Chapter 9: Then She Is Busy

Hammering away, in front of the burning furnace, Jude was so absorbed fighting the metals.

For the past seven days he worked in silence while he meticulously followed his Master’s guidance. Letting the image rose in his mind and then stopping to wait for inspiration to come. Jude was so wrapped up in the movements of the fire as if he was watching a dancing dragon wreak havoc using its flame breath.

There were times when as if the blade moved through his own flesh, hallucinating, as the hot crimson fire of the forge provided his brain with mirages. With each strike of his hammer, the flames coming from the furnace would jump out and engulf him whole. But his limbs who had lost the conscience of choice did not pull him away from the forge.

The idea of shaping the blade you created in your mind, it was truly what you call a man’s romance.

For seven continuous days, Jude worked non stop, resting a little, eating only a few bites and resuming his work with perseverance in mind.

By the sunset of the fifth day, the blade was nearing its completion.

“Pound it, Jude!”

“Oh!”

Alternating between his rough strikes and his master’s precise hits, Jude pressed and shaped the heated metal to generate the image in his head into reality.

The materials his master had suggested for him to use was Prune Iron; a basic mineral mined in the Berkut mines. There was no special trait behind them. Just your cold hard trustee metal. It was considered to be durable enough and was generally used by other blacksmiths out there. For a beginner like Jude, it was the perfect choice.

Then another decisive moment came. With the blade’s thickness, you increase its durability, but with it is the cost of sharpness. For Jude, what is the perfect blade?

If the blade ended up being too heavy, he’d be sacrificing efficiency. But if he disregarded that, there was a chance of his sword being brittle. In the end Jude went for a combination of both.

But the smithing addiction did not stop there.

Jude hopped onto the next step to create a scabbard and handle for his blade. He carefully measured his sword and made a scabbard out of the oak-like tree his master shaved beforehand.

The materials he used for the chape and locket was called Scopple. Although inferior in terms of hardness compared to Prune Iron, it provided him with the flexibility he needed to match the curve end of the sheath.

Yet another two days past in ignorance and all the necessary parts were completed.

Jude attached the blade to the handle. Once connected, he lifted the completed sword and weighed it into his hands!

“It is finally done,” he said so out loud as if finishing a ritual. The sword that he would call his own was finished. Now that the long tension was broken, he’d only gone aware that he was exhausted, shaken, and sick.

“Good work, Jude! You have done remarkably well in such a short amount of time. I’m proud of you.”

His Master couldn’t contain his cry of astonishment as he gazed at his first accomplishment. He shrugged and patted his shoulders as he congratulated him.

“I did what I could,” said Jude.

There was barely any strength left in his knees and exhaustion would claim him any moment soon. And though his creation were inferior to the swords displayed on the shop, he still enjoyed his words of praise.

* * *

Along with the old man, Jude sank down on their grassy backyard to catch his breath.

“Here.” He grabbed the towel the old man reached out to him and wiped his face dry with it. Jude was sweating profusely, but he’d never felt this good for so long. It gave him a nostalgic feeling, as if he was training with his father all over again.

“What do you think about smithing so far?” asked the old man.

“Well, there are no smiths from where I came from… Or more like the idea has already been set aside. But, after experiencing it firsthand, I think it’s pretty fun.”

He chuckled. “Really? I can’t imagine a place where you wouldn’t need a blacksmith.”

Jude wanted to shove it in his face that he was wrong, but there was no use thinking about such things when he do not have a single proof to establish his argument. Nonetheless Jude still explained over the course of a single laugh.

“Hahaha, we have a wide variety of machinery to help us with everything.”

Speaking of machinery reminded me of his phone. Jude pushed himself up to a sitting position and looked at his master.

“That aside, is there a form of swordsmanship you follow, Master?” he asked curiously based on his previous story that he was a knight.

“There is… But it follows the use of a buckler on one hand and a sword on the other. Ever since I threw my life as a knight, I threw that part of me as well. Now, I’m just an old blacksmith,” he said, nostalgia flashing in his eyes.

“I see… It explains why Master do not forge any sets of armors or shields.”

After he heard Jude voice his opinion, the old man sat upright and smiled wryly.

“Want to hear another story?”

“As long as it won’t take us all day, why not?”

“You’re such a cheeky brat!”

“Thanks to your bad influence, I think I am.” His riposte to the old man’s retort was sharp. But good thing he didn’t mind, he thought. It felt relieving to know that his master had a good sense of humor at least.

“Anyways, let me begin.” The old man’s eyes went upward and started his tale in a husky tone. “You’re familiar with the legend behind the Beholder’s relic, correct?”

“Not really. Does it have something to do with what I needed to do?”

“It could help you find a way to repair her blade to its original condition. How’s that sound?”

“I’m all ears then.”

“Good.” His Master nodded with a smile. “According to the ancient scriptures found decades ago, there was once an ancient civilization that soared the skies using giant airships. These scriptures are said to be thousand of years old. It is said that the first man to excavate these scriptures found himself on a ruin underground, and from over there are never before seen products on the face of our lands.

However there lies a single problem.

Mysterious as they are, these items are all made of stone as if they were sealed in time for some unknown purpose. But the scriptures sung about the wonders of these products along with the title “Beholder’s Relic.”

This discovery ultimately led to the creation of one of the biggest nation in these lands: The Mercantile continent—also known as the “Trade City Alliance.” The heart of this nation lies across the seas, to the west, and their main purpose is to restore these relics to glory.”

“How does that legend relate to Celes’s stone sword?” asked Jude.

“Don’t be hasty now. There’s another story that came with it so hear this out: Once upon a time, there was a blacksmith who achieved the greatest fame a man could ever wish for.”

Jude sighed. He knew it would be a long story. But there was no stopping his Master once he started to reminisce.

“Anyways,” his Master cleared his throat and continued. “This blacksmith created many relics and scattered them all over the continent. Kings and emperors pursued his wisdom, yet he ignored all of them. Although how wise and popular he may be, the blacksmith is still a living being. He could not overcome his own death. It is said that the blacksmith left his mastery inside a magical gem; and that very same game was casted into the ocean, forever losing the knowledge to replicate his artifacts.”

Surprisingly useful information, thought Jude. If the legendary blacksmith from his story was as great as he described him to be, then he might had the knowledge to repair Celes’s stone sword.

“So master wants me to find that gem then?” asked Jude.

“You’re still a young man. There’s more uses for the gem in your capable hands compared to mine.”

The pieces were all coming together in his head now. The boy in his Master’s story wanted him to create a holy sword - an artifact. But since his master didn’t have the knowledge nor clue on how to forge one, he’d been investigating this legend instead. Even though there was little hope like a grain of salt in the sea, he still believed. And after seeing his determination, his master wanted him to continue that dream.

“Assuming you told me of this tale means you have a clue on where that gem is, right?” Jude asked, flashing a grin on his face. Excitement was starting to fill his exhausted body.

His master bursted into laughter as soon as he saw him grin. “Seems like I couldn’t hide anything from you!”

“So, where can I find this gem?”

“Let’s put it this way… If you think you lost something on another person’s property, who would you ask?”

“Umm, the owner of course?”

His master looked into his eyes then nodded in agreement. “Correct. Then who do you think governs the seas?”

Jude held his chin and bit his lip as he mused. After he thought about it in a particular manner, one plausible answer surfaced in his head.

“Sea dwellers? Like mermaids perhaps?”

The smile widened on his Master’s when he answered back, “Correct!”

“So where do I find these beautiful sea dwellers?”

“Gahahaha!! How should I know, dumbass? If I do, I wouldn’t be here!”

Okay, drop dead old man…

But with this, Jude was one step closer on figuring out the secret behind the “Beholder’s Relic”. Besides, gathering information had always been his specialty. That was enough clue for him to figure out the rest on his own.

* * *

After completing his sword, Jude was told to rest. But though he was tired, extremely tired, he wanted to see Celes at work. He did promised her that he’d meet her new friend.

“Have a good day.”

A grown up woman greeted him as he headed out. The word stripper came to mind. He didn’t want to regard her in such a degrading way, but the bodice that wrapped her body like a glove was begging to be stripped.

It reminded him of a horrible night. He was still horrified from the pain Celes had inflicted on his balls. He had the chance to prove his point. He should’ve done it then and there. But he knew it was not right. It was wrong if he continued. Not when she wasn’t steeled and ready. Not when his words and actions made her feel so helpless and vulnerable.

Jude sighed as he thought things over. He was more than happy to gain access on the bed, but his sexual hormones would always persist on groping. Whoever said that he was a patient man to begin with?

Nevertheless he’d resolved himself to apologize. He’d been ignoring her for the past few days there was no doubt he made her feel unsettled and upset. And hurting her in any form was the last damn thing he wanted to do.

Resolved, Jude headed to the bar. But as he walked, he noticed the gossipers and the like had gathered around the city’s bulletin board. It made him wonder what was going on; he immediately went that way to find out.

“Another death… And it seems to be a lot brutal this time.”

“It’s too scary to leave the walls these days. Even trained adventurers are getting killed.”

“Where did they found the body?”

“Just north of town, not even a day’s travel off a carriage from where we are.”

He stretched his ears out and listened to the murmurs left and right.

Rumors says there was a monster indiscriminately killing whoever it lay its eyes on. Now the townsfolk were filled with unrest due to the mysterious slaughter happening outside the city gates. The death toll was beginning to increase day by day.

“Quite a foolish move, don’t you think?” A male’s voice spoke behind him.

The owner of that voice soon walked to his side and looked at the board from a distance. He wore leather armor covering his chest area and white overalls from underneath. One side of his shoulder was decorated with a small shield facing downward and his arms and legs were fully equipped with leather gauntlets and leg guards.

His albino appearance and sharp blue eyes sparked an obvious resemblance in his head. He was quite positive he’d seen him somewhere before. Jude took a moment to think about it, but he still couldn’t remember.

“Foolish move? What about it?” asked Jude. He hid the fact that he couldn’t properly read what was written in the board. It would be quite embarrassing for a guy of his age to not know how to read after all.

“The mayor offered a bounty of two Xeno gold coins to anyone who could subdue it. But you know how money blinds men, they don’t see the danger in front.”

With his eyes narrowed, the young man replied in a serious tone. He folded his arms and continued.

“It wasn’t even that long since it killed several knights and adventurers working for the city, and now we have this…”

Jude held his chin with one hand. “I see. It explains why those adventurer looking men were guarding the city gate. They have a shortage of knights because of this monster appearing too strong for them to handle.”

While that story was highly depressing and was definitely none of his business, Jude couldn’t help but show his concern in the matter.

“Exactly. And for the mayor - a man of such high stature - to make such a poor decision, I could not help but think that something is amiss,” the young man said then shifted his blue eyes to Jude.

The sharpness of his gaze pierced Jude. It told him he was intent on hearing his opinion.

“I have not met the mayor myself so… I’m afraid I do not know,” Jude replied after giving in to his stare. “However, in my opinion, only a really shrewd person can govern a merchant city, even manipulative.”

The mayor was around dangerous entities known as “Merchants” after all. Jude learned in games that merchants are not to be trusted until proven otherwise. Show a hint of naivety and those sagacious beast would take advantage of you. He knew because he was one of them.

“And why is that?”

“Just my intuitions working at their best.”

“Heh, you’re one interesting guy.” He smiled out of nowhere. “What do you say? You seem capable enough. How about we team up and hunt this big shot and split the rewards to ourselves fifty-fifty?”

Jude took a deep breath. Now that he had some mysterious race to investigate, he needed the money for sure. After all a single piece of Xeno gold coin equated to ten pieces of regular gold coins. But it was a type of currency mainly used in large transactions because of its large sum.

A regular merchant would operate with silver and copper coins while the higher end shops ran on silver and gold. In this city, a single night in the inn ranges from a hundred copper coins to a few silver coins depending on the quality of the room and maybe the type of service involved.

If 1 gold coin = 1000 pieces of silver, 1 silver = 100 pieces of copper, and 1 copper = 10 pieces of iron - he'd be living a life of luxury for a while.

“Well, I’m not sure if it’s worth it to risk my life to try the unknown. Sorry, I’m gonna have to decline.”

“That’s too bad then. But if you ever change your mind, I’ll be in the guild. Let me know.”

Jude nodded. “Sure.”

After that, without even introducing himself, the young man left the crowd and waved a hand on his back. His gait, his posture, and the way he carried himself - there was something about him that was similar to Jude. Although he couldn't properly describe where that semblance came from.

“Now then, what shall I do?”

Shaking his head, Jude proceeded to his original destination.