"I want to look like a cool demon lord," Mikoto declared.
"Get out," Gideon bluntly stated.
"Don't be such a square geezer," Mikoto drawled. "Just make my armor super badass. I want to look edgy but cool."
"What the hell are you even yammering about, you brat!?"
"Me want armor. Armor need be good," Mikoto stated in caveman terms, making Gideon's eye twitch uncontrollably. Of course, the last brat to come to his forge would be the most difficult.
"Be more specific, you brat!" Gideon exclaimed. It had barely been a minute, yet this child was already proving to be a pain in the behind.
"Fine, fine," Mikoto rolled his eyes. "Something not too heavy or uncomfortable. Distribute the weight into the gauntlets and sabatons. Oh, and can I have it in black? It would complement my eyes."
"Tch, was that so hard, you brat?" He huffed out before an angered expression gave way to a calculated one. "For your armor, I'll use Mystium, Willowsteel, and Malachite."
"Yeah, no idea what any of those are."
"I'm getting there, you worthless brat. Mystium is a special alloy we usually mine for near mountain tops rich with natural mana. It absorbs mana at a rapid pace. If you were attacked with a spell, Mystium would not be able to absorb it in one fell swoop, but it would absorb most of it, dulling the impact," Gideon explained. Mikoto hummed as the man continued. "And Willowsteel, about fifty times more durable than average steel but flexible, dark in color also. Malachite is more of a man-made material. We get it from some mages who enchanted it. It's a self-repairing mineral. You only need a piece of it on your armor, and it'll affect the whole set."
"Nice, nice, very nice," Mikoto muttered.
"Do you want a helmet with it? You seem keen on hiding your face. I won't ask why," Mikoto hummed.
"Sure, I'll take a helmet. Make it look badass, yeah?"
"Yeah, yeah. I'll have your armor ready in a day or two," Mikoto blinked.
"Huh? That quick?" Gideon smiled with pride.
"My kind's Familial Arts, Heart of the forge. It makes creating armor and weapons a breeze, I tell you," Gideon boasted.
"You don't say. So how good are you with weapons?"
"The best in this country," he declared. "But aren't you a sorcerer?"
"I am, but I'm looking to expand my horizon, you know?" Of course, it was mainly due to Selwyn. If he were to engage in close-quarters combat with Selwyn, he would at least like a strong weapon to fall back on. Sure, he had Harbinger, but that took way too much mana. Just keeping it in this reality was cumbersome and drained his reserves.
"Then name your poison," the dwarf stated.
"A simple straight sword, no, a bit larger but not like a Claymore or Broadsword. Something unbreakable, and with a magic technique ingrained into it," Gideon looked at him with a raised brow.
"Geez, brat, who are you planning on fighting?" He questioned.
"Does it matter?"
"It does."
"Fine, fine. Selwyn Von Auerswald, and a few Inheritors," Mikoto informed innocently, getting an incredulous look from Gideon.
"Well then, I can't help you," the dwarf bluntly stated.
"What? Didn't you say you were the best in the country?" Mikoto looked on with a hidden face of disappointment.
"Good as I am, even I cannot create a blade to withstand that monster," Gideon admitted.
"Pssh, what a fraud," Mikoto whispered.
"I heard that, brat!" Mikoto would stick out his tongue, but the mask was in his way. "Keh! Whatever. Suppose you don't want to know where to find a suitable weapon," Mikoto quirked up a brow in interest.
"Suitable blade?" Mikoto questioned.
"Aye, are you well-versed in legends, brat?" Mikoto shook his head, Gideon scoffed, muttering a 'kids these days' before continuing. "All across Galadriel, magic artifacts are strewn about. Some may say magic artifacts are inferior to divine ones. But these artifacts hold a story, carved by heroes."
"Heroes," Mikoto frowned.
"Aye, heroes leave their mark upon our world. Be it in history or maybe another way, in this case leaving behind their legacy for another to continue."
"Legacy meaning weapons," Mikoto surmised. Gideon nodded.
"One which fits the description you're looking for, Sabre, the sword wielded by the hero Azael," Gideon stated. Mikoto hummed with interest.
("Why does that name sound familiar?")
"Tales spoke of the blade being able to cut through most alloys with ease in the right hands. It has magic ingrained into it. Though I can't tell you what it can do," Gideon explained.
"So why doesn't Galadriel have it if it's so great?"
"Sabre chooses its wielder," Gideon stated with a grin. "A blade with an attitude," he joked.
("Hmm, might be worth checking out.")
"Say, can you finish my armor now?" Mikoto's sudden request caused the dwarf to quirk up a brow.
"Hmm, I can."
"Great, I want to have a look at the sword immediately, and I want to get accustomed to my armor as soon as possible."
"You brats of today are so damn hasty," Gideon huffed out.
-------------------
The breastplate was a central piece of the armor, protecting the upper body. It was shaped like a traditional breastplate, covering the chest and upper abdomen. It featured several intricate designs and embellishments, including a central, prominent red line that ran down the center of the breastplate. The line was surrounded by swirling shapes and lines, creating a complex and visually appealing pattern. The shoulder pads were large and rounded, extending outward from his shoulders. They were constructed of a thick alloy with a textured surface, with ridges and grooves that echoed the details on the breastplate.
The sleeves of the armor were designed to allow for maximum flexibility and movement. The upper arms were covered with thick alloy plates, while the lower arms were covered in flexible, layered scales. This design provided protection while allowing him to easily bend and move his arms. The gauntlets were fully enclosed, providing protection for his hands and wrists. They appeared to be made of a tough alloy, with a smooth surface and a strong design. The gauntlets also featured red trim and intricate details.
The thigh armor covered the front and sides of his thighs. It was heavily armored, featuring thick metal plates and layered scales. The thigh armor was also decorated with red trim and intricate patterns. The greaves were fitted to his legs, protecting his shins and ankles. They were made of a similar alloy as the rest of the armor. The sabatons were sturdy and practical, designed for combat and protection. They were covered in metal scales and had a thick, durable sole. Lastly, a single dark coat tail flowed behind him. It was made of a soft, flowing material and appeared to have a weight and texture that seemed expensive.
Mikoto's rosy lips quirked up into a small smile as he studied himself in the mirror of the dressing room. It was narrow enough for him to be able to see his full form. The armor fit snugly, and it was easy to move in. He ran a gauntleted hand through his hair.
"Still too long. Makes me look too girly. Is going bald the solution?" He pondered as he took hold of a helmet on a dresser.
The helmet was a dark, almost black, alloy with a sharp, angular design. It had a tall, pointed crown that rose to a peak, and the sides of the helmet curved inwards, creating a deep, shadowed cavity that obscured the wearer's face. The helmet featured a series of jagged protrusions, like teeth, along the top and sides, adding to its menacing appearance. Along the front of the helmet, there was a large, stylized design in bright red that looked like flames or wings. It was placed prominently and acted as a focal point, bringing a stark contrast to the otherwise dark helmet. The design was intricate and detailed, emphasizing the helmet's menacing beauty.
"Damn, so cool," Mikoto could not help but be smitten with his armor. He did look pretty cool. Placing the helmet on his head, one would think his vision would be completely obscured. However, the large red ruin on the helmet served to help him see and breathe perfectly fine regardless of how it encompassed his face. Turning on his heel, he stepped out of the dressing room, barely hearing the clanking of armor.
Gideon awaited him, looking satisfied with his work. Though a brow was quirked up when he took note of something.
"Have you gotten shorter somehow?" He questioned. Mikoto waved him off.
"You're imagining things. The armor's great, comfortable, and most importantly, pretty badass," Mikoto complimented. "Though I'm off to get the Sabre. Thanks, old man."
"Keh, impatient, aren't you, brat? Well, I won't keep you. Good luck, brat," Mikoto gave a two-finger salute before a pop of displacement resounded through the area as Mikoto vanished.
Through the dense foliage of a large forest, where shafts of muted sunlight pierced the thick canopy above, Mikoto appeared. ("Hmm, I do sense an abundance of mana nearby. This is the general location Gideon showed me on his map.")
His eyes scanned the dimly lit surroundings as a chill breeze whispered past him. The air prickled with an unsettling tension, and he was acutely aware of shadows shifting in the underbrush—a low growl broke the silence. From the thickets charged a pack of monstrous large black wolves, their sleek fur glistening like obsidian, each sporting radiant blue runes that pulsed eerily across their bodies. As they lunged, baring fangs as sharp as daggers, Mikoto merely stepped to the side with grace, not feeling the rush of wind as one of the wolves missed him. Instantly, he channeled magic, flames roared to life in his outstretched hand. With a decisive smile, he thrust his arm forward, unleashing a torrent of blazing fire that engulfed the lead wolf, its howl of anguish echoing through the trees as it collapsed into a smoldering heap. Without missing a beat, Mikoto pivoted on his heel, the flames dancing in his control, and cast another blaze, searing another wolf mid-air, sending it crashing to the ground in a flurry of steam and fur. The remaining wolves, now panicking, circled him, eyes gleaming with a mix of fear and fury. Mikoto merely snapped his fingers and in rapid succession, unleashed a series of fire that incinerated the remaining Astrothians, leaving only charred remains and the lingering scent of ash in the air.
With the threat of the Astrothians diminished, Mikoto gathered himself as he approached a clearing where an immense cave yawned ominously before him. The mouth of the cave was adorned with jagged stalactites that resembled sharpened teeth, and as he stepped closer, a low rumble emanated from the darkness within. Emerging like an omen from the shadows was another Astrothian, a colossal, hulking beast with scales the color of midnight, adorned with spikes along its spine, and eyes that shone a sinister red. It reared, showing off its serrated maw, intent on swallowing Mikoto whole. Assessing the situation, Mikoto thought. ("Another Astrothian?")
Tensing his body as if preparing a spring, he prepared himself. As the beast lunged, he ducked and rolled underneath its bulky frame, gathering momentum and launching himself upward. With a powerful mid-air flip, he landed on the monster's back, quickly grappling its spiked neck and using his weight to steer it off-balance. The creature bucked and thrashed, but Mikoto remained steadfast. He pummeled its scaled hide with brutal fists, each strike landing with bone-shattering force until finally, with a primal roar, he tore away at it as if it were merely paper. Limbs and chunks of flesh spilled onto the ground in an instant.
However, the danger was far from over. Just then, a tremor ran through the ground, and from the depths of the cave emerged an impossibly large serpent—its body slithering silently through the underbrush like a shadow made manifest. Mikoto took note of something as the serpent lunged from the side, fangs glistening like daggers. With a swift sidestep, he evaded its deadly bite, and in a heartbeat, Mikoto raised a hand and summoned forth a massive blade of radiant mana, its edge crackling with potent energy. Without hesitation, he wielded it in a wide arc, the blade tracing a powerful path through the air. The serpent recoiled but not before Mikoto's blade cleaved through its form, igniting scales along the way. The beast writhed in pain, yet Mikoto pressed his advantage, with a final slice, the serpent's body fell still, and a silence engulfed the forest as the last embers of conflict dwindled.
"Astrothians must've been attracted by the mana Sabre is emitting," Mikoto surmised as he entered the cave. It was quite spacious. Light from outside illuminated the space enough, though it seemed he would not have to travel further deeper as what he was looking for was near the entrance.
The sword was a long, slender blade with a dark gray metal body. The blade itself was sharp and pointed, with a slight curve that gives it a slightly menacing look. The hilt was black, with a simple, unadorned design. It had a single red gemstone in the middle of the blade where the sharpest part of the blade was surrounded by a red glow. It appeared to be glowing faintly with a red light, and the light came from the tip of the sword and traveled to the handle, with it getting dimmer at the end. It was also deeply embedded into a large boulder.
"Looks ominous for what's supposedly a hero's sword," he mused as he took an effortless leap that landed him atop the boulder. The mana the blade was emitting was quite absurd, though he could not discern what ability it might have had. So without reservation, he reached out a hand and touched a handle.
And the sun suddenly glared at him once more. He blinked, he felt a gentle breeze sweep through his hair and face. He was suddenly without his helmet, confusion gripped him as his ruby eyes scanned his surroundings. He was standing in a field of flowers, though they looked foreign, an array of colors that assaulted his eyes. The field was vast and seemingly infinite with no end, the skies were clear of clouds as well. It would probably be a mesmerizing view for most.
"So you would want to wield my Sabre, eh?" He heard a sudden voice, whipping his head to the source he took in the form of a man. He was tall, towering over him easily, a head of long chestnut brown hair with similar colored eyes. His skin was tanned, and he was dressed in a suit of stark white armor with blue accents, furthermore, his features were sharp and handsome. He was imposing, that much was easy to see, furthermore his instincts told him that the man was strong.
"Who are you?" Mikoto asked with a frown, he presumed the man the one responsible for forcibly dragging him to this place. The man smirked and gave a wink.
"Azael, the first wielder of Sabre," he introduced with a bow.
("Azael? Like that hero? And first wielder? What's going on here?") He snapped out of his musings as the man started approaching him.
"You're no doubt confused," he started. "But think of this as a mere test to see if you are worthy." He clapped his hands. "Now! For the first question!"
He stopped in front of Mikoto, and then the boy suddenly found the man's hand on his chin. Azael lifted it so their eyes met, he gave a smile most would find charming.
"Are you single, beautiful?"
He promptly got a kick to the groin.