Hey there everyone! Sorry for the wait. I also want to say that now that they have added the option to add those line dividers on the Fanfiction app, I'm going to start using those instead of the Xs I use to sperate these sections. Transitions will be the same though.
Ceoko: I'm glad you like it! Here's that chapter you asked for. Merry Christmas... Wait it's not Christmas anymore is it?
UnkownSoul: Long and fun! Especially the part where broken bones happened.
Luine Mercury LWG: Perhaps. Though it is kind of hard not to become something more than friends when you've worked together for years.
ShadowfireAngel: That would be a very appropriate reaction if one hates monsters. I can agree that realism is required, but at the same time you also have to take into account that some are more used to the game and it's mechanics rather than things being more realistic. I don't mind reviews like the one you're responding to, because I had the same thought while I was writing the fight between Nergigante and Eclipsen.
Guest: If I had the chance to direct an animated series based off this, I would probably have a joy induced heart attack. That would be an awesome opportunity.
Nightshift the Dragon Shifter: And your wish is granted! And I'm glad you're enjoying it.
And with the reviews responded to, Onwards with the Story!
"Is this place always so lively?"
Richard asked as he followed his old partner towards the Canteen. After a long sea voyage that didn't involve alcohol, there was little else to do but relax and get horribly drunk. Eclipsen shrugged a bit as they climbed up the first set of wooden stairs.
"Astera has always been about hard work."
Eclipsen replied to Richard's question as he leaned to the right a bit and spied through the window of his Private Quarters. It didn't seem like Hether was up yet, and that promise of cold water on a hangover was becoming more appealing as each hour passed.
"That's vague."
Richard said, looking over the railing of the wooden walkway. Eclipsen spared a slight smile at the comment.
"There isn't a better way to describe it. Most of us here in Astera are usually working hard to keep things running. We can't afford to let something break down or fail because most of the time we don't have a spare to use."
Eclipsen said as they reached the second set of stairs just before the gateway to the Private Quarters. There wasn't a lie anywhere in the sentence, as Astera had only finished construction during the last Elder Crossing, which was a little over eleven years before Eclipsen had arrived. There was little time to build spares of parts or contraptions due to the constant changing of the New World. It was sporadic and unpredictable sure, but one was hard pressed trying to find another job that made them feel appreciated.
Richard gazed out over the Tradeyard once more, finding that he quite enjoyed the atmosphere. Astera was like one huge community, and everyone was an important cog in the machine. Yet, at the same time, there was a sense of kinship and duty that everyone shared, with no person going unnoticed. It brought at smile to Richard's face knowing that his old hunting buddy had found a place where he could live comfortably.
Eclipsen smiled as he walked up the final set of stairs into the Canteen, with the smell of freshly cooked food and simmering stew wafting into his face. It was always nice to smell the various foods being fried, baked or boiled in the Canteen, along with the occasional heavy, heavy beer. Eclipsen paused as Richard came to a halt, the Seregios armoured hunter looking up at the ingredients hung out to dry on the man-made leaf roof.
"Welcome to the Canteen. Feel free to look at the menu or peruse our fine wines."
Eclipsen said sarcastically as he bowed like a waiter, imitating the iconic silver platter on one hand. But instead of the laugh that Eclipsen expected, Richard looked at him with a faint hope in his eyes and a twinkle that the white haired Hunter recognized all too well.
"Do they really have wine?"
"Unfortunately, no. We usually get shipments of liquors and wines from the Argosy. All we have here is beer, and stronger beer."
Richard proceeded to deflate at the response, while Eclipsen let out a silent relieved sigh. Richard was originally from a small family of nobles, and if there was anything he inherited from his rich family, it was the ability to guzzle wine like it was water. And may the Sapphire Star save them if Richard decided to go on a wine binge, as he could get incredibly rowdy when he was drunk on wine.
"Well, now that you've seen the Canteen, you want to grab something to eat?"
-Transition-
"I don't think I need to say it, but welcome to the New World."
The Commander said as the middle aged woman in Old World Diablos armor looked down at the map of the New World on the Council Table. Her vermillion hair fell like a lava-fall down the pauldrons of her armor, and a pair of piercing emerald eyes accompanied her overall striking look. Another piece of Old World gear sat on her back; a Diablos Gunlance that had been heavily modified. Instead of the normal single spike most Gunlances had, it bore two spikes that imitiated a Diablos' horns almost uncannily well.
"Well, I'm just satisfied that you saw fit to let us stay here. We didn't exactly sign up for the Fifth Fleet like Eclipsen did."
She said with an appreciative smile as she marveled at the map of the New World. The Commander spared himself a smirk at the Old World hunter's amazement. He had been just as surprised at the amount of undiscovered land when he first arrived in the New World, and they were still finding out more every day.
"We don't turn down help here in Astera. Feel free to help out on any quests you find interesting. We might call on you to assist on more dangerous missions, but other than that, feel free to enjoy Astera for a while."
The Field Team Leader said with a smile. The Commander nodded in agreement, which made the woman smile and offer her hand. The Commander didn't hesitate in taking the offered limb and shaking it with a sense of purpose, something that was common around Astera. As the woman let go of the brief interaction, she offered an apologetic look.
"As much as I'd like to hunt a new monster, I need to meet up with the rest of out team soon. We received word that Eclipsen was having trouble with a new species of Elder Dragon and we hitched a ride so we could offer help."
The Commander grimaced a little before glancing over at the Field Team Leader. The young man was practically sweating as the woman looked between them, curiosity in her eyes. A tense silence fell upon the Council Table despite the fact that only the woman, the Field Team Leader, the Huntsman and the Commander were present.
"Something wrong?"
The woman asked, one of her vermillion eyebrows raising in curiosity and most likely mounting suspicion. The Commander's experience with military information quickly kicked in and the best course of action in his opinion revealed itself.
"It would probably be best for your partner to explain the situation. He should be near the Smithy or the Canteen."
The woman gave the Commander a skeptical look before giving a shrug. As much as the Commander didn't like throwing his best Hunter under the proverbial Diablos, explaining everything here and now would cause problems and not to mention take ages. She's that the Commander didn't have.
"Fair enough. Knowing Eclipsen, it's either stupid, strange or a mixture of the two. If I had any money, I would bet on the latter."
The woman said with a nonchalant tone. The Commander smiled softly in relief while the Field Team Leader visibly relaxed. It was good that the woman had enough trust in Eclipsen to assume that it was something relatively harmless. It would also soften the blow of the truth if it came from Eclipsen rather than some old military Commander who didn't even know her name yet.
"On that note, we never asked for your names."
The Commander said, keeping in line with his chain of thought. The woman nodded before responding.
"My name is Angela. I tend to handle more business related matters. You've already worked with Eclipsen, so it's time you met the rest of our team. I'll see if I can round them all up during the next big mission."
The Commander nodded in response. While Astera had a multitude of backup teams that waited on standby, an elite team of G-Rank hunters willing to go out an risk their lives was a massive advantage. The old military official smiled before offering his hand once more.
"We look forward to working with you."
Angela returned the smile and reached out to do the same with the handshake, giving a firm shake to the interaction.
"Likewise."
-Transition-
"Damn, there's so much food here! And it's freakin' delicious to boot!"
Richard exclaimed after he swallowed a particularly large piece of meat with some rice and gravy slathered on top of it. Eclipsen only chuckled as the Meowscular Chef puffed his chest in pride from the cooking area. The rest of the people around the Canteen also joined in on the slight laugh, offering tiny snickers and chuckles to add to Eclipsen's own.
Eclipsen took a bite of his grilled cheese and bacon sandwich as he watched Richard absolutely destroy the large plate of food in front of him. It reminded Eclipsen of the days all five of their team would get together and practice speed eating so they could consume record amounts before a hunt. Some people called it unhealthy, but the oversurge of energy during a hunt was invaluable.
That made Eclipsen's mind wander back to hunting. As much as he loathed to admit it, a part of him still enjoyed the thrill of the hunt. When he was locked in vicious combat with a monster, that part of him ignited and flared into a roaring flame that lusted for more battle. It was the piece of himself that he hated and appreciated at the same time. It was after all, the part of him the Frenzy Virus influenced and even the part that helped him slay Shagaru Magala itself.
He wasn't the only one to be effected by the Frenzy either. Richard, Angela, even the soft-spoken Nina was infected with the toxic bacteria that they had come into contact with when they were fighting Gore and Shagaru Magala. They all felt the pull of the Virus when they were in the midst of a hunt. It was a burden to all of them. Except for one.
"How is Fabien doing?"
Eclipsen asked before taking a larger bite out of sandwich. It was a drastically smaller meal than he was used to, but it hit the right spot. Richard paused in the middle of his bite before quickly gulping down the mouthful of rice he had packed into his cheeks. After swallowing his bite, Richard set down the fork and larger fork that had been provided for him.
"He's... Getting better. His eyes still aren't looking very good but..."
"Hm. Aren't 'looking' very good?"
Richard paused before he offered a chuckle alongside Eclipsen at the tiny pun that he had made. It was a heavy subject, but any kind of comedy was welcome. Even the lowest and most unimaginative forms became hilarious in dire or saddened moments.
"But he's getting better. He actually came with us, you know. He wanted to see what the Third Fleet could do for him."
"I see... Well, hopefully the Third Fleet Master can work one of their miracles. It still hurts to see him like that..."
"I know. It hurts all of us, but we gotta keep trying, you know?"
Richard placed a gentle hand on Eclipsen shoulder and gave a gentle shake. Eclipsen smiled sadly as he placed his sandwich down onto the wooden plate he had been given. He rested his elbows on the table and clasped his hands together. His appetite had waned, but it would return in time.
He still remembered that fateful day.
-Transition-
The sky roared with blackened clouds as the summit of Heaven's Mount, though it was not the only thing roaring in fury.
Four Hunters leapt out from behind a large boulder as the furious Shagaru Magala came rocketing down from the sky, it's golden scales cloaked in the purple toxin that it actively used as a weapon. The Elder Dragon screeched as a piercing round impacted it's back left leg before detonating, ripping away parts of it's golden hide.
The creature reared before pivoting, leaping directly for the man in Seregios armor who had assaulted it. The man quickly rolled forwards, dodging the attack by a breath as the creature tried to rend his torso from his waist. Another hunter quickly ran to his aid, their dual blades singing of victory and bloodshed as the slashed into the Shagaru Magala's right wing. The creature roared as it used it's wing like a flyswatter, extending the limb and sending the poor hunter flying though the air.
The third Hunter roared as they ran swiftly past the hunter in golden armor, their black sword singing in a similar way to the dual blades. But this weapon sang only of death and destruction. The Hunter impacted the Shagaru Magala's face like a meteor, gouging into the monster's eye with reckless and vicious anger. The Elder Dragon reared up on two legs in a wild attempt to dislodge the offender, but the Hunter only rammed the palm of his hand into the pommel of the sword, driving it ever closer to the monster's brain.
Another hunter sprinted swiftly at the Magala, driving their Diablos Gunlance into the back right leg of the beast before letting loose a blast from their weapon. The Elder Dragon screamed as it toppled to the floor, landing painfully on one of its wing-arms. The hunter with dual blades returned with a vengeance as the Shagaru Magala writhed on the ground. The hunter slammed his blades into the stomach of the creature while his companion's rained more pain down upon it.
But unfortunately for the hunter with dual blades, the creature had been especially angered by their attempt. The Shagaru roared before it lifted itself from the ground, flinging the Hunter with the black sword away and smacking the hunter with the Gunlance across the stomach with it's tail.
The creature then turned around and swiped angrily at the hunter with dual blades, striking them square across the face. The claws of the monster tore straight through the helm of the poor hunter, mutilating what lied underneath.
The skies weren't the only thing screaming that day.
-Transition-
Eclipsen sighed as he lifted his sandwich from the plate, taking a large bite from the meal. Richard had returned to eating as well, but was currently downing the mug of strong Nulberry cider next to his own food. The white haired Hunter offered a smile as he chewed his sandwich. It was nice to spend time with an old friend, even if it was just feasting.
A silence reigned as they continued to eat, with the chatter of the Canteen and the sound of meat sizzling on the slabs of cooking stone filling the silence with content. The atmosphere quickly wiped away any lingering sadness or melancholy and the anticipation of more of their merry band was turning into excitement. Eclipsen wanted to see them dearly, but he would wait for them instead. He wanted to explain everything before anything had the chance to take place.
Murphy's Law was an absolute bitch.
"Hey, Pard!"
Eclipsen quickly chewed and swallowed the remaining piece of his sandwich, leaving his plate empty. Hether was jogging lightly towards the table, her movements still visibly burdened by the hangover. Richard looked up from his already half eaten steak, rice and gravy, his crystal blue eyes filled with curiosity.
Eclipsen waved to the Handler as she walked towards the table. She sighed as she finally reached it, plopping her book down into the table's solid surface before sitting down heavily onto her claimed seat. The fading bags under her eyes didn't suit her normally happy look and the tiredness in her movements made her overall appearance much different than it normally was.
"Feeling a little better?"
"A little, but I still feel like crap."
Eclipsen chuckled at Hether's response, despite the fact that deep down he was disappointed that he didn't get to slash cold, agonising water on her. It would've been hilarious. But he shoved that thought to the side as one of the Canteen Palicoes placed a mug of what Eclipsen assumed to be something non-alcoholic.
"Hether, you haven't met my Old World partners have you?"
Hether's eyes immediately lit up when the words met her ears. She was familiar with Eclipsen's deeds back in the Old World and she had heard snippets about the team of five he traveled with, but she never expected one of them to show up in Astera. She looked over at Richard with a childlike sparkle in her eyes as the Seregios armored hunter stood from his seat.
Hether also shot up from her seat, offering her hand in the process. Richard smiled as he took her hand and gave it a solid shake. Had her book been slung over her shoulder, her free hand would've been practically strangling the strap.
"It's an honor to meet you, sir. I've only heard bits and pieces about you."
"The pleasure is all mine. Please, just call me Richard. I'd be happy to tell you more."
Richard said with a smile as he sat back down. Hether mirrored the action, her beaming smile now plastered firmly onto her face. Eclipsen grinned at the reaction of his Handler. He was aware that she was probably going to bombard Richard with questions, but that didn't bother either of them.
Hether's gaze faltered slightly as the sound of footsteps grew closer. Eclipsen took a guess as to who it was judging from the heavy sound of the feet and the Handler's confused look.
Then a hand snaked around Richard's shoulder, a blue handkerchief held tightly in it.
"Hey, does this smell like Chloroform to you?"
Richard made a confused face before his head proceeded to fall against the table with a heavy thud. Eclipsen had to bite down a bout of outright laughter at Hether's shocked reaction.
"Woah!"
The Handler said with some disbelief in her voice. Angela smiled wickedly as she sat down next to Richard, slipping the blue handkerchief into the front of her Diablos armor before reaching out to grab a piece of the huge steak that Richard had been eating. Richard's supposedly sleeping body reacted like lightning, reaching out and grabbing Angela's hand like a bear trap.
Richard grinned as he lifted his head from the table, the mischievous glint in his eye reflecting Angela's smile. Angela pulled her hand away from Richard's plate as he promptly let go of her wrist.
"Damn, thought that would actually work this time."
"You know I have a resistance to sleep inducers."
"Hey, I still have to try."
Richard, Angela and Eclipsen shared a chuckle as they went back to what they were doing. Angela settled in her seat as a Palico brought her a mug of something and Richard returned to eating the rest of his steak. Hether still had a dumbfounded look at the interaction she had just watched take place and Eclipsen was smiling at her reaction.
That had to be the closest he had come to genuinely laughing all day. Angela looked around the Canteen with curiosity as the Palico returned with menus for Hether and Angela. The Palico then circled the table and took the wooden plate that Eclipsen had left on the table, with the white haired Hunter giving the Palico a nod and gentle pat on the head as thanks.
"I'm sorry, but do you guys always do stuff like that?"
Hether finally asked. Angela and Richard looked up from what they were doing and spared glances at each other before laughing. Eclipsen lifted a fist to his mouth to hide the slightly louder chuckle that he let out. After the three were done laughing, Angela spoke.
"Oh you have no idea. We've pulled pranks like that on each other since we met. I once put a Hot Pepper in Eclipsen's-"
"Hey! No! You stop right there!"
Eclipsen quickly intervened. He remembered that prank, and he still wasn't happy about it. But a smile was stuck on his face as he pointed at Angela in warning. Angela only laughed a little bit harder as Richard had trouble swallowing his most recent bite through his laughter. Hether still had a shocked face at her partner's sudden statement as well as the tiny embarrassment blush on his cheeks.
"Come on, it was hilarious and you know it."
Angela teased as she tried to reign in her chuckles. Richard was tapping his fist on his chest to clear the particles of his meal from his throat. Eclipsen's fang like teeth shined as he spouted a mischievous smile.
"Alright, then how about the time we put Brachydios slime on the bottom of your chair?"
"That's different! We still haven't fixed the hole in the ceiling!"
Angela said with an angry tone, contrasting her mile wide smile like a shadow being cast from a light. Richard doubled over on the table, his laughter now beginning to drain his lungs of oxygen. Eclipsen himself was on the verge of devolving into mad laughter, but thankfully he managed to keep his cool. Hether was looking at the three like she was stuck in the middle of a clash between monsters, a look of fear and confusion on her face.
"How is it different? You know exactly what happens when you combine Hot Peppers with normal food!"
Eclipsen accused with a weak finger before the chuckles began to overtake him. Indeed, Hot Peppers and food did not mix. The result was a night on the toilet more similar to a volcano eruption rather than any sort of healthy bodily process. Angela's red hair met the table as she was overcome by her own rampant giggling.
Hether looked on, her brain failing to process the situation. This not how she expected her first encounter with Eclipsen's teammates to be.
-Transition-
"Sorry... I didn't mean to be late..."
Hether watched as a person dressed in male oriented Ceadeus armor sat meekly down on the empty seat next to Angela. What confused Hether was the fact that the voice of the person was incredibly quiet and female in tone. The Handler shrugged it off and returned to looking for something in her book.
"It's okay Nina, these things happen."
Richard said before he took a drink from his mug. None of them were drinking any kind of alcohol, as they wanted to save the partying for later in the night and after the promised explanation from Eclipsen. The sun was also around an hour away from even coming close to the horizon, which meant they had a long time before they'd be able to have proper fun.
"Especially around Astera. I've had days where I haven't even stepped outside the Tradeyard."
Eclipsen said as he followed in Richard's suit and took a long drink from his mug. There was a nervousness in his chest, but he felt it was somewhat misplaced. He'd known his team for upwards of the thirty years and he had an idea of what their reaction would be. Though he continued to hope it would positive ones.
"Alright, now that everyone's here, I supposed I should start telling you the truth."
The three fellow hunters looked at him with confusion. He wasn't surprised. He had never been a liar, nor one to keep the truth away from someone else. But what had happened in the last few days became painfully real when he was faced with talking about it to old friends. Hether also looked up from her book with the eyes of a Kelbi in the way of a Diablos.
"Should I-"
"Hether, you're more than welcome to stay. You already know what this is about."
Eclipsen answered the question before it managed to finish leaving her mouth. A sparkle of understanding flickered in her eyes before she swiftly closed her book, giving a polite nod as she moved it to the side. Hether had known Eclipsen long enough to recognize the times when he secretly wanted some support.
The three hunters still maintained their puzzled looks, though Richard had some slight context to the situation. He was the one who asked about Nergigante, and Eclipsen's response had been to ask if he was willing to wait for an explanation. Richard leaned forward and set his mug off to the side.
"I assume you all want to know what happened with the recent Elder Dragon problem. Long story short, a new Elder Dragon named Nergigante showed up and began to cause problems. What comes after is a longer story."
The rest of the team then nodded in understanding. Hether looked between Eclipsen and the three with a serious look on her face. It wasn't something that she normally wore, but it was definitely important when she did.
"So, here's what happened."
-Transition-
Nergigante shook herself slightly as she walked back towards the Smithy. The measurements had been slightly uncomfortable, she was far too strong to give in to something so trivial as having a human put a tape measure next to her.
The woman named Fæna walked forward calmly, recording the measurements in a small notepad. Nergigante found herself enjoying the woman's company, as she was quiet and strong willed. She didn't seem to be like the one to be comfortable behind a counter selling and buying things, but she handled it with dignity and more pride than someone other than Nergigante could know.
Nergigante knew something about pride.
The heat of the forge was like a smack to the face once more as she re-entered the Workshop. The Head Smith was working away at an unsharpened blade as Fæna and Nergigante walked in, initially failing to notice their approach.
"Hey boss."
"Aye?"
Nergigante raised an eyebrow. She found the way he said that strange. Such a simple sound in the form of a question made her mind turn a little. These humans had such a complex language, yet she was leaning it like it was rudimentary. Monsters only had roars, body language and some form of mutual understanding to go off, yet these humans managed to take everything in their language and make it simple yet powerful.
Nergigante suspected that she would never truly understand the way humans did things, but certain parts were becoming clearer. The Head Smith's movement quickly drew Nergigante out of her thoughts, with the older man setting the newly sharpened blade down on the strange moving section of the counter he sat behind. Nergigante watched with interest as the blade moved from in front of the man towards the side of the forge.
Fæna handed the Head Smith the notepad, her free hand resting in her hip as she did so. Nergigante directed her attention towards the forge, watching as the molten materials or whatever else was hammered continuously. The process of creating armor from the remains of monsters was still disgusting and vile to her, but she smelled none of the scents that came with human armor or the lingering scents of monsters.
It seemed they were only working on metals in this place.
"Here's her sizes. I'm going to work on her clothes, but this should give you an idea of what to work with."
"Aye. Thanks fer' yer' help Fæna."
"Don't mention it."
Fæna said with more respect than Nergigante expected from the phrase. How she was picking up on these subtle nuances, she didn't know. FÃna quickly turned and moved back toward her counter, giving the Elder Dragon a pat on the shoulder before slipping back behind the booth.
Nergigante glanced about the Workshop for a moment, ignoring the Head Smith's lingering eyes. Since she couldn't smell the scents of other monsters, she felt much more comfortable in this place.
Even though human armor was heavily coated in the smell of their society, the remnants of her brethren were still there. Like tiny, almost inaudible screams for help. Nergigante found staying in a group of hunters or humans wearing armor to be like being suffocated by the hands of the dead, but places like Eclipsen's dwelling and this forge were free of such feelings.
"Oi, Lass."
Nergigante gave a slight glare towards the Head Smith as he lifted a part of the conveyor belt. He made a slight motion with his head, followed by his next words.
"Come meet the boys. They'd love to have some company. Maybe ye' will learn how to forge some metal."
He said with an inviting smile. The two younger blacksmiths continued to work, as if they hadn't heard the words of their mentor. Nergigante found it likely that they in fact did not hear, since the sound of the hammering was deafeningly loud to her monster ears.
She considered it for a moment. She could handle the heat and the sound, but she couldn't handle anything to do with the forging of human armor. Metal was fine, but she couldn't, and would not, participate in the forging of her fellow monsters. Her yellow eyes locked into the Head Smith like a viper preparing to strike, yet the older man refused to yield.
"Ye' don't have anythin' to worry about. We don't forge a lot of monster armor 'round here. We work with mostly metals here. Some others here share yer' stance on our armor."
Nergigante found that statement unlikely and her look said all of it. The Head Smith frowned for the first time she had witnessed and quickly placed the lifted part of the conveyor belt down. His face shifted into one of seriousness, something that she had not seen before. It shocked her slightly, but she wouldn't yield.
The forge seemed to groan as Nergigante let a growl out of her throat. The two blacksmiths behind the Head Smith ignored the sound and kept working. The Elder Dragon heard Fæna shift from her place at the booth, but there was no sound indicating her approach.
The Head Smith leaned forward and put his hands firmly on the edge of the conveyor belt, his eyes flickering with a slight anger. Nergigante did the same, allowing her yellow eyes to bore deep into his dark brown ones and bearing what left of her fangs.
"Listen here, Lass. Ye' need to stop bein' so angry at us for what we're forced to do. Believe me, I've been here fer' far longer than ye' have. Ye' think we can't hear their screams when we work? Ye' think we can't feel them tryin' to claw their way back to freedom? Ye' think we can't feel some sympathy fer' em?"
Nergigante's only response was a growl and through it her feelings spilled forth. She couldn't forgive humans for what they did. They killed, murdered and rampaged their way through everything, and she would never forget what they did. They took pride in it. They took pride in slaughtering and wearing the skin of innocents who had done nothing but live peacefully.
"Yer' wrong, Lass! We regret every minute of it! I used to be hunter. Ye' know why I quit? Because I saw that tiny lad of a monster quiverin' behind his Mama when I was ready to kill 'er in cold blood. And I killed 'em both. I will never forget that. I've been livin' with it fer' damn near fifty years. I regret all of it! I refuse to touch or forge anythin' even remotely close to what that Fiver does! I don't do the forging 'round here, the Lads do!"
The Smith's face had contorted into one of rage and the fire of the Forge seemed to surge along with it. A small sound didn't register in Nergigante's mind. The sound of weeping near the two young Blacksmiths.
"Any lesser man woulda' quit forging right then and there! And yer' damn sure I fuckin' thought about it. But that meant other people, other humans would die by the hands of monsters they weren't prepared for. Ye' may consider that a win fer' your kind, but for us it's a man lost in the process of makin' a livin. Tell me, Lass. Would you let some poor young monster go an' try to gain glory slaying a hunter to had just killed eight other Elder Dragons?"
Nergigante growled. Of course not. She would never let some stupid youngster try and fight a hunter. She would rather kill the hunter herself. If it meant keeping those other monsters safe, then she'd gladly kill a hunter.
"Exactly. Ye' would kill to protect yer' own, so we do the same. We forge through the screams o' pain and despair. Even those two lads back there have heard 'em scream while they work. We forge so other men and women don't leave behind a family to starve. We forge to keep others safe, because we don't have yer' precious scales and claws and teeth that can tear through steel. We're just human."
Nergigante scratched the metal edge of the conveyor belt, her strong yet small claws digging into it with ease. She knew exactly how she felt. Perhaps humans wouldn't have to make the their disgusting armor of they didn't hunt in the first place. It was their own fault for making hunting a core part of society. She let out another growl as the Head Smith sighed.
A hand set itself of her shoulder and Nergigante looked over her shoulder like an angry Deviljho. Her eyes had taken on a slight glow thanks to her frustration and the glow of the forge. Fæna stood quietly, her as gentle as it could be resting hand on Nergigante's shoulder.
"Look, Lass."
Nergigante's angry glare whipped back around to the Head Smith, only to find that he had moved to the side. Then her eyes percieved what her ears had failed to register.
The two young blacksmiths had stopped hammering away at their projects, the heads of their hammers sitting quietly on the floor while they wiped a few tears from their eyes.
Nergigante's gaze immediately began to soften. She hated these humans, but to see two young humans most likely younger than she was crying over the things they had done was jarring. The Head Smith's angry glare had softened into one of slight sadness as the Elder Dragon's eyes looked over at the two apprentices.
She had never thought she would feel regret for hating humans, but at that moment she did. Deep down inside, past all the scales, flesh, anger and hatred, a part of her realized that she had attacked innocent young living creatures for something they could not help. She had not attacked them with claws or teeth, but with the same weapon Fatalis used. Hatred.
"Lass, we understand ye' hate us, but ye' can't keep going on thinkin' every man or woman takes pride in what they do. We work on armor first-hand. We can still hear those poor creatures tryin' to beg fer' mercy. We hear all of it. And it hurts us too."
The Head Smith's last statement wasn't angry or sad, just matter of fact. Fæna let go of Nergigante's shoulder as she moved back to her counter and the Head Smith turned and walked towards the two young blacksmiths. He quickly set his hands on their shoulders and began to lead them away from the forge, their eyes haunted and slightly puffy.
"C'mon Lads. No more forging fer' today."
Nergigante didn't respond to either action. She didn't watch the older man lead the two young ones away. She didn't watch Fæna slip back behind the counter. She only paid attention to the regret that was already tearing it's way through her chest.
Was she the monster?