Getting the forge hot enough was actually really damn tiring.
How many hours have I been at it at this point?
They kept tossing in this special wood that burned hot. Not only that, but Scáthach and I had both been adding in our own fire to increase the hit. Of course, I couldn't let up on the bellows, making sure the flames never died down.
"We're almost ready." Scáthach noted.
"Aye, I think the same." Eorlund agreed.
I couldn't tell at all.
Luckily, the furnace was big enough to handle a piece of ore this big; chopping it up into smaller pieces would have had its own difficulties.
Not that it was impossible; I'm sure I could have just asked Meridia to do that part.
"Students don't stop." She used metal prongs to lift up the big chunk of Vibranium.
It was definitely awkward by the look of things; surely it wasn't how things should have normally gone, but they were improvising.
There was a large crashing sound behind us as Eorlund unceremoniously pulled out a big stone-like pot that had a bunch of other stuff on top of it.
"This should work well." He grunted. "Made from special volcano rock, doesn't melt even in magma."
"Why do you have a crucible that size?" I asked because I was sure that finding a crucible to handle a piece of Vibranium this size was going to be annoying.
"Boy, do you think Ebony is cheap? When I get a piece of Ebony, I ain't taking the chance of breaking it into pieces to smelt."
…fair, I guess.
I suppose you wouldn't even want to potentially miss even a sliver of Ebony that might break off and go flying if you're trying to grind it into more manageable pieces.
Still, he hefted the giant pot-like crucible up, and Scáthach dropped the big piece of Vibranium in, but the dimensions of the ore made it an awkward fit, poking out a lot over the top.
Oh well, it would still fit.
I continued to keep the temperature up, and as the vibranium was put into the furnace, I think I faintly felt something pulsing off the forge.
Like it was working overtime to smelt this stuff.
Just as he said, this Forge was definitely not normal.
It was not a fast process.
The two of them continuously shouted at each other—not angrily, but like two professionals who knew what they were doing.
Vibranium was not an easy metal to smelt.
Continuous temperature adjustment was just the most basic.
Scáthach even started adding her own flames more directly with the help of runes she quickly drew on the outside, temporary as they may be.
After what felt like hours, eventually, the vibranium began to melt.
It had a strange look to it in a more liquid form.
The sheen to it became almost like mercury.
Usually, you would pour it into a mold to get a shape and begin to hammer it after cooling, but this wasn't exactly a normal forging attempt.
"Student, keep the heat up; we're going to need the forge hot." She walked over to pick up Greed.
"This metal is strange; we're going to need to work it, even if we aren't reforging the darn thing." He agreed.
She dipped Greed into the crucible of molten Vibranium, quickly pulling it out and dipping it into a quench.
Before the steam even stopped wafting off it, she laid it across an anvil, and they both picked up hammers, beating into it rhythmically.
I couldn't see much of what was happening.
They knew that the Sword had properties to absorb things to improve it, so I wasn't questioning their expertise here. Perhaps, they just instinctively knew that the best bet was to hammer it in to expedite the process.
The repetitions followed, soaking it in the molten metal, hammering it into the blade.
It seemed like the Blade was taking it as the Vibranium gradually disappeared.
Probably about nine tenths of it was gone as they quenched it one last time.
The steam dissipated, and the oil that was used to quench the heat had slowly dripped off, leaving the sword bare again.
It was different.
The silver-like coloring to it, which had a faint green undertone, now had a different, more metallic hue to it.
Just a tad more glossy, maybe?
And I think the blade itself was even the tiniest bit thicker in appearance.
I finally stopped with the bellows.
I wiped away the sweat on my forehead as I went to inspect it. Scathach held it over easy to me without a word.
I swung it a few times, and I think it was even sharper now too. Its properties definitely changed; it even gave off a more dangerous feeling to my instincts.
"Perfect." I said honestly.
"Aye, a bitch and a half, but it's done." Eorlund let out a long breath. "That's some strange metal. Watcha want to do with the stuff that's left?" He jabbed his thumb at the crucible, which still had a bit left inside.
"Is it enough to make a sheath?" I asked.
"Enough and a bit." He nodded.
"This thing will need a sheath that can contain its blade without rotting away." I stated.
"I can do that too."
"You can do whatever you want with what remains; I'll pay you when I come and pick it up if that's fine."
He waved his hand. "I know you're good for it, lad."
"Student, I'll stay and assist." Scáthach spoke up. "You will need to finalize the last piece into it, and this is not a good spot to do so."
That's true.
I had no idea what would happen when I tried to integrate Fenrir's saliva.
"I'll be back in a bit."
She smiled and just nodded.
I loved her so much.
Without wasting any time, I quickly opened a portal and walked through.
[Line Break]
The ethereal lights greeted me.
The auroras that hung in the air that shaped this realm were as beautiful as ever.
I admired the sight of the Colored Rooms for just a moment until I refocused on the who instead.
Meridia was there; she was waiting.
She knew I was coming; I knew she was watching me the entire time.
I threw my arms up and ran at her for a hug.
"I missed you." I said happily.
"We barely separated." She said it dryly but was more than willing to accept the hug.
"It's been like a week since we saw each other." I corrected it.
She didn't argue, but it was just a reminder of how she perceived time differently than me. A week to her was like the blink of an eye. To her, we had just seen each other.
Though she's also not oblivious to the difference either; she knows that I also see the time differently.
She's always made an effort there.
"I missed you as well." She said gently.
Ah, I loved her so much.
"Hmm, I had a thought."
"I hesitantly ask about it." She responded.
"If you're the Lady of Light, does that make me the Lord of Light by virtue of our relationship?" I asked cheekily.
She snorted and rolled her eyes.
"Or maybe, Consort of Light."
She poked my forehead. "A consort is a title given after a wedding."
"Is that so?" I smiled.
She huffed cutely as I teased her. "Did you require assistance with a matter?"
"I just needed the space, mostly. And I wanted to see you, which I intended to do anyways, so two birds, one stone." I set the sword down. "No rush. How have you been?"
"I am the same as before."
Right, literally, the blink of an eye.
I wouldn't be surprised if she had literally spaced out for the entire week if nothing held her attention.
"Do you need me to do anything? Does anyone require your righteous justice to be dispensed? I can dress up for the part. Big glowing armor, smiting those who deserve it."
I got a small smile out of her. "You need not concern yourself with such petty things."
I took her hand into mine and sat on the edge of her throne.
It was funny, in a way. The most complicated of all my girls, yet our relationship was also probably the most simple in how we handled it. She didn't 'need' the same level of care that the others were given, just because of what she was.
But all the same, I always made an effort to let her know that I care about her, and that's what she appreciated the most.
There wasn't much I could give her, or much I could do for her.
But this is what she wanted most.
And admittedly, moments like this were some of the best of my life.
"Question."
"What?"
"Are you able to stick your hand into a Black Hole?" I asked.
She looked at me with a very blank expression. "Why do you ask?"
"Honestly, I randomly had the thought pop into my head and was curious."
She let out a sigh and poked my forehead again. "You have the strangest mind. Mortals in your position would ask me far different questions. They would ask me to reveal the secrets of creation, knowledge that could upend the fabric of reality. And this is what you decide to ask." She said with exasperation.
"You know I don't care about anything like that. As long as you're at my side, I'm happy." I gave her a smile. "While I admit that it's neat to have a powerful woman in my arms, I love Meridia, not the Lady of Light."
She let out another huff. "Foolish."
I kissed her cheek.
"To answer your question, yes, I am able to do so." She finally answered.
Heh.
"Make sure to visit Jinn often."
"She is safe; I can see her at that college of yours." She said dismissively. "
"I meant for your sake. I feel like you get along with her the most out of everyone, and I like to see you happy." I've seen both of them together, and Meridia definitely has a soft spot for Jinn.
She pursed her lips at me. "I am not a child."
"Grumpy Meridia is Grumpy."
She flicked her finger, and I was raised up into the air and flipped upside down.
"You are bold today. Daring to say something like that to my face." She said 'threateningly.'
"How about I apologize by licking your legs?" I said with complete sincerity.
"Shameless!" She scoffed and waved her hand, sending me flying across the ground.
I hit it, but something 'cushioned' my fall despite the fact that it wouldn't have hurt someone like me.
"Complete what you need to do, then leave. I have no time for your shameless appetites." She crossed her arms with a scowl.
I stared at her.
Her lips trembled slightly.
Silent stare.
"...I'll make time to visit Jinn later this evening."
Victory.
I stood up and held my hand out. Greed flew into my grip easily.
Truly, I was strong with the Force.
I should make a knockoff lightsaber and cosplay as a Jedi and mess with some normies at a convention or something.
I'll put that down for the next time I take a vacation.
I sat Greed down on the ground and took out the vial of Fenrir's saliva.
Honestly, there was no need for any real 'preparation'; either this would succeed or it wouldn't. Nothing I did would change that outcome at this point.
It had been brought up to the point where it took in Jormungandr's poison, and now the metal of the blade had been enhanced as well.
Without hesitation, I dripped the saliva onto the blade.
As soon as it made contact, it sizzled ominously.
I think I faintly saw some swirling green energy like a snake sort of lashing out under the surface of the blade.
I think the Poison of Jormungandr and Fenrir's Saliva were rejecting each other.
Just as I thought that, it pulsed.
And then, an earth-shattering howl erupted from it.
It knocked my back as I went tumbling across the ground. I nearly was sent flying off this giant chunk of rock into the void of the Colored Rooms, but thankfully Meridia caught me in time.
A faint golden shimmering shield covered me, completely protecting me from the violent reaction that still hadn't ceased.
It felt like there were ethereal images of a snake and a wolf fighting overtop.
The two chaotic energies slowly began to settle back into the sword.
They came from the same source. They were both children of Loki; even if they were antagonistic towards each other, they didn't inherently reject one another.
The shield around me disappeared as the blade finally settled.
"You've created something dangerous." Meridia noted it before I even got close. "It's no longer a mortal instrument."
Well, that sounds foreboding coming from her.
"That's good; it's not meant for mortals anyways." I hesitantly approached and gripped the handle.
Right, I could feel how dangerous it was even just holding it.
"Can you bring a Troll here?" I asked her.
She snapped her fingers, and a troll was plopped down right onto the dirt near me.
I casually threw a talisman at it that burst into ethereal chains and bound it tightly.
I didn't have many qualms about testing on Trolls; they were a menace even to the environment.
But I didn't dwell on that.
I started drawing runes all around it, casting dozens of different shielding spells. I even cast my strongest Shield of Asgard around him, albeit without me as the focal point, so it's technically a weakened version.
It was a preliminary test.
Once all the shields were up, I stood back and let Greed float up next to me.
I pointed at the troll and had Greed shoot forward at its full strength.
Vibranium as a metal was magic resistant.
Fenrir's saliva corroded and dissipated magic and divinity.
Jormungandr's poison was fatal even to gods.
Not to mention the plethora of other poisons, venoms, and debilitating concoctions I had fed the sword.
It hit the first barrier and went right through.
The second.
The third.
Its momentum didn't even waver until it hit my Shield of Asgard, and that only lasted a very brief moment before the sword lodged itself into the troll's chest.
The effect on the Troll was just as grotesque as I remembered, but that wasn't the point.
I quickly put it out of its misery.
But the test succeeded.
I now had perhaps one of the strongest anti-mage tools I've ever laid my eyes on.
Significant anti-magic properties combined with devastating poison on even a single cut from its blade.
This was not something to be used lightly.
But more specifically, it was made for one person in mind.
The anger I had for him still hadn't abated. Seeing Artoria die in my arms would not be something that would ever disappear from my mind. Not to mention everything else he had done. His harm to Olga, his harm to Jeanne, and the many other people I knew.
I don't know if there was ever an entity that I wanted to kill as much as this.
It was enough that I created this…thing in my hands.
I would have never made something like this otherwise.
I put the sword down because I didn't want to drown in my negative emotions right now.
Rather, I walked over to Meridia instead and sat back down next to her. "Do you mind if I stay with you for a bit?"
"You are allowed here as long as you desire." She said, despite her earlier words to 'get out.'
One day, I was going to figure out how to have a child with her.
[line break]
The sun was starting to set as I returned to the forge.
The fires of it had died down, cooled for the day.
Scáthach and Eorlund were sitting there, chatting and drinking.
They noticed my return as soon as I stepped out. And wordlessly, Scáthach grabbed something and threw it at me.
I caught it, eyeing it curiously.
The sheath for my sword.
It was, of course, very well made.
I took Greed and carefully slid it inside its new home, and it fit like a glove.
And like that, Greed was complete.
One of my most devastating weapons was 'finished.' That's not to say I couldn't add more to it later on, but I didn't have to run around about it intentionally from this point forward.
They both looked relieved that Greed fit into it, like knowing the job was done for them too.
"It seems you succeed as well, student." Scáthach noticed my attitude, it seems.
"The Sword is finished for now." I nodded.
She knew what it was and what it was meant for. It's not like I kept secrets from any of my girls.
"Lad, this is for you too." Eorlund tossed me something else.
I caught a dagger, sheathed as well. Though this sheath wasn't made of Vibranium but regular steel. Pulling the dagger free, I quickly noticed that it was made of vibranium.
"Don't you want to keep this? I said you could do whatever you wanted with what was left."
He shrugged. "A weapon is meant to be used. Use it, or give it to someone to use it. I'm a smith, boy; I don't collect weapons just to hang on my wall."
I didn't have much use for it, so I might just give it to someone else. I had a thought, but for now, I'll just store it away.
Thankfully, the Vibranium Sheath was keeping Greed properly contained, so I didn't worry and stored it away as well.
Eorlund got up, stretching his back. "I'm going to bed; you young'uns do what you want."
"Hang on, your payment." I quickly tossed him a bag of gold.
He didn't even check it; he just grabbed it and headed home with a casual wave.
"He's a good guy."
Scáthach nodded. "The people here are an honest one. I very much enjoy it."
"Speaking of honest people. Want to go get drunk with the Campions and Thorum?" I offered.
A big grin quickly grew on her face. "Student, you know the way to this Scathach's heart."
She grabbed my arm affectionately.
It was rare for her to take the initiative.
She was very clearly in a good mood.
As we left the forge, I checked my Kaleidophone for any message just in case, before I became indisposed for the night, and I was going to let everyone know as well.
"Hmm."
"Is something the matter, student?"
"Venelana sent me a message, two messages. She asked if she could buy a few of my 'best' Health Potions." Emphasis on the 'best.' "She says it's for her daughter. Her daughter has that rating game thing next week to decide her marriage."
"She is considerate, telling you the reason for the purchase."
I hadn't considered that.
She's right; Venelana intentionally told me what it was for, not hiding anything. "She knows I wouldn't reject her, right?"
"She knows, just as she tells you the reason. Trust is built from both sides, student." She reached up and gently pinched my cheek. "She cares for you properly."
After the last time I met Rias, I suppose…. I let go of a bit of my misplaced 'anger' on her. Though, maybe anger wasn't the right word. Annoyance? Disdain?
I don't know what my emotions were.
But they were alleviated a bit.
And I said I would try to be a bit better after I went off on her and her friends.
That was an asshole move on my part.
I have no problem being an asshole to people who deserve it, but that was unprompted and undeserved.
I still feel bad.
I'll deliver them for free as an apology.
"And what was the other matter?" She asked.
"She asked me if I wouldn't mind meeting a distant relative." I replied. "No other information." I shrugged. "The fact that she's asking means that I think she wants me to? I don't mind."
I didn't care for Devils or my 'family' from that side for the most part, but if Venelana, knowing my stance, asks me? Well, then it was probably something important.
"I'll ask her about the details tomorrow."
Oh well, I'll think about the other stuff later.
"Come, student. You shall see why this Scáthach is called the Lord of Spirits."
Her excitement was a bit infectious.
[Line Break]
A/N
'Mysterious relative'—who could it be!? :V
Rias's Rating Game is happening soon too. Finishing up Greed and some other smaller loose ends, then moving on to some DxD stuff proper.
If you want to read 10 chapters ahead or support me, visit my p.a.t.r.e.o.n.c.o.m / astoryforone
I also have a boosty if you can't use the above under the same name.