Conner made his way back to his house, still smiling as he thought of the pink wolfess he had met. She had been willing to listen to everything he told her about his plans for the doppels and his impending journey into the Wilds. It didn't hurt that she was also a perfect mix of cute and exotic. She had even played along with all his strange little games, quickly falling into sync with him. What's more is she had agreed to assist him in the workshop! Sure it was a job but it was still a good way of keeping her close and getting to know her better.
As the gray wolf came around to his front door he saw Pinky had left the door open just enough for him to work his foot in and pull it open without putting down his box of mystical scrap. Conner then slipped inside and unceremoniously dropped the box in the entryway as his way of signaling he was back. From the kitchen in the back of his house a friendly voice chimed at him, “Welcome home. Your dinner will be ready soon. Why don't you go get cleaned up first.” Conner just rolled his eyes as he turned to his right and made his way to the large bathroom.
It was really more of a small spa then a simple bathroom. Marble tile floors, a large bath, several sinks, a shower stall, and of course the all important toilet in one corner. He could have had Cyrus actually make him a gold plated toilet and it had seemed like a funny idea but after thinking about it he realized it would have come off as ridiculous or down right obnoxious to anyone who visited. So he vanished behind the privacy walls around the toilet for a few moments before stepping over to the shower. A quick rinse was all he needed before stepping out, drying off, and pulling on the fresh clothes Pinky had left out for him. Thus immaculately appointed he came out and headed to the kitchen in the back.
He stepped into a large kitchen with a ranch table to his left. He sat down as Pinky, a generously proportioned panda lady, brought over his dinner. Pinky earned her living by being the all purpose maid to S Van. She kept houses clean, cooked meals, and even acted as confidant at times. For some reason her fur had changed the parts that were traditionally black to a soft pink color and no one had ever been able to find out if that's why she got her name or even if it was her real name. She was Pinky and that's all that mattered to her.
She placed a plate of spaghetti with meatballs and garlic toast in front of Conner and said, “So how was your day?” She could relax now since Conner was her last scheduled appointment for the day. Conner started twirling some of the pasta around his fork as he said, “Very good.” He took a bite and inadvertently let out a happy sound as the rich marinara, soft noodles, and grated parmesan all made his taste buds dance with joy. He savored it a moment longer before swallowing and saying, “That new resident came by today to sell me some gyroids she had.” Pinky tilted her hip against the table as a sign she was interested. Conner continued after another bite. “She brought in three and it was amazing. She played along with my little games the whole time. She even took interest in the doppels.” Pinky nodded and remembered she needed to bring Conner his milk too. She stepped away and the gray wolf kept talking between bites. “I may have been a little generous in paying her but she was just so much fun just to talk with!” The pink panda set his glass on the table and he automatically gave her a quick thanks as he took a quick drink and said, “I even asked her to be my assistant and she accepted!” Now Pinky was even more interested. She knew Conner had needed help but no one else had been willing to put up with his unique personality.
Pinky said, “This sounds like a very special girl. I'm glad you have some help now but...” She was interrupted as Conner said, “The most amazing thing happened too! She managed to catch those pieces that always seem to get damaged when I open the gyroids! That cone hat got over the top and she caught it and managed to use it to catch some of the light pieces that went over the barrier. Those were the fragile bits I needed for the head workings. At this rate I might be done with those doppels in a few months.” Pinky nodded and said, “That's good but you should finish your food soon. You have that appointment with Cyrus and Reese at 6:50 if you remember.” Conner realized he had been slowing down in his eating as he grew more excited about talking about Freya and his doppels. Without further prompting he dug in. Trying to savor the food but no longer taking time to talk.
Once he finished he thanked her for the meal and gave her a peck on the cheek. She was his friend as well as his maid so he still treated her as such. Pinky had already gathered his dinnerware as he quickly moved to the front and grabbed his Tiger Jacket out of the wardrobe by the door before gathering his box of scrap and heading out into the evening. It was still only early spring and it had only just been warm enough to go without it while the sun was up but now he needed something a bit more.
He gave a quick glance at his watch as he shuffled past the windmill that seemed to be the halfway point between his house and Re-Tail. Fortunately the mayor had helped establish paths between the homes and other points in the village making it easier to find his way around even after dark. Soon enough he stepped onto the cobbles in front of the Re-Tail building. It was late twilight by now and a few moths fluttered around lights over the door and the sign proudly announcing they were paying extra for “Sharks” today. Conner fumbled with the box as he let himself in.
The gray wolf entered into a large show room that smelled like wood polish. A pink alpaca greeted him. This was Reese, one of the owners of Re-Tail. “Perfect timing Conner. I honestly think you can read minds or something. It's like you know when people are talking about you and just pop up!” Conner was about to point out that they were talking about him because they had scheduled this meeting several days ago...but decided not to. He understood she was just being friendly and it would be rude to talk down to her like that.
Reese ushered him to the work area where her husband and co-owner of Re-Tail worked his magic of changing furniture to match what his customers desired. Cyrus was a blue alpaca with an impressive pompadour that seemed to defy all logic and gravity. He looked like a biker bad boy who had gone down the straight and narrow but still clung to his past, because that's exactly what he was. Reese loved recounting how she had first seem him on his motorcycle when they were young and how he had crashed it into an ice cream truck.
Conner dropped the box of magic scrap on large work table and shook hands with Cyrus as he said, “Glad you guys agreed to meet with me. You said it was ready?” Cyrus got a cocky look as he said, “Oh yes it is almost ready.” Conner gripped the offered hand a little tighter as he said, “Almost?” Cyrus didn't cringe but squeezed back as he said, “Yes, almost. The last step of the preparation is up to you.” Conner then let go and said, “Oh. Well alright then. Let's get this started.”
The blue alpaca took up a long item wrapped in oil cloth and handed it over to Conner. The wolf accepted it with his right hand and could feel a handle. He gripped it tight and with a flourish ripped the oil cloth away while trying and failing to do an angelic chorus note. Reese cringed a bit and covered her ears since she was out of Conner's line of vision. But the gray wolf only had eyes for the silvery blade he held in his hand. This sword was to be his main weapon once he delved into the Wilds. He had commissioned Cyrus to forge it for him with mystic metal from the gyroids as well as a fair amount of silver he had been acquiring through various means.
It looked like everything he had hoped. It's surface was like a mirror, it's edges looked as if they could cut though anything without slowing, and it felt light yet well balanced. So he stepped away from Cyrus and looked behind to be sure Reese had not moved in closer before taking a few loose swings to feel it's weight. It was amazing. Conner couldn't be sure if it was his arm or if the sword was moving according to his will. All of his practicing with Sterling had made him think this sword would be heavy like the training swords he used. But it was as if the sword was reading his mind and eager to please him.
After a few moments Conner let his reverie for this beautiful sword go and looked at Cyrus as he said, “It's magnificent. I didn't dream it would move like this. It's more like a piece of me then just a weapon.” Cyrus reached into one of the pockets of his apron and pulled out an old book. He said in a sturdy voice, “Well your uncle's books were a big help on that front. I have worked a lot of metal over the years but this was something utterly unique.” He opened the book to a page showing a diagram of a sword and continued, “This book showed me how to smelt, fold, and shape the alloy I made from your silver and gyroid scraps. Even what wood to burn to heat the metal and what oils to quench it with. Until now I had thought my greatest accomplishment was making that solid gold furniture for that Ankha woman. But this sword was something else all together.” Cyrus put the book down and grabbed a small object on the work table next. He stepped over and handed it to Conner. The gray wolf put down the sword as he took it.
The object in question was a blue sapphire disc set in a metal ring. The disc had a convex curve to it so it came out ever so slightly beyond the ring holding it. Conner held it up and looked through it's translucent surface. Cyrus snickered and said, “That's the last step you have there.” The gray wolf slowly moved the sapphire disc down and said, “Come again?” Cyrus got a little more serious as he said, “There are qualities to this that I don't fully grasp, even as I worked on it. There's a difference between following directions and understanding why you are following them.” He looked down at the blue disc and continued, “According to the book that gem will help you form a link with the Many Sword.” Conner looked up sharply and said, “The Many Sword?” Cyrus nodded and said, “I'm sure that's what the book called it. Honestly the phrasing of the instructions and word use can seem more like a code then actual instructions. But the book said you must hold that gem for at least six hours. I'm pretty sure you are supposed to do it while you sleep. The book said, '¼ of the day during snoozy sleepy night night o'clock' so you can see there might be some wiggle room in the interpretation.” Conner tossed the disc from one paw to the other and said, “Yeah those books could be infuriating to try and make sense of.” Cyrus then said, “Anyway, first thing tomorrow morning attach that to the end of the hilt. It's meant to be the pummel so it should set in with little problem.”
Reese cleared her throat and said, “Remember dear? You were going to mention that thing?” The blue alpaca's ears perked up and he said, “You're right, almost slipped my mind.” Cyrus then grabbed up the book again and started flipping through the pages. As he looked for something in that book he said, “You said before you don't like using shields.” Conner nodded as he said, “Yeah, they feel too cumbersome. I just prefer to fight forward and skip defense.” Cyrus then found his page as he said, “Well that's a fast way to end your exploration with an extended dirt nap. But I think I found a compromise.” He then held up the book again and presented an image of a diagram of a large paw with sharp claws and what looked like ornate rings. Conner looked closer and realized it was actually a massive gauntlet. Reese piped in, “I was thinking about what you said and I looked through the books myself. I found that,” she coughed slightly at the embarrassment of repeating what the book said, “The handy heavy punchy scratchy climby carry ouchie blocky.” Conner shrugged and said, “That's why I mainly just looked at the pictures.”
Cyrus took over, “In sane speak it's a heavily fortified gauntlet that should be able to act as both a weapon and a shield. The fingers are movable and the claws can do some damage when in play. Plus it's made of your special alloy so it can take a severe beating and still come out smiling. It's also light weight enough to swing easily but dense enough that when a punch lands it lands with force of Falcon Pu...” But Conner cut him off and said, “Okay okay, you sold me on it. But I'm guessing it's going to take a lot of materials to make.” Cyrus sighed with resignation then as he said, “I can make two more swords or this.” He tapped the diagram and Conner made a face. He grimaced as he said, “I see why you talked it up, that's a lot of material. But now that I want it I have to have it. Plus the doppels are no where near finished so they won't be needing weapons any time soon.”
Reese said, “Splendid!” She was then next to Conner in an instant with a length of yellow ribbon. With it she started measuring his arm, wrist, palm, each finger, and even each knuckle. Each time she took a measurement she said a number to Cyrus who jotted it down on a notepad he kept handy. Soon she tucked the ribbon away and Cyrus said, “Well my boy, you can feel secure in knowing your measurements around your left arm are very normal for a wolf.” Conner just said, “I'll mention that when I write home. My mom said she was worried about that.” With that all the tension slipped away.
Conner was now feeling buoyant as another step towards his impending journey had been taken and he saw more of the path ahead. He then started recounting to the alpaca spouses about meeting Freya. He didn't leave out anything as he told his tale again. Both just nodded and listened intently.
Once he was done Cyrus said, “Well lad it sounds like you found a special lady there.” Reese said, “Oh yes a fine lady indeed.” Conner then held up his hands as he said, “Whoa there you two. I think you're reading a little too much into this.” Cyrus just shook his head and said, “No boy, you got the love bug.” The gray wolf then bit a thumb in frustration and said through clenched teeth, “Whiskers, I had hoped it was something else, like sun spots or a low pressure system passing through.” Cyrus said, “No boy, and the sooner you stop making excuses the happier you will be.” He then looked at the diagram of the gauntlet and said, “You know I love working on your projects but I do need to take some time to catch up on my my other commissions. We're sittin pretty enough now but it's never a good idea to let things slip for too long.”
Reese picked up on what her husband was getting at and picked up the thought. “You have been so committed to this plan for so long I'm starting to worry you not living enough now to try and live too much later.” Conner scratched his head and Cyrus said, “What she means is you are working too hard for this adventure of yours and life is passing you by.” He closed the book and said, “Even without the other commissions this gewgaw is going to take quite a while make. So why not slow down a bit and try a few other things?” Reese then picked up the thread again, “Oh yes, there is so much to do and simply enjoy. Plus you might have had your head stuck in that workshop too long to realize spring is here. So that means Redd will be coming around soon with yoshi eggs!”
Conner perked up at that and said, “Oh jeez! I had been thinking about that but it slipped my mind.” Every spring Redd the wondering salesman came through the region with yoshi eggs to sell. People who got them would help hatch then raise the yoshi that came out. Yoshis were good companions and riding animals. The gray wolf thanked them as he said, “You know I think raising a yoshi with Freya might help me catch up on some of the life I've been missing out on. But she doesn't have much by way of loose capital at the moment.” He then got a rakish grin as he said, “Luckily she just so happens to have gotten a job as an assistant in a workshop.” As Conner picked up his sword Cyrus then reached for something on one of the back tables as he said, “Then it sounds like you have a plan for the immediate future as well as down the road.” He then handed Conner a leather scabbard for the silvery sword he held. Conner took it and with a few deft motions he had it strapped on over his right shoulder and secured over his jacket. He then gave a quick whirl of the sword as he slid it in the sheath.
He bid the two alpacas goodnight as he stepped out of Re-Tail and started heading home. He flicked the blue sapphire disc from hand to hand as he walked. Thinking about what he had coming in the days ahead.
