Time to Fill

Alexia sits alone at a table studying scrolls haphazardly strewn across it as the setting sun barely peaks through the distant window of the library’s second floor. One scroll off to the side seems to grab the inventor’s attention.

“There you are.” Roden’s voice breaks the silence and Alexia’s focus causing the woman to hop up in surprise. “What are you studying?”

“Nothing to worry about.” Alexia tries to avoid the question.

“Why are you trying to hide something?” The young man pesters his friend.

“I told you it is nothing to worry about.” The woman replies with a glare at her companion.

“If it is nothing to worry about then you should be able to tell me.” Roden retorts with his hands on hips.

A silence builds up between the two before a sigh escapes Alexia’s lips.

“Fiiiiiiine.” The inventor concedes to her friend and shows him a scroll.

“Spells and magical theory?” Roden mutters whilst examining the scroll. He tilts his head “Why would you look at this? You cannot cast magic.”

“It was because I wanted to know what you could actually do, okay!?” Alexia responds with a bit more venom than she intended.

“You could have just asked me at any point.” Roden sighs “Just not when we are in life or death situations like you always seem to do.”

“I want you to keep reading those spells.” Alexia ignores her friend and almost sounds like she is ordering Roden “I think a few of them could be helpful with some ideas I have.” She stands up and walks away before stopping mid step. “We never found a place to sleep…” The inventor states with dreadful realization filling her.

-- -- --

Alexia and Roden rush through the emptying marketplace as the two moons rise into the sky from opposite directions.

“Okay.” Alexia huffs stopping in front of a ramshackle inn. “Maybe this place will do for at least tonight.”

“Let us hope it does.” Roden huffs in agreement.

Alexia opens the door to quite a contrasting sight to the outside. The large entry and pub is well kept with all the furniture made of well crafted wood. The air is filled with the scent of alcohol and meat blending together pleasantly to create an inviting mood.

“Welcome!” The large red oni bellows from behind the counter with a beaming smile accentuating his large tusks.

“Hello, we need a room.” Roden steps up to the counter with Alexia in toe.

“Lucky you. I’ve got a room available.” The innkeeper reaches for something inside the desk. He chuckles “He he he, one room for the lovely couple.”

“We are not a couple.” Alexia denies the assertion immediately “So two beds will be needed.”

“Ahhhhh, my apologies.” The oni walks up the steps to the next floor. The pair follows him to the second floor. Then follow to the third, and then finally to the fourth floor.

“How tall is this place?” Alexia asks looking around “It does not seem to be this tall from the outside.”

“A little magic to make it look less impressive to onlookers.” The innkeeper explains walking down the hallway “Keeps most riffraff away and most thieves as well.”

“I would think an oni would do that well enough.” Roden comments.

“One would think so.” The oni stops in front of a door, puts a key into the lock, and opens it “This is the room. I hope it will suit you both well enough.”

Despite the room being locked it somehow has multiple torches already lit with mystical fire showcasing the simplicity of it. Two beds and a small table are the only things in the room however the light of the night sky adds a touch of homeliness to the entire thing.

“It looks accommodating enough.” Alexia examines the room as the innkeeper hands Roden the key.

“Enjoy your night.” The innkeeper says with a sly grin before stepping out.

-- -- --

The sun hangs low in the sky barely beginning its climb into the heavens as Alexia walks through the nearly empty marketplace. The woman spots smoke near by and heads towards it hoping it is a blacksmith.

“Can I use your forge?” Alexia stops in front of the blacksmith “I can help you with orders. All I ask is the use of the forge and the cost of materials I use.”

“You are offering to help so you can do more work?” The blacksmith begins to rhythmically hammer the heated metal, the beating is almost reminiscent of a song to Alexia. Before Alexia can answer his question, the man speaks in a rather perturbed tone “I do have a large order and my assistant has recently left to make his own shop.” He stops the rhythmic beating and looks at Alexia “Alright.” Alexia steps into the forge as he points over at a wall with racks of tools “That’s where the tools are. We need to forge a legion’s worth of these swords.”

“Yes sir.” Alexia responds as she grabs a pair of tongs from a rack.

-- -- --

The sun hangs low in the sky as Alexia grabs the cube form of her armor and grabs the bitten arm from it. She examines the teeth marks while pulling out a small knife from her tool belt.

“That’s where I’ve seen ya before!” The blacksmith snaps of his fingers. The sound surprises Alexia causing her to look over at the man “You were the gold medalist in wrestling at the Olympia last year!” The woman looks back at her work finishing up picking out the teeth. “I’m a big fan!” He continues with a smile “Normally I prefer the men’s sports but you really put on a show!” Alexia grabs a ball pin hammer as the man excitedly babbles “Usually the ladies are a lot more cautious in their approach. Makes it borin’ but not you!” He points at the woman “You rushed right in and caught your opponents off guard. And the way you lifted up Hellina and dropped her to win the gold-” He puts up his hands in a motion showing his satisfaction “Amazing!”

Alexia looks at the blacksmith for a moment, shocked into silence at all the unabashed praise of a stranger.

“Thank you.” She finally says before returning to her repairs “A lot of the people seemed pretty mad because I beat the favorite.” The inventor looks at the blacksmith again and shrugs “Not sure why they thought that when I won boxing the year before.”

“Hold on!” The man exclaims in disbelief “You won two different events in just as many years!?”

“Yes I did.” Alexia puts a thumb to her chest in pride. She walks over to the cube and grabs the helmet of her armor before explaining “I spent all the winnings from both on this.”

“And what is 'this'?” The man looks over the helmet and strange power source.

“It is the power source that makes this hunk of metal run.” Alexia chuckles putting the helmet back into the cube.

“So how’s it work?”

Alexia grabs an iron ingot.

“No idea to be honest. The merchant said it was magical and never runs out of energy.” She puts the iron into the forge “So far it has not run out of power and it gets really hot when it is running.”

For a time the only sounds between the two is the flames and banging of heated metal.

“When it is all fixed I can show you the armor in all its glory.” The inventor smirks.