The blacksmith opens his eyes and rubs his head to ease some of the pain he's still experiencing as he wakes up. He was uncertain what had happened and took him a couple of seconds to get his bearings. He stands up and massages his temples as he leans on the wall. Only the fire from the forge brightens the house slightly in a warm amber. He hears someone behind him.

'Hehe glad to see you're finally awake.' It was not a voice he was familiar with but he knew it wasn't entirely human.

'Wh-what's going on?' he asks as he trembles, too afraid to turn around and lay his eyes on who knows what type of monstrosity has visited him and for what purpose?

'Nothing as long as you do what I say and listen carefully.' Dodomeki asks as he stands up from a chair he was sitting on.

'What's this about?' the blacksmith asks as Dodomeki chuckles.

'I see you're a man that wants to do things quickly, well in that case I'll get right down to business. You see I have information that earlier you received instruction about forging some armour for someone.'

'Oh is that why you're here, well I'm sorry but I will not change my answer.' He answered, determination in his voice was present...just as Dodomeki predicted.

'I see, why is that?'

'Because I don't recognise the lord of the province as my lord.' His voice gradually gaining more confidence as a result of remembering why he follows his lord.

'Interesting, well your loyalty is admirable unfortunately I don't really care about where it is. What I do care about is your forging capabilities. I don't want you to create any old armour there's a specific design and materials I want you to use.'

'And what if I refuse?'

'Then you can be the ones to bury your wife and newborn.' He threatened. The blacksmith was furious, his family was everything to him and no one threatens them if he can have a say in it. He makes his right hand into a fist and turns around hoping to surprise him with a strike. Dodomeki predicted he would do such a thing as he saw the fist being formed and moved first. As the blacksmith turns his head he was greeted with another fist and sent him flying to the other side of the room. He smacks his head against the wall. He looks up a moment later and his eyes widen with surprise and fear. The fire from the forge flickers as it presents Dodomeki's towering and rather intimidating appearance. His glowing giant eye pierces the blacksmiths soul as it stares right in his eyes. As the blacksmiths eyes scan down he notices something in Dodomeki's right arm. He was carrying something draped with a very light blue cloth. Dodomeki smirks underneath his helmet.

'It seems this has caught your attention.'

'Wh-where did you get it!?' He shouts.

'Now now keep your voice down, you don't want to wake him up do you?' He chuckles as the blacksmith grits his teeth.

'If you must know I found him in your home looking alone, so I took along to help you see sense, your wife however she was...less co-operative.' The blacksmith was speechless...did...did he really kill his wife. Tears started to stream down his face.

'Now do I have your attention? I hope so because your son looks so peaceful when he is sleeping, not a care in the world or any knowledge of any evil that may or may not be around him.' He raises his left and makes his hand perfectly straight, claws pointing at the cloth.

'No please stop I beg you!' He yells as he raises in arm in protest. Dodomeki smiles sadistically behind the helmet as he strikes the cloth. He raises his hand which is now covered with red liquid. The blacksmith seeing this breaks down and starts sobbing. Dodomeki left him crying for a minute before taking a couple of steps towards him and drops his child in front of him. The blacksmith cradles it before he realises something...it was unnaturally hard for a baby. He looks at it and realises it was in fact a watermelon. He dries his eyes and wonders what was going on. Dodomeki goes on one knee and grabs a hold of his chin to make him look at his giant glowing eye.

'Now you know that I'm capable of actually killing those that you hold dear do I have your attention now? I don't care if you hate the lord all I want is one piece of armour forged, after that you may do as you please. Do you understand or do I have to make my point clearer?' He threatened as he lets go and stands back up. The blacksmith shakes his head.

'No your point is well made...what armour do you wish for me to make?' He questions.

'I'm glad you asked. I have in my possession a scroll that will give you details on how to work with the specific material I need you to forge. Along with the specific measurements I need.' He threw that very scroll towards him. The blacksmith hurries to catch it as soon as it lands on the floor and scans his eyes through it in a hurry. Dodomeki returned to the dark corner he was originally in and dragged a rather heavy wooden chest to the middle of the room.

'Here's all the materials you will need, do not worry they maybe...exotic but they are forgable for you, I made sure of it.' The blacksmith hesitantly opens the chest and sees the materials for the first time and gasps in awe.

'So how long do I have to forge it?' The blacksmith questions.

'However long you need, however don't take too long remember I know where you and your family are, I will check up if I feel its taking longer than it should.' The blacksmith nods quickly out of fear

'Understood and thank you for your generosity.' He states referring to keeping his family. Dodomeki scoffs at him as he opens the door.

'Tch don't thank me just yet you still have a job to do, I suggest you rest for the moment...you have a busy day starting tomorrow after all don't you think?' He closes the door behind him as the blacksmith wipes the sweat from his brow and sighs a breath of relief. As Dodomeki takes a few steps away from the house and chuckles to himself being seemingly pleased with himself. He quickly hides back in the shadows and looks up at the dark night sky that replaced the amber sun setting in the horizon. He sees the bright moon and smirks to himself.

'Do not worry my lady, eventually you'll be able to achieve your full potential and will be able to rule this realm and the next.' His thoughts are interrupted as he hears a very faint sound, like a thud of some kind. He stealthily scouts on the outskirts of the village to see if there was anything...however even he couldn't see anything. Nevertheless this got him on the edge, what if it wasn't just nothing? There's not much he can do about it now since he couldn't find any foot prints of any kind, maybe it was just nothing.

The next morning the fresh recruit says his farewells to the wife as he walks to his horse that was stationed in the stable. He sighs as he as he climbs up knowing he had to give the bad news to Mitsuko and he didn't want to get on her bad side or make a bad first impression. As his horse slowly makes its way out of the stable, the young recruit stops it as he spots his uncle coming out of his forgery.

'Wait!' He shouts as he sprints towards the horse.

'Uncle what is it?' He asks as he dismounts his horse and puts his arms on his uncles shoulders.

'That armour you requested, I may not like it but it'll take a while to complete I'll send it to the castle once I finished.' The recruit smiles brightly at the news.

'Uncle that's great news! But wait why the sudden change of heart?' He asks confused by the very sudden change of mind. The blacksmith closes his eyes for a moment and imagines his wife and newborn living, it was such a gracious sight to behold.

'Let's just say I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I didn't.' His nephew was confused by this.

'I don't really understand uncle but thank you anyway, now I actually have good news to report you take care of yourself now.'

'And you aswell.' He bid farewell to his nephew as the horse starts to gallop away from the village. He sighs and glances behind him and sees Dodomeki standing on a hill overlooking the village with his arms crossed. He rubs his eyes to make sure it was actually him. There was nothing there, he blames it on his appearance yesterday. It doesn't matter as he shakes his head and begins his work.

Dodomeki started to sprint away from the village across the hills in tandem with the horse to make sure he doesn't get ambushed or anything. Though he wants to get back to Gyuki's position as quick as possible to make sure he doesn't do anything stupid in his absence.

'Aha that's it my lady, whip them up to shape!' Gyuki cheers quietly as he sees Mitsuko training the new recruits once again.

'Huh I rushed here thinking you would run off and do something stupid like reveal yourself. In turns out my fears were unfounded surprisingly.' Dodomeki walks up behind him.

'Hey that's not very nice, if you can't say something nice don't say anything at all.'

'And be silent? I don't think so.' Dodomeki chuckles as he joins Gyuki.

'So how is she doing?' He asks as he crouches down.

'She's doing fine she's just finishing training the new recruits and is ready to do some relaxing. She's working hard that's for sure.' He points at her.

'Hmm, soon she won't have to do such menial tasks...however I can see it being beneficial for her development of how this world works. I wonder how well she truly adjusted to this life?'

'She seems like she's doing fine, she's making friends and everything.'

'I suppose...perhaps it is me being over cautious over her well being.'

'Aww you're worried about her you do care!' Dodomeki punches Gyuki right in the gut, catching Gyuki off guard and onto his knees in agony.

'guahhh.'

'Watch what you say next time before you speak. You'll get that drilled in your head soon enough.'

'That was...entirely uncalled for.' Dodomeki scoffs in response as he watches the fresh recruit enter the castle.

Meanwhile Mitsuko and Zang Ba are sitting at a table out in the open with others next to a building, both of which have a meat bun in their hands. Zang Ba seems to be enjoying himself however Mitsuko looked to the side while tapping her fingers on the table as if she's impatiently waiting for something or someone.

'Don't worry so much Mitsuko just relax and enjoy the delicious taste and aroma that is the meat bun.' Ba suggests as he tries to advertise the meat bun to Mitsuko.

'I'm just thinking he should be back by now is all.'

'True but there is nothing you can do about it so you might as well relax until you have confirmation on one or the other.'

'Yeah I know. Still this waiting isn't exactly my idea of fun is all.' As she says this Zang Ba sees the new recruit walking at a quick pace towards their position.

'Well I don't think you need to wait any longer.' The soldier stops in front of both of them and bow his head.

'My lady my lord, I completed my mission your armour will be forged and be here soon.' He states.

'Great how soon are we talking?' Mitsuko questions as the soldier began to get nervous.

'Erm I...I don't exactly know my lady, all he said was soon but he said he'll send it to the castle once he finished it.'

'Well that's something good work, return to the barrack and join your troop.' Mitsuko ordered.

'Thank you my lady.' He bows respectfully again and makes his way to the barracks. Mitsuko sighs a breath of relief as he walks off.

'See I told you it was all fine.'

'What's all fine?' LingQi asks as she comes up behind Zang Ba without Mitsuko noticing her who is surprised by her appearance.

'Nothing much, Mitsuko was just fretting about the recruit she sent to a nearby blacksmith to forge some armour for her.' Mitsuko shot a rather furious glance at Zang Ba.

'Really? What kind did you ask for?' Mitsuko was surprised to hear that from her.

'Erm well I didn't actually ask for anything specific, anything that protects me will do fine.'

'Quite but you have to make sure its at least of good quality, no good in forging armour if it breaks after one strike you know? So when do you receive it?' LingQi interrogates.

'Not sure apparently it's going to be sent to the castle when its ready...however long that takes.' Mitsuko takes another bite out of her meat bun.

'Ahh it'll be fine. It'll turn up like the young lad did, he didn't die or anything because of you.' Zang Ba laughs as LingQi notices that Mitsuko pauses for a moment before laughing with him.

'I know aha I can't help but be worried sometimes especially since all I'm doing is waiting.' Mitsuko laughs it off but something about her mannerisms this time to LingQi seems ...false but she couldn't place her finger on it.

'Mitsuko...' she whispered to herself with concern as she looks at the fake happiness on her face.

Mitsuko could only keep up the act as she thinks quietly to herself. She's reminded of the time where her troubles escalated from standard everyday troubles to devastating. Seeing her corpse in front of the school entrance surrounded by other students and her own fresh bright red blood. She does her best to shake that image from her mind.

'Why? Why does my mind think back to that incident!? It should be dead and buried...like her...The moment I become strong enough to forget about that is a moment that cannot come soon enough. Then I'll do my damndest to make sure no one else doesn't have to go through the emotions she must've felt...because of me.'