“Our chief,” Chloe says as Josefine walks toward another room even further in the back than even the private floor where she and I are being helped. “You think she refers to Jirel himself?”
“Maybe,” I say. “The place is called Jirel’s, but that doesn’t an that the proprietor actually is Jirel. Or still is, as the case may be. Could be a benefactor or financier. But, I’m gonna say that’s probably still the most likely scenario.”
“You seem… tense, Sera.”
“I am.”
If the chief is really coming out here to greet personally, then things might really go sideways. Josefine didn’t know who I am, but the chances are high that soone powerful enough to oversee this entire establishnt just might. I’m outnumbered, Chloe’s power is suppressed still, the minder still has his eyes on and his hands on so sort of device, and that says nothing for whatever additional defenses are built into this fortress.
I keep running through all the different scenarios and in a lot of them, I end up dead or worse, because there are definitely many things worse than death. I’ve had the privilege to see or experience so of them already, and I have a feeling that the tour is far from over. Part of wants to grab Chloe and run, hoping that I don’t cause too big of a scene, but even then, Hank and Mom get to suffer once again for my weakness.
Damnit! I hate it, and I hate more than that that I’m trapped with no other way out. But before I can spiral completely into madness, the door opens, revealing an absolutely bulked-out man carrying a massive warhamr. I can’t tell if it’s a smithing tool, a weapon, or just a way to look imposing; I can vouch for the last of those already and I certainly wouldn’t want to have the second of those functions tested on yours truly, so I’m praying to the great goddesses above that it’s the first.
I pull Chloe to as the man looks toward us. I’ve abandoned any hope that this man isn’t the chief in question, and any notions that he’s not coming straight for us are now deader than disco. My muscles tense and my eyes dart back and forth, taking assessnt of the environnt and any other threats. The man tasked with watching is about ready to strike, only to be stopped by a grim stare from the chief himself.
“Keith, stand down,” he says. His words aren’t loud, but they carry a presence every bit as imposing as the man’s towering visage. “You may return to your other duties.”
The guard, Keith, apparently, stamrs for a mont. Wisely, whatever misgivings he has about the situation, he doesn’t see fit to trouble us by voicing them aloud. Instead, he reasserts a professional deanor and slinks back out toward the main storeroom.
“Are you… Jirel?” I ask the chief. “Please forgive my presumptuousness for assuming based on the na of the establishnt. And also for not introducing myself,” I add. Having to be polite to this titan of a man stings my pride, but I’d rather my pride be wounded than Chloe’s flesh. “I am Seraphina, and this is Chloe.”
“Indeed I am Jirel,” he says. “I apologize for the coarseness with which Keith was treating you; he is, shall we say, unusually dedicated to his work.” He pauses for a mont, then his eyes light up as though he were hit with a sudden revelation. “Seraphina. Seems to be an increasingly popular na as of late.”
I look down. “You don’t know the half of it.”
“Nor is it my business to pry into the personal dealings of my clientele. Tends to be… bad for business. And for life expectancy, in many cases.”
“Then, Mr. Jirel–” Chloe starts before being cut off.
“Just Jirel, no ‘mister’. I’m hardly worthy of such a title myself.”
“Then why?” Chloe asks. “Why do you do all this, knowing your weapons will be used to hurt… or worse?”
“Two reasons, Miss Chloe. First, it is because I am a [Combat Blacksmith]. It’s who I am, and the weapons I forge are designed to be used on the battlefield. I have no doubts that my weapons are also used in unsavory ways by unsavory people, but when monsters attack the city, I want to make sure everyone is as well-defended as possible. And secondly, because I’m selfish.”
“Selfish how?” Chloe asks.
“Forging strong weapons like these, and crafting elaborate suits of armor is particularly good for my Experience accumulation. Makes sure I’m better able to protect those close to . And provide shelter for those who don’t have anyone else to turn to.”
“That makes a surprising amount of sense,” Chloe says. I can tell though that underneath her words, she’s still not happy about it. I’m not either, but it seems more and more that the world is far too ssy to demand perfect allies. I’m certainly not morally pure myself.
“So then, Jirel,” I say. “What can you do for us as far as the requests we had? And what’s the damage going to be to our pocketbooks? It doesn’t look like you’re running a charity here.”
“Sadly not.” Jirel chuckles. “Many things have changed since the System arrived. Money making the world go ‘round, is not one of them. Two swords forged of auracite, a chestpiece made of this tortoise shell, and dealer’s choice with the golem heart? The fact that you have the materials is going to lower the cost substantially; having to pay delvers for their ti, expertise, and hazard pay is a large chunk of the cost of my wares.”
“Can we afford it on our budget?” Chloe asks.
“I’m willing to give a slight discount because of the particular rarity of the tortoise shell. Drops from nad monsters don’t show up here every day. But every ti they do, it’s an assload of Experience. Josefine said your budget was around a hundred and sixty thousand?”
“That’s right.”
“I won’t be able to give an exact price until I’m done forging it, but I will honor your budget. As for the tiline, I should be able to have it to you by the ti the shop closes up at half past nine.”
“Why can’t you?” Chloe asks.
“Probably because he doesn’t know exactly how long it’ll take to work the new materials. Or whatever other materials he’ll need to work into our materials to get sothing workable.”
“It’s as the lady says,” Jirel says. “You are free to head back into the main showroom. Perhaps take a tour of the city.”
“Wait,” Chloe says. “How do you know we’re not from around here?”
“Well, because you just told . Beyond that, though, the materials you’ve got are quite rare and moreover, the two of you carry an air about you of power and confidence. I’m guessing both of you are in the mid-to-high 60’s at least. And if that’s the case, we would have had this eting several months ago, rather than waiting until Labor Day.”
“I’m a little surprised you’re open on Labor Day,” Chloe says.
Jirel just shrugs. “Old holiday for the old world. Monsters don’t take vacations. My shop and forge shan’t, either.”
“Then I guess we’ll see you later,” I say.
After Hank finishes up his own purchases, we end up finding our way to a nearby diner for a bit of a late brunch after all. I end up getting a ham and cheese olet, which tastes really good. Extra fluffy, probably made with more butter than a cardiologist can shake a stick at. Today, at least, after so many days of fighting for my life, I’d say I’ve gotten enough exercise to justify it.
It’s accompanied by a side of hash browns, because if I’m going to eat an incredibly unhealthy al loaded with saturated fats and cholesterol, I’m going to go all out. Plus, it’s an excuse to lather the plate in yet more hot sauce, not that I actually need the excuse.
“So, what’s the plan after lunch?” Mom asks. “We heading back to the lab? Or–”
“I think Chloe and I are going to fly back ho after we get our new equipnt. I’ve got to teach tomorrow, plus we have at least one more thing we need to do back ho between now and–” I deliberately cut myself off; Mom knows that we’re going to have to deal with that other Seraphina and the Legion, but that doesn’t an she wants to hear about it.
“You an that bonus flight in the Tower, right?” Chloe asks telepathically.
“I do. It said Level 75, and I reached it yesterday. One Experience point from level 76, actually. We need more strength, and fast, and I can think of no more efficient place to get it. But not tomorrow. We’re going to be flying all night, and I’m going to have to teach in the afternoon.”
“Good. I think, after everything the two of us have gone through, that we both need a couple days of relative quiet.”
“Let’s just hope that we actually get them.”
“Will the two of you be okay handling the house affairs by yourselves?” Mom asks.
“You’re not going to co back with us?” Chloe asks.
“I’d like to, yes. But after this weekend, I can’t very well pretend that things are just going to go back to the way they always have been. It’s clear that the three of you have your share of enemies, and that they’re not afraid to resort to hostage taking to get what they want.”
Mom looks down at her half-eaten plate of French toast lightly drizzled in syrup. “Your father and I talked about it at length last night and this morning, and we agreed that, for the ti being, it’d be safer if I remain here with him. I can’t well expect one of you to constantly be guarding while you each do your own thing, now can I?”
“But Mom,” Chloe says.
“It’s… alright,” she says, though far from convincingly. “After my ordeal, I think I could use a few days away from work and… well, everything.”
“Plus, we decided that we need so ti to reconnect as a couple,” Hank says. “Whatever my reasons, I’ve not been a good husband as of late, or a good father for that matter. I think spending so ti together, seeing the city and just being away from our respective work will do us both so good.”
“Are you sure?” I ask.
“For now, yes. There’s nothing to be gained from being out on the field of combat right now, and I want to spend this ti with my wife.”
I understand the implication in his words; Hank is fully expecting to sacrifice his life in the incoming clash. Chloe turns to , having reached the sa conclusion.
“We’re not going to let him,” Chloe says. “We’ve already lost enough, Sera. I don’t plan to lose anyone else.”
“I know, love. That’s going to be on us, though. Mostly on you. We’re going to have to get a lot stronger, so that when he finally does try his last ditch, desperate, heroic sacrifice, that he fails in his goal to lose his life.”
“What do you an by that, Sera?” Chloe asks. “You think he’s really trying to lose his life?”
“Did you not see the way he looked so forlorn when he spoke of ‘spending this ti with his wife’? I bet he sees himself as cursed and needing to atone for his sins with the Seraphina Project, and hopes that by sacrificing his life to deal with Renault, he can atone in death.”
“That idiot! Doesn’t he realize how much Mom will hurt if he does sothing like that? What about you and ? Why–”
“It was the sa thing with my… I don’t want to call him my father; he doesn’t deserve that honor. But that’s just the way so people get in response to such catastrophic changes, such overwhelming guilt. I– I don’t even want to think about what I’d do if I were apart from you, Chloe. If I had lost you… It’d… be hard to go on.”
“Well, for Mom’s sake, we’ll stop him. Chloe has a wicked smile on her face. “Besides, it’s a lot easier to atone while alive than in the grave. If Dad really has done so much to atone for, that he still won’t talk about with us, why should we help him take the easy way out?”
“I have a request,” Mom says. “If you two have so ti between now and tonight, I think it would be nice to sightsee the city and otherwise spend the day as a proper family. No fighting, no monsters, no research. Just the four of us, together.”
I turn to Chloe, and we both smile. “I’d like that,” Chloe says.
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