Dur-Khazun, Eastern Mountains – Three Days Later
The rhythmic clang of hammers echoed like thunder through the forge-halls of Dur-Khazun. Sparks danced from anvils. Molten metal hissed as it kissed ice-cooled oil. The scent of fire and steel was thick in the air — the unmistakable scent of creation.
Loid stood on the edge of a raised platform, overlooking the smithing ring below. Dwarves moved like clockwork — muscle and magic combining in every swing. A long table displayed their progress: lizardman-scaled mail, ogre-hardened war-plates, and goblin-sized plate gauntlets etched with primal runes.
Mia stood beside him, arms crossed, her golden eyes scanning each piece with a level of scrutiny only a dragon could possess.
"They've done more in three days than most humans in thirty," she murmured.
"They work with pride," Loid replied. "Pride in their craft, not in conquest."
Behind them, Forge-King Brovrun Flamebraid approached, hands blackened with soot, a tankard of ember-ale in one fist.
"You've got an eye for the forge," he grunted, gesturing to the armor. "Your monsters'll wear better gear than most armies."
Loid turned. "Then we seal our agreement?"
Brovrun's brow lowered. "No."
Mia's gaze sharpened, but Loid didn't flinch.
The dwarf king smirked. "Trade? Alliance? That takes time, boy. Trust isn't hammered in a day. But—" He raised a hand. "—I'll give you five of my kin. Finest smiths in the lower halls. Let 'em work your metal. Let 'em see what your forest breeds. If they return with honor, we'll talk about iron and oaths."
Loid nodded once. "Fair."
⸻
The Five Dwarves of Dur-Khazun
The next morning, five dwarves stood at the forest envoy's side, packs slung, tools glinting, and expressions mixed between grim and curious.
1. Grumli Embervein
• A broad-shouldered smith with soot-streaked skin and a beard dyed red with volcanic ash.
• Specialty: Weapon enchantments via heat-channeling.
• Core: Fire – Iron Rank
2. Hilda Runebrow
• Elder dwarven woman with silver runes etched into her skin like tattoos.
• Specialty: Runecrafting for armor reinforcement.
• Core: Earth – Steel Rank
3. Korrim Flatstone
• Stocky, one-eyed, with a mechanical prosthetic hand built from obsidian and copper.
• Specialty: Precision blacksmithing, gear mechanisms, monster-sized gear.
• Core: Metal (Hybrid of Earth) – Steel Rank
4. Duran Frostgut
• Pale-bearded, quiet, and often smoking a pipe. His breath chilled the air.
• Specialty: Frost tempering and chainmail resilience crafting.
• Core: Ice – Steel Rank
5. Tilda Forgeflame
• Young and sharp-tongued, carrying a hammer bigger than herself.
• Specialty: Warhammer creation and test smashing.
• Core: Fire – Steel Rank
Mia reviewed them briefly, then nodded. "They'll do."
As the gates of Dur-Khazun closed behind them, Loid turned his eyes toward the horizon.
"Let's return home."
⸻
Meanwhile — Deep Within the Elven Realm of Elandor
Moonlight poured through crystalline towers as the winds of Elandor shifted. Trees shimmered with astral essence. Floating platforms of silverwood drifted between observatories and temples.
At the heart of the Celestial Hall, a gathering of cloaked figures knelt before a throne of lightwoven roots.
Upon that throne sat High Matriarch Aelrindra Moonveil, ruler of the Elven Dynasty.
Her silver crown sparkled with stardust. Her gaze was cold, calculating, and weary from centuries of guarding balance.
To her right stood a towering figure with ethereal armor, his long golden hair tied back, and a lance forged of lunar silver strapped to his back.
Caeneth Starpiercer — the Elves' strongest warrior.
• Core Element: Light
• Core Rank: Mythril
• Known as "The Light That Strikes Once."
Their conversation was hushed, yet tense.
"So it's true," Caeneth said. "The Forest has risen. A king rules it now."
Aelrindra nodded. "Loid of Thal'Zaroth. A human raised by monsters. That alone bends prophecy."
"He leads the outcast. He could be chaos incarnate."
"Or a stabilizing force," Aelrindra murmured. "Which is why I must meet him. If he is wise, we may gain an ally. If he is not…"
She didn't finish the sentence.
Just then, a shimmer appeared by the moonstone arch. A cloaked figure emerged from a portal of silver.
Aelrindra stood. "Is it done?"
The spy bowed deeply. "Yes, Matriarch. I've returned from Vaelstrom."
"What news?" Caeneth asked.
The spy, a shadow-marked elf with inked eyes, removed a scroll from within his cloak.
"They're sending scouts. Five squads under Commander Varek Draeven. To Arkael'Tor. Their intent is clear — infiltration."
Aelrindra's jaw tightened. "And the sovereign?"
"Unaware."
She turned toward the open window and gazed east, toward the mist that covered Arkael'Tor. "Then we intervene."
Caeneth raised a brow. "Without permission?"
"We don't need permission to stop the Empire. We'll save his city. He'll grant us a meeting out of gratitude."
⸻
Thal'Zaroth – Capital Return
By the time Loid returned to Vel'Thalas, the forest had already whispered of approaching danger.
Moss sentries had detected movement. Ravens flew strange patterns. Even the dryads had begun weaving wards around the outer roots.
Loid stood atop the living wall, staring into the twilight beyond the trees.
"They're coming," Mia said.
"They don't yet realize what they're entering," Loid replied calmly.
Behind them, the Council of Clans gathered again in the Council Grove.
⸻
Council Member Cores & Ranks:
Gorthak the Bloodfist – Orc Warlord
• Core: Earth
• Rank: Gold
Zalzik Sharpgrin – Goblin Master Engineer
• Core: Fire
• Rank: Gold
Asha of the Blackflow – Lizardkin Huntmistress
• Core: Water
• Rank: Silver
Brugha Stonehide – Ogre Siege Captain
• Core: Earth
• Rank: Silver
Mia – Dragon Secretary
• Core: Flame + Astral Bloodline (Partially sealed)
• Rank: Mythril
⸻
Loid said nothing of his own Core. Not yet. Even his council had never seen it fully revealed.
They didn't need to.
His presence alone stilled the wind, bent the roots, and made the monsters kneel.
As night fell, the stars aligned over Thal'Zaroth.
Far from the capital, five squads of imperial scouts crept through the edges of the forest — silent, cloaked, armed with anti-monster glyphs.
But unknown to them, silver shadows moved between the branches.
Caeneth Starpiercer stood alone on a tree bough, watching the intruders.
He raised his hand.
The moon pulsed.
Elven blades unsheathed in silence.
⸻
Before the scouts even reached the capital's outer trees… they were gone.
Not a body left. Not a sound heard.
Just silence.
And the whisper of moonlight fleeing into the forest's depths.