Chapter Text
The next morning, while the city busied itself with matinal routine, as shops began to open, the sound of hammer on anvil and the boisterous of the market took place. In one room of a certain inn, a certain black and white haired human was still asleep, not bothered in the slightest by the noises outside. He was accompanied by a young girl with silver hair and golden eyes in armour. She was an angel, a kind of spiritual life-form, in disguise, suppressing her aura and hiding her wings.
“…” the angel didn't say a word but looked at the sleeping human’s face with a glimpse of curiosity and annoyance since most of people were already awake and working while the human in front of her was still snoring without a care for the world.
“…” and with every second passing, her annoyance grew even more as a frown appeared on her face just by looking the dumb face(in her opinion) of the human.
“Hey! Wake up.” She said as she shook the human’s shoulder a bit.
“Zzzz~” with a silly face was the only answer the girl could only get. And that worsen the girl’s mood as veins popped up on her face.
“I …said …WAKE UP!!” she shouted as she throw the bed to the wall.
“Gah!!” The human ended in the wall.
“WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR!?” the human, Hiiragi Kazuto shouted as he got out of the wall, craved on the wall was a splendid form of his body.
“Dawn has long passed and you refused to wake up. We have many things to do today, or is your brain so limited that it has already forgotten?” the girl retorted with disdain.
“Huh?” Kazuto looked at the window as he massaged his face and saw that outside was already boisterous.
“We should already get the knowledge of blacksmithing at this hour.” the girl declared.
“You mean we should already visiting Celembor.” Kazuto corrected. “Don’t forget that we visit him because he’s unwell, not just to ask about blacksmithing for this stupid competition between us.” he added annoyed.
“Whatever, let’s go now.” the girl replied nonchalantly as she opened the door and got out.
Kazuto sighed as he put some clothes and followed her behind.
“You don’t even know where he lives, so wait a damn minute idiot!” Kazuto yelled as he catches up the girl.
“…humph! It’s not a problem with my ability I’m sure I would found that man easily.” the girl retorted clearly not enjoying the insult.
“Ha! As if! Come with me.” Kazuto sneered as he took the lead.
As they passed in front of the innkeeper and his sister, they looked dumbfounded, was it because the noise in their room ? The innkeeper particularly looked already tired as he massaged his temple. Kazuto thought about paying a bit more for the inconvenience.
As they walked in the city, many people seemed to look at the angel girl with great interest, many are just stealing glances, other stared so much that you could almost see their eyes popping out of their orbits and some were even bold enough to stop the duo and asked about the armour she wear, from the purity and amount of materials used to the process, the duration of the different steps and technical knowledge and skills of the creator of the armour. An avalanche of questions full of passion, curiosity and too much excitement came toward them.
The angel girl looked proud that the work of her lord would be praised that much.
Of course you will be impressed! More! Praise it more! She thought with a grin, in her mind she was puffing her chest. Meanwhile, Kazuto looked with a repulsed face, his problem wasn't that they were a bit popular, no, his problem was who they attracted.
Why there is nothing else but old men!!? He screamed inside, being surrounded by people wasn’t that news to him, but a human wave of old men, excited as hell about an armour on a girl, THAT was repulsive for him. If one didn't know the about, it could easily be misinterpreted in a very bad way with at least two dozens of suspects.
Kazuto couldn't help but frown a bit as they forced their way through the crowd, him dragging his partner who seemed engrossed by the attention she was getting. Their destination was a castle in the Northern part of the city.
The castle was a testament to both grandeur and practicality. Its imposing silhouette dominated the northern skyline(in a way, since it was a underground city), a blend of stone and iron that spoke of strength and resilience. The outer walls were thick and fortified, topped with crenellations that hinted at a turbulent past. A sturdy wooden drawbridge, reinforced with iron, connected the castle to the city.
Arriving in front of the gate, the guards recognised Kazuto and allowed him to enter after few minutes of inspection.
“Ah! Kazuto! How you're doing? It's been so long since last time! Or maybe not? I don't know.” a bearded man with a athlete musculature, looking around his fifty greeted them with opening arms, in his left hand he was holding a wooden walking stick.
“Celembor! It's been a while, buddy!” Kazuto greeted him as they shook their hands firmly.
"I hear you were a bit under the weather, so I came. But looking at you, I think the old Dwalin exagerrated." Kazuto exclaimed, his lips curving a bit.
"Ahahahaha! Well, as you can see I'm not on my deathbed." Celembor replied with a big smile.
As they entered the castle and diriged toward the forge, a stark contrast to the rest of the castle.
Located in the lower levels of the castle, Celembor's forge was a world apart from the polished grandeur of the upper floors. It was a cavernous space, filled with the heady scent of hot metal and the rhythmic clang of hammer on anvil. The walls were blackened by soot, and the floor was uneven, scarred by the passage of countless feet and heavy objects.
Kazuto couldn't help but feel more and more apprehensive as they entered the forge, he knew well he was utterly incompetent in blacksmithing, his previous attempts were catastrophic, and that was a euphemism. All because of his hot-blooded mind.
But it should be fine, after all, that girl never once touched a hammer in her life. I'm sure I can do better than a literal beginner! He tried convince himself, his mind trying to calm down with the rationality of his thoughts.
And as Celembor gestured to a nearby anvil. “Let's start with the basics, shall we?”
Kazuto gulped, a knot forming in his stomach. Something as precise as blacksmithing, filled him with dread.
The angel, on the other hand, seemed unfazed. Her eyes were bright with anticipation, a stark contrast to Kazuto's growing apprehension. She moved towards the anvil with a purposefulness that belied her ethereal appearance.
"I'll start," she declared, grabbing a hammer without hesitation.
Kazuto's eyes widened in disbelief. "You? But you've never even held a hammer before!"
The angel merely smirked, "Watch and learn, mortal."
As she lifted the hammer, a strange aura seemed to surround her. It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but Kazuto sensed something different about her. She swung the hammer, and the metal rang out with a clear, resonant tone. The metal seemed to dance beneath her strikes, shaping itself with an almost unnatural ease.
Kazuto's jaw dropped. This was no beginner. This was someone who had mastered the craft in a matter of moments.
"Well, would you look at that," Celembor muttered, a hint of astonishment in his voice. "You're a natural."
Kazuto felt a surge of competitiveness.
Shit! No way I lose to you, god damn it! Kazuto thought.
He couldn't let her outshine him. He grabbed a hammer and stepped up to the anvil, his mind a whirlwind of determination and fear. The first strike was a disaster. The hammer clattered against the metal without force, sending sparks flying in every direction. He grimaced, determined to do better.
And so began their training, a clash of mortal determination and divine talent, set against the backdrop of a roaring forge.