CH572

The morning was filled with Ben fulfilling his promises to the gods, making a few statues quickly to keep them pleased and handing them off to some of Nare’s representatives who came to pick them up before the two left for a meal and to watch the matches that were to come, with both the quarter and semifinals taking place that day for the crowd to enjoy.

Ben enjoyed it too, even if it wasn’t anywhere near the main thing he was looking forward to that day. The entire time as fights were going on right in front of him, his thoughts were on the sword. He’d definitely be able to improve it, it was simply a matter of how much, but he was feeling equal parts confident and impatient.

He just wanted to start, but that was the screams of the workaholic in him. There was no reason to leave the tournament early to do it when there was no urgent reason, and even if he’d wanted to, he wouldn’t have been able. In the end, Vela won both of his matches, making it to the final round the next day which had given him no choice but to stay for the entire thing.

That the contestant had gotten so far ended up surprising Ben a bit too. While he didn’t seem any worse than the rest of the competitors, it felt pretty obvious that Vela was being hampered by his weapon, but despite that he managed to push through both rounds, no matter how narrow the results looked and leaving him to compete in the finals the following day.

“Looks like some congrats are in order,” Ben said positively as the swordsman made his way to them. “You had some exciting matches.”

“Thank you, hopefully I’ll be able to put on an even better show tomorrow.”

“Looking forward to it, now come on. Oh wait, first take this.”

“What is it?” Vela asked as he eyed the necklace Ben gave him, not seeing the point of it.

“Dark resistance pendant so I don’t get in any trouble for dragging you through the gate. Now enough questions and daddling, I want to get started.”

Without waiting for more, Ben dragged him off through the gate, off to Anailia where the victim of his plan for fixing the sword was waiting already, the great fire spirit Insedis looking as beaten down as the last time Ben had seen him.

“So what exactly am I being forced to do?” He sighed with his head hung. When they’d asked for him only the day before his niece had made it plenty clear they weren’t actually offering him a choice, more than happy to get some of the other great spirits along with his wife to force him into it.

“Ah, I’m glad you asked buddy. I just so happened to need access to a powerful magic fire, and well, who could fit the bill more?”

“I’m sorry, you need me to act as your furnace?”

“More like my forge, it’ll be fine.”

Ben’s strategy for fixing the blade was actually rather simple when it came down to it. Since the orichalcum that the blade was made from could only be warped and damaged by magic, that meant all of the issues had to have been inflicted by magic. Adding in some consideration for the magic nullification bound to it, to him at least that implied that a certain level of power could overwhelm that effect, giving him the wiggle room he needed to work with the sword to improve its overall condition.

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It felt like flawless reasoning on his part at least, but his temporary forge seemed to have a different view.

“If you just needed a magic applied to it then earth mana should have been more than enough for your attempt.”