Planet Strara
Everyone was watching Vincent as he met with Taylor. Caden clapped his hands and smiled for the first time. The entire hall was stunned. The ones who were affected the most were his students. Markus was too shocked even to speak. Caden cleared his throat. "The boy is about to take his first step." He closed his eyes and went back to being the quiet older man.
Pyea and the others moved closer to discuss what Caden meant by his words. Jekel put up a barrier so no one could hear what they were saying. Ten minutes passed before the barrier came down, and they returned to their spots. Their faces were now average, no longer hinting that they were shocked.
The Spaceship.
Vincent was in his animal form, sweating because of the heat that radiated from Taylor. The furnace was also blazing at a high temperature, but Taylor herself produced more heat. Vincent was shirtless and was standing in a pair of shorts.
He tried to create ice to cool himself, but nothing happened. He then tried to use water, which evaporated when he produced it. "Kid, if you ruin the shaping process because you want something to drink, don't blame me for your shitty weapon."
'I am going to die at this rate.' Vincent was on the verge of passing out. "If you fall on the floor, you will get burned even if your scales are hard. Trust me, I am talking from experience." Vincent glared at her back. 'What the hell am I even doing here? She didn't need me for this process.'
Taylor picked up the hot staff with her bare hands. It was eight feet long and more robust than the average staff. She tossed Vincent a knife and a descaling knife. "Cut yourself and let your blood mix with the water. Then take the descaler and shave off a few scales."
Vincent didn't move at first. "NOW!" Vincent gritted his teeth and cut his wrist. He could feel the wound refusing to close. "I need five blue and seven white scales." Vincent took the descaler with a shaking hand. He took a deep breath.
He stopped and grabbed a towel. He wrapped a piece of leather inside of it and bit down on it. He painfully plucked the correct number of scales. With each scale that fell into the water, the water changed colors. Vincent's consciousness was swimming in circles at this point. He couldn't tell up or down.
Taylor didn't pay him any mind and dropped the staff inside the water. She heard a crash and a loud hiss. She went to the metals and tossed them into the furnace. She went to her workbench and grabbed the tools she needed.
She picked up Vincent's arm, which was still bleeding, and collected some of his blood. "You did good, kid. Take this pill and remember you only have to go through this process four more times." Vincent swallowed the pill and felt himself regaining energy. He didn't feel relief; instead, he felt dread when Taylor reminded him he still had four more weapons.
Vincent watched the clock move and wished it moved faster. Taylor was now making the poleaxe. "You know you could be learning to wield fire, but you are too focused on leaving." Vincent looked at Taylor's back as she hammered away.
'She is right. I could be learning about fire and temperature control.' Vincent watched her and tried to feel the changes in the atmosphere. He let himself sink and closed his eyes as he listened to her swings. The noise of her hammer slowly faded away from his ears.
'The temperature is moving and clashing. The fire is reacting and getting hotter.' Vincent's brows creased together as he tried to control the temperature. Taylor sensed what Vincent was trying to do but didn't try to stop him—an hour passed with Vincent sitting on the floor.
Taylor nudged him with her foot. "Get up and choose which blades match you." Vincent wasn't drenched in sweat, and he wasn't disoriented. He stood up and moved towards the blades. He looked at all of them and pointed at the most bland one.
Taylor smirked and pushed him out of her way. "Your judgment and instincts are not half bad. You chose the most suitable one. You know what you have to do." Vincent put the leather and towel back in his mouth as he went through the torture again.
This process was repeated for the next three days.
Planet Strara
Patty gripped her hands together as she watched Vincent go through the process. She hated seeing her children suffer and go through pain. When Vincent grabbed the descaler, she got up and left the room.
Richard gripped his armest to the point he broke it. Ryker was drinking to cope. The girls got up to check on Patty. Kyle didn't turn away from the sight. Each time Vincent cut himself, pulled out his scales, and repeated the process, his respect grew.
Kyle was a soldier and had seen his fair share of cruel sights. Many veterans couldn't bring themselves to do what Vincent was doing on the screen. Self-mutilation is not an act just anyone can do. It took someone with great determination or mentally insane to do it.
Caden watched Vincent. He looked at his disciples. "Which of you believe you could do the same as he is? He did self-mutilation willingly and for three days straight." They were silent. Simon breathed out smoke. He looked at Caden. Caden chuckled and turned back to Vincent.
Forging Room.
Vincent was sitting and waiting for the last weapon to be finished. He had already put his blood and scales into the water. Taylor was pulling and folding the wires over each other. She was engrossed in her work. Vincent had learned a great deal about fire and temperature control.
The spot he was sitting in was room temperature, and the flames no longer bothered him. Vincent watched as Taylor put everything she had into finishing the wires. Her back seemed broad and robust. Her arms and hands moved like a machine. 'She isn't just crafting or spinning wires anymore. She is like an artist who has been possessed by inspiration.'
Taylor was possessed by inspiration. Rarely had she ever had a client that could withstand self-mutilating themselves to the extent Vincent had. Every weapon she created, she put everything she had into making it the best weapon. Vincent had earned her respect.
Taylor stretched, folded, and divided the wires as much as possible. She dumped them inside the water with Vincent's blood and scales. She infused Vincent's elements into the wires—the moment she inscribed the last enhancement on the spools, bells sounded, and golden light cascaded down upon her. The spools of wire came alive and latched themselves onto Vincent's back.
Taylor collapsed. Vincent caught her and checked her vitals. His arms and back burned. His arms burned because of her body heat, and his back was because of the wires. They had not only attached themselves to his back but also his soul.
"Taylor! Taylor, are you ok?" Vincent asked as he tried to lower her body's temperature. Taylor cried tears of happiness and relaxed in his arms. "I finally reached the next level. I have surpassed him. I can now hold my head up high." Vincent didn't know what was going on so he allowed her to vent.