Lyra waited patiently, elbows on the table, eyes warm as she watched Akari struggle to speak through her growing blush.
Akari pressed her hands together in her lap, her heart thumping as she tried to find the words.
"M-my… armor…" she began softly.
Lyra leaned in just a little. "Mm? Go on."
Akari took a nervous breath.
"Well… I was thinking…"
Her eyes flicked briefly over Lyra's outfit from yesterday,
The elegant, red battle dress trimmed with black accents, refined yet deadly.
"I think the red dress you wear is… really cool…" she admitted, cheeks burning. "S-so I… I'd like something like that? If that's okay…"
Lyra blinked.
Then blinked again.
Then her entire face lit up like Akari had just handed her a treasure.
"Akari…" she whispered dramatically, hand over her heart. "You have excellent taste."
Akari nearly died of embarrassment on the spot.
"It's not just because you wear it!" she squeaked. "I just, I think I'd feel confident in something like that! And it looked so elegant, and strong, and,"
Lyra started laughing softly, the good-natured kind that made Akari relax instead of curling into a ball.
"I'm happy," Lyra said, reaching over to ruffle Akari's hair. "Truly. If you want armor like mine, then we'll make it happen."
Akari smiled shyly.
"T-thank you…"
Lyra continued, "Now then, what about your weapon? You said you wanted a sword, right?"
Akari nodded, suddenly realizing this part was even more embarrassing.
"Well… You… you use two swords. And it looks really cool on you."
Her voice dropped to a tiny squeak. "So I… um… I'd like to try that too…"
Lyra's eyes sparkled.
"A dual-wielder, hm? Ambitious," she said with clear delight. "But if anyone can pull it off with divine power as a stabilizer, it's you."
Akari felt her heart flutter.
She believes in me… again.
Lyra tapped her fingers gently on the table. "Now for the important question: what material should we use for your blades?"
Akari flinched.
"Oh, um, I don't really know what works, or what's best."
"Well," Lyra said, "for a divine focus, the stronger and more magically conductive the material, the better. Rare monster parts, enchanted metals, ancient relic minerals, things like that."
Akari remembered something then.
"You mentioned dragons before," she said quietly. "Are… dragon scales strong enough to use?"
Lyra paused mid-breath.
Akari continued, with sudden, surprising boldness:
"What about… red dragon scales? Could they be used to make my swords?"
The silence that followed was long enough that Akari panicked.
"S-sorry! Was that dumb to say? I didn't mean."
"Akari."
Lyra leaned forward, gripping both of Akari's hands with sudden intensity.
"That's not dumb at all."
"H-huh?"
Lyra's smile was fierce, proud, and excited all at once.
"Red dragon scales are incredibly conductive. Strong. Resilient. Exquisite for forging magical weapons." Her voice dropped as if revealing a secret. "They're one of the top materials for high-rank enchanted blades."
Akari's eyes widened.
"So it's… possible…?"
Lyra beamed.
"Not only possible, but your idea is perfect. Two swords forged from red dragon scales… A red and black combat dress… A divine wielder learning to channel holy energy…" She grinned like a proud mentor. "That's an ideal setup."
Akari flushed deeply and glowed a little with happiness.
Then Lyra added, leaning back with a mischievous glint:
"Well, we'll just need one thing."
Akari blinked. "…What's that?"
Lyra smirked playfully.
"I have to go get the dragon scales."
Akari froze.
"…G-get… as in… from… a dragon…?"
"Of course," Lyra said, this as casually as someone mentioning they needed to buy milk. "Red dragons don't just hand them out."
Akari squeaked. "L-Lyra! Isn't that really dangerous?!"
Lyra chuckled. "Don't worry. I've slain red dragons before."
"That doesn't make me feel better!"
"It should," Lyra said as she stood, stretching her arms. "It means I know what I'm doing."
Akari stared at her, trembling slightly.
"Y-you're not going alone, are you…?"
Lyra blinked.
"Oh, of course not."
Relief washed through Akari.
Until Lyra grinned wider.
"I'll take you with me."
Akari choked on her own breath.
"W-W-WAIT!! M-ME?! A DRAGON?! I JUST SAID THAT WAS DANGEROUS."
Lyra placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"Don't worry. We won't fight one yet. I just want you to see what dragons look like, so you understand what your weapons will be made from."
Akari's eyes went blank. "I-I'm gonna… faint…"
Lyra laughed gently and caught her before she actually did.
"It will be fine. I promise."
Akari groaned.
"O-okay… but just looking. Just looking!"
"Just looking," Lyra agreed.
She brushed Akari's hair back with a smile.
"Now then… next step is deciding the exact design details.
What shape? What style? Engravings? Colors?"
Akari's eyes widened.
"Y-you want me to design it…?"
Lyra nodded warmly.
"Of course. This is your strength. Your path.
Now tell me, Akari…"
She leaned in with a soft smile.
"What do you want your swords to look like?"