'[i]Gaia, they aren't going to make this easy for me are they?[/i]' A girl turned sharply, raising a hot blade out of the fire she was working on, and pointed it at the man in question, "That is the final price, any lower and I will not have food on my table tonight, please you [b]must[/b] listen to reason." The man backed up a little, the heat radiating off the metal scared him a bit. 

 He rebutted, "Thieves and scoundrels plague my street, break into our homes, steal our wealth if I had more to pay you I would. But it's gone. I must protect my family, my wife and kids." His words dripped of sorrow, plagued by the misfortunes that left his family dry as the sand beneath their feet. The girl lowered the weapon, which was cooling as it stayed off the fire. Placing it gently back over the flames, she then rummaged through a pile of damaged, bent, chipped and scratched swords she had bought to repair and resell. She pulled out a sword, it's blade was slightly chipped down the side, and the pommel was rusted. Her foot started pumping up and down on a contraption that spun a sharpening stone faster than her hands could drive it. The blade was nowhere near the quality of her other swords, but still if swung upon an enemy will make him bleed. 

 "Take this," She extended the blade out for the man to grab. He took the sword and gave it a few practice swings, "This will do," He said with a small smile. He reached into the small of his jacket and pulled out his coin purse, but the girl refused immediately. "I charge for [i]my[/i] work. This blade is not mine. I merely gave it a new breath of life." She smiled, "Go now, this will protect your family." The man thanked her for her charity, "Gaia bless you, sister."

 She went back to the flame and continued to forge her art, her warm tan skin dripped of sweat and dirt. "[b]Amber![/b]" A voice boomed from the back of the store, "You can't just give our wares away to every sad sob story that walks through the door!" It was Basco, her boss, mentor... and father figure. 

 '[i]Now I'm gunna get it...[/i]' Amber leaned away from the forge and sat down removing her hair from her bun, allowing it to fall down her back, "You know his position, Bas." 
 The old man rubbed his eyes and grunted, "Yes, we've all been there at one point or another, the crime here is unimaginable." He straightened his back, "But simply because [i]you[/i] believe him does not mean he is truthful." It is true we must all be cautious of those who would take advantage of a kind heart, but Amber was not so closed about it. She didn't seem to care, so long as she thought in her heart she helped him.

 After being lectured for about half an hour, Amber needed some fresh air. Or as fresh as an industrial metal city would allow. She saddled up her holster with two blades, one longsword and the other a short sword, both made by her hammer. She escaped to the streets, they were oddly barren for the time of day. A few people here and there but it was usually booming with noise. 

'[i]Weird... where is everyone?[/i]'