The forge of the Beaumont Manor was quiet that night, save for the rhythmic clang of steel against steel.
Lucien stood before the anvil, shirt clinging to his back from the heat, the glow of hot red metal painting his face in shades of gold and crimson.This forge… it was where he had started to feel at home.
He wanted to test his new skill, Forge Inheritance.
At first, he worked with ordinary steel, forging simple arrowheads. The results were disappointing. One failure after another. The metal cracked, mana dissipated, and the system's red message flashed again and again:
[Forge Inheritance: Failure.]
Lucien exhaled deeply, running a hand through his hair. He thought back to the first time the skill had succeeded. What did I do differently?
It wasn't the mark… nor the metal.It was him. His focus. His Ancestral Vow.
A vow, like a prayer before battle.
He closed his eyes, calmed his breathing, and began again... hammering in steady, deliberate strikes.
Clang.Clang.Clang.
Each hit echoed like a heartbeat.Lucien prayed silently as the metal took shape: May these arrows strike true. May they protect those who fight beside me.
And then...
[Forge Inheritance: Success.]
Lucien smiled faintly and invoked Appraisal.
[Appraisal Result]Forged Item: Steel Arrows (x12)Effect: Ignore basic physical defense. Penetration +1.
A quiet chuckle escaped him. "Perfect. A gift for Hassan."
He continued through the night, forging tirelessly. A simple chain for the pocket watch of Mr. Roger. A refined dagger for Léon.
Finally, Lucien turned his attention to the massive orc axe resting against the wall... the weapon of the orc leader he had slain during the breakout. He melted it down slowly, watching the darkish hue of the metal glow in the heat.
This time, he knew exactly what he wanted.He whispered a vow as the metal glowed brighter and brighter:
Cut down my enemies… whoever they are.
The strikes began anew... faster, sharper, with conviction.When the forging was done, the system's blue text appeared once more.
[Appraisal Result] AttributeDescription
Item Name Orc Cleaver
Rarity Unique (A-Class)
Passive Attribute Armor Penetration +15% (Effective against all armored targets)
Infused Active Skill [Final Severance]
Skill Effect : A single mana-concentrated strike that temporarily ignores 100% of the target's physical armor.
Constraint [Single-Use Skill] : Using [Final Severance] will critically damage the infused Mana Memory, causing the blade to be destroyed immediately after the strike.
Lucien stared at the floating blue window, stunned."An active skill… forged into a weapon?"
He turned the blade in his hands, watching the faint crimson line pulsing along the edge. Forge Inheritance had done more than he ever imagined.
It had breathed power into steel.
Even if the skill could be used only once, the result was nothing short of extraordinary.
He smiled quietly, exhaustion beginning to creep in. The forge was nearly spent, and only a small piece of metal remained.
"One last piece," he muttered.
He worked until dawn, hammering until his arms trembled and his vision blurred from fatigue. When the final spark dimmed, Lucien set down his hammer and exhaled.
And now, he would rest. And later that day, he would see his friends one last time.
A few hours later...
The guests were gathered in the manor's garden, Renan, Hassan, Clara, Romain, Léon, and Mr. Roger.Laughter filled the air as the afternoon sun warmed the stone paths.
"Hey, man! Where were you hiding?" Hassan called out as Lucien finally appeared.Lucien smiled faintly and greeted everyone. They shared drinks, talked for a while, and the atmosphere grew light and easy… until Lucien finally stood and cleared his throat.
"I'll be leaving today," he began quietly. The chatter died down. "There are things I need to verify... things I have to understand. I don't know when I'll return, but… thank you. For everything you've done for me."
He reached into his satchel and pulled out several small wrapped bundles."I also have something for each of you."
First, he handed daggers to Léon, Romain, and Clara.When Léon unwrapped his, he noticed a symbol engraved on the blade... a bow, a mage's staff, and a sword, all crossed together. He looked up at Lucien, puzzled.
Lucien smiled softly."It's so you don't forget that you're stronger together. Watch over each other."
Then, turning to Hassan, he offered a small box.Inside lay a set of finely crafted arrows.
"Whoa, they look amazing!" Hassan said, grinning wide."Use them," Lucien replied, "when things get dangerous."
As he turned, his eyes met Renan's. The man crossed his arms and chuckled."Don't worry, I wasn't expecting a gift. In fact..." he pulled out a small leather notebook and handed it to Lucien, "...this one's from me."
Lucien opened it, and his eyes widened. The pages were filled with names and addresses, contacts all around the world."These are people I trust," Renan explained. "If you ever need information, or help, they'll be there."
Lucien exhaled softly. "That makes me feel even guiltier now."Renan laughed, resting a hand on his shoulder. "Don't. Just make good use of it."
They talked for a while longer, sharing stories and quiet laughs, until the moment came to say goodbye.One by one, the guests departed. From her office window, Mira watched them through the glass... her expression unreadable.
Later, Lucien packed his few belongings. His swords. His single travel bag.Before leaving, he found Mr. Roger and handed him a small box.
"This is for you," Lucien said. Inside was a fine silver chain, a replacement for the one on Roger's old pocket watch.
"And this…" Lucien added, holding out a sealed envelope, "is for Mira. Please give it to her when you can."
Roger accepted both gifts, smiling faintly."You're alike, you know," he said quietly.
Lucien didn't reply. He simply nodded, tightening the strap on his bag.With his two swords at his side, he stepped out of the manor's gates... and this time, he didn't look back.