LOGINShare
Chapter 4.5
Last Updated:
2025-09-11 23:59:35
Latest chapter
The Ironsmith's Mandate Chapter 4.6
Perception 4.5***There were pictures of him, during his wedding to Grandmother.Which was why I was able to recognize him, even in a dream.This wasn’t the slow, dignified old man who had kept the town’s patrimony like a locked drawer in his voice, but quick-wristed and bright-eyed, with all the charisma of a hero straight out of legend.I know this, because he showed flashes of his legend even as he trained me into the ground to succeed him.For what purpose, I did not know.I saw him at the workshop, brushing his fingers against his tool boxes, plastic containers for screws, wrought-iron monsters that served as clamps, tables, assemblies… and the metal that he worked on after he had forged it in the furnace some distance away.They say that he closed down the furnace for good the day after I was born.He wore a cornflower blue shirt with the sleeves rolled to the shoulders, as was his wont when he was working with his hands, muscled arms rippling with strength even as he delicatel
The Ironsmith's Mandate Chapter 4.5
Perception 4.5***Contrary to popular belief, the fighter’s high doesn’t go away quickly.It leaves in waves, like you’re standing in knee-deep water on the beach and before you know it, you’re up to your neck in seawater thanks to the undertow.I was already in the waiting room with Dr. Harry running some after-match checks on me, and after handing me a bottle of water to chug, told me that they’d be at the second semifinal.After I gave a nod and left, it was like getting pulled into deeper water as the adrenaline rush rapidly wore off my system. As it did, I took notice of the gym’s waiting room.It smelled like clean work and honest fatigue: the sort of odor that tells a town you’ve earned your living in it.This wasn’t just the sweat of prize fighters: these were points, bragging rights, accomplishment. The row of white monobloc chairs lined up silently spoke of not just holding people: they held decisions, motivation, even power.The towel draped on my shoulders felt like a win
The Ironsmith's Mandate Chapter 4.4
Perception 4.4***I took a few two-handed practice swings right before the last match, right before taking a seat on the bench, with last-minute advice from Dr. Harry in my ear.Seems like my enthusiasm has rubbed off on my opponent.“Max, are you playing with your food?” Dr. Harry asked, his expression solemn as I’m still eyeing the ringer on the opposite side of the arena, a confident smile still plastered on my face. “You’ve lost your off-hand stick, and the way you’re holding that stick – you’ll be two-handing the rest of the match?”“Yes, sir.”I spared a glance back at Dr. Harry, his face was unnaturally serious. Well, more serious than when he’s normally serious.“Max. You are going to lose. You haven’t trained in two-handing as extensively.”“I’ll finish the match in two strikes,” I said, while still focusing on my opponent, the smile still on my face. “The strength of his arms are great. The strength of his will is not. Two strikes, and the match is mine.”I saw Dr. Harry’s e
The Ironsmith's Mandate Chapter 4.3
4.3 Perception***From there, everything seemed like a blur as we went from watching Jaric practice to making our way to the arena.I don’t know… for some reason or another, I was a lot more locked in than usual.Was it because of my birthday? Probably.Were there any other reasons? I could look into them, but right now, I’m looking Joachim Carlos dead in the eye, and the bout is about to start.If I had been my normal, introspective self, I would have seen him flinch when I sized him up.He has me beat in all statistical categories: he’s taller, longer reach, more experience… but when I saw him, he was acting like he was caught between a rock and a hard place.At that moment, everything in my peripheral vision turned to a gray haze: there was nothing in the world except me and my opponent.And as I saw his fear, my reflexes only sharpened as my body went to combat readiness.Gramps had told me once, during a hunting trip: “an animal fights harder when cornered; they have nothing to l
The Ironsmith's Mandate Chapter 4.2
I would have preferred it if I was kept awake by my upcoming semifinal match in the combat arnis tournament. That way, I would’ve had a valid enough excuse if I started the fight like a battery-operated rabbit flailing around, as if I didn’t know what I was doing. It wasn’t the butterflies in my stomach that was keeping me awake – rather, I was drawn back to snapshots in my childhood, days when Grandfather was still hale and hearty, teaching my younger self lessons that I didn’t understand then. I’d liked to have spared some time to think about how the clarion call of nostalgia was keeping my eyes from closing, but the mention of a name was enough to satisfy the inquisitive part of me. Yeah, it’s Moira’s fault. I know, I’m being childish, but that comes with being sixteen years, three hundred and sixty-four days, twenty hours and thirty minutes old, give me a break. I can afford to be childish in moments like these, when it really does
The Ironsmith's Mandate Chapter 4.1
Chapter 4: Perception 4.1 *** “Oi, what’s with you not having an appetite? I thought you said you were looking forward to Lacey’s experimental sisig-salad combo?” Jaric asked me, while I was looking at nowhere in particular, remnants of the pressure of those piercing eyes still lingering in me. “Right,” I replied listlessly, before taking a bite of the salad. Typical Lacey’s fare; no wonder, this is our town’s best-kept secret. Three generations of kitchen wizardry, with adequate support, turned the fortunes of a down-on-his-luck fish ball vendor and his family. My mind returned to those eyes, and the way they seemed to see right through my soul. It was uncanny. “Earth to Max,” Jaric said again. “Don’t tell me, you found someone in the audience?” “She had pretty eyes…” I replied off-handedly, and my thoughts got abruptly rattled when Jaric let out a whoop. “About time, Max!” Jaric hollered. “I thought yo
You may also like
Dragon's Misplaced Mate
Pravs_3618316.5K viewsRise of the Darkness
Hira Baig19.0K viewsThe Destroyer
Bryant53.1K viewsJust let me be a cannon fodder
Loueli24.6K viewsLucid Curse
Azumi195 viewsThe Last Flame
Lafaerie2.6K viewsThe Legend of Astaria: Tale of the forgotten dragon princess
Maryam danesi Umar121 viewsBlood King
J.Z Perry58 views
