Master Of None

"What can you make with the bones? Aren't they too cold to properly add to anything? They would cool the fires and lose most of their water elemental affinity, wouldn't they?" Walker had a feeling that it was easier than he was thinking but he still lacked a lot of in depth forging knowledge so he had to ask what the bones could be used for. 

"Swords. Armors." The words were simple and Walker wondered how it would be done but knew that the wandering blacksmith would most likely show him when they had gathered more materials. It appeared he was already drawing out designs in his mind and all too focused to elaborate. But that wasn't new, he rarely spoke let alone explained things. 

The padding of footsteps put everyone on edge again but it was soon revealed to be Midnight ahead of Gil returning from scouting ahead a little ways. She appeared excited for what they had found and nearly grabbed Gil's arm with her mouth to drag him over to the rest of the groups. "Calm down. Calm down. We will tell them." 

"I take it you found something interesting on your scouting?" Su was trying hard not to giggle seeing how Midnight was dragging Gil along. It was incredibly comical. 

"Yes, we did as a matter of fact." Gil was a little miffed that even Su was trying to hold back laughter but he continued nonetheless. "There was a small rockslide ahead. But that doesn't matter because we can easily get around it. But it seems that it uncovered a cave that had its entrance blocked by a lot of rock. There isn't a breeze coming from inside so I don't think it is a large cave with a cave system connected." 

This was a small surprise but the mountain would change over time. It was very normal for the rocks to shift and the trails to need to be changed or forged anew. However, the cave was an interesting find. If it had been blocked and did not connect to anything then it was sure to have been mined out at some point years ago. It was also the best place for a skeleton to become a dead ice skeleton over the course of years without being found. 

"I think we can investigate a small cave. As long as we are very careful I have no reason to say we can not. I can even use some earth magic to sculpt a proper opening if we need it. I wouldn't be able to sure up anything if we were going in to a cave system, but a small cave is possible." After Walker had said this, the wandering blacksmith was already on the move prompting everyone to hurry themselves in to formation. 

After five minutes of climbing the winding trail, the rocks showed themselves to block the trail. It was small as Gil had said and easily walked over or around. The dark wall to the left of the rock slide was the thing to catch their eyes. It appeared to be covered in shadow but when someone looked closer they would find that it was not a shadow at all and actually a cave. 

"Midnight, you guard our client while we head inside. If we shout out to you to come in it is safe. If not we will leave or you should head back down towards the camping spot and wait there." This was the safest bet in case another of the skeletons was inside. 

Su took the lead in to the cave because she was the safest to take and counter the attacks from a dead ice skeleton. Walker didn't have room for the large hammer and decided to pull out his two smaller forging hammers. The entrance to the cave was surprisingly sturdy looking and Walker felt that if he used earth magic to stabilize it there would be no difference. 

"Leader, it appeared there are pieces of skeletons around." Su was pointing out bines on the ground that were definitely just old bones that had never risen to walk again. To investigate more, Walker used his skills to create a light orb that illuminated the small cave. 

"Gil was right, no way out once we are in. There are even pick axes left behind." Remey pointed toward a side wall left with rotting wood and rusted pick axes. 

"I hate to say it, but it looks like that skeleton must have torn apart these ones." The marks on the bones were faded but a pick axe had definitely defeated the living beings that had once been these skeletons. "The last one must have gotten trapped due to the entrance caving in and perished here to become the dead ice skeleton." It was a terrible story but one that happened often when people found something valuable and let their greed take hold of them. 

"I think this used to be a chest. And this wall definitely used to be minded." Su was running her hands over a portion of the wall that had been carved out. The chest she found was made fully of rusting metal to protect whatever was inside. 

"It's safe to come in!" Gil made the call and the wandering blacksmith rushed in as if he was barely containing himself while waiting. Midnight was right behind him. 

"Sister says that the wandering blacksmith is very excited to see what is left in a mined cave." Onyx had been sleeping in his tattoo form but finally spoke up for the first time despite the cold they faced. He had not wanted to because it was easier to sleep in the cold breezes and hide away under walkers' layers of clothing. 

"I'm pretty interested to see too. If it is something worth doing all this for it should be valuable." Walker still felt bad about what must have happened in the past but did not dwell on it since t was something he could not change. Instead, he focused on opening the rusted metal chest. 

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