The man stood tall in the mist, eyes glowing fiercely as he gazed at Charlie and Kai. The fog curled around him like a cloak, the fallen axe embedded in the skull of the slain alligator behind him.
Kai stared in awe. "He's a monster…" he whispered.
Charlie chuckled. "The title he was given… The Monster Blacksmith. It's true. He really is a monster—to beat an alligator with a single swing."
The blacksmith stepped forward, boots squelching against the damp earth. "What are you two doing here?" he demanded. "Why did you dare to enter my territory?"
Kai instinctively bowed his head. "We're sorry! We didn't mean to intrude!"
The blacksmith narrowed his eyes. "I didn't ask for an apology. I asked for a reason."
Kai straightened up, his voice steady. "We're here to ask for your help."
The blacksmith scoffed. "So you're one of them. All you need is a sword from me, right? Then go away."
"No!" Kai said firmly. "Blacksmith… we really need your help."
The man paused, then growled, "The name is Shifon."
Charlie stepped up. "It's something only you can forge, Shifon."
Shifon's eyes flickered with something—anger, maybe regret. "You're all the same. You expect me to help the likes of you?"
Kai stepped forward. "It's not just about needing a weapon. This is bigger than us. A war is coming. People will die if we don't act."
Shifon turned and walked away. "Go back home. You'll find no help here."
Without another word, he disappeared behind a wooden gate leading to a medium-sized, Japanese-style house nestled in the edge of the forest.
That night, rain poured heavily across the village outskirts. Shifon stood near his window, sipping a cup of tea, until something outside caught his eye.
Charlie and Kai were still sitting in front of his house, completely drenched but unmoving.
"What an annoying bunch," he muttered under his breath.
He stepped outside and scowled. "Come in already before you freeze to death."
Once inside, he tossed them towels and a dry blanket. After a moment of silence, the fire crackled in the background.
Charlie looked up at him. "Shifon… why did you stop making weapons? You were the greatest."
Shifon didn't reply. He stared into the fire.
Charlie persisted. "Was it really that bad?"
Shifon gave a humorless laugh. "Bad doesn't begin to cover it."
Kai leaned forward. "We're not here to exploit your skill. We came because we have no choice. You were a legend for a reason."
Shifon sighed. "Weapons are just tools for killing. Nothing more. Every blade I forged ended someone's life. Creating a weapon… it's like killing with my own hands. I can't bear that sin anymore."
Kai clenched his fists. "That just makes you a coward. Running away doesn't erase the past."
Shifon turned on him, voice thundering. "You can't possibly understand what I went through!"
Kai took a step back, surprised by the pain in his voice.
Shifon's voice dropped, trembling. "There was once a man… my best friend. He used to request swords from me every week. I cherished him like a brother. We fought together, built dreams together. But in the war… he used one of my blades to kill my son."
He collapsed to his knees, tears flowing freely. "My own hands made the weapon that ended my boy's life…"
The room fell silent, save for the soft patter of rain against the roof.
Charlie sat beside him quietly. "That's… horrible. I'm sorry, Shifon."
Shifon wiped his tears away, but his hands trembled. "He didn't even hesitate. Said it was a mistake… friendly fire. But I saw his eyes in the end. There was no regret. Just ambition."
Kai looked down, the weight of the blacksmith's pain sinking deep.
"But running won't fix what he did," Kai said softly. "You're not the one who killed your son. He is."
Charlie added, "And if you stop here, you let that pain win. But if you fight, if you forge again… maybe you give others the strength to stop people like him."
Shifon looked at the two boys. There was a flicker—just a flicker—of something returning in his eyes.
"Rest for now," he said, standing up. "We'll talk tomorrow."
End of Chapter 12