Bounties, Ballads and Blood

Chapter 1: The Sparks

The sparks flew from the hot piece of metal as my hammer struck it. The heat of the furnace was burning my skin, I wiped the sweat from my brow. It had been hours since I started this simple task and yet it's winded me so. I looked towards the dented chest plate that I had worn on my last bounty. The target, being uncooperative, had thrown a fire bomb at me, rendering my armour useless from that point on. Maintennance was always the worst part of the job, usually I would've gone to the local blacksmith but the Archbishop was visiting town. Even if I was brought up in a family known for smithing, I would be horrendous at it well to my families standard.

I looked back at the task at hand and struck the soon to be axe one more time. It was complete darkness in the room other than the soft glow of the flame in the furnace. The sound of metal hitting metal was a sweet one, one that I had grown up with since I was a child. To be called a hero all around the globe, to have people sing my name and tell tales but for now I'm happy with how it's turned out. I was an adventurer and blacksmith born into the bloodline of Laskardis, legendary blacksmiths known to forge only the greatest for the greatest. I had held my own and I'm now considered an adventurer, although I haven't formed a party, the guild still allowed solo runs.

Placing the hot metal into some water to cool it, I switched over to the piece of armour. The scorch mark still fresh on it, I look down at my chest, if it had not been for this, surely a nasty scar would form on my chest. I laugh dryly at the thought, I should've seen it coming, the target was a rookie, but I do have to admit the fire bomb was an excellent distraction. My attention returns to the armour, I need to fix this. The dent was not that bad but it would take some time before I can go Wither hunting. The price it paid was enough to justify the actions I had chosen. I had to get to work, the taxman wasn't gonna pity a Laskardis, especially me. The air was damp yet warm, creating a wierd aura from the room, even a Phalynx could feel it. I brought down the hammer on the broken armour, reversing the effects of firebomb, slowly returning it to the former glory that it was.

"Valentine?!" A shriek sounded from outside, the sound causing me to jump in surprise. I look at the metal door that blocked me off from the house and noticed the massive dent that appeared. I heard a thud and then another dent appeared. Walking over to the door, I opened it only to be met with a warhammer to the gut.

"Oh for the love of Gara! Valentine are you all right?!" I see my ex wearing the armour I gifted her a week ago. The door still layed there held by nothing.

"Mari, why would you use a hammer on my door?" I say with a cough, my ribs hurt and I can't breathe that well. She pulls out a scroll, the blue band tells me that this costed a fortune.

"Thulu Tis Cyx Aus." The scroll glows before I start feeling better. My chest no longer feels broken and my lungs can finally recieve the much needed oxygen.

"Your lucky I was saving this, I can't believe I wasted that on you." She says while rubbing at her face, I can't help but look at the person who once was the love of my life. She still wears the necklace that I gifted her. It was a diamond in the shape of a star.

"I know deep down that's not true, you still care about me." The words leave my mouth with a playful tone, a blush rises to her cheeks and in an instant a stinging pain hits mine.

My head turns due to the force of the slap and the weight of her gauntlet. I can feel my neck crack, I look back at her to see her inspecting my helmet. The blood on it had dried but it still reeked of goblin guts. I cough slightly and spit out blood. Old habits die hard and so does a bond, her light armour glistened with the light that entered through the hole in the wall that was my door.

"Why do you have to be an idiot?" I hear her say without sparing me a glance. "Sorry is just I like seeing you flustered." I gently tap her on the nose and her face instantly turn 50 shades of red.

"I hate you."

"In your tongue, I think you meant, Draec Vow Wob." I tease her once again and she lets out a sigh before placing my helmet back down. I bet she regrets teaching me Elvish.

"I came here with a request." My eyebrows raise at this, usually I'm the one asking her for favours but now the great Mari Jusilla is.

"Vil just joined that guild and was wondering if we could be her starting party."

"Wait Vil? Vil Draec, like little villian Vil? She's already old enough to hunt?" My mouth was agape, she was like a younger sister to me, the unofficial Laskardis. She was but a child when I last saw her and that was when she went to hunting school.

"Yeah and she wants you, Valentino, to join her in hunting Withers." She says emphasising on the objective of the quest.

I could feel my blood pump, this has got to be destiny, I looked at her, half expecting her to burst out in a fit of laughter but her face was deadly serious. A smile tugged on my lips, so looks like I'll be diving in the heat of battle once more, this will be interesting.

"One more thing Crow Trix will be joining us." She says while skipping off.

"This is gonna be a fucking problem."