Master Of None

”Hmmm, two kids ready to fight?” The cold splash of water then quick breeze caused the scene to become a little more comical. The cold water also somewhat surprised and shocked Onyx and Midnight.

It was rare for anyone to be quick enough to get past their perceptions, but then again, this was Genesis and they were comfortable. They were also much more focused on one another than anything else.

”You two decided to make this an argument between you two when it is pretty clear that you both need to accept that your young ones were wrong. Both were too young to know better and needed more guidance. Easily done. Just pay the price and accept it.”

Scylla stood somewhat towering over the two, she was clearly just passing by and happened upon the situation. But it was enough for her to stop and say something.

She had a lot more time as a leader within the demi-human race as a general and now standing for their entire race within Genesis, wielding the weight of the demi-human king in many matters. It was an impressive resume that also brought about a lot of experience that he shared with everyone.

”Now, the two of you can follow me to the meeting I have and you can watch what a real disagreement is about. Both of you should be focused on larger pictures and not small altercations that can easily be mitigated by the guards and appropriate elders or representatives assisting you or others.” With a gust of wind Scylla forced the two up showing that she too has gotten stronger with her own training and goals.

Many of the people understood Scylla as the master of the collisions and that she was always looking for fighters to join. She was also constantly training others and handling the harsher side of people who got out of hand.

With all the races within Genesis, there were bound to be those that got out of hand and allowed themselves to run wild. Some of them did so because they got stronger and falsely believed themselves able to do whatever they wished. It was a habit that every race seemed to have to a degree and it was disruptive.

In some matters, there were those that stole from or destroyed stores. That alone caused crime to be a focus of Scylla’s training for guards and other policing forces. But there were also the powerful families and nobles throughout the various kingdoms in the Genesis alliance who acted out of line with the laws in place.

Because she had the right to and the power from the council, Scylla would deal with these matters often enough that he could easily have people arrested and brought to trials. She had actually become a terrifying figure for many who would risk such activities.

While it was never often that a major event happened, she was still able to practice and grow herself to ensure that she handled such things. Therefore, as she made Onyx and Midnight follow her around to the Genesis building, neither could say a word. They knew that fighting her was still a challenge to some degree.

Not that they wanted to fight her. They were ashamed that they had made a spectacle and acted foolishly.

’You two are still children too. Even compared to myself you are too young and lacking to be called the top of the top in terms of leadership.” She wasn’t mocking them, Scylla was casually setting a standard and example.

”Both of you want to push yourselves to be the image of each race you stand for because you care, that is not wrong. But knowing how to handle situations like that and bigger than that is very important. I could have used my strength to knock on your heads but I used water and wind because it was cleaner. It also didn’t cause people to be afraid of me. And with the mana you two released or were about to, people would have been afraid of you.”

This hit them hard. They didn’t mean to scare anyone. That was far from their goals or desires.

”No, the meeting I have isn’t actually inside the Genesis building.” Scylla pointed at the clouds above the Genesis building as a larger cloud broke off and condensed in to the figure of a cloud spirit race member.

It seemed to be shaping itself to look more like Scylla which was somewhat amusing, but when it came around, the cloud turned deeper in color and slight bits of thunder rumbled within.

”Hello, I see you are still very unhappy with the events that occurred. I promised you to clear the air and that has happened. The elder dragon and the harpy who were arguing over deliveries have been spoken with. Your damaged parcels, potions, and books are currently being replaced and will be refunded. Please allow your leader to know that we will have several dragons and harpies working together to enforce the flight laws around your homes. This was not a negotiation for them, it is a requirement for them to make amends for the next month.”

The sudden shift in the cloud form said everything. From anger to a calm sense of justice had happened in just a few words. But it was even clearer how Scylla had managed to avoid conflict between three races easily. Not simply through force, but the standards set for the races weaker and stronger living together.

Now the two races who caused issues needed to unite to appease one that might be seen as weaker than themselves. So much so that it would most likely bring a positive viewpoint from those living within the clouds of the dragons and harpies. Ensuring that in the future there was no bad blood.

All the while as Scylla was teaching Onyx and Midnight lessons on how to avoid literal losses of races for the Genesis Council, Su found herself sitting in a forge.

”Seventeen broken armor sets. Thirty eight twin shields broken. That is the count from my growth spurt and training obsession the other day.” She looked like she had committed a grand sin and to some crafters, this would be the case.

Where she saw no change though, was when the wandering blacksmith started to pull out scrolls. Not just scrolls that had the previous armor blueprints he had designed, but those that had edits.

They showed weak points, damaged sections that could be improved the next time she brought those items to repair or maintenance. She also saw a lot more related to the quality of materials being used.

”You didn’t stop improving them?” She was stunned.

To be honest, she had expected that the wandering blacksmith had worked on things and then moved on with the experiences under his belt. Especially since he was always so busy with new projects. Or buys with new materials he wished to experiment with. He even had days where he would spend time watching a new form of crafting class user make items so that he could learn a little more about his own style of forging.

He was a master for a reason.

”Everything can be improved. That’s a fact.” Her eyes were a little teary as she understood that the wandering blacksmith was looking back on his own work and realizing that even the items he crafted today could be improved.

Not only had he taken his crafting skills to such a higher level that he believed some of his older work to be mediocre, he had plans to revisit those works and fix them. He just hadn’t called Su to him yet to do so.

”I will need you here for two weeks before you wish to travel.” This was what was halting her journey. She couldn’t go to the wild to grow and focus on herself and where she stood if she felt she was not holding her armor and shields. They were practically part of who and what she was. Without them she did not see a single chance for growth too.

”I will pay whatever price in time and effort you need. I have to rediscover who I am and where I am traveling two as a person. This is a step I need to take.” Her honesty fit the situation well as the wandering blacksmith had always been on his own journey.

He searched for what he could do and what his limits were. Nowadays, he realized his limits were still very far away. He had gained a lot from the party and Genesis, but the best thing he felt he gained was that he could see his limits were well beyond the horizon.

Whether he would find them in his lifetime or not didn’t matter for a second. All that did matter was that he kept searching for new ways to take the next step.

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Drop those golden tickets!