Anomaly of Fate

The carriage finally came to a stop in front of a massive structure, its presence dominating the street with an air of undeniable prestige. Unlike Harven’s modest-looking store back in Elyndra, this one was definitely a fortress of craftsmanship.

The workshop loomed like a palace of industry—an enormous multi-leveled building forged from dark stone and reinforced with gleaming metal plates. Towering chimneys jutted skyward, expelling faint trails of steam and smoke, while massive gears embedded into the outer walls slowly turned with mechanical precision. The entrance was framed by thick, ornately carved steel beams, their surfaces etched with intricate patterns of interwoven cogs and mineral inlays that shimmered under the crystalline street lamps.

Unlike the more refined elegance of Elyndran blacksmiths, Caelestoria’s artisans worked with a raw, almost industrial precision—function and form melded into seamless unity.

Velren took in the sight before glancing at Nico.

"Say, if Caelestoria’s famous for its craftsmanship and steelwork," he mused, "then why bother asking for weaponry from Elyndra?"

Nico smirked, stepping down from the carriage.

"Because good steel ain’t just about who forges it," he said. "It’s about the materials. Caelestoria’s got the best smiths, but Elyndra’s got access to certain refined ores and alchemical treatments that aren’t easy to come by here. Some of the best enchantment-grade alloys? Those come from Elyndran workshops. And when you combine that with Caelestorian engineering..."

He gestured toward the grand workshop before them.

"You get something even better."

Velren hummed, glancing back at the towering structure. A fusion of Elyndran refinement and Caelestorian ingenuity, huh? Now that was an interesting thought.

Before Velren could dwell on the thought any longer, the heavy clang of boots against metal flooring drew his attention.