“Let me tell ye a story from several decades ago,” Gaien continued. “Despite his talent, my master was a nameless smith. He wasn’t a greedy man and was content just crafting the weapons he was asked for. He often said that, though he was too weak to protect others, he could forge blades for those who could. If he hadn’t been such a recluse, I’d probably be known as the disciple of the best blacksmith of the empire.”
I hadn’t expected Gaien to start talking about his own master out of the blue. Kagali seemed torn between her nervousness and her curiosity. This was clearly her first time hearing about any of this. Her gaze, which had been wandering around, was now fixed on Gaien once more.
“One day, a man who’d gotten my master to make him a magic sword burned down an entire village. The lad wasn’t all that strong—but the sword my master had made for him was. The village’s guards were no match for it, and the lad killed everyone, even the women and children.” Gaien rubbed his brow, unable to hide his anguish at the memory. “When he heard the news, my master took his own life. He was kind and talented...but he was weak. That’s when I realized that resolve is the most important quality for a weaponsmith.”
I understood Gaien’s point entirely. The issue wasn’t whether Kagali could—or would—take responsibility or not. Rather, it was the fact that she had never even considered the question. It didn’t matter whether she answered that a weapon was only a tool and the responsibility fell entirely upon the one who used it, or that she thought the blacksmith was responsible but she had decided to shoulder these sins and live on, or something else entirely. What mattered was that she didn’t have an answer at all. No amount of skills could prevent someone’s mind from breaking down—just like Gaien’s master’s had.
During the entirety of Gaien’s speech, a benevolent smile remained on Tida’s face, and she nodded gently several times. “I understand your feelings now, Mr. Gaien,” she said before turning to Kagali. “Miss Kagali, as you’ve heard, your father doesn’t think you’re unworthy of being a weaponsmith. He’s simply worried about you. I’d like for you to understand that.”
“I... I do understand.”
Tida gave another light nod. “Now then, Miss Kagali, do you still wish to become a weaponsmith after listening to your father’s concerns?”
“I do. I may not fully get what the ‘resolve’ my dad mentioned is all about, and it’s true that I’ve never thought about the fact that the weapons I craft for people to protect themselves could be used to hurt others instead. Even so...I want to be a weaponsmith! I want to forge weapons that will save people’s lives, just like my dad!”
Gaien looked at her in silence, and Kagali continued.
“After talking with Ellie and learning just how small my world is, I’ve come to understand that I’ve behaved like a spoiled kid. If I want my life to change, I have to forge it with my own two hands. I’ve made up my mind. I will be a weaponsmith. I’ll do whatever I need to do for the sake of that goal! And one day, I’ll surpass you, dad!”
This time, Gaien didn’t object. After seeing the blaze of courage in her eyes, he might have realized that Kagali was more serious than he’d previously thought.
“Mr. Gaien, I hope you will not make light of your daughter’s need for your approval. Besides, while she may not have an answer to your question yet, I’m sure you understand now that she takes this very seriously.”
“I do,” Gaien replied with a nod.
Tida bobbed her head too. “You may be father and daughter, but you are still two unique people with different views and opinions.” Tida’s voice was gentle yet firm, like that of a priest delivering a sermon. “You can’t understand each other if you don’t talk to each other. I know people sometimes like to speak of tacit understanding, but more often than not people never come to truly understand one another without exchanging words.”
Tida concluded by encouraging them to share their feelings with one another more often. “Anyway, sorry for taking up all that time!” she said, glancing at Salamander. She was back to talking like she always did. “Taking care of Salamander’s mana is our first priority at the moment, isn’t it?”
“Yer right,” Gaien replied. “Kagali, bring me those catalysts over there.”
“O-Okay!”
With that, Gaien continued his preparations. Once he was mostly done, he grabbed his hammer. After hesitating for a few moments, he called for Kagali again.
“Even though me arms grew back, they don’t feel the same as before.”
“What?! Are you okay?!” Panicked, Kagali looked to Tida for help.
“Well, these are brand-new arms, after all. I don’t think there are any issues with him physically, but his mind might need some time to catch up with what’s happened. I wouldn’t be surprised if his reflexes and sensations were a bit off for a while. He’ll get used to it within a few days.”
“I see... I’m glad to hear that,” Kagali said, reassured by Tida’s answer.
Suddenly, Gaien held out his hammer to her.
“Wh-What are you doing?”
“I can’t risk handling our lord archspirit’s mana in this state. But this can’t wait, so ye do it.”
“B-But...”
“If ye want to be a weaponsmith, stop chickening out. If ye’ve got no resolve, make up for it with guts!”
Kagali looked down at her father’s hammer for a few seconds before making up her mind and taking it.
As I watched them, I whispered to Tida, “Does Regeneration really have those side effects? I’ve never heard of that before.”
“Nope, that’s not a thing. Casually reattaching a severed arm might have those symptoms, but I’ve performed the full ritual with the magic circle and altar to boot. His arms are just as they were before the attack.”
So this is all a ploy to get Kagali to swing the hammer. “I see. The ends justify the means, huh? It was kind of you to play along.”
“Why, of course. What else would you expect from an amazing, considerate woman like me?”
I shrugged, and my gaze wandered back to Kagali, who was hard at work under Gaien’s guidance.
“He’s already treating her like his disciple,” I said.
“They both have such troublesome personalities,” Tida replied.
“Here, please take this. You’ve both worked hard,” Misha said, approaching us with waterskins.
“Oh! Is that alcohol?”
“It’s water, obviously,” I said. “Still, you surprised me earlier, Tida. You were almost like a true clergywoman.”
“You’d be hard-pressed to find a more devout clergywoman than me, you know?”