Broken stood outside the smithy, waiting for a response that never came. He hesitated to open the door, as he could feel the intense heat and smell the distinct scent of melting metal. The strong sound of a hammer hitting metal could be heard from inside, indicating that Fokil was busy at work.
He had learned that Fokil was known for his short temper, and Broken didn’t want to cause any trouble. However, he also didn’t have all day to wait. He decided to give it an hour; if there were no progress, he would log out and return later. He then sat right in front of the smithy door to ensure he wouldn’t miss Fokil coming out.
A player with a determined stride approached. Judging by his gear, he appeared to be a level 150 swordsman. He had long black hair tied in a ponytail.
“Hey, you! Where’s your boss? I’m here to pick up my order,” the swordsman said.
Broken frowned and stood up. “I’m not an employee here…” his words trailed off.
“Tell your boss I’ve been waiting too long for my order. It’s already a week late. Go in and tell him I want my sword now! I’ve paid a lot, and I don’t want to be cheated by that Dwarf Blacksmith!” the man demanded.
“I’m not an employee. Go find him yourself,” Broken insisted.
The man aggressively pushed Broken into the smithy. “Get your boss, I need my sword immediately.”
Broken stumbled through the dimly lit smithy, the only light coming from a small vent and the fiery glow of the furnace.
Fokil was busy hammering away at his work when he noticed Broken’s presence. He stopped and asked, “What’s the matter? Who gave you permission to enter?”
“Sir, sorry, but there’s someone looking for you. He said his sword order is a week overdue.”
Fokil stood from his workstation, walked to a corner of the room, and retrieved a silver-colored sword. He exited the smithy, with Broken following closely behind.
Outside, the swordsman immediately approached.
“Hahaha, I’ve been looking forward to this. I can’t wait to see the grade of my new sword!” the swordsman said enthusiastically.
Fokil tossed the sword to him.
The swordsman inspected the sword briefly and was shocked. “What? Only Epic-Grade? Not even a Unique-Grade? You made me pay a fortune just for an Epic-Grade? Are you kidding me?!”
Fokil responded immediately in a stern voice. “I will refund your money if you’re not satisfied with my work, but you will be banned from my smithy forever.”
“Wait!” The swordsman was taken aback, still examining the sword. “How can an Epic-Grade have such good stats and skills…” he said, his voice trembling.
“Give me back the sword; I don’t want to hear your foolish ramblings!” Fokil said, reaching for the sword.
However, the swordsman pulled the sword to his back and held up his hand to Fokil. “Hahaha, Mr. Fokil… sorry for what I said earlier. I’ll keep this sword; I like it. Haha.”
“That’s the last time I accept a commission from you,” Fokil said.
“No please… hahaha, I was just kidding.” The swordsman then glanced at Broken. “Hey, your employee is so polite.” He tossed a silver coin to Broken. “Take this, a tip for you.”
“He is not my employee,” Fokil said.
“Wait, what? Then why was he standing in front of your smithy? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I told you twice, but you didn’t listen,” Broken said firmly.
“Ck, you can keep the coin.” The swordsman then turned back to Fokil. “Thanks for the service, Mr. Fokil.” He then walked away, laughing. “Hahaha, I have a new sword.”
Broken was now even more sure of his decision to pursue the quest, after witnessing what had just happened. He had heard people rave about Fokil’s skills and now he could see for himself that the rumors were true. Despite rarely offering his services, Fokil’s high prices were justified by the exceptional quality he delivered.
Feeling more determined than ever, Broken was even more motivated to complete the quest and obtain the Blacksmith Class from Fokil.
Fokil let out a frustrated sigh and turned his gaze back to Broken. “What do you want?”
Broken, taken aback by the harshness in Fokil’s tone, struggled to steady his trembling voice as he responded, “I have a recommendation letter from the Mining Association. I was hoping you would take the time to consider teaching me the craft of blacksmithing.”
Fokil’s expression remained stern as he firmly stated, “Leave. I have no time to spare.”
“But I mined 10 high-quality iron ores in just one night, on my first try,” Broken said firmly. “I want to prove to you how determined I am. Please, let me take on some quests so I can show it to you.”
“Do you think I will believe your nonsense?” Fokil asked sharply, his voice full of resolve. “If you don’t go away,” he continued, his tone becoming more authoritative, “I will have to force you to leave this place.” The Dwarf then returned to his smithy and slammed the door shut.
“Tsk!” Broken clicked his tongue in frustration, shaking his head in disbelief. “Why does this Dwarf have to be so difficult to deal with?” he thought to himself.
Determined not to give up, Broken took a deep breath and decided to wait outside the smithy. He needed to find another way to prove his worth and gain Fokil’s trust. He sat down on a nearby bench, thinking hard about his next move.
“Do I need to wait for another hour?” he wondered.
He considered using his time more efficiently by leaving the smithy, but he had already put in so much effort to complete the quest. It wasn’t an option to back down and find another way to obtain the Blacksmith Class.
In Immortal Legacy, it was common knowledge that the more complex a quest was, the greater the potential reward. With that belief, Broken felt he had to stick with this quest. Fokil might be temperamental, but there must be reasons for his behavior. After all, he was a Dwarf and renowned for his blacksmithing skills.
He waited outside the smithy for a while, growing bored and increasingly aware of his physical hunger. He wanted to log out and eat. Finally, he stood up, feeling it was time to leave. He may try again later.
Just as Broken was about to leave, he heard heavy footsteps approaching. Suddenly, Fokil kicked the door open with a loud thump, causing Broken to step back in surprise.
Fokil’s eyes were bloodshot, likely from drinking, and the pungent smell of sweat and burning metal hit Broken’s nostrils.
“Bring me five moonstones if you feel confident in your ability to convince me,” Fokil muttered under his breath.
Immediately afterward, a series of system notifications appeared in front of Broken.
[The Quest Advancement skill has been activated!]
[The rating for the quest ‘Become an Apprentice of Fokil the Blacksmith’ is about to be upgraded!]