Mayalyn’s Perspective continued

Mayalyn was enjoying the movements until he forced his aura around her body in a grip so tight she could barely move.

His aura changed again, it’s so serious and disciplined right now.

Having lived her entire life dominated by the aura of her great uncle, it was easy to get swept up in Jiran’s flow. She moved along with him, pushing her muscles and flexibility to limits she didn’t know she had.

When they were done, she laid on the grass catching her breath.

That was amazing. No wonder he was so excited to come out here. If I had been doing that every day for years, I wonder how much stronger I would be?

I’m going to make him bring me tomorrow too. By the time I get back home, I’ll be pummeling big brother's face into the dirt.

She pumped her fist into the air.

Gazing at the sky, she slowly relaxed until sleep took her.

Jiran woke her from peaceful dreams. Mayalyn stretched on the ground, extending her sore arms and legs to their maximum reach while groaning contentedly.

Jiran didn’t seem to be in a hurry on their way back to the city. He spoke to her slowly and did his best to teach her every word he used.

She enjoyed exchanging words with him. The unfamiliar language felt strange on her tongue. It was evidently the same for Jiran. He stumbled over simple sounds, messing up the words just like a baby.

By the time they arrived at the city gates, her cheeks hurt from how much she had been smiling. For the first time in two weeks, she had been able to relax and enjoy herself.

When he made her marks vanish again, a feeling of gratitude welled up deep inside her.

It wasn’t until they were walking down the streets toward the inn that she realized she never once considered leaving and making her own way while they were outside the city.

Back at the inn, Mayalyn recognized the adorable girl Jiran had been with yesterday.

“Hello, nice to meet you too, Miila,” She was happy to learn the girl's name and how to introduce herself.

When Jiran said something to the retreating girl that made her laugh, Mayalyn was beset by loneliness.

I finally have people to talk to again but we can’t understand each other.

Jiran said something else to her that she could tell was some kind of joke but it just made her feel worse.

I need to put in more effort to learn their language. I’m tired of being lonely.

The smell of something heavenly being placed in front of her made those thoughts and emotions vanish instantly.

Eating with Jiran was a terrible experience.

Why does he eat so slowly! Doesn’t he know it’s rude to the cook when you don't eat as quickly as possible? Why does he insist on using these utensils to touch everything? What’s wrong with using your fingers?

At some point, a second serving of food was placed in front of her and she took back everything.

Eating with Jiran was the best.

She hadn’t eaten so much since her naming day. Mayalyn was in a daze as Jiran led her somewhere. She didn’t care.

He can take me anywhere he wants if he keeps feeding me like that.

The forge room he brought her to was fascinating. She quickly scanned the contents of the room, comparing it to her dad’s. The tools and metal ingots were different, and…

The Saint’s own Kiapolo, this forge is made entirely of metal! What an extravagance!

She sighed wistfully, dreaming of someday buying something this grand for her dad.

When Mayalyn got a closer look at the rest of the tools, her expression fell.

What is this garbage? How can they have such basic tools when their forge is so nice? Tongs, hammers, clamps, and a little parchment? That's it?!

I bet they use their fingers to measure. How barbaric. Where are the cutters and drills? I don’t see any melders, menders, chisels, punchers, or crimpers either.

When she saw the pile of dust in the corner that Jiran was hovering over excitedly, her initial excitement dried up completely.

Did he really use this beautiful forge to completely incinerate a load of ore into dust?

Bile welled up in her stomach at the horrendous waste of precious materials. On her island, every ounce of metal was extremely valuable.

Only when the mountains exploded did they get access to additional ores. Usually, that was once in a lifetime. There was almost nothing made of metal in their village that had not been reforged a dozen times.

That settles it. I’m going to show him how it’s done.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

Mayalyn already knew she would make a blade.

This has nothing to do with dad never letting me make weapons. Nope, definitely nothing to do with that. This is for Jiran’s own good, someone has to show him how or he’ll never learn!

She got to work heating the forge and melting the ores in the crude cups available. It was her first time melting a natural chunk of ore. It was so exciting that she got completely lost in watching the metal slowly heat and liquefy.

When Jiran jumped into the air with a loud shout, she nearly jumped to the ceiling in shock. She sent the fool a scathing look and was about to reprimand him, but he was already lost in his work again.

How could a bunch of dust be so exciting?

She pushed the thought aside before the implications of the destroyed ore could assault her again.

It wasn’t long before she had the blade cooling and was hammering away on the guard.

Mayalyn would never forget what happened next.

She felt a swell of pride when he picked up her blade. She waited expectantly for his admiration and envy.

Maymay is amazing, say it! Yes, praise me for my skill. My first blade is perfect, isn’t it?

She couldn't hold in the giggle as she glanced at his odd looking toy. Her father would have been howling with laughter.

The snicker died on her lips when he brought the edgeless blade of his dagger to her pride and sliced through it like a soft muchi fruit.

She watched in mounting horror as he sliced her dreams apart with one swift cut after another.

“Cool!” He gloated with a heartless grin.

My first blade.

This must be a nightmare. If this is a dream, then it’s okay, yes it’s perfectly okay to choke a stupid smooth-brain to death in a dream!

"I'm going to wring your neck until you say you're sorry, you good for nothing pretty boy!”

She leapt at him, arms outstretched and hands grasping to wring his neck. He moved far too swiftly for her to catch as she chased him around the smithy yelling.

Unknown Perspective

“Report!” A stern voice spoke from the darkness.

Toolak couldn’t see the speaker but he recognized the voice. When dealing with someone so far above your own station, to delay even a second could invite a fate worse than death.

“We followed, just like you told us to. Before we could capture the subject, an interloper incapacitated us both.”

“Failure? Do you understand what this means?”

Toolak nodded, he knew the next week of his existence would be pure agony. He also knew there was worse in store for those who failed to report back, lied, or worst of all outright betrayed the organization.

His body shook with the memory of the last ‘execution’ he had been forced to watch. The smallest lie had turned into gruesome fuel for his nightmares.

“Details, now.” The voice demanded.

“The interloper had black shoulder-length hair and green eyes. Likely fifteen seasons of age. Tier five. He disabled both Lorp and me with a single attack to the back of the neck. He did something to my mana, and I lost control. Then it felt like the mana in my body was attacking me. That’s the last thing I remember.”

“Interesting, the back of the neck… Why does that sound familiar? What about the target? Did you get a good look at her?”

Toolak nodded once more.

“Yes, I did. But whatever it was, that was no girl.”

Jiran’s Perspective

Jiran let out a deeply contented moan as he relaxed further into the inn’s steaming-hot tub. One by one, his muscles unclenched as the room filled with scented vapors.

His mind loosely played over the events of the morning.

After Mayalyn calmed down, she appropriated his dagger and refused to give it back. She kept yelling something at him that he couldn’t understand whenever he got close to it.

He had ordered more ores from Krikk who demanded a ridiculous finders fee of ten percent but Jiran didn’t mind. He had plenty of money still and several ways to make more if needed.

With more supply coming in soon, Jiran decided it would be fine to convert the rest of his ore to dust.

Mayalyn was incredibly curious about his process after his demonstration and demanded he explain everything to her step by step.

He was completely confident she didn’t understand a single word of his explanation but he humored her anyway.

Sitting there, relaxing in the tub, he smiled at the memory of her jumping around and yelling.

He couldn't remember the last time someone had berated him so thoroughly. Certainly not in this life.

Such a strange girl. It'll be fun when we can actually talk to each other.

Jiran dried off and headed to the room he had rented for Mayalyn.

He could see her through his aura. She was sitting on the floor staring out the window with a sad look on her face.

Right as his attention focused on her, she looked directly in his direction as if she could see him as well.

Creepy.

Not as bad as me peeping on her while she's alone in her room though.

She rose to her feet and opened the door before he could knock.

"Hey, let's go shopping."

"Mirakata do shekoul," she responded with a shrug.

On their way out, Niila ran out of the kitchen with a look of desperation.

"Please! Master Jiran, save me!" She wailed while throwing her arms around his waist.

"What's wrong, Niila? Is the dish-soap beast after you again?"

"No, it's much worse than that! Father wants me to learn to cook. He says every good woman needs to be able to cook. Can you believe that?"

"Well, I was just about to take Mayalyn shopping for some new clothes. I could use a guide…"

"Ooohh! Pick me, pick me," she shouted, while she jumped up and down.

"Alright sure, but when we get back I'm not protecting you from your parents. You can climb out of that pile of excrement all on your own."

"Eww, that's gross." She said, but Jiran could hear her committing the comment to memory under her breath."

"Oh, you must be Mayalyn. I'm Niila. How long have you known Master Jiran? Ouch!" The karate chop that landed perfectly on top of her head caused her arms to flail and crocodile tears to sprout from her eyes.

"Stop calling me that," Jiran glared at her with his raised hand ready to land another blow.

They started walking toward the front door of the Inn.

"Fine, fine, I'll stop. Hey Mayalyn, have you heard of the Fireling?"

Jiran's hand missed the door handle and his face crashed into the wood as he stumbled forward.

Niila didn't seem to notice as she began regaling a suddenly very interested Mayalyn with outlandish tales of the Fireling's adventures.

That was the day Jiran learned shopping with two girls could be much more painful than he ever thought possible.