The Catalyst Stories
Crystal’s Story
The Personality Reform Part I
‘Day 4’
How long had she been cooped up in her room since they had returned to Rich District? This Challenge was already proving too great for Crystal.
After waking up in the University, where she and Alex had spent the first night, they had been allowed to return to Rich District. They returned to the workshop, but Crystal hadn’t waited to get a welcome from the workshop owner. Instead, she had rushed upstairs to her room, and thrown the covers over her head, and tried to sleep away what she thought was still an aching nightmare.
Of course, when she opened her eyes, the barrier was still there. It would always be there in her mind now. That constant reminder that her thoughts of freedom were all lies, and she was now a prisoner of a sick game.
She felt sick herself. Crystal hadn’t eaten since she had gotten home. It was a chore for her to even get out of bed. She hadn’t changed her clothes, she hadn’t washed, she was just stagnant in life right now. She’d even forgotten what she looked like. How could the perfect day off become something like this? Her mind blamed herself, that she never should have gotten out of bed that morning either, that she had made matters worse. Her mind had a funny thing of tricking her to think that.
Yet there was nothing she could do. A trap within a trap, these walls enclosed by the dome outside, shining through the closed curtains. Every time she tried to will herself out of this bed, a sharp thought stuck through her mind like a knife, forcing her to stop the act of courage that was bottling up inside her. Crystal was starting to believe she could never overcome that feeling now.
Every now and then, there would be a knock at the door. Alex’s voice would always call through, asking if Crystal was okay. On the occasion, at least once a day, Alex would come in, and try to talk to her friend. But Crystal couldn’t bring the words forth to tell Alex what was going through her mind. It was better that way, no one needed her problems shifted onto their own person right now. Everyone out there was coping with it in a different way.
Why did she have to be one of those who could barely stand, to look out that window and face what was hanging over her head-on?
She wished...
She wished she could be that kind of person...
* * *
Alex’s Story
The Broken Blacksmith
‘Day 4’
“You’re not serious! Come on! You’re just-”
“I’ve made up my mind, Alex.” sighed Hermes. Alex was stood there, tears almost swelling down her face, as her mentor, and owner of the blacksmith workshop, Hermes, strapped a bag to his back.
“It’s times like these where I need to think where the priorities lay. It’s not here in this District.”
Alex watched as Hermes made his way over to the door, scratching his long brown beard, his shoulder-length hair brushing over his shoulders as he did. Hermes was a large man, but one who radiated the power of the hammer. He had taught Alex everything he knew, at least that was what he knew deep down, Alex, on the other hand, had other ideas.
He touched one of the walls of the main workshop. Countless works of his, hanging on the wall, placed perfectly in glass cases, all on display for customers.
There had not been one in four days now.
“I will admit, I will miss this place.” he said.
“Then don’t go!” begged Alex. She ran over, grasping his arm.
“I have to go and make sure my family is safe. My daughter, her fiancé, their children, they need me now more than ever. No one is coming here, Alex.” he said, patting the hand that gripped his arm.
“But...aren’t we family too?” she snapped. Hermes gave her a stern glare for a moment, and then a fondness crossed his brow.
“My dear apprentice. You and Crystal mean so much to me with everything you’ve done in helping me get the shop back to what it once was. That...that is why I have no fears in leaving both of you here, to continue that work.”
Alex looked up at him, confused as to why he was saying this. Hermes held Alex’s hand now and looked around the shop.
“I may have many works on these walls, swords, shields, and weapons that could very well aid some poor soul who does battle against the Catalysts in the future. But alas, as your time here grew, your very own works began to replace what was once mine. Don’t you see, my dear? My future lays with my family, and yours lays here, perfecting the future of the fight.” Hermes smiled.
Alex looked around the room, looking at the history of weaponry that stood around her.
“You can make this the best blacksmith in the city. This is your opportunity!”
Alex shook her head as she looked down.
“B-but what if things get worse? What if someone comes here and tries to take it all. I can’t possibly-”
“Now, now.” Hermes patted her hand lightly. “That doesn’t sound like the loud Alexandria Talos I know.”
Tears almost fell, but Alex managed to hold them back. This was already a test of strength, the first of many she’d fight in this Challenge.
After those words, Alex and Hermes gave their goodbyes. It was sad to leave without saying goodbye to Crystal, but Hermes knew that now was not the time to wish more bad news on the girls. He knew Alex would do whatever she could, not only for the shop but for her friend.
“Take care of her, Alex. She may not be ready yet, but with you here, and with the right motivation, I know Crystal will be back to her old self in no time.” he assured.
Alex held her arm, the nerves of taking that on when everything so far hadn’t worked.
“I...I don’t know if I can, Hermes. There’s only so much I can do for her. She won’t let me in.” she sighed.
Hermes scratched his beard and then gave a small chuckle, to which Alex responded with an odd expression.
“I always say, there’s always someone out there who can bring the best out of us. I stand by those words, even with what’s going on. If you’re not the one to do that, then I can’t say who can, but there’s always someone.” he tapped his nose.
Alex nodded with a courageous smile now. “Just like you bought the best out in me.” Wiping away the tears, Alex gave him a thumbs up.
“I won’t let you down, Master! Just you watch, by the time this is over, this’ll be the go-to place for all kinds of weaponry! I’ll make it all myself if I have to!” Alex grinned.
Hermes nodded at her enthusiasm, returning her thumbs up. “Now that sounds like the girl who I took on two years ago. I know you can do it, Alex. I leave the workshop in your capable hands. One day, people will come, and they’ll need you to step up. I don’t need to tell you to do that though, you’ve just proven to me you will.”
With those last words, Hermes departed from Rich District, his destination, Northern District, to find his family, and keep them as safe as he could.
That just left Alex and Crystal in the workshop. Now they owned this place, which meant there were going to be some changes. Alex knew it would take a while, but she had to keep strong. She had to prepare for what the future held for the shop itself.
She needed to make sure they were all stocked up on materials, she needed to make sure all the equipment was up to date and was working in order. She also needed to make sure her best friend got back up on her feet. It was a tall order, but there would be many more in the future. Alex considered this her first order of business.
“Okay. Let’s get to work!”
* * *
‘Day 5’
Alex wiped the sweat off her brow as she looked around the workshop. The shop had the main shopping floor, and behind that was the workshop itself. This was where every material was melted and moulded into weapons of choice.
Stacks of different metallic ores, copper, iron, steel, silver, even a few leftover bars of gold, mainly used for hilts and other accessories.
The whole place had been cleaned, and it had sure needed a spring clean. During Hermes’ time, the number of cobwebs that had gathered. Alex was never a fussy clean person, but if she wanted this place to become the best of the best, it needed to look the best of the best.
She continued by polishing the cases, the weapons too, making sure there wasn’t a speck of dull dust on them. By the time she was done, the light was bouncing from one blade to another, the glass glistened, and the floor would welcome anyone in with a greeting shine.
There was still a lot that needed to be done, but for now, that would do. There was another matter that needed attending to.
Alex ascended the staircase that took her up to her living quarters. As she moved down the hallway, she looked over at the door furthest to the right, Crystal’s room.
As always, Alex gave a small knock. She had been drawing back with Crystal recently, trying not to cause any discomfort or negativity. But now that Alex had a goal in mind, she needed to stop pretending like Crystal was a fragile vase. Deep down she knew she was strong, strong enough to come back from this, and Alex was going to help her however she could, and that first step, was being herself.
“Hope you’re decent in there.” Alex called. She opened the door quicker than she had the past few days and bounced into the room.
“Just in case you get a little shock when you go downstairs, nope, we haven’t moved. I’ll have you know I’ve been cleaning up the shop and getting it ready for the grand re-opening!”
No response.
Alex moved around the room, hands behind her back, attempting to balance on each leg as she travelled around.
“I tell ya, few months' time, this place will be begging us to help out with everything. Just you watch, we’ll be the most popular blacksmiths in town!” she cheered while flexing, not that there was much to flex...
No response still.
Alex rolled her eyes as she looked towards the closed curtains. This was a risk to perform here and now.
“Obviously you’re not the sharpest blade in the sheath, but I bet I could rustle up a bit of the old smith dust and turn you into a natural! Not as good as me though, cause you know, I’m pretty awesome. Boy, is it dark in here.”
Yet again, no response.
Alex opened the curtains, letting light into the room for the first time in days. As she did, she saw the sight that sent so many mad now. The bright blue barrier hung over the sunset sky. Her weapons would do no good against such a thing, but she remembered the words of the High Lord.
Twenty five Catalyst MECHs. Each of them waiting to be destroyed. Weapons would be needed, and she was on the front line to assist those who need a blade to cut into the wires of the mighty.
She looked down now, there wasn’t much more she could say to try and convince Crystal.
“You know, I know you’ll be fine. Deep down I just got this feeling. I wonder if other childhood friends get something like that? You know you’re like a sister to me. As confident as I am that we can make this place a beacon of hope for the future...” She turned back to the lump in the duvet cover. “I’d be more confident if you were there standing next to me.”
With that said, Alex left the room, leaving the curtains open. That was all she could do now, by herself, no matter how funny or emotional she was being, it had to be the truth.
She did not close the door this time, instead, she left it open slightly ajar, just in case that gave Crystal a small boost.
Now it was time to focus on the shop again, but Alex knew she’d keep trying until her best friend felt better.
* * *
Crystal was still sat underneath the covers of her bed. But she wasn’t alone now, she had at least summoned the strength to get some form of food. Even if it was only a few slices of bread with some butter spread, her stomach had pushed her out of bed.
When she was certain Alex had left, Crystal slowly drew the duvet covers off of her head. She looked at the window, the bags under her eyes causing her to flinch as the light hit her face. She slowly climbed out of bed while finishing off her second slice.
Walking over, Crystal rested her head against the window as she swallowed her food. She looked dead-eyed at the barrier, taking in every inch of its colour, shaper, pattern, being. Her brow furrowed, as her head made a small screeching sound against the window.
The fear right now was gone, and all that now was...just nothing.
Crystal felt nothing right now. She wasn’t scared of the barrier anymore, she had grown in the past day to accept the reality. This was the end of the line, and she wanted off of this ride. She didn’t have the guts to actively do it, but there was no doubt in her mind now.
Crystal just didn’t care anymore, about anything.
Little did she know, that her new mindset would lead her to the thing she’d care about most in the world.
Next Time:
Edge’s Story
The Honing of My Craft Part I
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