It took Callie, Marie, and Rukhar several hours to fully skin the Hydra, remove the bones, and to gather all the remaining weapons in just the cave they were in, nevermind the few dozen more on the way back they would have to pick up. But they were finally back to mining for the desired metals. This far down, the better ores were frequent.

"Well." Rukhar said, stretching. "At least we have adamantite and the other good metals down here."

Callie began erratically mining everything she could see, which wasn't much. Without the shiny crystals of the Hydra, the cave was very dark. But she had an idea.

"Rukhar, can I have an arrow? Just a normal one." She asked.

"Uh, sure." He said. He tossed her one, and she lit it on fire.

"Ok, that's why." He said. "At least we can see..."

The remainder of this expedition was successful, as no more large monsters attacked, only a few giant cave spiders that were easily handled. The group made out with a good amount of Ghost Iron, Adamantite, Iridium, Blood Diamonds, Arcane Quartz, Purified Gold, Zanite, Symbiotic Stone, and Valence Iron. They also had large amounts of Tin, Brass, Copper, Iron, Elemental Diamonds, Pyrite, and of course Rainbow Quartz, and Hydra Scales. Rukhar seemed to be saving the bones for something else, however.

"What kind of metal do you think would be good for me, Rukhar?" Callie asked. Marie had a general idea of what she wanted.

"Hmm... With a Brawler, Zanite is a good material, because it hits harder the more you use it. And it isn't super heavy for a metal, but it'll still be heavier than your current hammer." He said. "Plus it matches your tentacles, as a side bonus. Any gemstones you put on, I would say Aero Diamonds and Magma Diamonds. For speed and damage, as well as fire and air affinity."

"Hmm." Callie said. "Ok!" She was very happy. She hugged Rukhar's arm as they walked, picking up discarded weapons along the way.

Rukhar blushed, and this time, Callie noticed.

"What's wrong?" She asked, concerned.

"It's just..." Rukhar tripped over his words. "I just... I think you're cute!" He gasped.

Marie was dying of laughter in the background.

"O-oh..." Callie blushed in response.

They walked a short while in silence. Marie knew what Callie was thinking, but Rukhar was having an anxiety attack the size of a small country. Both were desperate to change the subject, but neither really wanted to drop the current one. Luckily, Marie came to the rescue.

"I think I know what I want, but I'm gonna make sure." She said. "Would it be bad if I alloy Ghost Iron with Tundra Diamonds and some Iceberry Skins?"

"I mean..." Rukhar said. "Leave the skins out of the barrel, but other than that it's great for you."

"And I'll want the Aero Diamond, more Tundra Diamonds, and Steel Diamonds to inlay?" She asked.

"Y-yes." Rukhar said. "Precisely."

"Great. Just checking." She said. "You two really need to talk. Just saying."

Both blushed in response to Marie's remark.

They walked all the way back to the facility in silence, broken only by the crunch of dry grass. As they passed the heavy duty AAs out front of the door, Callie finally broke the silence.

"You really think I'm cute?" She asked.

Jay, still hiding in the bush, grinned maniacally.

"Y-yeah..." Rukhar said. "From the way you talk, how happy and positive you are, you make me feel better just being around you."

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Callie asked.

"I was nervous you wouldn't like me." Rukhar said. "We've only known each other for a few weeks..."

He was cut short, as Callie gave him a quick hug.

"Maybe I'm silly, but I think you are pretty cool." She said. "You don't have a big puppy, and sometimes you are super quiet, but you are the freshest person I've met here."

Marie whispered in his ear. "That's the best compliment from where we come from."

Rukhar blushed, but cracked a small grin. "Thanks, Callie."

Callie beamed back. "Let's go make our things, shall we?"

"Ok." Said Rukhar.

Callie started walking down the halls quickly, pulling Rukhar behind her.

"Heh. I knew it." Marie said. "Also Jay, get your stalking ass out of the bushes."

How'd you know?" Jay asked.

His question was answered when he realized his Pheonix had healed, and was perched on his bush.

"Oh." He said, coming out.

"Well, I gotta get my new gear made too." Marie said. "See ya!"

She left back into the wild, to harvest some Iceberries for her weapon, and some Ironvines for her armor.

Callie/Rukhar focus.

Callie and Rukhar arrived in the ironforge. They were in luck that day. Jacopo himself was hanging out.

"What are you doing here, sir?" Rukhar asked.

"Just messing around." Jacopo said. "Adding to my Ironforging skill. 12,000 just won't cut it, for making better weaponry for the Axis of Origin."

"We were just coming in the make some better weapons ourselves." Callie said, somewhat meekly. Whole she would never admit it to his face, Jacopo kinda scared her.

"Then you're in luck, provided you have compensation." Jacopo said.

"I bought 40 boxes of Cyanide Cereal off the black market." Rukhar said.

"Hell yeah dude. You know what I look for. Very well, what are you seeking?" Jacopo asked.

"A better hammer." Callie said.

"Yeah, but with what?" Jacopo asked.

"Uh... Zanite, I think it was." Callie said.

"The purple rocks." Rukhar told her.

"Alright. I'll need at least 80 chunks of ore." Jacopo said.

Between Rukhar and Callie, they had a clean 100.

"Not too many are high grade, but it's more than enough." Said Jacopo. He put all of them into a melting pot. "Any other things?" He asked.

"No." Said Callie.

"Very well." Jacopo started heating the pot. "And you, young Rukhar?

I'm looking for arrowheads and a composite type bow, Adamanti-Iridius. He said, producing all the Ghost Iron, Adamantite, and Iridium he had.

"Hmm..." Said Jacopo. "That's plenty enough." He took only what was needed, proportionally.

He tossed all the components into a separate pot, and started it up.

"By the way." Rukhar said. "Marie is gonna be back later, looking for a new weapon as well."

"Aight." Said Jacopo. "But leave that cereal with me."

Rukhar took out the Cyanide Cereal. "All 40 boxes." He said. They pair turned to leave.

"Come back in a few hours, your weapons will be ready by then." Jacopo said.

Rukhar and Callie went to the dorms. Once they got to Callie's Room, they say down, and took deep breaths.

"So." Callie started, hesitantly. "You say you've thought I was cute."

"Yes." Said Rukhar. "Since we met."

"And I think you're really cool." Said Callie.

"...yes." said Rukhar.

"And you have gone out of your way to protect me, as much as Marie, my own cousin, does." Callie concluded.

"Yes?" Rukhar said.

"You like me." Callie blushed very hard, but said flatly.

"I do." Said Rukhar.

"I like you as well." Said Callie. "You're the nicest person I've met here, and you keep proving it."

"You... You do?" Rukhar said, surprised.

"Of course silly." Callie giggled. "Frozo is too over the top, and Jay is... Well, Jay. And Rago is kinda depressing."

"I guess." Rukhar said. He blushed, pretty sure of the question one of them would likely pop soon.

"Where I'm from, I am was a star, so nobody really liked me for who I am." Callie said. "That's the thing I like the most about you."

Rukhar didn't know this detail about Callie. He braced himself for the question.

"So I wanted you to ask, if you really feel the same." Callie said.

Rukhar was not ready for this reply. After a moment of minor shock, he swallowed, took a deep breath, and turned to look Callie in the eyes.

"Do you want to.....be....." He chocked on his words. "My girlfriend?"

"Yes." Said Callie, embracing him.

Tiny fireworks set off in Rukhar's head. He hadn't imagined a scenario where he wouldn't be rejected, or at least minority belittled for asking. But he was ok with the outcome. He hugged Callie back, and smiled, a real smile for the first time since he lost his family, many years ago.

Marie peeked into the room, and saw the happy pair. She smiled, and withdrew her head, before kicking Jay in the balls, knowing what he was planning. "Let them have their moment you douche." She smirked.

Jay just groaned in response. Marie drug him down the hall, back to his room.

"Honestly, I don't see why boys think that hurts so much." She said. "Not that I want to find out."

Though hard to tell, Jay cursed her name a little under his breath. "You try having two sacks of nerves with no protection." He groaned.

Marie just smirked. "I think I'll pass. Thanks for the offer though." She left for her own room.