Hanma signaled Garth to come in. He had no idea why he was just standing outside the window. Garth entered the storefront and took a good look around before approaching Hanma.

“Nice place you have here. Thanks for letting me in.”

“No problem. What are you here for? Want that sword repaired after all?”

“I would want nothing more for my sword to get a good repair job but, as I said. I don’t have the money for it. And even I begin to think that without a proper one I won’t be able to clear the dungeon. You see, I just graduated the explorer’s trainee program” Garth took out his copper badge.

“Maybe we can strike a deal. You repair my sword and I’ll clear the dungeon. I’ll repay you with fifty percent of my earnings! How about that!”

If he clears the dungeon it would definitely solve my ore problem. Although an explorer who just graduated should not be trying to clear a dungeon. Even a low-level one can be tough enough for a solo explorer. Either he needs to team up or assemble a party for an expedition.

“Without any payment, it would be foolish of me to repair it. What makes me so sure you won’t run after I have finished.”

“I’ll leave my badge! This way you know for sure I will need to come back to collect it. If I were to leave it behind the guild would get mad at me. It’s traceable you know, I would have to come back for it. Unless it is destroyed of course.”

“Are you stupid?” Hanma couldn't believe his lack of general knowledge. ”You need your badge to enter the dungeon. You can’t leave it here even if you want to. If someone came to inspect my shop and would end up finding the badge, I would be investigated. If you died on me and I would have the badge I’d be jailed for suspicion of murder.”

Governments ruling towns are no fan of violence amongst explorers. If the explorers were to go rogue and turn into bandits there was a law that demanded they be killed on sight if you had the skills to do so. Hanma was right about that. He would be jailed without any trial.

“Then.. why don’t you come with me! A blacksmith like you must at least have earned his first explorers badge right? You must have accompanied a team by now. A blacksmith is well sought after to join expeditions after all.”

“No. And I don’t plan on going on one either. I’d rather you bunch stay safe with my equipment than trying to protect me while we’re down there. This is my final answer. It’s getting late as well. Either find some way of payment and come back or try your luck with somebody else.”

“I understand. I am truly sorry to bother you. I will be taking my leave.” Garth bowed. He rarely bows. He firmly believes everyone is equal. Only on rare occasions, for example, if he hurts a person or destroys something of them by being clumsy, he bows.

Garth left and it became very quiet. All you could hear was the wind blowing every now and then and with that the rustling grass alongside the outer walls of the shack. Hanma was lost in thoughts. Thinking of what just happened in a logical sense would mean that there was literally no reason to decline Garth’s request. The dungeon would get cleared, he’d get fifty percent of the loot and the mine could operate again. This would mean he had to pass an explorers trainee exam first but his father trained him for that a long time ago.

I can’t help but wonder what you would do in this situation pops. Would you simply go with the flow, or go against the stream. Well no, I know what you would do. You would fight to protect what’s yours even though you're just a blacksmith. Always ready to help everyone in need and never batting an eye to what's about to come. I wish I could be more like you, but that’s the problem. More like you would mean that I’d have to go into a dungeon. A place you died in.

Hanma opened a drawer beside his bed. He took out a small cloth with an object inside. When he opened the cloth you could see a golden ring garmented with a big opal and some small diamonds. This ring alone would cost a fortune so he’d never show it to anyone. He could get robbed for it. Inside the ring were engraved letters: “Harman Foji”. This ring belonged to his father.

Hanma placed the ring on his finger thinking it would give him some comfort. Something he had never done before. He felt like he hadn’t earned the right to wear it. The ring came with a messenger that told him the bad news. That all they found when they went to search for his father’s party were some satchels and this ring. The party seemed to have completely vanished and since it was in a high-level dungeon the party was perceived dead.

*zzzzzt-krrrrr-ssss*

The ring suddenly began to make strange noises. Some zapping could be heard as well when suddenly the opal began to lit up. From the opal, a blue liquid gas like substance began emerging and after a while, they began forming letters above the ring. The magic that sprung forth looked like it was dancing in the air. It looked like a flowing river, one where you could drown in because of awe. After a while, a clear message could be read from it.

Dear son, may you find this ring and hold it dear to you as a memory of me. I never leave behind much because of our occupations but I never imagined I couldn’t give this ring to you myself. What a shame. I want to wish you all the love and luck you deserve in life. I am sure this will come as a shock but such is the life on an explorer. May you meet wonderful people and go on big adventures just like your old man. Don’t be afraid to follow in my footsteps. Dad.

Hanma couldn’t believe what he just saw with his own very eyes. Two years went by since he got the ring and never did he even think once about wearing it. If only he had sooner. Or maybe, this was at the right time after all. Just when he needed a little more courage to try and overcome his fear, just when he needed a little comfort, that’s what he was granted. He swept away the few tears from his face and it suddenly changed into a very determined one.

Tomorrow I will be heading to the guild and I’ll be signing up. The trainee exam is in 3 days. Which gives me enough time to prepare. I have survived in that forest more times than can be counted on two hands. Seems like my pops was determined I would follow in his footsteps. Even his last words made that clear.

Hanma never made decisions this rash. He always took time to go over every possibility. But somehow those words form his father changed his mind in the most abrupt way possible. He trusted his father with every cell in his body and those words of encouragement really did something to him.

He turned off the lights that were dimly illuminating his bedroom and went to sleep. He had no dreams that night, only a good well rested sleep.