Blacksmith of the Apocalypse

In the end, the hole in the wall was not a big deal, since Karina was with them to repair it in a jiffy. The ruby on the other hand had been a little cracked and Joannia wasn't able to get anything useful out of it in the immediate time, if at all. They may have lost a great source of info, but it was still better than that thing escaping.

Seth had also had her swear not to power up any parts of the mech anymore and only learn from taking it apart. Although this way of research would take much longer than "switch it on and see what it does", but it was better than risking another ruby situation.

After the shock in the early evening, things started calming down again. Originally, they would have been tense, because they didn't know the plans of the enemy, but Mary's people finally had a breakthrough. After finding some clues, they had apprehended Adam Clarke and, managed to make him talk.

He was really part of what was left of The Scene. Unfortunately, he was just a small fish, at least in what was left of the organization. At the time of their fall, he wasn't even high enough to receive the immortal serum and now he was used as a pawn. As such he didn't know the whole plan, but they knew enough to prepare.

The more concerning part of the information he gave them, was that a demon had gotten hold of a vial of the serum. If the serum could already turn a normal huma into something aching to a demon, that grew stronger by absorbing souls, what would it do to a demon, whose nature it was to absorb souls and grow stronger?

Of course, there was also the question of the identity of that demon, however, this had to wait. Currently, they were just glad to know, that the night would be calm. Or at least, that any commotions tonight, would not be caused by the big player…

...

"I'm really sorry..." the dragon knight apologized.

Caleb was quite embarrassed, having to visit the medical wing before he even got to star in his first fight. Having to visit to have his hungover and injuries from a bar fight treated made it even more shameful. He kept apologizing to the healer, as his face turned redder and redder.

It all started because he wanted to cheer up Polter and invited him for a drink... somehow their bar tour ended in a mass brawl that enveloped half of the Pythian Village's party mile. He had no recollection of how things escalated this far...Yet, it was a glorious fight. It had been a long time since he beat someone up. Of course, he would never voice those thoughts out loud. Being too violent wasn't good for the image.

"Stop apologizing already. This place is meant for us, so just let them do their work. You just thank them honestly afterward," Polter admonished him. The dwarf was still drunk. He had kept drinking even during the brawl, bludgeoning people with his tankard left and right. He was yet to be hit by the sobering magic of the healers.

"Last night was really a great poltern, " Caleb silently thought to himself, remembering some of these scenes. At least the dwarf seemed to have brightened up after letting it all out in the night. Caleb grinned unknowingly, prompting Polter to give him a silent nod of approval. He also thought it was a glorious night.

"I heard you guys had fun last night..." a serious voice cut through the jolly atmosphere between the two. A tall, attractive woman with a well-toned body stood in the door to the medical wing. Caleb had seen her among the people of Minas Mar before.

"Monique, what brings you here?" Polter asked, his voice sobering up without the power of magic. Polter hurriedly got up, clumsily trying to wipe the grumps and chunks of yesterday's excess out of his beard.

"No need to pretend now, Polter. I know yesterday was a bad day, but did you guys have to demolish five bars and a tea house? What were you even doing in that tea house, for god's sake?" she asked annoyed.

It seemed like the crimes laid bare before the blonde vixen and judging by her mood, she was the one who had to deal with the aftermath. Caleb felt even more guilty than before.

"I'm sorry."

But it wasn't Caleb who apologized first, but Polter readily gave in and apologized, nervously turning his tankard in his hands. He couldn't remember ever seeing Polter act this respectfully toward somebody.

"M-me too," he hurriedly apologized along with the dwarf. He couldn't his heart beating faster, seeing her slightly angry gaze as she looked at them. Had he always been someone like this? No, no this was special. Could it be?

Her fair face, the well-trained body, the golden hair glittering in the white lamp lights.

"Hey, is something wrong? We can't have you dazing off right before the fight. You are lucky we didn't disqualify you for the shit you stirred," Monique called the dragon knight back to reality. Right, this wasn't the time. The only reason he had a healer cure his hangover was because his fight would start in less than 30 minutes.

"Everything's okay, I'm ready," Caleb hurriedly answered hair, breaking away from his suddenly developing crush. He jumped off the bed, dusting off his clothes, trying to show that he was okay. Caleb may have tried to look cool, but there was no overcoming the ripped and dirty clothes, that were covered in all the fluids of a bar fight.

Monique only glared at him for a moment.

"Alright, then go to your room and get yourself ready for the match," she simply said and left the medical wing. Caleb's eyes traced her until she was out the door. he even kept looking at the door until he felt an uncomfortably penetrating stare drilling into the side of his head.

Polter was looking at him...intensely.

"Who would have thought that Caleb, the great Dragon Knight known for his various exploits, would fall in love at some point in time," the dwarf mocked when he finally got his attention.

"Hng..." Caleb groaned. He couldn't even say anything in his defense. He had enjoyed the standing his class and power brought. He had many women, but this time, it was different. Maybe this time it was really...

"Let me warn you. Monique is not someone you should try to fool around with. Seth values her highly and she is more than capable to wring the life out of some little manwhore that tries to play with her," Polter cautioned him honestly.

"You know she's over lv.150 and she is a Chosen of Athene, you should have heard about what kind of people Athene would choose."

On second thought, maybe it was nothing...Just a flight of fancy, yeah. Nothing to risk his life over.

"I think will go get ready for the fight now," he said and went to the door.

"Yeah, you should. I will cheer for you from the stands," Polter gave his farewell, before Caleb left the medical wing, meeting the staff that brought him to his room. Polter was right, it wasn't time to look for women, he had to concentrate on his fight.

Still. Although he had pushed it away for now, a tiny seed had burrowed itself deep in Caleb's heart.

...

"Welcome back everyone, to the second day of the Pythian Games' Martial Tournament. Today we will see the last five matches of the first round before we go into the second round."

Umi Kaldrops was already busy in the arena, greeting the audience. Caleb, standing at ready rolled his shoulders. His equipment was repaired, his body had recovered and Wyvern, his

mount was in peak condition.

He used these last few minutes before the fight to get into the right mindset and down several potion cocktails. He had to win so he had the chance to avenge Polter.