Blacksmith Association

The train ride seemed to of passed rather swiftly after the run in with the thieves and mobsters. Ashe and Kai returned to their seats, not wanting to run into either of the parties. When Evelynn asked what they had been up to they decided to gloss over what Oscar had done, certain that Evelynn would not think of it as 'cool'.

Stepping off the train the adults left to sort out transportation, leaving Ashe and Kai to their own devices. Kai stole a glance at Ashe, trying to see what her first impressions of Gria was.

"What's up?" Kai asked, noticing some disappointment on her face.

"It's just… the same" Ashe mumbled. "I expected it to be more towny, you know?"

Kai raised one of his brows.

"Just because I'm from the boonies doesn't mean we use horses and carry buckets of water everywhere" Kai said. "It's still a city, even if its small."

Suddenly something caught Kai's eye, it was the two thieves from earlier in the day. They seemed to be warily watching their surroundings as they left the platform.

"Let's follow them" Ashe said, noticing the two suspicious thieves. Before Kai could say anything she grabbed his hand and dragged him away in the same direction as the two thieves.

The kids followed closely behind for a minute, navigating the train station until they soon arrived at a secluded corner. Kai and Ashe poked their heads around the corner, watching as the two thieves stood silently near a water fountain.

A couple minutes later another man arrived. He wore a plain black and white suit, his black hair slicked back with grease. The three chatted for a while before the thieves handed the black duffle bag over the other party and departed quickly.

Ashe moved to follow them but Kai stopped her.

"No, lets follow the guy in the suit"

"Why?"

Kai rolled his eyes, sometimes Ashe really was thick.

"Because it's clear he's the one in charge!" Kai whispered frustratingly. He watched as Ashe's eyes widened and her mouth took the shape of an 'O'.

"Then what are we waiting for?" Ashe said getting out of her hiding spot. "He's leaving now!"

Kai facepalmed himself and followed after Ashe. Contrary to the two thieves, the man in the suit was quite relaxed as he walked through the station. Not even swiviling his head, he seemed quite confident that he either wasn't going to be followed, or that he could fend off any would be thieves.

The man turned a corner disappearing from view. Ashe and Kai immediately sped up, not wanting to lose him when they suddenly heard a voice calling them form behind.

"There you guys are!" Evelynn said, startling the duo. "What are you two up to?"

Kai and Ashe looked at each other for a second.

"Exploring! / Hide and Seek!"

The two spoke over each other, causing Evelynn to raise her brow.

"Hide and Seek! / Exploring!" The two spoke up again, both switching to what the other had said in a bid to get their story straight. Kai and Ashe stared at each other awkwardly, trying to gauge what the other would say next.

"Doesn't matter, its time to leave" Evelynn chuckled slightly, turning around to lead them away.

Ashe and Kai sighed in relief before following after Evelynn. They were soon greeted by a group of Soul Masters from the Spirit Pagoda, standing together and chatting with Carter. Oscar stood off to the side, unwilling to speak to anyone from the Spirit Pagoda.

Seeing them approach, an old man with white hair and a goatee stepped away from the group.

"Kai, it's a pleasure to finally meet you!" He walks forwards, his white Spirit Pagoda robes swaying slightly. "My name is Walter Figgis, we've arranged transportation and accommodations for you while you're here. The banquet isn't until tomorrow, so you have the rest of the day to relax, and we will send someone to pick you up tomorrow morning."

Kai nodded as the rest of the Soul Masters introduced themselves before they left the station and arrived at the entrance. Once there Kai immediately noticed a large black limo sitting out front. The chauffer opened the door as Walter entered.

"We'll grab your bags for you, so don't worry" he said sitting down. Kai looked nervously to Evelynn, thinking the limo to be a bit too much, who responded with a wry smile before she too entered the limo. Ashe followed excitedly, thinking the limo to be the coolest thing to happen to her in her life.

Kai soon entered the limo as well, sitting down next to Ashe as Carter entered and closed the door.

"What about Oscar?" Kai whispered to Evelynn.

"He didn't want to come, saying that he already paid for everything and that he was going to get his money's worth" Evelynn smiled, laughing slightly.

Kai nodded, enjoying the view with Ashe as they drove through the city.

…

Kai and the others stepped out of the Limo in awe of the building in front of them. Even if this hotel were to be found in Heaven Dou, it would have been considered high end let alone in a small city like Gria.

"Here it is, all expenses paid" Walter said, spreading his arms out grandly. "Your bags will be delivered to your rooms, here are your keys and room numbers."

He handed them over to Evelynn and Carter and turned back to face Kai.

"I'll be seeing you tomorrow then, Kai." Walter and the others left as Kai's group entered the hotel. It was extremely high class, with chandeliers and expensive decorations decking the halls. They had two rooms, one for Carter and Kai while the other was for Evelynn and Ashe.

Unpacking his things in his room, Kai heard a knock coming from the hotel room door. Taking a glance through the peephole he noticed it was Ashe and opened the door.

"Let's go to the Blacksmith Association" Ashe said plainly.

"What about Eve and Carter?" Kai turned his neck around, catching a glance of Carter poking his head around the corner.

"Don't worry about us, we've got some work to iron out" Carter explained, pulling out a stack of papers. "Just make sure you get back before it gets dark!"

Kai nodded and followed Ashe out of the hotel. Right as they step out a taxi pulls up nearby, stepping out was Oscar.

"Oscar?" Kai spoke. "What're you doing here?"

Oscar looked up somewhat offended by the question.

"I booked a room here, that's why" Oscar said, pulling his bags out of the taxi.

Ashe and Kai looked at each other confused when Oscar began crossed the street, walking away from the expensive hotel. Across the street they noticed a run down motel, the polar opposite of the expensive and high end hotel they were staying in.

Ashe laughed loudly, earning herself a glare from Oscar as he entered the motel across the street. Ashe then turned to face Kai.

"C'mon lets go, I want to finish this up tonight!"

…

The Blacksmith Association was completely different from the Spirit Pagoda. It was filled with big burly and muscular men, Ashe and Kai seemed to stick out a bit once they entered. Kai followed Ashe as she approached one of the receptionists and handed over a letter.

Soon a large, balding and grey haired man appeared.

"You're Lance's kid?" His voice was deep and rough as he spoke to Ashe.

"Yes sir!" Ashe responded swiftly and respectfully, completely different from the usual Ashe.

"Good, I'm Aldric" Aldric paused for a moment as he looked at Kai. "And you are?"

Before he could respond Ashe spoke up.

"He's my friend, Kai."

Aldric nodded, turning back to face Ashe.

"Let's go, its time for your test."

Aldric began leading them down a hall, turning around a corner before arriving in a private forging room.

"What test are you doing?" Kai asked, whispering to Ashe. Kai tilted her head to side, thinking for a moment.

"I was supposed to do it back in Heaven Dou, but since I came here with you my dad wants me to complete my rank up before I get back home" Ashe responded.

Kai nodded as Aldric spoke up again, pulling out a series of metals and laying them on a nearby table..

"Pick the metal you'd like to refine, and we'll begin."

Ashe walked over to the table as Aldric brought Kai to the side of the room, out of the way. Soon a large black hammer appeared in Ashes hands. She took a couple swings in the air, warming herself up. Ashe then observed the different metals on the table before picking up a black metal, similar to what her hammer seemed to be made of.

Seeing all of this Aldric smiled wryly and shook his head.

"Is something wrong?" Kai asked curiously seeing Aldric's expression.

Aldric was silent for a moment as Ashe began to heat up the metal.

"Nothing's wrong" Aldric said, not taking his eyes off of Ashe. "It's just it seems like there's no point for her to take this examination."

"What do you mean?"

"You might not be able to tell, but her hammer is clearly made from thousand refined metal" Aldric explained. "And if she's Lance's daughter, her hammer has likely also experienced a blood sacrifice."

"Blood sacrifi-?" Kai began to speak when a loud clanging sound of metal hitting metal resounded throughout the room. Kai diverted his attention back to Ashe as she began hammering away at the metal.

She swung the hammers as though they weighed nothing, but the sound that hammer made when striking led Kai to believe they weighed a couple tons. She didn't even break a sweat as she continued to swing the hammer, striking the metal continuously over and over.

"Incredible" Aldric exclaimed, causing Kai to look over. "I have no idea what the hammer's effect is, but it seems to be quite strong."

Kai just nodded, not completely sure what all this meant. Ashe, however, was completely focused as she continued to hammer away. It continued for a couple hours, the entire time Ashe hadn't slowed down once, until finally it seemed like she had finished.

The sound of metal hitting metal disappeared, replace by some labored breathing from Ashe. Looking over, Kai noticed a wide smile etched on her face, her hands trembling slightly with excitement.

"Congratulations Ashe!" Aldric spoke up, a smile on his face. "You are now a 3rd rank grandmaster blacksmith!"