"From today, you are officially members of the Hephaestus Familia."
Inside the workshop, pulsing with the heat of the forging fire, the orange glow of the embers reflected in the eyes of the long, red-haired goddess. Hephaestus smiled kindly at Kael's bare back, sculpted by sweat and hard work. The aroma of hot metal and faint smoke wafted, enveloping them in a familiar bubble of peace.
"You've grown up, Kael."
Kael, with his black hair, nervously scratched his head. Flashes of light from the forge danced in his pupils. "Have I received the 'Divine Blessing'? My body doesn't seem to have changed much." There was a hint of disappointment in his voice, as if he had expected a dramatic, immediately visible transformation.
Hephaestus chuckled softly, a laugh like a rustling breeze. She patted Kael's shoulder, encouraging him. "Since you've just begun your adventure, you're only at the lowest level, Lv.1. Don't be too impatient. Even precious metals need to be forged thousands of times before they can take shape." The goddess's touch felt firm and reassuring.
Kael nodded attentively, his eyes sparkling with unconcealed excitement. More than ten years had passed since he first crossed dimensions into this world, which he knew as Dicuo, or now more popularly, Orario. Today, he had finally received the "Divine Blessing"—Falna. The dream of becoming stronger, of standing alongside the adventurers he admired, now felt within reach. As long as he could accumulate achievements and improve his ability scores, he would continue to grow and become stronger!
"However, for our clan, the way to achieve 'achievements' isn't just through combat," Hephaestus continued, her voice serious again, yet still gentle. She picked up her forging hammer once more, heavy in her hand, and began striking a mold on the anvil. The clang of hammer against iron filled the brief silence. "The situation in the Dungeon, Orario's underground city, is complicated, and accidents can easily happen. You can accumulate achievements first through 'Forging' and raise your level to Lv.2, after which it won't be too late to explore the Dungeon. A blacksmith with excellent skill is also very popular among adventurers."
As a forging deity, the Hephaestus Familia was renowned in the labyrinth city of Orario. The works of senior blacksmiths within this Familia enjoyed the highest reputation for quality in the market, every stroke and curve a testament to unmatched craftsmanship. Even first-class adventurers or clan members had to consider their financial resources to purchase them. Because of this, the Hephaestus Familia was one of the few Familias in Orario that did not rely on tributes from adventurers to operate. They stood independently, thanks to their superior forging.
Although Kael had just officially become a member of the Hephaestus Familia, he had been learning blacksmithing from the goddess for several years. He also frequently repaired armor and weapons for novice adventurers to earn pocket money, his hands already accustomed to the weight of the hammer and the heat of the fire.
"I understand, but I still want to go to the Adventurers' Guild to get acquainted first," Kael said, an urgent, impatient tone in his voice, as if eager to experience the atmosphere of adventurers.
Seeing Kael's eager face, the sparkle in the red-haired goddess's eyes softened into a helpless smile. "Forget it, I'll consider these few days a holiday for you. Don't forget to bring food for that 'parasite'. If left alone, that person might just be the first god to starve to death and have to return to heaven." Hephaestus shook her head gently, a gesture familiar to Kael.
The "rice weevil" Hephaestus referred to was, of course, his friend. She was also a face of Dicuo, the hearth goddess known as the blue ribbon, Hestia. Hestia had only recently descended from heaven and was notoriously gluttonous and lazy. She spent every day eating, drinking, playing, sleeping, and lazing about. It was no wonder Hephaestus used the word "parasite" to describe her. Yet, as a good friend, Hephaestus couldn't simply abandon her, so she allowed Kael from her own Familia to look after her. There was an unspoken bond among the three of them, an unexpected family forged in the hustle and bustle of Orario.
"Come to think of it, it's almost time to feed the guests... I mean, it's time to bring food." Kael glanced at the old clock hanging on the blacksmith shop wall. Amazingly, despite being exposed to smoke and fire all year, the clock looked as smooth and bright as if newly purchased. Perhaps it was the goddess's power inadvertently protecting it, or perhaps just a small miracle overlooked amidst the rush of life.
"Alright... Goddess, I'm leaving now." As Kael was about to exit the room, he suddenly remembered something. He turned to Hephaestus, who was swinging her hammer, her back to Kael, busy with her work. "Even if I become an adventurer, I won't give up my blacksmith training. One day, I will create something that will amaze even the goddess! If that day comes, Goddess, please don't forget the promise we made..." There was a fiery conviction in his voice, a promise uttered amidst the clang of the hammer and the heat of the forge.
"I know, I know," the red-haired goddess murmured without turning, her voice slightly hoarse with concentration. "We'll just wait until that day comes. Your current level is still far below mine." Though her voice sounded dismissive, the corners of her lips curved slightly upward.
After that, the young man's footsteps gradually faded and disappeared completely, replaced by the symphony of hammer and embers. Hephaestus stopped what she was doing, her hammer suspended in the air. She touched her flushed cheeks, warm not just from the forging fire. "After all these years, you still remember it. Is this child serious about me? If he can truly forge something that surpasses mine..." A mischievous thought crossed her mind, warming her heart. After a moment, the goddess shook her head and cleared the distracting thoughts from her mind, focusing back on the hammer in her hand. The task awaited, and the promise, let it remain a beautiful hope.
"Two small potatoes, please."
Upon leaving the Babel Tower, Kael bought two balls of fried potatoes from a street food stall. The savory, salty aroma wafted, filling the evening air of Orario. These crispy, delicious, and filling snacks cost only 30 Valis per serving and were a favorite among many adventurers, a quick and cheap stomach-filler. If not for the fact that they lost their best flavor once cold, many adventurers might buy several as food reserves when exploring the Dungeon.
"Should I explore the Dungeon first, or gather my knowledge and then make a breakthrough..." All along the way, his footsteps kept rhythm with the questions swirling in his mind. After officially receiving the "Divine Blessing" (Falna), to level up, he had to accumulate achievements. Achievements were similar to the experience points needed to level up. As Hephaestus had said, the path to greatness didn't have to be through "fighting." It could also be other deeds of valor and kindness. For example, forging powerful weapons, researching new magic or artifacts, and so on. This was one of the unique aspects of this world that he loved—many paths to power.
However, combat achievements, such as defeating powerful enemies, were the simplest and most direct way to gain them. Additionally, during combat, he would also train basic abilities and improve his ability scores. In contrast, progression through "forging" was very safe, a quieter, more measured path. However, due to limited ability score increases, his own strength was clearly not as robust as a combat-type adventurer. Kael stood at a crossroads, a choice that would shape his destiny in this new world.
Just as Kael was lost in thought, the bustle of Orario seemed to dim, his own footsteps becoming the only sound. A sudden command appeared before him, not in the air, but directly within his mind, seizing all his senses. The words floated, shining with a strange, silvery light.
[Detected that the host has obtained the "Divine Blessing", and the Myriad World Crossing System has been activated!]
[Currently traversable worlds: 1]
"Hm?" Kael stopped in his tracks, the fried potatoes he had just bought feeling cold in his hand. His heart pounded, pumping blood throughout his body.
"A System?!" There was a note of disbelief, yet also overwhelming hope, in his murmur. A wave of immense joy surged through him! After all these years, the ten years he had spent in a world that wasn't his own, his benefit as a time traveler had finally arrived! This was what he had been waiting for, what he had dreamed of, what he sometimes thought would never come.
"A Myriad World Crossing System sounds incredibly powerful. And once you get there, there's a world you can explore. Let me see what kind of world this is…" Based on the information that appeared in his mind after activating the system, Kael opened the system panel, an interface only he could see, and found the new world waiting to be explored. A strange sensation spread through his arms, as if the dimension itself was trembling.
However, when he saw the name of this world, his breath caught in his throat. His eyes widened, his body jolted, and he stood there in a daze, in the middle of Orario's bustling street, as if the world around him had suddenly frozen. The fried potatoes in his hand almost dropped.
[Traversable World: Terraria Calamity]