They walked on cobblestone pavements with orange grass slipping between the grouts. Different sizes of bell tents were lining up on either side of her. Each with the same beige color fabric stretching across the entirety of the structure. And the tents were held up with columns and foundations made up of dark heavy wood and stones.

She remembered using an iron basin earlier in the morning and wondered why they didn't use iron to hold up their structures for stronger integrity. Iron trumps wood naturally, but who was she to judge? This wasn't her world anymore. The same laws that governed her entire life no longer applied to where she was now. If this truly was a deepening psychosis, she'll have to ride it out until it ends.

"Fashion no more steel, blacksmith" a deep rumbly voice said, sounding furious. "It is a luxury we cannot afford. The prophecy is drawing fast, the Great World has just begun pulling forces beyond our universe, and we must be close to Natura Brumcia to accept her fate."

The scratchy voice of an old man was laden with sarcasm, "I assure you, elder shaman, the steel I'm forging is given through the Great World himself, he would want me to use it as I see fit."

"It is unnatural." he said, looking to be in his late 30's. He wore a red cape over his leather tunic like every other male she found in the sun tribe, and his mutinous glare alone would have been enough to raise hell itself. "Steel is what you made it out to be, not from sacred resources of Brumcia herself. Abandon this sacrilegious smithing immediately before another damned behagthi appears again."

"You're just pissed because you didn't translate your prophecy properly as his highness had expected of you. Why don't you go away and leave me be, teh? I'm not going to be the one responsible for unprepared warriors without their proper steel. Unlike you, I know how to do my job."

"You think to belittle my profession, blacksmith?" he seethed, veins popping up on his temples.

The older man was unfazed, "I think to belittle your incompetent efforts, Bla'keh. Surely, your late elder shaman taught you better than that."

Bla'keh had his jaw set, looking like he was about to argue some more but he met U'tu's stubborn gaze and changed his mind. He turned to walk away in long strides, radiating fury. When he found her standing there, he didn't even so much as stop but spat on the ground behind her as he left.

U'tu muttered, "Clearly, they don't teach good manners where he is from."

En'tum tutted the kid, "We try not to judge him severely, U'tu. He is what we have got."

"Still." he muttered, pouting.

"You must be the one they call River," En'tum greeted, his voice was rough as if he had just woken up "I heard the kids going crazy about you."

"I was told to deliver you this," she smiled politely, handing over the wrap-around leather package from Russ'lo. "It's nice to meet you, En'tum, the blacksmith."

"Just En'tum is fine," he said, passing the package to U'tu, "Don't overheat them this time, will you?"

U'tu grumbled, "Fine."

"And remember to follow the writing!" he called after the kid's retreating back. Then, he threw a gesture for her to follow him inside the tent.

Like the other domed tents she had seen before, the blacksmith's tent had several smaller tents connecting to the main tent, its floor was made of rocks clumped together in the shades of burnt sienna. Its interior had no trace of wood material. The walls were glowing fabric of sunlight but inside there were only rocks, clay pots, and metal equipment which she would probably guess as made of steel and iron.

She followed him through a narrow tent that boasted his craftsmanship in display boxes which she thought was impressive. He seemed to craft each of his weapons with such ornate intricacy that it must have taken huge stretches of time working on its delicate art. Then, they entered the main tent, settling down at the center space where a campfire was burning inside. It looked much the same as Russ'lo's, although this tent boasted decorative red quilts thrown on top of a log bench.

River gulped at the sight of a serious fire hazard but thought better of it. Once again, she reminded herself that this wasn't her world. She won't presume to know any better.