The next morning...
The workshop echoed with the rhythmic clang of a hammer on hot metal as Nellas shaped the material.
Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, and he tied his long silver hair back. Each swing of the hammer felt familiar and purposeful.
As he worked, his mind wandered to recent events. Thoughts of the old man and the girl lingered, puzzling him. He grappled with their identities and his own emotions.
"Mom and dad are coming back tomorrow," he murmured, a mix of excitement and mild worry in his voice. The idea of their return comforted him, yet his feelings were tangled and complex.
The blacksmith's workshop was really hot because of the summer sun. Nellas wiped his forehead with his hand.
The heat from the forge mixed with his hard work, making him tired but also strangely full of energy.
Right when he was going to hit the metal again, a sudden display popped up in front of him, grabbing his attention.