Chapter 1: The Lady and the Sword

"An Azurtite, huh?"

A hot and windy morning.

Where all of the inhabitants of my fair, little land are celebrating and done on the preparations for the festival, I, a frail and little girl, just woke up lazily in the heat of the weather alongside the wave of excitement and anticipation that can be felt outside. Just opening my teary eyes from yawning, cheery voices and shouts can be heard from my room while I stood up in a sluggish manner (added with my ceremonial belly-scratching) as I am now finally awake.

I sighed while folding a parchment letter that I just saw on my lap the moment I opened my eyes.

It said the following:

For Kid,

I will be busy from this day up to tomorrow and while I am arranging some papers for the Chief for the incoming festival, I would like you to collect some ores for me that goes in the name of Azurite. When you got them, just give them to Nada and do your usual tasks for today.

Also, stay out of trouble. I heard that there is a suspicious man lurking around the city.

My regards,

POPS

...

Huh, that's Pops alright.

With a final yawn to say goodbye on the gentle and reassuring embrace of my bed, I got my usual smithy attire and made my preparations to brace myself on yet another boring task of mineral-collecting.

In this world, as a little lady such as myself, I got into this kind of industry as my birthright- yes, me and my one and only family member are swordsmiths.

But not just any swordsmiths, mind you.

When I reached the basement of our house, a hasty voice greeted me:

"Waah! Good morning, Lady-Smith! You are finally awake, I see."

"Oh, good morning to you too, Nada. You wake up on an early time as usual." I said woozily.

I was facing a slender boy clad in the same attire that I am wearing, only the difference is that his is covered in a pitch-black coal in front of his tunic. He bowed at me- a typical response that he gives every time he sees me and flashed a cheery-eyed smile. He is trembling in his hands but tries his best to hide it with his ever-growing grin.

This boy's name is Nada. He is Pops' apprentice and he was with us for a lot of years now. He is a boy that is heavily taught by my Pops about a lot of sword-creation topics and every time I look at him, the effects from Pops' gargantuan lectures are extremely obvious for every speech and behavior of his.

"Hey Nada, I told you a lot of times, you do not have to bow at me every time we meet you know?"

It is concerning as of late, really. A lot of swordfolks are gossiping us if we keep you as a slave, it is embarrassing!

"Sorry, Lady-Smith, it is just… every time I see you, I cannot help it but to bow at you! I do not know, it is as if, I am conditioned and it is a reflex of mine." he said while scratching his head.

Wah. Scary. Pops really, what do you do regularly to this little guy?

"Okay, here is a compromise: if you will promise me to not do that anymore, I will happily forge you a personalized sword just for you! How does it fare to your ears, boy?' I said while munching on some leftover honeyberries we had last dinner.

It is only fitting. This boy is working with us for a long time now.

While waiting for his reply, I noticed that he went mum and just stared at me.

"Nada? Hoiii, Nada???"

"Yah! Wha- Oh, I would be thrilled then!" he said, spacing out.

"Excellent! So from this day forward, I would like you to refrain from bowing at me, okay? Otherwise, in these coming of days, someone might actually send me in the Guild for interrogation…"

"What does that mean?"

"OH- N-nothing! Nothing! So? What kind of sword would you be wanting? Ask anything! Your elder-sister smith will forge you a good sword~! Do you want a cool-looking one to attract the ladies? Or a sword with glow-inducing core to make you handsome? Just say the word!!!"

I rummaged every possibilities of a sword that might be compatible with this little guy while he was just watching me there, smiling. I noticed it and I had to call him the second time.

"What's wrong? Do you not desire to have a cool sword in your boyish life?" I tilted my head while asking.

"It is just… it might be amazing to have them right away…. but, now is not the time, Lady-Smith."

Nada's eyes are smiling with a tinge of awkwardness and hesitation.

"O-Okay then. Just tell me anytime if you had the idea for your sword and I will swiftly make you one!"

"Got it, Lady-Smith! Oh? Are you heading out? Do you want me to accompany you?" Nada quickly insisted when I finally wore my Merchant bag.

"Nah. You keep the tasks here at the smithy. I will just collect some ores shortly and once I am done, I will give them to you for Pops' sake, okay?"

"Understood, Lady-Smith! Have a safe quest!!!" finally, when I was ready to head out, Nada gave me a sending-off greeting and bowed.

Seriously, this kid…

"Hoi…I thought I told you that you quit that bowing regimen of yours?" I said in a cold voice.

I slowly stepped forward to reach the head of our kid-apprentice and lightly smacked him in his head.

"S-sorry about that!"

He apologized to me in an awkward manner once again and with that, I went in my short quest to find these Azurites according to Pops.

Indeed, there were a lot of people outside in the heat of the festival preparation and every hustle and bustle of every swordsfolk can be seen. In order to avoid unnecessary interactions with every swordsman (and woman) I might come across, I went in my secret shortcut on the woods.

From thick forests and passing through green pastures to approaching a small valley, I immersed myself to the ever-changing nature I am presented to while I am walking and having a small thought…

The festival huh? That's the reason why Pops is extremely busy. He never even goes to the house these past few days anymore. Well, I guess that's just normal for the number one trusted swordsmith in all of Ea.

I wonder if… he periodically thinks that certain accident in the past…

A time where, at a young age, he was forcing me to participate in a cultural event for some unknown reason. I even poured all of my excuses just to avoid that stupid ritual due to that stupid festival.

"I'm too young!"

"I'm a girl!"

"I should just study at the academy!"

And yes:

"I hate swords!"

I remembered- he was too obsessed. Hungry for something that cannot be satisfied. He was at the point of his age that he must prove something for the betterment not just for himself, but for his family. I guess, he did all of those things out of spite and hence, the reason I was distant from him.

On that time…

*SLAP*

I answered a three-worded phrase that etched a pain on his hungry heart. It built up on his mind, then entered and bursted through his manly hands.

For that exact moment, he felt sorry. He realized that hitting his one and only child might be a terrible decision in his life and due to that, he turned over a new leaf… in a sense. He was clearly able to talk to me now, but I feel like the blockade of the past is growing between us every passage of the day.

From all of that, I just sighed.

"Huh, what are you going to do without me, Pops?" I groaned. I always set aside matters such as this.

Furthermore, is he still okay after that fight we just had?

Amidst my thoughts from the past, I noticed that I already took a lot of minutes on my questing and while walking, I realized that the temperature in my vicinity lowered. Sure, it might have been just my imagination, but as I went on my walk, I'm already inside of a dark cavern.

But to correct, it was not even that dark.

I was in the vicinity of blue light. The mixture of darkness and a hue of blue calmed my body and lowered the hotness in my heart. My eyes mimicked the tinge of the color: cerulean as everything that was in there- rocks, stalagmites and stalactites, cobblestones, and other well-known rocks threw their respective colors in favor to wear the blue one. The presence of fog swirled around the area, creating a calming and unique experience contrasted on what I usually do at home. Crumbles of long-forgotten rocks are lying there- far and many as the eye can see, though it would be possible to behold them all if you have a light rod with you. Interestingly enough, columns of white rocks are also there- it seemed that they were used to support a huge structure.

Needless to say, these things that I am seeing are remnants of the past. That's what I think anyway.

For all of the things I have listed though, those are not the ones that piqued my interest.

In the center of the blue-lit cave, I beheld a glowing lake. A body of water which, at normal circumstances, should be just used for washing and fishing, but not in this case. I walked forward to inspect more of the waters. I felt that I was also becoming one with the cave- no, to be specific, to this very lake. I felt intense but oddly, calming feelings of peace, serenity, and purity. Honestly, the experience is unexplainable for I was having a "hot or cold" situation.

All of these things stopped though when I reached the end of the landmass: the echo for each of my footsteps, the tinkling sounds of the waters, and the very sound of my breath- all of them stopped.

I beheld, inside of the lake, a collection of randomized rocks with ores. To be specific, these rocks were glowing with a shade of dark blue. Ranging from different sizes, the minerals gave off different light but were still shining nonetheless. My eyes also shone- mimicking the colors of the ores in front of me. It gave a hypnotizing vibe.

These are what we call azurites. A rare and difficult ore that a lot of swordsmiths crave. It is a kind of ore that can be used on different parts of the sword be it the blade, the core, or even the hilt or edge. Furthermore, it is extremely flexible and adaptable on sword types since it can be used on striking and slashing stances especially for burst-type blades.

You might be wondering why I easily saw these "difficult" minerals for my quest in just a span of a half-hour walk. Well, I don't want to call it as a talent, but I call it as a gift.

Ever since Pops asked me to fetch some stones for his beginning smithy store in the past after we made up, I can easily search and collect gems or ores much to the shock and amazement for him.

But enough bragging, I'll collect the ores so I can go home early.

I took out my "Miner's box" and carefully prepared myself to set my foot on the lake. I removed my "Adventurer's shoes" and set my first foot-

Brrrrrrrr!!! It is so cold!

The waters may have become a mirror or a catalyst for the ores, I suppose. Because a lot of rocks are piled in this lake, the water also became cold.

"One, two, three, four…" I carefully collected these precious ores.

Hmm… Is it just me, or I feel dizzy?

"Five, six, seven, eight…"

What's with the sound of the heavy footsteps I hear? Could it be that there are survivors of the mythical but extinct Cronhus? No it can't be… those giants went extinct.

"Nine, ten, ele-"

Splash!

Before I even knew it, I lost my balance not because of my clumsiness, but due to an external force.

It was an earthquake.

The caverns roared due to the intense quake of the land and everything went shaky. My line of sight was also shaking and I just managed to curl down while protecting my head.

What's with this situation! Am I going to die because of Pops!? I swear, if I die, I'll kill Pops also!

While I was shrieking, the tremble also intensified but oddly, nothing is falling from the inside. I may try looking upward, but at this moment, I think it is not safe.

Closing my eyes, I greatly feel that there is also shining in front of me but oh no! I'm not going to open my eyes until this ends!

After a while, the quake simmered and I was left, still curling and trembling. I opened my eyes to scan at my environment: still the same.

"Huh, I guess I'm still saved. WAHAHAHA! I'm aliv-"

SMACK!!!

Something heavy fell down on my head and I blacked out.

***

I slowly opened my eyes when I regained my consciousness.

I saw the sky; stars are twinkling into the black-blue atmosphere.

WHA!!! Is it evening already?!

I carefully composed myself, slowly got back up, and looked on my recent path. Huh, so I'm still at the lake, but where are the waters?

Suddenly, there's a burst of light that shot on my back. A familiar light which, appeared while I was closing my eyes before I blacked out.

I turned to my back and saw something unworldly.

I saw a sword. It glows a light-blue force and aura that emits a gold light on its edges. Its blade, while glowing with gold aura, is colored basely with dark blue. The blade also is ornamented with sharp designs that I do not recognize. A horizontal guard is connected on the blue blade as it is colored in gold, mirroring the same gold aura of its blade. Its hilt is black, though also emits the same blue aura on its sides. Situated on the gold guard and black grip, a blue core that I have never seen before is affixed that lightly shimmers, giving the impression that it is the source of its power. Altogether, the sword is breath-taking.

Ultimately, if I am the protagonist of this "epic" journey that is bound expected to slay monsters, defeat the evil, and save the world, I shall take the sword as mine and the aforementioned fate and task will ensue!

My, what exciting adventures and exploits will it be! Closed doors will be busted right open, paths will be plotted, songs will be sung, the very world shall be kind and will be offered to me if I will grab this momentous opportunity!

But heh, sorry, like I said to Pops:

"I HATE SWORDS!"