[5/28 (Wednesday) - After Classes]
[Beacon Academy — Forge]
"Took you long enough. I sent that message an hour ago," Muramase grumbled, barely sparing him a glance.
"I was in class—"
"Here. Your sword."
His reply was cut short as Muramase tossed a sheathed blade his way.
Clerval stumbled in surprise, barely managing to catch it by the sheath before it slipped from his grasp. He steadied it with both hands, exhaling quietly.
Across from him, Muramase didn't even look up, continuously hammering and striking the metal ingot as if nothing had happened.
Shaking his head, Clerval raised the sword and began to inspect it.
…
It looked exactly the same.
From the sheath to the hilt, every detail was a near-perfect replica of the blade he had left behind in his locker. It was so precise that it was eerily uncomfortable to the touch. Even the grooves were completely identical.
For a moment, he wondered if Muramase had simply handed his old sword back until he unsheathed the blade.
The balance was perfect—down to the tee. The difference was staggering. He gave his new blade a few test swings. If his old, mass-produced sword had great balance, then this... this was exceptional.
And the quality was superb. He could tell the moment he laid eyes upon it. This kind of quality reminded him of the level of detail he had seen in Myrtenaster, Weiss' rapier.
"Feels different, doesn't it?"
Muramase placed his hammer on the workbench and crossed his arms, a knowing smirk on his face.
"Yeah." He muttered as he slowly turned the blade in his hand, faint light catching along its edge. "Good work."
The blacksmith snorted. "Good. Because that's just the start."
Muramase grabbed a scrap sheet, quickly sketching out rough designs.
"Honestly, from what I've seen during those combat spars Glynda runs, your fighting style's flexible—bare-bones, even. Not a bad thing," he added with a smirk. "It just means you're perfect for experimenting with different weapon types instead of locking yourself into one like most kids do."
"I've got a few ideas I've been wanting to try, from refining your broadsword to expanding your range across multiple weapon styles."
A grin spread across his face, eyes gleaming with excitement. "Hah… just thinking about it's getting me fired up."
He slid the paper over.
Clerval scanned the list. Enhancements to his current blade, alternate build options, even branching out into weapons like naginatas and clubs—
His eyes drifted to the bottom of the page.
He paused.
Then blinked.
Then rubbed his eyes and looked again.
"—Four digits?"
It was merely an estimate, but the cheapest upgrade to his weapon, a Gladius, was four digits, costing a whopping 2,600 Lien.
Muramase caught the reaction immediately and let out a low chuckle.
"I did tell you my prices weren't cheap. You're not factoring in the materials, the custom work to match each weapon to your exact measurements and fighting style, the time it takes to craft and modify it to your needs, preparation, research, etcetera, etcetera."
Staring at the list for a moment longer, he took a slow breath before folding the paper neatly and tucked it into his pocket.
"... I'll handle it. Please give me a proper list once you've run the numbers."
Muramase's smirk widened, clearly amused, but he didn't press the matter. Instead, he simply turned back to his work as Clerval walked away in quiet distress, already calculating how he was ever supposed to gather that much money.
At the very least, he finally acquired a weapon with reliable durability and sharpness.
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[5/28 (Wednesday) - Evening]
[Beacon Academy — Dorm Room]
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Team Ruby and Team Jupiter were out of Beacon dealing with emergencies—the former in a frantic rush to stock up on Dust ammunition for a planned Emerald Forest clearing trip during Professor Port's class tomorrow, and the latter caught up in celebrity drama after Pyrrha was seen out with Jaune at the CCT System (Cross Continental Transmit System) a few days prior.
He had heard about it through campus chatter and online discussions. Knowing about Pyrrha's fame from herself was a thing, but he had underestimated just how intense the public reaction would be to her having a male companion as her Hunter partner.
He didn't envy Jaune at all. The wave of attention and backlash he was currently under online sounded exhausting, to say the least.
Poor guy.
In any case, Clerval politely declined their invitations to accompany them. He had an agenda to follow through on.
Recalling a conversation from a few weeks prior about Beacon's rooftop being a quiet and perfect place to study, he gathered his books and materials and headed out.
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[Beacon Academy — Rooftops]
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Settling into a quiet spot beneath a lamp casting a bright glow above him, he spread out his notes and stationery before beginning his revisions.
The cold, fresh air and gentle ambience made a noticeable difference, in his opinion, as his motivation and determination to push through the session began to settle in.
As time passed, something seemed to click as the material on hand began to make more sense naturally, and answers were forming in his mind with increasing ease.
Before he knew it, his Knowledge had risen drastically in the span of just a few hours.
Capping his pen, he glanced over his notebook, pages filled with completed answers and notes prepared for the upcoming lectures, and gave a satisfied nod. All that studying has made him more aware of the world around him, making him more educated in the process.
The rooftops seemed to have this beneficial effect on him; he should come here more often when he has the chance. That is, ignoring the literal chills he occasionally gets at random times. His senses were telling him that if he stayed too long, something bad might happen.
There had been rumors of a ghost appearing up here late at night. He considered staying to confirm it for himself, with his Courage now braver than ever after withstanding the constant chills.
... After a brief pause, however, Clerval gathered his things and left the rooftop. He felt that his Courage wasn't quite there yet.
Best to call it a night.
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SOCIAL STAT RANK UP!
KNOWLEDGE — 1 / 5 (Aware) → 2 / 5 (Educated) [UP!]
REPUTATION — 1 / 5 (Pushover)
COURAGE — 1 / 5 (Timid)
PROFICIENCY — 1 / 5 (Klutzy)
KINDNESS — 1 / 5 (Civil)
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NEXT UPDATE: 14 May, Thursday
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