Chapter 16 — Nobles at the Forge

Kai stirred from a deep sleep, the faint morning light filtering through the window of Old Man Ray’s shop. A sudden clatter and raised voices downstairs snapped him fully awake.
In an instant, he rolled out of bed, grabbing his ninjatō. Barefoot, clad in black shorts and a simple T-shirt — the clothes he slept in — he moved silently toward the source. His emerald-green eyes narrowed as he descended.

Downstairs, chaos had already taken hold. Ray’s workbenches were littered with unfinished blades, and at the center of it all stood two young nobles, haughty and impatient, arguing loudly while conjuring small flickers of magic in their hands.
Behind them, the Viscount himself, older and regal, stood calm but commanding, flanked by several guards. His expression betrayed little emotion, but his piercing gaze surveyed the room carefully.
“I apologize for my children’s rudeness,” the Viscount said smoothly. “But why won’t you forge this sword for us?”
Ray, calm and unwavering, replied, “I do not work for nobility. I only work for the Adventurers’ Guild. Payment or privilege changes nothing.”
Kai stepped into the open, ninjatō at the ready, positioning himself between Ray and the nobles.
“Easy, boy,” Ray said softly, placing a hand on Kai’s shoulder. “No unnecessary fights. Not yet.”
Kai’s gaze flicked outside the window, landing on a carriage adorned with the Viscount’s crest. Inside, seated gracefully, was a woman with familiar poise and presence — the same one who had abandoned him. His mother, Elara. He clenched his jaw, suppressing any emotion.

The Viscount’s voice remained calm, almost diplomatic. “The king himself, King Alaric Drakensport , requests this sword be forged. I came here before presenting myself at the royal hall to meet him.”
Ray’s expression remained unchanged. “I said no. I forge for the guild, nothing else.”
The Viscount’s children scowled. “Father, he’s disrespecting us! He defies your orders!”
Their hands shimmered with arcane energy, ready to strike. The guards drew steel, forming a protective perimeter.
Kai’s emerald eyes scanned the room with meticulous precision: the magical signatures of the children, the disciplined guards, the measured authority of the Viscount — and the distance between each potential threat.
Even the Viscount paused briefly, noticing Kai. The young man’s features bore a striking resemblance to Elara, though he couldn’t place it yet.
“Who is that boy?” the Viscount finally asked Ray.
Ray’s voice was steady. “That is my grandson.”

The Viscount’s gaze sharpened as he surveyed Kai. “Respect must be shown, and behavior corrected. I expect better decorum from those in my charge.”
He turned back to Ray. “We will speak again. You will come to my manor. There, you will forge this sword privately, without distractions.”
Ray shook his head. “No.”
The Viscount’s tone hardened, low but unyielding. “I will not take no for an answer. I require this sword. Only you can craft it. No one else. I am giving you one final opportunity to comply.”
As the Viscount departed, his gaze locked on Kai’s. For a long moment, it was almost a challenge, unspoken but potent. Kai returned the stare, his expression cool yet daring, as if to silently say: Try something. I dare you.

After the carriage disappeared down the street, Kai turned to Ray, curiosity and suspicion evident.
“What did he mean? Only you… no one else can forge this sword?”
Ray’s jaw tightened, eyes shadowed with thought. “It is… complicated. That sword is not just a weapon. It’s tied to power beyond what most understand.”
Kai’s mind raced. The woman in the carriage hadn’t even looked toward the shop, but he was certain it was her — Elara.
Kai’s grip tightened on his ninjatō. A quiet thought formed in his mind: If this is the path they want me to walk… then I will walk it on my own terms.