Coming of Age
Nova stood in front of Jack's room, which was a good distance away from his room, but still on the same floor.
『...Okay. This is your room?』[Nova]
『Yeah. Let me show you something.』[Jack]
He unlocked the door before opening it and revealing a weird room to him.
『...What in the world…?』[Nova]
The room had looked like a mess, with black burn marks, and an entire smithy in the back.
『...It's my hobby. I make weapons.』[Jack]
They both walked in, where Jack tossed the bag of snacks on a table next to the smithy.
『...How did you get all this stuff in here?』[Nova]
『I used a spatial ring. Same as yours.』[Jack]
Jack sat down in a stool next to the anvil of the smith.
『...Shut the door.』[Jack]
Nova went ahead and closed the door, walking next to him once he was done.
Jack took a long breath in before exhaling for an equally long amount of time.
『I never got to complete my coming of age… I'm.. I-I'm not comfortable saying why, but I was never able to create an artifact with my own hands.』[Jack]
Nova tried to say something, but he didn't know how to respond.
『...It's not like I haven't tried. I know how to do it- it's just… something always goes wrong at the end.』[Jack]
He picked up a hammer atop the anvil.
『...It's like there's been a weight on my hands. My shoulders. Everything. The more I pound and weave mana, the harder it gets to lift the hammer.』[Jack]
He put the hammer back down before lifting up a book.
『I know all the glyphs and enchantments to create runes on the things I make, too.』[Jack]
He stood up and walked over to his bed, where he pulled an elegantly crafted, pure red blade out.
『...I can make the weapons. It's just… in the step from weapon or armor to artifact… I can't make the jump.』[Jack]
He stared down at the blade.
『...I want to make this blade into an artifact.』[Jack]
He looked up at Nova, with a serious look.
『...You, along with everyone else in our group. I want you guys to be at my side when I make this.』[Jack]
Nova's mouth opened wide, trying to speak, but only leaking soundless words.
『...Don't tell the others, but… There are reasons why I can't perform this with my parents. I want to create this with all of you guys here. Even if you can't help… I have a feeling I can do it, with you all here.』[Jack]
Nova forced himself to take a breath, overwhelmed at Jack's pure resolve.
『...When?』[Nova]
『...Let's do it right now. I'll call them. Just sit there and believe in me.』[Jack]
Nova nodded and sat down on a couch that Jack had near the entrance.
Jack picked up his phone and called someone, causing a ringtone noise to echo through the walls.
Jack quickly went to the door and opened it, revealing Rai.
『Ah shi-』[Rai]
He winced and shut his eyes, as if he was caught doing something illegal.
『...I saw you two, so I wanted to see why I wasn't invited...』[Rai]
『Good. Get in.』[Jack]
He dragged Rai by the collar and threw him at the couch next to Nova.
『...Holy crap… what is this room?!』[Rai]
Nova quietly raised his fingers to his lip, indicating for Rai to quiet down.
『..Shh..』[Nova]
Jack called someone else, who picked up immediately.
『Leo. I want you to come and visit my room. ASAP. I'll text you the room number, just hurry up. See you soon.』[Jack]
He promptly ended the call and started another one immediately after.
『Andrew. Are you free? I want you to come to my room. Everyone else is here.』[Jack]
A loud shout was heard from Jack's phone, causing Jack to cover his ears.
『...WHAAAAT?! THEY'RE THERE BEFORE I AM?! I'M ON IT! SEND ME THE LOCATION!』[Andrew]
The call cut, just in time for a knock at the door to be heard.
Jack repeated the same process of opening the door and grabbing Leo by the collar and throwing him on the couch before he could say a word.
『...An entire smithy in your dorm room?! What the heck is this, Jack?!』[Leo]
Before Jack could even close the door, Andrew slammed through it.
『I'M NOT LAT- WOOOOOOOAH?!』[Andrew]
Jack dragged Andrew by the collar with a surprising amount of strength, throwing him on the overcrowded couch, on top of the entire group.
『BUHAH?!』[Nova]
『HEY! YOU'RE HEAVY!』[Rai]
『Buuuuh….』[Leo]
Leo looked like he lost consciousness on impact with Andrew.
Andrew quickly got off, sitting on the floor instead.
『...Man, you should really fight me, sometimes Jack!』[Andrew]
Jack ignored Andrew, opting to go over to Leo instead.
『...Hey, wake up.』[Jack]
Jack walked over to Leo and slapped him a few times, bringing him back to the world of the living.
『Wuh? What happened…?』[Leo]
『Snap out of it. Can you explain the Rayber house's coming of age tradition to everyone?』[Jack]
Leo immediately fixed his glasses before nodding.
『The Rayber house's tradition to celebrate coming of age is to go stroll through the grand hall of Rayber artifacts, then create an artifact with their parents and close family watching. Afterwards, they show it off and add it to the heirloom vault, as a way to show off the achievements of the past.』[Leo]
Jack nodded.
『As expected of you. Well, I'm… in a difficult situation where I can't create one with my family members… so I want you four to do me a favor… and witness it… if that's alright. 』[Jack]
Nova stood up, bringing everyone's attention to him.
『I'll support you, no matter what you want to do here.』[Nova]
Andrew quickly stood up afterwards.
『Of course! Who do you think we are?! We're brothers!』[Andrew]
Rai quickly stood up next.
『Hey! Stop stealing my thunder, you two! If you're all in, damn it- I'm in too!』[Rai]
Leo sheepishly stood up and cleaned his glasses.
『...Well… I'm not sure what your situation is, but... We are all friends! This could hardly be called a favor, even! I'm sure we'll all put our all into cheering you on!』[Leo]
Jack stood still for a moment before bringing out the pure red blade.
He looked at it for a fleeting moment before smiling at his friends.
『...Man. I'm lucky that I found you guys.』[Jack]
He took the blade to his anvil and pulled several unknown materials out and facing them from across the anvil.
『...My friends! You are about to witness both the rebirth of Jack Rayber and the birth of this weapon artifact!』[Jack]