26 Thorne Ironfist

The next whole week was spent researching Elysian C-D rank materials, going to the gym and practising new moves that he got. After a week he got the contract through the mail and after thoroughly reading it just to make sure that the guild contract wouldn't have any loopholes through which they would exploit him. After a thorough reading, he signs the contract and mails it back to the guild building. Then the next day Vector calls him and asks him to come to meet him in the guild building saying that Kei would meet a blacksmith today.

Kei starts to think 'Finally Yugen will be repaired and I will have to bring the iron tail of Maligora.' then he calls and asks Steph for the iron tail and he says that the iron tail would be delivered to him by tomorrow as the value of it is still being estimated by Hunter's Association. Kei ends the call and takes the broken Yugen and goes to the guild building.

After reaching the building he calls Vector and Vector says to him "Collect your guild membership card from the reception and come to the 9th floor. I am waiting for you." Kei quickly collects the card from the reception and goes to the 9th floor.

As soon as he entered the Smithy he noticed that it was very hot and he was not surprised by it, he was not stupid to not expect a Smithy to not be hot. The Smithy was dimly lit by fire which was lit near the furnace. An array of tools and metalwork adorn the walls and unfinished armours and weapons were scrapped in one place. Other blacksmiths were not present there other than one. Beside the blacksmith was standing Vector who told Kei to come towards him.

"Kei, meet Thorne Ironfist. He is the most experienced blacksmith. Thorne this is Kei, he recently joined our guild." Vector introduces Thorne and Kei to each other.

Thorne was an elder blacksmith who awakened some years prior and instead of pursuing his career as a hunter he chose to be a blacksmith because he grew up as a mine worker and knew a lot about ores and he became interested in the new ores which came from Elysian and he started to forge weapons with that materials. Because of this his hands became weathered and his face etched with the lines of time. His once fiery red beard has faded to silver, matching the streaks of grey in his unruly hair. His eyes hold a sharp, experienced glint. He is wearing a leather apron stained with years of work.

Kei outstretches his hand and shakes hands with Thorne who had a grip that was firm despite his age. "Hello Kei, I heard from Vector that you were looking for a blacksmith who could repair your weapon. Even though I am not the best at repairing weapons, I am pretty sure that I could repair your weapon perfectly. Please show me your weapon." Thorne says this in a normal tone. "Of course Sir." Kei says this and takes out Yugen and hands it to Thorne.

After a few minutes of inspection by Thorne, he says" The blacksmith who forged this thing must be great to carefully create the alloy of Aethrium, Luminal Quartz and Ethereal Velvet. The precision and the concentration put into it were great. Hmmm. Okay, I will repair this weapon but it will take two weeks. I first have to get rid of the excess Mana put into it then I have to create an alloy of those materials which would take time and then start the repairing of the weapon." Kei is shocked and asked "Two weeks? That's great! I at least thought it would have taken a month."

"What weapon did you want me to forge?" Thorne asks Kei in a curious tone. "It was a double-edged sword which was medium-sized and light weight. It would be made out of Maligora's iron tail. And I will get that by tomorrow and will deliver it to you, sir." Kei after specifying the details, prepares to leave but Vector stops him by grabbing his shoulder. "As you have become a member of our guild let us go to a restaurant and have a FEAST!." Kei was going to deny the offer as he wanted to train but he was dragged off by Vector and he was saying "You would have to eat and become strong to take my beating tomorrow. Oh! Don't tell me that you forgot. One of your conditions stated that I would have to beat you to a bloody pulp every week so don't blame me for it."

"It was a duel." Kei tries to correct him but Vector says "It's the same thing. Now enough of chit-chat let's go and get some food."

Kei starts to think while he was being dragged away 'I didn't know that Vector would have a side like this. I always thought that he would be a serious person. I didn't know that he would change into this at the mention of food. I guess food does change everything. ' Kei was right Vector did order a truckload of food when he entered a restaurant and he happily ate it away.

After multiple tries to leave the restaurant, Kei is finally left alone. He took a cab back home.

While going back he sensed a burst of Mana being released from an alleyway. He immediately gets out of the cab after payment and goes to an alleyway to see a terrible sight.