Arwin couldn’t peel his eyes away from The Ivory Executioner. His arms hung limp at his sides — for once, not because he was completely drained of energy after finishing his work — but because his body was just struggling to fully come to terms with what had just happened.
He was dimly aware of Lillia and the others standing behind him. They’d piled at the back of the Infernal Armory’s forge. Just about the entirety of the Menagerie had showed up, with the exclusion of Esmerelda and Rodrick. All of them had wisely chosen to stand a few feet back in case anything he’d been working on had been dangerous or too hot to resist without [Indomitable Bulwark].
Finally, Arwin swallowed. He wiped the sweat from his head with the back of his hand. A flicker of amusement wormed its way through his surprise and confusion, pulling at his lips until a tiny smile crossed his features and a laugh slipped free.
I can’t believe it. I think my armor just got stolen.
A hand fell on his shoulder. Arwin glanced back. Lillia stood behind him, still wearing a stained apron. The cursed knife that he’d given her floated by her shoulder, swaying to and fro as if searching for something to stab.
“Arwin?” Reya asked in a worried tone as she joined Lillia. “Are you okay? What happened? We heard a big… boom. Kind of.”
“More of a whump than a boom,” Anna said. She pulled her eyes away from the statue of Arwin’s former armor standing in the center of the room and studied him intently in search of any injuries. “You aren’t hurt, are you?”
“No, I’m fine.” Arwin shook his head and grimaced. “Sorry for scaring all of you. How obvious was it? Are we going to have a bunch of people kicking down the doors?”
“There were some adventurers in the dining room,” Lillia replied. “I told them that you were just working, so nobody’s too concerned. I don’t think the noise was loud enough to go much farther than that… and the Devil’s Den blocked the magical energy from entering it.”
It had been inevitable that the information got out, but it seemed like it wouldn’t be long now. Arwin sent a sidelong glance at the Soul Guardian sitting in wait at the center of his smithy. It seemed he would need to get it active far sooner than later.
Whenever the opportunity for something rare or powerful reared its head, then there would be trouble. Some people would come seeking his help with pure intentions. Arwin loved the idea of finding a way to help them that didn’t completely monopolize his time, but with those people would come ones that wanted to figure out what he was doing. They’d want to find a way to control or stop it. And those people wouldn’t be happy when they found out they couldn’t control the Menagerie.
Arwin was going to have to make sure they couldn’t do anything about that displeasure when the time inevitably came.
“I see,” Arwin said. “It’s not unexpected. I knew this was coming.”
“You don’t have to apologize for existing,” Arwin said, shooting a glare in her direction. “I made you that arm so you could use it. It’s not a secret. There’s no way you can hide it when you needed to use its abilities to take out Twelve.”
Huh. Actually, now that I think about it, Twelve might actually be what I need. He should have been pretty wealthy. I still haven’t cashed in the Achievement that lets me get all the stuff he had on his bodies. Maybe he’ll have some components or materials I could use to make the core for the Soul Guardian.
“I know that,” Olive said. Her cheeks reddened and she cleared her throat. “But a few kids have asked to see it. I showed them.”
“Olive, it’s fine. I don’t expect you to keep your body a secret.”
Reya coughed into her fist.
Arwin rolled his eyes and turned away from the partially finished Soul Guardian to give Olive his full attention. “This is just advertising for us if you look at it from the right angle. Just keep an eye out for anyone getting too aggressive. I don’t want to reveal how I made that arm yet. Just having people know I can do it is enough.”
Olive nodded. “I know. I haven’t said anything, but word is spreading fast. I wouldn’t be suprirsed if it’s already made its way well out of Milten.”
“Then I’ll deal with the problems when they come,” Arwin said. “Which makes it all the more important for me to get this thing finished… and some new armor made for myself, I guess. That might have to get slotted in somewhere around creating equipment for you, Elias, and Maeve. Speaking of which, how are they?”
A smile crossed Olive’s lips. “Good. We’ve been training a lot together. We were actually about to head out to a dungeon. They’re both very skilled fighters, but it’s clear they’re not used to fighting as a group with another person.”
“Huh. Wonder who that could remind me of,” Reya said.
Olive elbowed Reya in the side and Reya made a hasty retreat, snickering.
“I’m going to get back to work,” Olive said, giving Arwin a nod. “Thank you again for the arm. I’ll probably never say that enough times, but I’m going to go put it to use.”
Arwin nodded. “Good luck. Make sure to focus on the things that Elias and Maeve are lacking in so I can make them armor that helps shore up their weaknesses.”
“I will.” Olive strode out of the Infernal Armory and Reya headed after her, waving farewell to Arwin as they left.
Lillia smiled as she watched the two of them leave, then returned her gaze to Arwin. “I have to get back to the tavern as well. My garden is fighting back against me and I don’t know how long the inn can keep it restrained without me there.”