He watched in fascination as the glowing, hot iron sent blazing heat along the length of his arms. It was almost time to pull out the material from the furnace and start forging. When it reached a certain temperature and desirable color, he retracted the blade as he reached for a hammer.
"Last one for the day?" A woman with long, black hair appeared, amused by the amount of concentration the blacksmith was displaying. She placed a cup filled with water on top of his workspace, effectively cutting his advances to pound on the hot material.
"Ultear," he grunted, piercing green eyes warning the woman who nonchalantly perused inside his work station.
"Jellal," she teased back. If there was one thing she was good at, it's getting on someone else's nerve and wasting their time—though it's most unfortunate the young blacksmith was always the victim.
He released a tired breath, dismissing her playful behavior and turning his attention to the future work of art. There was simply no beating Ultear at her own game.
"I heard a particularly delightful news circulating in the village." Removing her cloak, she made herself comfortable by sitting on one of his stools and admiring his craftsmanship. He was one talented blacksmith indeed. It's no wonder he's supplying the kingdom.
"Not interested." Jellal muttered, striking the metal with absolute precision.
"Not yet," her lips quirked up to a smile. "Fiore's implementing a tax reformation."
"Well I'll be damned." Jellal muttered, disinterest still ever present as he inspected the blade from end to end.
Ultear frowned. Was there nothing that interested this man rather than fine worksmanship and sharp, deadly weapons? She was almost sure he's never been with a woman in his entire life which was surprising. Given Jellal's facial features, he could easily be mistaken as a noble and identified as a knight with his lean build and developed muscles.
"That's not exactly good news now, is it?"
The blacksmith wiped the sweat off his forehead with a swipe of his forearm. He wasn't showing it, but truth be told he's worried about the kingdom's decision. Reducing the taxes of the people right in the middle of the plague's aftermath was a suicidal move not only for the kingdom's economic growth but also for the people's lives.
Ultear shrugged, "A pretty bold move yes, but beneficial to the people if you ask me. More money and everybody's happy."
"That's exactly the problem," Jellal countered. "The populace will only work for themselves and their self interests. We're living in hard times. Don't you fear the effect this will have when people start hoarding limited supplies and leaving none for others?"
The woman was still in the middle of taking in that information when the blacksmith spoke once more.
"It's the kingdom and its council who'll suffer in sorting things out if that happens. I don't know if they're masochistic martys or just plain stupid." Jellal dropped his tools and gulped down the drink offered to him earlier.
The black-haired woman looked at him with a blank expression plastered on her fair face.
"Hmmm, I did not think of that." she simply said.
"Of course you didn't."
He was rewarded with a punch to his gut.
One simply did not have the luxury of time to gallivant through the heart of the village's market. It was crowded and full of pickpockets and nasty merchants. Yet there he was, walking along the muddy streets wasting his time instead of tending to unfinished metalwork. Jellal was mad at himself for allowing his female companion to take him with her to run errands which was supposed to be done a fortnight ago.
"Stop sulking." Ultear reprimanded. How could he not though? It wasn't his responsibility to make sure their food supply was full. She was.
"I thought we had a clear agreement about division of labor?" he grunted when Ultear handed him a satchel full of jars ranging from drinks to spices.
"And who's the older sibling here?" A click of her tongue was all it took to silence the young man. It's true that whoever was older had the authority in the household. Jellal's memory of his childhood was a blur though. He couldn't remember any of it apart from the detailed description his sister provided him. They were children raised in an apothecary shop. Their parents died in the plague right after Jellal was born and ever since, Ultear had to keep them both alive. She managed somehow by selling medicinal herbs. When Jellal reached the age when questions were all he could think of, Ultear provided answers. She told him that she got his hair color from their late mother; that the tattoo on his right face was a decorative art with a sole purpose to remind him he was special. As he got older, he began to question the facts presented to him. He and Ultear bear no resemblance at all and what kind of parents scars their child's face just to prove they're different? Whenever he'd ask some more, she would just brush it off. So it was not unusual how he still was anxious about his past and his connections. If all that Ultear had told him were lies, then what was the truth?
"You're sulking again." her worried voice pulled him out of trance. "Are you alright?"
"Don't mind me."
"Suit yourself."
For once, they finally agreed on something. Winter was just around the corner and it was best if they were prepared. Apart from ale and spices, they've also bought oats and bread together with cheese. Jellal brought his attention to wooden containers with salted and dried fish. Ultear immediately recognizing her brother's wants, asked the merchant for a couple of salted cod and herring.
"You're spending way more than usual."
She rolled her eyes at him.
"That's because you're earning way more than usual. Besides, it's been a while since Magnolia's had some fresh delicacies."
Jellal was about to make a comeback when something flashed before his eyes. A harsh sound ringed in his ear as he dropped the satchel, his hands clutching the sides of his head to stop the pain from surging.
"Jellal! What's wrong?" Ultear rushed to him, kneeling down and joining him on the muddy ground.
The crowd and the noise in the background were only adding to the lethargic episode he was having. What was happening? He felt his blood freeze in his veins as he threw up the remains of what they had for breakfast. Distorted images danced beneath his eyelids and the horrible taste of lead formed in his mouth. In the next split second, he succumbed to the darkness.
The god declared war against the rulers of the heavens. He commanded balls of fire to rain down on the holy grounds, and burned what remained of sanctuaries. With a mighty sword on his right hand he tore a great rift among the divine; a halberd on his left hand desecrated the land of the living.
The mountains shook and the earth trembled. The sky crackled and the seas roared. The battle ended when a spear pierced right through the rebellious god's core.
Glorious it was, his fall that laid waste across the land and the heavens.
Jellal groaned as he regained his consciousness. He was in bed, back in their home. A candle lazily flickering in the black of the night.
"Thank heavens you finally came to." Ultear brought a bowl of soup when her brother managed to sit in bed.
"What happened?"
"You collapsed. It's never happened before. Are you really alright?" She blew onto the wooden spoon before offering its contents. The blacksmith opened his mouth, allowing the food to warm his body as he chewed and swallowed.
"For now, no more pounding on metals or going near the furnace, understand?" There was worry laced in her commanding tone which made Jellal nod all of a sudden. He was still too weak to protest and work anyway. "Good. Just rest."
"Where are you going?" he asked when she put on her cloak.
"Out to get some firewood." Ultear reached for the axe and shoved the rope inside her satchel. Jellal was up and ready to assist her when she gently pushed him down the mattress. "What did I tell you?"
"But it's my job to get firewood."
"You're not in condition." Ultear sighed. The blacksmith, of course, knew this as well. But he simply cannot allow his sister to march into the dark woods—at night—and expect her to come back unscathed.
"Can I at least accompany you?"
"Jellal," her protective side was starting to kick in, and there was absolutely no way she was going to let him have his way. "I'll be back as soon as I can."
Ultear assured his brother and with a hug, she grabbed the lamp and headed out into the coolness of the night.
Jellal was uneasy. He just couldn't shake off the feeling that something bad was going to happen to his sister. A group of bandits ambushing her, a pack of wolves attacking her, or just getting lost. But he forced himself to stay in bed because he was told to do so. He breathed in and out as he tried to recollect what transpired in the marketplace before and after he collapsed. The odd thing was, all he could ever remember was the old tale passed down to everyone in the kingdom; the story about a rebellious god who seeked to overthrow the powers above him so he could rule all and the living suffered the consequences of his actions.
He fused his brows together. What an irrelevant dream.
He rolled to the edge of the bed and kept his eyes closed. It should be a while before Ultear comes back and he decided to get some more shuteye.
"Jellal!"
The door burst open with a force that the blacksmith could have sworn tore the wooden frame from its hinges. He lazily rubbed his eyes, still oblivious to how frantic his sister was sounding.
"Close the door, will you?" He wasn't given a warning when the woman suddenly shoved him his own cloak, to which he responded with mock annoyance.
"Where's the fire—you're wounded." Finally awake, he rushed to tend to his sister's wound. There was a deep gash on her right arm, the blood nearly soaking on the sleeve of her garment.
"There's no time. We have to move." Ultear made an effort to get her brother's attention but Jellal was busy wrapping a cloth around the wounded flesh.
"Who did this to you? What did this to you? Tell me." His voice was hoarse and demanding. He can almost feel his blood boiling and he was seeing red. If he ever found the animal or person responsible for this, they're going to pay.
"Jellal, listen to me. We have to go, now."
Wasting no more time, Jellal hurriedly ran to his workshop and came back with weapons that he himself was very proud of. On his belt were sets of knives and a dagger in hand.
Ultear gave him a defeated look, "Unfortunately, that's not going to help us."
"What are you talking about?"
A blast of air ripped the door from its hinges and went flying towards Ultear. It slammed her down hard and from the blackness of the night emerged a figure covered in a red hood. Jellal bought himself time by throwing a set of four knives simultaneously, each landing on his desired spot and pinning the hostile stranger to the wall.
"Ultear!" He could feel his heart rate increasing and his adrenaline pumping as he attempted to shove the door out of her unconscious sister's figure. When he finally did, he gently helped her get on her feet. "Let's go. We don't—"
He couldn't breathe. There was something blocking his air passage and he accidentally dropped his sister to the floor. He couldn't feel his legs nor control his body as he watched himself being lifted on the floor and floating in the air.
"What's...happening?" he choked out, green eyes fueled with confusion and rage at the assaulter.
"To think I'd find you here of all times, of all places." It was a woman's voice, Jellal noted. But how she was magically manipulating his body was a mystery.
"What did you do...to my...sister. You...witch." It was taking all of his effort to speak because there was something restricting his movements. Was this sorcery?
"You offend me," A laughter then followed. "You should be thanking me. I'm sending you back to where you originally belong."
The malicious figure approached him and out from her hand glowed a round marble about a size of a rock. With a flick of her wrist, she tore an opening from Jellal's clothes and placed the small orb against the surface of his chest.
Jellal felt a heavy pressure enveloping his torso which was enough to make him hurl. The stranger's palm drew back, and with an effortless strike, smashed the marble onto his chest. The broken orb released an energy so strong it created a wild torrent around them. Surroundings glowing red, Jellal gave his sister one last look before accepting what fate has decided for him. This was it, he thought.
"Your return is very much awaited."
With a blinding light that swallowed the blacksmith, there was nothing left behind except for Ultear who finally opened her eyes just in time to witness her brother vanish.
Author's Note: I have so much in store for this story and I'm already excited to take you all on this journey. Reviews are much appreciated :)