The Mysterious Blacksmith

Kay woke up to the sound fire burning metal. Looking up, what he encountered was a tad unexpected.

What was ahead was a two-headed blacksmith. One was a scarred, bald, human male, with a mighty auburn bear. The second was a Draconian, with red scales and a scar on it's left eye. It was breathing fire on a piece of iron, a formless sword.

"Finally 'waked, eh?" The dwarf-like head spoke, while the flames ceased and it's arms took the forge and bathed it in cold water. "Y'er gave us quite the spook, kiddo. Almost lost ya."

"Who are you? Where am I?" He winced, his hand found it's way to one of it's many cuts, one particularly nasty.

"Easy there, kiddo. I ain't a nurse, ya know?" The sound of boiling water filled the place, the steam filled the cavern. "Still, y'er quite lucky. If I was a minute late, you'd be a goner."

'Lucky, huh…' His thoughts went back to the woman who gave her life to save his, a frown marred his features and a deep sadness caved it's way into his heart. 'I guess… she wasn't lucky enough.'

If only he was stronger and wiser…

"It'll be fine, kiddo…" The dwarf begun hammering the weapon, a curved sword, if he saw correctly. "The first time's always the hardest. Give it a day or two and it'll stop hurting. In a week, y'er heart will heal…"

He eyed the youth and gave it it's more sincere smile, which was still somewhat broken and haunted. "Hopefully, it'll never heal completely."

"What you mean?"

"Exactly what I said…" He turned back to hammering the metal, not meeting his gaze. "Trust me, if y'er lucky enough, y'er won't be losing that so soon… the ability to care, that is."

Silence befell them, the passing of time was accentuated by the sound of metal hitting metal. Every now and then, the second head breathed fire into the metal, purifying it.

Kay though of asking what exactly was that weapon and for what he would use it, since it didn't seemed like any monster was nearby, but he held his tongue. Not only he didn't knew about this blacksmith, the sigh of all those weapons in that small cavern was enough to show it to him that, for whatever reason, the thing was doing that for quite a while.

"There, kiddo." He was cut short of his musings by the dwarf head, whom threw him a cutlass, one that had a few runes inscribed. "This one should do a better job at aidin' y'er quest. The incantation for the runes are: Za'azu'a."

"Lighting element?" He took the curved sword in his hands and examined it. To call it a masterpiece would be a disservice, since not only was it beautiful, but also deadly. "Why?"

"I'm a blacksmith, kiddo… smiting is what I do… what my costumers do with the weapons isn't mine problem, nor are the consequences for 'eir actions… I just make weapons." He sighted and eyed the young man. "Now rest…"

He felt his eyelids becoming heavy, the sound of the fire breath lulled him to sleep, and soon enough, fell into a deep slumber. It wasn't because of how nice the blacksmith was to him… but instead, it was the fact that he had a weapon now.

Kay was born without powers of his own, so he had never have a weapon to defend himself. Never had a parent to shield him from the dangers of this world. A world were everything was consider an enemy and oppressor of those deemed weak.

So, it stood to reason that he felt secure when holding something that could defend him. Even if he had to fend for himself, it was better to have a blade that could cut away his troubles than to have only his fists.

In other words, it was like that weapon was the embrace of a mother, a concept foreign to him, who never received such a blessing from his family.

The dwarf head eyed the kid and released a sight, that almost sounded like a gruff, but had the distinct tone of sadness.

"That kid isss dangerousss… why would you gave him sssuch a weapon?" The draconian head hissed while the dwarf begun to hammer the metal.

"Ya know exactly why I would do that."

"Old man Jago? Pleassse, we both know that the hunker was a babbling fool."

"Just like we saw how things went downhill for Liria… and we both know how long it has been since a member of the Phoenix clan has appeared… we both know what happened 3000 years ago."

The fire breath returned, while silence befell the two.

---

Kay dreams were, like always, filled with dread and fear. He didn't knew if he could even call those "dreams"… after all, they were memories of his past, increased with nightmarish details.

In this particular dream, he was a six year old child. In front of him was his younger brother… someone who, in contrast with himself, was always praised and spoiled by his mother.

In contrast, his childhood was exactly the opposite.

"My stupid son… who can't do even the most basic magic…" His mother hit his face with such force that he was send tumbling towards the ground. "If only I never had you, your father wouldn't leave me! I wouldn't need to beg for a consort… if only you were never born!"

"No… please, mother… don't say that…"

"Hahaha, would you look at that!" His brother voice, filled with mockery and venom, sounded so foreign to his ears, yet painful oh so much that it was like twisting a broken blade in his gut. "You're crying? So weak and pathetic…"

While that was happening, his older sister, who always comforted him at his most painful moments, looked at that scene with complete indifference. She was the one person that did had his back at that house, but in this dreamlike reality, she just wore a dead set of eyes, just like a doll.

"Please… someone…"

A magic binding circle erupted from the ground, the boy cried in pain as his skin burned. "No… not again! Please, mother… I promise I won't bring any shame, so don't send me back to the dungeon! Please!"

His pleas fell in deaf years, and as the ground slowly ate him away, the youth woke up with a scream. His skin was soaked with glistening sweat, and he had to force himself to regain his ability to breathe.

"Y'er okay there, kiddo?"

"Y-yes… just a nightmare…" He eyed the blacksmith, who eyed him skeptically. "I… I need to go…"

"Y'er sure about that? That was quite the loud scream there… also, y'er not fully recovered."

"I… I have to go to the bottom of the dungeon… if you excuse me."

"Wait a minute, kid." The boy stopped in his tracks and eyed the dwarf head, whom pointed towards a set of light armor. "Don't let this go to waste, would ya? Had to work quite the sweat to make these…"

Kay sighted and went to take the set, but also noticed he wasn't wearing his shirt. "It's there, kiddo." He looked to his right and founded his only good shirt, which was ruined. "Heh, don't worry 'bout that… I have some clothing 'ere. Lemme see, how 'bout a piece of mail to go with the armor?"

"Yeah… sure."

"Good. Dress up, kiddo."

And that he did. Eyeing himself on the reflection of his cutlass, Kay admired the handiwork of the blacksmith. The armor had pads that covered the vital areas, with some runes inscribed in a belt, one that he would work on later.

"Fine work, if I say so… may be one of my finest… try not to spoil it, kiddo. Would hate to see all the hours I spend on it wasted."