Forge and Steel

Hephaistos Familia Residence, Hephaistos' Personal Office.

"I can't believe I actually accepted his request… I'm really stupid," murmured Hephaistos, burying her head on her desk with a dejected air. Ever since the meeting with the Loki Familia two days ago, she hadn't been able to shake off a gnawing feeling of regret.

"It's all that idiot's smile's fault!" she protested, frowning as her face filled with resentment at the memory of her son's confident smile. With a frustrated grimace, she sank even further onto the desk. She knew she'd been swayed, but that didn't make the remorse any easier to bear.

She had sworn to stay out of adventurers' direct dangers, focusing only on forging the weapons and tools that supported them from the rear. But here she was, agreeing to send her two most important people to the battlefield. The thought of Pyrion and Tsubaki facing a threat as terrifying as Alfia and Zald was like a weight pressing on her chest.

"Ughh, what am I supposed to do now? When the time comes, my little Pyr will have to face those two terrible catastrophes," she muttered, disheartened, burying her face even further into the desk. For the first time in a long time, Hephaistos felt a strange mix of frustration and anxiety; she even experienced the temptation to let herself cry, something that hadn't happened in ages.

"If anything were to happen to him... I..." Hephaistos didn't finish the sentence, as just the thought of something happening to either of them made her chest feel terribly heavy. Her words were stifled in the air, while a fear washed over her in a way she rarely experienced.

For a moment, she recalled Pyrion as a child, his determination to learn, that spark in his eyes when he spoke of his dreams, the absolute commitment he put into each weapon he forged alongside her.

He had always been so strong, but... for Hephaistos, he was still her "little Pyr," and the idea of him facing those monsters made her doubt every decision she had made up to this point.

With a long, heavy sigh, Hephaistos forced herself to calm down and regain her composure. "I am his goddess… he believes in me, and I can't allow myself to fall into these kinds of doubts." Although the weight of worry still pressed on her chest, she slowly straightened up, determined. She knew Pyrion and Tsubaki were strong, capable, and wouldn't fall easily.

"For now, I can only help them in my own way," she murmured, lifting her face from the desk. Her gaze shifted to the door across the room, where her personal workshop resided. She knew that if there was any way to support Pyrion and Tsubaki, it was by doing what she did best: forging.

"I may not be able to be with you personally," she murmured with a determined voice, "but at the very least, I'll build you the best weapon I can."

With renewed determination, Hephaistos stood up without hesitation and walked toward her workshop, each step firmer than the last. She was ready to create a weapon that would carry the strength of her own resolve, a tool that, though it couldn't accompany them in body, would be her way of protecting them from afar.

…

Meanwhile, Pyrion, oblivious to the inner conflicts he had caused his goddess, was in the main store of the Hephaistos Familia, enjoying the moment.

"Your work is amazing as always, Asfi-san! This vest is extraordinary," said Pyrion, flashing a big smile as he praised the beautiful blue-haired girl with glasses without reservation.

A delicate blush appeared on Asfi's pretty face, and with a soft voice, she replied, "I heard you'll be on the front lines in the next battle against the dark faction. This vest is a magic item I meticulously crafted; it has the ability to block a fatal blow... I hope it'll be of help to you."

(The current timeline is 7 years before the canon; at this time, Asfi isn't yet the captain of the Hermes Familia. It was only after her captain died during the Great Conflict that she assumed the role. Currently, she's 15 years old.)

(Note: As a reminder, Pyrion is currently 19 years old.)

Understanding the valuable protection the vest represented, Pyrion immediately said with seriousness, "This... Asfi-san, I don't think I can accept this item." As a warrior, he understood the value of such an item; if sold, it would surely be worth a fortune.

"I... I made it especially for you; I hope you'll accept it, please," Asfi said in a whisper as soft as a mosquito, lowering her head to hide her face, now completely red. She extended her hand, placing the vest in Pyrion's hands, silently hoping he would accept her gift.

"Asfi-san, I…" Pyrion wanted to refuse the vest again, but seeing Asfi's two hands trembling slightly, he ultimately couldn't bring himself to reject her again.

"I'll accept it, however, it's impossible for me not to give you something in return." In a firm voice, Pyrion didn't wait for Asfi to say anything else; he immediately reached into his Haori.

"No, it's not necessary!" Asfi waved both hands anxiously, trying to prevent Pyrion from giving her something in return, but he didn't listen in the slightest.

A second later, Pyrion pulled out a dagger from his Haori. The dagger, silver with a gold hilt, was finely detailed, and its edge seemed capable of cutting anything with just a glance. The weapon emanated an imposing and sacred presence.

"This dagger is one of my best works; I usually carry it with me in case of unexpected conflicts," Pyrion said with a smile, extending the dagger to Asfi. "Take it. If you don't accept it, I won't accept your vest."

Asfi looked at him with wide eyes, surprised by the magnitude of the gesture. Her heart raced as her hands trembled, but, faced with Pyrion's firm voice, she finally gave in. She took the dagger gently, feeling its weight, and a soft sigh escaped her lips.

"...Thank you, Pyrion-san," she murmured, embarrassed as she caressed the precious dagger with a bright smile.

"HAHAHA! By the way, there's no need to use honorifics with me. After all, we're so close; you can call me Pyrion, and I'll call you Asfi as well." With a laugh, Pyrion, who wasn't very aware of personal space, gently placed his hand on Asfi's shoulder.

Asfi, still holding the dagger gently, blushed deeply upon hearing Pyrion's words. The gentle touch on her shoulder made her heart beat so fast that she almost feared he could hear it.

"He said we're very close…" Wildly pondering over Pyrion's words, Asfi blushed again and felt so happy that she wanted to jump.

"Hehe, by the way, Asfi, a juice shop recently opened nearby. Would you like to go visit it with me?" With an energetic smile, Pyrion warmly extended the invitation to Asfi.

"I-I'd love to!" Not willing to miss the opportunity, Asfi didn't hesitate for a second and accepted.

"Perfect! Then let's go, it's this way." Without wasting a second, Pyrion left the store while leading Asfi to the juice shop with a smile.

Asfi followed him with quick steps and a silly smile, clearly delighted by the invitation.

After the cute couple left the establishment, three heads popped up from behind one of the counters.

Tsubaki, who had been hiding behind one of the counters, turned to a pretty girl beside her and said, "That girl… she's totally in love with Pyrion, isn't she?"

"She definitely is, Tsubaki-sama; love seems to be overflowing from her eyes," nodded the pretty Hephaistos Familia girl, confirming Tsubaki's words.

"Oh no... my sweet Asfi has been completely stolen; there's no way to rescue her now," said the third person behind the counter, a blond god with a helpless smile on his face.

"That's right, Hermes-sama; she's beyond salvation. I suggest you don't try to pull her away from Pyrion, or she might end up abandoning you instead," Tsubaki teased Hermes with a sly smile.

"Oh no, my precious cabbage has been plundered, and there's no way to fight back." Lying on the floor with despair written on his face, Hermes felt deep sorrow. "If only I hadn't brought her here that day two years ago..."

The miserable situation made Hermes remember how his misfortune began.

Just two years ago, Hermes had taken Asfi, who hadn't been in his Familia for long, to the Hephaistos Familia to request a weapon. Hermes, who had a good relationship with Hephaistos, insisted for days until she finally agreed, allowing one of her smiths to forge Asfi's weapon.

Of course, Hermes wasn't going to pick just anyone, so he went straight to the best, choosing Pyrion to create Asfi's weapon.

At first, everything was going well; however, after Asfi met Pyrion, both hit it off immediately. Asfi, who had the heart of a craftsman, automatically clicked with Pyrion, an obsessive craftsman.

The two quickly became friends and began to exchange ideas about their own crafts.

At first, Hermes didn't mind; in fact, he even thought it was good for Asfi to have a close relationship with Pyrion, supporting their friendship. Asfi began visiting the Hephaistos residence regularly.

However, it didn't take long for concerns to arise in Hermes. When Asfi's visits to the Hephaistos familia became more frequent, Hermes, intrigued, decided to follow her one day.

In the end, using his infiltration skills, he managed to observe their meeting, and Hermes immediately noticed something was off. Asfi's attention, which had previously been focused on Pyrion's craftsmanship, had shifted. Now, most of her attention seemed to be on Pyrion himself.

Hermes didn't need to watch for long to realize the obvious: Asfi was deeply in love with the blacksmith. Her eyes practically turned into hearts every time she looked at Pyrion.

"Do you think the captain has realized Asfi's feelings, Tsubaki-sama?" asked the beautiful girl from the Hephaistos familia, casting a curious look at Tsubaki.

"I highly doubt it. That guy is completely clueless when it comes to emotional intelligence," Tsubaki sighed, shaking her head in resignation, lamenting her familia's talent when it came to love.

"Oh no, my precious daughter has fallen for an emotionally clueless idiot," hearing Tsubaki's words, Hermes sank even deeper into despair.

It's worth mentioning that Pyrion can't really be blamed too much for this. After all, whether in this life or his previous one, he has never experienced love, making it harder for him to detect Asfi's feelings.

"However, don't worry too much," Tsubaki commented, showing little concern. "Although that guy lacks experience in love, he's not completely dumb. If Asfi keeps being this obvious, he'll surely realize it sooner or later." It wasn't Pyrion's lack of understanding that worried Tsubaki, but how he would respond to Asfi's feelings once he became aware of them.

After all, the others didn't know the secret of Pyrion's race, but Tsubaki knew it well. That difference, invisible to the rest, made her question whether a relationship between Pyrion and Asfi could truly work. For someone like Pyrion, whose lifespan stretched across millennia, the brevity of Asfi's life would be a difficult burden to bear.

"Could he endure something like that?" she murmured to herself, feeling a mixture of unease and pity. Although she knew Asfi's feelings were intense, she wondered if that love could overcome such a vast obstacle.

Shaking her head with a bitter smile, Tsubaki decided to stop thinking about it. In the end, that was a path only Pyrion could walk, and he would be the one to decide whether to accept or reject Asfi's feelings, with all that choice would entail.

"All right, let's leave the romantic drama here and get back to work," said Tsubaki, breaking the reflective atmosphere with a cheerful clap. Without wasting time, she turned back to the weapons rack she had been inspecting earlier.

"Yes, Tsubaki-sama," replied the girl at the reception, standing up quickly and joining Tsubaki enthusiastically.

"Hey, you're all really cruel. No one has any sympathy for my misfortune," Hermes, who had been lying on the floor alone, felt as though his future days were dark.

…

Underground Sewers of Orario.

In the dark sewers, a group of dozens of people covered in black cloaks was planning an attack, surrounded by a sinister atmosphere.

"So it's the Hephaistos familia?" One of the hooded figures asked with some fear and excitement.

"That's right, our divine lords expect us to create as much destruction as we can at the Hephaistos familia's residence," another hooded figure, who seemed to be the leader, spoke in a deep voice.

"But… isn't there a Level 6 adventurer in the Hephaistos familia?" Another figure questioned, his tone betraying his anxiety.

"That's true. If he intervenes, we're all dead."

"I don't think this is wise, leader. With our power, facing that man would make us nothing but cannon fodder."

"Exactly! Why don't we send more forces from our faction to ensure it?" added another hooded figure, pleading.

"Yes, yes! Let's avoid it, leader—"

*Splash*

Before the last figure could finish his words, a sword swiftly cut through his head.

The sewers fell into a chilling silence. The figure who had just spoken collapsed to the ground, his head rolling into the darkness, leaving behind a crimson pool slowly spreading across the damp floor. The leader, still holding his sword, watched them with cold, emotionless eyes.

"Does anyone else have any objections?" he asked in a chilling and ruthless tone as the blade of his sword gleamed menacingly in the dim light.

Silence was the only response from the hooded figures, who looked at their ruthless leader with fear and trembling.

Satisfied with the silence, the leader smiled twistedly under his hood, barely revealing the corner of his mouth. "Don't worry too much. Your only job is to destroy as much as possible. After that, you can retreat."

"Oh! Is that so, leader? I see, then there's no problem."

"You should've said so from the start, leader. We'll take care of it."

"That's right, we just have to cause chaos. We're experts at that," the hooded figures responded, visibly relieved to know they only had to destroy and flee.

"Hehe, then I look forward to good news," the leader murmured, slightly lowering his hood to hide an expression of extreme disdain. Hehe, ¿do you really think the Hephaistos familia is a place you can enter and leave easily? I'm afraid all of you will die there miserably… but in the end, that doesn't matter at all. As long as your miserable lives can create some difficulty for that familia, I'll consider it a victory.

Beneath his hood, the leader looked at the rest of the men as if he were already contemplating corpses.