Chapter 81: Business Plan
Three more days passed uneventfully.
Riku spent most of his time caring for the unconscious Lila, and the rest in quiet contemplation, reviewing his limited goodwill points and trying to strategize. The System’s quest to help 5000 people felt monumental with his current resources.
As evening approached on the third day, a familiar series of discreet taps sounded at their back-alley door. Riku opened it to find Elder Borin and Elder Thrain, their faces weary from labor but alight with a craftsman’s pride.
"Master Riku," Borin greeted him, a tired but satisfied smile on his face. "As promised."
Elder Thrain, with a reverent nod, carefully unrolled a thick leather cloth on the rickety table. Nestled within were ten gleaming copper talismans, each meticulously engraved with the modified formation Riku had designed. The lines were clean, the runes sharp – a testament to Dwarven skill.
"The metal is the best we could procure on short notice, Master," Thrain rumbled. "Pure copper, refined thrice in our newly rekindled forges. Durnik sends his regards; he worked tirelessly on these."
Riku picked one up. It felt solid, perfectly balanced, and hummed with a latent potential. "They are magnificent, Elders. Truly. Your skill is undeniable."
He wasted no time. Placing the ten talismans in a row, he began the enchanting process.
A soft, golden light flowed from Riku’s hands, splitting into ten delicate streams, each one sinking into a talisman. The intricate engravings on each copper piece began to glow, absorbing the magic, and soon all ten pulsed with a steady, warm, moderate healing aura, identical to the first prototype.