Chapter 388: The Blacksmith (2) (1/2)

”No. There's nothing that would be of interest. Go and look at the other stores, I am certain they could offer you what you are seeking!”

Without hesitation, the grumpy old dwarf instantly denied any sort of opportunity, chance, or route for barter of any kind. He clearly did not want to have anything to do with Aiden's team, nor with anyone else for that matter.

Seeing the souring faces, the dwarf uncaringly harrumphed, before focusing his stern, cold, unfriendly gaze at the black-haired, golden-eyed youngster.

”You there, boy!” He pointed at Aiden with his surly attitude.

”Yes?”

”You and that masked friend of yours, yes you two. Who else I would be talking to? These pesky humans?! Or this half-blood?!” He spat, a clear show of disdain flashing through his expression for a brief moment.

These words finally hit their mark, even if they weren't aimed for that. The calm, collected outlook instantly vanished from Aiden's face.

As the saying goes, (that surprisingly carries a lot of truth), every dragon has its reverse scale, the singular thing, be it whatever, a memory, an emotion, an object, or a being… They have this one topic, that under no circumstances should be brought up in such a manner, never shamed, hurt, or stolen.

Aiden wouldn't have minded if the old dwarven master continued to lash out at his human friends. While they were important to him, they were nowhere as close to him as his sister, Lily.

Even if his servants, or for that matter, Galina would be shamed or humiliated, while he would step in to stop the mess, he wouldn't lose his mind instantly.

Unfortunately, this was not the case when the topic was his sister. She was his reverse scale, the one thing, the only taboo that should never be cursed, at least not in front of Aiden.

As his expression soured, from the calm smile into the fierce, serious look.

Suddenly, inside the dusty, forgotten, mostly closed up and crumbling store a gust of wind began to blow fiercely, circling around and protecting its master transforming into a dustacious whirlwind in an instant.

The wind-barrier that now covered his body, caused the mood in the room to shift instantly. The rest of the team, immediately understanding the reason for their friend losing his cool, rather than pointlessly trying to reason with him, instead took a couple of steps back. The dwarven blacksmith master, on the other hand, had no idea what caused the young man to react so intensely. He was stunned, couldn't react, and kept gazing with increasingly widening eyes at this monstrous youngster.

Still, his more than century-old experienced muscles reacted without needing his direct command. His fingers already holding his decorated hammer, curled around the elaborately designed hilt and reinforced their grip.

His legs spread, entering themselves into a stance that would allow the old man to react to any incoming threat accordingly. While his mind was temporarily stumped at the sudden change of the scene, his body could still react. His muscle memory was carved in through the painful and arduous memories of way over a hundred years, after all.

As the wind continued to blow fiercely, another shock came to the old blacksmith. Those exotic-looking golden eyes of the boy suddenly lit up, glimmering in the gloomy room, carrying an eerie omen with them.

Suddenly, as their eyes met, the old master's body trembled. Despite the previous confidence his body carried, the strength instantly left his body like an ancient legend, a story of his childhood came to his mind.

His lips quivered, his eyes wide, his legs gave in, the old man fell on his butt, releasing his grip over his beloved hammer and threw it at his side in the process.

”D-d-d-d-dragon!” The old man cried out with a look of pure disbelief and overbearing shock.

He slowly, shakingly lifted his stump of a right arm and pointed at the glowing-eyed, cold-looking youth.

”Y-you! Y-you are a d-d-dragon!”

Shockingly, in the next moment the previous fear that overwhelmed him left his body, he sprung back up on his feet. His face curved into a delighted, elated smile, he exploded into a boisterous guffaw.

”AHAHAHA! Really! A dragon! A real dragon! Finally, I met one!” His laughter continued, destroying the previous dark, cold and gloomy atmosphere in mere seconds.

His strange reaction also managed to confuse Aiden. The anger vanished, the glimmer in his eyes dimmed, the barrier of air faded, the magical wind in the room returned to its calmness.

With a bewildered look on his face Aiden turned to the old dwarf, he wanted to ask, but his sister was faster this time. With an upset, pouting look on her face, Lily asked the howling master.

”What is so funny old man? What are you laughing at my brother?!”