Knight – Part 01
The Independent Trade City of Housman consisted of seven districts.
Each district had its own residential areas, markets, and public offices, all governed by city regulations. As more settlers gathered around the founder, Housman, the population soon outgrew the capacity of a single administration, prompting the city’s division into the districts seen today.
Bordering the city was a coastal volcanic zone, separated from it by the stretch of woodland known as Housman Forest. The Seventh District, closest to the forest, was more rural than urban—mostly a vast farmland managed by the city as part of its developmental initiatives.
Past the farmland, nestled on the outskirts of the Seventh District near Housman Forest…
“There’s a smithy all the way out here?” Cecily muttered, surprised.
After delivering the kitchen knives ordered from their workshop, Lisa led Cecily to the remote end of the Seventh District. This was where Atelier Liza, the smithy where Lisa worked, was located.
Before Cecily stretched a white forest. Bearing no official name, it had been called Housman Forest as a matter of convenience since the city’s early planning days. Thick trees, their bases tangled with dense undergrowth, stood blanketed in a thick layer of ash.
Cecily shifted her gaze from the forest to the sky, split into two stark halves—one side a bright, clear blue; the other, shrouded in gray from the ash spewing out of a volcano on the other side of the woods. This ash covered the forest, giving it the nickname the Ashen Woods. Despite the perpetual ashfall, the forest thrived, and the ash never spread into the farmland of the Seventh District. The bizarre harmony, now with a proper explanation, was an unfamiliar sight for Cecily, who lived in the Third District.
Beyond the forest, the silhouette of the volcanic ridge loomed faintly through the curtain of ash. Returning her gaze back down, Cecily spotted a lone house near the edge of the woods.
It was an old wooden house, weathered dark by the elements, with gray vines from the forest creeping up its walls. Its run-down appearance and remote location made it look abandoned. If Cecily didn’t know any better, she would have never guessed anyone lived here.
But this was indeed the smithy she was looking for.
“Come on in!” Lisa said cheerfully, tugging Cecily by the hand. “Luke, we’ve got a customer!”
Before Cecily could prepare herself mentally, Lisa flung the door open and rushed inside. Cecily peered cautiously from the entrance.
Hmm?
Her first impression was that it was quite dark. The backdrop of the ash-covered forest made the interior very dim, even in daylight, making it difficult to see the contours of the furnishings.
“A customer? I’m not really in the mood for one today.”
Cecily nearly yelped at the sound of the voice coming from outside her field of vision.
She turned and saw a young man sitting by the open window, a sheet of paper in his hand. He seemed to have been reading. The sword she’d seen him with earlier was nowhere in sight.
“Luke, let me introduce you. This is Cecily Campbell, a knight. Miss Campbell, this is Luke, the master smith. I’ll go make some tea, so make yourself at home,” Lisa said, darting off to the back room before Cecily could even respond.
Cecily exchanged glances with Luke. Silence. It was awkward.
Cecily cleared her throat with an exaggerated cough and extended her hand. “I’m Cecily Campbell, a Knight Guard from the Third District of the Independent Trade City. I wanted to thank you for your help earlier.”
“Luke Ainsworth.”
Luke glanced briefly at Cecily’s hand, but that was all. He made no effort to even stand.
“Hmm?”
Cecily gave a light shake to the hand she had offered.
“Sorry, but formal greetings are not really my kind of thing.”
“…”
After a moment of thought, Cecily approached Luke.
“Wh-What is it?”
Luke pulled back in surprise, but Cecily seized his right hand and shook it firmly.
“Nice to meet you.”
Although Luke quickly withdrew his hand, Cecily didn’t seem put off.
“Relationships start with greetings, or so my father always said. It’s important not to disregard them.”
Luke looked at her with a confused, almost wary expression, as though her behavior was beyond his comprehension.
What a rude man. Cecily sighed. Why was I even nervous?
“What is your deal?”
Ignoring him, Cecily surveyed the room. It was fairly small, sparsely decorated, with only simple furnishings. She found it too tidy for a craftsman’s house. As her eyes wandered around, she finally spotted it.
“Are you really a customer? Don’t tell me you want to continue the earlier conversation.”
“Forget about that. I heard this is a smithy. I’d like to place an order.”
“I see,” Luke said with a sigh. He set the paper he had been holding down on the table and turned his attention to Cecily. Despite his gruff demeanor, he was surprisingly articulate. “What do you want? You probably heard from Lisa, but we handle everything from everyday tools like sickles, machetes, hoes, shears, to farming equipment and candlesticks. We can make most metal goods, but please, no accessories. We only deal in practical items. Why would a knight like you come to a smithy like ours anyway?”
“I’d like you to make me a sword just like that one.”
Cecily pointed to a sword secured to the wall by a clasp. She did not miss the change in Luke’s eyes.
The sword she indicated was a single-edged blade with a gentle curve. It had no hilt, with the tang exposed, and its spine gleamed with a black sheen while the edge shone silver.
The sword had an enigmatic allure. Even in the dim light of the room, its distinctive sheen caught Cecily’s eye. The intricate pattern that rippled across the blade fascinated her. It was unlike any sword she had ever seen. Though it wasn’t displayed with any special framing, it drew her in.
One look and Cecily instantly knew. Although she only caught a glimpse of the weapon earlier, this sword was definitely the same type as the one Luke had used. The silhouette of the blade matched the slash she had witnessed him make. The image of the sword slicing through steel replayed in her mind with crystal clarity. This was it.
“Could you forge a sword of the same quality for me?”
Luke wore a deep frown. He scrutinized Cecily, measured her, before speaking. “I’m sorry, but—”
“Speaking of which, didn’t your sword break, Miss Campbell?”
Lisa, who had been listening from the back room, came out with a tray and offered Cecily a cup of tea.
“Just Cecily is fine. What’s this?”
“It’s made from leaves gathered from the forest. It’s rich in Aetheria and warms the body.”
“The forest? You mean the Ashen Woods? I didn’t know you can gather food ingredients from there. Thanks.”
The tea had a rich, unfamiliar texture but was oddly soothing. It was flavorful and delicious. Cecily let out a breath. Lisa was watching her with a bright smile, and she smiled back.
The assistant’s a lot nicer than the master, Cecily thought.
“So, where were we?”
“Your sword broke,” Lisa said.
“Ah, that’s right. My sword broke,” Cecily confirmed. “I need a replacement urgently and would like to place an order with your workshop, if possible. If you have a sample, I’d like to see it.”
“Sorry, but I have to ask you to leave.”
“What?”
“Lisa,” Luke said, turning to her.
Sensing the gravity in his voice, Lisa shrank. Luke addressed her in a calm but firm tone, almost as though interrogating her.
“Why didn’t you explain it to her?”
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m asking for the reason.”
“I just… thought you should interact with more people.”
Luke’s right eye widened. His face twisted with anger, but he quickly composed himself and turned away. Lisa mumbled another apology.
Cecily, left out of the conversation, was completely bewildered by the situation.
“What’s going on? Why are you giving her a hard time?”
“Sorry for not explaining it sooner,” Luke sighed. “We can’t fulfill your order. We don’t accept orders for swords.”
Cecily’s eyes grew wide. “Then what about the sword displayed there? It must be more than just a decoration.”
“That’s a keepsake from my father. We stopped forging swords during his time.”
“But the sword you used in the city is something you forged, isn’t it? Lisa told me.”
Luke shot Lisa a sharp glare. She lowered her gaze and slowly backed away.
Cecily stepped forward. “Your skill is impressive. How are you not famous despite your talent? And why don’t you take sword commissions?”
“We just don’t. Try a different shop. Besides, if you’re a knight, you should have a couple of spare swords lying around.”
Indeed, she had a few spare swords at home.
“You must take pride in your work,” Cecily went on. “You believe your sword is the best in the city, and I agree. I’ve seen it. Experienced it. I won’t be satisfied with any other sword. Can’t you make an exception?”
“I forge katanas only for myself,” Luke said firmly.
Cecily swallowed hard. The term katana was unfamiliar to her. Based on the context, it likely referred to a specific type of sword.
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