"So this is where they made your gauntlet?" Ruby's eyes flicked across the storefront as they approached, pointedly ignoring the agitated energy of the city around them.

Your optimism really is something, Ruby. With a small breath, Blake reached out for the door. "That's right. I haven't actually seen Milo since he made it; it was a surprise gift, so..." They pushed inside, and Ruby immediately took an excited breath as she scanned the various displays.

"Oh wow, they're all unique... and these designs! Blake, Blake, look at the curve of this one! Wow, I don't know if I've ever seen one so perfectly calculated... I've seen machine-forged blades that aren't that well shaped!"

"I see you've come back, then," came the soft voice of Milo as he stepped in from the back of the shop, dusting off his hands and scanning Ruby with his eyes. "And you've brought someone else. Hmm. Let me guess: this is your friend the smith?"

Ruby blushed - actually blushed - a bit, chuckling. "Well, I don't know if I'd really call myself a smith. I've got a long way to go, still..."

"Hmm. Blake, let me see what you've done to my gauntlet." He reached out a hand, palm up, and waited. The moment she laid her right hand in it, he seized her by the wrist and started turning her arm back and forth, gently brushing against the metal of her armor. "Not thinking you're a master yet is a mark in your favor, girl. What did you come here for, Blake?" Somehow, the gruffness of his words was... soothing, almost. After all the tension in the air of the Tower and on the way here, having someone address her like that... it was refreshing.

"Actually, Ruby wanted to see your work after she got a look at my gauntlet - I promised her if we had a chance we'd come by so she could see more of it. We went over soulsmithing when I was here last, but our skill levels are pretty different. She'd learn a lot more than I did just by being here."

"Heh. Came to steal my secrets, then." He released her arm with a nod. "You've taken good care of my work, I see. It's been a long time since I did a custom piece, but it looks like it's taken with you quite well. Looks like I was right about you after all."

"Right about me...?" Blake murmured as the smith turned to her leader.

"So, girl. I'll let you take a look at my work if you do the same for me. Have anything for me to take a look at?"

Ruby bit her lip, one hand resting on Crescent Rose for a minute... then her eyes flicked to Blake, questioning. After a second, Blake nodded, pulling forth Shroud and Veil and holding them out hilt-first. Milo looked at it curiously before reaching out and grasping it. In his hands, it looked humorously small, but he held it confidently as he pulled a few inches of the blade from the sheath.

Then his eyebrows rose as he stared at his own reflection in the dark metal. Slowly, gently, he pulled the rest of the blade free, holding it perpendicular to the ground as he tested the balance.

The black spine of the blade shimmered briefly in the light, and he sighed, lifting it back up and gently testing the edge with a fingernail. "My, my. Isn't that something." He sheathed the blade in a smooth motion before handing it back to Blake with a nod. "All right. Ruby, come here. I'll show you a few of my blades."

Ruby bounced on the balls of her feet, excited - but Blake could see apprehension there, as well. Taking pity on her leader, she cleared her throat. "My blade's fine, too, then?"

"Hmm? Ah, of course. Young smiths, heh." He rolled his eyes. "You did good work, Ruby. You're right, you have a lot to learn – but I'd be happy to call you a smith. I've never seen a blade so dense with meaning before. I might not understand her, but that's only because she wasn't meant for me. Now, do you want to see my work or not? I don't exactly have all day."

"Yes please!" Ruby squeaked, following him eagerly off to one side of the shop.

Blake blinked, glancing down at the sheathed blade in her hand. Understand her, huh.

Neither Shroud nor Veil responded.

"I get it. So the blades you make reflect you... huh. Does that mean they're more effective for people close to you in nature, or maybe people that you're close to?"

Milo blinked. "Hah. I should have guessed you'd glean more than I said. Yes, those things can make a difference - but at the same time, someone fundamentally different from their smith can find their equipment shores up the places where they're weak, if they're willing to trust it. Armor from a stubborn mule of a smith can help a coward stand their ground, if they can find the strength to stand in the first place."

Ruby tapped her chin, considering. "Huh. So... that means, if I want to make the most of things like this... I have to understand myself, first. Then I can know how to help everyone else."

You have taken the first steps already. Understanding your element is a technique that Zeal used to enlighten themselves.

Milo shook his head. "You really are something, kid. If you were planning to stay in the city, I'd have an offer for you – but you have a goal you're chasing already, so I won't disgrace that by offering to keep you here. Just do me a favor – whatever you figure out, crossing my methods with yours? Do something incredible with them."

Ruby looked down for a moment, and took a breath. Memories passed through her mind – memories of a train, speeding down a track; memories of a courtyard filled with Grimm; memories of a coliseum falling from the sky; memories of half-Grimm corpses shambling down hallways.

When she looked back up, her face could have been carved from stone.

"I promise."

Ruby has advanced a skill! Artifice: C = C+ - The ability to create wonders surpassing standard equipment. At this level, can create artifacts several steps above modern equipment in all general areas, even with relatively mundane materials. With access to magical materials, conceptual infusions, or mystically important locations, great works can be forged. Time and materials required to create equipment scales based on the complexity of both the physical object to be imbued and the enchantments placed upon it.

Artifice trait acquired: Petals and Thorns - Ruby has learned the foundations of Soulsmithing, an ancient Cielan art that allowed their crafters to form wonders using nothing but their Aura. Allows Ruby to utilize her Aura when crafting items, mundane or otherwise; in addition to the normal benefits of soulsmithing (stronger material, lighter weight, better handling in the hands of Aura users), this allows her to confer benefits based on her Semblance. With time and research, more esoteric effects might become possible...