A fool

“5 missed calls yesterday, what a pain…they wanted my love so badly. No wonder, you two are so beautiful, Mezza, Morrigan,” I declared, my eyes connected to the two, flanged mace, Mezza, and bec de corbin, Morrigan.

“Is it from the British Museum? Are you talking to them again?”

“Like the usual, can’t leave the house without saying goodbye to them.”

“Can you believe it? They messaged that they’ll give me 5 million yen!” I continued, quite loudly.

“Jeepers, so loud! I bet the neighbor could hear us right now!” she shakes her head.

“It’s 1 million back on the 5th January, 3 on the 7th of July…it kept increasing,” I explained. They really offered a lot.

“Hm, good memory…let’s see.” that eyes, that chin tap, I know what she’s going to do, it’s not about my alarm, isn’t it?

“Big brother, what’s due tomorrow?”

Shit.

“Your tuition,” I said perfectly, slipping into my loafers as she does too,

“Correct, I bet you wouldn’t remember it if it’s not for that alarm this morning?” She’s right, I wouldn’t, that’s why I have that alarm on,

“That’s the neighbour’s alarm, no?”

“Oh? I don’t think so, I stood my ground,” she insisted, of course I wouldn’t lose to her, I thought as we walked out from our house, then I tried to come up with something, so I looked at the neighbor’s house.

“Look,” I pointed,

“Today’s a special day for him, so he set up the alarm, took the laundry inside early because he’s going for a trip, see…” she nodded, still looking unimpressed, so I continued,

I blinked for a second, what’s going to support this made-up story…ah, their car are packed.

“...he has lots of stuff in their car, he’s going to the beach.” I closed it with a smug look, looking down on my sister who’s—

“Mister! Are you going to the beach?” she came up to him and asked directly…crap, I can feel sweat on my cheeks, that’s just a smartass observation!

“...ah. Alma…Eiden“

“Yes, I’m going to the beach. Then pick up my cousin from his internship…and then to his chess match,” he continued…wait—

Holy shit.

“That sounded fun! So unlike my brother, who would swing around his bludgeon for fun—” I grabbed and pinched her ear,

“OW!”

“Chess match? Your cousin must be so smart!” I said, keeping Alma around my arms as she swished around trying to escape.

“Ah, Eiden, yes, he is, he worked himself hard, he’s doing the internship to help his parents too…” he explained, though his voice felt sour all of a sudden.

“Must be so nice to be so independent…” I glanced a little at Alma, who, I saw briefly, avoided my eyes. I let her go.

“Eiden and Alma too, hm? You two are so unlucky, losing both of your parents in that crane accident…”

Sorry, unlucky? I hissed, Why the hell is he suddenly bringing that up?

“I couldn’t even imagine still working in the same place, Eiden…I would’ve quit and…”

“…retire with that 5 million”

“What the hell did you just—” I raised my voice, my fist trembled before Alma interrupted me,

“Not at all! It was fated to happen.”

“For the better,” she continued, I can feel her holding back from that,

“...” I stopped at my track,

Fated?

“...is it really fated to happen?” I muttered, it shouldn’t have been. If it was fated, then there’s no way you could’ve avoided it; you could’ve avoided it if…you’re just more…careful.

“You were saying…? Big brother?” she asks, she’s already pulling me away from him.

You’re so patient, Alma,

“Ah…no, that’s okay,” I pulled away too,

“Whatever it…it’s their alarm, no? And…well, we’ve got to go,o no?” I said, grinning, while dragging Alma away.

“Bye bye bye!” she waved her hand, forcing a smile.

…

- Fish canning factory -

“Alright, heads up,” I said, entering the intern’s resting room, with a clap, right on schedule as always.

“Do remember, in this factory nothing is worth risking your life for,” they all nodded while muttering agreement. I’m sure they’re bored and sick of hearing it, but we couldn’t let anything slip, no?

“If there’s failure, mishaps, or anything that involves getting inside the machine…—” I paused, I feel my breath hitched for a little, why? It makes me imagine some scary things.

“I’ll trust you all then, you guys are adults.” I leaned back the wall as I saw them all dressed up in a full sterile outfit. I see one intern with really fast and a really accurate hands, he’s the first one to queue up the door.

He put his arm behind his back and didn’t say anything. I don’t know why, but I feel a sense of foreboding. I’ve got to look into him later.

We entered the production area, and the clanking sound of the can was like that of the wind when you’re standing on a beach. Every machine has its own purpose; many looked harmless, but I’ve seen myself bleeding just from touching the edge of the can could make your flesh bleed.

I placed my gaze on the winding danger line; dare even an inch of feet touch it, and I’ll be there.

…

- Production line, can sealing section -

“Ah—!”

“Watch out,” I caught one of the female interns. She’s fully equipped, but one second, she got distracted by the blaring bell, and she slipped.

“This area is quite slippery because it’s close to the steam chamber.r” She nodded again, her walk is much slower now, though she always looked at the floor every second…okay, it looked like my advice worked.

I continued my walk, overseeing the intern as I see the intern from before. His hands are fast and neat, I love it.

Though it started to slip as he knocked over a can, it slowly rolled into the gap between the conveyor belt, spilling sardines and tomato sauce everywhere.

“LEAVE IT! LET IT FALL!” I yelled, jogging close to the conjunction, and they were startled. Good, anything beyond the danger line is a no-go.

Yet, the same intern earlier stepped in and jumped to save that can, until his oversized glove got stuck in the can sealer machine.

At that moment, I felt my heart drop.

My feet were a millisecond away from jumping and pulling him back, but it never got out of the danger zone. I stopped, I froze, I remember them, I…just let it all unfold.

I felt my whole body stop, my mind was empty, there should be screaming, there should be panic, but yet, no, I walked calmly, the stillness of my face made me sick.

“...”

At which part did he not understand that grass is green, sky is blue, and the damn danger line is yellow and black?

“Look,” I walked to him after I turned off the can sealer machine,

“This,” I said, pulling away his crushed arm from the press, his blood smeared all over my gloves,

“It's going to contaminate the whole batch.”

The intern's breath started to become restless, how could he not, it hurts, didn’t it? You don’t go beyond the danger line!

You’re no one to complain, not compared to my parents, who died of the same carelessness.

Not if they’re careful…not if you just don’t step into…

Fucking hell.

…

- Historic European Material Arts (HEMA) Club -

I glanced at the rondel dagger that was on the display at the far right side of the sparring room. It was originally my parents but I decided to keep it here to remember them.

Later that night, I went to spar with my friend to clear my head off but in fact, I spar every single day without fail. It was since my parents introduced it to me, it gave me confidence in myself.

Father was an absolute monster with the mace, even against a spear, he’s able to win with that nimble footwork, almost like gliding, no wonder, he’s an ex-military after all.

Mother, she’s too was also a combat medic who was on par with father when she wielded the bec de corbin. That beaked warhammer was something else when it’s on a mother's hand; everything that’s latched on its beak is guaranteed to get disarmed.

Me? I was a mix of both. It’s radical but fun.

Mace, no wonder father likes to move around with it, it was light yet every swing is a meteor, even when the mace is made out of foam, not steel like Mezza’s, still…

They swing gracefully like a ballerina.

Bang!

My mace flashes down from above to my opponent’s long sword, his guard is on half-sword, one hand on the handle and one on the blade, the guard was supposed to be used for keeping the sword in your hand, however…

That’s not the case, not when I use the teeth of the mace.

Once I feel his hold flatter from the hit before, I flicked and pulled his sword down as the mace’s teeth interlocked with the blade, his sword fell to the floor as I scored a hit on his chest by lunging the mace’s spike.

My next opponent uses the spear, an everyman weapon that’s best used to attack from a safe distance, which was the best use scenario for the opponents too, but he’s facing me.

Thud. He stepped forward and pushed his spear towards me, knowing I used a shorter weapon.

Bec de corbin, still made out of foam, unlike Morrigan’s steel body, ‘the raven’s beak’ may look like an ordinary warhammer with a protruding ‘Beak’ on its back, that beak is what makes it deadly as it can pull and disarm weapons just like a bird of prey seizing carcasses off the ground, however…

I used that beak to latch onto the spear,

Clank!

I hooked the beak around the spearhead with one hand and jumped over the spear as I pulled it into my direction, my empty hand held the pole tightly before I tapped his arm with the bec de corbin’s hammer.

The sparring session was exhausting, but it left me feeling breezy, having to move that fast and freely like no one else did, not with a sword, not with a spear, all while remaining unbeatable.

I can be the clinical knight.

…

- Home -

“So how about it? 5 million yen, each for both the mace and the bec de corbin.”

“Each?” I stammered with Mezza in my hand, my other hand patting it carefully with a towel, my eyes wandering off Morrigan, who was sitting inside the display box.

“Look, Mr. Eiden, you see, we can’t go higher than this, it’s ridiculous.”

“It is.”

“Right, so you do realize it, I…okay, we beg you to just put it on our display and we’ll take care of it, we promise, we have thousands of it too, so we know how to do it well.”

“Why bother with these two if you had a thousand already?”

“It’s…” he paused.

“I don’t know anymore, we asked you so many times I don’t care anymore. Five, ten million, don’t you want the money? I think you’re just…stupid. Last time, you gave the rondel to your local HEMA club as a display piece, even if that’s not your parents' wish?”

“Mister…you do know that’s—”

“Mr. Eiden. If you truly, truly value your parents’ legacy…you wouldn’t keep their weapon.”

“...you would evolve their idea, become the better version…not just cling to what they left behind—”

Knock knock.

“Sorry, my sister is knocking at my door, I’ll tell you…—”

“Next week’s the last chance Mr. Eiden.”

“Please, consider it.”

…

Alma came through my door looking at me like I’ve had the worst day ever, it’s nothing compared to…that, but I’ll be really honest, it still doesn’t feel so good.

“Is that…the British Museum again?” she asked, her eyes had that light, the same one when I walked out of the factory that day,

“...who else, hm?” I answered, dryly, still offering her a smile.

“Is that so…you haven’t talked much about anything when you got home today.” She’s right, I go straight to the club, I usually go home first, but not today.

“I guess everyone has their bad day, Alma.”

“...are you still mad at the neighbor?”

“Not really.”

“How about the museum?”

“...no, I won’t give Mezza and Morrigan.”

“How about work?”

“You know I never have a problem with work.”

“...then I guess you should not have a problem with…the tuition, no?”

“Of course not, I’ve prepared it.”

“Then…I’m just going to remind you that next week’s the last for my tuition, okay? I know I told you this morning, but…just making sure.”

“Am I starting to be forgetful now?”

“I think you are, there’s a letter for you when you’re gone.”

“Is that so? I didn’t notice,” I paused, I wonder what kind of letter that is.

“I’ll open it tomorrow.”

.…

I couldn’t sleep last night; it feels horrible.

“Brother? You slept a lot more than usual…” Alma opened the door slowly, and the light that seeped in through the door stirred me up.

“I guess the spar last night is really good.” I stood up, meeting her before she went to the kitchen, and I followed suit.

I stared blankly at the breakfast Alma had prepared. She enjoyed cooking new things during weekends; sometimes it’s a hit or miss, but I always loved her experiments. This time, it’s accidentally my favorite, a spicy mapo tofu, and milk.

“Caught you staring at the new restaurant last week, thought I’d try to make it myself,” she smiles as I nod, already digging it, but it looks like she doesn’t find me smiling.

“You’re always super cool, brother.”

I stopped, and I looked at her. I only dressed in my pajamas, what’s cool about it?

“I should’ve been the one who cooks for you.”

“Oh no~, I think I’ll be more honored to cook for my cool brother.”

“...you’re being sarcastic.” I squinted at her.

“I have never been this serious.” I laughed a little at her replies and those little eye rolls. One day, I’m not feeling so well, and this is all I get? How ridiculous.

“The letter?” she continued, pulling it out from behind her.

“Thank you, I almost forgot.”

“I couldn’t,” she jutted out, she never forgets anything and…I see a dark circle under her eyes.

“I just…I have never seen your workplace send you a letter.”

She couldn’t sleep either.

“...sorry, I’ll read it now.” I took it off her hand.

…

- Hospital -

I ran through the hospital corridor like a madman,

DAMN IT!!! DAMN IT!!! DAMN IT!!! I should have seen this coming, but…but...why did I have to…?

This is going to contaminate the whole batch.

I stopped in front of the room at the end of the corridor, I looked left, and it was a big window with a view from the 4th floor. I didn’t dare to peek from the window, I just waited until I was let inside, not that I had knocked on the door.

Then five minutes, ten minutes came, I checked the letter again. The moment Alma gave it to me, the letter wasn’t fully sealed, and I couldn’t help but notice the small indentation at the edge of it. She had opened it before me; no wonder she couldn’t sleep last night.

I sighed before I slumped and sat on the floor. I never thought that it could turn out this way. The intern, the worker, the supervisor saw me just standing there as his hand got crushed, everyone saw me scolding him and not tending his wound, I know that, I am aware of that.

“Mr…Eiden?” The room’s door finally opened, it was the nurse. I couldn’t even look at her, but I stood up anyway.

“...hello”

“Do you want to come in?”

“I…no, I don’t think I can,” I stopped, then looked at the nurse’s face directly, and I glanced past the door,

It was the neighbor’s cousin.

“...”

“Can you…give me the bill already?”

…

- Historic European Material Arts (HEMA) Club -

There’s no one in the club, not even a friend, not even Alma is here. I sit there in silence, looking at the weapons there. Especially the rondel dagger.

I didn’t like it very much, honestly. I’m not good at them, but it was what they gave to me before I started practicing for them. They told me that it was meant to go through the gaps in the knight’s armor, such a dastardly tactic.

I have promised the club that it’s theirs now, it has a pretty ancient origin and…as my parents’ legacy, even if it’s not their wish…I know, I just wanted to at least…remember them and keep both the maces and bec de corbin, that’s the two things I can’t lose.

I opened an envelope that lists all the medical expenses for the neighbor’s cousin, which totaled 2 million, the same as Alma’s tuition.

I was supposed to be able to afford it…or not, what I have in my account is exactly 2 million and a couple extra for eating, transport, and more…I can’t exactly pay for it.

“...” I stared into the ceiling for a long time, all the while when the lights were still off. Then, its glint caught my eyes, the rondel dagger that’s sitting in the corner of the display box.

“...the dagger.”

The museum has wanted it for a very long time ago but I rejected it right away and said that it was not for sale until my death…at that moment, I didn’t know if I was consumed so deeply with sadness and anger that I completely threw the deal out of the window.

I was a fool; I should’ve sold this a long time ago.

Or rather, today was the perfect time for it.

I took the dagger out of the display box, breaking the lock. I shouldn’t do this, I have already given it to the club; this isn’t mine anymore. I held it firmly, and it felt odd; it was alien, the way that it’s even heavier than the mace, the way it has this rounded handle, guard, and the metal…it’s not steel, it’s copper, with a hint of blue and green patina streaks. I decided to play with it a little.

Regular grips aren’t meant for this type of weapon; you’ve got to hold it in reverse grip, gosh, this makes me feel like a killer. It was relatively simple to use the dagger, but not with this one; it was a lot heavier, really heavy, while it could thrust deep…It was such a hassle to hold.

I swing it erratically, and it still works as a self-defense weapon and definitely can go through the armor gaps easily. I pull it high up above my head before thrusting it down, as if I had someone pinned below me, straight through their neck.

This will do.

It should be done, I can pay for my sister’s tuition, pay for the intern’s medical bill, and keep both the mace and the bec de corbin, problem solve, all I have to do is to contact the British Museum and they’ll send the money as I deliver it through post.

I wish it could be as simple as that.

The lights at the club started to get brighter even though there was no one around to turn them on. The floor started to turn to grass, not a green one, but yellowish brown patches, flowers grew, and dew drops. My body felt small and weak, it’s as if I was bombarded with a million invisible acupuncture needles. My breath was heavy and shaky as sweat came running free. My hands are trembling, still holding the now heavier rondel dagger.

Below me is a dead man, a freshly killed man with strange colored blood. My hands are littered and streaked with blue blood as the dagger’s blade digs deep into the man’s chest. The sound was squelch, squelch with blue bloods coming spurting out. I realized that I pinned a man, bigger than me, bigger than me… whose limbs are short, as short as Alma's.

Then come the gallops of horses towards me, several men wearing what I can describe as thick padded clothes, a gambeson. But no, there’s no steel in sight, just staves, bow, and arrow for the jockey; they came in close.

They come to me who had killed a person.