I saw him, the boy who had pure white skin and black hair and eyes. He got accused of being a vampire half a dozen times...
"Again! Say it again you cursed freak."
He wiped the blood from my mouth. Samson punched at him again, The kid pointed at him. "I may be a freak, but at least my mom isn't a Whore! I bet I could buy her for a week with 30 silver!"
Samson tried to swing again, but I grabbed his hand. I looked down at the boy disapprovingly. While I let the other boys run off. "Az? Why are you getting into more fights."
"I didn't fight! I only used my words. I don't need you to lecture me brother."
I sighed and shook my head. "I know, I know. I just worry for you Az. Look I got a bonus for taking care of some monster cultists. How about we look for a sword for you. That wooden sword won't last you much longer anyway."
He shook my head. "I won't lose dad's sword. It may be wooden, but its the only thing we have of him."
I sighed, my brother was a stubborn one. I stopped before giving him in his words a new lecture. The problem was however he needed to know, with how he acted and his looks i feared for my brother. I acted proud, but the kingdom was falling apart. The empire that ruled over it has yet to help and no champions or heroes have appeared.
I patted Az on the shoulder. "Az promise me, tell know one your dreams okay? Now I think you will grow out of them, but...."
"I know Everin..."
We walked along the rocky stones of the road. Az wanted, no craved to learn about monsters. When he was a kid he declared to father that he would be the 34th demon lord. Father never stopped him and now we don't even have him.
"Ah the smell of charcoal! Hey uncle!"
I waved at the man at the anvil hammering away. He was a stout man, half dwarf and the only man that didn't look at Az with suspicion. "Hey Stephan. I have the money."
Stephan looked up and in shock. "Really? I-I didn't think is day would come. Oh how I tried to avoid it."
I looked down, "So have I."
Az looked at the two of us and spoke. "What are you two on?"
Az was just turning 15 and had yet to know what father actually left behind. Stephan to the lead, "Asmodeus my boy can i see that wooden sword of yours?"
Az looked at him strangley, "Sure, just don't break it. It's a ta-"
Stephan did exactly that as he slammed his hammer down breaking the wooden sword and his hammer in the process.
"DAD'S SWORD!"
Before Az could do anything else I grabbed on to him and shushed him. "Az look! Don't be stupid and look!"
He struggled in my arms and when his eyes caught what Stephan was holding up his jaw dropped. Az was smaller than most so holding him wasn't hard, but he had strength that allowed him to break free and jump to the shard Stephan was holding up.
"I-is that really what I think it is?"
Stephan nodded, "Let's go inside first though. You boys have caused a commotion."
People were staring and so we followed in. "Az, dad told me he hid his most valuable possession with you before he... Disappeared. At first I thought he was being figurative with your talent, but..."
Az held the small stick in his hand. "He left us a shard of Adas steel."
Stephan laughed, "A shard is an understatement. This has more mass then a diamond. Worth nearly 1000 times one too. Adas steel can't be detect, is stronger then Adamatium and more magical than Mythril."
Az spoke, "H-how, why , HOW DID YOU GUYS KNOW!"
I scratched the back of my neck, "I had broken the sword in the past and Stephan's daughter fixed it."
Az nodded, "Right, she's a druid... Then what are?"
Stephan smiled, "I'm not the blacksmith for the job of making it into the proper weapon for you, however I can make it a new case. One that you can use to channel that magic of yours."
Az jumped, "GENIUS! To use the Adas shard as a conduit like mythril."
I smiled, "Yup, except the sword doesn't need to be made of it for it to be used."
Az frowned, "But why me Everin?"
I knew what he meant, I raised my sword. "Number 1, I can't use it. I like my sword, but I don't know why Dad gave it to you. He wasn't called the berserking Madman of Sha-Lu'dan for nothing!"
Az nodded and accepted my answer. "Very well! I shall train until the day I can match his name!"
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I didn't say the words out loud. Everin wouldn't approve and Stephan would laugh it off. However I would become the 34th demon lord. I had to in this day and age. If I didn't who would? I certainly didn't know.