Business Proposal

When he finished talking with Seri he walked back to the Administrative Block where someone was already waiting for him. He was tall about a meter and eighty centimeters with an elegant stance coupled with his enviable fashion taste, you already knew he would be a noble and was already one in the making.

Jephthah completely ignored him as he walked into the building. 

"Hi there." The lad called out as Jephthah walked past him. "A little greeting won't hurt..."

Jephthah continued walking with no care in the world as he rhythmically swung his hands and feet as he climbed the staircase. 

"By the way, I am Cresce from the House of Dapil and I am very fascinated by the stories that I have heard about you. A great student with dreams beyond Na-pall, that would be the most admirable traits of the very little you  possess." Cresce said as he closely followed him.

"Is this how we will work together?" Cresce asked not able to take the silence anymore. 

"I highly doubt that; I work alone," Jephthah said as he stopped in front of the Head Master's Office. A thick wooden door with the words, 'Forgeron Academy' and 'Head Master's Office' engraved on it. This is where they were going to this is where Jephthah was supposed to have met the Head Master but it seems that was an additional person that tagged along, was this some last-minute arrangement, he did not know. Because he was on the go the moment he saw his message. He sounded 'urgent'.

He knocked twice and stood outside for a while, maybe waiting for Cresce to find his way or something but time was passing very slowly as they stared immensely at each other not knowing who was to break the ice. And no one answered the door making it very awkward.

Cresce sighed as he swung his head back and asked. "When do you decide on..."

Jephthah quickly opened the door and shut it in front of his face almost hitting his nose in the process. 'And you call Nobles brats in the presence of such likes!' He thought to himself with spite as he turned the knob and entering into the office.

There was nothing extraordinary about the office, just another compartment of the stone building. It was the same as the last time he was here, three months ago. The same portraits of the former Head Masters hung proudly on the wall and their achievement were engraved on them. Nothing was really special about it as all the buildings in the school had the same thing. Let's just say those are copies of the original here, hanging on the wall. They were the only eye-catching 'decoration' in the whole office

However, the Head Master had some guests today which was strange because whenever he has been called whether it be regarding fees or concerning a disciplinary action he had not called a third party which came as a surprise.

"You look like you are in good shape and you have done well as always." Principal Doodle noted as he read through some papers from his very scattered table massaging his head through his thick grey hair. "The report said you were  of great help."

"Which is why I called you again, this time for a private business proposal which is why you see the company you have today. Two of which are the biggest sponsors of Forgeron Academy came here today in search of your service and they have not been able to contact you for over a week today." Sir Doodle said as he looked up from his papers and glanced at the four of them including the lad he came with.

Hearing that, he turned and looked at the guests, they looked like they were people of high standing. Their posture and elegance but it seemed something was worrying them as they quietly sat at the back of the office in between the bookshelves. He expected one of them to speak up but none did, it was as if they did not even know that he had arrived and looked like they were in a trance-like state which upset Jephthah. He was a smith, not an exorcist. 

He looked at Sir Doodle who just shrugged as he kept his eyes glued on his papers. "What do they want?" Jephthah asked not knowing how long he was going to wait for a response.

"Weapons." Sir Doodle said calmly as he kept on doing what he was doing.

'Weapons in this state of mind? Why the hell would you call me for a job from some rich psychos even if they run the school.' Jephthah thought as he glanced at Cresce who tapped the man next to him- He at least knew Sir Doodle would not call him for a petty job. That's why he was sent to the battlefront in the first place- That had an uncanny familiarity from the white hairs to the facial structures and the body, like literal copies, one from the past and another in the present.

The older-looking Cresce woke up from his trance and stared at Jephthah for a few seconds. "I need you," He started as he leaned his chin on his right hand on his lap. "Smith said you are the one that can make Divine Weapons." He said as he held his head between the palms of his hands.

"Divine Weapons? Even Sir Smith should know such a thing does not exist." Jephthah stated with a sigh as he glanced at Cresce who returned the look.

"Hear me out..." Sir Dapil said as he got on his feet pretty easily, in fact, he sprung to his feet which was impressive for someone his age. 'Hold on, how old is this guy supposed to be?' Jephthah thought as he frowned and watched his actions.

"Smith said he was close to finding out how to make the Divine Weapons," Sir Dapil said as he illustrated gibberish with his hands as they danced in the air. "But he knows very little about the divine and if I were going to ask anybody about the type of weapon I want then I would meet Maitreya, but we both know that will be a futile journey and that he mentioned you and also mentioned that Doodle was the only person that could bring you back."

Jephthah turned back to look at Sir Doodle. "So you called me back from a noble cause, fighting for my county and its inhabitants to tend to the imaginations of a delusional brat?" Jephthah asked with spite. "To create something that does not exist, something that...." Jephthah breathed in again and looked back at Sir Dapil who now stood in front of him.

He could not ignore his perfect skin and very captivating looks, very tempting for a man his age, and his strong perfume which could not be put into words. It just sang comfort. Amidst the other things that called him miserable in every way possible.

He swallowed the bitter lump that built in his throat while his young green glassy eyes stared back at his white eyes. 

"I need it." Sir Dapil said as he grabbed his shoulders despite being twenty centimeters shorter than Jephthah. "They are coming." He said as he rested on his narrow chest and Sir Dapil's shoulders slightly trembling but no crying noise was heard making Jephthah look back at the group. That's when one of the two silent ladies finally spoke.

"The seer..., she predicted the end of this war. Na-pall will be defeated and we need something to protect ourselves. Swords, spears, arrows, and cannons will not get anywhere we need a higher source of backing. And the only thing we know of that sort is the god of Na-pall" The lady said and rubbed her hands together as if she was catching a cold.

Jephthah did not like where this was going.

"And why should you trust her word?" Jephthah asked coz this was looking more concerning by the minute and did look like they were overreacting.

"Because none of her words have fallen to the ground and all her predictions have come out exactly as she said." Sir Dapil said as he stood erect brushing the invisible dust off his clothes. "And I put my words as the leader of the house of Dapil, if it is uncharted waters, they will be discovered and we are ready to sponsor you."

"So what exactly triggered this visit to the Seer, it is not everyone goes to them.?" Jephthah asked making the room fall into silence again, the awkward silence that filled the room at the beginning of their interaction.