Balin held the blue-black ore up toward the forge, carefully studying the patterns and sheen of the light reflected from its surface.
The dwarf was bare-chested. Sweat streamed over his reddened skin, then quickly evaporated in the heat, leaving white salt stains.
Renato looked around the workshop. He noticed that the materials were arranged exactly as they had been yesterday; even the tools had not moved.
Had the dwarf been engraving at the forge for an entire day and night?
"Destiny." Balin stroked the ore, feeling its texture beneath his fingertips, and murmured, "This must be Moradin's doing, allowing me to accomplish the feat I've spent half my life envisioning..."
Ever since Renato had handed over the unknown metal purchased from the Acid Tunnel Mine for appraisal, Balin had remained in this rambling, mystical state, deaf to every question and utterly absorbed in his own world.
Renato ventured:
"Balin, if you're feeling unwell, I still have a few Healing Potions..."
"Human boy, do you know what you've found?" the dwarf suddenly shouted in excitement, his voice drowning out even the roar of the forge.
"This is something from beyond our world! It comes from an ancient meteor that tore through the barrier between the Astral Plane and the Material Plane-unforged ore of a kind this world lacks! And I can engrave it with my own hands..."
"I didn't find it." Despite the dwarf's excitement, this concerned the future of the Silent Lady, so Renato calmly reminded him, "A Duergar crossbowman discovered it. I can call him here to confirm..."
"No need! There can be no mistake!" Balin cradled the ore in both hands. "I couldn't mistake it. This texture, this sheen... To think Ereel actually holds such a mineral..."
"Balin, you're confusing me a little." Renato lowered his voice, trying