Creature Hunters

Chapter 3: Blacksmith

After many hours on the dirt path, the two arrived at their destination. It was a decent sized settlement that traveling merchants had set up several different small shops. It had no official name, but the words Trade Crossroads were etched into a shoddy piece of wood just a few feet outside of the settlement. There were a few ways out of the area, and all the roads met here. The first settlers decided to make this a trading post and some inns and a tavern followed along, and they were right to do so.

Many people were bustling about trading and gossiping aloud. There were many people crowding the small roads, and the clanking of coins could be heard. It was difficult to get around sometimes, but Lexaria managed to locate the shop she had spoken of.

"Okay, here it is. I'll work out a deal. This place has everything we'll need."

"Actually, you go on ahead," John said looking around. "I wanna check a few things. Take Zapren with you "

"Oh. Okay. Meet back here, okay? Don't get into trouble."

John walked towards a merchants stall while Lexaria went into the shop to browse. John had noticed some gear that had symbols he recognized in some of his books. One was a scroll that might have something to do with sealing, but money would be a problem, seeing how he didn't really have all that much. He decided to only browse, and then eventually left.

A group of people were behaving suspiciously, away from the crowd. John stood a moment to investigate. They were average looking men but armed. He overheard something about Magma City and getting into sewers. The rest of the conversation was muffled due to the noisy crowd of merchants and shoppers. The suspicious men eventually separated and went about their business.

A cloaked man followed one of the men, and John recognized him. It was the man that had shown up at his house just four days ago; asking about the recent bandit attack in Aqua Town. Maybe this man figured something more about the attack. John decided to follow. The cloaked man continued following the bandit. They finally came up to what seemed to be an average house, just outside of the settlement, and looked as it had average farming equipment outside.

The bandit went inside and greeted his family. He seemed innocent, which John found odd. The cloaked man began his move towards the house but didn't draw his weapon. John was quite uncertain as to what was about to go down.

"Sam! Long time no see!"

The bandit glanced around in his home and went outside when he recognized the voice he heard.

"No way!" Sam said with a huge grin upon his face. "How's it goin' mister blacksmith?!"

John was momentarily confused to hear that this cloaked man was known as a blacksmith, but then he remembered back at his house, the stranger had indeed mentioned it in passing. Perhaps he wanted to find this bandit in particular.

"Come on out, you're terrible at hiding, Aqua Guardian." The cloaked stranger said staring in his location.

John's heart sank. Sure he wasn't hiding well, but maybe his cover was blown this whole time, or perhaps this guy knew what he was doing. It was difficult to say. He moved from his hiding spot and walked towards the house. John was nervous with the idea they might end up being hostile towards him.

"You can call me Blakk. This man here is Sam. He used to be a bandit a while back. He's a good man now."

"Wow man," Sam said scratching his huge beard. "I thought for sure you were here to start something, I didn't know you were with Blakk. It's all good though."

"Actually, I'm not-"

"He's not with me," Blakk said interrupting him. "He is looking for the same thing I am, though. That's why I'm here, actually. I saw you talking to someone earlier."

"They keep pestering me to join them again. I just wanna live in peace, you know? I don't think they like being told no so many times. But I wasn't told anything that could help you, man."

"Not a problem. I wanted to know how you were doing anyway. It's good to see you." Blakk looks to John. "I didn't expect a Guardian to be out here either."

"Yeah what's up with that? Don't you guys stay in your cities?" Sam looked confused.

"I'm looking for the bandit responsible for killing my father, or at least preventing them from doing it to anyone else."

"Well, what'll you do when you find them? You don't look armed much, just that little creature next to you and that weird looking weapon." Sam eyed John's blade.

"Double-bladed sword," Blakk said looking over at Sam. "Aqua Town's finest weapon. Shame it fell into your hands the way it did. So have you learned anything about the bandits?"

"No. Nothing. Just what I saw at the crossroads."

"Shame. I guess I'll keep moving on." Blakk said as he took a step.

"Would you like to come with us?" John blurted out. "Our next stop is Magma City. We think we could get information there."

Blakk stopped and turned to look back at John: "No thanks, I go alone. Besides, that city is too crowded."

From a distance, John could already hear Lexaria shouting for him. He glanced over at her and felt a little bad. She finally caught up with him. "John! Hey John!"

Lexaria took a moment to catch her breath. Blakk couldn't help but notice how attractive this woman was, and almost froze.

"I'm sorry. I noticed something suspicious and had to follow."

"You're far too curious, kid. I spend 30 minutes in the shop, just to find that you weren't even outside anymore, then I had to ask people where you were, plus I had to carry this sack." Lexaria said all in one breath. She glanced at John who looked incredulous, while a cloaked figure looked slightly amused. She quickly looked back at John. "Just... don't leave your friends behind, okay? I was worried!"

"I um, hello. I'm Blakk."

"Pleasure to meet you," Lexaria said with a smile. "I'm Lexaria. I hope John wasn't too much of a bother. Oh, John. I purchased a capture box for Zapren. He'll be safe in here."

"Oh! Thank you."

Blakk usually kept to himself, so all these new people were making him feel a bit nervous. He was also distracted by Lexaria and her bright ginger hair. Blakk thought to himself for a moment.

"Alright. We'll travel together."

"Wait, what?" Lexaria asked confused

"Good! We could use the help. I feel like the bandits may try to attack soon."

"No way man." Sam finally spoke up. "That place is so guarded, and those walls are huge! Even attacking from the inside is hard."

"What made you come to that conclusion, John? That's a serious assumption." Lexaria frowned

"I'll explain later. We should head off."

Blakk took a moment to think after hearing the idea about a possible attack on the city. It made sense, based upon the information he had gathered recently. But John didn't seem to know much of what was going on. Blakk wondered how this kid hit the nail so close on the head.

"Goodbye mister blacksmith! Good seeing you man!" Sam said slapping him on the shoulder with a huge grin on his face. "You better come back, or else!"

"Who knows I may bring back a lady next time!"

"Yeah!" Sam quickly nodded towards Lexaria."Maybe that redhead you're with!"

"Excuse me?!"

Blakk began to blush and became silent. John started laughing. Lexaria kept shouting back to Sam in embarrassment until they were too far away for her words to be heard.

To think that John's journey became intertwined with both Lexaria and Blakk. This had become something more than just finding answers now. Unbeknownst to any of them, this journey would prove to be far more crucial.