The First War Mage: City in the Sky

I glanced upwards as I heard the bell ringing with the motion the door made, Tulip walked inside with a confident stride to her step and her ever present grin still on her face. Looking around, the inside of the smithy was as one could expect. The walls were line with showcases, displays with clean glass holding pristine and intricate blades behind them. Many of which were simple daily uses tools, butchering sets, hunting knives and more. Yet every few spots there sat a blade meant for battle, resting in the soft cushions, reflecting keenly in the dim candle light.

"Ah hello! How may I help y- Miss Tulip?!" I looked over as I saw a woman standing behind the counter go from her normal, well practiced greeting to a tone of genuine surprise as she saw Tulip. The girl behind the counter wasn't anything special to look at when regarding most people within the city, soft green eyes and gentle brown hair elegantly marking the sides of her face. "M-may I ask what you are doing here your highness?" The girl continued with an ever more flustered tone.

"It's fine Angela, I'm actually here to bring Kirin to get her Insignia. Since she's heading to SilverSky with me, and she's gonna need one." Tulip spoke, gesturing towards me as my name was mentioned. Forcing me to pull my gaze away from the brilliant displays and back to the world around me as I walked over.

"Ah! Alright- Father is in the back working on his little project, give me a moment to go and get him." Angela spoke as she turned and began to run into the back of the shop.

"You just know everyone in this city don't you?" I asked as Tulip looked back towards me. "Seems like you're on a first name basis with everyone..."

"It's to be expected from me, I gotta know everyone who I need to know. And I don't know if I need to know them till I've met them." Tulip replied with her ever present, now somewhat smug grin. "And besides, Angela is the daughter of the best smith in the city. And the only smith who even my dad trusts to make our Insignia's."

"Must be expensive then... Are you sure it's worth your time to do this for me?" I felt bad as I knew that Tulip was probably spending her personal funds on me, something that I already disliked being on the receiving end of.

"For anyone else? No way, but you're in a unique position. For one, Levi didn't oppose to you being paired with me, which means that you have a pretty good chance of being exceptional. And for two, given who you are, your name is bound to get out. Doesn't matter how good of a person you are, you won't get away from that name. Which is why I'm bringing you here, I want to be sure you're safe until you can defend yourself." Tulip offered up a hand towards me, with a gentle sigh I walked over, and she pointed towards the case underneath the counter.

"You'll have your choice from those designs, he can make custom work, which I'm sure we'll be getting you at some point. But for now, since we need it today lets just get you one of these." Tulip quickly continued as she guided my eyes towards a set of five different 'empty' insignias.

They were all made of the same silver material, with the primary difference being the decorative trim. The center was left perfectly smooth, likely to have a family symbol embedded into it to make each one unique. The trims varied in color and design, with each one having different shades of silver, and one even having a brilliant black trim.

The first was decorated in a softer silver, akin to a dull gold. The outer trim of it held a design akin to trees and roots, curled around with intricate detail. The center of it, the flat plate where the insignia and initials went was shaped like a leaf.

The second was the least detailed of all of them, simply being shaped like a small oval hand mirror with the edges being a pure silver color. The price hanging under it reflected it as it was less than an eight of the price of the other four.

The third was similar to the second, lacking in details however it made up for it in the outer trim being cut from gems. While it wasn't one solid piece it was a continuous pattern of red and purple gems. It was the one that caught my eye the most before I looked towards the fourth.

The fourth one held a brilliant black trim that looked like it was carved of obsidian, inside of it blue gems sat embedded masterfully and outlined with a golden ring that held them in place. The center place was a perfect silver circle, of all of them it stood out. And much to my surprise it was one of the cheapest ones bar the second which had no detail to speak of.

"Got your heart set on one yet?" I jumped a little as I looked up at Angela's voice now returned. She gave a soft laugh as she saw my reaction. "Sorry, didn't mean to sneak up on you."

"I-it's fine... Guess I need to pay more attention." I sighed out, taking in a breath afterwards before nodding. "And yea, I think I do have one in mind. The one of the black trim and blue gems... It just stands out compared to the others." I spoke with some level of confidence, glancing to my side I could see Tulip already pulling out her coin purse to pay.

"You don't need to pay Tulip- If this is something you are here to oversee I'm sure it is fine." A much more masculine voice spoke, looking over towards the door I could see a large man who looked much like how Angela did. His brown hair and green eyes the exact same colors as Angela's bar the gray hairs the sat between every few strands. His face was decorated by a masterfully kept beard trimmed just enough to cover his jaw, he had the expected burly features of a smith with his arms being almost as wide as a small tree.

"I do and I will, I'm not letting you give me a freebee here Jackson. I know you need the coin, and I'm paying you extra for taking you away from your project." Tulip spoke rather firmly, placing the coins on the counter before the man could argue. "However, with that I'm going to leave Kirin in your care, since I know how you are with people watching you work. And, I have my own errands to run while you're busy."

"Wai- Huh what?" I spoke out with an utterly flabbergasted voice at the fact that Tulip was just ditching me with a pair of strangers. Which left Jackson to just let out a hearty laugh.

"Fine, fine girl. Go and run your errands, we'll be done in the hour." Jackson spoke with a chuckle still in his voice as he walked to the counter to grab the insignia Angela had just taken from the 'for sale' box. "Hmm... Been a while since one has chosen this design, this should be rather a fun one." Jackson spoke with a smile before gesturing. "Follow me kid, you have to help with this for it to be done properly."

"Alright..." I glanced behind myself towards Tulip who just gave a smile, underneath which sat something I couldn't quite see or describe, maybe annoyance? I wasn't sure, and couldn't quite tell as I walked towards the back room with Jackson. As he pushed back a curtain I was hit by a wall of heat, something that felt oddly comforting for a moment before I could open my eyes again.

Looking around I saw the massive forge that sat on the edge of the room, it easily took up half of the entire room with several items inside of it, while it wasn't quite roaring with heat which would have undoubtedly made it far more uncomfortable, it still was glowing with a warm heat.

Jackson himself walked over towards one on the only anvils that had specific equipment sitting around it, a series of clamps, a cup, and a strange looking hammer that had a needle shaped nail on one end.

"What do you need me to do?" I asked carefully as I walked over, watching curiously as he placed the insignia onto the anvil.

"First, is the painful part. I need an amount of your blood for it to work properly." Jackson spoke calmly, he took a small blade, no bigger than what one would use to eat with, and the cup, kneeling down a few feet in front of me. "If you would give me your hand please."

"Why do you need my blood?" I asked as I walked forwards, offering my hand to him. He gently took my hand, forcing my index finger out before he gently cut it with the blade he held before pushing my hand towards the cup. I winced as I felt the cold blade cut through my skin, but I was at least able to ignore it once Jackson began to speak once more.

"There are a handful of ways to link someone to their insignia, blood is simply the easiest way for students. And the most reliable, as I doubt you have the finite control of your mana yet to charge the insignia otherwise." He offered a smile to me before handing me a roll of bandages to put over my finger once he was satisfied with how filled the cup was.

"Now is the fun part, first I need your name, and your family name." Jackson continued as he placed the cup on a small table beside the Anvil.

"Uhm... I don't know that I have an actual family name..." I spoke out shyly - I knew I had a name, Vulender, but I wasn't sure how he would react. "My name is Kirin."

"Hmm." Jackson seemed to question my honesty as he squinted at me. "I suppose I can leave the family name blank, but I suppose that means you get to design your own crest."

This back and forth continued for close to half an hour where I tried to give ideas for a 'crest' to have decorating the insignia. Eventually settling on a rather simple design, but one that I at least found quite interesting to look at, with my name sat firmly between two storm clouds, finely chiseled bolts of lightning sat on either side. I couldn't explain why, but it felt like it was just the right design for me. Underneath there was still a half circle section where my family name should sit, and eventually once Jackson looked at me one more time I finally, sheepishly offered it up.

"My family name is Vulender... I just... Was worried that you would be angry at me for it..." I spoke out with my voice shaking, Jackson for his part just nodded gently.

"Ah, so those rumors were true. I can understand why you didn't tell me kid, but don't worry, I have my own, opinions." He spoke gently before picking up the hammer once more. Turning towards the forge he put the needle back into the charcoals to heat it up before he turned back to the insignia.

Each strike embedded a letter, masterfully striking them with a brilliant flash before he punched a hole through the center. Turning to the cup that still held my blood within it he gently poured a solemn few drops of it into the insignia where the strangest feeling shimmered through my body. Like I could feel a part of myself was connected to the insignia, and once he placed the hammer down he gently offered the insignia towards me.

"I would recommend you don't flash this around. Many kids try to use it as a status symbol, when all the insignia should be is a badge, marking you as an Arcadian." Jackson held the insignia before me, leaving me to gently take it before he rested a hand on my head. "You're a good kid, just keep that up and I think you'll be fine."

"Thank you..." I sheepishly spoke out as I looked at the insignia, it was small enough to fit in the palms of my hands, I was left staring at the finished product and how everything blended together with a wide smile. Looking up I could see Jackson seemed rather happy as well.

"If you ever have anything else you need forged, I'll be glad to work with you again." Jackson spoke before gesturing for me to leave. I just gave a thankful smile, and a half bow before I turned and jogged out. Luckily Tulip was waiting in the main room for me, she offered a smile to me as I ran out.

"Everything go well?" Tulip asked as she pushed off of the wall.

"Yep! Where are we heading next?" I replied quickly, I placed the insignia into one of my few pockets in the clothes I had been given.

"Clothes and food, then by the time we're done there? It should be just about time for something you won't want to miss. Lets go." Tulip lead me outside, I turned to give Angela a wave as we left the building, a slight hop in my step as we went.