Timeless Assassin

(Planet Tithia, the Forge District, Leo and Veyr's POV)

The heat hit them first.

It smacked into their faces the moment they arrived at the Forge District, thick and dry, carrying the sharp sting of smoke and molten steel as the air around them felt like it belonged inside a furnace.

Even before the dust from their teleportation hovercraft had settled, the sound of hammers pounding metal filled the space, loud and constant, as the entire district sounded like a machine that never stopped, not even for the Elders of the Cult themselves.

Flames hissed, gears spun, and half-built war machines hung from cranes like dead weight waiting to be given life.

Here, not a single worker cared for rank or robe, and even when the First Elder himself came here to visit Master Argo, the tempo of the forge never paused.

And yet, on this particular day, the clangs suddenly faded.

As the Dragon and Shadow Dragon walked through the main Foundry, the entire Forger's District held its breath.

Hammers paused mid-swing, apprentices dropped their tongs, the hiss of quenching water died mid-sizzle, and the furnaces, though still lit, seemed to dim slightly, as the learning boys pumping oxygen into the flames took a pause.

Every blacksmith within sight, from greying veterans to soot-covered novices, stepped forward from their workstations, lining the path with reverent silence, as they gazed at the two figures walking with nothing but pure faith in their eyes.

"My Lords—"

"My Lords—"

They said one after another, bowing their heads whenever Leo and Veyr passed them, as they bowed with genuine respect, even though the duo had done nothing yet to earn it.

*Step*

*Step*

The duo continued walking, until they came across a broad-shouldered man with arms like tree trunks and a beard white from both age and metal dust.

He too looked extremely pleased to see them, as a small tear formed at the edge of his eyes.

"Lord Dragon. Lord Shadow Dragon," Master Argo greeted, his voice deep and thunderous, though tinged with genuine warmth. "It's my honor to finally meet you both in person."

Leo inclined his head in return, his posture respectful yet composed, as the faintest nod crossed his features. "Likewise, Master Argo. The honor is shared."

Veyr, still somewhat flushed from the heat, echoed the gesture silently, his eyes scanning the workshop with quiet curiosity as he observed the massive suspended weapon frames with genuine awe written all over his face.

Without further pause, Leo stepped forward, cutting directly to the heart of the visit, his tone calm and precise as he began to lay out the specifications of the decoy crystal bomb they required—detailing the desired dimensions, the dummy mana signature calibration, the timing sequence for simulated detonation, and the illusion layer needed to mimic a standard Koral crystal that could fool anyone holding it with ease.

He explained each point like a man who had already tested the plan a hundred times in his head, as Argo listened without interruption, occasionally raising an eyebrow or tapping his chin, but never once doubting or questioning.

And when Leo finally finished, taking a small breath as he allowed the final measurement to hang in the air, Argo let out a low hum, nodding slowly as he ran a thick hand down his soot-covered apron.

"That's all?" he asked, not mockingly, but with the air of someone hoping for more of a challenge. "Hah. Should've asked me for something harder."

With a wave of his hand, he summoned a nearby subordinate, an eager-eyed assistant who looked barely twenty, rattled off a string of technical instructions regarding alloy layering, core wiring insulation, and illusion embedding sequences, then turned back to the Shadow Dragon with a casual shrug.

"We'll have a prototype ready in a couple hours, My Lord. This one's not difficult. Just clever." He smiled, cracking his knuckles as if he'd been waiting for something interesting to do all week.

Leo blinked once, surprised by the speed of the response, while Veyr couldn't help but let out a low whistle, clearly impressed.

"I knew the Cult's forge division was skilled," Veyr muttered under his breath, "but this is something else entirely…"

Argo only chuckled at the compliment, but before he could speak, Veyr stepped forward slightly, voice dropping into a more earnest tone, his earlier awe replaced by something heavier.

"There's one more thing, Master Argo… though I realize it's far more difficult."

The old smith tilted his head, inviting the question.

"It's about adding protection to our crafts against enemy railguns," Veyr said, frowning as he crossed his arms tightly.

"During our recent reconnaissance mission, we have found out that the enemy has created some high powered railguns that can shoot down our crafts with ease.

Without adding more defensive technology to our crafts, we will lose a lot of lives…."

He paused, letting the silence stretch for a moment, before adding, "The elders say that we must deploy in 14 days…. And although I understand, fourteen days isn't much….. Hell, I know it's nearly impossible. So if you can't—"

"Stop right there, My Lord," Argo interjected, raising a hand as he took a slow step forward, his boots crunching against loose metal shavings on the ground. "The Dragon and Shadow Dragon came to our Forger's Street themselves, that's the greatest honor of our life."

He looked straight at Veyr, then at Leo.

"I can't promise success. But if Lord Veyr himself walks into our forge and asks us for help, then rest assured we won't sleep for the next fourteen days if we must. We will try and come up with a small-scale portable shield that will at least help you deflect an additional blow or two."

His voice lowered, softer now, but with a pride that glowed beneath the soot and steel.

"Don't worry, My Lord. We at the Forgers District will always support the Dragon to the best of our abilities."

He said without hesitation, as the blacksmiths behind him nodded proudly in agreement.

They seemed fired up to help the Dragon, even if it meant running their bodies to the ground due to the tight timeline.

"Then we shall leave it in your capable hands," Leo said, before turning to Veyr, who simply nodded, eyes shining with something between gratitude and resolve, as he realized that although the elders of the cult were incompetent, the same couldn't be said about its people.

And with that, the two turned to leave, the sounds of the forge slowly returning to life behind them, hammers resuming their steady rhythm, flames roaring louder as if the fire inside had now been given a new purpose.