Makiya

24. Steel like no other

Can’t a man take a single moment of rest? I can’t believe that I am actually even getting slightly annoyed by all the events happening. Who is it this time? And how am I supposed to get out and talk to him or her butt-naked? Seriously…

Andrey indeed wondered who it might be. Maybe Dea’n’ha came in to talk about more magic or something? But she probably would have talked to me through Dea. It’s someone else. Wait. There are more than one person’s footsteps. 

In the end, nothing extraordinary happened. After all this tension, nobody entered the bath or talked to him. So he finished bathing, put on his bathrobe, took the blades in his hand, and went out.

Taking a look around - nobody was to be seen. The door was still slightly opened, though. He walked on forward as Galera stood right behind the steamy glass-door. A perfectly wide smile on his face in excitement.

Walking towards the bed Andrey noticed the bed wasn’t as tightly made as it used to be.

Nobody acts when they are not sure what’s going on. So…

And suddenly he sat on the ground with legs crossed. Blades in his hands. He quickly entered his Earsight skill. His concentration was a lot better due to the relaxing bath he had. Suddenly he reached the two small pillows on the ground which were meant to decorate the carpets on the ground. He stepped on his feet and quickly threw one pillow at Galera and the other he swung at the bed.

Suddenly Rang jumping out of the bed with a scared girly scream “AAaaaa!” and Galera catching the pillow in his hand.

“Nice try, guys.” Andrey turned around facing both of the party-harders.

“Ahhh, you weren’t all that good-for-nothing-black-wearing-now-bath-robe-wearing-piece-of-black-bat-and-good-for-nothing guy!” Galera complimented with some dose of disappointment spotted on his face.

“What the heck, dude, this trick works every time, what’s your problem?!” Rang complained, recovering from his shock.

“Ahahahah. I’ve been at parties too, you know. I’ve done a similar trick myself.” Andrey smiled after seeing that they are with good intentions.

It was typical for men to joke around or prank each other if they want to get closer. It’s like they are creating an event to have something in common.

“What’s up, guys?” Andrey pulled a chair close and sat on it leaving the blades to rest on his legs.

“We decided to prank you a bit and see just what a king-sent would feel like to be humiliated, but… well, I guess we underestimated you.” Galera spoke and walked closer to the bed.

“Well, I guess we’ll leave you be then. Have some rest!” Rang said with a sad frown.

“No, don’t worry. Come on, grab a chair, and sit down. Let’s have some talk.” Andrey invited them over. After all, he hasn’t socialized a lot since the last time he was with his schoolmates.

“Could you possibly be any fun? I thought you would be some cocky prick?” Rang asked referring to him being a sent-out by the king.

“This is all because the way I was introduced by Polkas. Goodlie did indeed send me to escort the merchant, but I’m just an ordinary guy.” Andrey tried be-friending them.

Galera leaned his huge figure towards Andrey and sat back down on his chair. In a deep voice, he spoke “An ordinary guy doesn’t carry his non-ordinary-blades with him even in the bath, and then while talking with people he’s trying to befriend, holding them on his legs.”

Rang still standing there and wondering whether he should sit on the bed or on a chair like the others.

“Ah... “ Andrey sighed and looked at the blades for a moment. Then continued “It’s just that I can’t really be apart from them for too long and I prefer not to be apart from them at all anymore.”

“Did something happen? Maybe an assassin was after you?!” Rang quickly shot the questions with his snake-eyes looking forward to what might be a great story of heroic counter-assassination.

“Nah. It’s worse than that, actually.”

“What? What that bad could have happened to you?” Galera asked in his deep voice.

Ahh… guys, how do I explain to you that it’s not a good idea I tell you. And I don’t want to lie to you. It’s very stupid if I invited you over to talk and I started keeping secrets and shutting off the topic.

“Well, when I went to Mage-Mountain for training I was picked by the blades.” Andrey explained simply.

“Can we try them? I mean, like, just take a look at them.” Rang asked quickly, recognizing that they are not just ordinary blades.

Andrey threw one at Rang and one at Galera, both skilfully catching them with one hand.

Galera looked at the blade and it’s perfectly fine craftsmanship. He slowly started taking it out of its sheath and his eyes focused on the letters written along the length of the blades. Galera Rose appeared to be a fool, but he had the ultimate survival instincts and was very smart. “I feel… something from this blade.” He slowly spoke with the most serious face he had made ever since Andrey met him. Rang looked at Galera’s reaction and unsheathed the second blade to see it up-close.

“This … What was your name again?” Galera asked with a serious tone.

“You read that correctly. Andrey Makiya is my name.”

“These blades…” Galera looked at the second one. which Rang was holding close to his face, to see if it had the same letters. “Yes, they both have your family name on them. But they aren’t just ordinary blades. What is this material?” Galera asked.

“It indeed isn’t steel like any other I have held on to.” Rang added.

“Black steel…” Galera mumbled.

“Well… nobody knows exactly how they were crafted or when. One thing I know is that they are tied to me in … different ways.” Andrey said, catching the blade Galera just threw at him.

“What do you mean? Anything else besides the name? It could be a coincidence.”

Following this Andrey with a completely calm face just rose the blade towards the ceiling and then grabbed it with the blade pointing at his chest. The two warriors watching him closely wondering what he is about to demonstrate.

Suddenly Andrey thrust the blade towards his chest. “No!” both men jumped from their chairs to catch his hand, but instead what they saw was the boy just standing there with the blade stopped right on top of his skin, smiling.

“What?!?!?” Both sat back down on their chairs, Galera almost breaking his because of his weight.

I haven’t seen anybody as shocked as this anytime soon. It turned out it was a great idea to have them stay, hahah. Andrey thought as he continued to try stab himself. 

“They… can’t… hurt you?!” Rang asked with his snake eyes opened wide.

“Gimme that blade!” Galera yelled at Rang. Instantly obeying he passed it.

“This can’t be.” the big handsome man slit a small piece of his finger by just barely touching the blade. “It really isn’t a trick!”

“It isn’t. Do you want me to try and stab myself with the one you’re holding, too?” Andrey asked sincerely.

“Here!” he passed it and the same stabbing attempts continued.

“Sorcery!” Rang and Galera exclaimed in amaze.

“Andrey Makiya… you definitely are no ordinary man.”

“Come on, I’m just seventeen.” Andrey joked.

“Can you wield those blades? Who trained you?” Galera insisted on knowing more.

Is it just me or is this guy’s pride hurt in some way? I better be careful with what I say or do. Maybe I shouldn’t pull out any jokes for the time being. I don’t want my first attempt at socializing to be left with a fight or something.

“Nyadzel Alastair.” Andrey replied simply.

“WHAT?!?!” Both of them stood from their chairs again in surprise.

“That bastard! He doesn’t take students!” Rang looked at the big guy to confirm if he’s not wrong.

“Indeed he doesn’t. You are definitely not just an ordinary guy! Where’d you come from?” Galera nodded at Rang and sat back down.

“Ah… it’s been too much about me, guys. Why not share some about your stories.” Andrey asked tactically trying to avoid the direction of this conversation.

“Nope!” Rang instantly refused.

“All we have are party stories and some boring escorts or hunting missions. Yours seems a lot more interesting, to be honest!” Galera insisted.

“Dea’n’ha, are you there?” Andrey tried to telepathically connect to the room which was behind him.

“Yea, nice job at telepathy. What’s up?” She replied

“Please, come help me out. Galera and Rang are at my place and really want to know more!” he requested.

“Ahh, guys… okay. What do you want to know?” He asked after a few seconds of seemingly just standing still and staring at a blank spot.

“Tell us how did you get Nyadzel to train you? That’s why you’re so rigged. For a small guy, you probably pack quite a punch!” Rang complimented.

“Well… Goodlie desired that I '' oh crap, I just referred to him without his title “train under Nyadzel’s wing. Maybe that’s why he didn’t have a choice but to train me.”

“How did you get to know Nyadzel and the king??” Galera asked with his eyes speaking curiosity.

“Well…” Andrey started to gather his thoughts as Dea’n’ha suddenly went inside the room.

“I decided to just go in, as the door was slightly opened. Sorry for not knocking, boys!” Dea’n’ha spoke with her beautiful voice, quickly grabbing all attention.

“Ah, why don't any of you wear any actual clothes?!”