Scarlet puts away the chopped woods and stares at Derek as he gives the Rhohan blade to Alan. The blade that Alan had requested of him was just finished yesterday. Derek really did pull an all nighter. Scarlet decided to stay up with him and help out as well. Once he decided on something, there was no stopping it. In ancient times, even to this day, it was unsightly for a woman to stay out at night at a man's place. But why should she care about such a thing? She wanted to live freely, so such a customer was meaningless to her. Besides, having so see how Derek transformed the blade into a spiritual energy blade was worth it.

"That'll be 1,000 gold," said Derek.

Alan took the blade out of its sheath and stared at it in awe. It gave off a beautiful and elegant air as it shimmered with the sunlight. Waiting for three whole months and a half was worth it. Until she heard about the price.

"Ugh... C-could you give me a discount?" Alan asked.

Derek shakes his head, "You had me make that in a hurry as well as a top priority when I had tons of other requests that came before yours. Be grateful that I even finished it before you were deployed."

Alan quickly goes on the ground and grabs Derek's leg. He begged him with teary eyes, "My dear good old friend! Please, just think about our time together in the past and look into your heart! Have pity on little me and give me a discount!"

Derek struggles to get away from him, "What are you doing?! Let go!"

Alan snuggles against his leg, refusing, "Never! Unless you grant me a discount I will never let go!"

"Alan, you!"

Scarlet was a little baffled by the scene unfolding before her. She had never seen a man grabbing another man's leg like that while begging. A small laughter escaped from her mouth.

Derek tried to pull Alan's arm apart, but he wouldn't so much even budge. People were starting to gather around them. Derek hated crowds and more so women. He sighs out giving up, "Find... a discount it is."

Alan instantly let's go as he jumps up, "Really?!"

"No," Derek snaps back, "It is still 1,000 gold."

"Ah, Derek " Alan whined.

"Stop whining, aren't you a grown man?" Derek said in a questionable voice.

Scarlet walks over as she listens to them bickering and arguing about the discount. She chuckles at them, "Why not just give it to him?"

Derek looks at her, "Not you too."

Alan looks at her with hopeful eyes, "See, even Miss Scarlet agrees!"

"Scarlet, if we do as he asked we'll be spoiling him," said Derek.

She smiles at him, "Being spoiled every now and then isn't so bad. Besides, he's going to be deployed to the prison camp right? Just do one more favor for him for his sake."

Derek face palms himself, "Fine... since you put it that way."

Alan grabs Scarlet's hand with a bright smile, "Sister Scarlet is the best! You were able to convince that cold hearted man just like that! As I thought, sister is a good influence on him!"

"Sister?"

He shakes his head, "Anyone that I respect I will always call them with formalities!"

"Are you saying you don't respect me?" said Derek as he glares at him.

"Of course not, you're just a friend."

Derek's eyes twitch at him. He wasn't sure if he should be offended about what Alan said or felt complemented.

Scarlet smiles at him, "Then, why not just call me Scarlet as well?"

He blinks at her, "Are you fine with that?"

She nods at him. Alan smiles even brighter, "What a good day it is today! I got a discount from Derek for the first time, and gained a new friend as well! Such a good day!"

Derek sighs out as he looks at Scarlet, "Being his friend is a handful."

She smiles at him, "I can handle it."

"Don't regret it later on then," he smirks back as though he knows something about Alan that she doesn't.

Scarlet looks at him with curiosity, "What does that mean?"

He waves his hand around, "You'll see. Come on Alan, you want your discount or not?"

Alan quickly runs over to him as he yells out with excitement, "I DO!"

It was noon, Alan and Derek were still debating about what the payment should be. It went from 950 to 725. Alan wanted it to be at least 500, but Derek wouldn't allow it to be lower than 700. Scarlet was prepping lunch while they bicker. As soon as she finished cooking, she set up the food on the table. It was risotto with garlic bread. Alan stares at the foreign food before him. His stomach growls from smelling the delicious smell emitting from the risottos. His mouth drools.

Scarlet hands him a spoon, "It's going to get cold if you don't eat it."

Alan takes the spoon with a nod. As he took his first spoon full, fireworks went off in his head. He was enlightened.

"Gross," said Derek as he saw the expression on Alan's face.

Alan looks at Scarlet, "What is this dish?! I've never had it nor seen it before!?"

"It's called Risotto..." just as Scarlet told him this, she just remembered that this was Ancient China.

Italian food won't be introduced until much, much, much, later in the future. Could she be messing up history if she kept doing this? Well, who knows.

"Risotto... Is this your own personal recipe?" He asked.

Scarlet nods, "How is it?"

"Good! Super delicious!" Alan quickly replied, "I can't believe you've been cooking delicious dishes like this for Derek! I need to come here more often."

Derek shakes his head, "I don't have enough money to feed that mouth of yours."

"So? I'll give you some," he said with a smirk.

"Then pay the 1,000 gold," said Derek.

Alan backs down, "T-that's... a little..."

Scarlet snaps at the both of them, "Talk about your business later...! The food is getting cold."

They quickly shut their mouth at her words and proceed to eat. Just as Alan was about to finish, he looks up and stares at them. Scarlet was giving Derek another serving, as he stared at the paperwork of request.

<...Uwha... Do they not know what they look like right now? Derek, of all people is also listening to her... This is too much! I need to tell my brothers about this!>

After they finished the food, Alan finally gave into 625 gold. Derek was not happy about the price but at least it wasn't 500 gold. As Scarlet cleans up, Derek suddenly asks, "You never told me what you want to call this blade. So a name was never carved into it."

Alan blinks at him while handing over the money. He grabs the blade and stares at it.

"I thought that you always came up with the name," said Alan.

Derek shakes his head, "Spiritual Energy blades have a mind of their own. And they will only choose the name the owner gives them."

"Hmm... Nameless sounds good to me," said Alan with a smile, "Sounds cool."

"Again with your wimps," said Derek with a sigh, "It needs a name Alan. Not just a random one."

"Well," said Alan, "Even if you ask me, I can't think of a good one right off the bat."

"How about GoldString?" Scarlet said as she returned from cleaning up.

"Goldstring?" said Alan as he stares at it, "Because of the gold light illuminating around it?"

Scarlet nods, "But it's just my suggestion. Call it whatever you want."

Alan shakes his head, "It sounds good, GoldString."

Suddenly, a wave of forces came rushing in out of nowhere. Scarlet, Derek, and Alan had to cover their eyes from the string wind. As soon as it disbursed, a name was carved into the blade. Alan stares at it in disbelief.

Derek chuckles, "It seems to like it."

Alan smirks at the blade in his hand, "GoldString it is. I'll be trusting my life to you, partner."

The blade shimmers as though hearing Alan. Back in Scarlet's world, there was a spiritual energy blade but they were very rare to come by. The material and right blacksmiths to make them were either declining or held captive by dangerous organizations. She and Andy had heard many things about them but never saw nor encountered one. To think that she would see one here in Ancient China and the blacksmiths as well. Though, she was confused as to why she had traveled back to this time, not once had she regret coming here and seeing things she would have never seen in her previous world.

To Be Continue