System Change

Chapter 280: To Bribe a Smith

Settling the people down turned out to be quite easy. Seemingly working together, Blitz let out an earth shattering roar, and a transparent wave pulsed out from Lyra. The roar caused all the party members to center their gazes on Blitz, while the pulse of magic used by Lyra momentarily silenced the area.

From there, both Avery and Edgar appeared on the top of their dragons, which a few people began to notice. Once a few people noticed the two, it didnt take long for everyone else to see them as well. Everyone stood stock-still, looking at what they finally figured out was the trial team back from their mission.

As you can see, Edgar started. We have finished the trial.

That seemed to be an understatement, as it set off another round of clamoring from most of the party members. Derek rolled his eyes and looked out through the small crowd of people, searching for someone in particular. Soon, his eyes found Tyron, who was hammering away on something a good distance away from the trial orbs.

It didnt seem like the smith was affected by the appearance of the wyverns. Or, at least, if he was, he quickly figured out what was going on and got back to his smithing.

Derek tuned Edgars explanations to the party out and walked away from the small gathering toward Tyron. Hed let the prince deal with everything. For now, he had some urgent matters to attend to. All of which included the smith.

Derek soon arrived at the area the smith had made his temporary workplace in. Just as he respected Brandis smithing when she was working, he waited for Tyron to finish what he was doing and look up questioningly.

If you dont mind, Id like you to follow me away from everyone and everything. I think I have some things that may interest you, Derek said.

Dragon materials? Tryon asked and nodded in the direction of Lyra, Blitz, and Jaspers drake that had yet to be formally named.

Something like that, Derek confirmed.

Im definitely interested, Tyron said, flipping his hand, and the blade he was working on disappeared into his storage.

If you dont mind, you may want to bring your temporary workstation with you, Derek suggested.

Tyron shrugged and stored everything inside one of his rings. He didnt show much emotion on his face, even with the allure of material acquired from dragonkin. It all fit his stoic character, Derek noted. Even with his spar against Avery, the smith had remained mostly calm and was even composed in admitting his defeat. Though he hadnt been able to keep himself from quipping back at Avery that he was only a blacksmith.

It wasnt long before Derek and the smith were far away from their camp. Derek even chose to go further away from everyone than they had for the spars. Tyron was the only person he had decided to let in on everything that had happened during the second trial.

Derek surveyed the surrounding area before deciding it was good enough, and the two stopped running.

Okay, Derek said. First, I want to know what you can do with this. I have a few requests if you are able. With a flick of his wrist, the corpse of the death-attuned wyvern crashed onto the ground in front of them.

When they were splitting the four corpses of the wyverns Derek had chosen the death-attuned one as his. Derek, Edgar, and Avery each received a whole wyvern corps, and the fourth was split between Jasper and Tara, even though they tried to turn it down. Derek, Edgar, and Avery had chosen to keep the overwhelming majority of the lesser dragonkin materials.

For Edgar, the material would go toward the kingdoms army and equipment. Derek wanted it for both Silvi and Brandi. Brandi would be better off with quantity of material over quality for now, and Silvi would most definitely enjoy cooking dragons for a long time. Avery seemed to just go along with everything, but Derek was sure he would be seeing dragon steaks on the menu at the Crown Restaurant in the near future.

Derek watched Tyron as he examined the wyvern. He was still serious and all business, but Derek could tell it was taking everything he had to contain himself. Finally, Tyron backed away, and Derek quickly stored the wyverns corpse. He needed to keep it as fresh as possible.

Nothings going on for a while. The princeling is busy staving off questions, then hell need to figure out the next trial. Hell let us know if he needs us, Avery replied.

Uhem Tyron cleared his throat. The color had returned to his face, and Derek was sure if he was imagining it, but it seemed like there was a bit of extra heat coming off the man. So, other than the materials, which you didnt have a problem showing me back when we were closer to the camp, what else is there? Why did we fly on that thing so far out here?

Derek smiled and turned around. He reached into the void and pulled until a huge rip appeared in the air, showing the massive door to his Time Prison. First, I would like some help to store some of the materials so they wont spoil.

He opened the door and a strong iron smell wafted over the trio and Lyra. The amount of blood and bodies inside his Time Prison was staggering. We ran out of storage containers.

I can see that, Tyron said with a crooked smile. Give me a few minutes. With that, the smith stepped inside and began filling up his storage rings with carcasses of dragonkin. It took him fifteen minutes to clear out the entire lobby, and that was with him only having to touch a corpse to send it into the ring.

Tyron came out of the Time Prison with over a dozen newly full storage rings. What about the cells? Are there more materials inside?

Derek looked at Avery, and they smiled at each other. Well get to that later, Derek answered. First, what do you think about dismantling all the materials and splitting everything up into corresponding storage rings?

Tyron narrowed his eyes and shot a look at Derek. You want me, one of, if not the best blacksmith in the kingdom, maybe even the continent, to spend who knows how much time dismantling hundreds of enormous beasts in a dungeon with trials that award rewards like this?

Yes? Derek grinned.

You know thats grunt work.

I plan on helping, Derek said. I need to get my Dismantle skill leveled.

What do I get out of it? Tyron questioned.

Materials?

I think Im already going to be getting plenty of materials when all of you ask me to craft you weapons and armor. I may not even need that many materials, you know? And money is no issue for me. Tyron gave Derek a toothy grin.

Nothing gets by you, huh? Derek smiled back. What did you think about Lyra? He looked at the amphithere coiled up at the side, seemingly sleeping.

Cant say Im a fan, the smith replied.

One second, Derek said, and went inside his prison. He walked over to a specific cell and placed his hand on it, increasing the speed at which the timer counted down, then walked back out.

So thats why Avery muttered and nodded.

So, what would you think about a flightless dragonkin? How would you like to bond with one? Maybe one that can easily traverse through the ground?