The Demon Queen's Royal Consort-Chapter 45 - Encounter - V

Clutching Selene's arms, we flew in the opposite direction from the one we had taken to Senior Silas's residence.

Heading west toward the mountain ranges, I noticed we were approaching a mountainous area with visible signs of smoke in the sky.

"Where is this blacksmith?" I asked.

"The Imperial Forge is just ahead, inside that volcano over there," Selene replied, pointing to a large opening on the side of the volcano. As we got closer, it revealed a colossal black door.

We landed in front of the black door, and the security of the place was no joke.

A platoon of thirty soldiers was stationed at the entrance of the Imperial Forge, all divided into groups of five. They patrolled the vast area stretching in front of the door, as well as guarding the entrance itself.

"Your Majesty!" they all greeted, kneeling before Selene.

Without a word being spoken, we walked toward the doors, imposing as guardians of a forbidden kingdom.

Their surface was smooth like polished obsidian but studded with ancient runes that pulsed with a reddish glow, as if the volcano itself were breathing through them.

The heat was oppressive, even from meters away, and the air shimmered as if alive, heavy with the scent of sulfur and molten metal that I knew all too well.

'To think I spent three years in a place like this...'

As we approached, the runes on the doors glowed more intensely, and a low roar echoed from within, as if the volcano were watching us.

The central doors didn't open; instead, a small door embedded within the larger ones made a clanking sound as locks were released, revealing a narrow passage ahead.

Before entering, I felt the questioning gazes directed at me: doubt, scrutiny, power probing. Somehow, as a Djinn, I was quite sensitive to these nuances.

'Phew... I need to get used to this!'

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With long strides, we crossed through the small door, and a blast of hot air hit me, followed by a flash of red light that illuminated the interior.

The first floor opened before me, a colossal chamber carved directly into the volcanic rock.

The sound of metal being hammered filled the entire chamber like a synchronized symphony.

The floor was made of black stone, polished to a shine, and the walls were lined with veins of lava flowing like golden rivers, illuminating the space with a warm, pulsating light.

In the center, a massive Infernal Iron anvil rested on a raised platform, surrounded by dozens of artisans.

Their bodies were robust, their skin reddened by the scorching heat, and their eyes glowed like embers.

Unlike common fantasy worlds where demons typically had red skin, in Atlas, this was a minority. In general, skin tones varied similarly to what we find on Earth.

Returning to the blacksmiths.

They worked with hammers that seemed made of solidified lightning, striking incandescent metal with relentless precision.

Selene guided us to a wide staircase leading to the second underground floor. Here, the heat was even more intense, and the air was thick with a smell I knew well: volcanic gases mixed with arcane metal, commonly extracted in these regions.

On the second floor, the walls were lined with shelves filled with completed weapons and artifacts, each glowing with a unique light. It was like a library of power, where every item told a story. All kinds of weapons were displayed here, including many pieces designed for mages.

Completely ignoring the arsenal, Selene continued descending the stairs to the third underground floor.

"The third level is dedicated to the crafting of Nexus," Selene explained. "While melee weapons are forged on the first floor."

I nodded, showing understanding, but seeing that the stairs still continued downward to a deeper level, I asked:

"What's on the next floor?"

A brief silence spread before I heard her response.

"It's different from the previous levels. Smaller, but much more special. We call it the Forge of Meditation," she explained with weighty words.

"In the center, there's a pool of pure lava, bubbling and spitting sparks that illuminate the floor. It's where one of the cores that emit heat to the three floors we passed is located."

"They say that long ago, the last dragon to walk in Atlas chose this place as its eternal resting ground. Legends say that this core is one of its eyes, which hasn't melted, even submerged in scalding lava for millennia."

My expression changed at the revelation. There was no mention of this in the memories of the former Glenn.

'Seriously, that guy was completely useless when it came to anything other than swinging a sword.'

My thoughts scattered, wondering if the story Selene told me was just a legend or one of those famous plot twists from fantasy stories.

'Anyway, I'm too weak for anything to happen to this volcano. In fact, I hope nothing happens—I already have enough problems to deal with.'

"Your Majesty!" a burly, bald man with large curved horns greeted Selene.

"Isaac, it's been a while!" she returned the greeting.

"What brings you to such a rudimentary place?" the blacksmith asked.

"I need you to forge some weapons for my consort," Selene said without a hint of shame.

'Okay! My consort caught me off guard!'

Isaac couldn't hide his shock and stared at me with disbelief. But, unlike anything I had imagined would come out of his mouth, his words surprised me.

"Boy, what sin did you commit to deserve such a fate?" he said in a booming voice.

"Haa..." I didn't know how to respond to the man named Isaac's remark.

"My condolences, boy. Come here, let your big brother give you a hug!"

The bald giant blacksmith hugged me, squeezing my body and leaving me breathless.

"Okay, that's enough!!!" I pleaded for him to release me from his bear hug.

I looked at Selene, expecting an explanation, but her indifferent expression was starting to irritate me. Seriously, how many more absurdities would I experience today?

"Alright..." said Isaac, clapping his hands to clean off some of the soot that covered him. The other half had ended up on my clothes. "Let's get to the point. What are you looking for?"

I didn't take the initiative to reveal anything.

At Senior Silas's mansion, I had learned that I shouldn't expose everything about myself, but here, I wasn't sure if that was the best choice. After all, who wouldn't want custom-made weapons?

I looked at Selene, who took the lead.

"Activate the confidentiality field!" she ordered.

Without question, Isaac walked over to his desk, cluttered with forging materials, and poured a ton of prana into an emblem. So much prana that I could feel the flow leaking into a structure beneath his desk.

Around us, four large stone walls rose, and even the top was sealed with a temporary ceiling glowing with lava flowing through conduits.

"Sit," Isaac indicated, pointing to two simple chairs in front of his desk.

We sat, and Selene began to spill all the details.

"You know that all the noble families will bribe everyone here to find out what I'm about to tell you. But I don't need to tell you what will happen if they find out, right?" A verbal threat that made the already hot atmosphere boil.

"Of course, no need to worry about that. This isn't the first time we've done business, is it?" he replied calmly to the queen's threats.

"Good, that's why I like you, Isaac!"

"I need two weapons."

"One modified Executioner's Sword: with a long blade about 90 cm and a width between three to six centimeters, and a hilt that allows for good control with two hands."

"The tip should be triangular, unlike the rounded ones we know, and the blade needs to be sharpened along its entire structure, on both sides. I want runes engraved along the blade to channel prana."

My expression sank when Selene revealed the description of the first weapon.

'Isn't that just a normal sword?' I wondered. What led her to that conclusion?

"The boy must have a strong grip..." Isaac commented.

"Yes, his internal energy is very violent, making his movements with traditional swords unsuitable."

"I see... you need something more brutal and wild. I like it!" he exclaimed, satisfied.

'Is this Lesley's doing? Did she come to this conclusion after our week of training?' Many doubts plagued my mind.

"The second weapon is a Great Sword: it has to be large, two-handed, with a blade approximately 120 cm long and a comfortable hilt for a firm grip. The blade should be sharp on both sides and have a central groove to reduce weight. The guard needs to be sturdy but elegant, and the material must be the best steel available, reinforced with Volcanic Ether."

Honestly, I didn't understand half of the requirements Selene had requested for the weapon. And again, it was another large weapon.

'I think the old Glenn is rolling in his grave,' I thought.