Making a New Knife and Going to the Chapel

"That's a legit magistone?" Katze got awed by the blacksmith's declaration. "Like, seriously?"

"Yeah. Hard to believe, but my skill proves that this is undoubtedly a magistone."

Marcus Aldhelm, the blacksmith who was rude to Oria suddenly turns respective towards her.

"I'm sorry for being rude. Looking at you, I was certain that you're just some ignorant spoiled brat that wanted to get all the things in the world for herself just by whinin' and beggin'. It seems I was horribly wrong."

"Ehehe… I'm also at fault, sir. I should've shown you the magistone first, hehe."

"Talkin' about that, tho… where did you get it? I don't remember there's a dungeon around 'ere."

"Well… (He knows about dungeon… could he know something about that smelly dungeon I trained at? Maybe I shouldn't tell it to him, yet. Let's see… ah, I got it!) …umm, I found it when I was training in the open field."

"Hu-What? Magistones in the open field ain't like this, j'know?"

"Well, they're from monsters called uhh… what was it again? Oh, yeah! Mollis! They're from Mollis creatures I killed!" Oria stated cheerfully.

"Mo... MOLLIS!?" Both Katze and Marcus got shocked.

"Eh?"

"Kiddo! You killed Mollis monsters?!" the middle-aged man asked hurriedly. He inadvertently stands up in his shock.

"E-Eh? Uh, yeah? They're kinda hard to kill, though. Simple weapons don't really work against them. (That's what Faruk taught me.)"

"An eight-year-old has experience in slaying Mollis monsters… j-just who taught you, Oria?" Katze asked her. She's still surprised after learning of her capabilities.

The blacksmith crosses his arms, nodding his head. He acknowledges her experience. "Yes, yes. That proves where you get these magistones. Mollis monsters spit out magistones as they die, though not all. Hmm… does that mean Mollis monsters began migrating here…"

"Hehehe… (I actually got them from treasures in that dungeon, though. I'll keep that info to myself until Faruk says it's ok.)"

"Having possession of magistones proved that you're not just a simple little girl, or a spoiled brat, if you ask me. Too bad I don't have Appraisal Stones, though, or else I would've known just what level you are at."

"(Eeep… g-good thing he doesn't have it! Hahaha…)"

"By the way, Oria…" Katze turned to her asking. "When did you get them? I mean, when you come to our flat, you don't bring anything with you, right?"

That's another conundrum. Oria attempts to worm her way out of the striking question with more lies.

"—Ah, well… Master Dux brought it to me. He's keeping it with him after my trainings, hehe… he came to me and brought it to me with some extras as a 'gift'."

"He brought you extra magistones as a gift? A. Gift?" Katze asked again to which Oria nodded. She chuckles, facepalming afterwards. "Heheh… Damn tentacles… I asked him to get me a magistone and he's whining in refusal as if the world's gonna end if he gets it. He's playing favorites, now, ain't he…?"

Oria is dumbfounded by the red-haired woman's self-muttering, "(I don't know what's wrong with Miss Katze, but I guess that's just how she acts to Master Dux… oh, well.)"

"Master Dux surely had some stash of magistones with him," Marcus said. "But I won't blame him if he refused to share any of his possessions. After all, he's a mage. Almost every part of his equipment requires a magistone."

"Y-Yeah… I guess you're right. It's just that I feel kinda pissed…"

"Anyway, Oria." Mr. Marcus turned to the little girl. "You want me to make a knife, hm? A knife for fighting monsters?"

"Ah, right, that's the one," Oria confirmed.

"I don't mind making one. But I'm kind of short of materials right now. Refining weapons for town rangers did a number on my iron stockpile. The next import will arrive roughly a week later during the entrance of the winter."

"Oh… that's too bad. Oh, wait…" Oria then dug into the sack of materials in her hand. "Umm… you said you need iron, right? Can you use this instead?"

"Hm…?" Katze and Marcus stared at the dark greyish stone Oria showed.

"Hey, now… this ain't a joke, right? That's a freaking ironite!"

"Y-Yes, it is…" Oria lowered her voice. Somehow, she can sense an impending scream.

The blacksmith and the young woman are stunned. Katze eventually asks her.

"Let me guess… Dux gave it to you."

In a simple nod, Oria confirms, "Yes, that's right."

"Oh, is that so?" Katze smiles. But deep in her heart, she's screaming from the bottom of her lungs. "(Damned shitty old tentacle sage!!! Why are you willing to share it with her but not with me!?)"

Meanwhile, the old blacksmith bows a little to her. He lowers his voice as he speaks again.

"H-Hey, little one… would you mind giving it to me?" Marcus asked politely. He sounded a bit begging.

"Well, I do want to give it to you. But in return… can you make a knife for me?"

"A knife? Haha! I'll even make you more than just a simple knife! A custom built one, in fact! I know some enchantments technique to make your weapon much, MUCH stronger! So, will you give it to me?"

"Heehee. Gladly!"

Oria gives him two of the three ironites she has in possession, which surprises the old man even more. For the enchantments, Oria gives him the orange-colored magistone. After that, Marcus sweeps off all things on the working table to the floor with his big muscular arm, causing cacophony of noises from falling metal and tools.

"You sure are fired up, aren't you Marc—"

"SHUT UP, Katze! This is a rare opportunity I must not miss! I can only make enchanted weapons when I'm at cities, so this is my FIRST time doing it in Fred Village! Let me focus!"

He shouted deafeningly like a thunderbolt striking, shocking the two females once again. The guy may sound wrathful, but in fact, he's smiling widely as if he's the happiest, luckiest man on earth. He can't bear how glad he is for having rare materials at his disposal. Working on those materials Oria gave him, he's chuckling, giggling as he does his job.

Twitching her eyes again, Katze quietly responds, "W-Well, there he goes again… let's go, Oria."

"Eh?"

"If he's so fired up like this, he'll not bat an eye to anyone except his work. He'll yell at anyone trying to get close to him, so, yeah. Let's get outta here before he becomes a real Krakatoa."

"What's a Krakatoa?" Oria asked curiously as Katze pulled her arms away from the working blacksmith. "Huh? It's a volcano on an island in the southeastern continent!" the young woman quickly answered.

Outside, the cold air welcomes the two once again. The heat of the blacksmith is totally gone as they stepped into the open. Their breath is now visibly steaming.

"Ooh…" Oria got interested by it.

"Haha. It appears snow will fall anytime soon, now," Katze stated. "Well, then, Oria. Shall we go to the chapel?"

Oria looks at her and thinks, "Huh? Oh, yeah! Priestess Rosine is expecting me!"

At the village church, Oria notices how there are many children around her age sitting on the chairs as if a mass is being held. At the altar, Priestess Rosine and Bishop Arun are talking in turns to them.

"Huh… it seems Sunday school is in session," Katze stated as she crossed her arms.

"Sunday school?"

"Yeah. It's a class held on Sundays to teach children about the religion. Have you ever been to a Sunday school, Oria?"

"Umm… no, I guess."

"Well, can't blame you. When I was a kid, I skipped classes a lot. B-But please don't do that, okay? I think your master will not be so happy about it…"

"I wonder what they are teaching…" Oria got curious.

"Wanna join them? It's a good experience for you to learn about the Grand System."

"Grand System? Oh, right… (I guess she was talking about the system that Faruk had taught me.) I think I want to join them, Miss Katze."

"Okay, then."

Katze lets out a warm invisible aura from her body. It surprises Oria when she suddenly did that. But she catches the attention of the young priestess, who immediately stopped teaching the kids as she noticed Katze's presence.

"Bishop, if I may…?"

"Hm. Go ahead. I'll handle things from here."

"Well, everyone, I'm sorry but I have to go. I will return in the next hour. Bishop Arun will teach you now."

"Whaaaat?" the children got disappointed. "Bishop Arun is boooring!"

"H-Hey, don't say that! He's a bishop, you know?"

The priestess calms everyone down, "Now, now, everyone. I promise I will teach you after Bishop Arun."

"Really?"

"Yaay!"

"You're the best, Miss Rosine!"

Rosine giggles lightly with the enthusiasm of her students. She walks on the aisle towards Katze and Oria, who are waiting for her. As she approaches them, she gracefully greets them.

"Good morning, Miss Katze, Oria. May the Goddess bless you in this beautiful morning."

"Yo, Rosine. It's quite cold today, don't you think?" Katze casually greeted her back.

"Yes… I believe the winter is already upon us. It's only a matter of time before snow falls. I pray that this season the Goddess will bless us with Her Guidance through the hardship of the winter."

"Haha. I hope so, too."

"(These two are surprisingly… friendly. But their personalities are completely opposites!)"

"Oria, you've come today, I see," the priestess greeted the little girl.

"O-Oh! Heehee. Yes, Miss."

Stroking her hair gently, she compliments her for remembering today's appointment. "Good girl. It's roughly about an hour before my magic dissipates from you, though."

"Eh, what magic?" Katze retorted in shock.

"A magic that I used to treat Oria's illness."

"Huh? Oh, right!" Katze just remembered. "Granny brought Oria here yesterday. That magic some kind of treatment?"

"Yes. But it's temporary. That's why, we must hurry."

Rosine and Katze brings Oria to the infirmary and lays her on the bed. Just like yesterday, Rosine performs the same healing magic to her. Using praying beads, she prays to the Goddess and light arises from her and flows to the silver-haired kid. Katze sits idly on her side, holding her hand tightly.

A few minutes later, Rosine finishes the treatment. Just like yesterday, Oria falls asleep after receiving the magic.

"Phew… it is done. Good thing she's didn't delay her arrival. Or else…"

"Hey, Rosine…"

"Hm?"

"I wasn't too keen on what's going on with Oria. Mind telling me?"

"But of course. You are her guardian, too, after all. You deserve to know."

Priestess Rosine discloses of her discovery that Oria was formerly a slave and how her memories still haunted her till now. She also tells her that there's a void in her early memories, when she was still a baby up until she's four years old. To prevent her from mental breakdown, Rosine uses a magic that can suppress her trauma for a full 24 hours.

Just listening to her explanation makes Katze sick. Occasionally, she trembled when hearing her story. And as the priestess finishes telling her everything she knew, Katze is horrified. For a moment she covers her mouth tremblingly. It is hard to believe for her.

"...Y-You're not joking, right? That's… that's freaking crazy! A child like her had been through that much of pain!?"

The priestess reluctantly confirms, "Yes… unbelievable at first, but that's what I saw in her memories."

"No... Oria… poor you. You've been through hell, don't you…?" Katze strokes her head gently. The child is sleeping soundly.

Listening to her story, Katze's body trembles. She can't fathom just how harsh her life had been. But then, Katze asks something in particular.

"Rosine."

"Hm?"

"You can see her memories, right?"

"Yes. But only the existing ones. Her past time was oddly gone from her memories, though…"

"That's not what I meant!"

"Eh?"

"What happens after she escaped slavery? Where did she go? Who saved her!? Is it Dux!?"

Rosine gawks at her. A long, dreading silence falls between them. The air feels heavy somehow. In some way, Katze feels that the priestess refuses to elaborate. But at last, Rosine responds to her. She lets out a long sigh, more to a disappointment rather than relieved.

At long last, she finally speaks.

"…I'm afraid I do not know."