In the dim light of the evening, Logan's revelation struck like a bolt of lightning: his deep-seated desires for Isabel had finally come to light, and she had hesitated before retreating, a storm of emotions reflected in her eyes. The question hung heavily in the air, did he truly wish to entangle his life with hers in such a profound way?
Logan grappled with a throbbing headache as he pondered how to break this delicate news to Ajiv. How would she react to such a confession? Anger, disappointment, or worse; could it jeopardize Isabel's well-being?
With a heavy heart, he decided against a confession, choosing instead to wait, to bide his time until the truth could no longer be contained.
Pushing these troubling thoughts aside, Logan stepped out of the house, his attention immediately captured by the familiar chaos unfolding in the yard. His brothers Kevin, Ken, and Relk were embroiled in a spirited tussle, their laughter and shouts piercing the cool air. Their boundless energy no longer surprised him; it was a constant in the tumult of their daily lives.
Amidst the ruckus, Logan's gaze fell on Fenrir, who sprang up and trotted over, his tail wagging enthusiastically. "You are a wolf, not a dog," Logan chided affectionately, ruffling Fenrir's thick fur. Fenrir, puzzled, wondered silently about these 'dogs,' unaware that in another world, they were considered his distant kin.
Turning his attention to his siblings, Logan noticed Kevin struggling to his feet, Fenrir having vacated his makeshift seat. "Where's mother?" Logan inquired, scanning the yard for her familiar presence.
"Mom took Ginny to work!" Kevin replied, his voice tinged with the innocence of youth as he lay sprawled on the ground, looking up at his older brother.
"You rascal, has mother had to scold you today?" Logan asked, stepping over to help him up, giving his head a playful pat.
At that very moment, a cloud of dust erupted before them. Fenrir yelped in surprise, stepping back as Logan turned towards the disturbance. From the settling dust, Ken emerged, coughing and brushing off his clothes, his face a mask of annoyance.
As if on cue, another body came hurtling through the air, Relk, crashing down close enough to nearly topple Ken once more. Groans and exasperated cries filled the air as the brothers assessed their minor scrapes.
Logan, frustration mounting, raised his voice over the commotion. "What's the meaning of this? Don't you two know your own strength?" He shook his head in disbelief as Relk and Ken scrambled to their feet, their expressions sheepish.
"Brother, we're fine! Just fooling around," they chimed in unison, trying to brush off the scolding with a grin.
Turning to Ken and Relk, Logan encouraged, "And you two, let this be a motivation to push yourselves. Your brother's breakthrough is an example of what you can achieve."
"Absolutely!" they responded in unison, their fists clenched, motivated by their brother's achievements and the serious tone of Logan's advice. Their eyes gleamed with determination, ready to meet the challenge head-on.
They had just witnessed firsthand the formidable power of the fourth level. Logan nodded appreciatively, his voice carrying a mix of pride and warmth. "I may have missed your birthday last month, but don't think for a moment that I've forgotten about it. Next year, you'll all be adults, and these gifts are for that very occasion."
With a flourish, Logan gestured dramatically, and three knight's heavy swords, each about 1.5 meters in length and 20 centimeters wide, thudded into the ground before Kevin and his brothers. The blades gleamed under the sun, their hilts adorned with intricate patterns.
"These swords," Logan continued, his eyes twinkling with excitement, "are crafted by a master blacksmith out of the finest iron. They're engraved with runes that lighten their considerable weight. Originally, each weighed 300 kilograms. Thanks to the runes, they now feel like less than 150 kilograms. Go ahead, give them a try!"
He explained that the weapons were forged in the renowned forges of Canyon City, crafted by a dwarf renowned both as a senior blacksmith and a junior rune master. Logan had hoped to recruit him to their tribe, but the dwarf's services were in high demand, fetching him tens of thousands of gold coins a month, a price too steep for the Silvermane Tribe.
"Thus, I commissioned five exceptional weapons, each a testament to the highest standards of his craft and worth a hundred gold coins apiece," Logan added. He had given one, a lighter female knight's sword, to Ajiv, and kept for himself a broadsword enhanced with not only weight-reducing runes but also anti-magic properties to ward off magical attacks.
Kevin and his brothers eagerly pulled their new swords from the ground, their faces lighting up with awe and excitement. "Nice sword!" Kevin exclaimed, swinging his with surprising ease, a testament to the sword's craftsmanship and the effectiveness of the weight-reducing runes.
Meanwhile, Ken and Relk struggled slightly, their arms adjusting to the heft of their new blades, which, despite the magical lightening, demanded a strong grip and considerable strength to wield smoothly.
"Thank you, brother. I really appreciate this," Kevin said, looking up at Logan with genuine gratitude. The fact that Logan had remembered their birthdays despite his responsibilities and challenges touched him deeply.
"Thank you, brother!" Ken and Relk chimed in almost in unison, their voices filled with excitement.
Logan smiled broadly, pleased by their reactions. "As long as you like them, that's all that matters!" His heart was full, seeing his brothers so happy with their gifts, a bond of brotherhood strengthened by the steel of their new swords.