Fiery amber eyes focused on the shimmer of the rippling steel in the light of the forge. They traced over the dancing metal with all the precision of an artisan, scouring it for any signs of imperfections, delaminations, or flaws. The beautiful pattern forged into the tempered steel reflected the light beautifully, showing off its unmarred finish. The blade was utterly perfect as far as he could see. No warps from the quenching, the edge was razor sharp and hard without being brittle, and the mirror finish on the entire blade made the signature Carpathian steel pattern stand out with every shift of the angle. This particular pattern in the steel had come out with rippling bands and ribbons of the Carpathian steel and forged steel like cables intertwining with one another, a pattern Artorias had never crafted before. But for this blade and its purpose, the uniqueness was perfect.

Setting to work on the handle, Artorias selected a block of ebony wood harvested from the trees in the southern continent’s grasslands. The dark contrast and durability of the wood would be the perfect match for this new blade. After carving and sanding down the wood into an ergonomic grip, the dire wolf bladesmith attached the handles to the blade and affixed them in place with matching Carpathian steel pins with a piece of fire agate embedded at the end of each pin. He then varnished and sealed the handle before polishing it all down and admiring his work. The blade had a thin, curved profile, clearly designed to be a wicked sharp slicer and thruster. The bright silver metal and black handle stood in sharp contrast, and the fire agates inlaid in the pins stood out like little embers of fire against the dark wood. As a final finishing touch, Artorias had carved out the initials "B.C." into the handle and gilded them in rich gold that blazed against the ebony.

Sheathing the finished dagger in a scabbard made of supple alpaca leather tanned and dyed black, Artorias stowed the weapon away in an ash wood box for presentation purposes, then left the resin to finish curing and setting on the handle. It would take at least a day for it to set fully, and for now he had to wash up and prepare to meet his family for dinner.

— time skip —

Artorias returned to the forge the following day and checked on the handle of the dagger, pleased with how tightly and securely it held on. After giving it a few test swings against a mannequin to ensure its lethality and squeezes in his jaws to make sure it all held together, the weapon was finally ready. It had taken the better half of a season to forge and countless days of failed attempts, but every millimeter of the Carpathian steel dagger had been lovingly crafted to perfection. Stowing the weapon in its box, the Lord of Cinder carried the gift out to the Great Hall and took his seat upon his throne, setting the box down on the expansive dining table his family ate at while he howled for his daughter, Bramble.

"Artorias Carpathius" | "Carpathian"

The beckoning howl from her father was met with an intrigued expression and perked ears. Its echo carried all the way up the several flights of stairs to her room where she sat brushing her fur. While she was not always the cleanest and well-kept Carpathian offspring, she at least attempted every now and then. Now that she was official Envoy, her looks mattered a bit more than if she had chosen the path of a fighter.

Quickly setting the brush down upon her table, Bramble wastes no time hurrying from her room. Racing down the steps with poise and grace, ah heck, it's Bramble. She definitely stumbled a time or two over her quite large paws, but nothing she couldn't recover from with a wag of her tail and a shy smile to anyone who had witnessed. Navigating easily to the hall, she slides in through the doors and sees her father sitting at the head of the head where he always sat. Looking around for a moment, she pauses, brow scrunching as she wonders where everyone else was. If they weren't meeting in the council room, this must not be related to the pack...

"Tati, Sper că te descurci bine," she says as a smile slowly spreads over her lips though she is still slightly suspicious. Her eyes continue to scan the room as she approaches a seat near his. As she slides the chair out to sit in it, her gaze finally lands on the box he has beside him. Another furrow of her brow as she makes herself comfortable, sitting up straight and looks to him with curiosity. "Am I going to want to know what is in the box?" Her voice is quiet, even if a little suspicious.

"Bramble"

Artorias didn't have to wait long before the rhythmic click-click of scurrying paws across the stone floors came into the Great Hall. The Lord of Cinder looked up to greet his daughter with a fatherly smile, eyes full of love and pride for his child. She greets him with their family tongue and he is quick to respond in kind. "Bună, fiică. Azi sunt mai mult decât bine. Sper că vei fi și tu." A knowing little roguish smile turned the corner of Artorias' lips while Bramble got settled in the seat beside his, her attention immediately on the box. Art pretended not to acknowledge it at first until she came right out and asked about it, only then glancing down at it with feigned surprise. "Oh, what? This old thing? Nah, I don't think it's anything you'd really want." He was teasing her of course, and it was obvious in the way he emphasized his words. What kind of father would he be if he didn't poke fun at his kids every now and then?

Not drawing out her curiosity any longer, Artorias slid the box across the table until it was in front of Bramble. He didn't open the lid, instead letting her reveal her own gift herself. He wanted the surprise factor to be her discovery. Amber eyes watched with eager anticipation while Bramble revealed the elegant Carpathian steel dagger nestled within, giving her a moment to absorb its detail. "This is for you, Bramble," he explained afterward, enjoying just watching her reactions and taking in the moment. He was going to want to remember this core memory. "M-ai făcut cel mai mândru tată care a trăit vreodată. Să te am ca fiică a fost una dintre cele mai mari realizări ale mele. Am vrut să știi cât de mult te iubesc și cât de mândru sunt de lupul în care ai devenit." With a lopsided grin, Artorias waved a paw over the dagger. "Acum aveți o parte din moștenirea familiei noastre pe care să vă protejați atunci când vă desfășurați munca în străinătate. Ai câștigat asta."

"Artorias" | "Carpathian"