The chapter begins with Doran iing his small fe, his expression a mixture of pride and embarrassment. "So, here's the thing," he said, rubbing the back of his head awkwardly. "I don't have any materials to make the sword." Adrian groaned loudly, throwing his arms in the air. "You're a bcksmith with no materials? How does that even happen?" Doran shrugged nontly. "What I say? I've been moving around too much to gather supplies. But don't worry, I know just where to get them. We're heading to the mountai of the forest. Plenty of ore there. Some of it might even be rare!"
Li crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow at Doran. "Are you sure about this? It sounds like a lot of effort just for some ore." Drinned fidently. "Trust me, it'll be worth it. I'm going to make you the best sword you've ever seen. But I he right materials to make that happen." The group sighed collectively but began preparing for the journey. Li made a point to ensure Zora stayed behind, once again leaving stristrus with the guild receptionist. "Don't let him leave the guild," she warned, her tone firm. "Uood," the receptionist replied with a small smirk, clearly amused by the team's odd dynamics.
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As they traveled east toward the mountains, Adrian's mohtened siderably. He eagerly shared his knowledge of the region with the group. "The Eastern Peaks are famous for their deposits of iron and mithril. If we're lucky, we might even e across some moonstone or starsteel. Those are incredibly rare." Sera listened ily, her curiosity evident, while Li remained unusually quiet. Her unease was noticeable, as being without a sword left her feeling vulnerable. Doran, ever observant, noticed her disfort and offered her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, Li. We'll keep you safe. And when this is over, you'll have a sword better than any you've ever wielded." Li nodded, her fidence slightly improved by his words.
When they finally reached the base of the mountains, the team marveled at the rugged beauty of the terrain. Jagged peaks stretched high into the sky, their slopes dotted with patches of greenery and glinting rocks. Doran's eyes lit up as he sed the area. "Alright, let's get to work. Keep your eyes peeled for veins of ore. I'll know the good stuff when I see it." The group spread out, carefully expl the rocky terrain. It wasn't long before Doran's sharp eyes spotted a promising deposit. "Over here!" he called, motioning for the others to join him. Adrian ied the area and whistled appreciatively. "Nice find. That's high-quality iron for sure." The group began the borious task of mining the ore, using tools Doran had brought along. Despite the hard work, their spirits were high. But their progress was interrupted by a low rumbling sound that echoed through the mountains.
"What was that?" Sera asked, her voice tinged with worry. The rumbling grew louder, and the grouh their feet trembled slightly. Adrian's expression turned serious. "Stay alert," he warned, drawing his on. From behind a cluster of boulders, two massive ros emerged. Their t flowed faintly with magical energy, and their heavy footsteps sent small rocks tumbling down the slopes. Without hesitation, the golems charged at the group, their movements slow but undeniably powerful. Adrian quickly took and. "Sera, stay bad use ranged magic. Doran, you're with me up front. Protect Li at all costs!" The battle began in ear. Adrian ehe first golem, skillfully dodging its heavy swings and striking at its legs in an attempt to slow it down. Doran, wielding his ented hammer, charged at the sed golem with a fierce battle cry. His first strike nded squarely on the golem's chest, creating a web of cracks across its rocky surface. Sera ted a spell from a safe distance, ung a barrage of fireballs at the golems. The magical fmes weakehe creatures but didn't stop them entirely. The golems' resilience was formidable, and their glowing forms seemed to absorb some of the damage. One of the golems turs attention to Li, who was unarmed and uo fight back. She darted to the side, narrowly avoiding a massive fist that smashed into the ground where she'd been standing. Doran saw her peril and acted swiftly. With a powerful swing of his hammer, he created a shockwave that khe golem off bance. "Stay behind me!" he shouted, positioning himself as a shield between Li and the golem. The group's coordination improved as the battle progressed. Adrian and Doran worked together seamlessly, keeping the golems distracted while Sera prepared a more powerful spell. With a final t, she unleashed an explosion of magical energy that shattered the first golem into pieces. The sed golem, weakened and outnumbered, was finished off by a bined assault from Adrian and Doran.
Panting but victorious, the team regrouped. "That was intense," Adrian said, wiping sweat from his brow. Drinned, his energy seemingly undiminished. "Nothing like a good fight to make the day iing. Now, let's grab the rest of that ore and head back." With enough materials collected, the team made their way back to town.
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Doran wasted no time getting to work in his fe. Over the week, he poured all his skill and passion into crafting a sword worthy of Li. The sound of hammer oal echoed through the fe day and night as he worked tirelessly, his determination unwavering. Doran had never shared his story with a was a deeply personal part of his past, ohat fueled his determination te his own path. As he worked on Li's sword, he felt a sense of e to his father, as though he was carrying on his lega his own way.
Finally, after days of relentless effort, the sword was plete. Doran emerged from the fe, holding the gleaming on in his hands. The bde erfectly banced, its surface etched with intricate designs that shimmered faintly in the light. "Here you go," Doran said, presenting the sword to Li. "It's not just a on, it's a promise that we've got your back." Li accepted the sword, her eyes shining with gratitude. She gave it a few test swings, marveling at its craftsmanship. "Thank you, Doran. It's perfect." The team cheered as Li rejoiheir ranks, her fidence restored. Together, they felt more uhan ever, ready to face whatever challenges y ahead.
