THE BLACKSMITH

"Cian!!! Where are you hiding??" Lyssa shouted as she ran around the house, holding a pair of slippers in her hands. Her cerulean eyes glowed as she searched for Cian.

"When did he get so good in hiding!" Lyssa cursed as he stomped the ground. Green markings spread out from her leg in all directions and soon enough, she had found Cian.

"What did I tell you about stealing cookies from the kitchen Cian?" She asked.

Little Cian flinched as he tried to think of something.

"Mama.. Furla said it was okay.." He said in a soft tone, melting Lyssa's heart. Summoning Furla out, she stared at him furiously, his anger now shifting away from Cian.

"Well, I only said that if he was able to hide his presence to a good extent using the technique I taught him, I was going to allow him to take a single cookie-"

"Who are you now, the man of the house??" Lyssa asked, smacking Furla with a slipper.

"And you Cian.." She said, turning towards him as he was trying to walk away.

"Yes mummy?" He said in a sad tone.

Sensing he was about to cry, Lyssa sighed and hugged him.

"Never take cookies again without permission from mommy okay? Just ask mommy if you want to eat, okay?"

"Okay.."

"Now, let's prepare ourselves.. We are going to celebrate Vondeer's Ascendere. He is now a Phantom A rank adventurer." She said.

(Ascendere is Ascension in latin)

"Mommy.. What is pha.. pantim-" Cian struggled to say.

"Don't worry about that, you will get to learn all of those things in due time." She said to Cian, who still looked confused.

"Cian, we are going to Bella's home to have a celebration. You see, her dad has become more awesome!" Furla said, trying to explain things in simpler terms.

"Bella! Am I going to play with her?"

"Yes, a lot"

 When Cian was just five months old, Mardan gave birth to Bella, their second child. Since they Mardan and Vondeer were the only ones who were coming to Lyssa's house, Cian and Bella grew close to one another and became inseparable.

As Lyssa brushed her teeth while watching Cian do the same, her mind drowned in deep thoughts.

"Cian... He is a quick learner, leaning how to erase his presence by just looking at what Furla was doing.. It seems he might have some affinity for our- no no. Let's not think of that. He is going to turn three tomorrow.. And Julius... I'll have to register as an adventurer today-"

She felt a soft pinch on her leg, bringing her back to her senses.

"Mommy is not brushing teeth.. Punish."

********

VETTEL CITY

As usual, the capital was bustling with myriads of activities, from inns to market stalls to children playing around the knights who just stood there like immovable boulders. 

Lyssa walked around from shop to shop while holding Cian's hand.

"Mommy, what are we buying?"

"A gift for Bella's dad." She replied as they entered into a weapons shop.

Being his first time in such a shop, he gazed at the mesmerizing display of weapons up against the wall that seemed to gleam with otherworldly perfection, from the elegant longswords to the swift looking rapiers and mighty halberds. Even though he was still young, he felt as if the elegant weapons were calling upon him, calling upon his grasp on their finely finished handles. His gaze shifted towards the armor display, adoring the delicate and harmonious blend of fashion and formidable defense.

"I see your son has quite the eye for my works." Said a female voice as she got into the display room. Standing at six feet tall, the chocolate skin muscular elf welcomed Lyssa and Little Cian.

"What's your name kid?" She asked.

"Ci- Cian Farfridge."

"Its Farbridge, Cian." Lyssa corrected him as he hid behind her, embarrassed.

"My name is Lyssana Farbridge, pleasure to meet you."

"Name is Ellie, Ellie Darnswith."

"I see you're quite the talented blacksmith.. I almost sense no errors in your weapons... I am here to request for a custom weapon."

"I see, which kind of weapon do you want?"

"One that Vondeer would like."

"I see.. A gift for his level up?"

"Yes. Here are two grand coins. Use them as you see fit." She said as two grand coins appeared on her palm.

"Two grand coins? Are you sure about this? He will be targeted by many stronger adventurers."

"Worry not, I will take care of that. So at what time should I come for it?"

Ellie scratched her head a bit.

"Let's see.. Give me eight hours." She said.

"Cian, do you want to stay?" Lyssa asked, noticing that Cian was trying to reach for a spear.

"C- can I?" He asked, a smile appearing on his adorable face.

"Only if you promise not to disturb her okay? Just help her out a bit."

"Er wait.... You want to leave the kid here?!"

"It seems like he is interested in weapons, so yeah. Don't worry, he isn't alone. He'll be the one who will supervise. Is it okay if I put it in those terms?"

"Sheesh, okay. But still, leaving this child alone...."

"He isn't alone, trust me." Lyssa said as she walked away.

"Eh?"

*******

"Don't touch anything kid, just sit over there and watch. Okay?" Ellie said as they entered in Ellie's forge.

"We are going to make a twin set of weapons called Shuang Gao, something that Vondeer will like."

Ellie said.

Cian nodded quickly, excited to see how weapons are made;

A lesson that would eventually help him soon, to evade death.