CHAPTER 11

"Where are we going?" Fang asked Zar as he led her deeper into the woods not far from the Enchanted Lake.

"It's my turn now for our anger management activity, so I'm gonna share to you my greatest passion."

A thunder suddenly roared from the sky. Fang looked up and noticed that a cluster of rain clouds are growing larger and darker. The wind had started to get rougher as well sending the surrounding trees into swaying motions. "Okay, but I think we better hurry. Looks like a storm is on its way."

"Don't worry we're almost there?" Zar assured her.

They took another five minute walk through the beaten path before they reached a log cabin under a very large fig tree. The cabin is old and the outside is nearly half eaten by the tree's vines and several other types of vegetation. However, structure remains standing tall and can still put a fair fight against nature's predation. There's light coming from the inside and smoke arising from the chimney suggesting that the place had been pre-settled before their arrival

Fang gasped in awe. "What is this place?"

"It's an old hunting cabin that was built here 15 years ago. However, it had been abandoned for a decade now after Auradon prohibits any hunting activities within five kilometers from the Lake."

During her early childhood and during her time living alone in her islet, Fang had used hunting as her source of sustenance. She is aware of how hazardous it is especially if done within a premise where it can accidentally hurt someone. So Fang is wondering what were those people are thinking when they considered having this near a visiting attraction like the Enchanted Lake. "They hunt in an area like this?"

"They weren't that smart back then." Zar commented as they advance closer to the cabin.

"Like that changed over the years."

Zar chuckled, opening the door of the cabin. "Make yourself at home."

Fang entered the house as Zar hold the door for her. Once inside she immediately surveyed its interior. The place's size is twice bigger than her dorm room. There's a fireplace, a small table, and a bed. The floor is the bare ground and some hays are stacked at one corner. All in all, the cabin is a plain and almost rundown place that was just recently repaired and cleaned.

However, the rest of the cabin is very packed by different forging equipment and metals. Complete sets of tools and raw materials capable of supporting any blacksmith to forge any metal craft that they desire.

"Welcome to my workshop," Zar declared, standing beside her.

"You assembled this place?"

"I requested some help from Benjamin," he admitted.

"And the tools?"

"I have them shipped from Arendelle three days ago. They just arrived yesterday."

"Okay. So…" Fang started, her smile an expression of delight as she assumed on where she think things are going. "You want me to help you forge?"

"No," he differed, taking a hammer and handing it over to her. "I'm gonna help you forge."

Zar spend the next hours watching and supervising Fang as she decided to forge herself a set of daggers. When he asked why, she shared to him that despite mastering several fighting styles. Her most preferred above all are sneak attacks and assassinations where daggers and short blades are the most suitable weapon of choice.

"Assassination?" Zar remarked, enthralled. He sat on an anvil and crossed his arms. "How good are you on that?"

Fang just give him a smile. Zar blinked and she disappeared from her work station. The next thing he knows, Fang is behind him gripping his throat. "Very good," she whispered.

Zar flinched, but amused nonetheless. "Whoa."

Fang chuckled, wrapping her arms around his upper chest. She rested her chin on his shoulder and her arms gave him a nice gentle squeeze. "So, what's next?" She asked, returning the subject to her forging.

He joined Fang at the work station where the melted metals had just cooled inside the blade molders. Zar removed them from the molders and immersed them between the burning coals until the metals glow bright red. He then clipped one of them and held it above the anvil.

"When giving life to a blade one must always remember these simple things." Zar said as he struck the glowing metal with the hammer. "Blades born from rage alone are sharp and powerful but short lived."

The howling winds of the storm outside rhythmed with the cry of the metal as it's hammered to birth a new blade to the world.

"And blades born from a calm mind alone are everlasting but dull and feeble." He gave another powerful strike, giving the forming blade a sharper edge. "However, blades born from a fiery heart and calm mind became legendary." He said as he gave the final blow before dipping the blade in cold water.

He then showed the formed blade with its perfectly lined edges. "If you want to forge an ideal blade, you must let your rage burst while keeping a cool head. That way, you can channel your anger to create something powerful but something serene at the same time."

Zar immersed the blade to the burning coals again, preparing it to the next phase. "Now, you try it." He told Fang as he clipped the other metal and turned it over to her.

Fang positioned in front of the anvil holding the metal in place. Zar handed her the hammer and she begun striking the metal to shape.

"Just remember, a fiery heart and a calm mind."

Fang nodded as she struck the metal repeatedly.

The entire time, Zar stared at Fang's face as she accomplished the task. For him, her cutest expression is every time she gets all serious. Frowning as she concentrates on something.

"What are you looking at?" She glared when she noticed him staring.

"Had anyone ever told you that you're cute when you're angry?"

"No one dared," she replied, grinning. "But I'm aware that I am. It's my best side."

Zar went agape and they start laughing. "Okay, that's it. I give up." He said, raising his hands. "I'm not gonna tease you again."

"Fang – 1, Zar – 0," she taunted. He just smiled.

"Heat the blade back to the coal once you're done," he returned instructing. "We'll hammer them two more times and then we'll start the polishing and sharpening."

Fang was awestruck on how wonderful the daggers had turned out. After the polishing and sharpening, the blades finally revealed their true shines and capability. And though Zar's work was better than hers, the quality of the one's she'd made didn't fell that far behind. In comparison it is still more decent than any other blade she bought in the past.

Zar had just finished making the sheaths and she'll admit that she's just getting more and more impressed by his handiworks. He's fast, precise, and his products are beyond great quality. And Fang will bet that even her father will be willing to gouge an eye or cut an arm for the chance of possessing one of Zar's works.

"Alright, we're all done." He sheathed the daggers and hand them over to her. "I hope you'll like it."

She giggled like an excited little girl who is about to open her birthday present. But before she could unsheathe the daggers to give them a test drive, Zar stopped her. "Wait. Before you use it for a swing, you need to do one last finishing touch on it."

"What's that?"

"You have to name them?"

Fang stared at him and waited for the punchline. When he didn't, she asked. "Is that necessary?"

He then told her the reasons. "Fang, blades are like people too. They're born, they live, they die. And during their stay in the world, they need to have an identity, a name."

"Okay." Fang completely understood. But she had no idea what name shall she give to the daggers. "But, what shall I call them?"

"What's the first thing that came into your mind?"

"Nothing."

"That's a good name."

"Zar, I'm not joking," she said, slightly irritated. But after a couple of facial gestures and hint, she finally realized what Zar's implying. "Oh, 'Nothing.'"

Zar nodded.

"Alright then." She raised first the dagger that she forged. "I'll call this guy Extinct." And then raised the one made by Zar. "And this one will be Oblivion."

He smiled. "Cool names."

A blinding flash of lightning struck outside followed by a deafening roar of thunder. Fang shrieked on the sudden sound of heaven's wrath and instinctively hugged Zar. And then she held him tighter, tighter and tighter after each rumble from the sky.

Chuckling, he said. "Looks like the storm is not planning to stop anytime soon."

Trembling, Fang slightly parted her face from Zar's chest and turn her head to look through the window. The wind is still on a rampage and the rain is just as cruel.

"Guess we're staying here," he told her as rubbed her back.

She nodded meekly.

He then led her to sit on the bed, comforting her the whole time as she expose to him her vulnerability. "So you're not as fearless as they thought you are?"

"Everybody has a weak side." It was the best she could say as her lips quivered.

Zar didn't say anything afterwards. He just simply sat there besides her comforting her with his presence. Fang smiled as the moment reminds her again of the undeniable truth. She needed Zar in her life.

Since day-one until day-now there had always been this unexplained force that's compelling her to be at his side. At first she thought that the reason was simply because she admires him, his power, and his heritage. But soon, she realized it's more than that.

Zar makes her happy. Having him beside her makes her happy. Knowing that she will be with him in a day gives her a reason to wake up in the morning and sleep soundly at night.

She needed him. And that scares her.

Their lives are worlds apart. Sooner or later, that truth will catch them and she will have no choice but to leave his side forever. And though it'll hurt, she'd rather have that than to be selfish and deny him of the life that he deserves. A life where she has no place.

"It's late," he said, realizing that it's already past nine in the evening. "We'll do the test run tomorrow before we return to the dorm. Go get some rest." He assisted her to lie in the bed. "I'll stay at the haystack.

Fang grabbed his arm before he could rise up to leave. "Please, don't go," she begged with pleading eyes. "I'm scared. Please stay with me."

Zar hesitated but her insistence subdued him in the end. She moved to the side giving him a space in the bed. When he joined her, she immediately move to nestled herself against him.

Fang stared to his blue eyes, which were so filled with warmth a he stared back at her and smiled wrapping his arm protectively around her.

Yes, her days with Zar are numbered. And that leave her with no other choice but to be selfish with every second that she had with him.

END OF CHAPTER 11