The Dragon King and His Fallen Star novel Chapter 61

Chapter 61: New Forge, New Sword

EIRLYS‘ POV

+25 Points

Kierygan didn’t let go of my hand as he led me along the winding path. My other arm cradled Nibbles against my chest, his soft ears flicking lazily against my wrist as he dozed contentedly.

The sun was beginning its slow descent toward the horizon, casting golden rays that filtered softly through the trees. I couldn’t help but wonder why we were still out here at this hour.

“Seriously, where are we going?” I asked, for what felt like the third time since we’d left the palace.

“Be patient, Eirlys,” Kierygan said, his deep voice rumbling with quiet amusement. He didn’t even glance back, simply continued walking, his long strides tugging me gently along.

I huffed softly, narrowing my eyes at his broad back But as I looked around, recognition flickered through me. My brows drew together in confusion.

“Why are we heading to Solara’s cottage?” I asked. ‘We just left her in your study.”

“We’re not going to Solara,” he replied. “It’s somewhere else.”

My heart fluttered with curiosity, anticipation building with every step. His fingers tightened slightly

around mine, grounding me against the swirl of questions in my head.

“Then where?” I pressed, unable to keep the small note of excitement from my voice.

He glanced back at me for just a moment before rubbing the back of his neck. “Gods, Eirlys,” he

muttered, though there was a hint of a smile in his voice. “For the last time, be patient. We’re

almost there.”

We walked past Solara’s quiet cottage, heading deeper into the dense wood. Birds flitted

overhead, their songs weaving through the gentle whisper of leaves above us. Soon, the trees

began to thin, opening into a wide clearing bathed in golden light.

At its center stood a small stone–and–wood cottage. Smoke curled lazily from its chimney, carrying

with it the sharp tang of heated metal. Beneath the birdsong came another sound: the rhythmic

clanging of a hammer against steel.

A quiet gasp escaped my lips. “Is that… Ashteryn’s new workshop?” I asked softly.

The place thrummed with a familiar energy–strong and ancient, like the smith himself.

Kierygan gave a small nod. “It is.”

A smile broke across my face. Without thinking, I stepped forward, eager to see him, but Kierygan’s grip tightened around my hand, pulling me gently back against him.

“Not so fast,” he said, his voice firm but low.

1/5

<

Chapter 61: New Forge, New Sword

I blinked up at him, confusion fluttering in my chest. He gestured to a line of faint glowing markings etched into the grass and earth around the clearing’s edge.

“See those?” he said. “We can’t go beyond them without permission.”

“Why?” I asked, curiosity prickling sharper. “What happens if we enter without permission?”

Instead of answering, Kierygan sighed and released my hand.

“Stay right there,” he ordered, stepping forward and crossing the glowing boundary.

+25 Points

There was a sudden crackle in the air, like lightning splitting through a storm. In an instant, a force slammed into his chest, sending him flying backwards. He crashed against a tree trunk with a heavy thud that rattled its branches. Nibbles let out a startled squeak in my arms.

“Kierygan!” I cried out, rushing toward him as he groaned, one hand pressed against his chest

where he’d been struck.

Despite the pain twisting his features, his lips twitched into a strained smirk. “That,” he rasped, his

voice hoarse, “is what happens.”

“Are you okay?” I asked, my heart pounding.

He chuckled softly, already pushing himself back to his feet. “Don’t worry about me,” he said,

brushing off dirt from his trousers. “It’s the tree you should be worried about.”

Relieved, I turned back toward the cottage and cupped my hands around my mouth. “Ashteryn!” 1

called out. “Can we come in?”

For a moment, only the steady clang of his hammer answered me. Then his deep, gravelly voice

bellowed back, echoing through the clearing. “Eirlys? That you, girl? Aye, you can come in.”

“I’m with Nibbles,” I added quickly, bouncing the rabbit in my arms for emphasis. He merely flicked

an ear in sleepy annoyance. “And Kierygan.”

There was a brief pause. Then Ashteryn’s voice rumbled again, thick with amusement. “Of course.

Nibbles can enter.”

I bit down a laugh as Kierygan let out a quiet growl of frustration beside me. He crossed his arms over his chest, glaring at the workshop as if it had personally offended him. The protective markings still glowed faintly, barring his path.

“Ashteryn,” Kierygan called out, his voice edged with impatience. “I don’t have all day.”

Another long pause followed, filled only by the steady rhythm of metal striking metal. Finally, Ashteryn’s sigh reached us, low and grudging.

“Fine, Dragon,” he grumbled, though I could hear the smirk beneath his gravelly tone. “You may enter.”

|||

O

2127

2/5

Chapter 61: New Forge, New Sword

+25 Points

Kierygan exhaled sharply, his shoulders loosening as the glowing markings faded. He shot me a look–half glare, half exasperation–that made me bite down on my lower lip to keep from

laughing.

We finally stepped inside, greeted by the familiar scent of warm metal and charred herbs. The forge was much larger than his old cottage workshop, with high beams crisscrossing the ceiling and wide open windows that poured in slivers of golden morning light.

Rows of tools–some I didn’t even recognize–lined the walls in precise order. Yet other things remained the same. Bundles of dried herbs hung from the rafters, their earthy fragrance mingling with the scent of iron, and old iron kettles bubbled over a stone hearth in the far corner.

Despite its size and shine, the place still felt like Ashteryn–rugged, warm, and quietly powerful.

“This is incredible,” I whispered, running my free hand over the smooth wooden worktable while cradling Nibbles against my chest. “Everything’s so.. new. But it still feels the same.”

“Yes,” Ashteryn grunted, not looking up as he hammered a dull red blade against the anvil. Sparks flew with each strike, cascading around him like tiny falling stars. “Had to rebuild. Couldn’t risk

being caught unprepared again.”

“Do we always have to be let in like that?” I asked, hugging Nibbles a little tighter. “Every time we

visit?”

He finally paused, glancing over at me with one thick brow arched. “Yes,” he said flatly.”

Inconvenient, I know. But necessary.”

I nodded. “That’s understandable,” I said softly.

Kierygan cleared his throat. “Aren’t you going to show her something?” he asked Ashteryn, his tone

edged with impatience.

Ashteryn rolled his eyes and wiped his hands on a blackened cloth. “I was getting to that,” he

grumbled.

He reached beneath his worktable. When he turned back around, he was holding something wrapped in dark velvet. My breath caught in my throat.

“I heard you melted your old one,” he said, his deep voice softening as he handed it to me. “So I forged you a new blade. Made from the remnants of a fallen star. Stronger than any steel forged on this earth.”

I set Nibbles down on the floor, and he immediately bounded to a corner before flopping onto his side, his chubby body sinking into the warmth of the forge.

With trembling fingers, I unwrapped the sword. The blade was the same length as my old one, slightly curved, its surface dark as night with an iridescent shimmer running through it–like

III

O

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify