"Where are we going first?" Seiichi asked as he walked beside Lumine, his hand still firmly clasped in hers.
Lumine scanned the fog-draped streets, her eyes darting from one shop to another. Suddenly, her face lit up with an idea. "Oh, I think we should go to a blacksmith's shop!" she declared, a wide smile revealing her perfect white teeth.
"Why a blacksmith's shop, of all places?" Seiichi asked, his tone laced with confusion.
"Well, this isn't just any blacksmith. The one here is incredibly talented, and I think you might find a weapon that interests you." Without another word, Lumine broke into a run, pulling Seiichi along so abruptly he nearly lost his balance.
"Slow down a bit, at least!" Seiichi said, frustration evident in his voice, though he held back from wrestling his hand free.
Lumine, however, either didn't hear or chose to ignore him. She charged ahead without slowing, dragging him through the cobblestone streets until they skidded to a halt before a distinctive shop.
A wrought metal sign hung above the door, reading 'The Black Steam'. The shop was not large, but it was imposing, built from dark bricks with a solid metal door and open glass windows. Dark smoke curled from a chimney atop its stone roof, and unlit lanterns hung on either side of the entrance, waiting for dusk.
"Here we are! Now, let's go inside!" Lumine announced cheerfully. She pushed the heavy metal door open, triggering the gentle chime of a bell.
Seiichi sighed and followed her in, closing the door behind him. The interior was a trove of craftsmanship. Polished iron armor and an array of sharpened weapons adorned the walls. To the right was a small seating area with a table and chairs; to the left, a metal display table held an assortment of swords. At the far end of the shop stood a counter, and behind it, a middle-aged man.
He had thick black hair streaked with silver, a muscular build, and the marks of his trade: a scar on his burly forearm and another that ran dangerously close to his left eye. He wore simple, practical clothes of dyed black leather, black gloves on both hands, and a pen tucked behind his ear. A plain, unadorned steel ring circled his finger.
"It's nice to be here again!" Lumine chirped, rushing to the counter and slapping her palm playfully on its surface.
The blacksmith looked up, and a gentle smile spread across his weathered face. "Oh, Lumine. Long time no see," he said, his voice a deep, resonant baritone that carried both authority and a hidden gentleness. "So, what brings you here this time?"
"Well, you see, I wanted my little brother to visit and see if he wants anything from here." She stepped aside, gesturing grandly toward Seiichi.
The man's eyes—Thomas, as Lumine had called him—widened slightly as he took in Seiichi. "Your little brother, you say?" he mused, a note of surprise in his tone. "Well, I can't believe it's already been more than ten years since you were last here. I still remember when your mother was just ten years old herself." A proud look settled on his face.
"Why do you look so proud about that?" Lumine asked, tilting her head.
"Well, it was over a thousand years ago when your mother first came here. Then came Dómvalka, then your older brother, then you, and now your younger brother. Yours is the first family where I've seen every single member visit my shop at least once. I hope this legacy continues forever."
"Well, that's quite an ambition," Lumine said with a light laugh.
"Leaving all that aside," Thomas said, his attention returning to Seiichi, "what can I interest you in, young man?"
Seiichi stepped forward, his eyes scanning the merchandise. "I haven't decided yet."
"Well, take your time. There's no rush," Thomas said, walking around the counter. "If you'd like, I can suggest a few things. Just tell me what you're looking for."
"No, thank you," Seiichi said politely but firmly. He ignored Thomas and began to pace through the shop, his gaze critically assessing each armor and weapon.
As he moved, his foot bumped against a low table. He looked down, and his eyes widened. Laid out before him was an array of revolvers, each a different color and finish. He had never held one, but he had read about such weapons in the castle library.
He studied them intently before picking up a sleek, black revolver with sharp white outlines.
Thomas approached him, with Lumine trailing behind. "See one you like?" the blacksmith asked.
Lumine peered at the revolver in Seiichi's hand. "I think you should get one. It could be a good weapon for mid-range, maybe even close-quarters," she advised, stepping closer. "So, do you want to buy it?"
"Maybe," Seiichi said, turning the heavy metal over in his hand. "But how do I use it?" he asked, looking at Thomas.
"Well, it's easy. You just pour a bit of your magic into it once, and it will create six bullets, loading them automatically. As long as you have magic to channel, it will keep creating new rounds. The best part is, it doesn't consume much, just a tiny bit for a full cylinder," Thomas explained.
"Why don't you try using it?" Thomas suggested.
Seiichi stared at the weapon with an intense, almost deadly focus. He stood perfectly still, not moving a muscle as he studied it. Slowly, he lifted his gaze to meet Thomas's eyes and extended the revolver back to him.
"Why don't you show me how it's done? I might not get it on the first try, so it would be good to see a demonstration," he said, a forced smile touching his lips.
Thomas looked at him for a moment, then nodded. "Well, if you say so." He took the revolver, and a bright light shimmered in his palm as he channeled his magic into the weapon. He raised his arm, aiming at the sturdy metal door, and slowly squeezed the trigger.
A sharp crack echoed through the shop as a bullet tore from the barrel and embedded itself in the door, leaving a small, smoking dent.
Lumine clapped her hands. "Wow, that was amazing!" she said, beaming.
"So, you see how it's done?" Thomas asked, handing the warm revolver back to Seiichi.
"Thanks for showing me. I understand completely now," Seiichi said. "By the way, do you have any physical bullets made for this revolver?"
Thomas gave him a puzzled look. "Well, yes, I do. But why would you need them? You can just use magic to create more."
"You see, I can't rely solely on magic. What if my reserves are too low to channel? How would I create bullets then? That's why I want the physical ammunition," Seiichi explained, a confident smirk on his face.
"Well, that's reasonable," Thomas conceded. He walked back to the counter, pulled open a drawer, and returned with a small, heavy pouch. "Here you go. There are about thirty bullets in there."
"Thanks." Seiichi took the pouch, its weight reassuring in his hand.
"Now, for the payment," Thomas said, rubbing his hands together with a merchant's smile. "A single revolver is three gold coins. Ten bullets are one gold coin, and you have thirty, so that's an extra three coins. The total comes to six gold coins."
Seiichi and Lumine exchanged a glance. Despite their noble status, neither of them had brought any money.
Lumine leaned close to Seiichi and whispered in his ear, "Don't worry about a thing," her voice brimming with mischief.
"Mister Thomas," Lumine said sweetly, stepping toward the blacksmith. She stopped directly in front of him and looked deep into his eyes. Her own eyes glowed with a faint, otherworldly light for a brief instant.
Thomas's eyes clouded over, turning pitch black for a moment before returning to normal. He then walked back to his counter and sat down, his demeanor completely changed.
"The revolver and the bullets are free," he stated flatly. "You can go. And if you want, you can take anything else you like. It's all free."
Just then, the door chimed again as a group of customers entered and moved toward the counter.
Lumine quickly grabbed Seiichi's hand and pulled him out of the shop. "Well, that settles everything!" she said once they were outside.
"What did you do?" Seiichi asked, genuinely curious.
Lumine looked at him with a mischievous grin. "You see, I used my power, Spiritual Control. It allows me to control the mind, body, and soul of any being like a puppet, be it human, monster, or anything else. The major downside is that it doesn't work on anyone stronger than me."
"Well, that's a story for another day," she said, cutting off any further questions. "And we're not done yet! Next, we're going to my favorite place."
She tightened her grip on his hand.
"Now, let's gooooo