After I hit Atlas, he left clutching his ribs. I smirked; I definitely broke some of his ribs. “Do you think she’ll like them?” I asked.

“I mean we are having fun.” Ketsuki laughed. “Also, this sword is really high quality, the best sword I probably held.”

“Is it really that good, then what about this one.” I tossed him Yokai. ‘Hey, watch where you're touching me, and I am good, the best at that.’ Yokai sounded from my head annoyed.

Ketsuki tried to take the sword from the sheathe but it was stuck like the first time I tried to pry it from the sheathe. “It won't come out.” he struggled.

“Give that here.” I snatched the sword from him.

I took the sword and it slid right out of the scabbard with ease. I then tossed him the sword. He caught it and before he could inspect it, a blade came out of the hilt, piercing through his hand. “Ah what the fuck.” He dropped the sword.

‘Hey.’ Yokai snapped.

“Yokai what happened.” I accidentally said aloud.

“Who’s Yokai?” Scarlet asked.”

“It’s the sword, long story short a demon was sealed into the blade and bonded with me. I can speak with him mentally.” I explained.

‘No one can use the sword except for you.’ Yokai explained.

“So, what Yokai said, was that only I can use the blade because I'm bonded with him.” I recited what Yokai said to me.

“Oh well if it’s a demon blade it probably better than this sword.” Ketsuki explained

I picked Yokai up. ‘So only I can use you?’ I asked. ‘Yep.’ he answered.

I held up the blade so Ketsuki could inspect it. He slid his finger across the flat end of the blade and sharpened spikes jutted out of the side again piercing his skin. “Wait if that causes spikes to come out then if I slash someone will it do that?” I asked myself. ‘No it won’t but if someone touches it for more than a few seconds without the intent to slash like he just did it will.’ Yokai explained.

I fastened the sword to my waist. “Anyway, when is the Fall Festival starting? I see a bunch of decorations.” I looked around.

“It’s this weekend.” Summer replied.

“Ok, I'm gonna go look for something to help Shiro, with mana.” I waved before I went back to the shopping district.

I wandered around for a few hours before something caught my eye. It was an old woman’s stall that had a bunch of flowers. “Hey, can I take a look at that flower?” I asked pointing at a bright red rose. 

“Of course, dear.” She said.

I smiled before picking up the rose, when I picked up the rose, I could feel the presence of mana in the surrounding area getting stronger. It felt nice. When I looked around, I could see 5 different colors of particles fluttering about. White, blue, red, yellow, and green

One of the thorns pricked my skin and absorbed my blood, turning a darker shade of red. I tried to hold back the saddened look but to no avail I couldn’t. I missed her.

“How much is this rose?” I asked.

“Five coppers.” She answered.

I don’t know if this was scamming her, but I felt bad, so I gave her 5 silvers before leaving. “This is five silvers, that flower is five coppers.” She said as I walked away.

“Keep the change.” I headed in the opposite direction.

I needed to keep this alive, but how? ‘You can look for a black smith to turn the rose into a pendant.’ Yokai suggested. ‘I mean I guess I could, but where are the blacksmiths?’ I asked.

I wandered around a bit more before asking for directions. “Excuse me, but do you know where I can find a black smith to make this into a pendant.” I asked a young man holding up the rose.

The man was around his 20’s but he was muscular his skin was light brown that matched his dark brown eyes, and his hair was a dark black, he wore a white tank top with light brown pants with a red bandana around his left arm. “Uh actually I am a black smith.” he said putting down the barrels he was carrying.

“Oh great, do you think you can turn this into a pendant while keeping the rose alive?” I asked.

“That might be a little difficult, but I think I can manage.” he said. “I’m Dragoth, nice to meet you.”

“I’m Orion.” I stuck out my hand to shake his. His hand was full of calluses from constantly hammering metals. “Do you think you can get it done by the end of the week?”

“I can get it done in just a few hours. I just need you to get the materials.” He said.

“Perfect what do you need?” I asked.

“I just need some more sand and maybe some string.” He said. “Yeah, it shouldn’t be too expensive.”

We went back to his shop; it was old and somewhat run down. I didn’t want to question his black smith skills because I already gave him the request. “Sorry it’s so run down, I haven’t been able to repair the damages because they just break more shit, so I just leave it at this point.” Dragoth sat down at the kiln.

He handed me a jar. “Fill this up with sand and go get me three feet of twine.”

“Alright, also who is doing this?” I asked, taking the jar.

“I used to work for a noble household, and they rushed a three month job into one week, I couldn’t get all of the swords and armor done in time, and one of their guards was killed because they took an unfinished product.” he looked down. "They fired me and ever since then they drove away my customers, and ruined my work shop.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” I tried to comfort him.

“it’s fine I deserve it.” he said.

I couldn’t think of anything to say. “No, you don’t they rushed you.” I finally said.

He smiled. “Go get the sand.”

I nodded before leaving the shop.

I headed west because I heard the beach’s sand was really soft and fine. As I was headed there, I ran into Summer and Winter. “Oh, hey Orion, what are you doing here?” Summer asked.

“Oh, I was gonna go to the beach west of here to get sand.” I replied. “What are you doing here?”

“We are looking for a birthday present for Shiro.” Winter said. “Do you think she will like clothes?”

She held up some clothes for Shiro, they were cute, but I don’t know if Shiro is interested in clothes or not. “She was never really interested in pretty clothes, she could be.” I replied.

“I told you, we should just get her food. She needs to grow.” Summer said eating some snacks.

“Enough with the food.” Winter snapped. “What does your sister like then?”

“I don’t know.” I looked down. “I’ve been too focused on training.”

“Well, there’s got to be something she likes.” Summer said. “She probably wouldn’t want to many things that involve fighting like the sword you got her.”

“I can give you this to give to her when it’s finished.” I took out the rose.

That same sense of mana fluttered around me. It felt like I was in a fantasy novel with all the mana particles floating about. “I’m having someone make a pendant out of it.” I said handing Summer the rose.

As soon as she touched it her eyes widened, and she gasped. “What kind of flower is this?” she asked.

“It’s my mom’s favorite rose, a blood rose but I don’t know why you can see the floating particles with it.” I replied.

“What are you talking about?” Winter asked.

Summer handed her the flower and Winter had the same reaction as Summer. “This is so pretty, there's so many colors.” Winter said looking around.

“What do the colors mean?” Summer asked.

“I’m not sure but it’s pretty.” I replied

I took the flower back and put it in the watch's storage. “Well, I'm gonna go to the beach to get sand. See you guys later.” I said about to leave.

“Hold on we can go with you.” Summer stopped me. “We need to learn more about your sister, and while we’re at it might as well learn more about each other.”

“I was gonna give you the rose to give to her.” I replied.

“No, you found it for your sister we can’t accept that.” Winter interrupted me.

“Why not? It's going to her anyway.” I asked.

“Because you bought it and it wouldn’t feel right.” she answered. “Is there anything she seemed interested in?”

“She really likes cats, we used to have a cat before she passed away.” I replied. “She’s also really interested in animals, and she likes to draw if I remember correctly.”

“Ok that’s perfect.” She said. “Summer you can go to the beach I'll look for something to get Shiro for her birthday.”

“Ok, good luck.” Summer waved as Winter ran off.

We started to head west towards Sand Rock Beach, it was a small lake with a few docks for fishing boats. “Where did you live before coming here.?” Summer asked, starting some small talk.

“I grew up in a small village called Kuni, it’s on the southwest coast. What about you?” I asked.

“I grew up in The Capital.” She had a saddened look. “I like it here a lot more.”

“Yeah, it’s nice here.” I said. “I wish my mother and father could’ve seen this.”

Summer didn’t say anything, but she placed a hand on my shoulder for comfort. “I wish my parents could see me now.” She looked down.

“What happened to your parents, if you don’t mind me asking.” I looked at her.

“They passed away when I was young, but they were proud when me and Winter awakened our ability.” She continued. “They put us in tournaments, and we kept winning them to make our parents proud until they passed away.”

I put my hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

“It’s fine.” She tried to look happy. “Race you to the beach.”

I smirked at the change in subject. “You’re on.” I said as I took off in a sprint.”

I wasn’t using mana, but she was which made her fly by me. I sighed before imbuing mana into my legs which bursted me forwards catching up with Summer, eventually I sped past her and made it to the beach in about 5 minutes. “Ha, I win.” I wheezed as she got to the beach a few seconds after me.

“No fair, you used fire.” she complained.

“You used mana when I thought we weren’t gonna use it.” I shot back. “And I didn’t use fire you did.”

“Fine, you win. Let's go get your sand.” She sighed.

 When we got down to the sand I crouched down and grabbed a hand full of the white sand. “It’s really soft.” I said surprised.

“Yeah, this beach is famous for its soft sand.” Summer said sitting down.

I filed the jar full of sand. I got a face full of water when I looked up. “Ooh you mother fucker.” I said looking at Summer.

I got up and put the jar in the watch and ran after summer. Within two mana infused steps I was in rage to pick her up, I picked her up as she was trying to run away laughing. “Ah no I'm sorr---” She was interrupted as I threw her in the water. “Ahh that’s cold.”

I laughed my ass off as I tried to escape. She ran at me. “Come give summer a hug.” She said running after me.

“No, you’re wet.” I yelled, running away.

She caught up in a few seconds and gave me a wet hug. Until she picked me up and tried to throw me into the water, I grabbed her by the shirt as she was throwing me and made her fly with me into the water. The water was freezing even with some temperature immunity.

I got up laughing as I helped Summer up, I wish things don't change.

After using the warmth of my and her flames to dry off we headed back to town. As we went back, we told a few stories from our childhood. “Yeah, it was hilarious Shiro woke up and there was a bug on her, she freaked out yelling knocking things over. She knocked over the barbeque and it started to burn the tents, so we had to go home.” I chuckled.

“Really?” Summer asked.

“Yeah, the best part was it was the middle of the night, and it wasn’t a bug but her hair in a clump stuck to her face.” I couldn’t help but start laughing.

“That’s hilarious.” Summer laughed with me. “The first time it snowed in the capital was because Winter awakened her ability and made it snow.”

“Really?” I asked

“Yeah, it was funny because people didn’t really understand what was going on and thought it was an attack.” She said. “I remember people were slipping on ice, it was funny especially when our family slipped.”

I chuckled. “That would be pretty funny.”

We got back to town as the sun was setting and started to head to Dragoth’s workshop. “If I ever see you with a customer ever again, we will destroy your shop.” Someone yelled, leaving the shop.

I wanted to rush over and kick their asses, but I stopped myself. I didn’t want to make anything worse. I waited for them to leave before going into the shop. “Hey Dragoth, sorry it took so long we relaxed at the beach for a second.” I looked around but didn’t find him. “Dragoth..”

I stopped when I saw Dragoth laying on the floor unconscious, his face was black and purple from bruises.