I woke to a voice "Say, Sora. What is this white thing?"

"Its.. Nothing. Don't touch it."

"Okay." I felt someone hold my son. "What is this thing? Why does he have it and I don't?"

She started playing with him. I was trying to wake up but before I do.. "Ahh! It moved! It got bigger! It will do something bad to Ash, we must stop it! Sora, where is your sword? I will cut it."

Then I was wide awake. I held one of my hands on my son an the other towards Cassie, gesturing for her to stop. She nodded and backed down. Then I wore my clothes and sighed. "Cassie all males has that. Its useful and loyal to their master, so we don't cut them down. She nodded. I turn to masters naked, sleeping form and my heart started to beat faster right away. I thought of doing it again but knew I can't do it while Cassie is here. 'Maybe we should have found a different place for her to sleep.' I shook my head. 'She is my responsibility, I can't get rid of her like that.' I got on one of my knees beside master, and started massaging her. She didn't wake up like I thought she would so I continued. She started to moan at her sleep and with one last breath, she came.

"Sora, did white fluid came from Ash's master?" She nodded. "Then why doesn't it come from me?"

I answered instead. "You are too little. It starts to come when you are eight-teen."

She nodded thoughtfully and got up to his hammock and laid there.

After a while Emerald woke up. She slowly opened her eyes and looked around, then flexed her arms. It was a sight to behold. I felt my son trying to rise but I willed it to stop, but of course, it didn't work and my pants gotten tight. She looked at my crotch and smiled. She got up and dressed. I shrugged, lied down on my hammock and continued to read.

Two days later we reached the docks of Myrl City. Our new home.

While we follow Emerald, I looked around. Buildings and streets looked the same with of the Town but the difference was that this City was much more lively. Here, children were playing games with each other, carriages came and went, people busy doing their jobs. I took a deep breath. Air wasn't as good as Town's but not bad enough to choke while breathing, unlike the air I breathed in my previous life.

After walking for about fifteen minutes we stopped in front of, what I guessed to be a weapons shop. Master went in, and we followed. Inside was bigger than Emerald's shop in Town. We stopped at the entrance and Emerald went to get presumably, the owner. After a few minutes they got out of a room together. What I assumed to be shop owner headed towards us. She stop right in front of us and beamed. "Welcome to Clarise's Legendary Weapons!" I nodded. Sophie just looked around and Sora.. She just stared. Clarise cough once. "Well then. Come in, take a seat." She pointed to a corner of the shop. "Leave the weapons there for now." We did and I sat on a stool I found near Emerald. Our host leaned on the counter and looked at me directly. "So, you are the kid I was told about. I nodded. "So, what is your name?"

"Ash. And your name must be Clarise. Thanks for having us."

She waved. She looked at Emerald. "It's nothing. Emerald is my friend, you know." She said the friend part oddly. Emerald winced a little, I took note.

"So, Clarise. Do you like, have a boyfriend?" She shook her head and smiled. I smiled at her innocently. "Do you need one?" Her smile froze. She looked at Emerald who was still smiling like nothing happened at all.

She turned to me, her face was red as tomato. "Hmm. Who do you have in mind." She said all the while trying to hide something. Expectation? Or maybe apprehension.

"Me." I said with a smile.

She looked shocked. She repeatedly looked between me and Emerald, nodded once and said. "Maybe later but not now. I have too many things to take care of and one of them the swords you made." She turned to Emerald "You said you know an aspiring merchant. Is she here?" Emerald nodded and pointed at Sophie who was intently inspecting a sword.

Hearing her name, she turned to us and looked blankly. Since she didn't seem to heard what has been said I told her what happened. "Yes, that's me. I want to be a merchant that swims in money for sport!" 'I broke something again it seems.' She pointed at the sword she was inspecting and said "By the way, why are you keeping this sword here? Its seems very old."

Clarise smiled sadly. "That was the first sword my master forged successfully. I am keeping it to remember him."

Sophie nodded and return her inspection of swords. Seeing this, Emerald shrugged to her friends questioning gaze. "It seems she is curious about these things. She inspected every sword we made too. And we now know their values so no scamming." She ended jokingly.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Clarise looked surprised. "You mean she can deduce the values of sword?" She turned to Sophie. "Sophie." She pointed toward a sword on the rack. Everything about sword screamed special. "What do you think that swords worth is?"

Sophie started inspecting the sword and after a minute she turned to us and said "10.000 Beli." I was shocked. Sword was.. well very good looking, but if Sophie says that, than that means its their worth.

Clarise nodded. "Good. What is that swords worth then?" They continued like this and after and hour of questioning Clarise sighed. "I have no idea how she knows what she knows but it seems like she can deduce every property of a sword just by inspecting it a little. This level of understanding is beyond genius." She sighed and got closer to Emerald. "I feel down, hug me." Emerald did, smiling. She then turned and winked to me, smiling. I smiled back.

After we rest at the shop, Emerald and I headed to a place Clarise found for us. We walked towards the inner district where owner resides. For some reason inner district consists only of residential buildings. Shops and such was at the outer district. At the center of the city was a castle. It was so big, it could be even seen from outside of city.

We reached at the house that owner resided in after a few minutes of walking. Emerald knocked the door. Door opened after a few seconds and a white haired old woman showed herself. She smiled at us. "Hello kids. How can this old woman help you?"

Emerald smiled back "You are the owner of the abandoned forge right?"

Woman sighed. "You are right, its abandoned. I am the owner. Before you say anything. I won't sell you the forge if you intend to demolish it and make something else instead."

"Its okay. We are blacksmiths." She pointed at me. "This here is my apprentice. We moved from Curry Town and we are looking for a forge."

Woman's happiness was apparent then. She smiled a bit then seemingly thought something. "Forge is in the inner district. You can't set shop there, are you sure you want it?"

Emerald nodded. "We knew that. We just need a forge. I sell my swords to a friend here."

"Great! My name is Reena. Let me wear a few things then I can show you the forge." She returned to the house and we started waiting. After a few minutes, she came back with different clothes and started leading us towards the forge. She headed towards innermost part of the city and we followed. While we walked, buildings became more and more extravagant. There was even a building with a golden door! After walking for a few more minutes we arrived at our destination.

I expected a rundown building but this place was clean and in good condition. It was a three storey building. There was a sign in front that read "Radiant Forge." 'Good name.' We got in and inside were the same, clean and well kept. There were ten rooms and three forges. Forges were as the rest of the building, in a usable condition. Reena must have put a lot of effort to keep here like this.

When we came to the forge room, owner stopped and turned to us. "Here we will decide if you can buy the forge." She smiled at our surprised faces. "I want both of you to forge sword blades. Can you do it?"

I nodded at master and she gave our answer. "Yes." Reena walked to the side and made a come in gesture. She then sat on a stool and started waiting for us to start. We quickly found some ingots no doubt in case this exam has to take place, and started working. I was extra motivated this time since there were ten rooms. Meaning, at least ten, maybe even twenty followers. 'We struck gold with this one.' I finished before Emerald did, then sit beside Reena. We then started waiting with her. I expected for her to be get bored but she didn't. She seemed so focused that I had no doubt she was taking everything in. After few hours Emerald finished and turned towards us. Seeing this Reena stood up and I followed.

Reena first inspected my blade, holding it with tongs and turning it around time to time. She took the hammer in her hand and struck at blade with it, causing a laud clang sound. She nodded once and put the blade down.

She then made her way to Emerald's blade and inspected it the same way. She nodded to herself and turned to us. "You are indeed good at forging. You can buy this forge, provided you have what it takes." We were about to ask what she meant but she gestured us to stop and continued. "I have an old katana, that belonged to my husband. I want you to return it to its peak form, meaning, I want you to reforge it. If you can manage, I will give you this forge as payment." If a needle were to drop at that moment we would definitely hear it. "So, what do you say?"

I turned to Emerald. She took a deep breath and said "Can I see the sword?" Reena smiled and took out a sword out. It looked well, old. There were cracks along the blade. Emerald took a deep breath. "I might be able to reforge it but it might not be as good as its used to be." 'What?'

"Master. How good was it?"

"Its better than my sword." I had nothing to say to that. 'If the fact that Reena is ready to give a building this big for it, is anything to go by, it must have sentimental value too.' Emerald sighed again. "I will do it." Reena smiled then but Emerald continued. "But not now. I am not ready. If you lend me this forge for me to practice, I believe I can get good enough to reforge this blade in relatively short time."

Reena put the sword to its place and turned to us. "How long?"

"Six months."

Reena chuckled. "Look at me girl, do I look like I have six months to live? I can give three months at most, if you can't do it in that time then I will have no choice other then to find someone else."

Emerald smiled. "There isn't any blacksmith that's better then me in this island. You won't be able to find someone else but still, we will do our best to reforge it in three months time."

Reena smiled "If you say that, then you can stay here. Here is the key." She gave a key to Emerald. "I am going back to my house, I will see you in three months time. Take care, and don't do it in the forge, it doesn't end well." She cackled and got out.

I turned to Emerald. "Lets do it in the forge room." She shook her head and got out of the house, while gesturing me to stay. So I did what I always do when there is an empty forge. I started my work and felt the Focus activate.

After I finished, I looked out and it was night. I sighed and made my way towards the rooms. Since I didn't know in which room stays who, I started touring the rooms from bottom to top. There wasn't anybody in the first nine room. When I got in the last room I saw four figures sitting around a light doing various things. Sophie and Sora was lifting weights, Cassie was watching them and Emerald was scribbling something. I went to her side and looked at what she was writing. It was about reforging. When I reached a conclusion, I couldn't help but gasp. Emerald heard my voice and turned to me. I looked at Emerald surprised. "You intend to make me reforge the sword instead of you." She nodded. "Didn't you said it would be bad if others were to learn my skill at the forge?"

She smiled. "I know I said that but.. There is nothing to fear anymore. We can all protect ourselves well. That's what I learned from the fight with Baka Pirates. That's why I don't intend to hide you anymore."

I nodded to her. Its true that there was always someone stronger but I can't move forward while hiding like a mole. Its better like this, because renown means more work, more work means more money and more money means.. 'ehehehe'

I looked at Emerald and said "Great thinking master, I approve this." while making a alright pose. She laughed then. I then snuggled closer to her and kissed her neck while moving my hand on her back. She took my hand, gave me a quick kiss on the lips and shook her head. She then pointed at Sophie. I looked at her and my heart started to beat like crazy.

I went to Sophie and held her hand then started dragging her towards a different room. "Master, stop. I can't, I have a headache."

"Ah. Don't worry, I have just the right medicine for it."

She then leaned to my ear and said "We can't do this while Sora can't. She doesn't show it but she is sad all the time." 'Damn! How did I forget this?'

"You are right. Thanks Sophie. Lets get back to the room. I have a book to read."