Chapter 4: Then She Overhears

“Celes, I’ll be back in a moment.”

“Mhm. I’ll wait patiently.” Celes nodded and beamed Jude a warm smile.

Once he had set the things he was carrying aside, Jude followed after the blacksmith past his kitchen then to his smithy.

The smithy was well ventilated. It directly led to an open space of the house which Jude guessed to be the backyard. He wandered and noticed the furnace beside the anvil on one side of the room. Tools were also placed in their respective areas. All in all Jude thought it was a well organized place.

“So, what is it that you want me to do?” Jude asked as he fitted the gloves on his hands in an attempt to look serious.

And though the equipment were turned off, Jude could still feel the rising heat. He felt sweat forming on his brow and around his armpits too.

Freks stopped at the anvil and gestured him to come along. “You know how Elemental Spirits could dwell in almost anything, correct?”

Jude recalled what he learned from Celes. “I was told that Spirits are the form of purified energy that’s gathering all around us, so I would assume that’s a yes?”

“I see. That saves me the time to explain what you need to know then. Just look at this knife.”

The knife he showed to Jude didn’t have anything great or fancy about it. Compared to what Jude had expected, it was just a regular kitchen knife.

“A kitchen knife? What is this about?” Jude pondered loudly and looked at the old man, eager to hear an answer. His suspicion arose when he heard the blacksmith chuckle.

“Indeed. This kitchen knife was brought by the housewife down the street to have it repaired. Do you know why?”

As Jude was about to open his mouth to ask what he meant, a sudden idea flashed in his head. Could inanimate objects also contain spirits?

Although he knew how ridiculous he sounded in his mind, Jude still went ahead and asked. “Are you trying to say this kitchen knife has a spirit living inside of it?”

“Bingo! One of my jobs as a spirit blacksmith is to communicate with these spirits, find out what they want, and why they rebel. Watch.”

The blacksmith grabbed the knife and closed his eyes as if he was offering a silent prayer. Jude stood silently and watched him do his task when suddenly the entire blade glowed and began to produce a faint light.

“I’m a kitchen knife for God’s sake! Use me to cook delicious food instead!”

WHAT.IN.THE.WORLD?

Jude blinked and pinched his cheek. He could not believe what he just saw and heard. But it happened. He was positive it did. The knife spoke and complained.

After the light dissipated, the blacksmith opened his eyes and explained. “That’s how the spirits show their frustration. This spirit is sad because of its owner’s ignorance. Now, what I want you to do is to feel the spirit living inside this knife.”

Jude reached out to the knife the blacksmith had offered. He urged Jude to follow what he just did, but Jude was still clueless on how to try and sense the spirit.

“So, you’re saying you want me to find the reason as to why it’s sad, correct?”

“Yep~ If you can do that, I’ll accept you as my apprentice.”

What the heck. His carefree explanation made him unsettled, but Jude still did it anyway. He raised the knife and pressed it against his forehead. After taking a deep breath to stabilize his mind, Jude closed his eyes.

Based on what he heard earlier, the knife was sad because it had been neglected in the kitchen.

“I’m sorry they treat you poorly.”

It took a few minutes to respond, but little by little Jude was beginning to feel some sort of connection forming between the knife and him.

“Yeah bro. I’m glad you understand my feelings. I mean, that bombshell lady just had to use a different knife ever since I accidentally hurt her. Well, it was mainly her fault for being clumsy, but anyways, I’ve been stuck sheathed after that.”

Jude didn’t even know where to start. He felt like he was on the edge of losing his sanity. But a job’s a job and this was something he had to do. For the first time in his life he believed in the unnatural, and that was what worried him.

“Don’t worry, I’ll personally talk to your owner and ask her to use you once in awhile. Is that okay?”

“Great! Thanks bro! I’m glad I came here.”

The accumulated heat he felt from the knife slowly vanished. As Jude opened his eyes, a pair of bewildered eyes greeted him. He saw the blacksmith with his mouth hanged open.

“Kid… You… You can directly talk to spirits?”

“Umm, didn’t you hear its voice just now?”

“Its voice? For entire time I’ve been a spirit blacksmith, all I heard were small squeaks, and I make my deductions from those reactions and the story that was told to me.”

Jude took a second to inhale and to also process the information in his head.

“So you’re saying you can’t hear them?”

“No.” he answered with a surprised look then he blinked three times. “It would’ve been a different case if you’re an Effu yourself, but you don’t seem like one to me.”

“Am I abnormal then?”

“Abnormal? This is good! Very good!”

“Huh?”

The blacksmith got closer, slung an arm around Jude’s neck, and squeezed him hard.

“Ouch! Dammit, old man! Stop!” Jude tried to struggle his way out of the blacksmith’s bear hug, but the difference in raw strength was clear. Jude felt his neck twisting, like he’d rip him apart, yet the blacksmith didn’t seem to care.

“Whenever an object is out of control, the reason must lie in the feelings of the spirit. Therefore, the object will return to its original condition once the spirits calms down. And to calm those spirits is one of our jobs as a spirit blacksmith. Remember that.”

Thus Jude was formally accepted as the blacksmith’s apprentice.

* * *

After catching his breath for a few moments, Jude walked back to the dining room.

“Ah!” Celes rose from her chair and approached him, but backed away once her nose picked up the manly stench exuding out of his skin. “Jude… you kind of… stink…”

“I blame the heat,” he said. “Well, once we find you an inn, you won’t have to worry about me.” Jude wiped the dangling sweat on his face with his shirt. The smithy was just too hot.

“You worry about me, but I’m worried about you. I doubt you even have any money, right?”

Money. It was something Jude hadn’t even thought of. He wanted to avoid the thought of him being homeless and on the streets. Nevertheless his pride as a man wouldn’t allow him to accept any more babysitting from Celes.

“I’d hate to impose on you any further, so I’ll find a different way,” said Jude as he turned away from her compassionate gaze. Just when he thought that took a load off her slim shoulders, she protested and grumbled instead.

“Do as you like then, stupid. I hate you.” Her reaction made him wonder if he did something wrong. And that wondering eventually turned into a question that left his lips.

“Celes, what’s wrong? You’re acting weird,” asked Jude.

“Nothing. Have fun sleeping outside tonight.” Celes picked up her luggage and went for the exit, but stopped when Jude grabbed her arm.

Jude had only intended to do what was best. He had troubled her enough. But then he remembered what she said. That it was her first time visiting a human settlement. If he felt insecure in this big city then so was she. Two peas in the same pod, he thought. Just as he needed her presence, she needed him too.

“Celes, I’m sorry… I just…” Jude flashed a stupid grin on his face to reassure her, but it didn’t help.

Suddenly, the blacksmith intervened in their silence. “Oh! You two are looking for a place to stay, right? I happen to have an extra room upstairs. What do you think?”

Such perfect timing, Jude thought with a smile and even praised him in his head.

“It’s not really for me to decide. What do you think, Celes?” Jude asked and looked into her eyes.

Celes sent him a smile with a hint of dimples. “I don’t really see much choice, so I guess we’ll gratefully accept your offer.”

Her smile told Jude she cheered up, and it made him glad. “You heard her, old man! We’ll impose on you if that’s okay!”

“Great! Follow me upstairs!”

The blacksmith ushered them upstairs to their supposed rooms. Getting inside the city, finding a job, finding a place to live - everything was going great except for one thing. A never before explained sensation was brewing in his chest. Like a premonition of something unprecedented yet to come. What could it be?

* * *

“This is it,” the blacksmith said after opening the room at the end of his house’s corridor.

Jude counted the rooms before reaching here. A total of two and a half rooms which he guessed the first one was for the old man, the other was for Celes, and the smallest room as the bathroom.

“So this is my room? Hmm… not too shabby. A little cramped, but just enough for a guy like me,” said Jude, and the image of his apartment flashed in his mind.

“Actually, this room is for the both of you,” the blacksmith declared while flashing a grin, and his grin told Jude that he didn’t further think about it.

“What?!” Celes shouted by the sudden surprise.

“Just come down once you two are done unpacking. I’ll prepare some food in the meantime.”

The blacksmith dashed downstairs to escape the uncomfortable atmosphere, leaving Jude scratching his head in disdain. Where to even begin?

“Well, let’s check the room first shall we?”

“Mhmm~” Celes hummed an okay and wandered inside.

Now Jude was more than surprised. He thought she would be mad, but her humming just now belied his conclusion. Nonetheless Jude entered the room.

“Hmm… What do you think, Celes?”

“It’s cramped.”

“I know right.”

Aside from the single bed and the small dresser on its right, the room was furnished with everything they needed. There was even an antique-looking wall clock across the room.

When Jude came close to check, he felt relieved to know they used the same method for telling the time. The writing was different, but after counting it accordingly and checking the hands, it was the same.

The old man hadn’t skimped on anything for his guests. The room was more than adequate for a single person. But that was where their problem lay. They were not one, but two.

“I think I’ll just find a place to sleep downstairs,” said Jude. As he was about to walk away, Celes pulled his sleeve and timidly pointed on the free space right beside the bed.

“W-Well…… it’ll be dark and I do not want to be left alone.”

Jude knew she was just afraid, but it still didn’t make any sense. Who would put their chastity in danger just because it would be dark? Not like he had ill intentions brewing, but he couldn’t help but worry for her. Not to mention, didn’t she have an invisible friend shadowing her?

“Meaning?” asked Jude.

“You can sleep over there. On the ground.”

“Ahhhh……”

Jude had always slept on a futon so it made no difference.

“Well, I’ll start unpacking,” said Celes. She sat on the bed and began to organize her things while Jude checked the contents of the drawer. As he expected, it was empty.

Jude sighed and unbuttoned his long sleeve then folded it along his blazer. Left with nothing to do, he sat on the bed beside Celes and leaned back. He stared at the wooden ceiling and noticed a crimson crystal dangling on the wall. It was a crystal that produced a faint warm light which gave their room its needed light for the night. A rather good alternative for light bulbs, Jude thought.

“You don’t have any clothes?” Celes asked while she emptied the contents of her bag.

“None, I don’t have anything. But it’s okay. I’ll manage somehow.”

“If you say so.” There was concern in her voice which, in turn, made him smile.

As soon as Celes had finished unpacking, they headed downstairs and the tangy smell of soup that let out a delightful aroma of spices swarmed their nose.

“Ohh, just in time you two! I just finished. Help yourself.”

The blacksmith urged them to take their seats. As he glanced at the dinner table, Jude pulled out a chair for Celes before occupying a chair of his own. Their portions were already prepared along with the utensils they would need.

Jude thanked the old man before he began to devour the food presented in front of him. He was more than hungry. He swallowed a huge bread, but forgot to chew.

“This idiot.” Mixed with gentle humor and compassion, Celes smiled and handed him his cup of tea.

“Delicious!” exclaimed Jude once his throat was cleared.

“Gahahaha! Have some more, don’t be shy!”

Two rowdy pair of men eating and screaming at the same time. Jude couldn’t believe how good the food tasted. It was a lot better than his usual eggs at least.

“I’m still surprised to see a Human and an Effu traveling together. What’s the deal? Are you two married?” asked the blacksmith.

“Nah, we’re just friends,” said Jude. In hopes that his master’s question wouldn’t make Celes feel uncomfortable, he answered right away. Then he sneaked a glance at Celes.

Celes seemed to have halted for a moment, but didn’t say a word to remark him. Good if it was, he thought, but he’d rather have her speak her mind than to accept it in silence.

“She just found me in their forest and out of goodwill, took me out here to town,” Jude explained.

“So, what were you doing over there?”

“I would’ve told you if I knew, but I’m sorry to say that I don’t—”

Celes slammed her bowl on the table, shaking their plates. In a foul mood it seemed, she scoffed, “Thank you very much for the food. I’ll be using the bath if you don’t mind. And Jude…”

Celes gave him a glare. Not any normal glare, but a death glare. Warning him that if he as much get the idea of peeking at her, it would cost him his life.

Jude didn’t flinch. “Don’t be alarmed, Celes. I still have many things to discuss with the old man. I won’t be coming upstairs till later.”

“I sure hope so.” Celes went upstairs while shooting him some dubious glances.

The fatigue on her face told him she wanted to lie on a bed as soon as she could. He couldn’t blame her. She had been traveling far longer than he had and all by herself it was no doubt a stressful journey. However Jude also wished she’d stop thinking that he was a disgusting pervert. But now that she left them alone, Jude could move on to his real intentions.

“So Master, now that Celes is gone, there’s something I want to confirm.”

Bothered by the serious tone he just used, the blacksmith’s carefree atmosphere disappeared and was replaced by a stern look.

“What is it?”

“Master having the knowledge to repair that sword is a lie, isn’t it?”

“Hmm… What makes you say that?” The blacksmith started playing with his chin, but Jude could feel the strength and authority in his voice.

“Master did say it was an artifact and judging from your smithy, you probably don’t have the proper tools or facility to work on. The reason why Master accepted to repair that sword at such a high price is because you wanted us to go away, am I right?”

“If you predicted such a thing, why did you ask me to teach you?”

Jude was surprised. Very surprised. He had assumed that after spitting dirt on his skills, he’d get mad. However the old man didn’t show him any type of resentment at all. He was serious on lending his ears to his plea.

Jude laughed. “I don’t really know myself. Call me impulsive, but at that time I just didn’t want to see her sad. That’s why even if you don’t know, I’ll find a method myself.”

He tried to laugh it off but, in reality, he was scared. If there really was no way to repair it, then he’d honestly tell her. But as long as there was a tiny glimmer of hope, he would hold onto it.

“What drives you to do this?” asked the blacksmith.

“As I said, I don’t know. I don’t even know as to why I’m here… But I feel like as long as I’m with Celes, that’s all I need. For now at least. And that sword is something very important to her. That’s why I want to find a way. Someday.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, it must be quite funny to you huh, Master?”

“Not at all, Jude. I understand you very well. On that part we resemble one another.” His eyes went upward, as if he was reminiscing about someone important.

From a stranger’s perspective, he might seemed like he had too much alcohol already. But from Jude’s eyes, it was a sincere longing.

“You have more time to keep an old man company?”

“Of course!”

* * *

Celes covered her mouth with both hands and tried to stifle her gasp, her back pressed against the wall that separated the kitchen and the stairs.

It wasn’t her intention to listen to Jude speak, but the urge to know how his mind ran when she wasn’t present got ahead of her.

She had always thought of humans as trash and Jude was no exception to this list.

They were the type of creatures that would not hesitate to stab you in the back, friend or foe, just to satisfy their needs. The type of greedy beasts that would do anything to succeed no matter how dirty they become.

Celes grew up thinking of them as such. Her elders thought of them as such. Everyone in Altea had the same biased opinion. When did the hatred begun? It was so long ago they couldn’t remember.

But now her heart was pounding for a reason she could not describe. To Celes, who has a substantially longer lifespan, a promise is more than a promise. For a race who can live centuries old, the word someday is extremely convoluted. Maybe a year, maybe a decade, maybe a century. A human’s lifespan is but a fleeting moment.

Unable to control her raging heartbeat Celes strode upstairs. She needed the bath more than anything else.

* * *

After talking his ears off about his past, his master went to sleep.

Jude gazed at the moon visible on their window outside. Past midnight, he thought. Since there was nothing left for him to do, he also went upstairs to retire.

“Hmmm… Perfume?”

Right after opening the door to his room, Jude could already smell the sweet fragrance coming from within. Like a floral scent that was cool and refreshing.

Celes was still awake when he entered, quietly staring outside the window above her bed. That sweet flowery scent seemed to be originating from her and she wore a narrow strapped nightgown in shimmering white - like an angel had descended.

Jude blinked until he was satisfied. This type of bold move shocked him like a jolt of lightning.

“Hey, Jude.” She gave him a short sidelong glance and added a hint of smile.

“Yo, Celes, can’t sleep?” Jude casually greeted her as he entered the room, trying his damnest not to notice her sexy attire.

“Not really. There was just something that was bothering me,” she said with her gaze lingering outside their window.

The solemn expression she displayed mesmerized him. But it wasn’t just that. Letting her hair down did the trick above anything else. It made her look mature.

“I see. Well, I’ll go ahead and sleep first.” Jude lay on the sheet he had prepared beforehand.

The floor was hard and cold, but he didn’t find it uncomfortable. Then the light in their room died as Celes retired to bed herself. In the silent darkness Jude mused about the events that just transpired. Heck, he hadn’t even taken a bath yet, but he was so tired he wanted to do nothing else other than to sleep.

“Hey… Jude… Can I… ummm…” Celes ended up trailing off midway, too embarrassed to finish.

“Yes?” asked Jude.

He waited and waited, but only silence ensued. The silence was killing him, murdering his heart in that darkness. Then there was a faint rustling noise.

“Can I… hold your hand?” Celes repeated, but in a much firmer tone.

“Ah.”

“Mhmm… Can I?”

No doubt it required an incredible amount of courage to make such a request. Was it because of the darkness, or was it something more personal?

“How can I say no?”

Seeing no reason to decline, Jude extended his hand to hers. Celes gently grabbed his hand and intertwined their fingers slowly. Then Jude felt a spark. A spark of electricity that bounded their hands together.

“It’s warm and big, Jude.”

“That’s because I’m a guy…”

“And calloused and hard.”

“That’s because I used to train a lot.”

“Used to?”

Jude recalled the time when his father brought him to a military training facility. Super soldier subject E-57 - a name he adapted to while he was there. It was harsh. There he was taught how to fight, how to destroy his emotions, how to kill, but he also made a few friends. But in a course of a single night, they all went away. DEAD.

Jude took a deep breath. His time as a test subject was long over. It was in the past.

“Yes, I used to. Celes, I just want to say thanks.”

“Thanks? For what? I don’t think I did something for you that warranted your gratitude. If it’s someone who should be thanking someone, it should be me. The moment we entered Bilford, I’ve been relying on you.”

“Nah, you could have left me alone in that forest, but you didn’t. Who knows what could have happened to me if I hadn’t met you. It terrifies me.”

In this world Jude has nothing. No relatives, no money, and not even a place to go home to. Yes, it was only because he met Celes that he felt so safe and comfortable.

“I see… You know sometimes, I wanted to be treated like an adult. I mean, I’m small and tiny compared to others my age, right? What do you think?”

Thanks for changing the subject.

“Nah, I think you’re fine the way you are,” said Jude, brushing her hand with his thumb.

Celes giggled. “Really? You’re the first person to tell me that. Either you know how to treat a lady very well or was that one of your stocked up lines?”

“I don’t have any confidence to say both.”

“Hehehe… Jerk.”

Is she blushing? Is she happy? Is she embarrassed?

Jude was dying to know what kind of expression she made on her last giggle.

“Hey… Jude…”

“Y-Yes?”

There was a long pause and the only sound he heard was the loud thumping of his heartbeat.

“Goodnight.”

“Yes, goodnight.”

Celes just quietly held his hand and didn’t say anything else. Soon afterwards she fell asleep.

It made him chuckle. How could she sleep without any further care in the world and in the same room as a blooming young man to boot? It meant how much trusted him. But even though he knew why, Jude was still perplexed. Nevertheless that trust was something he didn’t want to break no matter what.

“Wait for me world…”

Jude clenched his left hand into a fist and raised it upward to the ceiling, preparing himself for the biggest and grandest adventure in his life.