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The orc's claymore found itself lodged in the notch of Homare's swordbreaker. With the orc wide open, Homare drove his rapier through the monstrosity's heart.
"Touché."
Homare pulled away, leaving the orc to slump lifelessly into the ground. Blood pooled beneath the hulking body.
Homare looked at his weapons. "You two did a good job yet again." Then he noticed a crack on the blade of his swordbreaker and made a sad smile. "Troublesome as always, are you not?"
"Arisugawa, I have dispatched the rest of the minions… Huh?"
"Edward is breaking apart again."
"It cannot be helped I suppose. Edward has accompanied you since you learned the art of dueling."
Silence followed.
Then Guy broke it. "Have you considered retiring Edward and obtaining a new swordbreaker?"
Homare froze as the image of Edward shattering to pieces flashed in his mind. Trying to not cry at his hurting chest, Homare gave the crack another look.
"Apologies. I did not know-"
"No, it is alright. It is true that old things break easily, especially if they keep enduring powerful blows. However, they are more valuable than the most precious metal the world could offer."
"Why?"
"Look carefully." Homare showed the cracked swordbreaker. "I have had Edward repaired countless times, but the damage remains." He pointed at the little scratch beside the crack. "However, I cannot forget the cause of this scratch. I was truly a beginner back then, doubting the serrated side's ability to parry a blow."
Guy nodded, amazed.
"And look at the tip! It has become dull with each battle. After all, I still use Edward to stab my enemies once in a while."
"Edward is truly old."
"Indeed. However, Edward holds so many stories. It is why no amount of gold and silver can compare to the value of this old swordbreaker."
Edward's days were numbered; Guy knew that. And after a few battles and protecting Homare from weapons of various shapes and sizes, the swordbreaker finally shattered.
Homare hadn't spoken much since Edward "died," but Guy knew something didn't feel right with Homare's smile. Sometimes Homare looked teary whenever he looked at the shattered swordbreaker.
Having been Homare's traveling companion for a long time, Guy felt the need to cheer him up. Obviously, buying Homare a new swordbreaker wouldn't be the way out.
Then he remembered. The value of the old swordbreaker had always lay in the stories it held.
And so he tried to repair Edward himself, despite knowing that even the best blacksmith in the town had deemed the swordbreaker unsalvageable. Perhaps Edward could no longer stop a blow after this, but Guy thought the repair could add a new story to the swordbreaker.
The next morning, when Homare opened his eyes, he thought he had yet to exit the dreamland. Somehow Edward was repaired, albeit awkwardly. It seemed like someone had mended the swordbreaker with gold.
Homare yawned, about to resume his sleep, but then a gentle voice called out to him, "Arisugawa?"
This started to feel less like a dream. Homare pinched himself in the hand and felt the pain.
"Edward…" Homare picked up the swordbreaker and looked at the golden streaks across the serrated blade. "How…"
"I apologize for doing it without your permission, but… Seeing the sorrow in your face, I tried to repair him."
"Have I been looking that miserable all this long?"
"Arisugawa, I know you are never the type to show your weakness. However, when your weakness shows no matter how hard you try to hide it, it means you are devastated." Guy paused. "Am I correct?"
It took a while for Homare to answer, "I suppose there is no hiding from someone who has been traveling with me for so long." Tears trickled down his cheeks; somehow, it was quite a relief to cry in front of someone.
"Arisugawa…"
"Now that you have made Edward unique with your repair…" Homare brushed the golden streaks with a finger. "You have become an important part of my life, Guy."