Chapter 44 - Twin Blades

Arga walked over with both Chakram in her hands.

“I made this one from the last bits of Barmenite that were left over from making your armour. I didn’t want to break up the set though, so I thought I should make another blade to go with it.”

“So if you used all the materials for that one, then what did you use for the other one?”

Arga placed her hand behind her head and her expression turned guilty.

“…”

“What is it?”

“I’d rather not say…”

“What—you can’t just leave that part out! If you’re my blacksmith you have to tell me!”

Arga’s mouth dropped.

“Hey no fair, what kind of logic is that?!”

She reeled her head back and looked ready to crack. Sweat fell from her cheeks and her mouth quivered into a frown.

“I sort of…found it.”

“What, the material? Where did you find it?” I was invested. A part of me needed to know where it came from but the rest of my mind was screaming that it would be bad if I knew.

She looked away, dripping with sweat. She was more nervous than I had ever seen her before.

“I was out of material so I went looking for it through the store…that’s when I found some…in my dad’s things.”

My heart dropped.

I’m dead…

“I can’t use this thing. I’d be swinging around a stolen item!!”

Arga looked nervous and wore a forced smile as she rested her hand on my shoulder.

“It should be fine, yeah totally fine—Ha-ha-ha…”

“You don’t look confident at all.” I responded, and my frown grew larger.

“It was late at night and the melting process was already in motion, I needed something to use so I had no other choice.” She continued to cover up for herself, holding her head up high as she became less and less certain of herself.

“I never saw anything like that before though, even melting it down was strange. The metal didn’t melt under regular heat, I had to keep the fire raging hot for nearly three hours just to soften it up. I don’t even know where in the Tower that stuff drops.”

“If it’s that rare do you think your father would be mad? It sounds like you're describing a priceless artifact!” Composure had left my voice.

“Yeah it should be alright, this isn't the first time I’ve done this. I’ll just have to break the news when he gets home.”

“I hope you survive.” I said sincerely and placed my hand on her shoulder.

“I’m not gonna die…”

{Unnamed Chakram}

My eyes rolled over the panel of light and my curiosity took control. If they had a title like that it would mean they could still be named.

Would naming it help in any way though, I know that Arga named her sword so maybe it’s something Blacksmiths just like doing.

“Does it have a name?”

“See, that’s the hard part. I usually name them after my first look, it’s always a no-brainer for me. You’re Barhemoth armour was no trouble at all but these blades don’t seem to be as easy…I get a bad feeling about them.”

“A bad feeling, what like they’re evil?”

Arga waved her hand from side to side as if to clear away my words from the air.

“No-nothing like that. That dark blade was made from Barmenite so I expected to call them something along those lines but its twin came out white. Twin weapons are normally never made with different materials, it’s considered bad luck! I heard it makes them hard to fight with.” She waved her finger around.

“That doesn’t sound good.” I muttered while glaring at the white Chakram.

Bad luck doesn’t sound like something I should be taking with me, do I have a choice though? To go to the next areas of the Tower I need better gear, and these blades are perfect for that.

“Well…to be honest, I’ve never been much for old wives tales like that. I say go for it, maybe it’ll suit you better like this.”

She was right, it didn’t help that I had some bad luck but I prefer to look at the stats. These are good weapons and they’ll help me reach higher floors. So I’ll put my faith in Arga.

“I settled on a name then. They remind me of the twin adventurers my dad told me about, they were one of the first adventurers to enter the Tower many years ago. Belos and Agos.”

Arga smiled while recalling her childhood story. “Belos was the firstborn, brash and strong but pretty heavy-hearted too. While Agos was nearly lost through childbirth, she kept to herself but was far more powerful than her brother. She tried her best not to show it though, she was considerate like that. Sounds like a fun pair right?”

“Belos…and Agos. It’s a good name.”

I tossed the blades in the air a few times, catching and releasing each time again. After completing a few circles in the air I caught them again and placed them onto their straps connecting to my lower back.

They’ll always be with me this way.

The new armour came with new straps to hold them, they worked much easier than the ones I had before. I should be able to pull them out with quicker snaps now.

“I’m excited to put these to use, I want to go into the Tower right now—”

A crucial thought came into my mind, causing me to rush for my coin purse strapped to my waist.

“I almost forgot, I still need to pay you! How much for everything, I might not have enough since you added in Chakram but I think I could—”

“You can put that away, you don’t need to pay me for the gear. I’m your blacksmith remember, I asked you to take me to the top, I can’t be asking you for money now can I?”

“I’d feel bad if you did this all for free though, please!”

Arga rubbed her chin, deep in thought. After a brief pause, she snapped her fingers and pointed to me with a confident grin.

“How about this then, I’ll take the majority of the drop items then. We’re in a party already so dividing and keeping track of loot shouldn’t be a problem but since I’m your blacksmith too, I can put away anything we need for gear and sell a small portion of the rest for my services.”

I gave it a second thought and that sounded like the best deal. It wouldn’t be fair to take the drops fifty-fifty and still be getting free services from her too. Besides, all I need is the monsters.

Since I’ll be doing more of the fighting, I’ll be taking more of the Experience. She needs the ores and drops so she’ll get those. It’s a win-win situation!

We shook hands.

““Deal!””

“All that’s left is an official contract, ASH has them at their base so we can pick up one from there.”

“Oh I can go there now, I need to let my consultant know I’ve formed a party anyways. I’ll grab it when I’m there and we can sign it tomorrow.”

“Sounds great, I think I’ll head to bed. I’m actually… pretty tired~” Arga let out a massive yawn mid-sentence. Just hearing it made me want to follow suit.

“Thanks again, Arga. I appreciate it, this armour is perfect!”

“No sweat, it was fun using materials I hardly get to use. Should we go into the Tower again tomorrow then?” She rubbed the bags under her eyes and sat down.

“Sounds great, I think we could explore further into those caves. We might end up spending the night there though so pack rations.”

Arga responded with a thumbs-up as she slowly melted back. Her mouth was in the process of another yawn, after a while she just kept it open to avoid all the work of closing it again.

…

“Arga?”

Out cold huh? She didn’t have to push herself this far for me…idiot.

My face curled into a smile. Her tired state was the product of her work, her resolve to prove herself as a blacksmith. Maybe even a friend in the future? I couldn't help but smile, no one had ever done something like that for me.

I looked around the room and found one of her coats, it looked to be quite warm and was larger than me. I placed it over her shoulders and quietly exited the room.

Wearing my armour while sneaking out sort of felt as though I was stealing it. It fit perfectly but something was off about it, like it didn’t belong to me yet.

I closed the door behind me, leaving the ‘We’re Open!’ sign turned around as I stepped out.

With my hand still on the handle I pondered what to do next. “Will it be okay to just leave then? I don’t want to leave her alone while she’s asleep…”

“Do you need something?”

A deep voice asserted itself over my shoulders. I jumped from surprise and hit my head against the store sign hanging above me.

After a sudden crash, I fell to my knees and held my head from the sharp pain pulsing

at the top of my skull.

“Ow…?”

I opened my eyes to a pair of dark black boots in front of me. I followed the boots up to a pair of baggy pants, then a clean white dress shirt and eventually—crimson hair?

My eyes shrunk.

“H-hello…sir!”

Arga’s father was standing in front of me, blocking me from escaping. Like a lion holding back a mouse.

His burly stature completely outclassed me, I barely took up any of his shadow.

“I see she finished the piece she was working on…hmph! Don’t let it go to waste, you hear?”

“Yes sir!”

I walked away with stiff motions, my body was so scared that it couldn't bend properly. As if I were all bone.

“That was scary~” I groaned while walking away.