Jason and Stella were in the town square. Jason was buying some raw iron bars from a travelling merchant. He had a number of ingots of metal on the back of an ox-drawn cart

Jason bartered to get forty bars of iron for two-hundred dime. He paid the salesman and took the ingots back to his shop by loading them into cloth bags on the saddle of his horse, Bronson. He wandered around the town square with Stella and they bought some pulled pork rolls from a vendor. Jason bought some seltzers from a different shop and they found a place to sit in the food court at the bustling plaza. Jason hitched Bronson near the edge of the square.

They were surrounded by villagers, happy people who were living life, and eating all sorts of food at the tables beside them. Fruit salads, roast beef and potato, flame grilled chicken kebabs. The sight and smell of it all was calming and filled them both with a sense of family and community. They were silent in a sea of laughter and conversation.

“So, Magic Boy, when are we going to do some more magic?” she said with a sly smile.

“I told you, I don't know what that was.” Jason said. He was talking about the tree he exploded with a fireball.

He had tried it again afterwards, over and over but he simply failed. It was a trick he couldn't seem to replicate.

“Well, I can bring my book over tomorrow and we can go for a walk.” Stella said. “We tried water and air. You're clearly not a water wizard or a wind wizard.”

“Maybe I’m an exploding tree wizard.” He said with a sarcastic smile. “My power is tree exploding.” He laughed, but Stella was being serious and didn't laugh. “Maybe you can come with me to the Castle tomorrow. I don't have a carriage so you’ll have to ride on Bronson with me, it might be fun. I promise you can ask me all the magic questions then.” Jason said, making a compromise.

Stella agreed and smiled. They both finished eating and left the square holding hands. Jason led Bronson by the reins with the other hand.

They got back to Jason’s shop and he pulled the heavy bags of iron off the saddle slowly. He went inside with Stella and they looked at his empty shop.

“So, what should I make first?” He asked Stella.

“Remember those bandits, I think you should make a sword.”

Jason thought for a moment then agreed with Stella. He pulled a dusty book from a shelf and opened it. It had pictures of swords. All shapes and sizes, with a different section for pommel and crossguard designs.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Jason settled on a straight sword, with a double-edge, a simple crossguard, with minor engravings and a basic pommel. Something he’d made a few times before.

Jason heated his forge and then put a crucible into the flames, he used a mechanical bellows that had a magical enchantment that would automatically cause the bag to inflate and deflate.

He dressed himself in his leather apron, welding helmet and his safety plate.

Soon his crucible was hot, he put four bars of iron into the crucible and waited for them to melt

Jason then grabbed a sword mould from his assortment of metal moulds. And put it onto a short brick table, made specifically for holding his hot metals.

Jason stirred the crucible, and the molten iron left a small layer of slag on the surface. He scraped the slag off with a long steel slag spoon and used some blacksmith tongs to pick up the crucible. He poured the molten iron into the sword mould and watched as the metal hissed and bubbled and settled into the grooves of the mould.

A few minutes passed and the sword had cooled into a solid, it was still extremely hot. Jason had a tall bucket of oil to quench the sword in, which bubbled and squeaked as the blade hardened.

Stella quietly watched with innate curiosity.

He then let the blade cool completely and after that he began to add an edge. He grinded the sword with a simple whetstone, he made over a thousand passes, delicately honing the blade.

While he sharpened, Stella made some dinner on Jason’s stove. They had some steak, broccoli and carrots. Stella added some spices from Jason’s spice rack and they ate, then Jason kept honing the edge for a few more hours while he and Stella talked about their futures.

Jason was happy with the edge on the blade, so he grabbed a thin leather strap and started to wrap the handle of the blade. He finished the wrap and looked at the final product.

It was a simple sword with a sharp edge, Jason was very happy. He’d given it his best.

Jason didn't know, but he’d made an enchanted blade.

He had imbued the blade with fire, so that when any magic user interacted with it, the blade would catch alight.

Jason’s magic was still lying dormant, so he was unable to access the sword’s hidden ability. For now.

Jason and Stella decided to lay down in bed, ready to go to sleep. Jason looked over at his beautiful partner and smiled. This was his happiest moment.

Jason kissed Stella on the lips and moved himself closer. They kissed again, this time they lingered a little longer. Jason was very excited. He positioned himself above her and looked her in the eyes as if to say, “now?”

She giggled at him.

They heard a violent knock on the door downstairs.

Jason collapsed onto Stella with an annoyed sigh.

He got out of bed and went downstairs to look. He opened his wooden door and was surprised to see Freya. She was looking behind her, up and down the street, as if she was being followed.

“Can I stay here?” She asked quickly.

“Um, I guess. It’s pretty late, but. Sure.” Jason said, very confused.

He ushered the elf inside.

“Thanks, Jason. The same room?” She asked.

“Yep. It's ready and waiting for you.” he said.

She thanked him again and hugged him. Then she ran upstairs, past Stella who was standing on the top step.

“Who is she?” Stella asked Jason.

“That's Freya. She’s a princess, I think.” he said back, trying to play it cool. His mind was currently on overdrive. He was attracted to both of the girls.

“Why is she here so late?” She asked, suspicious of Jason.

“I don't know, I’ll ask her in the morning, let’s get you back in bed now, princess Stella.”

Jason smiled and tapped her lightly on the butt, she smiled and climbed the staircase and went into Jason’s room.

Jason followed her up and went into his room. He cast a long gaze at Freya’s door before he went into his own room and got into bed next to Stella.