Sulfur, quenching oil and super heated basalt filled the air in the workshop of The Blacksmith a skilled craftsman renowned as Vulcan in the city Aethelheim. It was a place characterized by extreme heat, precise skill, and complete isolation.
Vulcan was known as Elias Thorne, a reputable expert on creation of the nature of matter in the world outside of Aethelgard. A man whose hands moved with the strange grace of a master weaver despite the harsh traces of unending labor. Elias was able to pursue the ultimate study unbreakable creation when Aethelgard launched, revealing a world where the laws of physics yielded to the force of magic.
After he proved he could repair an old broken relic which required a deep comprehension of magical essence and form, he was bestowed with the Mythic-Tier distinction of his special Class The Grand Artificer. Vulcan's ability was limited to creation and analysis, he could forge objects that were beyond the bounds of traditional magic.
Right now, he was working beneath the citadel of Lord Valerius a strong local noble. The Aegis of the Realm a unique armor set intended to ward off Valerius's rival warlords' shadow-magic and this was his current commission.
Vulcan stood in front of the enormous altar of condensed throbbing magical ore known as the Eternal Forge. The last component of the breast plate was almost finished and cooling.
"The final binder is insufficient" from behind the bulky eyewear. "Sustained shadow-fire will cause the Chaos Resin to fail. I need a substance that has retained that undiluted power within its core after surviving a energy explosion."
He went over the complex colorful schematic. He was trapped in a bottleneck that could only be broken by a source of pure organic event.
Then there was an urgent unusual ping from his own tracking focus.
[QUEST ALERT: ACQUIRE EMBER SPIKE FRAGMENT]
Vulcan easily assessed the details and his his focus shifted to the quest window.
[QUEST ALERT: PARTNER ACQUISITION]
[OBJECTIVE: A unique highly individual know for operating near dangerous high level zones is currently processing an Ember spike fragment that contains a unprecedented metallurgical signature.]
[ACTION: Meet the player known as Systems Witness and acquire the Ember Shard fragment for the further analysis and for your blacksmithing]
[LOCATION: Trace the residual signal of the Ember spike fragment to the source]
[REWARD: Unlock exclusive high tier armor blueprints]
Apart from the unnamed and shocking recordings Vulcan had no knowledge about The Systems Witness. The player was a ghost who had managed to obtain a portion of the Ancient Ember Dragon the most sought-after raw material in the area.
"A fragment" Vulcan thought as he picked up a piece of metal that melted in his hand. "The dragon's scale is the toughest and most fire-resistant substance in this realm. The signature I need the signature of absolute endurance is found in a part that was torn off during battle."
Vulcan pulled out the Artificer's Resonance Compass this was obtained when he got this Mythic tier class. It was intended to monitor the distinctive magical resonance that legendary and mythic items leave behind treating their essence like a bright beacon rather than to track actual individuals.
"The fragment was obtained by the source through a high-energy exchange. The residue serves as an ideal guide because it is so strong and unstable".
He started the compass. The apparatus started extracting pure magical signs from Aethelgard's foundation causing the air in the workshop to shimmer.
"The signature is constant but feeble. It went to a city in a low level zone from the high peaks the Crags. It doesn't matter how quickly you travel. What counts is the material which i want".
"Gold will not be accepted by the seller. They demand something that is appropriate for the danger involved in obtaining the material".
Vulcan packed his tools which represented more magical riches and expertise than most guild treasuries could hold. Despite not being a brute, he was functionally invincible to low-level threats thanks to his armor a self-made Energy Deflection suit.
Sneaking out of his workshop he made his way to the heart of the city. The compass which pointed south and slightly west toward the city of Aethelheim pulsed with a faint orange glow.
He concentrated only on the Ember Spike Fragment's weak detectable signal.
Ethan and Anchor were at last safe in the busy low-level metropolis of Gleamwatch miles away. The ideal cover was provided by the city's abundance of low-level quest hubs, market stalls and novice players.
Ethan sat in a little room at a rented inn and tired. At last the Logic Bubble had vanished leaving a crushing wave of mental and physical exhaustion in its wake.
"Anchor, we succeeded. For this fragment you battled a dragon".
The Legendary Ember Spike Fragment was carefully put on the table by Ethan. Pulsating with latent energy it was a jagged sliver of crystallized fire made of obsidian. Anchor cuddled up beside it right away tired and protective, Anchor wants to consume it but Ethan said he needs it for the gear.
"You need these potions, partner." Several pricey recovery potions were inserted into the slime by Ethan.
He opened his financial report.
$540,210 are the final amount of debt remaining
Level 53 (M1) is his current player level.
Level of Partner: Chaos Core Guardian (Level 50)
Ethan gazed out the window at the never-ending line of novice players.
"Everyone is aware that the content exists. We have the Legendary Ember spike fragment and we continue to use Level 20 equipment. We need to locate an blacksmith for a good gear for high level zones".
He was aware of the great risk involved in looking for an expert. He did not want to tell the average craftsman where the Fragment came from. He required a Master.
Ethan started looking through the city's public records and old archives which were the storehouse of true professional reputations, rumors and lore. The common artisan stalls went unnoticed by him. He was searching for a name that only those in positions of authority.
He looked through the documents for a master who dealt with legendary elements and created defense. Cross-referencing old guild ledgers with contemporary realm rumors made the search extremely slow.
"Aethelheim," Ethan said. "We must get to Aethelheim. The Blacksmith is needed".
He glanced at the Fragment and Anchor. The plan's next step was obvious go to the elite capital city and locate this renowned blacksmith. He was unaware that the blacksmith was already tracking the fragment to him.