The next thirty minutes were spent grinding and shaping the metal into a sword over a grinding wheel. Grimthar worked meticulously, smoothing out hammer marks, removing excess material, and evening out every surface. With practiced precision, he shaped the edges, angling them to form the cutting surface.

  He then ground the blade’s edge, giving it an initial sharpness—not yet keen enough to cut cleanly but a crucial step in the process. Satisfied with the progress, Grimthar returned the sword to the forge, reheating it before rapidly quenching it in water. This step was critical; if the previous stages had been mishandled, the sudden cooling could make the metal brittle, leading to fractures.

  As the blade cooled, he adjusted the fire’s intensity before thrusting the sword back into the forge, carefully monitoring the shifting hues of the heated metal. Timing was everything. Once he deemed it ready, he withdrew the blade and cooled it again, scrutinizing its structure with a discerning eye.

  From the sidelines, Nova watched intently, absorbing the overall process but feeling lost in the details. ‘How do I tell the difference? How can I know if it’s turning into a masterpiece or just a worthless hunk of metal?’ His gaze remained locked on Grimthar, hoping to decipher the secrets hidden in the blacksmith’s expertise.

  After a thorough inspection, Grimthar carried the blade to a section of the forge housing an array of whetstones. With methodical precision, he worked the edges, repeating each motion with unwavering patience. Though time was running short, he never rushed—true craftsmanship demanded care, not speed.

  With only five minutes remaining, Grimthar finally looked up from the sword, his gaze shifting to a pile of discarded materials. After rummaging briefly, he returned with what appeared to be a handle, some cord, and a pommel.

  ‘Even I know what he’s about to do now’, Nova mused, shaking his head slightly before refocusing on the giant’s movements.

  In mere minutes, Grimthar expertly assembled the sword, securing each piece with precision. He tested its balance, gauging the weight distribution and ensuring a comfortable grip. Then, with practiced ease, he took up a stance, inhaled deeply, and slashed.

  A sharp sound cut through the forge as the blade sliced effortlessly through the air.

  Nova watched in awe, stunned by both the sword’s keen edge and the sheer speed at which Grimthar had forged it. ‘Eiruk really brought me to a master craftsman’, he thought, admiration clear in his eyes.

  “There’s no time for the finishing touch,” Grimthar muttered, mentally keeping track of the hour that had passed. Without hesitation, he set the sword aside and finally turned his attention to Nova.

  Noticing the look of astonishment on the outsider’s face, Grimthar felt a surge of pride—though it was tinged with mild guilt. He had worked at such a pace that Nova hadn’t been able to learn much from the process, and he knew it. That’s what he gets for messing with me, Grimthar thought with a smirk before speaking.

  “It’s your turn. Start talking, boy.”

  Nova let out a sigh. “Fine. Let me tell you about the next dish.”

  Whatever guilt Grimthar had felt vanished instantly. His eye twitched slightly, but he sat down nonetheless, begrudgingly listening.

  While Nova was inside the Blue portal speaking with Grimthar and learning blacksmithing, another conversation was unfolding back at the academy.

  “It’s been over five months since we’ve heard anything about him,” a feminine voice said, tinged with worry.

  “Don’t worry, he’s fine,” a man replied. “Didn’t you hear what the maids at the mansion reported four months ago?”

  “But that was four months ago! Where is he now?”

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  A third voice, calm and measured, interjected. “Relax, Cassie.”

  Cassidy turned toward the speaker, her father, her concern evident in her eyes. “I am worried about him, Dad.”

  Victor sighed, his thoughts drifting to the missing young man. ‘Where have you gone, making my daughter worry so much? You’ll have some explaining to do when I catch you’. He exhaled before speaking. “Listen to Jack. He knows Nova better than anyone. If he says he’ll be fine, then he will.”

  Jack, standing to the side, nodded. “Your dad’s right, Cassie. You should know Nova by now—”

  But before he could finish, Cassidy’s frustration boiled over. “No, I don’t know him ‘by now’!” she snapped, her voice on the verge of shouting. “I’ve spent more time away from him than with him. How can you say that?”

  A bitter smile crossed Jack’s face. He had no real argument against her words, so instead, he simply asked, “Then… will you trust me?”

  Cassidy struggled internally, unsure of how to respond. She knew Jack wasn’t just saying it to comfort her—he wasn’t the type. But at the same time, she couldn’t simply say yes and let all her worries disappear. That wasn’t how it worked.

  Dodging the question, she asked instead, “What if he isn’t fine? What if he’s trapped somewhere and can’t make it back?”

  Victor let out a sigh. “We’ve been over this before. If he had the time to visit the mansion four months ago, then he wasn’t in any immediate danger.”

  He had watched his daughter wrestle with these same concerns for months, but today, it had escalated more than ever. He and Jack had to pull her aside, not wanting to burden the others who were already busy. They all had their own responsibilities to deal with, and Cassidy’s distress wasn’t something that could be easily brushed aside.

  Jack cared about Cassidy because she was his friend, and she was going through this struggle due to her worry for his best friend. Victor cared because Cassidy was his daughter—his most precious treasure. He had always protected her, but this time, the pain wasn’t physical. It was emotional, something he couldn’t shield her from. All he could do was support her and hope that damned boy came back soon to put an end to all of this.

  ‘This all started while we were out patrolling…’ Victor thought, recalling the events from months ago. ‘At first, it was nothing, but by the end of the second week, she started bringing up Nova again. Did being apart from him finally push her into making a decision?’

  Victor shook off the thought. In the end, what mattered most was Cassidy’s happiness. If this was the path she chose—if Nova was a part of it—then as long as it wasn’t disastrous, he wouldn’t stand in her way.

  Jack stepped closer, offering Cassidy a reassuring look. “Nova’s not the one you should be worrying about. You should feel bad for whoever he runs into.”

  A small chuckle escaped him at the thought, and for the first time in a while, the tension in the room eased. Cassidy let out a quiet breath, her shoulders relaxing slightly.

  “I just hope he’s doing okay…” she murmured, a faint smile forming on her lips.

  Jack, however, was still cursing internally. ‘That damn idiot is worrying everyone here. Would it have killed him to leave a letter? How can someone so smart be this stupid?’ The frustration boiled inside his head, but his face betrayed none of it.

  “He’s doing fine, Cassie,” Victor said, placing a firm hand on her shoulder. “But we should focus on working harder too—we can’t let him down either. Didn’t you want to help him?”

  Cassidy gave a small nod, her gaze distant, lost in thought. But even as she answered, her mind was elsewhere.

  "Then you need to focus all your energy on becoming better every day. Surprise him. Show him how strong you’ve become, and all you’ve accomplished." Victor observed his daughter quietly before adding, "You’ve been working so hard these past few months. I’m sure he’ll be impressed, but if he’s not, it doesn’t matter—because I am, and I’m proud of you, Cassie."

  At his words, Cassidy smiled as hot tears tickled down her face. She leaned into her father, burying her face in his clothes as she softly nodded.

  Jack, standing off to the side, remained silent, watching this intimate moment unfold. He had gone from being a necessary presence to an awkward bystander. ‘I swear, Nova, I’ll beat the crap out of you for making me stand here like this’, he thought, his fists clenching slightly.

  After several minutes, Cassidy pulled away, wiping her tears. She looked up at Victor, her voice soft. "Thanks dad. What’s the situation with the others?"

  Finally, Jack found a moment to contribute. "Amelia’s teaching her class, while Rachel, Thomas, and Samuel are still inside the Green Portal together. They should be back soon, though. Hopefully, the time discrepancy isn’t too much."

  "Mhm," Cassidy nodded, absorbing the information. "I should go, I have a class to teach soon." She stood, preparing to leave, but Victor’s grip slightly tightened on her shoulder.

  Startled, she turned back to him, her expression questioning.

  Victor looked at her with concern. "You should take the day off and really calm down." Before Cassidy could protest, Jack spoke up calmly. "Your dad’s right. Take some time. I’ll cover your class today."

  Cassidy’s gaze flickered between the two men, weighing their words. After a brief moment, she relented. "Fine, I’ll listen to you." She offered a small smile to both Victor and Jack before walking out of the room with small steps.

  Once Cassidy was gone, Victor exhaled sharply, his anger rising again. "I’m going to beat up your friend."

  "I’ll help you.”

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