The Quiet Forge
Adrian Hale, a 19-year-old swordsman and apprentice blacksmith, lives in Valdric, a bustling medieval city where adventurers chase glory and dungeons tempt the brave. Unlike other hot-blooded youths, Adrian stays low-key, preferring the steady rhythm of hammer and anvil over the chaos of fame.
Raised by a modest blacksmith uncle after his parents disappeared during a dungeon expedition, Adrian learned discipline, self-reliance, and the value of honest work. But he isn’t ordinary — he possesses a faint, mysterious “system” that whispers small insights about materials, weapons, and trade, though never enough to make him overpowered.
Determined to build a peaceful life, Adrian balances sword training with running his forge, crafting high-quality weapons for adventurers while avoiding unnecessary attention. Along the way, he forms quiet friendships, crosses paths with noble clients, and earns a reputation for both skill and fairness. Yet beneath Valdric’s thriving markets and lively taverns lies a shifting world of political intrigue, dungeon secrets, and magical currents that threaten to draw even a low-key blacksmith into events far beyond his plans.