The orange sun cut across the desert as the group finally passed once more through the gates of the Second Floor's central city.
NPCs moved like real townsfolk. Newly arrived players fought over water, shade, and potions. The city felt more alive than before.
Their first stop was obvious.
The seamstress.
The same woman who had adapted the thermal leather just hours earlier.
She smiled when she saw them enter.
— Ah… you came back quickly. — Her eyes swept over the group. — And in better shape than I expected.
Marcus placed the scroll on the table.
The seamstress's smile vanished.
Her eyes widened.
— That is… is that real?!
Ethan nodded.
— Blueprint of the Sun-Reflecting Mantle. Real armor against extreme heat.
The woman took a shaky breath.
— I'm sorry, my dears… but this is far beyond my skill. I can't do it. I don't have the tools… or the knowledge.
Jay frowned.
— Is there anyone here who can?
The old woman sighed and pointed her thumb out the window.
— There is… a new crafter in the region. Arrived not long ago. They say she's a genius… a prodigy… and completely out of her mind.
Sienna laughed.
— Out of her mind?
— Too extroverted, loud, always blowing something up. — The seamstress rubbed her face. — Her tent looks like it survived a hurricane. But no one crafts better than her.
Marcus raised an eyebrow.
— Name?
The seamstress almost laughed.
— Taiga.
They followed the dusty streets until they reached a tent… unlike any other.
It was part workshop, part junkyard, part laboratory, part storage room—and pure chaos.
Tools hung from the ceiling. Metal scraps glittered across the floor. Runes were scribbled all over the walls. A crooked sign read:
"DO NOT ENTER IF YOU'RE IN A HURRY."
From inside, a voice echoed.
— IT WILL WORK, YOU STUBBORN PIECE OF SCRAP!!!
— I'M MORE STUBBORN THAN YOU ARE!!!
Elenya tried calling out.
— Um… Taiga?
Nothing.
Ethan tried.
— Excuse us?
Nothing.
Sienna crossed her arms.
— Hey, talented lunatic?
Nothing.
Marcus spoke firmly.
— Miss Taiga?
Silence.
Jay sighed, took a deep breath, and shouted:
— TAIGA!!!
— HUH?!
The girl jumped back, tripped over a table behind her, and smacked her head against a beam.
— THAT HUUUURTS!!!
She stood up rubbing her head, hair a mess, glasses crooked, and a fresh bump forming.
— Stupid beam…
Wincing in pain, she turned—and saw the group standing there.
— Ooooh! Newbies! — she started cheerfully… then stopped.
Her gaze locked onto Jay.
For half a second, something shifted.
Her eyes dropped to the shield. Back to his face. She blinked quickly, like her thoughts had stumbled.
— …you… — slipped out, too quiet to be a question.
The silence lasted less than a breath.
Taiga shook her head like shaking dust from her mind, grabbed her hammer, and snapped back to life.
— Right! Welcome to the most honest workshop in the desert! Honest because if I blow you up, I warn you first!
Sienna burst out laughing.
Jay stepped closer.
— You're… Taiga?
She rested the hammer on her shoulder, proud.
— The one and only. The original. — She pointed at him. — And you're the shieldie.
Jay blinked.
— …Shieldie?
— Yep. Big shield, but you're kinda cute.
— I… I am not cute.
— You are. And that's why I'm calling you Shieldie.
Jay turned his face away, red.
Sienna nearly collapsed laughing.
Marcus placed the scroll on the table.
Taiga froze.
— Th—
— Th—
— IS THAT A REAL BLUEPRINT?!
She snapped the scroll open so fast it looked like teleportation.
— Sun-Reflecting Mantle… original runes… dual-layer weave… NO WAY!!!
Ethan handed over the ancient forging tool.
Taiga went completely still.
Then exploded.
— OH MY GOD!!!
— YOU HAVE THE PERFECT PIECE!!!
— THE ONLY TOOL THAT CAN FORGE THIS!!!
Jay laughed.
— Easy there, little Taiga…
She spun instantly.
— Little Taiga? Are we already at that level?
— Uh… you're kinda short…
She crossed her arms.
— Fine. I'll allow it. But only because it came from the cute shieldie.
— I AM N—
— …Whatever.
Sienna said loudly:
— They're totally dating in five chapters.
Taiga replied without looking up:
— I heard that.
When the forging began, the entire city knew.
CLANG.
CRASH.
PUFF.
BOOM.
— THAT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO CATCH FIRE!
— JAY, HOLD THIS!
— SIENNA, THE PURPLE POTION!
In the middle of the chaos, Taiga worked like an artist.
Hammer. Runes. Blue energy. The fabric seemed to breathe.
At last, she lifted the mantle.
Silver. Cold to the touch. Alive.
— TADAAAH!!! THE SUN-REFLECTING MANTLE!!!
Marcus put it on.
— Perfect.
Ethan smiled.
— You're a genius.
Taiga puffed out her chest.
Jay took a deep breath.
— Taiga… want to come with us?
She grew serious.
— I want to. You guys are amazing. — Her gaze flicked briefly to Jay, almost unnoticeable. — But I have a mission here. People arrive every day scared out of their minds. If I leave… they die.
Elenya smiled.
— That's noble.
— I know. — Taiga winked.
She split the ancient tool into five crystals and handed one to each of them.
— With these, you can talk to me from anywhere. Just channel mana and say my name.
Jay raised the crystal.
— So… we'll keep talking?
Taiga smiled. A small, sincere smile.
— Always, Shieldie. I'll be listening.
She waved her hammer.
— NOW GO! THE BOSS WON'T DEFEAT ITSELF!
— AND IF YOU DIE… I'LL LAUGH AT YOU!
— BUT WITH LOVE!
The group laughed and left.
Taiga stayed there, waving, hammer resting on her shoulder.
And for a brief moment, before returning to the chaos of her workshop, she touched the spot where Jay's shield had brushed past…
…and smiled in a way only she understood.