Chapter 1.9:

I was practically sprinting to Guy’s shop from the bakery. My arms cradling the long box encasing the sword I finished crafting earlier.

After weeks of working on this project, I finally completed it!

I sped through my morning duties for Mister Fleur, got my daily wage and Guy’s usual donuts, and immediately left.

I bounded through the shortcut in the back alleys, and arrived at Leery’s Forge just a little over half an hour past three.

I opened the lock on the back door and found the lights already on.

He can’t be awake already…

I quietly stepped into the hallway leading to the back room and found Guy sitting in front of the forge, shirtless and quenching spear tips. A stack of longswords was arranged behind him.

“Guy?” I called out hesitantly.

A spell seemed to have broken over Guy as he tore his eyes away from the flames.

“Aye, lad. You’re early for a change.” He whispered.

I approached him carefully. “Are you okay?”

Guy nodded. “Couldn’t sleep.”

I searched his face which seemed to have aged a few years overnight. Worry lines marked his forehead. “Did you not take your medicine last night?”

Guy’s head snapped in my direction and I flinched. His eyes reflected the flickering fire. My body tensed as his withering glare seemed to bore into my skull. Finally, he looked away and sighed. “Aye. I’m out. I’ll trouble you to get me some more from the pharmacy. Unless your father’s restocked already.”

My heart sank.

It’s my fault. I collapsed last night. He usually gets me to buy him medicine in the evenings.

“I’m sorry, Guy.” I felt ashamed.

Guy shook his head. “Don’t think too much about it, kid. I wanted to work with my hands anyway, keep my mind off some things.” He arranged the spear tips in a row and started engraving his insignia.

I went around him and did an inventory of everything he crafted.

This is the entire South End order.

“You finished it?” I asked incredulously.

Guy jerked his head up by a fraction, his eyes focused on attaching the spear tips to the shafts we got from the woodworker.

I quickly put down the box in my hand and started helping him.

We worked in silence until all the spears were complete.

“Guy, did something else happen last night?” I asked apprehensively as I packed away the longswords and spears in their respective crates.

Guy stood up and donned his inner flannel shirt and outer coat. He pulled out a letter from his coat pocket and threw it in the forge, the parchment burned up immediately. “Just received news for some urgent business I need to take care of. I’m closing the shop for a few days and riding south. When the customers come to pick up their orders, make sure to remember to have them sign their purchase forms. Extend my apologies to the General for not meeting him personally to turn these over.”

I gave him a nod. Guy took his walking stick resting on the wall and started to hobble away. He ignored the small paper bag I placed on the table in the hallway. Suddenly, he stopped. “I’m sorry I can’t help you enchant your project, lad. I can’t wait until tomorrow.”

I hesitated for a bit, considering whether to tell him or not. “Actually… I’m done. I brought it with me.”

Guy turned his head slowly and stared at me with genuine surprise. “Is that right? Well, show me then.”

Guy approached while I pulled out the sword I crafted from its box. He picked it up and started examining it.

“100% indeed. Grade S ore?” Guy asked, looking impressed for the first time since I’ve known him.

“Yeah, Lord Chase supplied the ore and my father personally appraised and certified it.” I answered.

Guy chuckled. “That’s the Lord of the Roost for you.” He continued to examine the blade.

I felt nervous as I waited for his assessment.

“Aye, this’ll do.” Guy concluded.

I let out an exhale, not even realizing that I was holding my breath.

“Good work, lad.” Guy remarked as he put down the blade on the work table.

Was that… an actual compliment?

I looked at him in shock. “Th-thanks, Guy.”

Guy nodded and started shuffling towards the supplies chest. He rustled up a small box and tossed it in my direction.

I opened it and saw a small branding iron with a different design. “You’re changing your insignia?”

Guy shook his head. “It ain’t mine, lad. It’s yours.”

I looked at him and then back to the branding iron. I traced the design.

My own insignia…?

“But, I haven’t even taken the certification exam. I’m still an apprentice.” I countered weakly.

“I told myself I’d give this to you once you make something that I can be proud of.” Guy answered seriously. “As long as you don’t use it to mark anything that’s sold commercially, it won’t be a problem.”

I nodded my head, still feeling overwhelmed.

“Go ahead and mark the sword hilt.” Guy ordered.

I channeled mana into the branding iron and pressed it carefully on the small circle indent at the base of the hilt.

The design was similar to Guy’s, a small sun with his stylized initials, except this one had “AF” on it.

I traced the insignia carefully as I wiped it down with metal polish. A torrent of emotions started to rise within me and I felt like crying. I looked away and coughed, trying to maintain my composure.

“It’s alright, lad. Everyone gets choked up the first time.” Guy commented from the side with a surprising softness to his voice.

I just nodded my head, still looking away.

“Well, this worked out perfectly, now we can finish this up before I go.” Guy declared. He pulled out the small pouch filled with ruby dust from the supplies chest and placed it in my hand. “Go ahead. Same as yesterday.”

I opened up the pouch and stared at the glittering dust within. “How much do I put?”

“Enough to completely cover the fuller of the blade.” Guy responded.

I carefully sprinkled the ruby dust on the groove in the middle of the sword.

I looked to Guy for confirmation. He gave me a small nod.

I turned to the sword and closed my eyes. Same as yesterday, I imagined the ruby dust liquefying and enveloping the blade. I imagined the blade absorbing the liquid and emitting a strong red glow. The same bright red that I’ve seen Lady Mina produce when she channeled mana. I let out even more mana than yesterday.

I opened my eyes. The ruby dust was gone and the sword had a soft red glow. After a few seconds, the red glow faded.

Guy picked up the blade and started examining it. “47%. Not too bad, kid.”

“Huh? I thought the maximum was 30%?” I asked in confusion.

“30% is the maximum efficacy for opal enchantment. Each precious gem has its own limits. Ruby can increase the fire resistance and output of a magic sword by up to 50% of the blade’s own potential.” Guy replied matter-of-factly, but without his usual smugness. “Take the compendium in my collection upstairs while I’m gone and read up a bit more on enchantment and reagents.”

I gave him a nod but I looked down to mask my disappointment at not enchanting the blade perfectly.

I felt a heavy hand on the top of my head. I looked up at Guy in disbelief at the unusual show of intimacy.

“Getting things done perfectly isn’t the mark of a great blacksmith, lad. I hope you learn that some day. This is an excellent sword. It’s something to be proud of.” Guy said simply.

At his kind words, I felt the swell of emotions overcome me and a few tears spilled out from the side of my eyes. I quickly wiped them away.

Guy retracted his hand and handed me the sword. “I hope you prepared an equally impressive scabbard for this.”

I gave him a thumbs up. “I’ve been saving up just for that. I’ll swing by Mister Dapp’s store later to pick it up. I had him make a leather scabbard with Lady Mina’s name embroidered on it with the Valera crest.”

“Aye, that’ll do.” Guy said approvingly. “Go ahead then. I’m sure you have other things you want to prepare.”

“Really? But it’s not even five o’clock.” I asked.

“It’s fine, lad. I told you, I’ll be heading out today. I need to get ready. Close the backdoor on your way out.” Guy hollered from the hallway as he headed up the stairs.

I continued staring at the hallway where Guy’s figure disappeared.

Guy’s never been this nice before… Is he dying?

I went to the forge and tried to see if any piece of the letter survived.

On the floor, underneath the ash and soot, a small white scrap peeked out.

I picked it up and tried to brush it clean as much as I could. The only visible words read: “your son”.

Guy has a son?