Vile Evil Hides Under The Veil

Clang. Clang. Clang.

The air filled with the rhythmic clang of hammers striking metal, resounding from every direction.

Upon Leo's return to the Black Iron Fort in the City of Lancelot, he stepped into the familiar atmosphere of Grandmaster Baelin's renowned weaponsmithy. The smithy was a hive of activity.

Inside, the air crackled with heat and intensity, surrounded by the energy of devoted weapon forgers, runic experts, and weapon augmenters. Each craftsman was deeply immersed in their tasks, utilizing the smithy's comprehensive facilities to create a diverse range of weapons, from mass-produced armaments to exquisite artifacts.

The rhythmic symphony of hammers striking metal resounded through the space, occasionally accompanied by small bursts of controlled explosions. Every now and then, a radiant glow would emanate from a corner before vanishing as quickly as it appeared. The entire scene was a testament to the expertise and dedication of those working within Grandmaster Baelin's renowned establishment.

"So, Leo, how did your last week go?" Grandmaster Baelin inquired, his skilled hands delicately modifying the runic engravings on a spiritual artifact he had just completed. Leo and Baelin's other apprentice, Ravid, stood by, providing support for the intricate runic array Baelin was working inside.

"It was a highly productive week, Teacher Baelin," Leo responded, maintaining the stability of the runic array from within his designated circle. Baelin, the venerable dwarf Grandmaster, chuckled heartily, his long, braided beard swaying as he did so. He continued the conversation, "That's excellent to hear, my boy. And what about those five troublemakers who bothered you?"

Leo's expression remained composed as he recounted the incident. During the week-long test, five fellow Rankers had also qualified as finalists for Baelin's apprenticeship. However, they were resentful of Leo's selection and attempted to coerce him into giving up his position with threats and a meager sum of money. Without hesitation, Leo swiftly dealt with them, and with the help of Layla, they left no trace of the confrontation.

Leo was momentarily taken aback when he realized that Baelin knew about his actions regarding the Rankers who had been bothering him. However, noticing Baelin's casual and accepting demeanor, Leo decided to be honest with his teacher.

"Yes, teacher Baelin, you're right. They were trying to force me to give up the apprenticeship, and reasoning with them didn't work. So, I took matters into my own hands to ensure they wouldn't trouble me again. I did it so I could fully focus on the tasks you assign me and give my absolute best in this field," Leo explained with a composed smile.

Grandmaster Baelin laughed heartily in response.

"Hahaha, you handled it well, my boy. I had a feeling something like this might happen. That's why I had some of my underlings keep an eye on you. But when they reported that you willingly went with those troublemakers, I knew you had a plan of your own.

So, I let you handle them in your own way. After all, I respect the privacy and capabilities of my apprentices," Baelin explained while continuing to work on the runic engraving of a newly crafted weapon.

Leo was aware that he had been under surveillance when he met with the five Rankers. He was relieved that Baelin had trusted him enough to call off the monitoring for his protection. However, he also knew that it was difficult to keep secrets from Grandmaster Baelin, considering the close watch he kept on his apprentices.

Baelin's protective measures were meant to keep his apprentices safe from enemies and external forces, but it added complexity to Leo's situation due to the secrets he carried. Despite that, Leo didn't mind Baelin's watchful gaze, as he still had a measure of control over the situation. Thus, he didn't object to Baelin's attentive approach.

Ravid seemed annoyed when Baelin mentioned respecting the privacy of his apprentices. He couldn't help but remind Baelin of the time when the master had unexpectedly appeared during Ravid's date with a lady friend.

Baelin had hilariously recounted all of Ravid's mishaps in the smithy, inadvertently becoming a third wheel that night. Although the lady laughed and enjoyed Baelin's company, the date didn't go as Ravid had hoped.

Leo and Baelin burst into laughter at Ravid's misfortune and playfully teased him, offering unsolicited advice on how he could salvage the situation and rekindle the spark with his date. Amidst all the banter, Leo was also focused on honing his skills as an artifact forger.

Determined to prove himself, Leo observed Baelin's work in progress and decided to step up. He addressed Ravid, who was standing opposite him within the array circle.

With confidence in his abilities, Leo spoke, "Ravid, take a break if you want. I can handle things by myself until teacher Baelin finishes this weapon." Leo's words exuded self-assurance as he alternated his gaze between Ravid and Baelin.

Ravid's face lit up with relief as he gladly accepted Leo's offer for rest. He glanced at their teacher, Grandmaster Baelin, seeking confirmation. The seasoned dwarf master observed both his apprentices for a moment before giving his approval.

"Haha. Cheeky brat, don't think that I don't know what you are doing," Baelin said and chuckled as he looked at Leo with a smirk.

"I know you are trying to prove your worth by demonstrating that your Spiritual Force is more than enough to handle the burden of the artifact creation process from its start to end. I also sense that your Spiritual Force has spiked unexpectedly within a week, which tells me you have consumed a lot of soul-based potions.

Frankly, I don't know how you could afford such potions and that too in such quantities for your Spiritual Force to shoot up like that. But I'm guessing this little stunt of yours must have cost you a fortune," Baelin accurately deduced Leo's game plan as he kept working on the spiritual artifact in front of him.

Leo smiled wryly and scratched his right cheek before nodding at Baelin, letting him know that his observation was on point.

Baelin actually appreciated Leo's eagerness and recognized that Ravid would benefit from a similar approach if he had adopted it earlier. Thus, the Grandmaster proposed a challenge to Leo, allowing him to delve into artifact creation.