[Interlude] These Arms Are for You
My name is Lucina Timmons.
I was once the fifth generation of a prestigious blacksmith family with over a hundred years of tradition, running a workshop in the royal capital and contributing to the prosperity of the nation like my predecessors.
But I was deceived by unscrupulous people, and the workshop was forced to close.
Unable to remain in the royal capital, I ended up in a squalid underground fighting arena, crafting weapons for gladiators locked in fruitless battles.
It was Lake Gallard who showed me a new path, rescuing me from the endless darkness.
"You are not someone who should end up in a place like this. Shine again, like you once did, by my side."
He held my rough, unladylike hands and called them “beautiful.”
At that moment, tears streamed down my face.
It felt as though all the dark emotions buried deep within me were being purged.
I couldn't recall the last time my emotions had been stirred so profoundly.
In that instant, I instinctively knew:
I would dedicate my craft to this man.
I would devote my life to him.
Thus, any who dared to hinder Lake Gallard’s rise would have to be eliminated.
The Timmons family adhered to a creed: a weapon is only complete when its creator wields it with the skill of a master.
From a young age, my father trained me not only in the art and ethics of blacksmithing but also in weapon handling and combat. Little did I know how valuable those skills would become.
Thanks to Lake Gallard’s intervention, I awoke from my despair, and the despicable underground arena was destroyed.
I later learned that the Knights Order and the Magic Corps had marked the arena but hesitated to act, as influential nobles were suspected to be involved.
Lake Gallard is a merchant.
For merchants, nobles are powerful figures who must be treated with the utmost respect.
I, too, had learned that lesson painfully. A single misstep could attract their ire and lead to ruin.
Yet, Lake Gallard did not let such risks deter him from saving me.
Truly, he is no ordinary merchant.
He embodies a noble spirit, willing to uphold his principles even at great personal risk.
Just recalling his actions stirs something deep within me.
Afterward, I became Lake Gallard’s exclusive blacksmith under a lifelong contract.
It was a vow to dedicate my existence to protecting him.
He provided me with a workshop near the Gallard family estate, even grander than my old one in the capital, equipped with state-of-the-art tools. It was a dream come true for any craftsman.
But there were challenges. To accompany Lake Gallard to the academy, I had to learn etiquette, refined speech, and even how to brew delicious tea—tasks entirely foreign to me.
The maids of the Gallard household helped me improve gradually, but wearing the mandatory maid uniform for the academy proved particularly trying. I’d rarely worn anything other than work clothes, so the frilly, dainty attire felt utterly unfitting.
That was, until Lake Gallard said, “It suits you. You look lovely, Lucina.”
With those words, my perspective changed completely.
I could live in a maid uniform forever if it pleased him.
Lake Gallard then entrusted me with a special commission: a new weapon based on his design.
When I first saw the blueprint, I was speechless.
What is this?
That was my honest reaction.
Although he described it as a weapon, its design and functionality were unlike anything I’d seen or heard of, even with my extensive background crafting for knights and magicians.
When I asked if it was inspired by some foreign innovation, he casually replied, “I came up with it.”
Unbelievable.
How could anyone conceive of such an idea?
That was my immediate question.
But I quickly understood.
It was because the mind behind it belonged to Lake Gallard.
His intellect is unparalleled, transcending ordinary comprehension.
He seems destined to rise above all others.
It was astonishing how he incorporated materials not typically used for weapons. At first, I was perplexed, but as I envisioned the effects this design could achieve, it all became clear.
If realized, this weapon would address Lake Gallard’s “only weakness.”
Once resolved, nothing could impede his ascent.
More than that, this innovation would disrupt the world’s power dynamics, heralding a revolution. Those who had long wielded influence would find their strength diminished.
It aligned perfectly with my vision of a peaceful world.
Above all, I was honored to be entrusted with creating such a pivotal weapon.
“You can do it,” he encouraged, igniting my passion as a craftsman.
I was genuinely grateful to have followed him.
It was a conviction that strengthened my resolve.
I would use my arms to fulfill Lake Gallard’s wishes.
That, I believed, was the truest expression of the ideal blacksmith.
However, there was one major obstacle to completing the weapon.
I lacked knowledge of the material it required.
How frustrating.
Despite being rescued from my despair, I couldn’t deliver when it truly mattered.
While I was overcome with self-doubt, Lake Gallard praised my efforts.
He had anticipated the need for specialized expertise and planned to recruit someone with the necessary knowledge from the royal academy.
He had entrusted me with crafting only the external structure, intending to finalize the weapon after securing the right collaborator.
To think he had already accounted for every detail—such foresight was awe-inspiring.
Lake Gallard’s compassion, insight, and boundless talent were unmatched.
I was certain he would become a hero who would lead the world to peace.
What do you think about this chapter?
