Master Of None

Walker was reveling in the fact that there was another set of topics that the dwarves and elves could come together to bond over. It was hard to believe that they would just be able to over the spirit forging since this had caused them tension in the past. Even more, Walker was thinking that runes would be a very good topic to discuss. The dwarves used them for armors and learned them to bring in mana to the gear. The elves used them from their natural experience and used them in a similar way. 

Midnight was smelling the air continuously making Walked understand that there were elemental mana crystals in the next room. She had a nose for the things she liked to snack on and he wasn't fully sure if it was just a way for her to sense mana or if she really smalled them. 

"This room may not be as interesting as monster eggs, but these are the elemental mana crystals the kingdoms have mined or traded for. We hold on to the rarest and highest tiers so that we can use them for important forging. Many of the golems and unique gear made need dual elemental crystals." This was an interesting fact for Walker to learn. 

"I see that there is a lot of steam used so would it make sense that there are a lot of the water and fire dual elemental mana crystals used?" The elder nodded his head in response to Walkers' assumption. He was glad to see that the intuitive strength of this hero was strong enough to put all the pieces together without explanation. 

"Midnight, remember not to eat anything without the elder giving you permission." Walker saw Midnight try and rush ahead and quickly compose herself after his words. She was getting too excited about the potential of food and couldn't hide it from anyone. 

"She has a taste for elemental mana crystals already? I thought that would come when she got older. Maybe it makes sense, she does have very well developed scales." The elder was looking closely at Midnight's scales which she began to proudly show off. 

"I have only see earth dragons before. The ones that visit us occasionally are used to being underground. Those from the mountains usually prefer the sky to a degree. It has only been a few decades since one last visited but I will remember them every time. The swords we crafted for the golems to wield. The hammers we made." The dwarf speaking highly of dragons completely distracted Midnight. 

"Midnight definitely would like to hear more about the visits. She hasn't been able to meet many of her own species and it makes her curious about them." Walker explained the piercing gaze that Midnight was giving the elder bringing the elder to laugh heartily. 

"Well, stories do I have to tell. I used to be a lot more of a gear head than I am now. I nearly picked a fight with a dragon once. It was the strangest dragon I have ever seen. It was an earth dragon but its' scales were all green. At first, I thought it had weird scales and in a heat illness I said it looked like tarnished silver."

The elder paused for dramatic effect, "Next thing I know there are green flames around me and the dragon is proclaiming itself as an emerald dragon. It had eaten enough emeralds that its' scales became emerald. With the light from its 'flames, we were all able to see the truth. Go figure that very dragon was here to help me forge an emerald sword for its' mother." The elder was looking back at his younger self in wonder. 

"Heat illness?" Walker was uncertain of what kind of illness heat illness was since he had never heard of it.

"I forget you aren't a smith or crafter. Most blacksmiths will fall prey to heat illness if they aren't careful. Lack of water and some excessive heat are the main causes of a smith becoming ill. They will act almost drunk as their brain becomes too hot. It has taken some of the best forge masters to their beds for weeks." Shaking his head the elder walked in to the opened room of crystals.

The rainbow of elemental mana crystals made Walker speechless. He could feel the density of elemental mna coming from them and was overwhelmed. Meanwhile, the elder was still speaking unaffected by the sight he had seen many times in his life. "The emerald dragon eventually forgave me for my comment since I had worked hard enough for it to earn some respect. The emerald sword was going to be ceremonial for his mother to symbolize his respect for her."

"He later explained to the naive younger me that an ancient dragon like his mother was able to change in to two different forms. Of course, I was amazed at the time. I already thought a dragon to be spectacular. But hearing that they could take on a humanoid form similar to a demi-human, well, it was a lot for me to handle at the time. It also explained why a dragon would be interested in a sword." 

Walker had also heard this and nodded along since he was still trying to find the words to speak about the elemental mana crystals he saw. There weren't just a few. If he could count them the entire large room housed thousands. Not just this but they were some of the highest quality he had ever seen in his life. 

"You can have free rein over the lower tier crystals. We bring those in by the hundred if not thousands each day. Just leave the mid tier and high tier for those who will forge with them." The elder spoke to Midnight who eagerly rushed off from where she had stood listening to the elder about the emerald dragons. Her hunger had won out. 

…..

….