Once I returned to the smithy I began to work without stopping.

I needed to focus. I needed to choose. I already made a sword for Shu but it wasn’t really a choice I made. It felt more like something that happened to me. The mercenary woman had stolen my machete but that was even further out of my control. Well not really, but I would tell myself it was.

This would be my choice. I was choosing to make a weapon.

It seemed a bit strange that the trance-like feeling I had gotten before didn’t come to me. It felt wrong. Like the path wasn't there anymore.

I kept going. If there is no path then make one. It’s one of the things my uncle would say but it didn’t make sense back then. Maybe he felt things like this too sometimes. Like the pattern was already there, and we are just following it. Like the paths go their own way no matter what we do.

He would have probably laughed at me if he knew what I was thinking. He would tell me something like ‘only an idiot expects the world to stop turning for them’.

That’s what I need to come to terms with right now. The world will turn no matter what I do so if I can’t carve a path that changes the world then I’ll forge one that can change me.

The sparks lit up the night around me as I continued by the light of fire and glowing iron. Somehow I didn’t feel tired in the slightest. It felt like being in the firelight would let me continue as long as the fire kept burning.

The large piece of metal in front of me was over a meter long and nearly as wide as my wrist at the largest part. I set aside the simple blade and began to forge the hand guard and pommel.

It felt like this was the last chance to change my mind as I watched the last piece of metal come to temperature. I could make it an ornament and place this on a wall. Then I could keep telling myself that I don’t make tools for killing. That I'll never do harm. Like a fucking idiot.

I stopped running from it. I stopped running from the fear of fighting. I stopped turning away from the magic around me. I took a deep breath and tried to accept what happened to me. Maybe I wouldn't ever truly accept it, but I already felt more at ease. This world might not be mine but it was where I would forge my path. Not just follow the ones around me.

I made the guard sharp and simple. The light curve was just enough to catch another blade. The end piece was small and round. Just enough to balance it.

Once I was done I took the leather strips made from the electric deer and wrapped them over each other in a sort of braid around the piece of wood I chose so I was able to hold it comfortably. I used the wood I had taken from the giant tree.

It probably makes me sound crazy but it felt right to use. Honestly I just needed that placebo effect of stability. Like that tree could somehow help me stay firm. Like it would allow me to stand on stable ground.

I looked down at my handiwork on the table as the sun began to rise over the mountain.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

I laughed softly at myself.

It was a big and dull bastard. Just like me.

I might not have felt tired but I passed out on the workbench the moment I was done.

I woke up to the sound of a hammer. I opened my eyes and saw a cold cup of coffee in front of my face. Long seemed to be working on a large halberd with a curved blade. My new bastard sword still rested in front of me.

I yawned while the afternoon light covered me.

There was still work to do. I can’t let something like this sit in the open. I took the some of the treated wood we kept on hand. I already cut it into planks so I just needed to cut and carve it to shape. I used a bit of hide on top of the stitched leather for a fur lining around the opening of the scabbard.

I sheathed the sword and let out a sigh of relief. I hadn’t made a scabbard before. Even if it looks good it’s useless if the sword doesn’t fit.

_______________________________________

Long Fa wasn’t sure what happened to Henry but he decided it would be best to let him sort things out on his own. The empty stare that looked as though he couldn’t even see what was in front of him was different from the trances he sometimes went into while working. He wasn’t flowing the way he had before. Sometime it seemed like the man was being guided by an outside hand. Now it felt like he was taking his first steps.

Long had even felt the fire itself cry out towards Henry but the man continued without noticing. Like he couldn’t even feel the world around him. Like he wasn’t part of it. Hu had tried to go to him while he was working in the night and stop him but Long prevented it. This wasn’t something to be interfered with. On the other hand Long was forced to tamp down his excitement. The fire had awakened. It was something he had only heard of in stories before. It wasn't some powerful primordial flame spirit like the ones in legends but it was awake and it was calling out.

Henry had returned from the forest with a giant tree branch and began to work in silence. What he made was an unreasonably large and heavy sword. The unsharpened edges almost made it more like a club but that didn’t make much of a difference.

The man hated weapons but last night he made a sword.

Long Fa felt things changing. It was obvious that they would. The village was growing. They even had a new landlord. He had almost hoped that Henry would stay the same. He was loud and funny. Accepting and kind. He was a self righteous, arrogant drunk, but even that had become something that Long didn’t want to see go away.

If even that giant buffoon was changing, maybe he should too. Maybe he already had. Usually if something that threatened his quiet life appeared he would pack up and disappear again. He didn't know why but he couldn't bring himself to do it this time. He realized it might not be fair to say Henry was changing. Long took a moment when he realized how short of a time they’ve actually known each other. Shu was right in a way that he probably should have tried to teach him more about spiritual energy and how to wield it. He had taught Hu the techniques he developed while he was still in his sect.

The Asura’s Blade was well known amongst the dark faction. Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to teach him such a famous skill but he truly viewed the child as his apprentice. So what about Henry? He was a fast learner that could copy almost any motion he saw with near perfection. He trained as much as any warrior Long had met in his life. He could have probably used that talent and determination to learn any martial technique this world had to offer if he could wield the energy. Instead he used it to keep track of how hard and fast to swing his hammer. Was it a waste? Should he have treated him like a real apprentice instead of a helper? He sighed as he thought about the countless paths that could have been taken.

Long Fa decided to accept Xinyi’s request for a new weapon. He had already made a crescent spade for the man’s apprentice so it wouldn't really make a difference. Long didn’t need to contact him or confirm anything. They had fought enough times that he knew exactly what that fat bastard wanted. Even though he hadn't bothered to ask properly.

Long fa would definitely cut that wretched white beard next time he saw him. That would be fair payment for someone so rude.