Khazak lifted the book from his face, and the imprint of his face had transferred onto the pages due to the sweat. It was indeed a hot day. He sat up from his bed; he had slept for about 8 hours. He started walking downstairs, where Roran and Uncle Ronny were still busy with blacksmithing.
The sword made by Uncle Ronny caught his eye; it looked like his usual specially patterned swords, but the handle had three empty slots, as if something was meant to be placed there. He didn't care much about why; it wasn't that important anyway. Roran noticed that Khazak was watching them, wiped his sweat, and walked over to him.
"What's up, Khazak? Did the sword we made catch your eye?"
"I guess... I mean, I can tell it's different from the others."
"Definitely. Uncle Ronny has been working on that sword for hours. According to him, it's made for an elf and is a special sword that can have unique stones attached to it."
"Why would an elf want a sword from us?"
"I don't know, but I think he wants it made in secret. According to Uncle Ronny, he was hidden behind a cloak, holding a strange light blue metal, and requested a sword like this. He really did pay a hefty amount for it."
"I hope we're not getting into any shady.
Well then, do you have a job at the moment, Roran? I'm quite bored; I thought I'd read a book, but you know me, I get sleepy as soon as I pick up a book."
"Well, I don't have a job at the moment. We're still waiting for the metal to heat up. Forging this metal is incredibly difficult to smith."
"Alright then, come over, but please, let's not wander around the village. I'd rather not run into some of those certain girls."
"Khazak, don't hate Lucie so much; you know she'll be your aunt eventually."
"If you say so" said Khazak with a mocking voice.
Khazak and Roran started walking towards the forest. Up until now, Uncle Ronny hadn't allowed them to stray away, and there wasn't really any reason to do so. However, today, at Khazak's special request, they set out for a stroll deep in the woods.
With the sticks they found on the ground, they hunted a rabbit. After walking a bit further, they arrived at a place that looked like a corner of paradise.
The clear water flowing from the waterfall had created a small pond. In the middle of the pond was an ordinary rock, and everything around was lush and green. Moving through the dense vegetation was difficult, but it was nothing compared to the allure of hanging out there.
Roran and Khazak sat down on a fallen tree trunk, and a very 'crucial' topic came up.
"Well, Khazak, I have a girlfriend, and she's just my type. So, what's your ideal girl type?"
'Is this guy is seriously showing off with his girlfriend.'
"What are you going to do, try to become my type or something?"
"Don't joke around, Khazak. You're looking at one of the most distant and masculine people from that idea in this world."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, it is. But don't sidestep the topic. Describe your ideal girl type, or are you embarrassed to share with your own cousin?"
"Alright, alright, I'll tell you, but don't make fun of me."
"What would I make fun of? I know you have high ideals despite your appearence."
"Alright... Someone with sparkling eyes you could get lost in, elegant confidence paired with silky hair, someone I could feel more comfortable around than anyone else, with a noble yet sweet face, porcelain white skin, a shy demeanor alongside that elegant confidence, around my age... And lastly, petite body features."
Roran bursts out laughing when he hears "petite body features."
"Buddy, petite body features? Are you serious?"
"Do you have a problem with that?"
"You're really a strange guy, Khazak, but that's what makes you fun."
"Alright, stop talking. Let's head back home. If Uncle Ronny doesn't hear from us, he might start to worry."
After this little conversation, Roran and Khazak begin walking back home.
When they returned to the smithy in the late afternoon, Uncle Ronny was still occupied with the sword but had managed to accomplish nothing beyond working on the hilt. He waits there in frustration. Khazak and Roran immediately approach him and ask:
"Uncle, do you need anything? It seems like you haven't made much progress."
"I've finished the hilt, but that was relatively easy since it's just a mix of regular iron and this special metal. However, turning even a single drop of the metal brought by the elf into liquid has been torture. Forging this will be really tough, and to top it off, he's given me just one month. Can you believe it?!"
"Then, Uncle, the kids you've raised aren't going to waste. We'll help you out."
'I've been blessed with magnificent children.'
"Thanks, kids. If we work on this sword with three people, I think we can finish it within a month."
From this day on, Roran, Khazak, and Uncle Ronny started working on the sword together. Roran flaked off the work every 1-2 times in a day for Lucie, but at the end everyone worked diligently.
They completed the sword in less time than expected. There were still 2-3 days left until the delivery. The delivery was going to be at a different location, not in the village, but for some reason, Uncle Ronny was tight-lipped about it.
Meanwhile, Roran had gone off to hang out with Lucie again, Uncle Ronny was resting at home. Khazak was left alone once more. Out of boredom, he decided to visit the spot in the forest they had found earlier, this time by himself. He sat down on the log and started drawing shapes in the dirt with a thin stick. He was trying to pass time, but he felt a strange sensation inside.
He glanced at the rock in the pond, feeling as if something was concentrating there. It was late, so Khazak brushed off the sensation as fatigue and headed home. When he arrived, he saw Roran sitting despondently in front of the door, covering his face with his hands. It was clear that something had upset him, and at these times, there was only one thing that could do so.
"Hey Roran, what happened? Did you have a fight with that so-called girlfriend of yours?"
"Yes."
"So you're really upset about that?"
"Yes."
"Poor you(!)"
"Khazak, get lost."
"Alright, alright. Tell me what happened."
"We had a fight."
"Okay, but what was it about exactly?"
"Khazak... get lost."
After Roran said this in a harsh tone, he walked away with eyes that clearly showed he had been crying for a long time.
**15 Minutes Earlier**
"Ah, I can't wait to meet Lucie. I wonder if she's thinking about me right now..."
"Roran, come here, we're over here."
Roran felt heartbroken when he saw another man next to Lucie.
"Hello, Lucie. Who is this handsome gentleman? You both seem quite close."
"Oh, this is my childhood friend. His name is Dukhe."
Dukhe grabs Roran's left hand with his own.
"Hello, Roran. I'm Dukhe. Nice to meet you. By the way, your hands are so soft..."
"Yes, yes, nice to meet you too. What brings you here?"
"Our fathers have been friends for a long time, so we've always gotten along very well since childhood, haven't we, Lucie?"
Dukhe then tightly clasped his hands around Lucie's hand. Even though Lucie tried to pull her hand away, but Dukhe tightened his grip.
"Y-yes, that's right. Dukhe and I have been friends since childhood... That's all."
"Just that? You're being rude, Lucie. Let's not forget the things we've done with those beautiful hands of yours."
This was the last straw for Roran. He yanked Dukhe's arm away from Lucie roughly, freeing her. Then he grabbed Lucie by the wrist and pulled her away to a more private spot.
"What's with that guy, Lucie?!"
"Just a childhood friend..."
"He didn't seem like just a childhood friend to me."
"He's just a bit strange."
"Just a bit?! This guy has some obvious fetishes."
"You're right, but what do you expect from me? What can I do?"
"For example, you could stop talking to him."
"But that wouldn't work..."
"Why wouldn't it?!"
"It just wouldn't..."
"Immediately after saying this, Lucie's eyes filled with tears, and she walked away. Roran was left standing there alone. Once he recovered from the shock, he began to walk home. When he arrived, he collapsed against the door. As he lied there, his eyes fell on his own hand, and he thought of that boy. Suddenly, the strength drained from his legs, and he slumped down in front of the door."
**Current Time**
Khazak enters the house alone, feeling sorry for Roran. Uncle Ronny is sitting alone in the house, so Khazak goes over and sits next to him. Uncle Ronny starts a conversation.
"I suppose Roran has found his woman, hasn't he?"
"Yes, that's right. I want to be happy for him, but lately, his increased attention to her has been affecting my mood."
"I understand... I wonder when my grandchildren will..."
"Uncle Ronny, I'm not sure what you're talking about."
"Alright, alright, I'm sorry. Maybe it's time for you to start looking for a girl too; you're getting older and it's getting late."
'I'm only 17 years old how could i be late?'
After the conversation took that turn, Khazak dismisses his uncle and changes the subject. He then heads to the kitchen, has a snack, feeling bored, he returns to his uncle's side.
"What's up, Khazak? You've come back."
"I'm bored, Uncle... and we haven't been spending much time together lately. You're always busy with work."
"Ah, yes, I haven't been able to spend much time with either Roran or you lately. I'm sorry, son. Speaking of work, the delivery date for the sword is approaching."
"Really, Uncle Ronny, where are you taking that sword? You never told us."
"I've been sworn to secrecy, that's why."
"Alright then... By the way, Uncle, would you like to go out for a bit? Roran and I discovered a beautiful spot recently, it's like a corner of paradise."
"Since you insist, let's go and see."
Then, Uncle Ronny and Khazak set out towards that paradise-like place.