006

The moment Sera gets thrown away, she accidentally lets go of the crystal.

"Oh no!" she said. 

Of course, she would be terrified. Sera just slightly tapped the crystal on the table and it reacted with a blast that powerful? Powerful enough that it sent her flying towards us?

Therefore, with gritted teeth and a horrified facade, Father rushed on looking for a pad, after he did, he threw it forcefully on the part of the floor where the crystal was falling; for the pad to catch the crystal.

Phew... It was the sound that you could hear from us at that moment.

Of course, we were exhausted and were heartily relieved. Who would have thought that such kind of situation could unexpectedly happen? It was like a very dangerous explosive item. Of course, we would be terrified. If by any chance the crystal made a strong contact...

As the thought came to me, the horrible scenario that played in my mind has indeed terrified me. It gives my knee a bit of a frigid sensation that it almost gets me to the floor. There was no doubt that my eyes lost sight of the world as it entered into that horrific possibility.

Should Sera tap the crystal with a lot more strength or should the crystal fall to the floor without being caught...

"Gulp." (I could only swallow as I pictured how destructive the result can be.)

...It could've obliterated the whole circle along with its surrounding places!

Father then wrapped the crystal with a soft thick cloth to avoid danger if by any chance it received an unanticipated impact.

With a deep in thought countenance, Father spoke... 

"This thing is dangerous, this must be kept in my study room."

Mother just nodded in agreement as she caressed Sera who was certainly shocked.

Therefore the three of them go back to our house which is located not far away from our shop.

I was the only one that was left in the shop at the moment. In there, I imagined the explosion that just happened. I then looked around at the damages it caused.

I have no idea what to say about the situation. Should I be afraid? Or should I be happy? I know I was glad that the crystal seemed to be of use, but... Can we really use it if it could even not be forged? I mean, how would we recreate it as a weapon if it explodes every time it makes a collision?

I could only imagine our house being blasted as Father hammered the crystal in an attempt to make it the strongest weapon ever seen.

Sigh... I only let out a breath to lighten my worn-out soul.

I then look around at the spacious shop. While at it, I was wondering how empty the item-filled place has become. I even feel the cool and metallic vapour that I was always sensing in the spot. Too bad because it was just an imagination that was caused by how often I was in the place. Of course seeing the floor, ceiling, and walls, will remind me of what the surroundings smell like. But now, (the scent of metal fades away) no matter how exact I remember the scent, it will only cause me sadness for I know that it was only a memory and not the real thing. This way, I might even be pushed to want to experience the real thing again, but... I guess it's a no huh? After all, the place was already deprived of its content. There will be no turning back. The atmosphere of this room has already changed. 

I could only turn my gaze to the glossy wooden colored floor as I felt the shivering of sadness in my body. The quietness and loneliness of the place that once was always cheerful and lively due to often arrival of customers has made me speechless. I then just turned my brows upward and smiled a little as I viewed the girl hauling every piece of weapon to her oversized wagon.

I could only make teary eyes as I looked outside through the large window.

Still, I can't believe that she really took everything. Her carriage was so full and was overloaded; she could've at least left the items that could not fit in, but she carried everything. I remember she said she would accept half; Didn't she? She even said fourth would be fine; What, so its number was not that necessary after all? 

That can only mean that the value of their treasure doesn't matter. But considering how powerful it was, there was no doubt that that treasure they used to pay us was the real deal and was really valuable to them. So for them to trade it for our weapons regardless of how many of the items they get, just how in need they are of weapon?

Come to think of it, I didn't even know which village she was from. If their village is not that far, they could just let themselves be protected by the kingdom's army. Why get the trouble of coming here and buying so many weapons? 

Considering how overloaded her carriage was, rather than hate her for taking everything, I guess I should pray for her for a safe ride.

"Well then... " I muttered as I looked around the circle.

I had realized that if there were no customers, I don't really have much to do. Therefore, I just decided to do a rambling around the kingdom.

It was 11:00 at that time so I got home at 3:00.

Though I said kingdom, I really just headed to the capital city.

Seeing their wide and spacious concreted surroundings was really relaxing to the mind. The city's huge structures along with its passing travellers, customers, and regular citizens were also captivating. The stop at the riverbank while looking at the well-designed castle across the river was really worthwhile.

I spend most of the time sitting on the riverbank's concrete barricade. The freshness of the living water and the cool breeze of the river was really refreshing. Its moistness was without doubt relieving my concern-filled breathing.

Ahh... Filling myself with those feelings, I felt like the defeat of the hero is not that concerning anymore.

Well, let's not even joke about that.

While at it, I'd thought that with these circumstances going on, I should not just be rambling around. Thus...

I am here now resting on a sofa on our terrace. The air was so good that it immediately got me to sleep.

After resting for an hour, Father came in.

Seeing him, I immediately felt like I had something to ask.

"Uhm, father, how about the crystal?"

Yes. I have to know about our future. If we still have or none already.

"Ah, don't worry about it. It is going to be of use and a very useful one at that."

"Hu... Whoah!"

Obviously, I could just display a bright smile.

"Then... !"

I was about to ask about how powerful or useful the crystal could be when Father reached out his hand to me.

"Huh?"

What I was seeing was two swords.

'Two swords? Could it be that...'

Yes. I'd thought of the swords to be the crystal.

"You made it already? I thought finishing it in a day was impossible, but... Whoa... "

I could just gape in amazement.

I then scrutinized the swords meticulously.

There was no fragment nor sign of the crystal.

"Uhm, is that really the crystal?"

"Huh?"

Father reacted totally out of context.

He then looked at the swords wondering what I meant.

"Ahh, hahaha, no, no, this is for training, for training. Ahahaha."

He then laughed really delighted.

The way he laughed bit by bit (analysing how dire I misunderstood the situation) and then burst out into laughter (for he can't get enough) was somehow, not funny.

Sigh... Thinking and worrying about that crystal that much might have prompted that thoughtless thought of mine.

"Ah, hahaha, yeah right, so, what's with this training?"

"Oh, right."

Father then tossed the other sword onto me.

He then said after I caught the sword.

"It is what it looks like."

'Ehh...?'

So that's it! We are now standing in our yard.

Actually, we are doing this training almost every day. Neither of us was a knight so we didn't have any way of honing our skills. That's why...

[Shiing... Shoowg... Tsooowng... ]

...We are just changing blows, and slashes, and casting out each skill.

Well, I will not say our training is futile for somehow some of the slashes that I wasn't able to see before, is now I am able to evade without the least of effort.

I evade each of my father's attacks so easily that I don't have to raise my sword to counter him. For if I do, I might end up hurting him. (chuckles)

But...

'Is this only the extent of his power?'

I'd thought of it for I was seeing Father panting over those short clashes of ours.

I remember when I was a kid I couldn't even see my father's movements, but now...

Hmm, is it safe to say that I am already a talented swordsman? No, there is no way.

But why?

Father is probably being harsher in our training today than usual because of the hero's defeat. Keeping us safe and training us to be able to protect ourselves is his top priority I know, but...

Why is it that it seems like he is feeling frustrated that he is holding himself back?

Seeing him panting and frowning like that can't get me out of the idea that he is being hindered.

"What is it..."

I could just mutter as I was seeing Father contracting his brows against something.