Guardians of the Realm: Rise of Day

Chapter 9 The Blacksmith

Zero, and Day walked through the streets of the realm of light, Day was carrying the still unconscious Trya in his arms as Zero lead him to the church in question "So, to do list, get the "demons" out of your girl, and get a new TV." 

 Day groaned "We wouldn't need to get a new TV if you didn't summon a damn couch in the middle of my living room...why do you even carry a couch around like that?!" 

 Zero shrugged "I mean, I don't really have a home for myself, and I like to crash, crashing requires a couch." 

"So you just throw down a couch wherever and sit on it?!" 

Zero grinned "And you don't?" 

"No!" 

"Ok whatever, just chill out I'll get you a new TV...after all I don't like churches to....religious for my tastes." 

"If you say so. I don't really mind religious people." 

 "Eh." Zero said with another shrug. The two kept walking for a good while or so, before the messenger finally stopped a good block or so away from the church, but pointed it out to the guardian. "There, its right down this road." 

 Day raised an eyebrow "Man what is your deal, it's not like being near it will hurt you." 

" I am aware, but thing is, being the messenger I'm kinda a big deal to the religious folk. To them I'm just below the great beings in terms of importance...so it would be like the star actor walking in the theater showing of a movie they were in." 

 "Oh, so you're trying to keep a low profile." 

"Pretty much, I'll meet you by the port key back to the realm of mortals when you're done." 

"Sounds fair." 

 And with that, the messenger turned and parted ways with Day. Day, on the other hand, continued carrying on. Once the guardian approached the church he had to quickly side step as the door flung open almost striking him in the face. The local priest turned to see the man that he had almost hit with the door "Apologies sir! I did not know we had company. What brings you--" He then looked down at Day's arms noticing Trya "Oh I see. Does she need banishment?" 

 Day looked at him puzzled "I think....Look she came into contact with dark corruption, and a guy told me you guys could reverse it." 

The Priest gave an inviting nod "Of course! bring her in." He said before stepping to the side. 

The guardian nodded in response and carried his friend inside. He then followed the priest who instructed him as to where to lay Trya down. Once he laid her down on a large bed like pedestal he began looking around.  It was as expected, a long hallway like room with several rows of wooden pews, large stone brick walls, with a series of murals carved into them. There were four in total. Two on the left wall, and another two on the right.  The two on the left were murals that depicted the images of the Great Beings of Time, and Twilight.  The mural of time would go on to say that its respected deity was the keeper of time and spent his days recording it in a book of universal history.   It had a long drug out paragraph regarding the history of this great being, however, the Mural depicted of Twilight was short simply reading "The Keeper of Balance, the one who checks both light and shadow".  The Next two murals on the right One depicted Light and the other darkness. The Mural of darkness was oddly wiped clean of all text, leaving nothing but the image of its diety. It was a humanoid figure, the only detail being flaming eyes. Finally was the mural of the light.  It depicted the image of a beautiful woman with flowing white hair, and blue eyes. It text gave a long story of how she was the keeper of light and the physical embodiment of beauty, and gentleness.   

As Day looked at the murals he failed to find one about the Messenger "So um...no dedication to the messenger?" 

The Priest looked shocked "No, not at all! There's an entire chamber dedicated to their speaker, but only the messenger their self can enter it."

"Oh I see... so back to the matter at hand. How exactly are you going to help my friend here? Am I needed for anything?"  

"Not in particular no, You are free to go if you wish. You can come by later and see her." 

 "Alright sounds good, it has been awhile since I walked around my old stomping grounds." Day stated before walking towards the door. 

"Good day to you sir, and may the Great Ones bless your path!" 

Day offered an over the shoulder wave as he exited through the main door. He stepped out into the streets and walked along, his hand hid in his pockets. He kept wandering for a good hour or so before he stopped dead in his tracks taking note of the human-like shadow casting over him from the right.  He turned to look down the rightward street before seeing a rather tall figure who was far beyond the average height. His figure was quite muscular and based on his attire and the hammer at his waist it was clear he was a blacksmith. The Blacksmith chuckled before pointing to Day "You there, guardian! what blade do you carry?" 

Day raised an eyebrow "Huh? how did you--" 

The Blacksmith grinned "I have forged many of blades, I know the sight of those who have felt the power of my craft. You, sir, are clearly a guardian, by the scar on your face, and muscles beneath your flesh." He paused for a moment "Ok that's enough of that formal speech. My name is Zelltrax." He said before pulling the hammer from his side " And this is forge of hephos, the hammer that made your blade." 

Day continued to stand there "So where exactly are you taking this encounter?" 

Zelltrax chuckled "Well I want to see how you well you wield my work. A simple sparring match?" 

Day laughed "Uh buddy... not to discredit your skill, but I wield the Blade of Light. I'd be pretty hard to hit."  

Zelltrax smiled "I never said you would be using the Blade of Light, I wish to see your skill, not the skill of your weapon. Come with me, my camp is not far from here." 

"..Camp?" Day asked, "This is city why are you camping?" 

"I am a traveler! No single city is good enough for me! Now come." He said walking to the east gate of the city. 

And so the new figure led Day out of the city, and to a nearby camp complete with large tent, campfire etc. The camp looked more like a small shop, there was a table, with various armors, shields, and weapons laid out upon it. 

 Day walked up to the table and examined his work "Wow...this is actually really impressive for a guy based out of a tent." 

Zelltrax smirked as he walked into the tent, and began collecting a number of weapons. He then stepped out sporting a chest plate, a single spaulder, one knee guard on his right leg, and plated boots. He carried a bow on his back, along with a lance and long sword. A short sword hung from his waist on the right, and on his left a mace, on his left hand he wore a buckler shield, and on his right, he wore a gauntlet that had a polarity stone within it.  He would then toss a regular broadsword to the guardian. 

Day prompty caught the blade and looked at the well-armed man and chuckled "So uh...you plan to use all of those?" 

"Certainly! if you can disarm me of all my weapons, you win our match, but if I disarm you the same number of my weapons, I win." 

 Day swung the sword a few times to get the feel of it "Alright.  that sounds fair...assuming you'll stop to let me pick up my weapon each time." 

"Of course, what sort of person would I be if I didn't let you recover your weapon?" 

 "Very well....Can I ask what you get out of this?" 

 "I've always wanted to follow a guardian and see my creations at work, but I have yet to find a guardian that had the skill to wield my works of art as the fine blades that they are, no respect." 

"So you want to see someone "properly" use your weapons?" 

"Exactly!" 

Day rolled his wrist to spin the blade around a few times before finishing "Alright, challenge accepted." 

Zelltrax grinned before bursting into joyous laughter "That's the spirit!" and with these words he drew his first weapon. 

-The end