Chapter 82 Dwarven Village

After this the group waited in silence for something to happen... nothing happened."A rogue goblin?" Han questioned.

"Hmm, it might have been a scout. Let's just be careful moving forward." Arthur said as the group continued on their way. "That's why you guys shouldn't argue. Who knows when something might just come out of the blue light that, and you will be too busy arguing to react fast enough."

"Okay, Mr. Smarty pants. I was actually trying to calm down the situation you know?" Han responded.

"What situation? Don't act like you weren't adding fuel to the fire!" Silas exclaimed.

Arthur and the others sighed as they continued realizing that the arguing was definitely not going to end.

***

Another four hours passed, as the group continued to walk. Currently, the cave looked almost identical to what it had before, the only difference being that there was more multi-colored amber spread around instead of just orange ones.

Some were a deep blue, others a bright magenta, and some even red. They all came together to culminate a magical atmosphere. During the walk, so for they had taken out a few dwelling cave spiders, and a couple groups of goblins, but nothing drastic had occurred.

"The path to the dwarf village should be around here." Arthur suddenly said, looking at his map. Lyrian and the others also took a peak.

"Finally! My ears were bleeding through that!" Alten exclaimed in joy.

"What did you say?" Both Silas and Cedric said in unison on hearing Alten.

The group stopped as they came to a broken pathway from the main hall. There was a sign stating "Melos Village" in front of the pathway. This was a surprise, seeing as how they hadn't seen any sign of intelligent life in the cave before this.

"I suppose this is where we part ways," Arthur spoke, "I don't know if you guys will end up reaching the golden-tiered beast, but hopefully we get to fight it together."

"I hope we meet again as well, and don't worry about the beast, that core is mine so of course we'll reach it!" Lyrian replied with a smirk. Sᴇaʀch* Thᴇ ɴ0velFɪre.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

Arthur and the others also smiled on hearing this, "We will see about that. Goodbye, you three," He said, departing from the main group with his other four group members.

As Lyrian and the others waved goodbye, Cedric looked back at Lyrian, "You won't pass this exam." He said in all seriousness before abruptly turning around.

"Jeesh! What's his problem." Alten annoyedly said.

"It doens't amtter to me. As long as I pass, that's all I need for the best of both worlds. Winning, and also pissing him off." Lyrian laughed it off as they all began making their way down the new pathway.

The cave was double as small as the main pathway, but it was still pretty wide nonetheless. They walked for several minutes, noticing multiple other forks in the cave, but they stook to the largest one in the middle and eventually arrived about 200 feet away from what looked to be a large 25-foot iron gate, guarded by two people wearing adequate armor and wielding a spear.

As they got closer, they noticed that the guards were actually dwarfs, "What!? No way, I actually got to see dwarfs!" Alten exclaimed in surprised joy as they neared the gate.

On arriving 10 feet from the entrance, the guards struck the hilt of their spears into the ground in unison, "Stop right there! What reason do you have for coming here?" They yelled in unison.

Lyrian and the three stopped, "I want to repair my broken sword, and have come looking for a blacksmith capable of doing that!" He yelled, speaking politely.

The guards stared at him with serious, strong expressions, pausing for a few seconds before questioning, "You have come looking for a blacksmith to repair your sword?" They asked in unison.

Finding it odd for them to repeat such a thing, Lyrian said, "Uh... yes!"

After another few seconds of awkward, stern stares, the dwarfs' expressions suddenly morphed into joyful grins, "Well come right in! We would love to repair your sword? What kind of sword is it? Long sword? Short sword? Katana? Cutlass? Ooo maybe even a Kukri? I love Kukris... in fact, I love all kinds of swords!" The one on the right suddenly said, pushing the gate open.

The other also pushed the gate open with a bright smile as he spoke, "What material is it? Iron? Bronze? Don't tell me... it's platinum! That would be far too exciting!"

After opening the gates, Lyrian and the three awkwardly walked in, surprised by the sudden change in expression and tone.

"Uh, it's actually none of those, but thanks for letting us in," Lyrian said as they said closed the gates.

"You're very welcome! I hope your blade is fixed!" They said in unison just as the gates closed.

*Slam*

"...Wow, just wow!" Alten was in a state of shocked joy, "They are much better in person compared to how they are described!"

Lyrian and Leon on the other hand were slightly taken aback by what they were seeing in front of them. A giant, round, and open cavern room as bright as ever excited before them.

They currently stood on an elevated platform that had a row of stairs leading down to the ground level where the streets began. As Alten, Lyrian, and Leon descended the stairs, they were greeted by a bustling scene that seemed straight out of a fantastical tale.

The air was filled with the sounds of laughter, chatter, and the clinking of metal. The dwarven village was a vibrant hub of activity, brimming with life and energy.

The streets, paved with smooth stone slabs, meandered through the village, forming a labyrinthine network of passageways. Lined with quaint shops and cozy homes, the streets were adorned with colorful banners, intricate carvings, and flickering lanterns that illuminated the path.

Each building boasted unique architectural designs, showcasing the skill and craftsmanship of the dwarves. The houses stood proudly, fashioned from solid stone, and nestled seamlessly into the cavern walls.

Some were modest and cozy, while others were grand and imposing, their facades adorned with ornate engravings and elaborate murals. Flower boxes adorned windowsills, filled with vibrant blooms that added a touch of natural beauty to the stonework.

Before they knew it, they found themselves in the heart of the marketplace. Stalls lined the central square, displaying a dazzling array of wares.

Dwarven artisans proudly showcased their crafts, from intricately crafted jewelry and ornamental weapons to finely woven textiles and exquisite pottery.

The air was thick with the scents of exotic spices and freshly baked goods. The aroma of sizzling meats wafted from nearby taverns, enticing passersby with promises of delectable feasts.

Their mouths watered as they caught glimpses of succulent roasts, savory pies, and frothy tankards of ale being enjoyed by locals and visitors alike.

Dwarves of all shapes and sizes bustled about, going about their daily routines. Some were clad in rugged armor, their muscular frames speaking of a life spent toiling in forges.

Others wore more elegant attire, their garments embellished with intricate embroidery and precious gems.

The sounds of merry music drifted through the air, emanating from a lively tavern at the corner of the marketplace.

"Enough wandering around, let's find a smithy!" Lyrian said, as multiple ears of the dwarfs suddenly rose.

"You want a smithy! Come to mine right here!" One suddenly peaked his head out of the window and yelled.

"No come to mine!" Another burst through his door and shouted.

"Mine!"

"No mine!"

"Looks like this is going to be easier than I thought." Lyrian smiled, as the other two laughed as well.