บท 43: (XLIII) Warglaive

The triplets wore a white tunic dress with gold trim around the shoulders and waist. Each had a frilly white scarf adorning their neck. All three women held one hand on their chests while another on their hips. Their thighs were exposed, clad in a pair of dark leather stockings with small metal studs along its seam up their thighs to where the hem stopped halfway down her calves.

They wore long black boots laced with thick brown straps from ankle to knee above a set of golden anklets. A single thin ribbon wrapped twice across their midriffs, covering their breasts and creating a bow in the center of each bust line.

The only difference between the three was their hair colors, the scarf tips, and the ribbon around their chests. Each had different colored streaks throughout their hair: pink, purple, and orange, respectively. Abigail wore red, Bella wore blue, and Julie wore yellow.

As if on cue, Alijah returned carrying a tray filled with tea cups and several plates piled high with cakes. "Here we go!" She said happily before sitting beside Jackson and placing it beside him. The trio walked over and took seats, pouring themselves some tea as they waited patiently.

"So?" Jackson began, leaning back against the counter.

Alijah smiled softly at her boss and raised an eyebrow, tilting her head curiously toward her employer. He cleared his throat and pulled out the three contracts, explaining the terms as all three listened carefully, nodding as they flipped through the pages.

It didn't take much longer for them to come to a consensus; once satisfied with what was being offered, the three women signed, handing Jackson the contracts as he signed each of them as the soul-binding locks magically appeared in front of the four as the chains reappeared, launching into him and the triplets binding their hearts.

"Alright, so what are each of your specialties?" Jackson asked, clasping his hands together loudly as he smiled and looked at everyone.

Abigail blinked and rubbed her forehead with two fingers before looking up and replying quietly, "I am a weapons smith."

"Good! Can you make bows? Swords, daggers, knives, maces, and axes?" Jackson prompted. She nodded slowly, grabbing her tool bag and unrolling it to reveal the numerous hammers and pliers needed to forge weapons from metal and manipulate leather and wood.

Bella followed her sister's lead as she grabbed her tool bag and revealed the tools required to manipulate plates of metal and rivets to create heavy plate armor, chainmail, tools to stretch leather into armor, and needles and thread to stitch robes. She grinned mischievously before speaking, "I'm an armorer!"

Julie stepped forward confidently and held both arms behind her back, staring straight at Jackson, declaring proudly, "And I specialize in jewelry: necklaces, rings, bracelets, and more."

She pulled several pieces of equipment from her bags: tools used to create or modify jewelry made of different materials, including silver, gold, platinum, etc., and other devices to manipulate gems.

"Perfect. Get with Amelia, and she'll show you all the blueprints and materials required." Jackson ordered as all three nodded in unison.

"Actually, Jax... I wanted to break our contract in exchange for getting these three to replace me..." She said, stepping forward, her eyes looking down to the floor as she held her elbow.

"Hmm..." Jackson thought, stroking his chin before snapping his fingers and grinning as he turned to Alijah, "Find Natane and have her locate a suitable workshop for these three."

The younger woman nodded and skipped out of the store as Jackson turned back to the triplets, "Head to Amelia's shop and introduce yourselves to August; get the blueprints and start studying them! I want you to know them inside and out by the time she gets there."

"Un!" The three women nodded, grabbing their tool bags and rushing out of the store.

"We can break the contract, but I want the information clauses to remain in effect." Jackson said, returning his gaze to Amelia, "While Natane is locating a suitable workshop, I want you to let the sisters use yours. I can't have an empty shop."

"I'd rather we didn't. If you accept absolute dissolution, I'll take these terms." Amelia said, smiling softly at the young man.

"If you want that, complete the commission for free and let them use your shop." Jackson sighed, hanging his head and shaking it.

"Deal!" The woman giggled, grabbing his hand and dragging him out of the building, "Your commission is done; come on, let's go!"

"You dirty cheater!" Jackson pouted as he grabbed the handle, locking the door as Amelia continuously tugged at him. She quickly led him back to her workshop, where August was polishing the equipment he had requested.

Jackson opened his mouth when August smiled, turning around and holding up a tightly wrapped long hilt with two long scimitars extended from the ends, metal rings floating diagonally near the grip, and an intricately designed cross guard resembling two moons with multiple gears moving around it.

It glittered under the lights in front of them; blue energy emitted around the edge of the blades, extending the reach of the already long weapon. August spun the warglaive in front of him, twisting the hilts as the blades separated, twirling both scimitars around his body.

"If you're impressed already, you haven't seen anything yet!" Amelia joked, laughing as she playfully nudged him in the ribs, snapping her fingers as she walked past him, "Go grab the WarFrame and bring it out front!"

"Alright!" August shouted, deactivating the blades and placing them on the counter before disappearing to the back room. Amelia walked around the counter next to the swords, reaching under the counter and producing a case containing a gold bracelet, two white gold rings, and a white gold earring.

"You had enough materials, so I threw these together. They work as a set and have to be worn together. They amplify the power of your abilities but also serve as a conduit for gathering energy as well as an additional battery for the WarFrame." She explained, sliding the case across the counter as August returned, pushing an object on wheels covered by a large cloth.

"Aha! Speaking of the WarFrame! August!! Unveil our masterpiece!" Amelia exclaimed with a large grin.