The storm had passed, leaving the village streets glistening with puddles and the fresh scent of rain. Hunnt wasted no time. He grabbed his bag and hurried toward Coerl's forge, determination lighting his steps. Pyro padded alongside, tail flicking with excitement, claws clicking softly on the wet cobblestones. The little Felyne's eyes gleamed with anticipation, already imagining the moment he could test the weapon Hunnt had designed for him.
Coerl was at the forge, stoking the bellows and examining the fire with a careful eye. He looked up as Hunnt approached, surprise softening into curiosity.
"Morning, lad! You're eager today," Coerl said, his deep voice carrying across the open space of the forge.
"Yes, sir," Hunnt replied, breathless from the run. "I want to forge weapons… for me and my companions. I've drawn the designs, and I want to make them real."
Coerl's eyebrows shot upward. "Weapons, lad? For you and… your friends?"
Hunnt nodded, glancing at Pyro, who let out a soft, excited chirp. "Yes. I've thought carefully. Each weapon will fit its wielder perfectly."
Coerl's expression shifted from surprise to delight. "Well… that's the spirit! Very well. I'll leave you to it—show me what you can do."
---
Hunnt set to work immediately. The orange glow of the furnace reflected in his focused eyes as he laid out his tools and sketches on the workbench. Sparks flew as the first steel began to take shape, each hammer strike deliberate, precise. He moved fluidly, forming the gauntlet for his fist-style combat while occasionally glancing at the small, pristine SnS blueprint for Pyro.
Pyro watched with rapt attention. Unlike earlier, this time he wasn't just observing Hunnt's process; he padded closer, sniffing the freshly forged steel, swishing his tail in excitement. Though he wouldn't touch the real weapon yet, he practiced motions in the air, swiping, jabbing, and spinning with imaginary attacks, mimicking what he would do once his SnS was complete.
Hours passed in a rhythmic dance of hammering, heating, and shaping. Hunnt alternated between his gauntlet and the steel pieces that would become Pyro's SnS, checking weight, balance, and edges. Pyro never left his side, jumping onto low tables, leaping between crates, and practicing precise strikes and blocks with imaginary opponents. Even in silence, the Felyne's movements echoed the rhythm of Hunnt's hammering, as though the two were already in sync.
Finally, as the sun peeked through the cleared sky, Hunnt laid out three completed pieces on the workbench: his gauntlet, Corwin's hammer, and a small, sleek SnS perfectly scaled for Pyro's paws.
Pyro's golden eyes widened. He pawed at the weapon, swishing the blade lightly in the air as if testing it, ears flicking with excitement. Hunnt grinned. "Patience, Pyro. Soon, you'll swing for real, but first, let's make sure it fits perfectly."
Coerl stepped closer, his gaze sharp and approving. "I see… a SnS for the Felyne, a hammer for Corwin, and a gauntlet for you. Ingenious, lad. This… is beyond anything I expected. Every piece looks like it was meant to fit its wielder, not just in hand but in spirit."
Hunnt nodded. "I designed each for their strengths. Pyro's quick and precise—this SnS will let him strike and defend without losing agility. Corwin's strong but needs balance—the hammer will let him hit hard without wasting energy. And my gauntlet… it's my fists, refined and reinforced."
Coerl's eyes gleamed with admiration. "Remarkable. And if you want… I can teach you to integrate monster materials. Bones, scales, claws… the very essence of the creatures you fight. These weapons could grow even stronger. But for now, the base forms are perfect."
Pyro twirled the SnS in the air, testing its weight, imagining spins, jabs, and blocks. His tail flicked with satisfaction. Hunnt chuckled, ruffling the little Felyne's fur. "Soon, Pyro, you'll fight alongside me and Corwin. Every strike, every block—you'll be unstoppable."
The forge hummed with energy as Hunnt, Pyro, and Coerl stood together. Sparks from the workbench glimmered like fireflies in the fading sunlight. The weapons were no longer just sketches—they were real, tangible, and perfectly suited to their wielders. And as Pyro practiced strikes with his new SnS, Hunnt felt the first rush of anticipation for the trials to come.
The path ahead was long, filled with crafting, testing, and refining, but the future was bright. Together, they would forge more than weapons—they would forge skill, teamwork, and power. And soon, every swing, jab, and punch would carry the mark of their unity.