- Are you ready to do that? - Ivrim asked Artemis with complete seriousness.

- You said yourself that I don’t really have a choice. – she answered sadly. – But even if I had the right to choose, I would not be able to refuse.

Instead of escorting Artemis to the castle, Ivrim decided to walk with her through the garden and understand her point of view about her own destiny. Did she agree with that? Was she ready to help and not give up?

- You’ll have to face her again. - The elf King reminded her.

- This time I will be prepared. – she smiled back. - With your help, of course. I could not have imagined that she would go so far as to start killing people just to prolong her life. It seems that wizards were not enough for her. How can you be such a cruel person?

- This man’s ambitions know no bounds. Someone else’s soul is dark, dear. – said the elf.

- So why did you invite us here? After all, there were so many opportunities for you to appear earlier.

- If I’d shown up earlier, I wouldn’t have been able to get you to swap places with Thea. She was too weak until recently. And so far, her powers are not increasing at the rate I expected from her.

- And yet, she is very strong, you underestimate her for nothing. - Artemis protested.

- As long as you take away her energy, block her, she will not be able to become stronger. Your soul shouldn’t be in her body. - Ivrim’s soft voice tried to smooth out the corners so as not to hurt Artemis even more.

- It’s okay, you don’t have to try to be polite. I have been with her for these twenty years and I know all her thoughts and all that holds her back. It was amazing to me that she decided to drink Raphael’s blood. This gave an impetus to the fact that her powers have recently grown exponentially. Thea is amazing.

Artemis wrapped her arms around herself, stroking her shoulders with her palms.

- But she’s still not ready to fight the supreme witch. That’s why they all need you. - Ivrim said.

- Them? And you? - She frowned and stopped in her tracks. – Aren’t you going to help us in this war?

Anxiety colored her pretty doll face.

- You’re not going to ... - it came to her when the elf pursed his lips, maintaining a silent pause.

She laughed.

- Well, of course, our problems are only our problems. - she raised her voice slightly. - Then why am I here, Ivrim? I don’t understand.

- Follow me. - he touched her shoulder, pushing her forward into one of the tall buildings with snow–white spires and massive gates.

The inside of the building smelled of metal and lubricants, and a hammer on an anvil rang loudly in her ears, sparks flew everywhere and a burning heat emanated from the molten metal.

- We will support you with Elven weapons. - Ivrim said proudly. – This will be our contribution to your victory. You yourself know how valuable every thing that came out from under the elf’s hand is. To go to this war with a simple steel sword is equivalent to going to death. You and Raphael will be able to fend for yourself, but the rest will be at high risk.

- Still, I don’t understand why the great Elven warriors can’t help us physically? – she asked and again faced the wall of silence. – Okay, forget it, maybe I’ll never be able to figure it out.

She waved off with resentment, but it was not in her power to force Ivrim to change his mind. In any case, even the weapons were a great help on their part.

Ivrim gave Artemis an excursion, demaonstrating each type of weapon separately, giving her the opportunity to try it in practice and evaluate it, or supplement it with her comments.

- It’s quite heavy in the hand. We need a weapon that even the most fragile girl can use. - she said, holding a long sword in her hand. - Can you do it?

- Yes, I think it won’t be a problem. And yet, it is better for girls to give the position of archers, this will protect them by keeping them at a remote distance. – he advised.

- How about adding poison to the tip? This would enhance the damaging effect.

- This is not required. Elven steel itself is poisonous when in contact with the skin. Do you still have that sword?

She glanced at him briefly and then held out her hand. Her forearm spread out like liquid metal, creating the outline of a striking sword with a bright blood-red core along the entire length of the tip.

- Have you learned already? - The elf chuckled, noticing that the sword had become an extension of Artemis’s hand, merging into one substance with the hand.

- For more reliability. - she nodded. – So no one will knock it out of my hands, unless they decide to cut off my hand.

- Don’t let anyone get their hands on that sword. This was my gift to you and it should not fall into anyone’s hands except yours.

- And Raphael. - Temi added. – In his hands, the artifact created the image of this sword by itself, and Raphael handled it even better than I did. Much better.

- I think I should let you go now so you can talk in peace. - the elf king suddenly said, smiling. – You will find him on the main shopping street in one of the establishments with hot drinks. Go, he is already inadequate.

She opened her mouth and held her breath, and then with a heavy exhalation she closed her mouth, pursing her lips. The elf’s capabilities always made her feel insignificant.

She scolded Raphael in her head for poor self-control and weakness, but still went in his direction, saying goodbye to Ivrim. She took her time walking and felt weak at the knees, as if her legs were made of jelly and at any careless moment, she would lose her balance and fall to the ground.