Mor Adeline suddenly opened her eyes wide, and in their amber light, something resembling a moonlit reflection appeared for a moment.
Her lips stretched into a slight, almost sad smile, and her voice became softer, but it still carried a sense of caring confidence.
—Perhaps we need to do something with your weapon, I can feel it. You've grown. Your strength is genuine. But your weapon... it has become lighter. In your strong hands, such lightness risks turning into an disadvantage, the thin edge will not withstand a strong blow. It will break where you will need to aim most accurately.
The word "break" was not a reproach, but a warning. I couldn't help but look at my daggers and brass knuckles, the crimson metal of the Blood Rose, and the glowing Misty Leaf.
I had noticed before that my equipment didn't behave the same way after a series of battles, as if it was responding to my aura, but now the Queen's voice confirmed my concerns.
—I thought I could handle it on my own...
Clear the floors of Adalaza, get to that very town of blacksmiths, where, by rumor, they know how to forge from chitin plates and rare ores.
This was my goal: to earn materials, improve weapons with my own hands. But I won't refuse help if it speeds up the process and saves me from the risk of fighting Nemorrino.
—Don't worry, I'll help you strengthen your weapon. Then it won't break under heavy blows, and your skills will be more effective.
The queen's words sounded like a promise and a temptation at the same time.
For me, it meant less time spent climbing floors to collect every last bit of metal and ore, and a better chance of returning alive.
But it also meant that I would be more deeply entangled in the Fairy Kingdom's obligations, trading my strength for a twist of fate and potential new conditions.
In the throne room, the branches of the luminescent willow were frozen again. The system, which was invisibly present in the world, responded with a barely noticeable notification at the edge of my field of vision:
[Offer: Ritual of Equipment Strengthening from the Queen of the Fairies]
[Accept/Decline]
The plan I had started with, which was to go to Adalaza and fight my way to the blacksmiths, suddenly had an alternative: the help of a higher power that could save my life and keep the secret of the Unique Offer.
I knew that my choice would have consequences, and that such powerful assistance was not without its own agenda.
But deep down, amidst the chill of exhaustion and the anticipation of new challenges, I felt a sense of warmth knowing that I would have the opportunity to fight with weapons that could withstand my strength, rather than relying on thin daggers.
When it came to the actual prices of weapons and equipment in Aofeadeil, it was a matter of fairness, to say the least.
In a city where almost every second player dreamed of becoming a hero, and every third player dreamed of becoming a merchant, blacksmiths and shopkeepers had long since turned their craft into a way to extract money from those who had been playing for a long time.
I had already encountered this system more than once: I knew that the prices in the shops were inflated by three or even four times.
The shopkeeper always smiled when he said the following phrase:
"You know, it's handmade, it's a rare alloy, and not everyone can afford it!"
And every time I wanted to say, "Rare? I found three of them in a chest yesterday."
But it didn't matter.
The blacksmiths held a monopoly, some controlling the supply, some buying materials directly from players at a discount and then selling the finished items at a premium.
It was a quiet but solid market where honesty was cheaper than a copper veil.
Weapons of medium rarity, such as swords, daggers, and brass knuckles, cost between 20,000 and 25,000 Veil's
For a beginner, this was a significant amount.
Even for someone like me, who had already explored several locations, the amount was still substantial.
I checked my inventory balance: after clearing the first floor of the Adalaza Anthill, I had approximately 8,000 Vail left.
And that's after we fought dozens of monsters, a mini-boss, and found several rare items.
It turned out that all our efforts were worth less than half of a good blade. It's a good business if you know how to rob with a smile, I thought as I scrolled through the trading chat.
Therefore, it would be not only foolish, but also akin to insulting fate itself, to refuse Mor Adelina's offer.
I was not just dealing with an NPC with a beautiful model and voice, but with a unique character that had not been mentioned in the forums.
Players have been searching for such meetings for years, believing in the myths of "Hidden Kingdoms" and "Invisible Quests",
But no one, no one! mentioned the Queen of the Fairies.
"Maybe I've really stumbled upon something that shouldn't exist in the open version of the game..."
I thought, but I quickly dismissed it, trying not to show my excitement.
At that moment, Mor Adelina made a subtle movement with her hand. A silvery wind swept through the hall, as if the very fabric of the air was trembling.
An ethereal copy emerged from her body, a transparent, luminous figure resembling the Queen herself, but lighter, more animated, with a smile that seemed to carry the warm light of the stars.
—My dear apprentice, if you are already recognized as a citizen of this Kingdom, you are allowed to enter my personal forge.
I knew that there were "personal forges" and "workshops" in the game, owned by legendary NPCs, but they could only be accessed through unique invitations that were rarely granted.
This was a level above guilds, above orders, and above reputation.
Such an invitation was comparable to receiving the blessing of a deity.
—But... I am not a blacksmith. I don't understand anything about crafting, and I'm even confused about the crafting system.
The ethereal copy smiled a little more gently and spread her hands, as if to part invisible curtains.
—It doesn't matter. I'm not asking you to forge. I just want you to see how a weapon is born, destined to serve only you.
For a moment, her eyes flashed with green light, and the air around her shimmered with a soft rustling sound, as if thousands of fairies were whispering in unison.
— But I am not a blacksmith too, and I have no talent for this art. However, I have an older son who possesses the Spark of Forging, a gift that is passed down in our family only once every century. He creates excellent weapons and can assist in this endeavor.