Darksteel

Chapter 30; Snow Monsters and ice magic.

Classes continued as usual, and though snow began to fall heavily, it didn't stop Smithy from hosting Monster Slaying outside-- the bitter wind biting at the boys' faces.

Asta did not mind, however. In fact, there was something about the icy air that gave him a wonderful rush. 

At times, he wished he could manipulate snow and ice like Adar could; the boy had already decorated the mansion's front lawn with snow sculptures of well-known Monsters, much to the Headmaster's annoyance. 

Speaking of the devil, Asta never spoke again to the Headmaster about joining in the Final Age. To be frank, it sounded like a lot of work and he was already up to his neck in study-work. Still, it might be a once in a lifetime opportunity; the Final Age didn't just roll around every day, you know.

 But as Asta worked on his sword that day, he couldn't help but feel a bit odd about the matter. 

A world with no Monsters? He had a feeling that the idea was pleasant in general, but there was something about it that wasn't right. Something that gave him an uneasy feeling in his soul.

As he worked, he sensed Blue beside him and made sure to give the boy the cold shoulder. In fact, Blue probably would have literally frozen to death if he hadn't finally tapped Asta on the arm in a rather hesitant manner.

Asta turned to him, his face void of emotions.

'I'm sorry,' Blue signed, his eyes downcast, 'I know that's not enough, but it's all I can give. I shouldn't have said those things. I shouldn't have abandoned you. I'm truly sorry.'

Looking over at the boy who seemed to be on the verge of tears, Asta sighed; forgiveness wasn't something Blue deserved... Yet they were friends, family, and like it or not, they were all in this together. And while he didn't deserve it, Asta sure as Tirus forgave him anyway.

The two embraced for a moment— during which one thought the other was crying and vice versa — then they separated and went back to work once the other boys began to catcall and jeer.

Asta, however, did not mind the teasing. He was just relieved that he could stop avoiding Blue; it was just too much work anyhow.

Turning back to his work, Asta suddenly sensed both Wimbbleton and Smithy lurking up behind him, talking in hushed whispers about his sword.

 "What do you think? Looks like darksteel, don't it?" Smithy said.

 "It does indeed. And don't you know, Smithy, it looks almost identical to the sword Tobias Mauthrin used in his duel with Phineas Adalain."

 "By jove! You're quite right, old fellow. Just look at the detail..."

 "You know I can hear both of you, right?" Asta said, not turning his eyes away from the steel on his desk.

 "We were just saying how interesting your sword is." Wimbbleton replied hastily. "It was said that only the dwarves knew how to make darksteel..."

 Blimey, this was the sort of situation he had feared; people taking an interest in him simply because he did things differently.

Shifting his stance slightly, Asta found that he was growing increasingly uncomfortable; especially since Smithy was watching all this with interest. Thus, in order to turn the subject to something else, he blurted, "What was the dwarven kingdom like?" 

 Beside him, Blue smacked his palm to his forehead, emiting a muffled groan. For anyone who had a class with Wimbbleton knew NEVER to ask him a question such as that. 

The dwarf was liable to go on for HOURS.

Still, it did the trick and Wimbbleton's eyes went glassy with nostalgia, his voice going soft. "Ah, the dwarven kingdom! Beautiful it is, with stone halls buried deep beneath the earth, caves filled with jewels, never a drop of dreadful sunlight anywhere."