"Its parts — I want them forged with essence too."
Anastasia’s voice rang out through the wide, crowded workshop, seeming to bounce off every surface before crashing into Christian.
He paused mid-motion. And with an appearance even more disheveled than the day before, he turned his head toward her chanically.
His eyes — shadowed with exhaustion — locked onto her smiling face. For a mont, only despair flickered behind them. But then, frustration crept in, and his gaze sharpened with irritation. At last, he narrowed his eyes and opened his mouth.
"That’s impossible."
Anastasia’s smile faltered at his flat reply. But Christian, now far removed from the concept of fear, continued with a dry and firm voice.
"That android you saw is still incomplete. And you want a functioning one, right? Then you’ll have to be satisfied with the one I’m currently building."
Anastasia let out a soft, thoughtful hum, then countered smoothly, "Okay, I’ll take a step back and say, maybe it’s impossible to forge every part with essence. But even then, just the skeletal structure, the mainfra, if only those were forged with essence, that should still be doable, right?"
Christian still shook his head.
"That’s still too difficult. So, how about this, let finish the current android first. Then, a few years down the line, you can co back. By then, I’ll have developed a fully forged one for you."
"How about that?"
Christian tried to et her halfway, but Anastasia didn’t agree. And an argunt flared between them, rising with every word exchanged.
Christian had long passed the line of fatigue — five days of nonstop work without rest or food had worn him raw. And now, even the idea of compromise felt like too much.
He grew more stubborn, uncaring of any consequence.
And maybe sensing that? Anastasia slowly exhaled, then said, "Okay. I’ll give you a new offer. If you still think it’s not worth it after hearing it, then I won’t insist anymore. How about that?"
With his arms crossed, Christian, standing now at around 184 cm, looked down at Anastasia, who barely reached 140 cm, and gave a small nod, signaling her to go on.
From the outside, it might have seed like he was the dominant one in this exchange.
But naturally, that couldn’t have been farther from the truth.
Even so, Anastasia gave a cheeky, self-assured smile, as if she already knew she’d won.
Then, without warning, she extended her hand in his direction.
Above her palm, a small fla flickered into existence.
Orange in color, calm like the fla of a single candle — it swayed gently, looking as if it would vanish with a single breath.
It was so small, so harmless-looking, that it was hard to tell what she was trying to show him.
Thankfully, quick to read the doubt in his expression, Anastasia began to explain.
"This is a Living Fla," she declared proudly, her voice smug and satisfied.
"Normal fire? It dies the mont you stop feeding it. But a Living Fla? You can starve it, shatter it, bury it — and it’ll still crawl back out of the ashes, smiling at you."
"Living Flas are fires that are rarely born in the universe. They have imnse strength, a will of their own, and they’re almost impossible to ta."
"Naturally, I’ll help you with the process. So, don’t worry."
"Oh, and this fla is even a ranked one!"
"So, you really should be thankful I’m giving it to you!"
Hearing the term Living Fla, along with its description, Christian’s breath caught in his throat. And his eyes... sparkled.
He was clearly interested, and the excitent in his gaze was unmistakable.
Naturally, he tried to control himself. He forced a dismissive expression and asked, "Why do I feel like this very strong fire will vanish with the lightest touch, then?"
Anastasia grinned, and with a gleam in her eyes, asked back, "Then, do you want to feel its raw power?"
Christian made a small gesture, inviting her to go ahead. And Anastasia chuckled, then stopped restraining the fire hovering above her palm.
It lasted only an instant before she restrained it back.
Just an instant.
But in that mont, Christian felt as if he had been plunged into the heart of a volcano and yanked back out.
His body was drenched in sweat, and his hair? It looked like it was a centiter away from catching fire.
Christian stood frozen, stunned by the overwhelming heat and pressure. His gaze, now fixed on the fla, changed once again — becoming sharp, greedy.
She said it’s a ranked Living Fla... then what rank is it?
He didn’t expect it to be first, second, or even third. But surely, it was in the top ten?
His thoughts swirled as his sparkling eyes, full of desire, stayed locked on the fla.
And Anastasia, seemingly unaware of all that, smiled cheekily and asked, "So? What do you think?"
Christian cleared his throat, coughed once, and then shalessly muttered, "Well... it’s not bad."
Then, with a casual tone that couldn’t have fooled anyone, he added, "But, what’s its rank?"
Anastasia burst into laughter — loud and high-pitched. Upon seeing through his act, she couldn’t hold it in.
"Hahaha~!"
She clutched her stomach and bent slightly, her small fra trembling with laughter so strong her eyes squinted shut. The sound rang through the room like bright, chaotic bells.
To Christian, in that mont, she looked adorable. Precious, even. And for just a second, the desire in his eyes shifted — no longer aid at the fla.
But he quickly shook his head, brushing away those thoughts.
When Anastasia finally cald down, she wiped the corners of her eyes and grinned, still catching her breath.
"This is the Iron Fla. Ranked 1009."
"You’re a blacksmith, so this fla would actually be the perfect match for you!"
Christian didn’t even hear the second part she said — his mind was still stuck on the number.
It turned out the fla really was within the top ten.
Just barely.
There was an addition of what? A thousand?!
And the na?
He was expecting sothing more grand. Sothing dramatic. Sothing badass.
Iron Fla? Seriously?
Christian couldn’t help but feel disappointed.
And noticing that, Anastasia spoke, her tone lightly scolding.
"What? Did you really expect it to be ranked higher?"
"Just so you know, it’s extrely rare for soone still in the mortal rank to even see a Living Fla, let alone own a ranked one."
"Moreover, this fla you’re turning your nose up at? It’s worth more than the entire planet we’re standing on."
"Your greed really knows no bounds," she finished, shaking her head.
Then, she finally asked, "So? Give your answer. Do you want to accept my order or not?"
Christian, who naturally didn’t believe every word she’d said, still replied imdiately — and righteously.
"When did I say I wouldn’t make the Android?"
"I’ll naturally make it for my lovely custor!"
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