blacksmith of a Thousand tales

Chapter 50: The Wild Second Prince's Duels

As Alarcus and Kael sat in the bustling tavern, the lively chatter of the patrons turned to the second prince, whose exploits seemed to be the city's favorite topic.

"Did you hear about his fight against the Ironclad Knight last week?" a burly adventurer asked, slamming his mug on the table. "The prince actually changed his sword into a spear mid-fight! Completely threw the guy off."

Kael raised an eyebrow. "A transforming weapon?"

"That's right," the adventurer confirmed. "He was struggling to get past the Ironclad Knight's heavy defense, so he twisted the hilt of his sword, and bam! The blade extended into a spear. Gave him the range he needed to jab at the knight's weak spots until he broke through."

Another patron, a merchant, chuckled. "The kid might be skilled, but don't forget his ridiculous happy dance before every duel. Honestly, I can't tell if it's a warm-up or a joke."

Kael smirked. "Happy dance?"

"Oh, it's ridiculous," the merchant said, laughing. "Before every fight, he does this silly jig, kicking his legs and twirling his arms. It looks like something a court jester would do! But it seems to work for him—he claims it helps him focus."

"And the bald incident!" a young scribe interjected, barely able to contain his laughter. "In his fight with the Crimson Blade, the prince barely dodged an overhead swing, but the blade came so close it shaved off all his hair! He's been bald ever since!"

The entire tavern erupted in laughter, some patrons mimicking the prince's dance while others joked about his shiny head.

A scribe, eager to share a more serious tale, leaned forward. "Laugh all you want, but that boy is no joke in a fight. Did you hear about his duel with Lady Raya, the holy knight from the northeast?"

"The undefeated knight of her order?" another patron asked.

"That's the one," the scribe confirmed. "She's known for her holy magic and impenetrable defense. When the prince challenged her, everyone thought he'd lose."

"What happened?" Kael asked, intrigued.

"At first, she dominated the fight," the scribe explained. "Her holy shield blocked every strike, and her counterattacks were relentless. But the prince is nothing if not adaptable. He switched his weapon to spear form and used its reach to probe her defenses, forcing her to reposition constantly."

"And then?" Kael pressed.

"He waited for the perfect opening," the scribe said. "When she raised her shield too high during a powerful swing, he disarmed her with a precise thrust. She conceded with a smile, saying he earned the victory."

Kael nodded, impressed. "A fighter who can adapt like that is worth facing."

Another patron, a grizzled blacksmith, leaned forward. "You think that's impressive? His fight with the Golem Knight is the one to remember."

"Golem Knight?" Alarcus asked.

"A mercenary covered head-to-toe in enchanted armor," the blacksmith said. "Practically invincible. The prince challenged him in front of a massive crowd, and most thought he'd finally met his match."

"Did he win?" Kael asked.

"Oh, he won," the blacksmith said with a grin. "But not without a struggle. His sword couldn't even scratch the armor at first, so he changed it into a spear and began targeting the runes on the armor. Took him a while, but he figured out where the enchantments were weakest."

"And?"

"One well-placed thrust disrupted the entire enchantment," the blacksmith explained. "The armor and shield crumbled, leaving the Golem Knight defenseless. The prince declared the fight over and even offered to help the man up. It was one of the most respectful victories I've seen."

Kael leaned back, his arms crossed. "A prince who's wild, clever, and strong enough to learn from his opponents... I like the sound of him. But what's this about his weapon?"

The blacksmith answered. "They say it's one of the Blacksmith of a Thousand Tales' creations. A masterpiece that shifts between forms—a sword, a spear, maybe even more we haven't seen yet. Whatever it is, it's made him nearly unstoppable."

Kael grinned. "Sounds like a weapon worth facing. And a fighter worth testing myself against."

The next morning, while Kael remained at the tavern nursing his drink and plotting to encounter the wild second prince when he got a net gauntlet, Alarcus decided to explore the capital.

The city's energy was infectious, and the streets were brimming with activity. Mana-powered carts zipped by, golem birds flitted through the air delivering messages, and street vendors sold trinkets that radiated faint magical auras.

Turning a corner, Alarcus spotted a massive construction site. A large gate-like structure loomed in the distance, surrounded by scaffolding and bustling workers. Curious, he approached a group of onlookers who were discussing the project.

"Excuse me," Alarcus said, gesturing toward the gate. "What is that?"

One of the onlookers, a stout man with a clipboard, glanced up. "That's the teleportation gate they're building. Supposed to connect the capital to other cities. Crazy, isn't it?"

"Teleportation?" Alarcus asked, intrigued.

"Aye. The design was given to the engineers here, but it's so complicated even the best minds are struggling with it. Won't be finished for months, maybe longer," the man explained. "Still, if it works, it'll change everything. No more long, dangerous journeys between cities."

Alarcus stared at the gate, his mind racing. "And where did they get the design?"

"Some say it was commissioned by the emperor himself," the man said with a shrug. "Others think it came from the Blacksmith of a Thousand Tales, the same one who made that prince's weapon. Either way, it's the talk of the town."

Alarcus nodded, filing the information away. As he turned to leave, he couldn't help but marvel at how much the capital had changed.