Anomaly of Fate
Chapter 92: A Quiet Return

Chapter 92: A Quiet Return

The carriage rolled steadily over the dirt path, the rhythmic clatter of hooves against the ground blending with the distant hum of the wind. Unlike their previous journey, where they had taken a direct route through the mountainous terrain, this time, Nico had opted for an alternate path. It wasn’t hard to guess why. The aftermath of Velren’s battle against the wyvern had left that area in ruins—landslides had scarred the mountainside, massive chunks of rock had fallen, and the once-clear road had been rendered nearly impassable. Retracing their steps would have been nothing short of a headache.

Velren sat beside Nico at the front of the carriage, with the newly acquired wakizashi resting across his lap. His fingers traced the intricate details of the scabbard, and his mind was clearly lost in thought. He had been doing this for far too long—he knew it, but he couldn’t help himself.

From the corner of his eye, Nico glanced at him before exhaling in exasperation.

"You’ve been staring at that thing for like an hour."

Velren blinked, as if only now noticing that he had an audience.

"Huh? Oh... yeah, yeah." He barely even looked up as he spoke.

How could he not be fixated on it? The thoughts that were racing through his mind were impossible to ignore. This wasn’t just any weapon—it could be a part of his Ka now, an extension of himself in battle. How would it integrate into his Vital Crest? Would it function just like his katana, seamlessly responding to his will? Or would it be different?

His katana was an extension of his Ka, the medium through which he had shaped and wielded some of his Vital Echoes. But this wakizashi... it was born from something else. Crafted from a portion of a wyvern’s heart, infused with the essence of a legendary creature. That had to mean something, right? He wasn’t sure what, exactly, but just knowing that fact already sounded awesome enough.

A weapon forged from a slain monster—a beast that had once towered over him, had nearly crushed him under its claws—and now, it sat quietly at his hip, waiting.

Velren smirked to himself.

He was definitely looking forward to testing it.

***

Surprisingly—and fortunately—their ride back to Elyndra was peaceful. The road stretched before them, untouched by calamity, and the journey passed without incident. No unexpected landslides, no prowling beasts lurking in the shadows, no violent encounters to throw them off course. It was the kind of uneventful return most would consider a blessing.

And yet, Velren couldn’t help but wonder.

Back then, during their trip to Caelestoria, didn’t he muttered that word? What Nico would called: The cursed traveler’s omen? The... so-called "Q" word that every seasoned adventurer avoided like the plague?

The timing was... suspicious, wasn’t it? He had said it, and then, not long after, a wyvern had descended from the damn sky. Was it really just a coincidence? Or had he unknowingly invited disaster upon them, like what the old man said.

’Tch. Superstitions.’

But still... maybe the wisest course of action was to NOT tempt fate a second time...

Soon enough, the towering silhouette of Elyndra’s gates came into view, standing as a familiar yet imposing reminder that they had returned to civilization.

As they rolled to a stop before the checkpoint, Nico gave a small nod, then exhaled.

"Looks like this is where we part ways."

Velren glanced at him.

"You’re not coming with me to Harven’s workshop?"

"Nah," Nico said, shaking his head.

"Still gotta return this merchant carriage and finish up the rest of my job first."

He patted the side of the wagon as he spoke—a reminder of the commission they had fulfilled, and the weapons they had successfully delivered.

"You know how it is. Work never stops."

Just as Velren was about to hop down, Nico suddenly extended a hand toward him.

"You know... I owe you my life, kid. If you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to ask. Not that this old man could do much."

Velren blinked, momentarily caught off guard. Then, without hesitation, he grasped Nico’s hand in a firm shake.

"Thanks."

***

The familiar scent of hot iron and wood polish greeted Velren the moment he pushed open the door to Harven’s workshop. The forge in the back crackled faintly, a dull glow flickering from within, while the scent of burnt metal lingered in the air.

Behind the counter, Harven looked up from his work, an eyebrow raised.

"So, you’re back? How was the road?"

Velren exhaled, rolling his shoulders.

"Exhausting."

Harven let out a short chuckle.

"That bad, huh?"

Velren rubbed the back of his neck. Of course, the journey back had been smooth, but the trip there? That had been a different story entirely.

Harven’s gaze shifted downward, his sharp eyes catching the new addition at Velren’s waist. With a slight tilt of his head, he gestured toward it.

"That from Dain?"

Velren nodded.

"Yeah."

The blacksmith extended a hand.

"May I?"

Without hesitation, Velren unfastened the wakizashi and handed it over. Harven unsheathed the blade with practiced ease, tracing the dark steel as his eyes narrowed in deep scrutiny. He turned it slightly, letting the light catch along its surface, then ran a thumb carefully over the edge.

"A wyvern’s heart, huh?" he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.

Velren stiffened, widening his eyes slightly.

"How’d you know?"

Harven let out a low chuckle, still turning the blade in his hand.

"Kid, I’ve been working with metal longer than you’ve been alive. I know when something isn’t just steel. The texture, the weight, the way it catches the light... this isn’t something you forge just from ordinary materials. And Dain? He wouldn’t settle for anything less than exceptional."

Harven slid the blade back into its scabbard with a smooth motion before setting it down on the counter. Without another word, he reached beneath the counter, his arm disappearing for a moment as he rummaged through something unseen.

A few seconds later, he pulled out a small pouch and casually tossed it onto the counter beside the wakizashi. The unmistakable clink of coins met Velren’s ears.

"Here. The rest of your fee," Harven said, crossing his arms. "And a little extra."

Velren arched a brow.

"A bonus?"

"Consider it a hazard payment. Who knows what you’ve been through during your trip."

Velren snorted, picking up the pouch and giving it a slight shake.

"How generous of you..."