Honing the Blades

      Aaron looks around in wonder as they step into the tattoo artist’s shop. Though, “shop” doesn’t seem like quite the right word for it. That implies some form of logic. This place feels more like walking into a dream, bright and indistinct. Though, maybe that’s just because he’s currently sleep-deprived.

      Glass lanterns hang from the ceiling, painted in a variety of colors and patterns that cast curious shadows on the stone floor. Intricate tapestries of rare beasts hang from the walls, and bars of metal in every shade are stacked in neat rows all around. There are also so many knick-knacks, Aaron loses track of them all.

      A woman with hair so black it’s almost purple is sorting through the metal ingots thoughtfully on the floor. She looks up abruptly when they enter the shop, and Aaron’s struck by her bright pink eyes.

      “Ah! My favorite customers!” she says, springing to her feet.

      “Don’t you say that to everyone, Vera?” Vaughn asks, closing the shop door tight behind them.

      “Yes,” Vera says with a sly grin.

      She flips the “open” sign in her shop window to “closed.”

      “But in your case, I actually mean it.”

      Iris looks around the shop critically, probably judging the frivolous decor. “The money has nothing to do with it, I’m sure,” she says dryly.

      Vera tilts her head thoughtfully.

      “True enough, the Moon Temple pays handsomely for my talents!”

      Iris narrows her eyes. “And your silence,” she says.

      “That too,” Vera says with a dismissive wave of her hand.

      Aaron can’t take his eyes off the woman’s arms. They’re completely bare, despite the cold. Most likely, to display the silver tattoos adorning them. It’s rare to see a demi flaunt their tattoos so brazenly, but Vera wears them like a badge of honor. The longer Aaron looks at them, the more he realizes that they aren’t ordinary tattoos either, even by demigod standards. The silver-toned ink slides across her skin, slowly winding and unwinding in spiraling patterns. It reminds him of oil in water; mesmerizing. Aaron’s never seen anything like it before in his life.

      How does she do that?

      Vera glances between them, looking for someone.

      “Now, where is my favorite?” she says.

      “I’m flattered, Vera, but-” Vaughn starts.

      “Not you,” she says. “I’m talking about my kindred spirit. Ah!”

      Lucian looks around from behind Vaughn, and Vera lights up at the sight of him.

      “I almost didn’t recognize you, you’ve grown. How long has it been?” she asks.

      “Eight years,” Lucian replies.

      “Eight?!” Vera looks down at herself with a scowl, “Gods, I feel old. Alright. Coat off. Let me see it.”

      Lucian suddenly looks embarrassed with the attention.

      “I’m assuming you mean my arm…” he says.

      “Are you daft? Yes, your arm!”

      Lucian pulls off his coat and lays it aside, looking uncomfortably at Vaughn and Iris, who both watch his embarrassment with amusement. Aaron leans closer to Iris.

      “Does she… Always do this?” he asks.

      Vera looks at Aaron with a grin.

      “An artist never forgets her masterpieces. It’s not often that they walk back through my door,” she says.

Lucian rolls up his left sleeve, and Vera takes his arm in her hand. She examines his silver tattoo, in awe of her own work.

      “You’ve grown into it beautifully, Lucian,” she says. “Please tell me you’ve brought me another design.”

      Lucian reaches for his coat to look in the pocket. “I did, actually. I’ve had this one in mind for a while.”

      “Show me! No, actually… Save the best for last.” Vera suddenly drops Lucian’s arm and looks at Aaron again.

      “You must be the newbie. Name?”

      “Aaron.”

      “First time getting a demigod tattoo, Aaron?”

      Aaron feels his heart drop. Until now, he’d been pushing back the memories that kept pressing against his mind since walking into the shop. It wasn’t terribly hard, the bright colors and welcoming atmosphere were in stark contrast with his previous experience. But now, faced directly with the question, the memories come crashing back. Aaron swallows.

      “No,” he says.

      The room feels different now. Heavier. Everyone but Vera knows the story behind his demigod tattoos. They don’t often speak of it. Vera seems to pick up on the shift and hesitates before responding. Then she smiles.

      “First one from me, then. You’re in for a treat, Aaron.”

      “A treat” is the last thing he’d call receiving a demigod tattoo. But Lucian had told him before that Vera’s method is completely different from the other artists in Auroris. Aaron smiles back tentatively.

      “I can handle it,” he says.

      Vera frowns and glances at Vaughn and Iris, an unspoken question in her eyes. Iris is the one that answers it, addressing Aaron.

      “Vera has a gentle touch, Aaron. You don’t need to fear her.”

      “I’m not afraid,” he says.

      He’s not lying. Not exactly. Vera’s not even remotely imposing; it’s hard to picture her inspiring fear in anyone. But the muscles in his back still twitch, remembering the pain.

      A gentle touch? It doesn’t make sense to Aaron. How is molten metal under the skin supposed to be gentle? He’d already resigned himself to the pain. He was able to receive the seven marks on his back without so much as a whimper. He can’t imagine it would be any different for the Luna’s Blades tattoo.

      “Alright,” Vera says, “take off your shirt, let me see what I’m working with.”

      Aaron responds obediently, though it feels strange to reveal his marks. He was never supposed to show them to anyone outside the Moon Temple on the off chance that someone might recognize his blood metal.

      She’ll have to know my blood metal, Aaron realizes suddenly. That means she’d know his parentage, which means…

      Vaughn and Iris trust her, he reminds himself, taking a breath.

      Vera paces around him, examining her newest canvas. She stops when she sees the marks on his back. Aaron flinches when she runs her fingers over the ones on his upper back. Her hands are cold.

      “Some of these are distorted,” she says. “How old were you?”

      Aaron clenches his hands into fists to stop them from shaking.

      “Five,” he says. “For the first one.”

      “And how many abilities do you currently have, Aaron?”

      Aaron looks at Vaughn, unsure if he’s allowed to share that information. Vaughn gives him a nod of approval.

      “Two so far,” Aaron says.

      “They must be powerful. These marks are pure metal,” Vera replies, removing her hand from his back.

      Aaron forces himself to relax his shoulders. Vera turns to his mentors.

      “The Blades’ tattoo will have to be diluted, or he risks blood sickness,” she says. “This will likely only strengthen his existing abilities, if anything at all.”

      “Do what you have to do, Vera,” Iris says with a nod.

      “Luna typically requires her mark to be on the back,” Vaughn says. “We thought maybe you could shift the pre-existing marks to make space.”

      Shift them? Aaron wonders.

      Vera examines Aaron’s back again, then shakes her head. “If this was my work, I could, but demi tattoos made in the traditional manner can’t be altered. There’s too much scarring. Even if I could shift the ink, the skin is too damaged.”

      Vaughn and Iris exchange a look.

      “It’ll have to be on his chest, then,” Iris says.

      Vaughn shrugs. “It’s unorthodox, but I think the Priestess will make an exception in this case.”

      Vera cracks her knuckles. “Chest it is, then,” she says. “Have a seat, Aaron.”

      Aaron cautiously lays down in the chair she indicated.

      “I don’t suppose you brought me a design like Lucian did?” Vera asks, almost wistful.

      “I didn’t realize I was supposed to…” Aaron mumbles.

      Vera sighs as she begins picking through the metal ingots again. “I’ll come up with something, I suppose.”

      Iris shakes her head. “Just give him the symbol, Vera. A flashy design isn’t necessary.”

      “Not necessary, no, but if Luna insists on branding her people, we might as well make it beautiful,” Vera laughs.

      “I seemed to manage just fine with a simple design,” Iris mutters under her breath.

      “And giving you the tattoo was no fun at all, Iris,” Vera says cheerfully. Then she looks over at Vaughn with a smirk and a wiggle of her eyebrows. “Unlike Vaughn. He’s all fun.”

      Iris stiffens as she stares daggers at Vera.

      What…? Aaron thinks.

      Then Iris whips around and throws open the shop door.

      “Lucian,” she says coldly, “walk with me.”

      Lucian looks surprised to be called out, and he glances between Iris and Vera, trying to work out what the issue is. Then he locks eyes with Aaron and gives him a small shrug. Aaron shrugs back. Lucian could always read Iris better than Aaron ever could. If even he doesn’t know what’s happening, Aaron’s not going to waste his effort trying to work it out. Lucian turns and follows after Iris, and the door closes behind them with a gentle thud.

      Vera scowls. “What did I say?”

      Aaron looks at Vaughn, who stands solid as stone. Vaughn having nothing to say? Maybe this is some kind of dream. Then Vaughn clears his throat and distracts himself with a small, potted plant sitting by the window. His eyes glow faintly, and he reaches a hand out to it. Its withered leaves brighten, the plant perking up.

      “Iris and I are leaving Auroris,” he says.

      “What?!” Vera and Aaron speak at the same time.

      Vera stares at Vaughn for a moment, mouth agape.

      “Together?” she asks.

      Vaughn doesn’t respond, watching the plant slowly produce blooms. Vera crosses her arms, a disbelieving smile stretching across her face.

      “You and the ice queen?” she laughs.

      Vaughn gives her a side-eye, a little hint of a smile at the corners of his mouth. Not a smug smile, that would be normal for Vaughn. This one is more akin to shyness. Aaron blinks.

      Vaughn can be shy? He wonders in astonishment. Who are you, and what have you done with my mentor?

      Aaron had never met a man more brazen and shameless than Vaughn. He’d trained under him for 8 years and never knew he was capable of casual emotions like embarrassment or self-consciousness, things that had plagued Aaron his entire life. Right now, it’s like watching the moon fall from the sky, or the Twilight River drying up. It doesn’t happen.

      Vera laughs and shakes her head.

      “I can hear the cries of women across Auroris, for the wolf has been slain. Fortuna smile on you, Vaughn. You’re going to need it.”

      The plant in front of Vaughn blooms, and he picks off one of the flowers gently. He approaches Vera and tucks the flower into her hair.

      “Last one,” he says.

      “I always loved that party trick,” she says.

      “I know.”

      Vera sighs and turns to Aaron.

      “Suppose I should get back to business, eh? Blood metal?”

      Aaron’s caught off guard by the sudden change of subject. He grips the chair tightly, eyes wide. Blood metal? Can he answer that? Vaughn answers for him:

      “Brass,” he says.

      Vera pauses, looking at Aaron curiously.

      “You’re a rare one, aren’t you?” she says.

      Aaron swallows, struggling to find words to respond, but Vera holds up her hand.

      “No, don’t tell me. The less I know, the better. The Moon Temple only pays me enough to keep so many secrets.”

      Aaron nods mutely and watches as she assembles the necessary metals to make the alloy. He shifts in the chair, glancing at Vaughn.

      “And you’re sure this won’t affect my magic?” Aaron says uncomfortably.

      The last thing he wants is to strengthen the magic he already has. It’s unmanageable enough as it is. Aaron can’t imagine what he might become if another ability unlocks. Well… That’s not true. He can imagine it, all too well.

      I’d become exactly what he wants me to be.

      Not Vaughn. He understands the dangers of Aaron’s magic, because his mentor’s magic is just as volatile when not kept in check. What little refinement and control Aaron possesses, it’s only because of his training. No, Vaughn would never encourage Aaron to awaken more magic.

      Vera picks up a bottle of black liquid and shakes it.

      “I’ll be diluting it with ink, so there’ll be very little brass in the mix. If anything, it might provide you greater control over your magic,” she says.

      Aaron leans back in the seat again, relaxing slightly. At least he doesn’t have to worry about that part. Now it’s just bracing himself for the searing pain of the tattoo. But now that he thinks about it…

      Aaron glances around the shop. He doesn’t see any kind of burners present for heating up the metal. How is she supposed to get it in its liquid state without heat? He doesn’t see any needles either. How exactly…?

      The question is answered as Vera’s eyes suddenly blaze, a neon pink glow. The metal ingots before her shimmer and melt into a puddle. Then the liquid metals slither into the air, weaving together with the movement of her hands like a dance. They merge and gradually shift to the gold-ish shade of brass. Vera glances at Vaughn.

      “Pour out the ink, please,” she says, focusing intently on the liquid metal floating in the air.

      Vaughn obediently takes the ink bottle and pours it out toward the counter, but the ink hovers in the air before it touches the counter. A bead of sweat trickles down Vera’s forehead as the ink slowly starts to merge with the blob of metal, tinting the shade just a little darker.

      “This is the hard part,” Vera mutters.

      “Not the tattooing itself?” Vaughn asks curiously.

      Vera shakes her head slightly, not taking her eyes off the ink.

      “The trace metals in the ink are much harder to manipulate,” she says.

      Vaughn looks at the empty ink bottle in his hand.

      “Perhaps you should start searching for an apprentice to assist you, Vera,” he says.

      Vera draws the blob of metal through the air until it hovers directly above Aaron. Aaron shrinks back instinctively, but he doesn’t feel any heat radiating from it. Vera wipes an arm over her face, clearing away the sweat, then looks at Vaughn with a rueful smile.

      “Like your friend here, I’m a rare breed, Vaughn. Finding an apprentice is difficult when no one shares my abilities.”

      Vaughn frowns. “I’ve met plenty of children of Narat.”

      Vera turns her attention back to Aaron. With one hand, she holds the floating metal in place. With the other, she reaches to the metal and pulls out a tiny sliver. It reshapes itself into a thin needle in her fingers.

      “Yes, but hardly any of my brothers and sisters possess the ability to manipulate metal this way. Fewer still, the finesse required to wield it as such.”

      Vera tilts her head, as though a thought just occurred to her.

      “Though, I suppose a child of Artifex might have something similar… Maybe I’ll start my search again.”

      Vaughn walks around to the other side of Aaron and leans against the chair, settling in to watch the process.

      “You should,” Vaughn says. “It would be a shame to see this art form die out with you when you retire.”

      Vera smiles. Several more needles hover in the air around her now.

      “Oh, I’m far from retirement yet, Vaughn. I’m surprised you’re so content to dip out early.”

      Vaughn scoffs, “I never said I was retiring. That’s what old, rich people do.”

      Aaron glances at Vaughn. “But you’re leaving Luna’s Blades. Isn’t that the definition of retirement?”

      “Luna only requires two Blades, boy. Iris and I staying would be excessive at best. At worst, we’d only get in your way.”

      At this point, all the metal has been separated into tiny needles around Vera. Hundreds of them. They hover out of the way as she reaches for a bottle of alcohol and a cloth. She pours some of the alcohol onto the cloth and wipes it on Aaron’s bare chest. Aaron’s nose wrinkles from the smell.

      “Then what do you plan to do now, Vaughn?” Vera asks.

      “There’s plenty of work out in the world suited to our… Particular talents.”

      “Plenty of work in Auroris too,” Vera points out.

      Vaughn hesitates, looking at the tapestries on the walls. Then he shakes his head and looks down at his feet.

      “This city’s taken enough from both of us. It’s time we start something new.”

      Aaron watches Vaughn’s face, trying to understand the quiet sadness in his voice. He’s still trying to wrap his head around this side of Vaughn. Why didn’t he know about it before? It’s like an entirely different person is standing next to him. Not a mentor, or a father, or whatever else Aaron had considered Vaughn as over the years, but… a friend. Warm, constant, and surprisingly vulnerable at his core. Aaron feels a pang of grief as reality sets in.

      I’m never going to see him again.

      He’s going to miss Vaughn. He didn’t even think about that yesterday when he finally claimed victory over him. For the first time, Aaron wishes he’d gotten to know the real person behind his mentor. Now, he only sees glimpses; a connection he could have had if only he’d noticed it earlier. That knowledge hurts more than the inevitable pain of the tattoo.

      Vera nods with understanding at Vaughn’s words, silently accepting them. She claps her hands together, and the needles hover over Aaron’s chest in anticipation. She grins.

      “Last chance, Aaron. Any particular design you want for your Blades’ tattoo, or am I doing this my own way?”

      Aaron eyes the needles nervously. He doesn’t really think about that stuff, not like Lucian. A demigod tattoo is just a tattoo. But then a thought occurs to him.

      “Can you make mine move like yours?”

      Vera laughs and looks at her arms.

      “Sorry, kid. I’d have to follow you around for the rest of your life if you want your tattoos to shift.”

      Aaron looks at Vera, aghast, the needles all but forgotten in an instant.

      “You’re saying you make your tattoos move by constantly using your magic?”

      Vera gives him a wink. “You got it.”

      Aaron didn’t realize that kind of fine control existed for demigod magic. For most, it’s all or nothing. That’s certainly the case for him. That Vera could have a steady and constant flow of magic running through her, channeling it into something so precise as making her tattoos move… He can only dream of something like that for himself.

      Vera seems to find his reaction amusing. She tilts her head.

      “Tell you what. I’ll make a design that’ll look good when it shifts, that way the next time you see me, I can make it move. Sound good?”

      Aaron nods, suddenly reminded of the needles again. Will they burn? It doesn’t matter. He can handle it.

      Vera examines her canvas for a moment longer, then nods her head decisively, having settled on a design in her mind. Then she sits halfway on his chair and takes one of the floating needles in her fingertips. Leaning over him, she taps the needle into his skin with two fingers, and it disappears entirely. Aaron winces in anticipation of pain, but other than a little prick from the initial tap, he feels nothing. No searing pain of melted flesh, or the icy burn of damaged nerves. The sliver of metal spreads out under his skin in a tiny circle, faintly warm, like a thumb pressed to skin. Aaron looks at Vera in surprise.

      “That’s it?” he says.

      Vera smiles, another needle already in hand.

      “Just a few hundred more to go,” she says.