Author's Notes
Please leave a review: anything and everything helps. Thank you so much!
Chapter Four
Ruby awakened to the familiar and soothing sound of a hammer striking against an anvil. As she brought her hands up to rub her eyes, she soon noticed that she had been changed into her night attire: a long pair of silk pants with simple rose designs stitched into it and a sleeveless shirt with the face of a bear at its center. She then looked down into her shirt further noticed that her cloth had been removed. Ever since her last birthday, Ruby's body had finally begun to change, which troubled her deeply. She hated the fact that a woman's body oftentimes attracted the wrong attention, and dreaded that soon she too, would draw similar attention. In an attempt to protect herself, she distanced herself away from the common characteristics she associated with being attractive; she cut her hair shorter and wore tight-fitting clothing under her blouse in an effort to hide herself.
Worried about her sister's need to bind, Yang had a tailor make something that would allow Ruby to present herself in the way she wanted, while simultaneously protecting her from physical harm as binding was known to cause rib deformations for those who practiced it daily. To allow Ruby to keep herself covered and 'less-attractive,' the tailored blouse was given a loose area around the bust so that Ruby could wear several tight-fitting shirts underneath. The blouse also came along with a hooded-cape that went down to Ruby's knees. Fitting yet flexible pants allowed her to both be athletic and to cover herself properly. Over the leggings was a knee-length skirt, which was further covered by her hooded-cape that could also wrap around the front of the wearer's body.
Not only did the outfit solely consist of the colors red and black, allowing her to camouflage properly while she hunted, its design had an emphasis on wearer mobility, thus allowing her to hunt efficiently. In short, she absolutely loved it and insisted on wearing it every day, much to her sister's dismay and flattery.
Ruby looked to her left. Hanging over her open window to air-dry was her outfit. The sun shone brightly, and there was a cool, enjoyable breeze that drifted into her room. As much as she wanted to rest for the day, there was work to be done. The huntress pushed the covers off and stood a bit too quickly as she felt her knees wobble just the slightest.
She put a hand over her belly where the after effects the previous night's feast had taken its toll. She felt sluggish and tired; never before had she eaten so much quality meat before, let alone so much.
Standing up on her toes and stretching upwards, Ruby let out a loud and unattractive yawn as she felt her muscles and joints awaken from their deep slumber.
Once dressed, Ruby ran down the stairs, two at a time. When she found out that she had overslept, she sprang into action, desperate to get to the long list of chores that she performed every morning. When she landed on both feet and into the living room, she was greeted by everything she was supposed to have done by the time she left to hunt. The ottoman had returned to its proper place. The chestnut shells were cleaned off of the floor, and the fireplace had been cleaned. Three stacks of wood lay neatly inside the fireplace with three more leaned against the brick structure. When she reached the kitchen, her shoulders slumped even more. Sitting atop a wiped down and organized table was a small bowl of rice, diced potatoes and deer meat. With a frown, she fetched a spoon from a nearby drawer and brought the dish with her.
The sound of metal striking metal and muffled grunts grew louder and louder as she approached the door to her sister's workshop. Once at the door, she took a deep breath, and pushed it open. She was immediately greeted by the strong and searing smells of smoke and charcoal. After her eyes had adjusted to the new setting, she took in the wondrous sight before her–Yang's pride and joy.
Celica Ironworks was a modest sized open-aired workshop. With the north and west sides of the workshop being aligned with their home, and the east and south walls not, the latter were designed to have large wooden doors that could be pushed up and into the ceiling of the workshop through a clever contraption of small wheels that were attached to a metal track that guided them. When nightfall and the time to close up shop came, the doors could then be rolled back down and locked into place.
Along the east wall was the very first furnace that Yang had bought. A crudely constructed one that many other blacksmiths mocked her for, it still managed to get the job done. Directly to the right of the furnace were two neat piles of firewood and coal that Yang used for fuel, and to the left was a large barrel of water. Behind her was an island table with an assortment of tools and to its side was the anvil where Yang molded steel to her will. On the west and northern walls were low rows of examples of what Yang could make or repair. From domestic items to weapons, there wasn't much that Yang couldn't make.
Taking a seat on the single small doorstep leading down to the workshop, Ruby began to eat her morning meal quietly as she watched her sister work. Yang stood in front of the anvil while she pounded away at an object that Ruby couldn't make out. With her eyes fixated on the glowing metal before her and sweat dripping down her face from the sheer concentration she put into her work, Yang understandably didn't notice Ruby entering the workshop.
Her work attire consisted of a sleeveless leather vest that was blackened in the front from soot and the scorching fire, long black pants, and a short overlaying skirt that doubled as a tool belt. As for Yang's prized golden scarf, it lay atop of Yang's shoulders and wrapped around her nose and mouth in order to help filter out the smoke that she would have otherwise breathed in day in and day out. Ruby waited patiently as she continued to eat her meal; interrupting a blacksmith during work was oftentimes dangerous.
After another solid strike, Yang paused and nodded to herself. She set the hammer down, and picked up a pair on fire tonsils that hung on the side of the island table. Lifting up the obscure item up quickly with the tonsils, she pivoted and dunked the item into the barrel of cold water behind her.
A loud and menacing hiss was heard, followed by a large cloud of steam. As the steam and hiss slowly dyed down, Yang massaged her right biceps as she waited. After ten seconds or so, she lifted the tonsil and placed the item back onto her work table.
"Yang?" Ruby asked carefully as she set her spoon down into her bowl.
Yang's eyes fluttered upwards at Ruby. Yanking her scarf downwards and revealing a big smile, she hung the tonsil onto the side of the table. "Good morning sleepy head!" she said as she walked over to Ruby and picked her up to give her a hug.
"Mmf!" Ruby murmured, her face smothered in Yang's chest.
"Oops, sorry!" said Yang as set Ruby down. "How was breakfast?" she said as she pointed to the bowl. "I just heated it up a bit but for some reason, it still tastes better when you do it."
Ruby let out a small laugh. "Oh! It was good, thank you. And I guess I'm just that much better of a cook than you huh?
Yang ruffled Ruby's hair. "You got that right little sister."
Giggling at first, Ruby held onto Yang's hand and brought it downwards. "But uh, listen…" She looked down at her feet. "I'm sorry you had to do my chores for me."
Yang raised an eyebrow. "It's alright, it only took me an hour or so."
"An hour?!" Ruby blurted out.
"I'm not being sarcastic. It's fine," she said with a shrug, "really."
Ruby let her shoulders ease a bit. "Why didn't you wake me up?"
Yang folded her arms and winked. "You were just so cute, I didn't want to disturb your beauty sleep!"
"Yang," Ruby said with a sigh, "you know more than anyone else that I need to do my fair share of work. I want to do my fair share of work."
Yang put both hands on Ruby's shoulders. "I know. Ruby, believe me, I really know. But yesterday you did so much for me-" she gestured to the blacksmith's house, "-for us! I just wanted to let you sleep in a bit longer." She then adjusted her scarf and put a hand on Ruby's face. "I really don't mind doing a bit extra once in a while."
"I understand," replied before leaning forward and giving Yang a hug. "But you could have spent that hour working on your things, right? Metalwork takes a long time."
"That's true, but I haven't gotten many visitors yet this morning so it's alright." Yang pulled back and led Ruby to the island table. "This is the new project that I've been working on."
Ruby stared at the object, which was now a dull color of purplish gray. It appeared to be a boxing cestus, a deadly hand-to-hand combat weapon. Users put their hands inside, where leather straps tightened the weapons around their wrist and forearm. A grip mechanism brought a thin steel plate from the top of the glove and down over the where the knuckles of the wearer would be. First and foremost, they were an infamous common weapon of choice when it came to the Colosseum. The massive outdoor arena in the kingdom's capital city of Constantine, the Colosseum was where the worst criminals in the Kingdom were placed in tournament style matches where two convicts fought with the designated weapon until one of them were dead.
These public spectacles of criminals killing each other off always drew in large crowds. Only the worst of the worst of society were put into the Colosseum: serial rapists, mass-killers, heretics, traitors and the insane. Spectators gambled on who they thought would come out alive. During the first round, criminals were expected to use their bare hands. The next round, they were given the option to use daggers. The third and final round, the option to use a cestus was given.
Tournaments always consisted of sixteen criminals each, with only one winner. What the victor won, was a fresh start, but if they was ever caught again, punishment was exile outside of the kingdom's boundaries in the north, where the monsters of Grimm would surely find them and consume them.
"Yang?" Ruby asked nervously as she pointed to the metal boxing glove. Just looking at it made her uncomfortable. "Why did you make that?"
By now, Yang had fitted the gauntlet around her arm and was in the process of throwing punches at an imaginary target. "It's not for Colosseum use, if that's what you're asking." Yang pulled the gauntlet off and set it back on the table. "It's for the Garrison. I've been asked to make a new set of these so that the men can practice hand-to-hand combat."
"I see." Ruby looked at the variety of weapons Yang had up for display. Weapons of all shapes, sizes, and origins were for sale at Celica Ironworks. Daggers, swords, maces, spears, gauntlets, rapiers, mauls, war hammers and battle-axes were common weapons in the Kingdom of Vale. Yang also forged ranged ammunition such as arrow heads, crossbow bolts and throwing knives. Weapons that originated from the other kingdoms included claws, whips, hidden blades, and scimitars. After placing the gauntlet onto the wall beside the rest of her arsenal, Yang began to shovel fresh coal into the fire, then proceeding to operate the air pump which gave the fire renewed strength.
In her spare time, Yang continued in her pursuit of becoming the best blacksmith there was in Vermilion. Ambitious, yes, but it was something she felt was possible. When she wasn't consulting with her mentor Olaf Schade, she did her best to strike up conversations with local miners and blacksmiths to get firsthand knowledge of both professions. While they were sure that Yang was out of her mind, already thinking it outrageous that a girl like herself was a blacksmith, they relented to her persistence as they enjoyed talking about the craft that had run in their families for generations. Having a beautiful girl around wasn't that bad either.
"Ruby?" Ruby snapped to attention to see Yang's worried expression change. "You spaced out for a minute."
Ruby waved her hand. "Oh, it's nothing. I should head out now, it's already a bit late." She turned around to leave.
"Hey Ruby?" The huntress turned around to face her sister. "If you have time, can you do these things for me?" Yang produced a small parchment of folded paper from her vest. "If you don't have time to do them today, that's fine."
Ruby walked over and took the list. "Of course I'll do it."
"Alright, I appreciate it." Yang took her sister and hugged her again, tightly. "Be careful out there, okay?"
Ruby grinned and patted her non-existent biceps. "I know, I know." Yang relinquished her hold on Ruby, and then pointed to the bowl she was holding.
"Let me handle that. You go on with your day."
Handing the bowl to Yang, Ruby then went to her corner and fetched her hunting equipment of from the wall before running outside and to the side of the house to retrieve her sled.
"Excuse me miss?" Yang turned her head slightly to see a young guard standing outside of the blacksmith's house brandishing a broken sword. "I was wondering if you-"
Yang held up a hand to silence the man from talking further. In silence, the two of them watched as Ruby, with her sled in tow, rushed out from the corner of the house and began to jog down the street. Before she turned around a corner and slipped out of sight, Ruby waved at Yang.
Waving back, Yang stood there until Ruby was completely out of sight. Then with a sniff, she turned back to the guard and motioned towards him.
"You were saying?"
"Oh. I was wondering if you could repair this sword for me."
"Of course. Come inside, please."
