I'll Take Swords For $3700 (Rein)

[Katsu]

Following the advice Kin had given him after their spar, Katsu heads into Aurora to find one of their blacksmiths!

[Rein]

Katsu wouldn't have to look hard, as the districts of Aurora proper were well organized. Rein was warming up his forge weapons and armor hanging around as examples. Though he was one of the army suppliers so the majority of what was sitting around was standard Auroran military issue, there were some specialty cases with Qi crystal blade edges and in lay.

[Katsu]

Katsu starts inspecting them carefully, looking at the more expensive and well-made ones especially. Even if he wasn't fond of the ones with Qi crystals in them, he can still appreciate the craftsmanship.

"Did you make these?"

He asks, looking towards the man warming the forge.

[Rein]

Rein looks over while bellowing the tinder and coals.

"Aye, when they were meant to kill Qi users."

Rein stopped and stood to throw some iron blocks into the forge, turning to Katsu.

"In the market, or looking for your standard issue?"

[Katsu]

Katsu can't help but frown at the first statement. He was one of those these blades were meant for...

"I'm actually looking for something... special. Not that I expect to be able to keep up with him any time soon, but our king essentially destroyed my sword when we sparred before. I'm hoping to find one that won't break so easily."

[Rein]

Rein observed Katsu a bit closer before reaching into his coat and pulling out an old leather bound journal. Un-doing the clasp and flipping it open he scrolls through a few pages and notes before stopped and running his finger along a few parts before looking closer at him, leaning in.

"Maeda Katsu, Grade B exile. Allowed back after the elders were killed."

He'd snap the book closed before putting it away and looking at him.

"I am Rein Volust. I was once an Executioner, but that is no longer needed, now I teach swordsmanship and make weapons and armor. So tell me your power, and if it is King Oleander you wish to keep up with I can make a blade that may be capable of that."

[Katsu]

Grade-B, huh? At least it meant he wasn't hunted.

...probably.

"My power?"

He asks, tilting his head.

[Rein]

"What do you do? Spit fire? Transform into a large beast? Shake the earth and heavens and cause the end of the world? What is your Qi?"

Rein asks kind of sarcastically.

[Katsu]

"My Qi is... my partner. Qi Yanmei. She's a Qi sprite."

He says, frowning thoughtfully.

"She can do all sorts of things, but mostly I've seen her do Dark Binding, a sort of slowing attack."

[Rein]

Rein stares quietly for some time.

"Do you control her? Will her to do things? Do you know everything she is capable of?"

[Katsu]

"Not at all."

He shakes his head.

"As I said. We're partners. She's able to do what she wants."

[Rein]

Rein would scratch the back of his head as he pondered it, closing his eyes.

"That doesn't sound like a Qi to me... Eh, but I don't have one so whatever. Since the Qi isn't specifically you, you are going to need something special... Hmmm... If this partner of yours snares and slows people down, maybe something that makes you faster to take advantage of it."

He would go over to a work bench and lift the cover off to reveal a fair collection of Qi crystals with small engravings on them. He'd sift through them for a bit, and growl.

"I'm missing ingredients."

[Katsu]

Katsu nods at the man's assessment, but he gives a small shake of his head afterwards.

"...She's uncomfortable with Qi crystals. I would rather not use them."

[Rein]

"All natural then... I have a list of ingredients you need to get then so I can make you something worthy without Qi Crystals."

He'd lift his right arm and activate his Personal Tool, scrolling through it like a pro, since he remembers the world before, this was like his old smart phone.

"I need the femur of a large Qi beast, as well as five fangs. I'll need iron soaked in Qi Scar atmosphere, and a Feather from the shoe of Hermes."

[Katsu]

"....the shoe of Hermes?"

Most of those sounded normal-ish, but that...