We headed straight to the abandoned house, where Alicia and Suly lived. I knocked on the doors, and they opened after a while. We descended into the well illuminated basement, and I could already see the difference. 'Well I guess Suly decorated the place a bit' I thought. Alicia was as cold as always though. She even recognised me, and asked "You again? Well, maybe it's not such a bad thing. With war raging on, they will need someone like you".
"Good to see you too Alicia", I replied. Suly walked out of another room, and looked at me for a while with her sleepy eyes. 'She changed quite a bit. I guess she is fully grown up Lizard now' I thought. Her grey scales looked glistering, and more defined than Alicia's. I smiled towards here, and asked "Do you recognise me?". Suly woke up immediately, while her eyes almost left her sockets. "NEX! You are back!", she screamed while running towards me.
She hugged me, and said "It's good that you are back. You need to help us! Father didn't want to admit it, but I found out we are starting to lose the war". I patted her head, and said "Don't worry, I will help as much as I can". 'After all, I have a few reasons to participate and win this war' I thought. She nodded, and looked at Fox. Suly asked "Who is she?". I replied, "That is my friend Fox".
Suly looked Fox up and down, and said "I don't trust her. She wears that mask, even here". Fox replied "Hey brat! What I wear is my choice. You sit in that basement, and besides you are a Grey Lizard! Shouldn't…". I stopped her there, and said "That's enough. Suly is a good girl, she's just protective". Suly acted like a child, and showed her tongue to Fox. I turned towards Alicia and said "I need a few things done. I need a complete new gear". She replied as always "It will cost you". I shook my head, and said "I don't have money. Just do it for me, you will not regret it". Suly butted in, and said "I will do it! She is always like this, I'm used to it".
She then turned towards Alicia and said "You know, he came back and is willing to help us. Yet you still ask for money. Did he ask for anything in return for helping us?". Alicia's face became grim. Suly learned how to pressure Alicia better. With years of experience, I had to admit, she was a natural at it. Alicia replied after a while "Alright. What do you need?".
I took out the Moon Blade, and said "I need this weapon to fit me. I'm aware you are not a blacksmith, but you should know one or two, right?". She took the sword and asked "Why use this weapon? Wouldn't it be better to make a new one?". I replied, "If you can find Lunite, go ahead". She almost dropped the sword, and asked "This… This sword is made from Lunite?". I smiled, and said "So you know how rare it is. Yes, it is made from Lunite… at least that is my guess. I never saw Lunite, but people died just for this sword, and the name Moon Blade is also quite suggestive". She replied "Hmmm, maybe. Anyway, what do you want me to do with it?". I said "Because you know who I am, I want you to design a new weapon for me, with Formations included".
She mumbled "bastard", and thought for a while. She then said "I know a Master Blacksmith, who could probably work with Lunite. He owes me a favour, but if I allow him to work on this, he will agree without issues. But the design…". I said "Let me help you out. Do you have something that can record information?". She replied "I don't, but I can make one quick. Wait a minute". She grabbed the first item she could find, and placed a Formation on it.
She passed me a statuette of some sort, and said "This works in a similar manner to what Golems tried to push onto you. Whatever, just activate the Formation". I asked "Can I have some privacy?". She nodded, and said "Sure, we will wait upstairs". Suly followed quickly, but Fox stood there, as if bewildered. Suly said "Hey! He was talking about you too. Wake up will you?". Fox shook her head to disperse the thoughts she had, and walked toward the exit.
When they were gone, I released everything I had. All my skills, Auras and whatnot. I poured everything I had into that small statuette, then stopped. With that taken care of, I shouted "Come down guys!". A short while later, they joined me in the basement, while I passed the statuette to Alicia. She checked it, and almost dropped it. "You are indeed a monster. Good thing you are on our side, otherwise we could be doomed in this war", Alicia said.
Suly tried to grab the statuette from Alicia, but she hid it quickly and said "You can't have a look at that". Suly said pleadingly "But Alicia, I'm your student, I want to know too". Alicia was adamant though, and after she viewed the information, she said "I will destroy it now". I extended my hand and said "I can do it myself". She nodded, and passed me the statuette. I grabbed it, and released the ice powers sleeping inside my right arm. "Crack… Crack!... Boom". The statuette exploded into pieces.
With the statuette gone, Alicia said "It will take awhile for your weapon to be made. I already have a design, but I will need to visit that blacksmith. You will wait quite a bit for that though. Can you manage?". I replied, "Of course. I will visit the workshop, and create proper daggers for myself, at least for now. By the way, can you leave that Formation inside?". She shook her head, and said "The weapon will be remodelled completely, the Formation will not survive… But, I can make a new one, if that is what you want". I nodded, and said "I want this weapon to be blood restricted, I'm sure you know what I mean". She nodded, and said "I will be off then. Suly, you stay here and study. You have loads to learn still".
Suly was reluctant, but didn't complain much. I said "You can help me too. Weren't you good at creating clothes? As you can see, I need a new set of clothes. Hmmm, I will give you something in return, how about that?". Suly nodded, and said "Of course, but you don't need to give me anything". Alicia's character suddenly flared up, and she said "Not money, then what can you offer?". Suly looked at her menacingly, but didn't say anything.
I replied "I will give one to both of you, I only have three after all. Not now though, I still need to process that a bit further. I myself am not sure what effects it will have, but you never saw something like that in your life, I can guarantee that". Both of them nodded, and Alicia left with my sword. Suly then asked "What clothes would you like?", but Fox butted in, and said "I can make you clothes too! Why didn't you ask?".
I asked her "Did you practice your tailoring past those few years?". She replied proudly, "Of course! I can make anything you want". Suly said "I can too! I can also place Formations on them. Ha! Can she do that?". 'It's not a contest though... ' I thought, and came up with a solution. "Why don't you two work together? Fox can make the clothes, while Suly can add Formations. Fair enough?".
They looked at each other, and said at the same time "Fair!". I nodded, then continued "You two can stay here then. Alicia should have some materials right?". Suly laughed a bit evilly, and said "Haha… she is gone now, so I can get the best materials!". I told them not to overdo it, and promised to come back later. I had to go to the blacksmith's workshop in order to create my own daggers. Maybe even upgrade them.