*CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG*
Roland was using a hammer on which golden runes were carved on to hit the hot steel.
Silver flames and sparks could be seen every time Roland swung down his hammer to struck the hot steel. He was sweating a lot but he kept hammering down without rest. His muscles bulged every time he swung hi hammer.
A little boy with messy silver hair was sitting on a workbench not far away from Roland.
His eyes were covered by a dark headband with red waves on it. The boy was wearing a simple short with shorts and leather boots. The boy was Elijah who would became 7 years old in a day.
He was watching every move of his grandfather with great interest. Elijah's view was normal, the headband covering his closed eyes didn't hinder his sight at all. It only prevented him from opening his eyes.
Seven years had passed and Elijah would still faint after a few seconds if he opened his eyes to look at the world.
He had many questions about his eyes, they were magical. It let him see the rainbow colored mana and other people's soul. His grandfather told him to tell other people that he was blind. Elijah knew that his grandparents wanted him to keep his unusual eyes as a secret. That made him just more curious.
He had been reading a lot of books over the years and had a rough idea why his grandparents wanted him to keep his eyes as a secret. He haven't told them what he could see with his eyes.
He found that it was better that way.
He was observing Roland while the latter was smithing a blade. Elijah had watched him many times, he had learnt a lot from it and was sure he could craft blades, swords, shields and knifes. It was just that his body was still too weak to lift the heavy hammer.
*CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG* *CLAAAAAANG*
The last strike from Roland's hammer was especially loud. Silver flames gathered around the hot steel.
A nice sounding humming tone came out from the hot steel that was trembling excited.
Roland nodded happy while whiping away the sweat from his forehead.
"Pincer!" Said Roland.
Elijah moved swiftly, picking up the pincer from the workbench. He passed it to Roland who used the pincer to put the hot steel into the water.
Steam came out from from the water, filling the smithy. Elijah stood excited beside Roland.
He took out the the finished blade out from the water, revealing a sharp blade.
Roland's serious gaze wandered over the blade, observing it from different angles.
Finally he was satisfied with the blade. Roland took a scabbard from the wall and put the blade inside.
"I still need to sharpen and polish it, than your blade will be finished."
'Huh?'
Elijah stared confused at his grandfather, "Mine?" Asked Elijah carefully.
Roland nodded happily. He stroked his silver beard.
"Yes yours, this is my birthday present for you. You won't be able to use it now but you can start practicing with the wood blade. I will start teaching you our clans Secret Art, Silver Stream after your soul awakens tonight." Stated Roland proudly.
Elijah clenched his hands in excitement, 'Finally I get the good stuff.'
Later in the night Elijah stood outside looking up at the starry sky. His both grandparents stood nor far from him. They stared with anticipation at Elijah.
Elijah suddenly felt something inside him jerk. The surrounding turned silent.
He felt himself losing his footing. He entered a dark space. He found himself floating inside the darkness. Elijah didn't panic because he knew that every Terran awakens their souls when they become 7 years old.
Out of nowhere a silver spark appeared in front of him. It was only a spark in the beginning but it expanded slowly, taking form.
Elijah observed how the silver form unleashed a strange silver energy that pushed the darkness away. He looked around in wonder, the once dark space had become silver colored.
The silver space wasn't that big but it was enough to fill it with 500 people.
His gaze returned to the form. Elijah was surprised when he saw that the once silver form had turned into a little black furred panther puppy with strange silver stripes all over its body.
The little black panther opened its eyes for the first time, staring straight into Elijah's eyes.
He felt like he was looking at a mirror. The panthers pupils weren't round but slits like. Elijah knew that his eyes were the same. This was his Soul Form. He felt rainbow colored mana entering the space the moment the panther opened its eyes.
On the outside both his grandparents couldn't see the rainbow colored mana enter Elijah's body, but could feel how the mana in the area becoming thinner.
It didn't take long until the silver space was filled with rainbow mana.
Both the black panther and Elijah kept staring at each other.
An unknown feeling exploded out from the innermost part of Elijah, both of them roared out at the same time. Their united roar made the silver space tremble.
Elijah found himself outside, looking at the starry sky, 'Weren't I inside my soul a moment ago?' Thought Elijah confused.
"Congratulations on becoming a Rank-1 Warrior Elijah."
Elijah turned around when he heard the familiar voice. He saw his grandparents both smiling at him.
It was then that he noticed his the inside of his body jerk. He found it difficult to describe it.
It was like his whole body was unlocked, like his body was a closed gate that opened wide open for the first time to let something inside.
He smiled, 'Awesome!'
"Thank you grandma, you too grandpa."
The three hugged each other.
They entered the house to celebrate, they laughed and ate happily.
Until someone knocked on the door.
Elia looked at Roland with worry. Roland nodded at her softly and went to the door. Elijah was puzzled, 'Did they invite friends over? No, they wouldn't react like that. Let's see who it is.' Thought Elijah.
Roland opened the door, Elijah saw a middle aged man with the same silver hair as him and his grandfather. His silver colored clothes looked expensive and he carried a greatsword on his back. His silver mustache was neatly trimmed. He looked like one of the nobles from the movies Elijah had watched back on Earth.
"They send you?" Asked Roland a bit annoyed.
"It's good to see you too, father." Answered the other person but his voice lacked any emotions.