"You would forsake your profession as a Medical Expert to be a Warrior instead?"
There was a hint of disbelief in that tone. Silver Extreme looked at Sun with a scrutinising look.
"I am not forsaking anything... I am merely reassuming my role as a fighter, as someone who stands on the frontier of war...!"
A cold 'hmph' could be heard from the red-robed woman. Heart Tethering Maiden's mocking voice resounded in Sun's ears.
"You are sure to fail. If you claimed to be a Guard, despite presenting yourself as a Medical Expert, then you have obviously failed before.
"If you are now trying to propose yourself as a Warrior, despite having failed your role as a Medical Expert...
"You WILL fall."
...
...
...
Rising Hour signals the beginning of a new night.
Four hours in, two youths are traversing under the starlight, but the streets are not desolate.
The streets were bustling with all kinds of people.
There were also various stalls and stores set up in this area.
Sun and Liming Zi were perusing Union Settlement's Commerce District.
They were dressed in simple, dark blue robes, provided by the Central Medical Complex as leisurely clothing.
To help them prepare for their departure to Qing Mao Dao Settlement, they were given an allowance to purchase anything they needed.
There were already some provisions prepared for those participating in the Retaliatory Division's expedition, so these preparations were more personal.
Food stalls, jewellery, wines, and so on.
But the place these two were looking for was not so ordinary.
...
"Great Smithy... what a pompous name..."
This area of the Commerce District was centred around metallurgy.
Looking around, one would find multiple smithies, some for weapons, some for armour.
Sun was visiting the latter type.
"Are you sure these kinds of places can be trusted?"
"I'm quite sure? What's the matter?"
"Nothing... just..."
There was hesitation in Sun's eyes, feeling reluctant to reveal his worries.
But Liming Zi seemed to ignore these obvious nuances. Her expectant gaze pressed Sun to reveal his thoughts.
"I'm just worried about the choice I will make. What if this smithy isn't a reliable one?"
"Then we find another?"
"What if, on the battlefield, my weapon shatters in a dire confrontation?"
"..."
Liming Zi seemed to ponder over these worries, but eventually sighed in response.
"If you are truly that doubtful about becoming a Warrior, then why become one?"
"What...?"
"To be afraid of taking the first step—a single decision, at that—is to fester doubt in your heart.
"If being a Warrior brings you that much doubt, then it may be best to choose another option.
"However, you can reconcile with what worries you, overcome it, and remove that doubt."
To emphasise that point, Liming Zi walked into the front doors of Great Smithy, turning around to beckon Sun in.
"Well...?"
"..."
Sun let her words sink in, reluctantly but surely, taking a step forward.
"...!"
Passing through the doorframe, an intense burst of heat assaulted Sun's face, and the ringing of a hammer flew into his ears.
The space within Great Smithy was spacious; a large forge was embedded in the wall, and before it was a long anvil.
There were plenty of benches littered with tools, and there stood a table in the centre, cleared of any mess.
"Customers? Or are you just taking a gander?"
A man with a braided bear approached to greet them; the strands of white within it told of his experience.
"My friend is looking to commission armour for an expedition, and to purchase a weapon, too."
"Is that so?"
Sun took a step forward, gradually adjusting to the sudden change in the environment.
"Tell me, boy, what would you like?"
Saying so, the old smithy took out a paper and ink, ready to pen down Sun's request.
Sun described the design of the armour—flexible and lightweight, but also durable.
While the old smithy pondered on how he could create such contradicting qualities, he directed Sun to the rack of weapons on the side wall.
"Will you choose that kind of weapon again?"
Liming Zi asked as she followed behind.
Sun looked at the various weapons on display.
The cold steel of a sword, one meter in length and seeming to weigh two kilograms.
The hefty weight of a large axe, capable of splitting boulders and severing bones.
The long reach of a spear, capable of thrusts and keeping your distance from an opponent.
Each had unique designs, intricate but still functional.
Sun reached out and withdrew his weapon.
It was a halberd, two curved blades and a spike atop. The design of a dragon wrapped around the base of the blade, leather straps formed a handle with a strong grip, and formed the visage of a river.
The bottom of the halberd had a counterweight on it, resembling the tail of a fish.
"This... This will do... quite nicely, at that."
Sun weighed the halberd in his hand; its silver lustre reflected the warm glow of the furnace.
"It has... quite the design to it, as well."
"Will that be your choice, boy?"
The old smithy seemed to finish his pondering and called from the table.
Sun smiled lightly and approached, placing the halberd on the table.
"Yes, this will make for a great weapon by my side."
"Very well, then. Let me wipe that halberd clean, on the house, it'll just be a moment."
The old man retreated to fetch a cloth.
Sun left a few silver tablets on the table, payment for both the weapon and his commission.
Liming Zi seemed to gaze into Sun's eyes.
"How are you feeling now?"
"...?" Sun didn't understand the question at first, but considering his friend, he smiled lightly as he turned to look at the halberd.
"Quite fine... lighter, actually. Quite light, indeed."
"Is that so? That is good to hear."
"Will you not be purchasing armour, Li Zi?"
"I do not need it."
The old man returned and cleaned the halberd with a clean rag.
Sun was very fond of the halberd's design. It looked extraordinary, but it was undoubtedly ordinary. Regardless, he couldn't help but ask,
"Does this halberd have a name?"
The old smithy rested the halberd back on the table. He had finished cleaning it, giving it a peculiar lustre.
"River Surmounting Fish was the first name I thought of, but you could also call it the Rising Dragon."
...