The sun rose over the tree line, causing shadows to recede. The small town known as Mine-stead was starting to awake. The towns citizens started to fill the streets heading off to their jobs in the towns mine. Most of the towns men worked the mines and those that didn't worked to sell the collected ores. On the edge of town in a small run down house (Iron) Ian Varron stretched up high before letting his arms fall heavily to his sides. He rolled out of bed and pulled on his outfit for the day. He walked to the door and grabbed his coat. The chain attached to the right shoulder clinked lightly as he slid his arms through it. Ian walked down the well worn path to his shop in town. Along the way he passed several people and said hello.
His shop was small and didn't have windows any more. The lock had been replaced several times and yet all of his merchandise was still on the displays. He lifted his hand over the lock and a click was audible. The door swung open and he flicked on the lights. The room lit up the gold and silver jewelry reflecting the light bouncing around the room and creating a beautiful effect. He made his way behind the counter and removed his coat placing it on a hook and leaning slightly on the counter.
Hours pasted and no one entered the store. Ian was now seated behind the counter tossing a gold coin into the air and catching it with the other hand. The towns clock chimed for closing. Ian stood up and walked around the store closing the display cases and locking them. He made his way to the door and was about to leave when three men appeared at the door.
"Oh, hello sorry but just closing up for the night. But please come back tomorrow."
The three pushed their way past him and into the store. One rested his hand over a display case. And looked to his friends and nodded. One of the men grabbed Ian by the collar and lifted him up off of the ground.
"Let me put this in a way you will understand. I want all of this now, and for free." the man near the display case said.
The third man walked up to a display case and pulled out a metal bat and swung it at the glass case. The glass shattered. Shards flew across the store. The first man did the same to the case in front of him. Both started placing the rings and jewelry in their pockets and around their necks.
Ian's face darkened. Rage boiled up inside of him but tears rolled down his face. He knew he could stop them, but at what cost?
"Please don't this store is everything I have." he cried.
The men emptied their cases and walked to the door.
"Not one word to the authorities okay. Its better for you that way. That way we don't have to come back here and teach you a lesson." the leader said smiling maniacally at Ian.
The men left the store and the man holding him to the wall through him across the store into the counter. As he watched him leave he could sense the stolen jewelry on them. He placed a hand on the ground to help himself up and shards of glass dug into his hand. He held out his hand behind him and his coat jumped off of the hook and into his hand. He pulled it on and left the store the door slammed behind him and it locked tight.
Ian walked back through town and passed some of the Towns people. They nodded and and continued on their way. Money was tight in the town. Half of them couldn't pay their mortgage or food. That"s why Ian sent 70% of his stores earnings to the towns charity to help with paying peoples bills. Ian arrived home and stood out side of his house for a moment. He closed his eyes and imagined the earth below his feet. Feeling for ores and other valuable metals. He raised both hands to shoulder height. The ground shifted below him as streams of iron and silver floated in the air. He moved the elements crossing and weaving the metals together. Intertwining them.
A pillar of titanium rose and joined the spiral of metal. When the iron and silver were blended it wrapped itself around the titanium creating a crossing pattern and spinning off at one end he held out a hand and the metal bar floated toward him. As it did so. A handle formed the iron silver creating a fitting grip. A guard formed out of the spun off sides looking like iron wings. The bar flattened and widened into the blade. The edge catching the suns last rays of light. The orange glow of the sun stayed captured in the blade for a few minutes before joining the rest of the town in darkness.
Ian swung the sword a few times. The weight of the sword as a build for momentum his swings got faster and faster. He stopped his arm and blade fully extended out parallel with his shoulders. He panted lightly from the exertion. He lowered the sword and went inside to sleep.
The next morning he woke up with the same enthusiasm as the day before. He grabbed his coat and newly made sword and walked down the path to his store. He nodded and said hello to the people he passed. He held a smile even at the door to his store. He unlocked the store and walked inside. He placed the sword behind the counter on a shelf for all to see. He grabbed a broom and dust pan and swept up the shards of glass from last night.
Around noon a young woman walked into the store two young men standing angerly at the door. Ian straighten and greeted her.
"Hello miss. Welcome to my store if you need any help you just need to ask." he smiled at her.
She was quite beautiful. She had long scarlet hair and brown eyes. She had a soft face that said she was honest. She wore tempered steel armor, very strong and durable. She walked right up to the counter and leaned in close.
"I'm looking for a weapon." she said straight faced.
Ian leaned back slightly and smiled. He held a hand up and the sword jumped from the shelf and into his hand. He held the blade out for her to hold. She took the blade and tossed it into the air like a toy. She took a combat stance and swung the sword with precision slicing the air and careful not to hit the surrounding display cases.
"Its good. But not quite what I'm looking for." she held the sword out for him to take back.
"That's okay I just made this last night. If you tell me what you're looking for I could make you it. I'm a metal wizard. I made everything in this store actually."
"Okay, I'm looking for the ultimate sword one that surpasses all others. If you ever make this sword then you should bring it to me. You can find me at the Fairy Tail guild in Magnolia. Just ask for Erza."
Ian smiled and nodded.
"Okay, you got it. I aim to please my customers. Someday when I make the ultimate sword I will bring it to you. Free of charge. It would be an honor to make a sword for The Erza Scarlet of Fairy Tail."
"Thank you." she said.
Ian waved as she left. The store was empty for most of the rest of the day. At one point a friend came in and asked for an engagement ring and a price. To which he responded "No charge".The towns clock chimed and he started to lock up. A knock on the door caught his ear. The three men from last night stood at his door. He straightened up and smiled.
"Hello how can I help you fine men." he said.
"Burn it." the leader said.
The two men with him held up their hands and magic circles formed. Jets of fire erupted from their hands and licked the walls of his store.
"We know it was you that took back all of the jewelry last night. Now, we have to teach you a lesson about stealing from thieves."
Ian walked forward to the leader. His jewelry clanked in the display cases. The sword rattled on the shelf and his coat lifted slightly.
"Do you always wear iron plates under your shirt?" he asked.
Ian didn't give him time to answer. Using his magic he crushed the man in his own armor and ripped it from his body. The man dropped to his knees. The two others using fire magic redirected their attacks to Ian. He thrusted his hands up and and the Jewelry lept from the cases and launched at the attackers. In the confusion Ian put on his coat and the chain on the shoulder lifted off and floated around him. The leader still on his knees in front of him holding his crushed chest.
"And you need to learn not to pick fights with people you don't know."
He walked out of the store and down the path back home. His store was going to burn all night but at least the men responsible will be captured by the police in no time.
The next morning he walked into town. His shop nothing but a pile of charcoal and broken glass. He walked thru the rubble to the back of the store and to where the counter used to be. He held out a hand to the ground. The charred wood shifted and the sword burst from below and to his hand. He wiped the blade on his sleeve and magnetized it to his back for easy access. Some of the citizens had gathered around the crumbled building. The mayor was amongst the crowd. Ian walked up to the Mayor.
"I'm leaving town. After this I have nothing tying me here. However I'm leaving you 2,000,000 jewel. Its in the safe at my house. Here is the combination."
"Thank you for everything Ian. I hope you find something that makes you happy someday."
Ian walked thru town everyone was out and was saying their goodbyes to him. Once he left town he looked back. He would miss his life there but it was time to move on. He walked off in a random direction. He had no idea where he would go maybe to a big city to find work or maybe he would join a guild. He remembered his promise to Erza Scarlet. No matter what the future held he would make the perfect sword for her.