The Spark of Hope
After class, I headed to the Academy's restaurant district with Chloe and William.
The place we chose was a restaurant called The Hungry Hound.
The moment we pushed the door open, the cozy atmosphere of a log cabin welcomed us.
Taxidermied heads of wild game hung on the walls, bathed in the soft, warm glow of amber lights.
The wooden tables and chairs looked rustic, as if carved straight from logs, yet sturdy.
We took a seat in a corner and began looking over the menu.
A moment later, a waiter came over to take our order. We ordered the house specialty, the Hunter's Stew, along with freshly baked bread and steaks.
Around us, the chatter of students laughing and the clinking of cutlery filled the air.
"Wow, the shopping district we walked through earlier was amazing."
William spoke in an excited voice.
His eyes still seemed captivated by the sights of the commercial district.
"Especially the weapon alley. There were so many different shops, and the quality of the weapons and armor looked top-notch."
Chloe nodded in agreement.
"I checked out the consumable shops, and they had absolutely everything. Since we're inside the Academy, we won't have to travel far to find materials."
Her practical mindset shone through in her voice.
She then turned to me.
"What did you think, Edward?"
I fell into thought for a moment.
After class, we had decided to explore the campus shopping district first, both to get a feel for the place and to discuss our project.
A vast array of material shops and weapon boutiques were clustered together, and I couldn't help but be impressed by the sheer scale of it all.
"It's really well set up," I said, nodding.
"It'll be easy to source materials, and the variety of weapon shops is impressive."
Chloe and William nodded in agreement at my words.
What surprised me most, however, was the campus itself. It was so massive that it felt like a small, self-contained fortress city.
It had every convenience, shop, and restaurant one could ever need.
Unless something major came up, there was really no reason to ever step foot outside the campus gates.
William's eyes suddenly sparkled.
"But... did you guys see Mystic Arts earlier? It was absolutely gorgeous."
A tone of pure awe laced his voice.
"I know, right? The line outside was insane."
Chloe agreed.
Her eyes, too, held a trace of surprise at the brand's overwhelming popularity.
"Everyone living here must be filthy rich."
William shook his head.
"My hands were shaking just looking at the price tags... yet the place was packed."
His words brought Mystic Arts back to my mind.
True to its reputation as the Empire's premier luxury magic weapon brand, a massive queue had stretched out before its doors.
The magic weapons on display inside were masterpieces, every single one of them.
Boasting exceptional performance and crafted from rare, lavish materials, they were designed to catch the eye.
Yet, behind that dazzling facade lay a wall that commoners could never hope to scale.
The price.
The cost of each masterpiece was a sum a commoner couldn't dream of earning in a lifetime.
Even weapons imbued with the most basic magical effects were no exception.
The Wind Spirit's Blessing, which slightly increased attack speed.
Uracil's Flame, which added ten percent fire damage.
Even to produce such simple effects, they required specialized mana stones that could be recharged.
Because of this, the price tags soared to hundreds of times that of ordinary weapons.
"Still, there's a reason people flock to it."
I spoke, lost in thought.
Once a magic weapon's mana circuits fell out of alignment or its stored mana was depleted, it had to be brought back for maintenance.
They were luxury goods with exorbitant upkeep costs.
Yet, the lines remained endlessly long.
"True..."
Chloe chimed in.
"Maybe that's why the other weapon shops looked so deserted."
I looked out the window at the street.
The quiet, empty storefronts of the other weapon shops standing in the shadow of the giant conglomerate Mystic Arts caught my eye.
"Here is your food."
With the waiter's announcement, the dishes were laid out across the table.
Thick, juicy steaks dripping with savory juices, freshly baked bread, and a crisp salad were laid out across the table.
It was a feast truly fitting for a place called The Hungry Hound.
"Whoa, this is incredible!"
Chloe's eyes went wide with admiration.
Just looking at it made my mouth water.
I stared at the food blankly for a moment.
Just a few months ago, this was a sight I could never have dreamed of.
Memories of my hometown flashed through my mind.
Born as the son of a poor farmer, spending day after day choking down the same bland gruel just to survive.
At dinner, my mother would always look at me with a sorrowful expression and whisper in a quiet voice.
"I'm sorry this is all I can give you today."
While those memories played like a panorama in my mind, William was already stuffing his face.
"Wow... this is so good."
He mumbled, his mouth full.
A sudden wave of emotion washed over me.
To think that I, who used to eat nothing but gruel in the countryside, am eating food like this at the Empire's finest academy...
I slowly picked up my fork and cut a piece of the steak.
The way the knife slid effortlessly through the tender meat made my chest tighten.
When I placed it in my mouth, rich juices coated my tongue.
The dormitory buffet was excellent, but this meal was on another level entirely.
I chewed slowly, savoring every single bite.
Every moment felt precious.
This food, this place, this very second.
Ever since my memories had returned, everything felt like a dream.
As time passed, our plates emptied, and the conversation gradually quieted down.
In the satisfying silence that came with full stomachs, we rested, each of us lingering on the lingering flavors of the meal.
"Oh, right, Edward."
As the meal drew to a close, Chloe spoke up.
"When are you going to teach us? You didn't forget your promise to give us private lessons on magic engraving, did you?"
Indeed, both Chloe and William had begged me for lessons while we were touring the streets earlier.
With Chloe's level of magical comprehension, she would likely pick it up in no time.
I took a long gulp of the melon ade in my glass.
The cold, sweet liquid washed down my throat, bringing a refreshing chill.
"Ah, that? We should head over right now."
I replied.
Both of their eyes widened at the same time.
"Huh? But I still have food left!"
William protested.
"I wanted to look around the shops a bit more too..."
Chloe added, sounding disappointed.
I understood how they felt, but time was of the essence.
Looking back and forth between them, I spoke.
"I know, I want to look around more too. But we don't have that much time."
The project duration was only four weeks in total.
Of course, crafting something on my own would be incredibly simple.
But to elevate the status of the blacksmithing profession and develop truly revolutionary weapons, helping these newbies was a crucial part of the plan.
"Hurry up and follow me."
I paid the bill and stood up from my seat.
"Wait up! Edward, wait for us!"
Chloe and William scrambled to stuff the last bites of food into their mouths as they rushed after me.
I waited for them with a smile.
Now, the real fun was about to begin.
Inside the weapon shop named Song of Steel, the air was cold and empty.
The ornate swords and suits of armor hanging on the walls reflected the dim light, only adding to the silence.
A space that must have once been lively now felt like an abandoned museum.
Behind the counter, a woman named Lisa let out a long sigh as she stared out at her empty shop.
Weariness and worry clung to Lisa's brown eyes.
The quiet room was filled only by the sound of her fingers absentmindedly tapping against the counter.
She was the owner of this weapon shop.
The shop, which had once been her dream, had now become a heavy burden weighing down her shoulders.
When she had first won the bid to open a shop inside the Academy, her heart had soared with excitement.
Doing business inside the Empire's finest academy was a massive honor in and of itself.
Lisa still vividly remembered the thrill of that time.
The night she had stayed awake, unable to sleep, clutching the contract in her hands.
At first, business had boomed.
Students had lined up to buy her weapons, and Lisa had fallen asleep every night with a proud, happy smile.
She had worked late into the night to keep up with the growing orders, finding deep fulfillment in seeing her hard work bear fruit.
But that success was short-lived, lasting only until that brand moved in a few months ago.
One day, a shop in the weapon alley underwent a stunning remodel.
Its golden sign and lavish display windows captured the attention of everyone who walked by.
At first, she had simply been curious about what kind of store was moving in.
But the newcomer turned out to be none other than Mystic Arts, the Empire's top luxury magic weapon brand.
Mystic Arts' glamorous exterior was a work of art in its own right.
Windows that looked as if they were carved from crystal, doors adorned with gold leaf, and a magical sign that glowed even at night—it was incomparable to Lisa's modest shop.
A look inside revealed that the quality of their weapons was on an entirely different level.
Their glowing magic weapons made Lisa's ordinary wares look plain and cheap.
Their swords radiated light as if they were alive, and their armor seemed to mold perfectly to the wearer's body.
Gradually, Lisa's shop, which had just begun to establish itself, grew quieter and quieter.
Meanwhile, across the street, a line always stretched outside the gorgeous Mystic Arts building.
Students clad in luxurious robes constantly drifted in and out, their hands always carrying packages stamped with the Mystic Arts logo.
How can they afford those prices? Lisa had wondered.
Even for children of noble families, those weren't prices one could pay without a second thought.
Out of curiosity, she had once taken a peek at the price tags inside Mystic Arts.
The sheer number of zeros had made her head spin.
She later learned that luxury brands had become a massive trend among the Academy's nobles.
Carrying a weapon that wasn't enchanted, no matter how weak the effect, was considered outdated and embarrassing.
Lisa felt utterly defeated by this reality.
She looked around her shop once more and let out another heavy sigh.
The dust-covered display cases and the faded sign only weighed heavier on her heart.
"At this rate, I'm going to go bankrupt. Should I just pack up and head back to my hometown...?"
She slammed her hand down on the counter.
Thud! The sound brought a sudden wave of resolve.
"I can't just sit here and do nothing! I have to do something!"
Lisa walked out of her shop, her anxiety driving her to quicken her pace.
Her steps grew faster and faster until she was practically running.
Heading toward the street lined with equipment repair shops, she muttered to herself.
"I can't fall behind any further. If I do, this shop will be completely dead in no time."
She made her way to the repair district, searching for someone who could enchant her merchandise.
This was her final hope.
She had to find a way to create weapons that could compete with Mystic Arts.
A fierce determination burned in Lisa's eyes.
Through this challenge, she would make the name of her shop, Song of Steel, ring out once more.
· · ·
As the crimson light of dusk painted the streets, Lisa dragged her heavy feet along the pavement.
She had searched all day, but almost none of the shops dealt with magic weapons.
At best, they only offered simple repairs or mana stone recharging.
Her shoulders slumped with disappointment.
A deep sigh escaped her lips.
If this keeps up, I really might have to close down... There's just no way to compete with Mystic Arts.
Walking with her head hung low, Lisa's steps felt heavier than ever.
The street lamps began to flicker to life one by one, casting her long shadow against the cobblestones.
"No, that's not it!"
A lively voice suddenly rang out, causing Lisa to look up.
Turning her gaze toward the sound, she spotted a forge built of red brick.
Through the window, the warm, crimson glow of a hearth leaked out.
"But... this is way too hard. How am I supposed to do this?"
A brown-haired girl complained, pouting.
"Alright... I'll show you one more time. Watch closely this time. Feel the flow of mana."
Lisa held her breath as she watched the scene unfold.
As the young, black-haired man reached out his hand, mana unfurled in a brilliant display.
Blue mana danced at his fingertips, flowing fluidly into the surface of the weapon like a living creature.
Is that... magic engraving? How can he do it so naturally...?
Lisa couldn't tear her eyes away.
The secret to magic weapons, which she had searched so desperately for all day, was unfolding right before her eyes.
The young man's touch was delicate and elegant, like an artist wielding a brush.
The flow of mana was like a silver wave.
It rippled along the surface of the weapon, sometimes swirling, sometimes spreading out like glowing petals.
The mana blooming from his fingertips moved like a living entity, creating a truly spectacular sight.
Lisa was completely spellbound.
The mana rising from his hands was no mere technique; it was a work of art.
The way the mana fused seamlessly with the weapon was nothing short of miraculous.
The magical light cast a soft glow inside the forge, illuminating the young man's face.
His eyes held a deep focus and an unwavering confidence.
Lisa found herself completely drawn to that gaze, which looked as though it held all the secrets of the world.
Her heart began to beat wildly with hope and excitement.
Feeling a tingling sensation in her fingertips, she took a step forward, then another, without even realizing it.
A new spark of possibility was now burning in her eyes.
More than just simple hope, it felt like a fateful encounter that could change her entire life.
In that very moment, Lisa had a premonition that her future was about to change forever.