…

… …

An alarm clock, ringing loudly to break his deep sleep.

Fumbling an arm out of the blanket Lark slapped it around on his bedside table for the culprit. He groaned when he heard his phone fall to the floor and reluctantly got out of bed. Sleepy-eyed and squinting at the clock he noted the time. Early enough to get ready to meet up with Delilah.

Combing hair, brushing teeth, getting dressed… he did it all languidly, much too exhausted to take proper time in making himself presentable. A set of clothes had been left in lieu of an actual uniform that he almost glared at. Dark blue cloth with white buttons and trimming. It was soft and comfortable but felt too nice for Lark to wear.

Picking up the blue scarf he stared at it for a moment. Then wrapped it around his neck. It fell handsomely about him and trailed behind when he walked. Hesitantly stepping into the hallway, Lark did his best to not bring too much attention to himself. Though that was borderline impossible since he was the only youth with a shock of pure white hair and had just become a Saint.

People gave him bows as he passed, which he ignored in favor of looking at the map he’d been given. He also had no idea how to respond.

The smithy was on the more private end of the Cathedral grounds so as he got closer there were thankfully less people. Watching the smoke billow upwards from the forge beneath its roof Lark’s steps quickened. He had always appreciated smiths and their trade.

The path from the Cathedral opened up into a large clearing surrounded by trees with white bark and dark blue leaves where the clanging of metal against metal rang. Sitting on a bench nearby was Delilah, her head bowed and nodding as she resisted a nap.

Going up to her Lark stood there a moment before deciding to announce his arrival. “Uh… Good morning.”

Was the simplest thing he could think of. It still made Delilah startled enough to jump in his seat.

“Gods above, Lark! Maybe you should’ve just shoved me!” Her tone was frantic as she brushed off the surprise and all Lark could do was smile.

“I think that would be worse.”

“Ya could’ve waited for me to be conscious…”

“Then we wouldn’t get anything done, I think.”

Delilah scowled playfully at the remark but said nothing.

Clearing his throat, Delilah then ushered Lark over to the main forge area. An impressive display of both weapons and household items lay around or hung on the wall. All of them glinted against the bright fire nearby while some were abyssal black.

With a flourish Delilah motioned to the person with a soot covered apron who was still not paying attention to them, bent over a table. “The myth, the legend, the annoyance! May I introduce you to our head blacksmith: Miss Athen herself!”

Finally turning to him, Lark noted once she straightened her back, was one of the tallest people he had ever met. She lifted her safety glasses to get a better look, dark brown eyes warm but piercing. Atop her head was a set of small curved black horns while her skin was an inhuman shade of gray, meaning she was a demon.

Her soot smeared face split into a sharp grin. “Is this the new guy?”

Feeling intimidated by her assured aura, Lark held out his hand to shake. “L-Lark. Pleasure to meet you.”

Athen took his, giving a hearty shake and letting out an equally hearty laugh. “Calm down! I’m not that scary. It’s the height isn’t it?”

“Oh, I’m sorry if I was rude.” Admitted Lark, genuinely embarrassed.

“Please! You’re one of the nicer new folks. Don’t worry about it.” Her face suddenly warped when she laid eyes on Delilah who had been avoiding eye contact the entire exchange.

“This one on the other hand.”

“What on earth did I do?! I just got here!” Surprise that seemed forced left Delilah’s mouth and he stuffed his hands in the pockets of his pants. Athen turned, then came back with a bent dagger as she flailed it in front of Delilah's face.

“You! Did! This!”

The dagger looked like it had been slammed between two heavy objects then twisted in several directions. Ruined. “How many times a month am I fixing your shit? Take better care of your gear! Is it on purpose?!”

“I could have died if I didn’t take the necessary sacrifices!” Delilah snapped.

“Better you than my hard work! Metal and glyphs are art, you know!”

“How could you say that to me!”

Watching the two was awfully amusing but Lark didn’t want to stand here watching them bicker. “Speaking of equipment-” Two pairs of eyes turned to him with embarrassed looks.

“Was I supposed to have a consultation on my own or?”

Slapping her forehead, Athen groaned. “Phelmacitia give me strength… Yes! You were! I'm so sorry.”

Going to a small desk nearby she began rooting around for something, coating everything in more soot. Delilah nudged Lark and then tapped her own head.

“She grew up in the Torchlands, taught by the best of the best and now is the best.” she shrugged. “Once in a while she’ll get shit for working here but the Clergy outright fires people who are stupid.”

“Why does she get shit?” Tilting his head, Lark assumed everyone was on good terms with Demons as it had been so for thousands of years.

“It’s not the demon part, if that’s what you’re thinking. Athen is pretty young for her station so sometimes old fogeys complain they can do better.” He rolled his eyes, making hand motions as he spoke.

“I had no idea people like that still existed.” Chuckling softly, Lark imagined Athen besting anyone who tried to claim her rightful spot as head smith.

A moment later Athen came back with a sketchbook. It looked like it was falling apart from being well-loved and also dangerously close to a forge. She opened up to a page, spinning it around and offering it to Lark.

“Heard you herd sheep.” She covered her mouth to stifle a laugh and Lark noticed Delilah trying to keep on in himself. “Sooooo I thought maybe something that looked like a crook would be nice? Take a gander.”

Lark took the book to admire the delicately drawn schematics. There was one thing he noted that pleased him. “Nothing pointy on it?”

Shaking her head, Athen scratched at her nose. More grime coated her face but it didn’t seem to bother her. “Orimir and Delilah mentioned your aversion to pointy.”

Lark ran a finger across the drawings. A Beautifully detailed crook was on the page, patterned with intricate spirals on the handle. There was a lantern hanging from the end at the top and Lark quite liked the small touch. Indeed there were no sharp points and it looked more like a weapon to subdue, but there must be more to it than that.

“I like it. Looks pretty.”

He nodded in agreement with the design and handed the sketchbook back to Athen. 

She seemed pleased by his comment. “All of the blessed gear is pure black, but I add a bit of silver into it just to make those pretty parts.”

Pointing to the lantern on the page, Athen panicked slightly as she smudged some of the charcoal. “The lanterns are those eternal blues, so you’ll never need to replace them.” Her finger tapped it and slid down to the handle. “I know you said no pointy, but once you learn how to use glyphs you can transform the material a bit.”

She glared at him. “But not too much, okay.”

Lark held up his hands and nodded.

Abruptly slapping him on the shoulder, Delilah then let out a long sigh. “Aaaallllllrighty! Since that’s squared away, we have something very important to do now.”

Athen raised an eyebrow and looked between them. “Important? This early?”

Making a comical grimace, Delilah hung her head with another sigh. “It's been one freaking day and Meis already wants Lark to do something. A delivery.”

“A delivery? I don’t even have gear or a weapon.” Startled, Lark’s eyes widened. This felt too sudden and by Athen’s reaction it indeed was.

“What? Can’t they give me like a week or two before sending Lark into danger?” She wiped her hands on her apron, leaning against a workbench.“That's ridiculous.” Putting her safety glasses back on she went to rummage in some boxes and buckets.

“I’m going with him so he’ll have protection at least. But yeah, it’s weird.” With a roll of his eyes Delilah gave Lark a hard pat on the back. “Go get ready. There’s some travel equipment that was delivered to your room.”

He rubbed at the back of his neck, face falling apologetically. His voice was quiet. “Sorry ‘bout this, though. Meis usually gives people two seconds instead of one before giving them work.” Lark didn’t know how to respond. His situation already felt crazy.

Then Delilah started stomping away, raising her hands in the air angrily and talking to no one.“The guy just moved in! Sendin’ him on freakin’ cross-country jobs… Unreal.”

Hesitant, Lark stood there with a worrying drumming in his chest. Athen looked back at him with a soft smile despite the circumstances. “Don’t worry, if Delilah is protecting you then you have nothing to worry about.”

“If she says I’m the best of the best, I could say the same for her.”

“Thank you… I’m still nervous, though.” Reassured by the comment, Lark still felt apprehension tingle in his gut. “And thank you for taking the time to talk to me today!”

He waved as he started setting off after Deiliah, not wanting to get left behind.

Athen gave a wave back as she smiled. “No problem! Come back in one piece!”

Scrambling to not lose Delilah, Lark found him walking back toward the dormitories.

He seemed aggravated, tapping a finger on a crossed arm. “Who do they think they are… Sending a newbie out on a job so early.”

Standing beside her, Lark studied her facial features and body language. He was impressed with how genuine it was. The question came out of his mouth before he asked himself if it was polite or not. “Don’t Saints not have emotions?”

Delilah’s gaze flicked to him and he snorted. “You feel things, don’t you?”

Stretching out his fingers and squeezing them back to his palm, Lark thought.

“Yes, but… it’s not the same.” He did feel things, but it wasn't like before. “You make me think otherwise, though.”

“No, you’re right.” Looking a bit smug, Delilah pinched the corners of his mouth up.

“People think we’re completely turned into mindless, soulless dolls.” Then he pointed a finger at Lark, pressing it into his chest. “It’s not all there but I have ‘em.”

She brought her hand away and Lark touched the spot. That all made sense.

“Kay, go get some other clothes on. You should have some travel gear all set up.” Pushing him towards the rooms Delilah then motioned in the opposite direction. “Then you can meet me back in the courtyard. We have a separate exit so people don’t bother us.”

She left Lark to his own devices and he watched her go.

(Delilah's Saint ID card)