off his gloves and made his way over to Edge.

“Thanks for your patience. Since the disaster struck, we’re getting twice the requests with half the raw materials to work with. I’ll warn you now, unless you can provide them yourself, the cost of the job is going to be sky-high, regardless of what you’re looking for.”

“Thanks for the heads up. Luckily, I do happen to have my own mats, or the bulk of them at any rate. There should be a package that was delivered from Ann’s with my name on it. What I want to have crafted is inside. I’m Edge, by the way.”

“Ander.” The smith’s eyebrows rose in reply, curious what Edge had to show him. He went into the back and returned five minutes later with a bundle in his arms.

They walked over to a table and Ander removed the reaver’s claw. Ann had been kind enough to wrap it in cloth so that prying eyes wouldn’t know what was inside. He set the claw in front of them and began running his fingertips across it.

While he worked, Edge took a closer look at the smith. He was somewhere in his late thirties, with dark grey hair and bright blue eyes. His expression was alert. Edge had the sense that the man saw more than most in a fraction of the time. An impression that only grew stronger when Ander started to speak.

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“Weapon-class keratin, monstrous in origin. Middle D-grade, excellent condition.” The man lowered a lens attached to his headgear and continued appraising the claw, not waiting to hear Edge’s explanation.

“Rare, even on the frontier. Unheard of in these parts. You must have found something nasty that got swapped here during the anomaly. Early stage-two… No, Given the density, mid stage-two shadowreaver.” Edge’s jaw dropped. He would have to be incredibly careful around this man.

Ander saw the astonishment on his face, laughed, then kept right on going. “I would ask how in the hell you killed it, but I know you’ll just lie. Not that I blame you, I’d do the same. Given that your gear is garbage and these bloodstains along the base, I’d say that you tried using this as a weapon already and want to turn it into a proper one now.”

If he deduced so much from that one look, who knows what he will figure out if I say something stupid. Rather than take the chance, Edge just nodded.

Fortunately, Ander didn’t seem interested in uncovering his secrets. The smith was already moving on to the next step, testing the material with a set of specialized tools. He listened while tapping the claw with a small hammer, then scraped it with various materials to judge the hardness.

Edge kept his mouth shut and waited patiently. Which wasn’t hard, because he found the process fascinating. Maybe I can pick up something useful, just from observing. When Ander was done half an hour later, he set the claw down and gave Edge his undivided attention.

“I’d say that you have two good options, which you may or may not be able to afford. The first is a large sword. I’ll skill-mold the claw and optimize the shape, enhancing the curve to create maximum pressure along the cutting edge. It will be a solid weapon, especially for a beginner like you. Superior reach, penetration, and durability.

“The other option would be a spear. Another solid choice for a fresh stage-one. There would even be enough material left over for a dagger. A spear is better than a sword against most beasts, and worse against other weapons. The main advantage is that you can do your fighting from further back, making it harder to bite, claw, or gore you.”

Edge took a few minutes to consider his options, weighing the pros and cons of each. The spear wouldn’t work with his slash skill, and he had trained some with a sword before coming to Ord. But a sword wasn’t well-suited to beast hunting, which was how he planned to spend the coming weeks.

The more that he thought about it, the more certain he became that neither weapon suited him perfectly. He eventually asked a question. “Would it be possible to split the difference? Keep the blade but also the stick.”

“A polearm?” Ander rubbed his chin. “That’s an interesting request. Taking the shape of the claw into account, along with its unusual durability, and yes, I think it could work. Thirty thousand, paid up front, and not a cred less. I can have it ready within the week.

“I’ll need to collaborate with Elow on the shaft. But I’ll find something nice that I’ll include at that price. A durable material that will offer a good grip, even when wet. I’ll add a guard to protect your hands, and a strap that will let you wear it on your back.”

“Can I pay part up front and the rest when I pick it up?” Edge had the credits in his account. But he didn’t want to reveal the bounty he had collected for killing the jailbirds, given the scrutiny he was under.

“Depends. How much do you have?”

“I can give you twenty thousand today and the rest on delivery. I’ll go hunting again in the morning.”

Ander ran his fingertips across the claw, humming while he considered the proposal. Eventually he nodded and said, “Fine. It should be fairly easy to sell if you die, and I’ll get to keep the down payment to offset the cost of the other materials. No offense.”

“None taken.” While Edge was reluctant to give up nearly all the credits he had made thus far, he knew it was a good offer, especially with all the extras thrown in. He’d get his hands on a serviceable weapon and multiply his threat value in close combat, letting him dish out real damage without relying on his skills.

“It’s a deal.” They shook hands, and then summoned their Guides to initiate the credit transfer. He left the Forge behind after bidding Ander farewell.

While he no longer had enough money to buy the rest of the gear he needed, having a reliable weapon made from high-grade materials was a worthy investment. I need to make some more credits sooner rather than later. Not to mention, cycle-up and eat some more skills.

Although he was excited to receive Trapper’s training, he wasn’t going to delay his plans to grow stronger, especially with Warren on his trail. He would head back to his room and begin preparing to head out onto the plains, somewhere relatively close to town.

Bright and early tomorrow morning, Edge was going hunting.