Chapter 41: What Is Wrong With Kids These Days?

Maya stayed inside the forge for a while after Sirene and Elian left, moving around the workbench and stacking a few tools that had been left out. She didn’t say anything at first, just worked quietly, but her eyes kept drifting toward the door. Dory noticed it but didn’t comment. Horg was already back at the anvil, tapping lightly at a cooled piece of metal, more out of habit than actual work. The forge had gone back to normal, but something about the silence made it feel off.

Maya finally stopped what she was doing and wiped her hands on her tunic.

"I’m heading out," she said.

Dory nodded. "Alright. You’ve done enough today."

Horg didn’t even look up. "Close the door properly."

Maya rolled her eyes slightly but didn’t reply. She stepped out of the forge, the door creaking shut behind her. For a few seconds, everything stayed quiet again. Dory leaned against the table, arms crossed, while Horg continued his slow tapping.

Then, not even a minute later, the door burst open again.

"Both of you, come outside," Maya said quickly.

Dory frowned. "What now?"

"Just come and see," she insisted, already stepping back out.

Horg sighed heavily and dropped the hammer on the anvil. "What is it this time..." he muttered as he walked toward the door. Dory followed behind him, adjusting his glasses.

The moment they stepped outside, they saw her.

Sirene was squatting right in front of the forge, arms folded over her knees, staring at the ground like she had decided that spot was hers for the day. Elian stood beside her, clearly annoyed, trying to get her to move.

"Get up," Elian said, his voice low but firm. "You’re causing a scene again."

"I’m not leaving," Sirene replied without looking at him.

"You can’t just sit here," Elian continued. "This isn’t how things work."

Sirene didn’t respond.

Elian exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. "You’re being unreasonable."

"I said I’m not leaving."

Horg stopped a few steps away and stared at the two of them. Then he lifted his palm and pressed it against his face.

"What is wrong with you kids?" he muttered.

Dory sighed softly beside him, though a small smile appeared on his face. "She’s serious," he said quietly.

Maya crossed her arms. "She’s been here since I stepped out. Didn’t move once."

Elian turned as he noticed them. "Good, you’re here," he said. "Talk some sense into her."

Dory stepped forward slightly, looking down at Sirene. "You’re still here?"

Sirene finally looked up at him. "Yes."

"I thought I made myself clear," Dory said.

"You did," she replied. "And I’m still here."

Dory adjusted his glasses. "That doesn’t change my answer."

"I’m not asking again," Sirene said. "I’m waiting."

Horg let out a dry laugh. "Waiting for what? For him to suddenly change his mind?"

Sirene didn’t reply.

Elian shook his head. "She’s been like this the whole time. I tried to get her to leave, but she won’t listen."

Maya looked between them. "So what now? She just stays here forever?"

Sirene stood up slowly, brushing dust off her armor. "No. I wait until you listen."

Dory exhaled quietly. He glanced at Horg, then at Maya, then back at Sirene. There was no sign of her backing down. The villagers nearby had already started watching again, whispering among themselves.

"This isn’t the place for this," Dory said finally.

"Then let us inside," Sirene replied immediately.

There was a short pause.

Horg scratched the side of his head. "If we let them in, will this end?"

Sirene nodded once. "Yes."

Elian added, "We just need to explain properly. That’s all."

Maya looked at Dory. "Might as well hear them out. She’s not going anywhere anyway."

Dory hesitated for a moment, then sighed. "Fine. Come in."

Sirene didn’t waste time. She walked past them into the forge, Elian following right behind her. Horg shook his head as he stepped aside.

"This better be worth it," he muttered.

Inside, the atmosphere shifted again. The forge felt tighter with the extra presence. Sirene stood near the center, her posture straight, her expression serious. Elian stayed slightly behind her, watching everyone carefully.

Dory leaned against the table again. "Alright. Talk."

Sirene took a small breath. "The situation is worse than I said earlier."

Horg crossed his arms. "Start from the beginning."

"The Northern clans have already started moving," Sirene said. "Not just small groups. Full units. They’ve been attacking supply routes and testing defenses."

Elian nodded. "We confirmed it yesterday. Several soldiers were killed near the water banks. It wasn’t random. It was planned."

Maya frowned. "So the war already started?"

"Not officially," Elian replied. "But it’s close."

Sirene continued, "The southern side is unprepared. They don’t have enough supplies, and their communication is slow. If things continue like this, they’ll lose ground before they even react properly."

Dory listened quietly, his expression unchanged.

"So where do we come in?" he asked.

Sirene looked directly at him. "We need to control the flow of goods."

Horg frowned. "Control how?"

"By creating false shortages," Sirene said. "And false surpluses."

There was a brief silence.

Maya blinked. "Wait... what?"

Elian stepped forward slightly. "If both sides believe certain resources are scarce, they’ll slow down their movements. If they believe other areas are overstocked, they’ll redirect their forces. It creates confusion."

Horg let out a low whistle. "That sounds like a mess."

"It is," Sirene said. "But it buys time."

Dory narrowed his eyes slightly. "And you think I can do this?"

"Yes," Sirene replied without hesitation. "You’ve already shown you can manage supply, pricing, and people. What you did with the snacks and the ingots—it’s the same principle, just on a larger scale."

Maya shook her head. "That’s not the same at all."

"It’s not," Elian agreed. "But the core idea is similar. Influence the market, and you influence movement."

Horg looked at Dory. "This is bigger than anything we’ve done."

Dory didn’t respond immediately. He looked at the ground for a moment, thinking.

"...And if it fails?" he asked.

Sirene answered calmly. "Then the war starts faster."

"And if it works?"

"We delay it," she said. "Maybe long enough to prevent it entirely."

Dory looked up at her. "And how many people get dragged into this because of it?"

Sirene didn’t answer right away.

"Everyone is already involved," Elian said quietly.

The forge went silent again.

Dory adjusted his glasses slowly, his thoughts clear now.

Then he shook his head.

"No."