Strongest Among the Heavens
Chapter 395: Husnü

Chapter 395: Husnü

"Husnü! It’s good to see you!"

Husnü, the blacksmith Kazi frequented in the heat of the Nebulous Bazaar. No matter the rush, Kazi always went to visit him when he had the chance. His arms, thick with muscle and blackened from years at the forge, were crossed over his chest.

"Kazi Hossain," the blacksmith greeted.

"How’s the family? The wife?"

Husnü’s hard exterior melted just a bit when he brought up his family. "Ah, the boys," he said, uncrossing his arms briefly to gesture with a hand. "Growing fast. Selim just forged his first blade, and I’m proud to say it didn’t fall apart when it hit the anvil." A rare grin tugged at his lips. "And Yusuf—well, he’s taken more to designing armor. Keeps talking about how he’ll make something better than I ever could."

"And the bakery?"

"My wife’s loaf is...admittedly stale these days. Comes with the work."

"Haha, I know a lady that bakes too. Maybe she can help with that."

Husnü recrossed his arms. "You didn’t come here just to talk. What’s wrong with Stormedge?"

"I broke it."

"...what."

Kazi got the blade out and held it out in the sunny light of the bazaar. Stormedge was a weapon of exquisite craftsmanship, one of Husnü’s finest creations. The grip was black and cracked from use and the length of metal itself was nonexistent. Ripped apart with jagged ends.

All that was left was the hilt.

Husnü’s brow furrowed and he took the hilt from Kazi’s hands. "What did you...how did you...it’s been a month!"

"A month is a pretty long time!"

"A month! A month and one of my finest works has been...a month! A month!" He repeated it like some sort of cursed chant. "A damn month!"

"You’re making me worry, friend."

"Kazi, the pride of a blacksmith is proportional to its quality, to how long a wielder uses it," Husnü said loudly, examining the edge and the faint, nearly invisible cracks forming along the hilt. "The enchantments have already been worn fast—faster than they should. At the rate you were using it, the blade would have broken in another month."

"Sorry, sorry, things get intense."

Husnü’s lips pressed into a thin line. "Don’t be. It only means I have to more accurately calibrate to your future growth." A long pause and glance. "To be honest, Stormedge was made in mind for the flexible potential of players and even then, you ruined it quickly. Just how strong are you?"

Kazi only winked.

"Unfortunately, I don’t have the equipment I need here or at my personal forge. I’ll need to book passage to Tvastar’s Forge. I can rent out the tools that can handle the kind of repairs Stormedge needs."

Kazi did not mull over the choices. Instead, he brought one of his own, "What if I gave you another option?"

Husnü cocked his head. "Meaning...?"

Kazi paused for effect, smiling, then elaborated, "I want to offer you a permanent blacksmithing position with me. One million points a year. I’ll supply you with your own blacksmith forge, fully outfitted with the equipment you need. You won’t have to travel to Tvastar’s Forge. You can work directly from my set-up and I’ll guarantee you constant work and materials."

It wasn’t often that the blacksmith was surprised, but Kazi’s offer had clearly caught him off guard. Husnü’s arms, normally crossed as a defensive habit, now hung loosely at his sides as he stared at Kazi, speechless.

"One million points?" Husnü finally said, disbelief lacing his voice. "That’s...what?"

"Over three thousand gold coins and thirty pure cold coins," Kazi said. "A year. Plus the forge, equipment, and materials. It will be yours to use."

The blacksmith, known for his stoic nature and unflappable confidence, found himself at a loss. His eyes searched Kazi’s face, looking for any sign that the man might be joking. Kazi’s expression was serious.

"Are you playing games with me, young man?" Husnü asked, his tone uncharacteristically unsure.

"No games," Kazi replied, smiling. "I’ve seen your work. You mentioned once that you were a blacksmith for the Alhambra Guardians. I asked around too. You worked directly for the previous Caliph; and not just that, but your father before you did too. If that’s not good enough, I don’t know what is."

Husnü let out a low breath. What an offer. He’d worked for guilds before, forged weapons for some of the greatest warriors in the Abyss, but this offer—this was something different. This was a newbie. This was a potential new greatof the White Abyss. He glanced down at Stormedge, turning the blade over once more in his hands, feeling the weight of not just the sword, but of Kazi’s trust in him.

Of Kazi’s potential.

"You are quite the bold man, Kazi Hossain," Husnü admitted, sword on the table and folding his arms once more, though the gesture now seemed more out of habit than defiance. "I broke away from the Alhambra Guardians for a reason. I prefer to work for myself without political connotations. Being told to make weapons weaker or stronger or having a shoulder constantly tell me it isn’t enough..." A disgruntled sound. "Remembering it all gets me angry."

"I don’t expect you to decide right now. Take your time, think it over. Just to clarify: you’d be working for me directly—no middlemen, no guild politics. Just me and you and the weapons we forge together."

"You wish to learn too?"

"As much as I can. I’m learning Transmutation."

"Ho...Transmutation? Learning it?" Husnü nodded along, his eyes distant as he mulled over the possibilities. A player capable of breaking Stormedge, offer a million points, and give him a brand new forge was risky on paper. Yet looking Kazi, his eyes soft and warm, he felt like accepting was his only choice.

"It’s a tempting offer, I’ll admit," the blacksmith said finally. "I’ll need to think on it."

Kazi smiled and extended his hand, the gesture warm but unpressuring. "Take your time. I’ll be here when you’re ready."

Husnü grasped Kazi’s hand firmly, his grip as strong as the steel he worked. "You’ll have an answer soon, Hossain. This is not something I take lightly."

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