The Piece of Aegis calls to my soul, but I know better than to attempt to wield it. And you should too.

If the crafter loses control for even a moment when combining the Aegis with a bow, then....

Ker-PLINK! The bow cracks in half or refuses to be pulled by its owner.

• "Ker-PLINK?"

Only one Daeva can handle a Piece of Aegis. Only one great craftsman can work with the damned unpredictable material.

Of course, I speak of Anusis, master craftsman of Sanctum.

His rates start at 8,000,000 Kinah and are worth every coin. You should go now, yes? Remember me.

• Accept.
• Decline.

We were friends once, you know, in Artisans Hall. We ate together, crafted together, played together. For a while, we lived together too. Ah, those were sun-sparkling days.

But he would get impatient, and I would get sad. It was not good, was not healthy. That's why I came out here to live. I needed to get away.

But don't let his impatience bother you. No, no, YOU are a paying customer, and you couldn't ask for a better craftsman. Anusis is the best of the best.

• "Sounds like there's a story in this."

Laestrygos gave you a Piece of Aegis and told you to bring it to Anusis in Sanctum in order to meld it with your Laestrygos's Bow.

Unless you're a paying customer or a master-candidate hopeful, get out. I have no patience today.

• "Laestrygos said you never had patience."

That's not true! Well, it's kind of true.

You talked with Laestry? What else did he say about me? Is he planning to come back?

Sorry, paying customer. Yes, I can combine Laestrygos's Bow and a Piece of Aegis for you, but it requires detailed work and will cost you 8 million Kinah. That's a firm number, and I've already brought the price down since you're a friend and all. Well, Laestry's friend.

• "Yep. Here's my bow, my Aegis, and my Kinah!"
• "No way am I giving this stuff to you, jerk!"

Come on. Hand them over.

Are you kidding me?

Fine. When you come back, remember to put the bow in your cube. If it's equipped, I won't be able to wrestle the thing out of your grasp, will I?

• "I've no interest in wrestling with you."

Oh, oh, oh. This is--mmm--so glorious to work with.

I can feel the bow's core and the Piece of Aegis touching my soul. The Aegis twitches and spirals round and round. Dangerous. If Laestrygos and I hadn't been so close once, I couldn't concentrate on controlling this...this...wow.

Oh, hello. Glad you're still here, Daeva. The bow is finished now, but do you mind if I hold it a moment longer?

Laestrygos gave you a Piece of Aegis and said Anusis could combine it with your Laestrygos's Bow.

When you went to Anusis in Sanctum, he changed your bow into a higher-performing weapon.