Romance of the Four Kingdoms

Chapter 20

A/n: this is a good time for you all to take a break and drink. Its ok, this story won't go anywhere. 

The blacksmith opens his eyes and rubs his head to ease some of the pain he's still experiencing as he wakes up. He was uncertain what had happened and took him a couple of seconds to get his bearings. He stands up and massages his temples as he leans on the wall. Only the fire from the forge brightens the house slightly in a warm amber. He hears someone behind him.

'Hehe glad to see you're finally awake.' It was not a voice he was familiar with but he knew it wasn't entirely human.

'Wh-what's going on?' he asks as he trembles, too afraid to turn around and lay his eyes on who knows what type of monstrosity has visited him and for what purpose?

'Nothing as long as you do what I say and listen carefully.' Dodomeki asks as he stands up from a chair he was sitting on.

'What's this about?' the blacksmith asks as Dodomeki chuckles.

'I see you're a man that wants to do things quickly, well in that case I'll get right down to business. You see I have information that earlier you received instruction about forging some armour for someone.'

'Oh is that why you're here, well I'm sorry but I will not change my answer.' He answered, determination in his voice was present...just as Dodomeki predicted.

'I see, why is that?'

'Because I don't recognise the lord of the province as my lord.' His voice gradually gaining more confidence as a result of remembering why he follows his lord.

'Interesting, well your loyalty is admirable unfortunately I don't really care about where it is. What I do care about is your forging capabilities. I don't want you to create any old armour there's a specific design and materials I want you to use.'

'And what if I refuse?'

'Then you can be the ones to bury your wife and newborn.' He threatened. The blacksmith was furious, his family was everything to him and no one threatens them if he can have a say in it. He makes his right hand into a fist and turns around hoping to surprise him with a strike. Dodomeki predicted he would do such a thing as he saw the fist being formed and moved first. As the blacksmith turns his head he was greeted with another fist and sent him flying to the other side of the room. He smacks his head against the wall. He looks up a moment later and his eyes widen with surprise and fear. The fire from the forge flickers as it presents Dodomeki's towering and rather intimidating appearance. His glowing giant eye pierces the blacksmiths soul as it stares right in his eyes. As the blacksmiths eyes scan down he notices something in Dodomeki's right arm. He was carrying something draped with a very light blue cloth. Dodomeki smirks underneath his helmet.

'It seems this has caught your attention.'

'Wh-where did you get it!?' He shouts.

'Now now keep your voice down, you don't want to wake him up do you?' He chuckles as the blacksmith grits his teeth.

'If you must know I found him in your home looking alone, so I took along to help you see sense, your wife however she was...less co-operative.' The blacksmith was speechless...did...did he really kill his wife. Tears started to stream down his face.

'Now do I have your attention? I hope so because your son looks so peaceful when he is sleeping, not a care in the world or any knowledge of any evil that may or may not be around him.' He raises his left and makes his hand perfectly straight, claws pointing at the cloth.

'No please stop I beg you!' He yells as he raises in arm in protest. Dodomeki smiles sadistically behind the helmet as he strikes the cloth. He raises his hand which is now covered with red liquid. The blacksmith seeing this breaks down and starts sobbing. Dodomeki left him crying for a minute before taking a couple of steps towards him and drops his child in front of him. The blacksmith cradles it before he realises something...it was unnaturally hard for a baby. He looks at it and realises it was in fact a watermelon. He dries his eyes and wonders what was going on. Dodomeki goes on one knee and grabs a hold of his chin to make him look at his giant glowing eye.