Chapter 30 - 27: Dance of the Marionettes
Ellen and Miyabi stood at the entrance of the Hoshimi estate, facing Miyabi's father as they prepared to leave. The older man regarded Ellen with his usual composed expression, though there was a faint glint of approval in his eyes.
"You adapted quickly," he remarked. "Still, training never ends. Remember what you learned."
Ellen smirked, placing her hand on her hip. "Yeah, yeah. I'll keep at it. Thanks for the ass-kicking."
Miyabi sighed at Ellen's bluntness, but her father merely chuckled. "Take care of yourselves." He gave his daughter a brief but meaningful look before turning away, allowing them to depart without further words.
As they made their way back into the city, Ellen stretched, rolling her shoulder. "Man, I'm sore. Your old man doesn't hold back."
Miyabi shot her a knowing look. "You should take that as a compliment."
"I do," Ellen said with a grin. "Now, let's pick up my weapon."
They arrived at the blacksmith's shop, where Ellen's newly crafted weapon awaited her. The smith, a burly Bear Thiren with fur-speckled arms and a deep rumbling voice, greeted them with a nod before unveiling Ellen's weapon.
"Here it is, as requested," the blacksmith said, setting the weapon down on the counter. "Reforged with improved balance, reinforced materials, and a sharper edge. Should be a perfect fit for your combat style."
Ellen's eyes gleamed as she took in her new weapon. It was a modified version of her giant scissors, but now they had a sleeker, more refined design. The blades were coated with an Ether-reactive alloy, allowing them to channel her frost abilities with greater precision. The grip was reworked to accommodate her one-handed combat style, with a reinforced handle and a secondary locking mechanism that allowed her to switch between dual-blade and single-blade forms effortlessly.
Ellen ran her fingers along the weapon's hilt, feeling the weight and the craftsmanship behind it. She gave an appreciative nod. "Perfect. Thanks."