Chapter 57: Reforging is hard!
"Is he one of Bron's hidden guards?"
"I don't know. I've never seen him before."
"I have! He is one of Trimdir's smiths- isn't he the one that is always dashing through town when it's snowing?"
"No smith I know fights like that!"
Irwin swayed on his feet as he walked away from another dead demon frog. His armor was tarnished, his Coperion Body skill long since given out, and he'd overdrawn on his Eyes of Blaze, causing a migraine. Only his flame remained, burning softly as it wrapped around his charred, bent, and thoroughly abused gauntlet. His right gauntlet was gone, lost at some point while battling the third- or was it fourth?- demon frog. The skin of that hand was pale and covered in painful gashes.
All that considered, he couldn't hold back the weak smile as he walked away. He suddenly understood why Bronwyn had insisted on becoming a ranger. An old lady, hugging a crying teenage girl, smiled gratefully at him, and he nodded back. He'd saved them and a dozen other people that were fleeing from the frog.
The sounds of fighting were almost gone, though he heard some from beyond the town wall. He didn't even think of going there. He could barely stand on his feet, while his stomach was a clenched mass of hunger and his lips so dry they were cracked. No. He needed food, water, and rest.
When he reached the tower, he saw a small group of people in front of it while more slowly trickled in from the streets and alleys leading to it. Myda stood before the door, seemingly stopping anyone from entering.
"Orwin!'
Irwin looked up, long since used to his new, fake name. With how many people called him by it, he sometimes found himself thinking of himself as Orwin.
Pytin stood with a few of the other teenagers, waving at him. Seeing no sign of Daubutim, Irwin felt his worry grow as he headed toward them.
Pytin welcomed him with a weary smile. His armor was in tatters. Only the metal chestplate and shoulder guards remained usable. Most of the leather was melted and ripped, and Irwin saw glimmers of blood.