1 A Master Forger's Son

A young boy watched his father repeatedly hammer a glowing piece of metal lump slowly shaping it into a piece of elongated iron. His father's muscles were squirming beneath his glistening, bronzed skin as he cycled the iron through the forge and the anvil, eventually crafting that iron lump into something that resembled a sword. All that remained was to inlay the blade into a hilt and to sharpen the final product into a lethal sword. The burly man took a breather and glanced at his son who's eyes were wide in wonder, glued to the cooling blade. He couldn't help but feel some discontent in his heart as he knew where his son's true admiration lay.

Sigh. This son of mine… He has no intention to follow in the family tradition of being a forge master and simply desires to wave about a sword while plunging himself into danger fighting in the dungeons. The only thing that awaits those in our family who do so is death!

He turned his gaze away from his son back to the cooling blade. Putting his distracting thoughts aside, he continued his work so that the sword would be finished by tomorrow morning. This was the last sword he needed to meet the quota for the Ascender's Guild! Over the next hour, he continued with the forging process, eventually finishing the sword and then began the inspection of his final product. With no visible flaws and the balance seeming perfect, he turned to his son.

"Aden, what do you think? I have turned a simple lump of iron into something deadly in the right hands! Have you reconsidered the path that you wish to walk? Our family are the best known sword Forgers in the Flaming Dungeon Zone! This sword may be basic, but it is still vital for those who wish to pass the first five floors." As he gave his speech to his son, his eyes turned from those of pure focus to eyes burning with such passion that flames seemed to burst forth from them. Although dripping with sweat, such that even his long, auburn hair was entirely soaked, he was still full of vigor, hoping to show the strength that his family had to his youngest son.

"Father… this sword… is so beautiful! I thought that the red hue was simply from the heat but it seems to have more in it than just iron for it to have such a wonderful color! Does it come ablaze like the swords in the legends? The swords that only those can climb to the 90th and above floors use? Father! Is this sword for the Flaming Swordsman Ascender, the one said to be close to ascending the dungeon?" The young boy was full of wonder and admiration towards the sword and his obsession with the brilliant made his seemingly oblivious and deaf to his father's more important questions.

With a sigh, the father looked to his son with some reprisal in his gaze, "Did I not say this was a basic sword? This sword, although it may look exceptional thanks to my forging, is fit only to be used up to ninth floor at best. How could such a sword befit someone such as the Flaming Swordsman? It is simply forged with some basic fire crystal powder to raise its fire potency and resistance. Once again, you have fantasized countless things in that mind of yours, making great of something mediocre. Aden, are you still insisting on choosing the vocation of Ascender instead of Forger? The test is tomorrow before the Ascenders set off on their Dungeon expedition. You still have time to change your mind. If you fail the affinity test for Ascender you will no longer have a choice and be put where they need people most. You could even end up being a Waste Carrier!" After saying the last part the father felt instant regret as he knew his son's talent was far better than that and would never be put into such role. However, he was trying to scare his son to help him realize that reality was never always what one wished for, no matter how much they wished.

Aden gazed at his father with some fear as he contemplated the horrible life of a Waste Carrier. Although no role was frowned upon as humanity had long ago realized the necessity of a united front, he could not help but feel shame when he thought of carrying waste to the fields for fertilizer. At the age of 10, he was obligated to select a future vocation so that he could begin his training in the field. If he chose a dangerous or complicated vocation such as Ascender or Forger, the training would last at least three years. But for something as simple as a Waste Carrier… hardly any training was necessary. As these thoughts quickly passed through his mind, Aden realized that the reason his father was so adamant about him becoming a Forger was not for family honor as he first thought. His father truly cared and loved him and could not stand to see his son disappointed or shamed! Resolving himself he looked up to giant man, his father, and steeled his gaze.

"Father… I know becoming a Forge Master is a fantastic feat and absolutely crucial in the fight against the dungeons… But I must follow the desire in my heart! I have watched the procession of Ascenders into the Flaming Dungeon and I have seen them emerge and receive a hero's welcome! I also know that the demons in the dungeon often wipe out whole teams and how dangerous it is to be an Ascender facing such enemies… But I still want to fight and ascend the Dungeon! I wish to carry a sword and dive into the deepest depths of the dungeon and fight as one with a supreme sword!" As he gave his response to his father, Aden seemed to glow and reflect the fire from the forge. His long, auburn hair seemed to carry fire within in it and his bright, blue eyes seemed to melt and turn into a hot, bright fire carrying the stubbornness of youth within.

With a sigh, the father gazed at the passionate youth and seemed to come to an understanding within himself. "Aden- no matter what happens at the Vocational Test tomorrow, know that I will always love and support you the best that I can. If you wish to slay demons with a supreme sword, then all I can do to support you is to craft you the supreme sword that you desire so that you can ascend one of the five dungeons with the greatest sword ever crafted in the five zones. If you fail, then I will teach you all the secrets of the Forge Masters so that you yourself can craft the greatest sword. Come, let us return home and prepare for tomorrow."

On the trek home, the father and son walked side by side, one a giant of a man, and the other a tall, muscular youth for his age. As they neared their home they could the laughter and joy inside the happy home. Soon, those inside the large, beautiful stone house could hear them approaching the home. With eyes full of hope, a large, bronzed woman full of muscles and flowing auburn hair made great strides toward the father and son and fell into the arms of the solemn looking man.

"Aedh… has little Aden made his final decision to try to become an Ascender?" The strangely beautiful woman asked her husband even though she knew by his countenance that this was likely the case.

Gazing down at his loving wife, who was esoterically beautiful and full of worry, Aedh drew in a deep sigh. "Hadyn… I have tried to convince him otherwise. He is determined to follow through on this path and it is our duty as parents to support him and be there for him even if he fails. If he is successful in his endeavors then we must also be there first to exclaim to the heavens that he is our son and he is victorious."

Shaking her head, Haydn chased the worry from her eyes and showed her determination. "Of course I know that… but you know how dangerous it is as well as I. It is so rare for someone from the forging families to be able to raise someone who is an Ascender. He will be competing against the aristocratic families who have all sorts of secret Ascender techniques and the only thing he has had access to is our families secret Forger techniques. Even if he passes the Ascender Vocational Test tomorrow I fear that our son will be far too behind to catch up to those who were raised from birth to be an Ascender and at the Institution he will end up as cannon fodder."

"Hadyn! You know our boy just as well as I! Even if he starts at a disadvantage with special techniques, none are as in love with the sword as he. He even falls asleep with a sword in his arms as if the sword were the most beautiful of maidens! Even if he cannot be an absolute expert in the Elemental Arts, he will slice them apart with the keen edge of the sword." To demonstrate his speech, Aedh took forth a sword and sliced it through the air, surprisingly exuding the air of a master. "Even if Ascenders are mighty and strong, they are lucky if they know the sword as well as a Forger! So even if Aden is behind in Elemental Understanding, he has the edge of knowing the sword! If he will not be a Forger, then I can rest assured knowing he can grow into a fine sword master."

Laughing at the antics of her husband, Haydn took him by the arm and led him into the home. "Well, all we can do is hope for the best at the Vocational Test tomorrow and hope that Aden has a strong Elemental Affinity so he can be a proper Ascender."