An hour, maybe two, was all that it took for me to complete the functional product. I say functional because, appearances alone, this is nothing more than a wrist guard with two canisters that connect to a glove via a flexible metal tube.
Rinne, who had been sitting rather close ever since she brought Kelly down, stared at the finished product with a less-than-pleasing look. It stung to see my work viewed this way, but at least Kelly seemed to be rather enjoying it.
"So!" Kelly leaned forward, scribbling away at breakneck speed. I swear I could see smoke trail off her paper. "Why the two—chambered design? Do you have a stockpile of Heating Cores?"
"Heating Cores?" Rinne muttered as she made herself small as the reporter encroached on her space.
I could not help but widen in surprise. I could feel a smile line my lips. "You know about them? I thought everyone in the city just forgot they existed, as they just became a part of everyday life."
"Of course!" Kelly put down her notebook and picked up the device I made with shimmering eyes. "People take for granted how we actually harness steam power in this city." She traced her fingers over one canister and followed the line through the glove, then to the other canister. "Personally, I like this design. Water in one, steam condenses into the other. Rinse and repeat until the Heating Cores dissolve."
"What are Heating Cores?" Rinne asked again, this time speaking up.
"Simply put," I said. "They are what powers this city. They are an artifact that can infinitely regenerate. Many call them 'The Heart of the Goddess.'"
How they fully worked was beyond me. All I knew was that they were mined in the depths of the city, and over time, they regrew like a crystal project.
"To add to that," Kelly's eyes locked onto Rinne as she continued for me. Rinne hid behind me, but Kelly was too into explaining to notice her discomfort. "When the cores come into contact with water, they superheat, turning the water into steam. Hence, the reason why steam canisters have short lifespans."
"R-right…" Rinne said.
Kelly, who seemed blissfully unaware of her frightening excitement, turned towards me with a tilt of her head before clasping her hands together. "That reminds me, Axien. Why is your weapon a single-chamber design?"
"Cheaper." There was no real reason for my decision. Sure, a two-chamber allows for longer use, but since the canister on my weapon doubles as a handle, it's more practical. "But enough of that," I gently pushed Kelly back a little and turned my attention towards Rinne.
She was behaving strangely the moment Kelly came down here. Instead of acting like her combative self, she was quiet. Rinne claimed she wanted nothing to do with me while alone, yet here she is, clinging to me like a shy little girl. It was hard to get a read on what went through this girl's head, but I suppose it has to do with all she'd been through.
"Put these on," I told her.
She took a minute to figure out how to wear them. She opened and closed her palm with a wide-eyed expression. "It's lighter than it looks."
"It's made of lightweight material, plus you've gotta be able to use it against—" I purposely bit my tongue to stop myself. She does not believe in void spawns, so there was no reason to explain that to her. If I did, she'd probably look at me like I'm crazy and never wear them.
"Against what?" Rinne raised her brow, her scarlet eyes staring with the innocent curiosity of a child.
"Things," I said, looking away. Thinking of a way to worm myself out of explaining that she'll be killing void spawns was proving rather difficult.
"AH!" For some reason, Kelly perked up and wagged her finger while closing her eyes. "Those things."
You are not helping.
"Anyway," I had a hunch that Kelly would soon make things turn for the worse if we lingered on the topic of void spawns, so I urged Rinne along. "Let me see your hand." Rinne hesitantly placed her hand in mine.
"…"
She was giving me a weird look, like she was touching trash.
"Creep." She muttered faintly as if I could not hear her. "OWW!" I gripped her hand while staring her in the eyes. "Sorry…" she said in a whimper. I lessened my grip as I pointed out the mechanics of the glove.
"Here, in the center of the glove, is the trigger." I took a knife that was on the table and placed the butt end onto the glove. Holding it with just my index and thumb around the grip, I pressed it onto the glove. Steam hissed out of the shabby, makeshift glove, and the gear in the center spun the knife like a drill.
Rinne made an uncomfortable expression as the blade spun. I could feel a strong vibration through the blade's handle as I held it in place.
Pulling the blade out of the glove, I spoke to Rinne. "When you stab a target with this knife, all you need to do is press against the butt end of the handle with the glove; this allows for maximum damage to a target."
"That's…brutal." Despite her saying that, she didn't seem to hate the blade itself as she took it from me and played around with it. "Mother used this? I can't imagine her using something so…deadly."
Oh, she loved these brutal knives. Even without the gloves, these things were lethal in her hands. With a firm grip, they tear large holes in their victims. If they spin into the victim naturally, and the victim pulls it out, they get a large hole. Add that to the material it's made of; it can break inside the victim, causing more issues. Honestly, Rinara's fascination with these things and their brutality was scary. But it made dispatching void spawns easier.
"She did, and I reckon you'll grow to love them. It runs in your family, somehow." I mutter the last part faintly. I had trouble understanding why Master and Rinara loved those knives so much. "Hey, Kelly." I turned to Kelly, who looked as if she was practically salivating while writing something down on her notepad. I get she's a reporter, but something about this felt odd.
"Yes!" She shot up with a twinkle in her eyes.
Something tells me that her writing all of this down was gonna backfire, but was part of the plan. At least, that's what I keep telling myself.
Why do I feel so uneasy?
"I want you to act as an observer for something," I said, pushing those thoughts aside.
Just in case, I looked around the room. It's been a while since I took those pills before I vomited, but I haven't seen a trace of that thing anywhere. That doesn't mean I can just ignore my gut feeling.
"Hey…" Rinne whispered next to me. "Are you okay? You seem kind of pale."
"Yeah."
"What did you need me to do?" Kelly said excitedly.
"Watch Rinne,"
"Huh?"
"Sure."
Rinne looked at me with a confused look while Kelly nodded, notebook ready. Why? Does her brainwashing have something to do with that notebook?
"Okay, Rinne." I turned to Rinne. "I want you to watch me, then mimic it to the best of your ability."
Picking up the second knife from the box, I took a fighting stance in the center of the room. Instinctively, I held the knife in a reverse grip.
Hold it normally, otherwise you'll hurt yourself. Only hold it that way once you have mastered the basics ▇ ▇ ▇ ▇ ▇.
An old memory of Rinara flashed into my mind. I turned back to look at Rinne, who held the knife as I did. She looks just like Rinara did when she was teaching me to use this blade. How ironic that I would be the one to pass on her knowledge to her child.
I flipped the blade in my hands and lowered myself, allowing my heels to bounce ever so slightly.
Good, now do as I do.
I dashed forward. Placing all my weight onto my right heel, I made a hard pivot to the side. I drove the blade into the air with all my might and twisted my wrist as if I were stabbing something. Then, keeping my wrist still, I pulled back.
"Whoa, you're fast." Kelly stared, star-struck.
"…" Rinne looked a bit lost.
I forgot I move quickly when using this blade, so I repeated my actions once more, but slower.
"Alright, you try."
Rinne stepped up, holding her blade as I did. There was a hint of pride in her eyes. She lowered herself, taking a stance that was good for running away, bouncing lightly without a noise to be heard. Then she rushed forward. She was clumsy. She tried to make a hard pivot, but she slid forward, tripping and falling face-first into the ground.
"Ow…" she muttered, dusting herself off. She tried again from the very beginning.
"So, thoughts?" I turned to Kelly, who seemed a bit disappointed.
"Her steps are too light. Because of that, she cannot place her weight firmly onto one foot to allow for a pivot that hard."
"I asked for your opinion because you were here, but I suppose you have a good eye for combat."
"Well," she blushed a little. "I have seen my fair share of combat. Though whenever I try to remember a lot of the fights, I seem to pull nothing but blanks. But I feel like I have seen some pretty important fights in my life. That weapon, something tells me I've seen a woman use it before, but as I said, it's nothing but blanks."
"…"
"But anyway," she turned back to face me. "Why that movement in particular? Would you not just charge head-on to stab your opponent?"
"Oww…How?" Rinne had just fallen again. She got back up, looking frustrated. But she tried again.
"Void spawns are simple creatures," I said, instantly regretting the words the moment I saw another sparkle in her eyes.
"So those creatures really do exist? What do they look like? Do they smell? Are they strong? What do they eat? Why have no valid reports of them ever come to light?" She pressed against me, holding her notebook in her hand.
"Hold it with the questions—" I pushed Kelly off and turned towards the door.
Hearing heavy boots hitting the ground along with a softer pair behind, I reached for my back instinctively, only to realize that my weapon was upstairs. I grabbed one of the cyclone knives as a backup. I backed up a little to find something behind me. Rinne had somehow gotten behind me.
"Have you forgotten the sound of my boots?" A man opened the door as if he knew the place, which he did. He pushed aside his dark bangs from his face that connected to a messy mullet. Brown, narrow eyes scanned the room. "I thought Margaret was joking when she said you were jumpy today."
The man was dressed in priestly garb adorned with several pockets that he used for holding various weapons. Around his waist was a brass gear with wings out on the sides; this was the symbol of the Church that worships the Goddess of Steam. Only to add to his intimidating appearance, which was unbefitting of a Father of the Church, was his left arm.
He had lost it a few decades ago. In its place was a large metal gauntlet that had metal gears spinning and steam hissing out from the sides. On top of the gauntlet was a large metal spike that he used as a pile driver.
Given the amount of steam hissing out the sides, this was no welfare check.
Out from behind him, a small girl entered the shop. She looked young and was dressed in a nun's outfit that was tailor-made for combat. Wait a minute, wasn't this the girl from last night?
"Muller," I gave him a glare. "I didn't know you engaged in child labor."
"Ironic, given the girl behind you." He said smugly. "But yes, Axien. Man, you and these names. This is the girl whom you saved last night. She's quite tenacious and begged me to help her get stronger. Says that she owes you that, after watching you fight last night."
"Watching me fight? I sent her away."
"Dear buddy of mine, haven't you ever learned that I keep an eye on this city? A sentry told me your whereabouts, and I went to that alley to find this girl looking for a payphone. I told her who I was, and she led me back to the alley where…you know what you did."
"So, here to punish me?" I said, taking a stance.
"Heh." He let out a small chuckle before stepping aside.
"Thank you." The girl gave a polite bow.
"Honestly, I get Margaret's worry, but those actions don't always bring misery," Muller said while rubbing the girl's head. "Because of that, Sara here is now my apprentice."
I relaxed a little after hearing those words. Sara looked at me with an earnest smile. Her eyes were still stained red from tears, but if she's able to stand by his side after losing her mother just hours ago, I suppose she is strong.
"But I digress. I came to retrieve you for a mission."
"I take it I can't say no?"
"If you wish to have the city parish and tarnish Rinara's will, you could. A class 3 void spawn was sighted below City Hall," he gripped the fingers on his gauntlet tightly. I could hear the metal creak as he did.
Arguing was out of the question, and the timing was too convenient. Kelly said that the bodies in that room were nowhere to be seen. Now that there was a class 3 that appeared with no warning, the pieces were falling into place.
"Muller—I mean Father," Kelly spoke with an excited tone, breaking the tense air. "Are we really gonna see a void spawn?"
He looked her up and down before locking his gaze on her thigh, which held a pistol. He shrugged his shoulders and gave a passing glance that read, "We'll talk later."
"Ahem." He cleared his throat. "Hurry and get ready. This party alone will suffice in killing this thing."