For real this time. I'll finish this match. :)

Also, if you leave a comment without an account, I'll read it, but might not post it. (I've gotten some interesting salt on occasion.)

However, if you have an account, comment, but have 'private messages' turned off. Well, then I'll just be sad, because I can't reply. :(


Chapter 103

"Un-BE-LIEVABLE!" Engilvice shouted, "Both our fighters have transformed! Sairaorg has put on his Pawn as a Sacred Gear, and the Red Dragon Emperor has become a walking fortress!"

Engilvice was having a play by play meltdown over the change, while I suddenly realized why Issei hadn't done this earlier. It was something new, in a live fire situation. Well, I could certainly forgive him for this...

"Taking notes?" Azazel asked.

"Ohhhh yeah." I replied.

"AND THEY CHARGE FORWARD ONCE AGAIN!"


The two of them slammed into each other with enough force to shatter the ground all the way to the walls of the barrier space. Exactly as it started the first time, Sairaorg punched Issei right in the face, while Issei slammed a fist into the left side of Sairaorg's chest, right into the lion face on his armour. Recoiling off each other, Issei seemed more effected by the strike, but even as he recovered, one of the cannons on his back popped over his shoulder the, fist sized barrel aimed directly at Sairaorg as he tried to give Issei a second attack.

"Dragon SHOT!" Issei called out, the cannon firing a single short burst, forcing the Golden King to side step. Issie recovered his legs properly, and charged forward again.

"Not bad!" Sairaorg grunted as he took yet another strike to the ribs, dropping his own hammer blow to Issei's shoulder. Issei recoiled again, and again bought himself enough time to recover with a quick blast from his shoulder cannon, "But that can't be all!"

This time, when Sairaorg recovered from his dodge, Issei slipped under his next punch, his dragon armoured legs pushing him forward with a Knight's speed letting him deliver another heavy punch to Sairaorg's ribs as he went by. "You're very strong Sairaorg-san!" Issei said, trying the same move again as Sairaorg shrugged off his strike and aimed a punch at Issei's side.

He couldn't quite get out of the way, Sairaorg laughing as Issei took the punch, "You wanted me at my best! Let's go partner!" The eyes of the lion armour flashed, and Sairaorg's white aura blazed around him.

Before Sairaorg could close in again, Issei's cannon fired once more, but this time, Sairaorg simply raised his arm, the shot bouncing off the golden bracer, high into the air, where it detonated off the ceiling of the recreated arena. Caught seemingly off guard, Issei just barely got his arms up in time to stop Sairaorg from crushing his ribs with a punch every bit as powerful as the one that the two of them made on their first impact!

From there, it seemed to just do down hill for the Red Dragon Emperor. Each strike against him rang out like a thunderclap, as he, and his fortress-like armour were driven back and chipped away. Cracks started to form in the thick plating, but still Issei held on.


"IT'S NOT LOOKING GOOD! The Strongest Youth King, the Golden Lion, is pushing the Red Dragon Emperor around! It's all he can do to keep his guard up!" Engilvice had hardly said anything to this point. Like the rest of the crowd, his attention was riveted to the screens.

In the booth, I wasn't much different. My attention was glued to the monitors, but my fighter's instinct was counting. Issei had been paying better attention than I thought he was to my lessons, but again, could he pull it off?


A left right combo followed by a kick. A quick dodge, another right... Sairaorg had taken full control of the fight now, and it seemed Issei was just standing there and getting hit. But even with bits of his new armour falling off, he was still taking those hits like a champ, but his guard was starting to weaken.

Sairaorg again put out a massive left right combo, then drew his leg back for another kick as Issei's arms opened up again at the punishment. But as he did, Issei's wings spread out, propelling him backwards, while one of his cannons moved into position under his arm. Pleasantly surprised that his opponent had some fight left in him, Sairaorg lowered his leg down to brace for Issei's charge, the weird metallic/glass wings snapping him forward again, fist raised for a huge overhand punch.

Except, the ground wasn't actually under Sairaorg's foot.

The smallest shot from the underslung cannon had made a pothole under Sairaorg's foot. The ground not where he expected, the Golden King couldn't brace in time, a huge crimson armoured fist plowing into the side of his head, smashing the golden helmet right off his face!

Rolls reversed, Issei took that half second Sairaorg needed to recover from that huge strike to hit him again! Sairaorg was already getting back up, but the second punch crashed into his jaw, lifting him right off the ground.

"DRAGON SHOT!" Issei yelled again, this time, with Sairaorg's feet off the ground, he had no way to dodge as BOTH cannons fired right into his chest at point blank range! No careful shot, this was a full on burst and Sairaorg golden form vanished as black and red power washed over him in a tidal wave of destructive energy!

The crowd held its collective breath, while myself and the others in the commentator's booth leaned forward a little expectantly. My eye caught one of the other cameras showing Sairaorg's mother Misla holding the little iron lion head tightly, while hugging poor Loaner tightly to her chest.

Sairaorg fell to the ground with a groan, his entire body smoking, the golden armour dim and tarnished, his white aura all but gone. Slowly, he started to roll over, and push himself up to his knees, "Damn Issei... That... That actually hurt."

Issei was still standing where he had fired the shot, his body heaving as he recovered his breath. The cannon barrels were black and smoking, the crystals over his armour were dim, but he still had his arms up, ready to go.

"But I'm not done." Sairaorg got his arms up, shuffled his feet so they were on firm ground, "One more round!"

The two of them rushed at each other, again mirroring their first exchange.

"EJECT!" Issei shouted at the last moment.

Sairaorg's punch WOULD have hit Issei square in the face, but with a sudden crumbling effect, the crimson armour vanished! Lowering his height and narrowing his profile, The Strongest Youth King missed, his massive armoured fist going clear over Issei's head. Issei's fist, still armoured with his scale gauntlet, SLAMMED into the cheek of the lion mask on Sairaorg's chest.

They stood frozen there for a moment, as cracks started to radiate from Issei's fist, the lion faced armour crumbling.

"I... forgot you had that. Heh. My bad." Sairaorg chuckled, a bit of blood dribbling from the corner of his mouth, "Sorry partner."

Regulus, back in his boy form materialized face down and groaning next to them as the golden armour fell off Sairaorg. The King was only standing because of Issei, the point of Ascalon stuck into his chest. A second later, Sairaorg vanished, taken away by the safety system of the Rating Game.


"King Sairaog has fallen. Check Mate, Rias's team Wins!" Rudiger announced, the held breath of the crowd coming out with an explosive cheer!

Not being an official for the game, just a 'visiting celebrity' I was able to leave before the after show comments really got going. Thanks to my tourist level reading ability of Devil Script, I was able to follow the signs to the 'Royal Booth'. Thinking on it, I probably could have called Loaner to me, and had him guide me there, but I was practically there by the time I'd thought of it.

The guards outside the booth greeted me with a smart snap to attention, and one of them opened the door for me.

Just in time to see Misla and her nurse get to the door on the other side. The nurse was holding one of those coat rack things with an I.V. Bag hanging off it, while Misla had Loaner sitting on one arm like the little attention suck he was.

"Oh, pardon me." She said, pausing as Loaner poked his nose against her chin, "I see. You must be Kodori Haruhime?"

"I am." I gave her a formal bow, "Lady Misla Bael, I was wondering if you'd accompany me to the medical ward? And please, call me Kodori."

Sirzechs and Serafall walked up behind her, "We were about to go there as well. Sensei." Sirzechs greeted me, "You've done exceptionally well in training my sister and her peerage, thank you."

"I'm only steering, they're the ones pushing to get better. I'm proud to be teaching them." I replied.

"Just wait until my Sona plays tomorrow!" Serafall said with her usual energy.

Misla, probably a little shocked at how easily I was handling myself in the presence of two of the most powerful devils in the underworld, just kind of... looked like she wanted to go now. "Shall we?" I asked, "And you..." I poked Loaner's nose, "Good job."

His reply was a short burst of happy tail flailing and a silly fox smile.


The medical facility was actually a smaller building next to the Colosseum itself. It made sense since you didn't want to be treating people while the building you were in was being used to host a sometimes literally explosive event. Much like all the other Devil medical wards I'd been in so far, it was perfectly clean and professional looking. I was starting to wonder where all the fire and brimstone from various books got their material.

Also as usual, having a Satan around got us as much help as was possible, and we were directed to where we wanted to go in short order.

So long as we were quiet.

"Heh, suppose this makes sense." I chuckled, "Misla? Did you want a bit of time alone or do you mind a bit of company?" I asked.

"I am going to find my sister." Sirzechs said, "And didn't you want to find Miss Ravel?" He asked Serafall.

"Yeah! I'm going to order like... a hundred Sona plushes."

"Try not to overload their poor business before they even get started." I sighed.

With the two Satan's now walking away, I offered to take the little rolling coat rack thing from Misla's nurse. "Yes, please come in with me." She said.

Sairaorg, being as tall as he was, was just barely fitting in the hospital bed. There was a doctor hovering over him, but his mannerisms were that of 'just looking' instead of 'OMG GET HIM TO THE O.R.' On the bed just past him was Issei, who, like Sairaorg, was covered in bandages. Unlike the fallen King however, he was sitting up and looking out the window.

"Ah." The doctor (a bald headed leather skinned devil) noticed us, "So long as you're quiet. He's had a rough day, but nothing the safety systems of the rating game couldn't keep down to a minor inconvenience."

"Thank you Doctor." Misla said, "He looks exhausted..."

"He is exhausted." He confirmed, "And a bit bruised, but give him a day or two of rest and he'll be on his feet again."

He stepped out of the room, pausing only to give Loaner a pat on the head and me a polite nod.

"Hey Sensei." Issei greeted us quietly. He also sounded exhausted, "Lady Misla. I'm sorry I beat up Sairaorg-san... But I'm glad you're awake now."

Misla stood over Sairaorg, and I brought a chair over for her, "Oh, you visited me?" She asked, "It's... I know this is the path he chose. And I know he's going to get hurt along the way. But he'll be okay." She sat down, reaching out to give Sairaorg's face a brush with her hand, "You've grown into a fine son." She said finally.

"He's really strong." Issei said, "The strongest I've ever fought. But he doesn't let that strength make him cruel." He slowly eased his legs over the side of the bed, "Still hits really hard though..."

Poor Issei was basically mummified from the belt upwards. His pants somehow had survived mostly intact, or rather, intact enough that he was still allowed to wear them in the hospital. "You did good." I said, "Spouting some actual words of wisdom there too."

"Heh. Ow ow ow... I've got a good teacher." He stood up and came over, suffering through one of my hair rufflings.

"Lady Kodori... Did you want this back?" Misla held up the iron lion head.

"No." I reached over and wrapped her fingers over it, "He might not always be home. So if you miss him at all, just keep it handy."

"Thank you. I'll let him know you were by."

"We'll come back with Asia later. Save him a day or so of bed rest." I replied, "Yes you can stay here too if you want." I told Loaner, "Make sure she doesn't get into trouble."

Loaner hopped up onto the bed and did a little tail chase, then sat like a guardian statue to watch over the room.

"Let's go Sensei." Issei said, "I hope Asia doesn't panic when she sees me..."


Asia applies one Karate Chop of Justice.

It's not very effective.

"Sorry for worrying you again." He said without an awkward smile.

"I'm just glad you're all right." Asia said quietly, smoothing Issei's hair, "You did really well Issei-san."

"It's still kind of sinking in... I really did it, didn't I?"

"Yes you did." She summoned her sacred gear, a green glow washing over Issei, "I'm sorry I'm still a little tired."

"Now that you aren't in the game, you can have a mana mint or two." I suggested, "You did really well too."

Asia pouted a little, "I still wasn't able to rescue Xenovia-san..."

"You can't be everywhere at once." I applied my own Karate Chop of Justice, then gave her a headpat, "Just remember to follow a little closer next time. Only when you repeat a mistake should you feel shame."

Asia was actually in the hallway outside of another room. I didn't know who's but the nurse said all the others from Rias's peerage were in this hallway. "I will try." She smiled, "How do you feel, Issei-san?"

He gave himself a few pats, then took a deep breath, "Nothing hurts." He nodded, then yawned covering his mouth with a hand, "But I'm still really tired... And hungry."

"So who's room is this?" I asked.

"Xenovia-san's and Rossweisse-san's." Asia replied quietly, "There was a doctor in there a moment ago, so I didn't want to disturb him."

"Well." I took a potion bottle out of my sleeve and handed it to Asia, "Once he gives the all clear, maybe you can help a little." I looked to Issei, "If you want to find Rias, we'll be along shortly."

"Sure." He nodded.

Unable to resist, I added, "That was a really good kiss too by the way."

To my surprise, he didn't actually blush. He did however scratch the back of his head and say, "Well... I figured something out. And I think... yeah..."

"Well, go get another one, this time without everyone watching."

Asia giggled quietly as Issei started to go red. "Just remember Issei-san, this is a hospital."

Now reduced to a stuttering idiot, he managed to say "No fair ganging up on me!" Before walking away.


I may have had to escort Asia as she practically insisted to visit all the wounded of both peerages. But, who was I to say no to such a determined kitten? I did however make sure she asked for something in return. Since she didn't want to be greedy at all, she was promised a full set of the previously advertised plush dolls for Sairaorg's entire peerage. I reminded Sairaorg, who she visited last, that if they ordered together, instead of one at a time, they could get the discount and a chance for a Kodori doll.

What discount? Well, I might have also mentioned to Ravel they were for Asia. So yeah, that discount.

Sairaorg also thanked me for training Issei to be such a challenge, and that he still wanted to spar one day. But, I did tell him he owed me nothing for helping his mother. Misla seemed to understand without being told why, and Sairaorg simply settled on a handshake with me in thanks.

When we got to Rias's room, most everyone was there already and wondering where we'd been.


"Collecting very small favours, since no one likes being laid up in bed while being covered in bandages." I said, "I'll build you a nice cabinet for your gifts." I gave Asia's shoulders a pat while I stood behind her, "Maybe if this business of theirs picks up, you can collect the full set of all the peerages you guys beat from now on?" I gave her a little nudge towards Rias, and she went to go look at her still bandaged leg, "Well done everyone."

For the most part, everyone smiled. Tired, but victorious. The most notable exceptions were Xenovia, obviously. But also Rias. I made a mental note to chat with her later.

"I'm a little dissapointed." Xenovia nodded, "But I was not expecting that... What even was that?"

"Trick Vanish?" I asked, "From what they said in the booth, and what I saw, it looked like it cancelled out your 'knight' abilities." I nodded, "I panicked too, when Kurin did something similar to me, so don't feel bad. Had you been on the other side, Kiba would have eaten that attack."

"She might have done better against Sairaorg-san than me." Kiba admitted, "And I wouldn't have been expecting something like that either."

"I will train harder." She said, "Though... After a nap. Maybe two."

Someone's stomach gurgled, "And food." I said, "I do believe I said I'd make pasta as well." I smiled at all the hopeful looks, "However." those same hopeful looks vanished, "Sona's game is tomorrow, and I'm willing to bet she will return victorious." Once again restoring those hopeful looks.

"Willing to bet on it?" Rias smiled, giving Asia a hug and standing up, "Thank you, Asia-chan."

"No doubt she's already planned every step of her game with them. Even if it is a dice match like it was today." Kiba said confidently, "I will side with Sensei if a bet is involved."

"Well, I'm not in the habit of throwing money away." Rias smiled, "Shall we return home and save our appetites for tomorrow then?"

Everyone nodded, "Ara... I'm not sure I could stay up long enough for a dinner like that." Akeno yawned delicately.

More nods.

"Let's go tell them we're leaving, so they don't wonder where we've gone then." Rias said.

"Before you go." We had just gotten gathered together in the big teleport circle when Sirzechs entered the room, a smiling Serafall in tow. "I know I've said it already to Rias, but, well done everyone."

"I can't wait to see how my Sona's match goes tomorrow... so excited..." Serafall did one of those 'dance in place, both fists touching chin' dances, "But you guys really rocked the house today!"

Everyone made very tired but cheerful attempts at a thank you before Rias replied, "The dice rule was a surprise..."

"With your performance, and that of the other new peerages, I knew you could handle it. This Rating Game series was a good idea." Sirzechs smiled.

"You do have those from time to time." Serafall tapped his shoulder with her little fist, "You guys get experience, the rest of the underworld gets entertainment, everyone wins!"

"Well not everyone." I said, "What was that kid's name? Not Diodora, though he certainly didn't win..."

"He didn't come out a head, that's for sure." Issei laughed, while Rias swatted at his shoulder.

"Well, even with all the troubles surrounding the games, those who continued to compete have done well." Sirzechs nodded, "I hope you'll continue to take care of my sister, Issei-kun."

"Yeah, after a display like that, I think the entire underworld is gonna start wondering about a wedding now." Serafall added with a grin.

This turned them both into stuttering idiots while the rest of us kind of chuckled at them.

"I see you are all very tired, so I won't keep you any longer. Again, well done." Sirzechs smiled, "Get some rest, and if you wish to attend tomorrow, you'll have seats waiting for you. If not, we'll be broadcasting as normal."

"Thank you big brother." Rias smiled, "Come on everyone."


The first thing I did when we got back, aside from giving everyone one last head/shoulder/back pat, a word of encouragement and a reminder not to skip dinner, no matter how tired they were, was to go find Delly and Shinkage.

"Oh she's back!" I heard as I got close to the workshop. A moment later, a sparkling comet buried itself in my bosom and gave me a hug.

I resisted the urge to compress myself around her, feeling I might crush her if I did, and gave her a headpat, "Hey Delly. Thanks for keeping Shinkage company."

"Blup!"

"Jiru too."

Shinkage himself stalked out of the workshop a moment later, "Little Gasper set up HIDA so we could watch the game as well."

"Not like I need any more reason to give him a hug..." I sighed, "What did you guys think?"

"My big brother's keeper has made significant progress." He replied with a rumble, "Of all his owners, Issei is the most... innovative."

"That Sairaorg guy is totally off the scale though!" Delly nodded, "But WOW Akeno really lit the place up with that smoke you made!"

"I'll have to have a few words about tormenting an opponent, again, but yes, that worked well." I nodded, "Oh, I have something for you." I fished in my pocket and took out a little paper wrapped candy I'd gotten before the match. "And yes, I've already come up with some design ideas to maybe help you fly... Or at least not fall."

"Yay!"

"Oh good... A dragon being afraid of heights is unseemly."

"Oh!" I went over to Jiru, who had started on his favourite rock before I left, but was now on a workbench near HIDA's projector tube, "I got some 'pygmy dead pepper' seeds." I gave Jiru a pat, then found one of the gaps under the moss, "It -should- grow a head sized bush with small banana shaped red and black peppers." I looked at Delly, "Don't nibble on these. I'm pretty sure they're going to be spicy."

"Well with a name like 'dead pepper' I hardly expected them to be sweet... Just like this candy... Makes me think of tamarind..."

I gently pushed a little mana through my hand for Jiru, and watched a little twiggy mini tree start growing from the spot I'd planted the seed, "Well, looks like you can grow it. Good job." I gave Jiru's back a pat with my other hand, "I'll have other stuff for you later."

"Blurrrrrrblblblbe."

"Are you going to watch the game tomorrow?"

"I'll stay in the shop and keep an ear out with HIDA since well, I can apparently." I nodded, "Lots of work to do, and I've got to make ready for my duel..."

"When you win, you'll be almost done collecting though!" Delly encouraged, "And while you get that, we'll be here setting up that way back for you! Well... I hope. I mean, I don't think this has ever been tried before."

"And that is different how? Most of what she does hasn't been tried before." He gave my hip a nudge with his forehead, "We will see it through."

"Thanks guys." I gave the top of his head a pat, "I'm pretty much done for the day, so expect an early start tomorrow."

"I'm looking forward to it."

"Me too boss!" A pause, "Oh, um, did you bring food back for Sir Skitters?"

"It will be here tomorrow. He'll have to settle for a couple of those beetle dango I brought home for tonight."

"He better share..."


October 9

Mid way through my morning stretches and cookie baking (are you sure you want a cookie Sir Skitters? Eh well, everyone ELSE likes them...) my phone buzzed.

HIDA: Something seems wrong with my alarm sensors.

Fox2: Diagnostic.

A pause.

HIDA: Parody conflict between visual, infrared and echo sensors.

I pulled the second last batch of cookies out of the oven and tried to parse her meaning. Did she just say she was hallucinating?

Fox2: Is the front door open?

HIDA: Yes.

Fox2: Is anyone other then Shinkage present?

HIDA: Maybe. Should I notify the Student Council President?

Fox2: Display camera 1.

My phone buzzed again, as HIDA used another app to show me a live feed from one of the workshop cameras. Shinkage was in his corner, laying on his back, one paw twitching as he dreamed of something. The garage door was open though, letting the early morning light in. I couldn't see anything else, but this was only a visual camera.

Fox2: If anything in the shop goes missing, contact Sona with a lockdown request. I will be there in a moment.

I quickly packed up my cookies, put the unused batter in the fridge, and gave Sir Skitters one last cookie, "Delly, we might have guests."

"Too early for guests..." She mumbled.

I sighed, getting my coat on. Once done, I reached out and pulled Delly to me, "Might be an emergency." She dissolved into little sparkles and became part of my mana.

It felt like she was yawning and stretching, "But I was having a nice dream..."

"Complain to who ever opened my workshop door without waking Shinkage."

A pause, "That sounds like fairy magic!" Zero to awake it seemed.


"Brother... I don't think we should have entered without asking first..." I heard as I got closer to the workshop, my feet silent in my nice boots, "You've seen what she's capable of, especially when angry..." The voice was timid, a little wavering, but not unpleasant.

"Aw shut your yap! We've kept her giant cat sleeping, and that weird contraption can't see us. What's to worry about? I'm jus' gettin' a peek at what she's workin' with!" A rough uncultured voice, used to yelling and swearing.

I kept my approach slow, listening in a little more, "Are you sure? I mean... Oh, she does have a nice clean setup in here..."

I looked around the corner, spotting someone a little over a metre tall in what looked like shiny armour walk into my shop. This let me get closer without being seen. Delly, still hiding in my mana said, "Wait... that looked like..."

I didn't want to speak, since I had no idea how keen their hearing was.

"All this modern shite... I though she was supposed to be from some low tech backwater! A power hammer? Air compressor? Band saw? What's this... A wire-o-matic?"

There was the sound of metal armour jostling around a bit, "Brother... Don't kick things! We're already breaking the rules by entering!"

"An' yet, here you are, jus' as guilty as me! HA! A gas furnace? No self respecting smith uses this crap!"

"Well it is cleaner than coal..."

"Prissy git. That's what you are."

"I just don't like getting dirty! You know that."

Figuring they didn't have any malicious intent, it seemed like they knew who I was, what I did, and had some knowledge of the craft. So, I took out my phone and typed in a quick 'cancel alert' to HIDA, then stepped around the corner. Standing in the entrance, I let my tails out (since I didn't know who I was dealing with, I hid them before coming) and had them fan out behind me, casting the room into shadow.

Two people. Both about the same height of just over a metre. One, the timid sounding one, was clad in an odd suit of interlocking brass plate armour that was well kept. The rest of him was pretty neat and orderly too, from nicely trimmed hair and beard to polished black boots.

The other one was mostly bald, had methane blue skin, and looked like a miniature version of 'the village blacksmith'. Tool belt and apron, rough appearance, dirt and soot over random bits of him, bare and muscular arms.

"Aww crap." He said, turning around.

"Um. Hi." The other said, "Look! We didn't touch anything, we were just looking around!"

"Boss! These two! They're DWARVES!" Delly said excitedly.

Without saying anything, I stepped into the shop, put a hand on each of their shoulders and picked them up off the floor. Blue did indeed have a smith's muscles, the skin under my hand feeling more like stone than flesh. The armour of the other one, I was pleased to note, didn't rattle much when I picked him up, meaning it was well made AND strapped on properly. Though, now that I was looking at it, the entire surface had really finely detailed Celtic knotwork etched into it, covering over 95 percent of it.

"I told you this would get us in trouble Brother!" The nervous one said.

"Put me down you furry..."

I put them both down just over the yellow line, "Hello. My name is Kodori Haruhime. And this is my shop." I offered the nervous one my hand first.

"Oh! Um, right, must be a yellow safety line..." He wiped his (clean) hand off on his (also clean) sleeve, then shook my hand, "Sindri. A pleasure Mrs. Haruhime." I also noted that while they were both short, their hands were 'human' sized. Much bigger than their stature would suggest.

He let go and I offered my hand to the other one. He didn't bother wiping his hand at all, and I could feel his heavily calloused palm scrape against mine. "Hoooo-leee crap! Hands softer than a fresh peach. Do you even use that hammer on the rack there?"

Sindri stomped on his foot, making him glare daggers at him.

"Brok." He said.

"A pleasure." I said dryly, "Now, Sindri, Brok, why are you in my shop, uninvited, before I've even finished making cookies?"

Brok crossed his huge arms over his chest and looked grumpy, so Sindri answered, "Well, um, Lord Micheal said you wanted an expert on divine crafting."

I opened my mouth to reply, closed it again, then said, "But, aren't you Nordic?"

"BAH! Show's how much you know. Skilled smith He said! HA!"

"What my brother will eventually get around to saying, is that it doesn't matter what religion you're from. Divine craft is more or less the exact same where ever you go. I mean... um, there are nuances and subtleties but otherwise..."

I felt myself starting to like the pair. A perfect mix of sweet and sour. "Well, that IS why I asked for an expert. I don't know, so I'm going to learn." I glared down at Brok, "Now, if you could let my sleeping friend wake up, we can chat until I'm allowed to turn the machines on."

"Boss..."

"Oh, and if you want a cookie and some water. I welcome you to my shop."

"Better."


"Brother, look at this! She's woven in so many layers... Different styles too!"

"Yeah? So? She's got a little skill I suppose."

"I am not sure I like this kind of attention."

"Aww is the giant metal pussy getting nervous?"

"You can examine the inside of my mouth if you want." Shinkage's mouth opened wide, wide enough to put Brok's head in if he leaned forward a little.

Sindri gave Shinkage's chest a delicate tap, "What do you have powering him? I mean... I hear it, but it sounds different..."

"I'm keeping that secret to myself." I said, "And no biting the guests. Even if they are sour blueberry coloured hammer midgets."

Brok glared while Sindri hid a laugh behind his hand, "Listen here girly, I've been hammering metal since before your first ancestor said 'oops'."

I looked at the time, noting that it was now just after classes would normally start. I'd had some metal heating up in the furnace already, so I reached my hand in, pulling out the nearly white hot plate, "For your information, I don't actually have a first ancestor." Holding the glowing plate in my hand, and picking up my hammer with the other, I started pounding the metal into shape, "And anyone can hammer steel."

He looked at what I was doing, and how I didn't care that I was holding a plate of 1100 degree steel with my bare hand, "Okay, I'll admit, that's pretty neat." He said with a huff.

"Oh... I can't look..." Sindri said, his pale white skin going a little green.

"Then don't, you gutless wimp!" Brok gave his brother's shoulder a shove to turn him away from me, "I'll look. You start with the practical stuff."

Sindri did a couple of side steps to the nearest table to pick up a bottle of water, "Well, gulp, How about I start with... Umm... Oh! Okay, subtleties."


One of the biggest 'subtleties' was the difference between 'divine' and 'blessed'. At first, I was a little confused by that. But the gist of it is like this: A divine object/person is a 'godly' object/person. Odin would be a divine person, while say Excalibur would be a divine object. Kind of like... having your 'nature' or 'origin' your literal being, as 'holy'. Also of note, I fell into this category as well.

A 'blessing' was a much MUCH broader term. And didn't have to stem from something 'divine'. A blessing, in the strictest sense was simply an 'endorsement' from someone else. Be it a Priest sprinkling holy water on you, or someone wishing you luck. It didn't matter if the person/thing giving the blessing was divine or not. A good example would be Haruhime's spell. She was gifting her power to someone else, blessing them. And while yes, the spell was worded like a prayer, I, and Asia, could use it on a Devil.

It's when you added a certain kind of power to it, that the 'blessing' became 'divine' or not. Milk was still milk, even if you added chocolate. That is, until you gave it to someone allergic to chocolate.


"So, yer tellin' me, some jerk human with six arms challenged you to a duel, and he's got how many artifact level swords?"

"Well, from what Azazel, Kiba and Xenovia described, five." I replied, holding up the metal plate I'd been hammering all morning up to HIDA's display, "Gram, Balmung, Nothung, Tyrfing and... um... Delly?"

"Dáinsleif." She said from behind her usual 'safe spot' behind a clear plastic face shield. "Hehe, still can't get all the accents right?"

"Give me a brake, Old Norse is like my seventh weird language. I'm already going to get odd looks when I speak 'modern' Japanese back home."

"Well sheeet." Brok rubbed the top of his head, "That's one hell of a lineup... But that's only five." He counted on his fingers, "Yeah."

"Well, he has something like this for his last one." I set the metal plate down to cool and went to my safe, "A holy flashlight, basically." I handed it to Sindri who was closest, "Don't point it at your face."

Sindri accepted the tube, one of the original bunch I'd picked up from way back, "Oh, I see..." Within seconds he had it open and in component parts on a work table, "Wow, humans have come a long way since we last looked. Brother take a look here."

I fired up the belt sander while they poked at the disassembled light sabre. "I've made my own versions, but from what I've heard, he's probably got a better version of one of those."

"Well y'er not allergic to it, what does it matter?"

"It's still a weapon, and if I can put an edge on one, so can he. But no, I'm not really worried about that. Just the other legendary unholy weapons he has." I replied sarcastically, "What are my options? Metal? Leather? Are there enchantments I can use? Do I just play 'keep away' and hope I don't get hit?"

The two of them, even though they looked different, had the exact same 'heavy thinking' face, both of them crossing their arms and bowing their heads while they thought, "Well, you certainly have the power, but maybe not the ability, to overcome those blades." Sindri thought out loud.

"You'd need a really good base metal for it though." Brok looked at one of the new Ko-Steel ingots I'd made, picking it up and biting it like one might a gold coin, "This stuff isn't bad, but not enough."

"Well, I might have something, but I have to make a call first." I pulled out my phone, "You don't mind do you?"

"As long as they aren't too scary..."

"Wimp."

Fox2: Hey, remember what you said about me melting down that sword?


NOTES!

No, couldn't resist.

Ko-fi, Daeore, if you want to toss a coin to your writer. (Sings: I've words of plenty...)