The soul smith

Avelier

State - Rasimerica

City - Hrisse

Location - Market district

Time - 11:21 am

Following Jan into the market district, the three of us Jan ,me and Julett, headed further downtown towards the Smithy that Jan recommended ,the three of us wore our casual clothes, I wore my usual brown pants and white shirt with a jacket on top ,Jan wore a black shirt under his leather jacket, his pants were blue and were body fitted and with his boots , necklace and belt choices , his fashion made him look like some sort of a bad boy, and Julett she wore a white blouse with a white skirt that covered her thighs and also had a white summer hat on top, all of that made her look like a pure and innocent maiden and indeed she got dozens of men staring at her

The three of us kept on moving downtown and after a while we finally reached a large smithy that seemed respectable and tidy from outside, a signboard that said Grima's Smithy was displayed on the front

† IRON SWORD †

Before we entered Jan looked at us to see if we remembered his advices on who we are about to meet

And from his words

This blacksmith we are about to meet is a human who has held the hammer in the Smithy since he was 5 and became a Grand Smith when he was 10 and opened this shop legally on his own when he became 15, a Hird who declined the option of being elevated to an Urd, the soul smith - Steven Grima

A perfectionist ,a good man now in his mind 20s who has a sharp tongue, and honestly even I have heard of his name ,as an adventurer, anyone who doesn't know his name would undoubtedly ignorant, but even though I knew his fame I never dared to enter his shop before because of how pricy his products were

Chris : " Jan "

Jan : " Yeah? "

Chris : " He won't charge us any consultation fees right? { Because if so I'd rather leave }(firmly thought so) "

Julett :" I'll pay if he does so don't worry "

Ring ring

Without even batting an eye to us Jan entered the smithy , surprised by his sudden entrance we followed him in with haste

As we walked in the smithy the temperature instantly increased but was mild on the display area where people were choosing their wanted weapons, the clerks were busy with the other customers and one also came up to us

Jan talked to the male clerk and explained our status and who he was it seemed and after giving us a short look ,the Demihuman clerk smiled and asked us to follow him to the work shop

" Jan you seem awfully important here "

I asked Jan with an uneasy look as we followed the clerk

" Yeah ,is this Steve Grima a relative of yours? "

Jan glanced at us and replied to us without much seriousness

" Yeah he's my father's brother in law you see "

Chris & Julett :( flabbergasted )" Wha?? "

***

CLANG CLANG CLANG

In his private forge at the back of the Smithy, a man , handsome and manly ,he had blond hair and blue eyes ,he also was tall and built, in an blacksmith attire was hammering down on a blade that he was working on, and if one would look closely they would see the golden aura surrounding his hammer and tongs that he used in this work of his

CLANG CLANG CLANG

Jan :" (whispers) He's working, we'll have to wait a bit , don't make any noise unless you want to anger him "

Jan told his comrades who gave him a bump that was left by the smacking they gave him for keeping such secrets till now

Chris :" How long ?"

Jan turned back to his uncle and scrutinized the blade he was working on to calculate the time he would need to finish purifying the metal

Jan :" It seems like he was at it since morning so it shouldn't be long ,less than an hour? "

Julett :" An hour?(looked wronged) "

Chris :" Let's just wait leader, and besides..."

CLANG CLANG CLANG

" It's not very often that we get to see a soul smith at work "

Julett who turned to the working soul smith inevitably showed a small smile at Chris's words

" I suppose ( looks at the blacksmith's eyes that showed nothing but focus) you're right "

The blacksmith continued on and it didn't take long for Julett to spot the golden energy convering his tools and body ,when asked Jan explained that it was the Blacksmith, Mr Steve's unique skill <Life forge>,a skill that gives life to the weapon he forges making them capable of growth along with the one who will use the blade

This skill of his was the reason why he was such a valued blacksmith across the continents

Now that even I spotted the skill's glow Julett and I started to focus our eyes on the movements he made on the blade and one could see vein like mana patterns glow every time the blade was struck by the hammer

Chris :{ So he's basically hammering the life in the blade }" It's not that different from making babies huh "

Julett :" (judgingly looks at Chris ) You and vulgar mind "

Chris :" Leader that's a logical analogy, right Jan? "

Jan nodded in approval

" That's what every work means to uncle, he always regards his blade much like his own children,so Chris is not wrong here Julie "

Julett :" (pouts) Okay fine , but I must say ,Mr Grima's control of mana is superb, it's even better than Merwin's "

Jan :" I agree "

CLANG CLANG CLANG

Watching the scene made time flew right by

,in a blink the blacksmith quenched the blade and then putted his hammer down and wiped his sweat off and called

" Thanks for waiting Jan. (looks at Jan and his two companions and smiles) They your friends? "

Jan :" They are Uncle, I've brought them here today because of my friend's circumstance (looks at Chris) "

The blacksmith took a quick look at the boy near his nephew and dropped his jaws

" Ah.. "

{Why's he looking at me like that?}

Chris thought being a bit creeped out by the blacksmith's gaze

Jan :" Uncle? "{ He's being wierd , it's as if he's looking at a rare metal }

The blacksmith however not responding to Jan's words suddenly stood up and approached Chris and looked at him from the right, front, back and left

Chris :" Umm is there somethi- "

" Jan "

Steve called to his nephew who took a step back with Julett who was ready to throw hands with the creepy blacksmith

Jan :" Yes?? "

" When did you become friends with a spirit as rare as him ? And may I know your name O young spirit? "

Julett :" Spirit ?"

Chris :" Me???{ Spirit } "

Jan :" Friends with what? (Looks at Steve Incredulously) "

Steve also took a glance at Julett and was amazed by her beauty but then he again gave Julett a suprised look with widened eyes

Steve :" Young lady ,did you perhaps made a slave contract with this spirit ? "

Julett :" Contract?? As in a spirit contract? "

Steve :{ she doesn't seem to be a spirit arts user so this is weird especially since she's a fire attributed spearwoman and this spirit here is a metal spirit, their compatibility is close to zero so how is this possible }

Julett gave a long look at Steve and then to Chris who had a helpless look before she replied to the blacksmith

" I've made no such contract and Chris is my friend not a slave Mr Grima "

" ...Jan can you explain all this to me real quick, the people you've brought today rather pique my curiosity here "

Jan :" As I said they are my friends that need your help ,we have some questions that we hoped you can answer for us uncle "

End of chapter