“Combat training.” He said under her penetrating gaze. “Today was my first real fight and I got my ass handed to me on a silver platter. Don’t be mad, Celestia. It’s my fault for not knowing how to even defend myself. I actually learned a lot.” Those green, predatory eyes didn’t seem impressed but she pulled her fingers and wing back. “It seems it’s my problem.”
“Unless it affects your focus and my creations. You are my apprentice first and foremost, do not forget that. I cannot trust anyone to touch my creations till they are ready and if you are compromised for being injured it will only slow me down. What do you have to say for yourself?”
“Besides that it is unfair to criticize me for holding it together this long, nothing. I’m not a damn child, Celestia, don’t treat me like one. I promise that I’ll do whatever you ask of me without complaint and if my work is affected then I’ll just have to slow down and get it right. I’ve been practicing so I can get better. Bear with me and I’ll try not to disappoint you. That is all I can say. No one is perfect, I won’t claim to be. Nor should you.”
Celestia leaned back to look over him. “You pass.”
“I what?” Ethan sat the book down on a stone table.
“Pass. You didn’t pass blame for your condition. Instead you accepted it. Only a person who would do that can truly learn. As for being perfect, only a fool could claim themselves so. The only things that are close to perfection are my creations. Return to practicing on controlling your flames. Call me when you feel you are ready.” Celestia spun and her flaming talons clicked.
Confused at the exchange, Ethan did as he was told, but first grabbed the book and ran it up to his room and hurried downstairs, but this time he had Dress make a pair of cotton earplugs that didn’t take but a second and fit well.
An hour later Ethan spoke up. “Celestia!” her head spun completely around after the last hammer fall. “I think I got it.”
She laid a hot, nearly complete cutlass down with the hammer and approached. “Very well, turn the gauge line in my direction so you cannot see it.” He spun the device around. “Eleven hundred.” She started. He ignited his hand and focused before setting it on the top. The three levels spun until it stopped. “Three thousand.” Ethan cranked the heat up. “Five more degrees.” Only the bottommost moved. “Drop six hundred.” The intensity of his fiery hand lessened. “Four thousand…. One thousand… Drop by three… Up two hundred…” Celestia continued the test for ten more minutes before saying “Well done. Your control is impressive. Now read…” she walked over to a shelf where some metal sat and withdrew a flat piece of etched metal. “this and memorize it.”
He looked at it before saying “I cannot read this? It’s not runes… what language is this?”
Celestia stopped and peered at him. “It is the language of the Phoenix. It has magic. Only great fire can unlock its secrets. Your bracelets cannot translate them for my kind share our written language to a rare few. Burn the back up to five thousand degrees and sustain it and then you will be able to read it.”
He struggled with the blast of fire for it was difficult to sustain such an intensity, but soon the odd writing began melting. He was worried he was ruining it till the writing reformed into English letters and numbers. He read silently to himself, Lead - 327, Zink - 787, Aluminum - 1218. He looked up and asked “Aren’t these melting points for the metals you carry?” She nodded and cocked her head. Ethan grinned and sat the tablet down, killed his burning hand and stated “I was a whiz at this when I took chemistry in collage. Test me.”
And that she did. Over the next minute he answered immediately. “Good, so my apprentice has the proper knowledge of something, but do you know what the metals do?”
This confused him greatly. “What they do? I do not understand.”
“What do you know of demons? Ever seen any?” She lowered herself as if to nest, but kept her head tall when she realized just how much knowledge he lacked.
“I swatted a bird-size bug and met a Goblin up close, but managed to have it think I saw it as a dog. That’s the most I’ve came close to seeing.” He admitted.
Celestia shook her head and clicked her beak. “There is a reason why I specialize in crafting weapons. All of my metals are mixed together in a very specific and purified ratio to broadly combat most demons. Shifters are vulnerable to silver, dragons are allergic to copper, Kelpies fear gold, Elves burn on iron, Sirens only feel pain from aluminum and I can keep going, but you get my meaning.” She lifted a wing to point with one finger. “Every blade and piece of armor all damage every demon ever to be faced. It won’t directly kill the demon, but it will slow them down and bloody hurt…”
“Then how…”
“I’m not finished.” She interrupted back. “What do you know of energy regarding Order and Chaos?”
“I’ve heard Spirit Energy thrown around a few times.”
“Your lack of knowledge is astonishing.” The huge fiery bird said directly, almost like an insult. “Not your fault really, the veil placed upon humans was quite powerful and has actually saved billions of lives. When you get to be my age you forget these things… and no, don’t even ask unless you want your eyes pecked out.” Ethan could hold back a smile which also made her hum. “Listen, Boy, there are two kinds of energy which cannot be bridged. All beings have one or the other. We of Order have Spirit Energy while the denizens of Chaos have Demon Energy. Humans have immense Spirit Energy. The two energies do not mix, especially when one of our warriors carry one of my weapons.
“My creations act as a medium which focuses Spirit Energy so that the demon being faced will stay down and won’t regenerate. Nagai and Amazons rely heavily on blades to slay their enemy. Hand to hand kills more efficiently for them because they cannot mold their energy into an exterior weapon like a Witch or we fire throwers can. With one of my weapons in the hand of an expert they will be near invincible against every demon faced. They must kill the demon while holding the blade and when Demon Energy is touched by Spirit, if the mortal wound is grievous enough, the demon will die. The reason my swords and armor are so sought after and coveted is because my methods not only create a weapon that will last centuries, even without an Enchanter to add protective runes to immortalize it for the recipient, it delivers an internal spiritual attack second to nothing else. Billions of demons have fallen from my weapons. Not one other smith can boast half that effectiveness. Many centuries of trial and error on my part have honed the final products that leave my sight. Now they are harder than any manmade steel.
“Just a simple knife I make is worth a billion points, but still I have a century’s waiting list for weapons that go for trillions. I never shirk quality for other lives depend on my name. Some of our warriors wait to hunt the more dangerous demons till they get their own weapon.”
“But what of Nymphs and Centaurs who use archery? I saw a Goblin fall from an arrow once.” He admitted.
“Again, Spirit Energy. Archers imbue their energy into the projectile to strike down their quarry. I do not craft arrows for if any went missing, the priceless projectile would be lost. Tipped sticks hold a fair amount to kill a demon well enough.”
“What about guns? Surely a bullet would be more effective than a sword or bow.”
Celestia again shook her head. “Bullets are useless. I’ve tried before, but not only does Spirit Energy not last long in any lifeless object, demons are all impervious to most manmade technology, all except bugs. You can shoot a hungry Goblin all day and not one will get through that horrid fur coat… That is the reason why swords, shields and arrows are still around. Even humans can feel deep down even a rusty sword is not only more beautiful than a gun, it is more effective and never needs to worry about ammunition. For others to dispatch a demon requires skill, cunning and close range to use their energy. You and I can just blink and demons will become ash because to produce fire requires tremendous Spirit Energy.
“But, just as our energy truly kills them, Demon
Energy is just as deadly to us. Not only are we severely outnumbered, demons are everywhere and they are all deadly. They rarely hesitate and numbers can swarm like locusts.”
“Quality verses quantity?” She nodded. “Okay, at least I’ve finally figured why most of the metal’s I’ve found odd have a dull gold color. Others metals are mixed inside.” Celestia dipped her beak again. “How about we work now that I know just how important you are to our fighters. Knowing lives are desperately in need of your creations I’ll shut up and work.”
“Glad you finally understand the importance. Grab the Gladius you worked on yesterday and fold it thirty times more to make a hundred folds. But after the folding, wait for me to talk you through its exact final requirements. All creations are customized for only one individual.” She stood and returned to the Cutlass.
Ethan hefted the short sword and began heating it white hot again while selecting a nearly identical hammer to Celestia’s off the wall. Thankfully the anvil was more than wide enough to work together and not be in each person’s way.
They hammered together for hours and Ethan learned he needed to buy safety glasses because twice a spark of hot metal hit his cheek and it would only be a matter of time before a shard jumped into his eye. It was doubly more difficult hammering with an extra five pounds resisting on each wrist, but each downward strike was harder. When one arm grew painful, he alternated.
When he finished and quenched the dull weapon again for the last time Celestia taught Ethan the exact measurements with a thread of notched wire. She told him how to stop just short after stretching as hammering would lengthen it to the exact centimeter she had memorized. Her words guided his numb and bleeding hands with each strike, teaching him where to look and heat at precise moments, at certain heats.
Over the next four hours the sword began taking shape. Different tools were used to accurately define and smooth out all tool marks. He learned how to properly sharpen the sword most effectively with a special hand stone.
“Well done, Boy. Heat it one last time to fifteen hundred and put my maker’s mark on the end and hook it on the rack to slowly cool. It doesn’t need to be quenched this time.”
Ethan took a metal, stake-like tool and looked at what he assumed was a blunt tip, but it really held a Phoenix in flight. He placed it where the hilt would later be and with one blow, the mark was set. It soon hung to slowly cool. “What next?”
The Phoenix said “Sweep the floor as you did for me last night and put it all in that bin. After it is full I collect all metal fragments and reuse them. Go refill the logs in the forge from outside and one bucket of coal. When you are done you may turn in for the rest of the night.”
He spent the next hour transferring armfuls of heavy wood to a fireproof bin that sat near the closed door forge and refilled the coal. Celestia was busy working on another sword and Ethan swept up around her and put it in the trash bin.
Afterwards he trudged upstairs, took a needed shower, applied more ointment to his raw palms, used the new tablet computer to locate the shopping icon and sent a request for safety-glasses, better earplugs and went directly to bed.
Morning arrived all too early as Ethan felt the full effects of yesterday’s adventure. Stiff joints, tired and screaming muscles and aching wounds along with deep bruises. Dress watched and heard him groan with the pain racking his whole body, but he didn’t complain. He dressed, reapplied the weights and found his order came via Dress to deliver a spare set of safety-glasses at no expense. Thankfully Storm-shadow was waiting outside and was kind enough to give him a lift. Even in the dawn light the stallion could see two black eyes among the facial bruises on his partner.
Breakfast went by in a fleeting breeze and afterwards he finished the book given by Tattoo before Blake exited his morning meditation and forced him to run barefoot around the castle again, earning more cuts and compared to yesterday, his time had extended no matter how hard he pushed. Blake though seemed at ease and the burn print on his shoulder had surprising new scales that had shed the old. Ethan’s body wouldn’t respond as it did before, but Blake didn’t say a word and those reptilian eyes gave very little away of what he was thinking.
Afterwards was another grueling sparring session with the hard wooden staffs. Four new Gargoyles also stayed near as the Naga kept pushing Ethan’s rage to the surface and for once he didn’t resist letting it loose. The rage and repressed anger was a bittersweet release. The explosive rush numbed the pain and fortified him in a way he never knew. Blademaster Blake was in his element and enjoyed knocking down the unrefined human so he could learn not only more of himself, but also grow into a more confident individual. Pain and anguish was chipped away more and more with each taunt and strike. Blake knew the inner workings of the mind as well as the body. Each moment there came something new and he was in complete control. Ethan fought as hard as he could and some part of him restrained his anger enough to not rely on his flammable power. The Gargoyles tasked with keeping him under control was all the incentive needed for their resistance to fire made him not lose control or they would inflict more pain to knock him down than Blake ever could.
After lunch he spent another hour and a half learning how to control himself through meditation and what made him who he is. Blake might be a Naga, but Ethan felt a friendship the likes he never had before with any other in him. Storm-shadow also would be there, he knew. Ethan, under Blake’s and Storm-shadow’s request, spoke of his life, interests, childhood and other mundane things. He learned that every fragment of his life wasn’t cohesive because his anger wasn’t released in a healthy way growing up. Now, as an adult with the singular most deadly ability, it needed to be corrected as soon as possible. The one true benefit Blake said he had was that the dam of anger he had built over the years was held in place by a calmness rarely seen in all but the most well trained meditations.
Ethan was released till dinner in which time he went back to his apartment and finished unpacking, took a shower, applied more ointment and napped for two hours.
Kira, Ken and Floa joined him and Storm-shadow for dinner. Ethan near choked at Floa when he finally met her in her larger form at five and a half feet and looked maybe eighteen years at the most. The green Pixie was truly beautiful like an Orion Slave-girl from Star Trek, but with huge monarch butterfly wings. Despite her new size, she was just as excited and cheerful, boasting how good it was to be alive again and how great sex was in a mortal form, hinting Odin was all too eager to help in that department. Kira was all too eager to laugh and joke, comparing notes, which pleased Floa. “For a human he sure has some stamina, doesn’t he?” The Pixie wasn’t at all abashed.
Kira shook her head with a grin. “I had the pleasure only once, but his reputation in that department is well earned.”
“The man’s a slut!” Ken said, exasperated.
Floa grinned down at the book. “No, you were just a prude who no one wanted to touch, even when you were alive. Sex is fun!”
“Especially when you’re not alone.” Kira added.
“Child, I like you!” Floa laughed and patted the Witch on her back.
“Ethan, between us, who would you rather help warm the bed with?” Kira said as she threw an arm around Floa’s evergreen shoulders. “Or for your first time would you rather have us both? I haven’t had a three way with a Pixie before, but I wouldn’t mind.”
The Elemental’s bruised features reddened.
“Child, he has eyes for only one.” Floa said, her smile dropping. “I’m flattered and if it were anyone other than Ethan you’d propose bedding, I’d be there, but…”
Kira pulled her arm back and looked between the Pixie and man. “Oh really? So who is this woman I still don’t know of? Maybe she might be open-minded? Tell me Floa, who is she? Ethan still hasn’t told me.”
Floa tilted her head and used a hand to pull forth her long black ringlets over her ample bosom covered with a blue silk wrap that matched her bikini bottoms. “Kanade is my dearest
girlfriend back on Spirit World. Ethan, why do you not speak of her?”
“Because it hurts.” He dropped his fork. “I’ve lost my appetite. Bye.”
“Oh, no you don’t!” Floa challenged as he started walking away and clapped her hands. He teleported back to his seated position. Floa’s violet eyes locked on his. “You’re not leaving my sight without an explanation.”
“If he wishes to not speak of it, it is his business.” Storm-shadow challenged. “You will let him leave, Pixie, I he wills. We are old friends, Floa, what claim do you have to force my companion to do anything?”
The Pixie kept her steely eyes on Ethan who finally broke the silence for he could see she didn’t care what happens as long as she got answers. “Fine, you want to know why? Because she told me I was nothing more than a responsibility, Floa. Yes, Kanade is amazing and breathtaking, but it can’t happen. I’m just a pitiful human wishing for something that cannot be. There is no use fanaticizing over someone who you cannot have. Do you get it yet, Kanade doesn’t want a human. I thought I’d never find someone like her in my life, but then each time I think of her I’m reminded of how she really feels. A Spirit Guide? What was I thinking. Is that what you wanted to hear or do you want to kick a man while he’s already down? May I leave now or are you going to bring me back?”
Floa was speechless. Her lips were parted and the rest listening were dead silent. Finally she said “I think you’ve got the wrong impression. Kanade…”
“I’m done. Don’t teleport me again Floa unless you want to have singed wings.” Ethan angrily grabbed his dishes and left.
“Let him be!” Storm-shadow ordered when Kira went to stand and go after him. “He has had a difficult day and wants to be alone. You might not have heard it, but Ethan was serious about using his flames. Let him cool off and do not speak of this matter again. Am I clear?”
“But Storm, he is assuming wrong.” Floa protested. “Kanade doesn’t think that way she…”
Forgemaster (Book 1 in the Spirit Guide Saga) Page 21