Out of all the things you expect to do on dates, perusing weapon shops isn't generally one of them.

But here we are, Kiku in this lovely red dress, staring intensely at lengths of steel. When she crouches at a weapons display like that, I get a lovely view of her long legs.

When she said there was a place she wanted to visit, I thought it would be another well-renowned food place, but I guess with how cute she is it’s easy to forget that she's also a swordbrain.

"Ehem. Excuse me, miss, I haven't seen you before. Are you aware that this place...”?

A sturdy looking middle-aged woman wearing a blacksmiths getup appears. She doesn't seem too happy.

"Ah! Um... sorry, you need this, don't you? I was distracted by your weapons."

Kiku hands the woman an envelope. The woman looks suspiciously between the envelope and Kiku for a second, but then opens it and reads the contents.

She quickly goes goggle eyed.

"What? Seriously!? Violet Hane? The Violet... referred you?" She exclaims.

This is an exclusive place? That seems weird.

"Um... yes...? Ah! I... am the daughter of Kane Arnas, Kiku."

The woman might as well swoon and fall over. Is Kiku's dad famous again here?

"I... well... please ignore my prior rudeness!" She folds in apology.

"Eh wot? ... it's not rude to do your job. It's ok!" Kiku pats her shoulder.

"Y-Yes! Of course! Ahem! Welcome to Dartemshay Blades, Madam! What can I help you with?"

The one-eighty shift in customer service is pretty funny. Seems to happen alot in this city?

"So, is this an exclusive place for weapons, Kiku?" I have to ask.

"Ah... um... I believe so. Kako and Dad's swords were made here, Nii. The finest magical blacksmith this is!" She exclaims.

I see.

"Ah, you flatter me and my husband, miss. Who is this gentleman, may I ask?"

"Um... My..." she fidgets, looking for words.

"I am the Etranger, Elijah. I'm not much of a blade user, but Kiku is my girlfriend." I explain for her.

"Ahhh! Eh wot! Nii! I...I... um... s-some-something l-like that..." Kiku mumbles, blushing.

The woman laughs briefly at Kiku's weird smile.

"I see. Well, you're also welcome then. Ah? Right. My name is Karen Dartemshay, the wife of Aldous Dartemshay. We supervise everything here. Me and my apprentices do the metalwork, him and his, the enchantment. What can we do for you?"

This introduction apparently re-focuses Kiku away from her swooning.

An interesting husband-wife team, it seems. It explains this ladies attire and size. I get the constant feeling that heat is almost radiating from her... oh... is this a Fire Spirit she has?

Kiku ponders for moment and then takes a breath and speaks whilst counting off her fingers.

"Um... I am a dual-wielder of short, one Klecksel or less blades with a straight temper. But not many smiths will make me things due the requirement that the swords have a Silesiam balance."

I didn't understand much of that, but Karen whistles to herself.

"A Silesiam balance? You... throw the blades like knives?!" She exclaims.

"Um... yes..." Kiku nods.

"Huh..." Karen blinks. "Tough, then, as well. Finchton or Sezirim steel at least. I'm surprised anyone ever made something that before..."

"Uh... um... technically they didn't. I had to accept Arion Iron and a 60 Yakton deviation from Morton Deuce, so I simply got six swords from him. Um... but two of those are broke now, and one is off in the capital for maintenance."

The woman bristles and looks furious.

"Ugh... what a cad, forcing that on you! You shouldn't have paid him a single bound!" She growls.

I guess at least more two of her swords shattered in the fight with the Skull Beast, as well as the one I accidently melted ages ago.

"So, you can make that, then?" Kiku queries.

Karen thinks, hand to her chin, and then sighs ruefully.

"Wow... this must be fate. Or Saulm's mysterious ways, bless her. Follow me."

Kiku looks up at me as Karen strides off, and I shrug.

We follow Karen into a blazing hot forge area down some stairs. Several boys and girls, apparently apprentices, are dashing around, clinking metal, adjusting moulds and callipers. They are all focused and don't even look up to us.

"Evan!" Karen shouts.

A depressed looking but surprisingly muscular teenage lad with purple hair looks up, mopping his brow.

"Yes master?" He cries over the clanging of fire and metal.

Karen grins at him. "Would you believe it, but looks like I was wrong for once. Your graduation project may actually be good for someone! Go get it and bring it to the yard!"

The lad grins and whoops.

"I knew it!" He shouts, dashing off.

"Hah... I shouldn't stoke his ego. He's a serious prodigy. My best student. And yes... he did exactly what you believe. I never thought the sodding things would sell. They're damn fine things, though, I guarantee it by our Workshop's honour."

...

We go outside to an enclosed yard with straw dummies. The boy comes back, clutching two short-swords, and lays them out on a free bench.

Kiku actually coo's in appreciation.

Even though I don't know nothing about blades, I can't not appreciate these. They have a blue sheen to the steel, the edge glistens in the daylight, the handles are wrapped in red velvet, and the cross guards are engraved with letters and pictures of dragons. Each blade is of slightly different colouring too, one is bluer and the other blacker.

Kiku picks them up, steps away and swings them purposefully. She grins.

"I calls them Stoker and Croaker! I got the master to enchant them with a balance and a returnin' wind spell too!" The boy exclaims, puffing himself up pridefully.

"Eh wot! A returning spell!?" She exclaims.

"Nn! Try it, nee-chan!" He grins.

She does. Her sword flies true, impaling one of the dummies right in the head. Then, very strangely, the blade pulls itself out the straw, and flies back to Kiku's hand unerringly. She catches it with a clank.

She starts shaking like being in O RLY mode, a massive grin on her face. Like a girl discovering Christmas presents from Santa.

"I think we'll take them." I nod, smiling.