In this world we call Kouseitan’i, supernatural’s roam freely through the lands. For centuries they have been suppressed. Werewolves, Vampires, Elves, Witches, Warlocks, Fairies, Pixies, more variety than one could imagine. Humans have desperately tried to protect themselves from total destruction, but things are beginning to fall apart.
“Three, two, one,” I muttered along with the rhythmic sounds of metal striking metal. “Raidon-sensei, it’s finished!”
“Good, now come reheat the fire,” he hollered from the other room.
I ran into the room and pressed my fingers to my temple, my palm outstretched in the direction of the fire. With a small burst of power, the fire was roaring once again. As I lowered my hands the front door opened and in stepped Lord Ryoichi.
As we dropped to our knees, he waved towards the red hot sword. “Is it finished?” He asked.
I raised my head to look at him. “Almost, I have to recreate the handle; it sustained serious damage in your last fight, m’lord.”
“When will it be complete?”
“Tomorrow, is there a time when you would like it?”
He thought this over for a brief moment. “You and your father will show up at my palace with the sword to present it when you are finished. Good day.”
After the door shut, we rose to our feet. Raidon-sensei had a proud look in his eye. “You have ‘till noon. Be sure it’s finished.”
With a final nod, he was gone to the kitchen. The moulds sat beside the fire, my custom made handle moulds the closest. With a pair of tongs I pulled the bowl out of the fire, the white hot liquid metal bubbling and rippling. I poured the liquid into the moulds and let them sit, then joined Raidon-sensei in the kitchen.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
A piece of leather held tightly by my teeth, my hands working the final braids, I finished off the handle for Lord Ryoichi’s sword. The blade itself rested on the table beside me, sharpened to the finest point one could imagine.
My name is Amaya, my surname is unknown to me. There are few things I really truly know about myself. In exactly two months I will be fifteen. My birthday is the same as Princess Rini who will also be fifteen. Ever since my ninth birthday I have been training as a blacksmith. My hair is a short bob, naturally black with bright orange streaks hanging just below my ears. I’ve never done anything to change its colour. My eyes are a shiny purple colour with a deep grey circle around the pupil. My regular outfit is simply a long sleeved purple belly shirt with a black stripe across the chest, sleeves rolled up to my elbows, and a pair of black overalls, the straps being not on my shoulders, but hanging around my legs. Occasionally I get strange visions through what looks like the princess’s eyes, though I haven’t told anybody because where I live, my powers are a curse. To the villagers, I’m known as The Witch.
I tied off the last of the leather and examined my work. Perfect, thank God. I stayed up all night finishing this. It was now seven in the morning, the sun barely over the hills and over half the village still asleep. Behind me a door creaked open, revealing Raidon-sensei who was rubbing his eyes with his huge fists.
He noticed me and paused. “`Ave you been up all night workin’ on this?” He asked his voice thick. I nodded and shoved the handle back on the blade. He nodded as well. “One hour and we leave; make yourself presentable to the king.”
I sheathed the sword and headed into my room. My closet was limited for clothing. A few long sleeved shirts here, some overalls there. At the very back was a regular pair of jeans along with a black and orange sun dress styled shirt. I grabbed those and a clean pair of shoes and headed for the washroom.
When someone says washroom you think bathtub, right? Ours was more of a hot spring. I dropped my clothes onto a chair and hopped in.
One hour later we were on our way up to the castle, the sword in my hand. I tied my hair off into four short ponytails on the back of my head, letting some hang around my face. I felt way too girly to be out in public. Soon enough the huge cast-iron gates were looming above us, the butler on his way to open it. The fancy wooden doors seemed to open up on their own. On their way down the wide marble staircase were the King and his daughter both looking rather tired.
We dropped onto one knee in the centre of the room. “My apologies if we disturbed you, m’lord.” Raidon-sensei said loudly.
“Not at all, Master Raidon. I take it that my sword is finished.” It was not a question, but a statement. I nodded my head and extended my arms, the sword resting in my palms. He took the sword and examined my work on it. After a moment of thought, he spoke again. “It is almost identical, excellent work; expect me to return for other things. You are dismissed.”
As I walked through the front doors again, I shot a brief glance over my shoulder. The Princess stood with her head to one side, examining me. Then the doors shut.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Three days passed since that moment. Princess Rini’s butler showed up at our doorstep telling me I had been summoned. As I followed him up the path, the Princess came into view.
“Three, two, one,” I muttered along with the rhythmic sounds of metal striking metal. “Raidon-sensei, it’s finished!”
“Good, now come reheat the fire,” he hollered from the other room.
I ran into the room and pressed my fingers to my temple, my palm outstretched in the direction of the fire. With a small burst of power, the fire was roaring once again. As I lowered my hands the front door opened and in stepped Lord Ryoichi.
As we dropped to our knees, he waved towards the red hot sword. “Is it finished?” He asked.
I raised my head to look at him. “Almost, I have to recreate the handle; it sustained serious damage in your last fight, m’lord.”
“When will it be complete?”
“Tomorrow, is there a time when you would like it?”
He thought this over for a brief moment. “You and your father will show up at my palace with the sword to present it when you are finished. Good day.”
After the door shut, we rose to our feet. Raidon-sensei had a proud look in his eye. “You have ‘till noon. Be sure it’s finished.”
With a final nod, he was gone to the kitchen. The moulds sat beside the fire, my custom made handle moulds the closest. With a pair of tongs I pulled the bowl out of the fire, the white hot liquid metal bubbling and rippling. I poured the liquid into the moulds and let them sit, then joined Raidon-sensei in the kitchen.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
A piece of leather held tightly by my teeth, my hands working the final braids, I finished off the handle for Lord Ryoichi’s sword. The blade itself rested on the table beside me, sharpened to the finest point one could imagine.
My name is Amaya, my surname is unknown to me. There are few things I really truly know about myself. In exactly two months I will be fifteen. My birthday is the same as Princess Rini who will also be fifteen. Ever since my ninth birthday I have been training as a blacksmith. My hair is a short bob, naturally black with bright orange streaks hanging just below my ears. I’ve never done anything to change its colour. My eyes are a shiny purple colour with a deep grey circle around the pupil. My regular outfit is simply a long sleeved purple belly shirt with a black stripe across the chest, sleeves rolled up to my elbows, and a pair of black overalls, the straps being not on my shoulders, but hanging around my legs. Occasionally I get strange visions through what looks like the princess’s eyes, though I haven’t told anybody because where I live, my powers are a curse. To the villagers, I’m known as The Witch.
I tied off the last of the leather and examined my work. Perfect, thank God. I stayed up all night finishing this. It was now seven in the morning, the sun barely over the hills and over half the village still asleep. Behind me a door creaked open, revealing Raidon-sensei who was rubbing his eyes with his huge fists.
He noticed me and paused. “`Ave you been up all night workin’ on this?” He asked his voice thick. I nodded and shoved the handle back on the blade. He nodded as well. “One hour and we leave; make yourself presentable to the king.”
I sheathed the sword and headed into my room. My closet was limited for clothing. A few long sleeved shirts here, some overalls there. At the very back was a regular pair of jeans along with a black and orange sun dress styled shirt. I grabbed those and a clean pair of shoes and headed for the washroom.
When someone says washroom you think bathtub, right? Ours was more of a hot spring. I dropped my clothes onto a chair and hopped in.
One hour later we were on our way up to the castle, the sword in my hand. I tied my hair off into four short ponytails on the back of my head, letting some hang around my face. I felt way too girly to be out in public. Soon enough the huge cast-iron gates were looming above us, the butler on his way to open it. The fancy wooden doors seemed to open up on their own. On their way down the wide marble staircase were the King and his daughter both looking rather tired.
We dropped onto one knee in the centre of the room. “My apologies if we disturbed you, m’lord.” Raidon-sensei said loudly.
“Not at all, Master Raidon. I take it that my sword is finished.” It was not a question, but a statement. I nodded my head and extended my arms, the sword resting in my palms. He took the sword and examined my work on it. After a moment of thought, he spoke again. “It is almost identical, excellent work; expect me to return for other things. You are dismissed.”
As I walked through the front doors again, I shot a brief glance over my shoulder. The Princess stood with her head to one side, examining me. Then the doors shut.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Three days passed since that moment. Princess Rini’s butler showed up at our doorstep telling me I had been summoned. As I followed him up the path, the Princess came into view.
