*In the countryside of Brister it was snowing lightly outside as the roads and fields were covered in snow. In a building, a bunch of blacksmiths were working on equipment. They were mixture of males and females as well as humans, elves, demihumans, and merfolk. One of the blacksmiths was a female with brown hair tied into a ponytail and yellow eyes with glasses. She wore a long sleeve brown sweater, black jeans, and brown boots. She had a tablet in her hand and was inspecting the swords the other blacksmiths were making*
(Female Blacksmith): Good job on the swords so far everyone. We’re only working half a day so our goal is to make one thousand to fill the order. Let’s keep the pace up and go home early.
(All Blacksmiths): Yes Mrs. Hephaestus!
*The female blacksmith got an agitated look in her face*
(Female Blacksmith): And stop calling me that! Mrs. Hephaestus is my mom! Call me Pearl!
(All Blacksmiths): Yes Pearl!
*Pearl smiled triumphantly*
(Pearl): Better.
*Pearl went back to inspect the swords where she came across disfigured swords that didn’t look like what they were supposed to do*
(Pearl): What the? Dia! Jem!
*All of a sudden two females came running over to her. Both females had brown hair and yellow eyes. The one named Dia had hair with bangs that covered her right eye and was short. The one named Jem had short brown hair with a braided ponytail. Dia had a ladylike figure where Jem looked more like a tomboy. Both females were wearing brown jumpsuits and green gloves with brown boots*
(Dia): What’s up sis?
(Pearl): What’s with this shotty work? It looks nothing like what was commissioned.
(Jem): We know! We’re fixing it as we speak.
(Dia): The metal ore used on these swords weren’t hammer correctly.
(Pearl): Well fix it faster.
(Jem): Hey! Metal manipulation takes time.
(Pearl): We need to pick up the pace or we’ll be working overtime.
(Dia): Then put that tablet down and help us.
(Pearl): *Sigh* Fine.
*Pearl puts the tablet down on a nearby table, rows up her sleeves, puts on a black apron, and some black gloves*
(Pearl): Let’s do this. Someone pass me a hammer.
*Pearl receives a hammer from a familiar looking man*
(Pearl): Thanks, Jin.
*Pearl gets ready to hammer a sword before she went wide eyed and turned back around along with Dia and Jem to see Jin standing there in an orange winter jacket with a matching snow cap and blue jeans*
(Pearl, Dia, and Jem): Jin!
(Jin): Hi guys!
*Jin smiled sheepishly as the girls stop what they’re doing and go to hug their brother*
(Dia): You made it!
(Pearl): Why didn’t you call? I would have had Nichol go and pick you up.
(Jin): I wanted to surprise everyone. Plus I wanted to check out the shop first and make sure it was still standing. What’s going on here?
(Jem): Swords for the Blue Dragon Order. Need to be done and shipped out before the year ends.
(Jin): Looks like you guys could use some help.
*Jin takes off his coat and hangs it on a chair. His sisters could see him wearing a navy blue slim fit long sleeve shirt. They could see the definition in his arm muscles and upper body. He looked different from the boy who set out for the capital to become a knight*
(Jin): Alright, what are we doing?
(Pearl): What?
(Jin): The sword. What’s the design?
(Pearl): Oh right.
*Pearl grabs the tablet and shows Jin the design*
(Jin): Hmm, standard issued sword model 44. Okay, got it.
*Jin reaches into his pocket and pulls out a summoner stone. Concentrating his magic into the stone, it starts to glow and takes the form of his blacksmith spirit*
(Blacksmith spirit): Soyo!
(Jin): Hey buddy. See this design?
*Jin points to the tablet and the spirit turns its attention to it*
(Blacksmith spirit): Soyo!
*The spirit nods*
(Jin): That’s what we’re making. Start making them while I help my sisters fix these swords up and I’ll join you.
(Blacksmith spirit): Soyo!
*The spirit smiles and salutes before going over to a empty workbench and started making the sword. Some of the other blacksmiths were shocked to see a spirit working at a bench but continued on with their work. Pearl, Dia, and Jem were just as shocked*
(Jin): Oh yeah, I became a spirit summoner while at the capital. No cause for alarm. He’s very good.
*Jin got to work using his metal manipulation ability to fix the swords that were disfigured. Pearl, Dia, and Jem soon joined him and began fixing the swords. As they began fixing the swords they noticed the speed at which Jin was fixing them. His metal manipulation abilities were faster and his attention to detail had increased. At first, Pearl was afraid Jin was going too fast and making mistakes, but was shocked to see that not only was the design accurate, but the sharpness and texture of the sword actually looked better than the previous swords she inspected and the ones currently being manipulated by her and her sisters. Dia also noticed Jin’s metal manipulation and was impressed by his concentration. Jem was shocked at his speed. Ever since they were little she had always been faster than him when it came to metal manipulation. Despite being twins she was the oldest and the fastest of the two, but now she couldn’t keep up with him. Just what did he do in the capital to get this fast*
***
*After three hours, the swords were finally completed and all the disfigured swords were fixed. Actually, the disfigured swords were fixed after an hour and a half of metal manipulation. While Pearl, Dia, and Jem needed a minute to recharge, Jin was still ready to go and hopped on a work bench to start making swords. Once Jin hopped on a bench the other blacksmiths in the room noticed him and smiled welcoming him back. Some of them had known Jin ever since he was a kid and others actually worked beside him in the factory. So they were all happy to see him. Just like his sisters they were amazed at his speed and attention to detail. Even the spirit was matching his pace. With Jin’s help the work got done faster and everyone was able to call it a day and leave work early. Some stuck around hoping to talk to Jin but his sisters dragged him away saying they had to get home and see the rest of the family. The four siblings made it out of the factory where the spirit was hanging from Jin’s shoulder*
(Jem): *Stretching* That was rough.
(Dia): I’ll say.
(Jin): Good job in there guys. You too little buddy.
(Blacksmith spirit): Soyo.
(Pearl): I still can’t believe you learned to summon a spirit. Why on earth do you have one in the first place?
(Jin): I needed an assistant to help me with some commission work.
(Pearl): Commission work!?
(Jin): Relax, I got permission from the order to do them. Most of them are requests from knights and citizens.
(Dia): Well that would explain your speed and precision in there. Your metal manipulation skills have improved greatly.
(Jem): Yeah, you made more swords than either of us.
(Jin): What can I say. I was in the zone. I’m surprised Sapphire wasn’t in there.
(Pearl): You know dad’s rule. No working the line, until you’re 15. She’s still got four months to go.
(Jin): Yeah. I thought for sure he would have bent the rules for her. You know how good she is at sweet talking him. So Dia, how are things going between you and Aaron?
(Dia): We broke up.
(Jin): What? Why?
(Jem): *Chuckles* Oh you’re going to love this.
(Dia): Apparently, he couldn’t handle a girl better with tools and machinery than him.
(Jin): Sorry to hear about that. You okay?
(Dia): Yeah. It happened a few months ago. I left him something to remember me by. A black eye.
*The siblings laugh as they continue to walk down the street before arriving at the family manor*
(Jem): Feeling nervous being back home?
(Jin): A little. But at the same time excited.
*The siblings enter the manor and hang up their jackets*
(Pearl): We’re home!
*The siblings walked down the white walled hallway and made it to living room where the carpet was beige and the four-sectioned couch was red. A decorated tree was hung in the corner had green lights with a green and brown decorations and ornaments. Sitting in on the coach was a woman with long light blue hair and silver eyes. She was holding a baby who was a boy. There were also three other girls who each had brown hair and yellow eyes. They were younger than the girl with light blue hair. The tallest one had a long straight asymmetrical hair, the other had twin pigtails, and the last one had pixie cut hair. While the one with light blue hair was wearing a white sweater and blue jeans, the three girls were each wearing winter wear. The girl with asymmetrical hair wore dark red pants and a black long sleeved shirt. While the other two wore matching pink sweaters and black pants. The woman holding the baby got up and went over to Pearl where the two kissed*
(Pearl): Hi Nichol.
(Nichol): Hi darling. Say hi to mommy, Christian.
*Pearl grabs the baby who giggles*
(Pearl): Have you’ve been a good boy while I’ve been out?
(Nichol): You guys got done with your work a lot sooner than I thought.
(Jem): We got some help. All the way from the capital.
*Jin walks in with the spirit still hanging on his shoulder*
(Nichol): Jin? Jin!
*Nichol hugs her brother-in-law as the other three girls got up with excitement to see their big brother*
(Jin): It’s good to see you too Nichol. You look great.
(Nichol): So do you. Look at you! You’re a knight.
(Jin): *Chuckles* Hey there squirts.
*Nichol gets out of the way and allows the three girls to hug their brother*
(Jin): Sapphire! Ruby! Lapis! It’s so good to see you again!
(Ruby): We miss you! What took you so long!
(Lapis): Yeah! Sapphire’s been moody all day waiting for you
(Jin): Really?
(Sapphire): No!
(Jem): *Chuckles* Don’t lie. She was just as sad as the rest of us when you couldn’t make it home for Faven Day.
*As everyone was conversing, two older adults entered the room. One was a man the other a woman. The man had short brown hair and yellow eyes with a brown goatee. The woman had brown hair up in a bun and blue eyes. The man had on a purple sweater and brown pants with brown shoes while the woman had on a red and green long sleeve shirt, blue jeans, and black boots*
(Jin): Mom! Dad!
*Jin walked over and hug his parents. Jin’s mom had tears in her eyes as she embraced her baby boy*
(Jin): I’m home!
(Jin’s mom): My baby boy is home. I thought you weren’t going to be here until nighttime.
(Jin): I managed to get an earlier train. I couldn’t wait to see you guys. I’m so sorry I missed Faven Day.
(Seth): It’s not your fault! I’m just glad you got here safely.
(Jin): Me too.
*Seth let’s go of his son while his wife increases her hold on him*
(Seth): Sable, let the boy go.
(Blacksmith spirit): Soyo!
*Seth and Sable took notice of the spirit hanging from Jin’s shoulder*
(Sable): Oh my. Who do we have here?
*Sable picks up the spirit*
(Blacksmith spirit): Weeeee~.
(Sable): *Chuckles* Well aren’t you just a little cutie. When did you learn to summon spirits?
(Jin): One of my mentors at the order asked me if I wanted to become one and I said yes. He’s not the only one I have.
*Jin reaches into his pocket and pull out two more summoning stones. After focusing his magic into the stones, they transform into his ninja and brawler spirit. Everyone gathered around to see the spirits who were surprised by all the new faces they were seeing*
(Jem): Woah, you got more spirits!?
(Dia): Such cuties.
*Dia bends down to pet the spirits followed by Ruby, Sapphire, and Lapis. The spirits coo’ed and smiled at the attention they were receiving*
(Seth): Not bad. But what would a Black Tortoise knight need with a bunch of spirits. Aren’t you guys mostly focused on office work.
(Jin): Dad, I’ve told you before, the Black Tortoise order does more than just office work. We offer support to other orders and help out citizens throughout the capital. Sometimes my work involves throwing fists with lowlifes.
(Seth): If you say so.
*Jin could tell his dad wasn’t fully satisfied with that answer. Jin knew that while Seth loved him and was proud to see him become a knight, he wasn’t too please that he was with the Black Tortoise order. To him the Black Tortoise Order was bottom of the barrel. Knights who couldn’t cut it in the field and were just pencil pushers*
(Sable): Now Seth, he does good work around the kingdom. Now enough of this knight talk. We’re all together so let’s enjoy it. Who’s ready to go out to Jerry’s.
*Everybody cheered with excitement and got ready to head out the door. Jin called away his spirits which made Ruby and Lapis sad because they thought they were dead but Jin explained to them that spirits don’t die and that when they returned home they’ll see them again*
***
*Once the family made it to Jerry’s they sat at a booth and ordered food. The place was popular for their shakes and burgers so everyone ordered a burger of their liking. As they waited, everyone caught with each other, but they were more interested in hearing stories for Jin about his time in the capital, the missions he went on, and who he met*
(Dia): So Jin, any cute boys there?
(Jem): Forget the boys, I’m interested in any girls he’s got his eyes on.
(Ruby and Lapis): Ohhh~.
(Sable): Yes, I definitely be interested in hearing about this.
(Jin): There’s nothing to really to discuss there.
*Jin turned sideways to avoid making eye contact*
(Pearl): There is someone, isn’t there? Come on! Out with it!
(Sapphire): Yeah, who is it?
(Jin): There is no girl!
(???): I’m saying this table is mine!
*Everyone’s attention turned to a table that was close to the kitchen door. Two man were standing and arguing. One was a dark elf with blue eyes and short green hair wearing a black jumpsuit and the other was a human with a black short beard, a buzz cut and purple eyes. He was wearing a white suit with blue stripes*
(Man in suit): No it’s mine, I paid for this table.
(Elf in jumpsuit): Then you’ll need to find somewhere else to sit. I always sit here when I come. So that I can smell those delicious burgers.
(Man in suit): Well maybe you should try a table outside. Because the only thing that smells is you and it’s not delectable.
*Angered by the comment, the elf tips over the man’s plate getting the attention of other customers and making them feel uncomfortable. The man in the suit gets up to confront the man. Seth could quickly see things escalating and about to get messy. He was about to go and confront the two men to handle the situation. He had been known to break up a scuffle here and there so none of this was new to him. Before he could get though, Jin was already up and walking toward the two men much to Seth and everyone else’s shock. In the past, Jin would just simply ignore them and let his dad handle the situation. But now, he was taking the initiative*
(Jin): Now, now gentlemen.
*Jin got the attention of the two men*
(Jin): You know the rules of Jerry’s. We don’t waste food here and there’s absolutely no fighting.
(Elf in jumpsuit): Don’t worry. This won’t be a fight. I’m just going to beat this man within an inch of his life.
(Man in suit): I’d like to see you try.
(Jin): And I’d like to treat the both of you to a nice Jerry special double chicken burger with a drink of your choice. What do you say?
(Elf in jumpsuit): I’d like that. After he apologizes for his rude behavior.
(Man in suit): What was that long ear?
*The man in suit pulls out a gun and points it at the elf who pulls out a knife. Once the gun was out Seth knew he had to intervene to save his son. However, to his shock, Jin was calm and handling the situation. Jin quickly kicked the man’s wrist, forcing him to drop the gun. The elf tried to stab the man but was stopped by Jin who grabbed his wrist and used his free hand to punch the elf in the stomach followed by an uppercut to the jaw which knocked the elf out. Jin saw the man in suit attempt to pick up the gun only to stop him and deliver another kick to his face to knock him. Jin then picked up the gun and pulled out the clip before setting it on the table*
(Jin): No cause for alarm folks. Just a little bit of rough housing. Please enjoy your meals and happy holidays.
*Everyone applauded Jin as the manager and a few local knights came over to speak with him. The knights quickly cuffed the unconscious bodies and dragged them to the back while Jin pulled out his knight license to show them he was a knight as well. He calmly explained the situation and then returned to his family who sat there shocked at what they just witnessed*
(Sapphire): Jin are you okay?
(Sable): What were you thinking? That was so dangerous.
(Jin): Not really. Nothing I couldn’t handle. Sorry if I worried you.
*Jin sat back down*
***
*Nighttime had arrived. After enjoying a good meal, they all returned to the manor where Jin got to open his presents from Faven Day and gave his family presents as well. He did re-summon the spirts to play with his younger siblings. As it was getting late everyone went to their rooms to sleep. However, the Hephaestus sisters were not asleep. Along with Nichol, they had all gathered in Dia’s room*
(Pearl): Alright. I call to order the Sister Council. Tonight’s main topic: Jin. What’s going on with him?
(Jem): Yeah, something’s off. His metal manipulation has improved. He’s faster, stronger, can summon spirits and he’s-
(Sapphire): Cooler.
*Everyone stares at Sapphire who blushes*
(Dia): Exactly! He was nothing like that when he left for the capital.
(Ruby): We sure this is Jin not some alien that replaced him?
(Nichol): Girls, I know it’s been a while since we saw him but maybe his time in the capital has changed him. After all, he is a knight.
(Pearl): True. But he’s also a member of the Black Tortoise Order. Even when he was in the academy, he never displayed skills and moves like the ones we saw today. Something is definitely wrong here.
(Lapis): You think Jin is lying about being in the Black Tortoise Order and instead in a different order?
(Pearl): No. He’s definitely in the Black Tortoise Order. Based on the calls, letters, and pictures he sent mom there’s no doubt he’s a part of that order. Even if he wasn’t, he would have told dad about it immediately. He’s hiding something, but I can’t say what it is.
(Jem): I say we keep an eye on him. He’s bound to slip up sooner or later while he’s here and then we’ll confront him about it.
(Pearl): Agreed. Everyone keep an eye on Jin and report anything out of the ordinary with him.
*They adjourned the meeting and went back to their rooms to sleep. In the following days each girl took turns spying on their brother where they didn’t see him do anything weird or suspicious. He played with them, helped out around the house and the factory, did some daily training, and did some forging. The days with by and when it was time for Jin to return to the capital, they all drove him to the station and saw him off he left promising to come and visit him in the year months to come. Despite not seeing anything strange, the sisters knew their brother was hiding something and were determined to find out what it was. The answers they were looking for had to be in the capital*
*Author’s Note: Surprise! An extra chapter from the volume. Hope everyone had a good Christmas. I actually wrote this chapter last month. For awhile I’ve been wanting to introduce Jin’s family to the story. Originally, I wasn’t going to introduce them until volume 6. But given the setup of that volume, it would have felt like a rushed introduction. So I came up with this short side chapter to introduce the family and show their reaction to Jin’s growth. We’ve got the wholesome mom who wants to baby her only son. The loving but tough dad who is happy that Jin became a knight but is secretly disappointed in the order he’s in. Giving the parents personalities was easy, but the tricky part came with the siblings. Six girls, six sisters, six different personalities and characteristics for each. I used a few mangas and the Loud House show as references to create the sisters. I don’t have any sisters (only an older brother who unfortunately passed away last year), so I always imagined that if I did have them, they would be rather protective of me and hold their own secret meetings to discuss things happening in their lives. I’m looking forward to using the family again down the line. Especially when they arrive in the capital and meet the rest of Shadow Eye. Or maybe I’ll have Shadow Eye pay the family a visit. That sounds like a fun idea. Alright, so this is the official last chapter of volume 4. Thanks for reading and look forward to volume 5. Happy New Year.