บท 2: The Blacksmith

It has been over a dozen minutes since Faolan departed from his home, following the path to the nearby village. The air grew thicker in chilliness, every time Faolan exhaled, a puff of steam clouds would appear and disperse into the air. It had begun to snowfall, which would soon envelope the earth with its white sheet.

"This snow is gonna get real bad later," he thought,

Faolan can determine just by seeing the amount of snowfall and he would compare the slight difference from days prior if he focused really hard.

"It won't be easy today I suppose," Faolan held his bag close and continued quickly on the path.

The sound of kids playing with each other is finally heard, which meant Faolan was nearing the village. Faolan also recognized the path in which he knew that he was close. With further steps he arrives to where the kids played. Faolan spots the child he helped out the other day, the child also spots Faolan so he produces an innocent wave and smile. Faolan gave a warm smile and waved gently. Faolan would continue onward into the village seeing the elders, men and women overseeing the village, nodding and bowing at Faolan. Faolan stood and bowed in return respectfully, one of the elders grinned. As Faolan continued forward he was called out by a lady he's acquainted with since he was a young boy.

"Hello, Miss Yano-san!" Faolan shouted back, as he approached her. Yano is a happy lady who always spoke to Faolan's mother. Yano bowed at Faolan, in which he returned a bow as well.

"Stay safe at work today Mr. Okami, if you need anything, let me know, I'm always willing to help you and your mother for doing so much for me." she let out a caregiving smile.

"Thank you very much Yano-san, Mother has always said to keep my hand open to those who may need it," Faolan held his palms together.

Faolan waved in goodbye as he approached his workplace. Faolan's bag almost came loose, so he raised it over his shoulder once again for a better control. He arrived in a small building, where the blacksmith works. Faolan continued inside, there were lights on but no sign of metal clinking, which is the usual case every time Faolan came to work.

"I think I should call out to him before I go any further", he thought.

"Mr. Nakama, I have arrived—uh are you here sir?" he shouted loud enough to ensure he could cover the entire building, but not loud to the point where it would be heard outside.

"Yes boy, come to the workbench," Nakama returned with a reply.

Faolan proceeded to the workbench room, to find that Mr Nakama was having supper. Nakama, was an elderly man, wise with grey hair and eyes, yet flexible so he is always able to continue working. Faolan has seen, the amount of patience he presents. To passive and nice customers and to aggressive customers. Mr. Nakama, always had patience for everything, he's never lashed out on Faolan for mistakes, only asked him to try again and to be better.

"For such an elderly man he can do so much that the other elders can't,"pondered Faolan. Mr.Nakama is consistently creating tools with the assistance of Faolan for the entire village and smithing spares just in case. Mr. Nakama was always prepared. Faolan watched as Mr. Nakama finished his supper, placing his tray near a holding counter, that is meant for tools.

"Alright boy, unravel your tools and we shall begin work today just as normal," Nakama had a non focused gaze.

"Yes sir," Faolan unpacked his tools, which consisted of a basic set of : Hammer, chisel, sets, and a hardy. Mr. Nakama already had the rest of the tools needed to smith.

Mr. Nakama usually dealt with the most intensive smithing and urged Faolan to watch carefully. Faolan with his sharp eyes always watched with precision, every single movement. Faolan processed the amount of speed and power, Mr. Nakama would demonstrate when smithing tools.

"Everything requires great determination, to achieve the best," stated Mr Nakama.

"Which is why you rarely get any upset customers, but you get those who need a replacement for tools they have used up already," Faolan added.

"A good example, Okami, there you see the fruits of our labor, however even with so much determination, experience plays an important role," Nakama stopped and turned to Faolan,

"Which is why when you're mother first brought you to me, you were inexperienced months ago, but with further experience your skills have grown tremendously due to your hard work and determination," Nakama pointed towards Faolan's chest, and returned to the intensive smithing. Faolan continued to observe Mr. Nakama's smithing while pondering how much he has grown through experience, the ferocity of every movement that Nakama made was sharp and determined.

"This must of come years of practice, come to think of it, I never really thought about what Nakama does whenever he isn't working, I'm not sure if he even has family, "Faolan wondered and frowned a little as Nakama worked.

He saw a man who took life and moved forward, never letting anything barricade him from moving forward, life's hardships would never cease his soul. Mr. Nakama lived a different life from those of this village in which had molded him into the man he is today.

Faolan was always interested in learning about Mr. Nakama his teacher, but he wasn't so sure how to express it. Faolan believed that it was unnecessary to even think that way.

" I shouldn't really pry into his life just because I'm curious, Faolan would thought meant being respectful to someone who's probably gone through so much in the past," however his mother would always encourage him to always try, she would always say,

"Faolan, there isn't anything wrong with something you want to learn about someone , however you must be humble if they decide not to express those feelings yet,"

Faolan would decide mentally if he wanted to seek his curiosity or not, but his curiosity would have to come later, because he wanted to honor Mr. Nakama's wish for Faolan to watch him smith, and incorporate the example for himself for the future.

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Much time has passed, and Mr. Nakama has finished smithing a metal frame used for support on the homes of the villagers. Faolan has noted to himself the importance of taking his time and determination in achieving the best.

For me to be at Mr. Nakama's status would take me a very long time, I will get better. Faolan held these thoughts hoping it could be true for himself.

"With skills like Mr. Nakama, I could also be able to support Mother whenever she needs it," Thinking about what he could do for his mother Faolan held the confidence to keep striving under Nakama , due to how he wishes to be strong for his mother even when she does not desire his aid for too long.

"Okami, come to my quarters and bring me my tray, would you," Mr. Nakama was preparing something, interrupting the thoughts of Faolan.

"I'll be on my way, Mr. Nakama." Faolan retrieves his tray from the holding counter and headed towards the sound in which Mr.Nakama called him.

Uhh, which room is he in? Faolan did not which room Mr. Nakama was located in. He searched between rooms sticking his head out with no one inside them. Just extra smithing supplies in each and every one of them.

So much, Faolan thought as he quietly walked.

He approached a closed room, which looked very skeptical, Faoaln reached for the sliding entrance to check,

"Here boy, follow."

A hand was placed on Faolan's shoulder, he turned around quickly in a bit of a scare. Faolan followed Mr. Nakama across several rooms before turning into a room which fumed the smell of Yakiniku. The meal was really just grilled meat, however Faolan's mother would have it served on the side with rice, which wasn't something normal in Japan, but it was still delicious. Mr.Nakama sat in the position of the Seiza, this too Faolan did on the opposite side of the chabudai where two plates were being served. Faolan bowed in respect for this meal he is receiving.

"Thank you for the food sir!" thanked Faolan.

"My pleasure, it is to celebrate the coming New Year before you head home for the day," stated Mr. Nakama.

"We're done early today, Nakama-sensei?" Faolan was surprised at the fact that he is ending work so early.

"Yes, I do have a visitor coming very soon for the new year," Mr. Nakama took a bite.

"I see.. at least Nakama isn't all alone." Faolan continued to eat the delicious meat.

The two would finish their meal about the same time, Faolan stood and retrieved both plates to set aside.

"Your Mother has raised you well boy," grinned Nakama.

"I try my best sir," Faolan felt honored by Nakama's words making a bright face.

"Mr. Nakama have you been anywhere else than the village here?" Faolan was able to courageously ask the question without looking at Mr. Nakama.

A slight pause

Mr. Nakama was still in the seizo stance crossing his arms.

"Yes, I have been in many locations in Japan," Mr. Nakama finally replies.

Faolan's eyes flourished and he turned to face Mr. Nakama.

"Really!" Faolan's curiosity was showing.

"There were beautiful places like around Mount Sagiri, with so much land and as well as architecture,"Nakama grinned.

"You've must have met a lot of people right?" Faolan asked.

"Heh, yes I made many friends over many years of travel, they showed me the importance of moving forward and staying humble, the beauty of it all was the relationship we all carried with each other," Mr. Nakama lowered his head in respect for his friends.

"Sounds like you had a blast during your time traveling sir, it's really good to know that you know so much," a humble reply from Faolan

A slight shift in Nakama's energy was something Faolan did not notice for it was too sudden.

"I may know too much for one life."

"Okay boy, it is time you go see your Mother before the snow begins to deepen your footing." Mr. Nakama urges Faolan to be ahead of the time.

"Alright, Mr. Nakama I'll see you next time." Faolan retrieved his bag of tools and headed for the exit of the workplace.

Mr. Nakama stood and bowed in respect, "Good work today," he said.

Faolan waved back at Mr. Nakama, "Thank you! And thank you for the meal sir!" Faolan continued onward before the day would darken.

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Outside, the snow has not grown too deep yet, Faolan quickly stomped over the snow wanting to head home as soon as he could. He also just started to feel terribly exhausted, which boosted his need to reach home before dark. The children were inside the village this time, playing a sort of 'touch' game.

That looks like a lot of fun , he thought.

There were some adults arguing over something, Faolan could see that one has a mistrust for the other, he dare not question what happened. The village elders watched humbly as Faolan passed, nodding at Faolan who smiles back. At the exit Faolan prepared himself for the journey home, for the snow could be much deeper in the forest than the village.

Alright, I have to be sure I'm quick, if the sun goes down before I get home it'll be dangerous in the wild here, Faolan attempted to breathe in a certain way his mother told him about, in order for him to have the energy he needs to go on the trek.

"I'm not so sure if breathing is gonna change much, but I gotta try anything that would help,"Faolan made a final stretch and continued on the path home trying to make every stomp count while taking exaggerated breaths .

Dusk now has arrived to cover the snow with a bright amber glow, the trees blended with a rich dark greenery though reflecting the amber color of the snow that laid on top of each leaf. However as the snow continued to fall, the snow would overwhelm the covered leaves, dripping the snow from the leaves. Faolan arrived that his home, sliding the entrance open, with an exhausted slouch, he then placed his bag of tools by the entrance.

"Mother, I'm home!" he called out.

Footsteps came from around the mother's room, "Hello son, I see that you're home early," Okami's eyes sparkled at the sight of her son.

"Mister Nakama let me go early, he said that he had someone coming over for New Years," said Faolan, he had begun to remove his haori for the day.

"Well son, I'm sure you deserve the early leave, around the village I always hear how highly they speak of you," Okami displays a proud smile.

"Thank you Mother," Faolan says with a little embarrassment. The village really does talk about me all the time huh? he thought . This was usually the case for Faolan for the past years due to his hard work, which didn't come easy, whatsoever.

Faolan felt an intense drowsiness bestow upon him, his head would sway back and forth.

"Son you should rest for the night," Okami tilted her head in concern for Faolan's fatigue.

"Before that, do you need to do anything for you?" Faolan asked, with a slurrying eye.

"No I do not, rest for New Years." Okami lowered her eyebrows and tilted her head in the opposite direction with a smile.

"Okay then." Faolan headed towards his room with the help of his mother and laid himself down quickly covering himself. His room was cool due to the cold air outside, which made the bed all the more comfort than it already was. His eyes would close, slowly with the darkness of his room as dusk finally settled.

"I'll support you mom," he wanders in sleep.

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BANG BANG BANG

Faolan's vision was blurry, "What was that loud sound?" his eyes slithered back to being closed until another series of loud bangs came from the front of the house. Which then slowly once again slithered back closed. BANG BANG BANG , Faolan shot up from his bedding wiping his eyes of fatigue and quickly stumbling to his feet.

Someone's at the door? He wondered who could it be especially at this hour. He quickly skidded to the front door of his home, slowly checking to see where his mother is.

Where is mother? He thought, since there wasn't any sight of her.

Faolan carefully slid the door open, to find a family from the village covered in scratches and rubble.

"What's going on?" Faolan asked with a massive concern over his mother.

The father spoke, "A...a..monster attacked the entire village, we were told to come here, there may be more families on the way." he held his family close, the children all weeping.

Faolan stepped outside, allowing the family inside, he knew that his mother would be kind enough to let struggling visitors into the home, but more people was something different. Stomping onto the deep snow, witnessing the fuming glow of fire in the distance with an ash of smoke darker than the night sky, there was a terror happening in the village.

"I have to find Mom!"