Yorsen wiped the falling sweat from his brows as he swung the hammer down, the melodic clanging reverberating with sparks through the workshop.

Under his hammer's constant blows, the iron tool Yorsen was forging glowed with an intense, fiery-red color, generating waves of heat that warmed his skin.

Like a moth to a flame, he was drawn to the fire, forge, and hammer. Without them, he never felt complete. The familiar weight of the hammer in his hand, he struck the iron with practiced precision, as he had done a million times before.

One... Cling.

Two... Cling.

Three... Cling.

And Finally... Clin...

Just as he was about to strike for the final time, a sudden shout pierced his ears,

"...rsen...Yorsen!" His concentration was broken by the loud voice of his father, a dwarf.

Yorsen released the hammer from his grasp and responded in a hurry,

"Yyes, Father!"

"Are your ears for decoration? I've been calling out your name for ages!" Yorsen's father scolded.

"Sorry father! I was too focused and couldn't hear you..." Yorsen answered truthfully, his breath still heavy from the work.

"Ahh, never mind. Just go and open the shop. We wouldn't want to keep the customers waiting, would we?" Yorsen's father said impatiently.

Yorsen nodded, sighing with defeat and wiping the sweat from his forehead. He walked up to the storefront and stared outside through the window. He was met with heavy snow, painting the village in the early morning, and it was clear that no one would be showing up for a while.

Or so he thought. To his surprise, he saw a lone figure standing outside the shop, fully covered and disregarding the weather, tightly holding a large bag. When the man outside noticed Yorsen, he gave him a wave and a smile.

Yorsen heavily sighed and muttered,

"He's here... He has undoubtedly killed people..."

"Oh really?" Yorsen's father asked.

"Of course!" said Yorsen frustrated,

"For the past three years, he has always brought bloody equipment to sell! He doesn't say much and wears that fake, unsettling smile. And the worst part... he always stares at me!" Yorsen complained to his father.

"Oh I see... I see, but you know what?" Yorsen's father asked once more.

"What?" Yorsen replied, curious.

Yorsen's father clenched his fist and struck him on the head,

"It's none of your business!" Yorsen's father shouted,

"On numerous occasions, we thoroughly inspected and verified his equipment. We even brought a member from the main store to double-check everything, and everything was fine. So, get to work!"

"Yes, father..." Yorsen responded with a defeated tone, rubbing his head and went to the door.

He took a deep breath and slowly turned the door handle, trying to delay the inevitable that was waiting for him on the other side. When he finally opened the door, a rush of chilly air hit him, sending an instant shiver down his spine. It was completely silent outside, except for the muffled sound of footsteps and the gentle creaking of the sign above the entrance bearing the name of the establishment—Fire and Forge.

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The man waiting outside entered the store slowly, carrying his heavy bag and carefully placed it on the countertop.

"I want to sell these, shopkeeper Morven," he said, addressing Yorsen's father, the dwarf,

"And I'll have the usual."

"Alright. So, dried food and water skins, right?" Yorsen's father, Morven, confirmed, and the man nodded in response.

"It's a long way from that damn Forsaken Forest. Why not settle here instead? It's much better than that forest, which is infested with thieves and criminals." Morven stated, curious.

"I appreciate your offer; the long journey from the forest to the village is good practice for me. Besides, staying in that forest and hunting down the criminals provides me with experience and money. However, I do intend to leave soon." the man explained calmly.

"You've been living in that damn forest for years... and you want to leave now? Have you finally found what you're hunting?" Morven asked.

"I feel more like the hunted," the man responded with a chuckle, his eyes showing signs of weariness.

"I hope you've prepared what I asked."

"Of course! I have prepared the Greater-grade equipment and items. But you still haven't told me what you're hunting..." Morven commented on the significance of knowing the target.

"A dragon... a glacial one," the man said solemnly, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation.

"Hah! No wonder. However, let me be clear: those will not be enough to hunt it," Morven said confidently.

"That's fine. My goal is simply to delay it, nothing more," the man calmly stated.

Morven looked keenly into the man's eyes and saw that he was serious and determined.

"A creature on the level of a dragon... and an elemental one at that. These won't help you." Morven quickly went to the storage and retrieved everything the man had asked for, bringing it back to the counter.

"Here you go. Your items, equipment, and weapons. I've also thrown in some rings with powerful self-buffs, completely free of charge. Make sure you don't end up getting killed." Morven said, genuinely concerned for the man's safety.

The man smiled genuinely, making Yorsen flinch,

"Well, I have no intention of dying just yet," then turned to face Yorsen and asked,

"Have you considered my offer yet?"

Yorsen's heart skipped a beat. He had almost forgotten the offer the man had made the first time he came here.

Caught off guard, Yorsen stammered,

"I... I haven't... I mean, I've been busy taking care of my old father and all..."

Morven clenched his fist and struck Yorsen's head once more,

"You fool!" he shouted,

"I'm a fully-fledged dwarf! We live for centuries! How long are you going to shut yourself away in that forge room, isolated from the world? You're already an adult for god's sake. Leave quickly so I may get remarried!"

"Why... is it always the head!" Yorsen's cried, his hand instinctively reaching to relieve the throbbing pain his head,

"Father, can't you aim for a different spot just for once?!"

"Well, my son, your head seems to be the most convenient target. It's hard to miss!" Morven said chuckling, stroking his full-brown beard.

The man's smile broadened as he observed their usual conversation. He took the bag containing everything he had requested in hand and said,

"Take your time, Yorsen. I will return one day, and I hope to hear your final answer by then."

The man turned and walked towards the door, enduring the cold weather outside and shouldering a heavy bag,

"Thank you for everything. I will take my leave now."

"Stay safe, Kael." Morven said as he saw the man walk outside, his heart heavy.

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Outside Fire and Forge, Kael placed the weighty bag on the ground with a thud.

He reached into his cloak's inner pocket and pulled out a book, quickly flipping to a specific page that read:

'Potential ally: Yorsen - The Divine Blacksmith (Potentially)'

"If I survive... I will have to get him, no matter what." Kael muttered under his breath before picking up the heavy bag and moving north, in the direction of The Forsaken Forest.