"Hammer it three times with the same strength." Ryu directed Shin as they reached completion of forging a blade.
"Let me take it from here, I will let it cool in water and put it away for further modification." Ken held the hot iron carefully with a thick glove and dipped it in water.
"I will take care of measuring and making the handle, why don't you go and rest for a while brother Shin." Ken started calling Shin a brother after a week since he started working there, as he was older than him. It was not long after that he started admiring his strength and focus on work.
The workshop was filled with steam and sweat which fell onto the ground while the Chimney forced the smoke out of the shop. The shop built with bricks and concrete made sure the heat didn't escape the room while the steam had only three ways to escape from the shop.
The scene of the three men making swords in the shop looked as if it was just another day in their life which had been the same since they were born.
"I will tend to Mr.Wakanabe's sword and later take a break, Ken." He waved at Ken as he got up.
A fact suddenly popped up in Ryu's mind.
"You don't have an ID, do you?" Ryu looked at Shin and questioned, even though he already guessed what his answer would be.
"I used to move everywhere, so I never made an ID."
"Well you are staying here with us now, so go get yourself an ID at Areon's Rangers' office, we will take care of the remaining work here."
Ryu's words were more of an order where Shin had no choice but to agree and obey.
"Alright." Shin put down the hammer as he followed Ryu's order and made his way to his room. Ryu's family did not own a big house, but it was enough to accommodate another person.
Shin stated that he didn't have any problem with sleeping in the warehouse and it would be uncomfortable for the family with him staying in their house. So, he suggested that he can sleep in the warehouse, to which the whole family denied in unison.
Shin quickly changed into a pair of clothes that Ken gave him a few days before, saying they were too big for him. But he knew well that Ken bought them for him, cause he didn't have anything else to wear.
"I heard you were going for an ID, but be back before lunchtime Shin," Lia shouted while she saw him leave.
"Got it, Ms.Takahashi." he walked in a slow pace feeling the grace of an autumn wind, his hair flickered, being blown by the wind.
Even though he always wore a dark outfit, he still looked very mesmerising once he took off his hood, with his golden eyes and a golden yellow hair which matched his strongly built body and fair skin-tone. But no one usually notices his stunning profile, as he always wore a dark hoodie and had a coffee candy in his mouth and laid low. ( DD Note: It's your everyday hoodie and a coffee flavoured lollipop.)
Like a diamond covered by sooth, he was always reserved and tried to stay low key wherever he went.
"Excuse me, I am here for an ID." The woman in the counter looked up at him, "You can change your previous ID if you proceed to your left."
"I am sorry but I don't have my previous ID. I travelled here after losing my home in Tristina." he decided it would be best to lie and tell a place name which was destroyed, rather than explaining why he never had one.
"In that case, we need to form an ID, follow me." The woman led him to a room situated on the top floor of the office.
'Knock Knock'
"Sir, may I come in?" There was a middle aged man with a sturdy body standing near a window, gazing at the busy city. "Yes, come in."
"Sir, we have a person who claims that his ID was destroyed because of the Tristina incident and travelled here recently." she pointed at Shin.
"My name is Zeyner, I am the city's Chief Ranger and it's protector, please have a seat." His tone was strong and stern as he waved at Shin to sit down.
He pointed his right palm towards Shin and sensed his unique life force which travelled from his heart to all his body parts and finally back to the heart and confirmed that he lacked an ID.
A gust of strong aura started to push Shin back as white energy started to form around Zeyner's body. It spiralled its way from his lower abdomen to his chest and finally to his right hand.
"Ques es!"
A bright white circle surrounded and hovered around Shin's wrist as it revolved with ancient runes and arrays appearing inside it. A white sharp light started to pierce through his skin leaving a small black mark on his arm in the shape of a dagger ( DD Note: It's a Tattoo guys. ). The tattoo was shining with white coloured energy and receded as it cooled down.
"Any protector or high level rangers who can sense your tattoo will identify you as a resident of Areon and your ID won't be destroyed as long as this city is standing or I live." He reminded Shin.
IDs were often used to identify where a person was from by the rangers. Kids were often indented with IDs as soon as they turned 8 years. Indenting a human's skin who was more than 16 years old would be problematic as they have a stronger energy resistance. Anyone older than 16 years had to get the ID from a highly ranked protector and Zeyner was the only person in this small city with a strong life force who could do it.
'AAAHHH! Let me go!' Screams from the city suddenly made their way into the room.
'Someone! Someone fetch the rangers!'
"I am heading out!" Zeyner rushed out of the building followed by Shin. They ran towards the area from which the shout resonated, only to witness a man, who seemed to have gone insane holding a knife to the throat of a young girl.
"No one comes near me, if you do, she is history!"
"The world's coming to an end anyway, the seven Demon Kings are back, only three of the seven guardians remain, the protectors nor the rangers can protect us anymore, then why don't we enjoy ourselves? Why follow the rules any more men!?" He declared and laughed hysterically, like a psychopath as he sniffed the girl's hair like a madman.