Sword, please.

[Neo Eternity]

"Yeah, this is the one." Neo looks up at the sign... And then headed on into the shop, list in hand. What was on that list? Specifications for a new sword. It would be a katana, reverse-edged, with a light blue-tinted blade, black everywhere else. The scabbard would be black as well. He also wanted a pair of metal arm guards to wear under his jacket, to replace the energy shield. He looked around, but neither of the kurgens seemed to be there at the moment. He left the list on the counter, and stopped for a moment to check out the wares he had already made, giving a low whistle. This is good looking stuff. This sword's in good hands. He then walked out.

[Sylus Kurgen]

After the events of the previous night, Sylus awoke with a throbbing heading thanks to the two large mugs of Dwarven spirits. Xenograg had warned him that pounding back strong brew like that would be something he'd regret. But at the time Sylus didn't care.

Rising tiredly, he moved through the halls of I'Taurn where he lived with Alais and just took in everything. Eyes moved over designs on the walls, furniture, the staff moving about quietly throug their morning routine. He watched it all with an air of indifference. His mind looking over all the events the fates had thrown at Alais and himself so quickly. So unexpectedly.

"I need to get out of here, clear my head." Then Sylus remembered he still needed to complete Neo's sword and armguards. And with that shipment of Damascus steel that had come in, he'd make the lad some masterpiece work.

Returning to the 4th floor apartments Sylus dressed quickly and ordered a healthy breakfast consisting of water, orange juice, goat's milk, wheat toast with strawberry jam, eggs, and oatmeal topped with brown sugar and honey. Thanking the maid who took away the tray, he told her to compliment to cook. The breakfast was divine.

Shrugging on his surcoat and twin sword-belt, Sylus left the house and went to the shop Artemus had purchased during his captivity. Opening up the doors to let potential customers watch him work, Sy got the forge running nice and hot.

Sword-belt removed, he propped the twin scimitars up against the wall and put on one of the thick aprons hanging from the peg on the wall. Hair tied back a calloused and now gloved hand reached for the thirty pound hammer he was using to make this blade. Heating the steel till the metal glowed white. A pair of tongs held the heated metal in place while Sylus brought the hammer down on it in steady motions, flattening it and elongating the blade to the right lenght, then it was twisted with another bar of steel to reinforce the metal and flattened again. This pattern went on for a handful of hours, just folding the steel and flattening it again. Sylus lost count when he neared the two hundred mark. Setting aside the steel, he took up a wash cloth and wiped the soot from his brow and neck. Working the metal always helped to clear his thoughts and gave him a sense of purpose.

There were two things in this world he loved above all others. First was Alais, with her silver hair, infectious laughter, piercing argentine eyes, and lips he couldn't get enough of kissing. Just seeing her made every fiber of his being burn like the metal he worked. Second was working the metal, shaping it into usable items with his own two hands. Whether it be making simple tools for people to use around their homes or swords and armor for wandering mercenaries and adventurers to use in their personal protection. Even though others did not share that belief, Sylus felt that the only use a weapon had was in defending. Defending your own life and the lives of the ones who matter most to us.

[Sylus Kurgen]

Eyes moved over the "additions" Neo wanted placed on the blade and Sylus could do naught but shake his head. The lad wanted the sword to be tinted blue. Sylus wasn't a fan of making blue steel because sometimes the blade was weakened, but what the customer wants the customer gets. However the elder Kurgen would cheat a little bit just this once and simple added blue dye to the water he used to cool the steel. Cheap trick but it did as the client wanted without the risk of weakening the metal.

Getting the metal hot once more, but only a dull orange, Sylus put his brand near the base of the blade. His mark so that admirers of the blade would know where the blade come from and Neo could send them his way. To cool the steel this time, Sylus dipped it into olive oil so that the blade would have that flawless shine Blade set aside on a stand, Sy went and dug out the small telescope looking thing he'd bought from a nearby diamond seller. Holding the instrument up to his eye, the newly forged sword was scrutinized for the slightest imperfection. Some times hairline cracks in the steel went unnoticed and the blade shattered in the fighter's hand. Sylus worked hard on his weapons and there wasn't a snowball's chance in any level of hell he'd risk that happening to any of his friends in the heat of battle.

Satisfied with the quality of the weapon, it was time to sharpen it. Sitting before the grinding stone, his foot tapping the ground pedal to get it up and running. Once the stone wheel was spinning fast enough he pressed the edge of the reverse-blade katana to the course rock. Glass goggles kept sparks from flying into his eyes as the blade slid along the wheel at an angle, reversed and pressed again. Weaponsmithing was an art of repeated motion and dedication. To make quality work you had to revere the steel and treat it like your own flesh and blood. Sylus poured a piece of his spirit into each and every weapon he made, the devotion and time he put into each one was reflected in the end result.

[Neo Eternity]

He walked on into the shop once more... and was greeted by a box chucked at his head, javelin style. He caught it, and tilted his head to see who threw it, but it seemed no one was there. He opened it up... Oh my, this is NICE. He unsheathed it, and grinned. He pulled a small bag out of his jacket pocket. It had money in it, more than enough to cover the costs. He tossed it onto the counter. "Thanks, Sylus!" He shouted audibly enough for him to hear if he was present. He sheathed the sword and put it behind him into his personal Hammerspace, and tossed the box in there with it. He then turned and left, grinning.