Chapter 7: Sparring sessions
Crafters' Workshop, Kamata Tech
It was Saturday and the atmosphere in the workshop was still some tense lately, that day was one of those rare days where there wasn't even a single order to do, normally the Crafters Guild would spend it with anything what comes at their minds first.
Takemaru has the hobby of play videogames with Kurogane or Hephaestus just to tease him for fun every time he loses at Super Smash Bros., but this time he preferred to read one of his secret romantic novels at his room to keep his mind busy out of Talos' issue, Kurogane makes some improvements to his new rocket model to launch it with Oz next week, but he can't concentrate, and Amatsumara was checking his students' last homework to qualify them, but like everybody else in the house, his mind was still in one thing.
Meanwhile, Hephaestus was still working with the unknown code, his program was still decoding its logic and processing, he felt he was close to a solution to his android, it was just a matter of time, during his work with the code, he notes Talos is practicing some fighting moves.
-What you're doing, Talos? – the crafter asked to the android curious.
-I…just wanted to do what you do with the other guildmates at mornings, Creator...am I doing wrong? - the android said to the olympian transient with some doubt.
-No, it's Ok, just…wait a minute- Hephaestus responds but later, he gets up from his seat to get close to his robot, he takes Talos' right hand from the wrist and moves it to a better position, then he takes the robot's shoulders and makes him slouch a little, after that he makes Talos bend his knees and moves his feet, all of this was to correct his fighting posture.
-Now, that's a correct fighting posture, it will help you to block any blow with the left and attack with the right hand…- Hephaestus said in an almost fatherly way and making the moves required in the posture to work, Talos was surprised with this action from Hephaestus, almost like a kid learning from his father how to defend himself.
-Creator…can you teach me more, please? - the android asked him with excitement.
-mmm… I made you to adapt yourself to any situation, why you're asking me to teach you how to fight? – Hephaestus asked to Talos with some hesitation.
-it's because…is better if anybody else teaches you how do it, and…- Talos says, but his response was half-answered, hiding his real intentions.
-…Ok…the program is still running and I don't have anything better to do, but just this one time…got it? – the crafter sighed and commented to his android with some hesitation and reluctance
-Understood, Creator- the robot nods with the head and smiles.
-well, first you must know the ways to throw a punch…-Hephaestus stands in front of his android and makes the same fighting posture.
-this is a jab- the transient says and throws a punch in a straight line extending his arm slowly at first and putting his weight at his frontal foot to later make the same movement at his usual speed while he covers his face with his left hand, Talos watches him with attention.
-this is a straight punch- Hephaestus makes the same movement but at a shorter distance and balancing his weight at both feet, the android still watches him closely and keeping the attention.
-this is an uppercut- the crafter then proceeds to take the fighting posture again, but throws a punch from down to up in vertical way making a curve in air.
-and this is a crochet- Hephaestus makes the same moves from the uppercut, but the punch is thrown in horizontal course, making a curve in air.
-any doubts? – the Olympian transient asks.
-No, Creator- Talos answers and practices the movements he saw.
-Ok…now throw me some punches to my palms- Hephaestus put his hands in air and open his palms, Talos throws blows making the movements he learnt.
-again- the Olympian repeats, Talos keeps hitting his creator's hands.
They keep sparring for some hours, Hephaestus moved his hands in other directions to make Talos throws more punches and don't get bored in their private training session.
-How did you learnt to fight, Creator? -the android asks suddenly to his creator, the crafter stays silent until he speaks with a nostalgic tone in his voice.
-In my home world, I had to learn to fight to defend myself, when I was a kid, I was weak and shier than now because of my lameness, my first legs were made of wood by a cyclops crafter in a town close to where Mama and I lived, that cyclops was the closest thing to a paternal figure I could have, one day, Mama and I would go to visit my "Aunt", in our path, some boys wanted to bully me because of my lameness…I was get used to their mockery, until they talked bad about Mama, I got angry by his words and I hurt the biggest boy from that group breaking his nose in front of the cyclops' workshop, he saw me defending myself and since then the cyclops taught me about blacksmithing, metalworking, sculpture and how to use my powers…and how to get strong and defend myself and Mama from bullies in future…- Hephaestus told that memory to Talos, the android hugs his maker out of the blue and buries his face into his creator's chest.
- W-what you're doing?!- the transient asks alarmed by this, but he doesn't do anything to take off Talos from his pecs.
- I promise you…I will protect you, Creator; I will protect our Guild and I will protect Mama- the robot comments in a quiet voice.
- w-what did you said? - Hephaestus asks confused.
- N-nothing, Creator- moves away from Hephaestus' chest because of awkwardness.
- I-it's ok…you want to keep with the sparring? – the crafter transient asks a little astonished, Talos nods again with the head and both retake the fighting lesson, but they were unaware somebody else was watching them from the door, their guildmates were watching them in silence with amusement in their eyes, to them, that bonding moment was enough to dissipate the tension in their workshop for a moment, but there was another presence in the shadows, the entity was watching them with an ominous feeling in its void eyes.
Shinjuku Academy, 2-B classroom
Jūtarō just had his last lesson of the day and had some free time, that Saturday's classes at school would be at half-time because of a staff reunion, leaving the students with more time to themselves than other days, the summoner was packing his things in the school bag until one of his friends calls him.
- umm… Jūtarō-dono, excuse me for disturb you but, do you have any plans today? - Moritaka asked him in a courteous way.
-No, my agenda is free now- the summoner answered sincerely.
-It is okay if I can ask you be my training partner today, Toji-dono was going to sparring me today, but he had something to do at last minute at his temple…-the canis therian commented about his plans.
-sure, there's no problem- Jūtarō responds and takes his schoolbag.
-Magnificent! well, I see you in the park, at the fountain of west side- the transient of Land of Wa said, but before go, his Guild Master asked one last thing.
-Moritaka? –
-Yes, Jūtarō-dono? – the canis therian responds.
-Shake! – he says while he puts his hand in air with the palm turned up
-Woof!...NOT AGAIN!- Moritaka yelled with frustration after realizes he hand shake his Guild Master's hand like a dog.
Shinjuku Public Central Park
Both guild members were clashing their wooden swords with strength, their exclamation yells were filling the air notoriously, the canis therian was trying to connect a lateral blow but Jūtarō blocks it just in time and moves his sword to unbalance his friends' pose, but Moritaka jumps back to reincorporate his fighting posture, then both fighters goes back to make a exchange of blows, all while Salomon was watching them and drinking a can of iced coffee milk at the fountain.
-You've got him, Master! Finish him with your special attack! – Salomon cheers to his master
-Sal, this is not a game! And neither an App Battle! – the summoner comments while he blocks a vertical slash, Moritaka enforcers this last attack to win until both hear another voice, a grave and strong voice yelling at them and blowing a whistle.
-STOP, IN THE NAME OF THE LAW!- it was a big and muscular transient calling them, his hands and arms were tainted in red, was wearing a police uniform and riding a bike, keeping a frown in his face.
-Tajikarao?! What you're doing here? – Jūtarō turns his face and sees the police cadet getting close to them, both summoners relax their pose and lowering their swords.
-I was making my surveillance round until a citizen reported about someone yelling aloud and about a fight at this side of the park was disturbing the calmness from around…and what I found?... you and your friend fighting at plain sight! – Tajikarao lectures them, but then Jūtarō proceeds to explain.
-We weren't fighting, we were having a sparring session, and sorry if we were yelling aloud, but we came here because this place is not very concurred at this hour- the summoner commented.
-We sincerely apologize if we were disturbing other citizens in the park, it was my idea to use this place as our training spot, officer- Moritaka apologizes and bows in a proper way.
-Well, now that everything is clear and there's no major problems, I just ask you to don't disturb people again and mind your actions before anything happens, OK? – Tajikarao comments and rides again his bike to come back to his surveillance round, after that warning, both friends take a seat at the fountain's brim and drink some iced tea.
-umm… Jūtarō-dono, can I ask you something? – Moritaka asks him with some hesitation.
-and what you want to ask me? -the summoner said a little unsured.
-about what happened to you at P.E. class yesterday, sorry if I'm being nosy but it's not just me, all our guildmates were worried for you when you collapsed, we were afraid something bad was happening and you didn't want to tell us… but you can't keep like this all the time, so please, can you tell me what is going on with you?- Moritaka asks him with seriousness and angst.
-I…- Jūtarō tries to answer him, but he freezes, his face turns red and his hands squeeze the iced tea can, he's getting tense until another voice intercedes.
- Jūtarō! Who is this scoundrel?! Is this the vile thief who wants to take your heart?! I, The Great Hephaestus from The Kamata Crafters, will not tolerate this rudeness to my persona…AND TO MY LOVER! PREPARE YOURSELF, YOU VILLAIN!- the Hephaestus doll appears and makes its dramatical poses and talks like a gentleman from past times to challenge Moritaka at duel, Jūtarō gets redder than before and the canis therian has no words to what is happening now.
-Salomon, please stop! this is too embarrassing!- the summoner covers his face and pleads to his butler, Moritaka then follows the roleplaying of Salomon to cheer up his friend.
-A scoundrel?! Me?! you Sir, are insulting my presence, and my friend's honor! I accept your challenge! – Salomon takes his golden cane and moves it with Hephaestus doll to make it look the doll is using a sword, and Moritaka picks up his training sword to play with the imp, both clashes their weapons in a playful way.
-So…you have a crush for one of the Kamata Crafters, right? – Moritaka questions to his friend while he has the Hephaestus doll in his hand, Jūtarō just nods with the head and takes back his doll in his hands.
-I…don't know how to tell him, he sees his late mother's soul in me… and I feel that is the only reason he has to stay with me, he helped me from what happened with the Warmongers at Ota Ward, and after that, we started to get along…I have practiced how to tell him every night, but I'm still afraid his reaction- the summoner explained and hugs tighter his doll.
-I see…I don't know what to say…I wish to help you…really, but I believe the most I can do is keeping at secret until you choose to tell our friends…- Moritaka comments painfully.
-I appreciate your concern, Moritaka, at least this sparring helped me to vent out myself- the summoner says and sighs, he stands up from his seat at the fountain followed by Salomon.
-Tomorrow I will go to Ota Ward, maybe I could find the right moment to confess him what I feel this Sunday- Jūtarō says and walks to the station, Moritaka just stay silent and accompanies him.
During their walking from the station to the dormitory, both summoners can see a souvenir store at the end of the station, its merchandise was mainly amulets and trinkets to allegedly help the clients with their luck, one of the most outstanding were little crystal balls in many colors with written characters to any purpose, Moritaka was shocked to see these amulets because they looked like his crystal amulet with the character of Filial Piety, he considered it as a mockery.
-What?! this is rude! How they dare to copy my amulet?! – Moritaka comments upset, but Jūtarō took a pair of those amulets, one golden yellow marble with the character of Courage, and another red one with the character of Love.
-How much for these ones? – the young man asked the price; the seller was counting money until it turns around to see its clients hiding his face.
-To you my dear client…you can buy it by the modest price of 3000 coins! Each one…-the seller was a dwarf transient carrying a big axe and wearing jewelry and smiling cunningly.
-Damn, it had to be you Andvari! -both summoners yelled upset after know the price and the seller's identity.
-well…excuse me if I like to make business and earn my own money, but I must recover some earnings, so what you say, 6000 coins and deal? – Andvari comments to the summoners and asks for the purchase.
-I just have 4000 coins now…do you accept 2000 for both? -the summoner says, but the dwarf is not pleased.
-just 2000?! But these amulets really work! They value its price in gold! Pay me 3500 and are yours- the dwarf replies.
-How we know this is not a scam, they could easily just be made of cheap painted acrylic and don't work as you say- the canis therian replies still upset.
- w-what?! These amulets are made with the best enchanted crystal from Little Takamagahara, these marbles bring good luck to its bearer in anything else, they worth it! – Andvari answers with vexation, the discussion between the dwarf and the canis therian would still keep going if it weren't for somebody else handle some money to the dwarf.
-3000 coins, deal? – Andvari sees Jūtarō with the money in hand, he takes it and thanks for the purchase.
-it's a deal, thanks for your purchase! - the dwarf replies gladly and closes the store.
-Why you did it? You know Andvari, and you know how sneaky can be to get money, Jūtarō-dono- Moritaka comments to his friend.
-he's right master, he can even sell an air cooler to a transient from Kamuy Kotan! – Salomon seconds Moritaka's comment.
-maybe you're right, but at least…these would help me with that thing tomorrow…- the summoner says while he watches the crystalline marbles, making him think this would help him to confess his feelings to certain someone, he picked those marbles because its colors reminded him about that transient who took his heart.
Shinjuku Academy, Dormitory One
The summoner was lying in bed, he had practiced how to confess his feelings with his Hephaestus doll in a last-minute training, he improved his skills comparing it to his first try-out, but he was still worried about the Olympian's reaction, remembering how sometimes he bleeds from his nostrils when Jūtarō makes direct physical contact, or when he stutters everytime he talks to the summoner, making him look like a trembling puppy, but even like that, Hephaestus makes the effort to don't flinch to him, to Jūtarō, he was the only being who was able to reach out for him beyond any others, not like Zabaniyya saw a fellow angel in him, or Tadatomo seeing in him his late Lord, or even Ophion looking him like his lost wife to compliment him all the time, with Hephaestus was different, at first it was like the others, but with time, he opened his heart to the crafter, his purity and lack of malice was the first thing Jūtarō could see in him, the crafter could had wronged at first because of fear and desperation, but the hidden bravery and noble heart of Hephaestus, even recklessness in his actions were the first step to their relationship, and now he needs that same strength the transient had to keep him away from a war, a war he could have started to save his Mama and his guild, but now, the goal was to open his heart to his shy savior.