Master Of None

"You want me, to work with an elemental spirit to craft. And what if this doesn't work? I just lose my life for nothing? Without the mana I force from my soul I will run out completely." The elder was stunned. To him, he was being asked to risk losing his life for zero results. 

"No! He'll trap me again. Never!" The earth elemental spirit was struck by fear. It still believed that it would be the one that was forced in to a weapon or armor and trapped for years.

"Then use my mana as a test. I will be the one to burn their soul if it fails." Walker made this bold statement that made even Gil and Midnight freeze. Midnight had just started to settle down near the Mithril furnace when Walker said this. She could feel the slight tremble in his heart when he did. It was the fear of actually dying. Yet, there was more. Walker was feeling a massive determination. Determination to change something terrible in to something wondrous and good.

"I may look like a senile old dwarf, but I would never do such a thing. You are too young to sign your life away like that. So much to discover still." The elder wanted to drop everything. He didn't want to see this young adventurer give up the future he was sure to have for a simple weapon. There were reasons the elderly used the spirit forging methods if they could. Not the young.

"No soul burning. I will help, You are nice. Water spirit will need you!" The earth elemental spirit had seen that Walker was not some harmful adventurer looking to trap it. It knew that Walker was there to help and push for the best possible solution. 

The elder watched the elemental spirit moved about with even more chaos and could tell that it was because of what Walker had said. He released a harsh sigh, "Fine, I will try it. Just tell me what you want me to do while I work. I plan on making a shield. I was working on a new kind of form remembering wire, but it can be taken on by another later." 

The elder went to the cabinet and began to pull many different and some strange, materials. There were pieces of wood no bigger than coins. Small glass like beads that radiated elemental mana. Multiple metal ingots of the highest purity and density. Along with a blueish hued hammer which was engraved with many runes that intersected. 

"This is the best hammer in the entire dwarven city. I will pass it to Grey when I die. The other materials will become part of the shield. Now watch a master at work." The elder stoked up his flame and added the small coin sized pieces of wood. They curbed different colors and released multiple elemental manas. 

The flames started to change colors periodically with the wood burning more and more. "Those are from different trees that grow in high density elemental mana. I needed to pay a fair price for every piece you saw me use." The elder was still a teacher and decided to explain everything as he went. He would need someone else to remember and pass on these tricks. 

Taking the different ingots to the fire the elder began to heat them so he could ford them together in to a powerful alloy. His goal was an unbreakable shield full of power and majesty. If possible he also wanted to make it so that the one that wielded it gained a strong defensive skill that would reflect damage back at the attacker. He wanted this even if it was a magical or physical attack. 

"I chose materials from magical and non magical species. They are perfect for melting in to the in ingots." The elder threw multiple materials in to the furnace and put on his thock gloves. The next thing Walker and Gil knew was that the elder had set a hunk of partially attached metals on an anvil. 

"This is where speed is of the essence. I need to basic shape it and add the monster materials. Brace yourself." The elder was continuing on. Midnight had an eye carefully on Walker and did not dare to sleep. She knew that Walker would try and save the elders' life at a drop of a hat. Even if he ended up dead himself he would save someone. 

Walker was not worried. He was actually insanely impressed that so much work would be done right away. The elder was pouring mana in to each swing of the hammer. This made it clear to Walker and Gil that he would be out of mana soon. 

He was about to try to learn about a mana transfer spell when he noticed the elemental spirit had stopped. "No! Don't burn the soul. I will help." The earth elemental mana began to condense in the room and Walker reached over to the cage holding the earth elemental spirit. The elder didn't stop him but cast a sideways glance. 

The spirit that he had held on to for years and years was going to be released and run away. The elder had no choice but to deal with it to avoid the fact that Walker would burn his soul in the elders' place. The elder had already heard and figured out the importance of the party and was too wise to ignore the fact that losing anyone of such caliber would be good. 

Gil reached out and flipped the cage open ahead of Walker, "You worry about helping the two. I will worry about helping you." Gil wasn't sure what exactly Walker was planning. But he wouldn't let his family just go it alone. If He could help he would, especially in a situation where Walker was willing to risk everything. 

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