It was never cold in the blacksmith's shop. 

    How could it be when a blazing orange and red inferno was being kept alive for a majority of the day in an old furnace? The furnace was an old piece of equipment that had started to rust a bit on the edges, but for the most part, it maintained its gleam from being cleaned every single day after the fire was put out. That furnace was as old as the shop itself. While the business didn't have much history with the town, it was the Park family's source of pride since they had kept it in great shape for three generations. Seeing much potential in Jongin, the Parks did not turn a blind eye when he had first volunteered his services there a few months after his father had passed, and he soon became an apprentice that the family loved just as much as their own son.

        Standing tall in the blacksmith's work station, Jongin paused with his work to wipe the sweat that glistened on his forehead. His biceps bulged while he beat and forged the piece of metal in front of him, as there was no shirt to restrict his muscles from doing so. The black tank top that he did wear stuck to his body and Jongin couldn't help but wish that he had something to cool himself off. The door was almost always kept wide open during the summer time in an attempt to let any wayward breeze find its way inside the shop. Of course, this allowed young women passing by to ogle at Jongin's fabulously toned body, although Jongin payed them no mind. 

      Taking a look at the sword-in-progress before him on the forging table, Jongin’s heart swelled with pride. Three years of hard work as a young apprentice were paying off. But he knew he had a long way to go before he could reach the level of craftsmanship of his teacher. One couldn't help but marvel at the beautifully crafted pieces that decorated the shop, pieces that were meticulously worked on, heart and soul placed into every design, every detail, every curvature. From small dining utensils to the large weaponry of every kind of sword and shield you could think of, this blacksmith had learned the secret of this art and was willing to share his aspiration with Jongin. Jongin could only hope that he could someday come somewhat close to creating something as beautiful as what hung around the shop.

    A glint of light came from his finger and brought his thoughts back to the ring on his finger and the lingering ill feelings of bad fortune that still lingered in his mind after this morning's incident. He was temptated to take off his ring, just to see his vision again so that he could get a better understanding of what it meant. 

   He wasn't  too familiar about the Gifted. He had so many questions about this whole thing, but had no one to give the answers. It wasn't like he could just go up to anyone in the town and ask them. The Gifted were people that were special; they possesed a certain ability that was connected more or less with the supernatural. But they were a feared people, and therefore became a hunted one as well. His father had told him once of the unnecessary fear of the Gifted that had grown a few years before Jongin's birth. The growing population of Gifted children being born worried certain individuals, especially those in positions of power. Out of fear of not being able to control the Gifted, of having their power taken away from them, of having an uprising of Gifted over those who did not possess any special abilities. As fear and bad rumors spread, a petition was made to send the Gifted away into the other neighboring kingdoms in order to ease the minds of the disgruntled citizens of Esponia. But the Gifted did not like the idea of being forced away from their homes, their livelihood. So they began to fight for what was theirs. Only they didn't have the king's army on their side and eventually their small uprising was put down. Many were killed and it became a new law that the Gifted were no longer welcome. They were killed off, masacred if you will, treated as outsiders, and labeled as monsters.

            Monsters.....

            "Dad, do you see me as a monster then?" Jongin's voice hitched as he asked his question. He quickly covered up his face from shame after having just experienced another vision in his sleep. 
           
            "A monster?" His father bent down on his knees in front of the small eight year old and gently grabbed his arms. The little boy kept his head down. "What makes you say that?"

             "Because I'm so different. And weird. My eyes always change color and yours don't! They feel funny. And I keep having weird dreams that always come true. I'm one of them, aren't I?" The Gifted.

              "Let me see your eyes, Jongin." His father's voice sounded so soothing. 

              Jongin shook his head roughly and pouted, gripping his face more. He couldn't let his father see his purplish-blue orbs. It was strange. 

             His father placed his own hands on Jongin's and the younger couldn't help but sniffle as he felt himself wanting to cry. But no. Not in front of his father.

            "They're ugly! You must hate how I'm the only one who is Gifted in the family. Why can't I be more normal like you, Pa?" A tear slipped from his eyes and Jongin quickly whipped it away before covering his eyes again.

               "Let me see them and I'll tell you what I think. Have I ever lied to you, Jongin?"

               Jongin shook his head. "No Pa."
 
               "Then let me see. Open your eyes."

               Jongin dropped his hands to his sides and opened his eyes for his father to see.

               "Hmmmm. Ah. I see. Interesting." His father moved his head from side to side pretending to analyze his son's face. Jongin looked puzzled.

                "Pa what is it?"

                "Jongin, did you know? The eyes are said to be the gateway to a person's soul. You. You have beautiful eyes, which means you are a beautiful person, inside and out." His father smiled and suddenly scooped Jongin off of his feet and started tickling him.

               "Ah! Pa! Pa stop, haha!" Jongin sputtered while twisting from laughter in his father's arms. 

               "The only monster you are is a cookie monster that eats all of your mother's desert before I get too!" 

            "You're really deep into your thoughts, aren't you?"

            Surprised at the unexpected voice in the room, Jongin jerked his head in the direction of the doorway only to spot one of the most beautiful people he had ever laid eyes on. The man stepped in the door clad in simple attire, but with such a sophisticated manner it almost seemed as if he were a visitor from another world  trying a bit too hard to fit in. 

           Beautiful? What? Did I really think that? 

          Hand in one pocket and one dangling in front of him, the man walked into the shop and his eyes scanned everything that was in front of him. There was no doubt that he would find everything to be well-crafted. He noticed the quick nod of approval coming from the individual before he picked up his hand and waved it at Jongin. 

          Jongin was staring at him. He shouldn't be staring. 

          "Uh...welcome! Is there anything that I can help you with?" Jongin placed his tools down and walked around the forging table towards the stranger. Remembering suddenly how gross and grimy he felt with all the sweat accumulated on his body over the day, he thought the better of it and stayed a distance away. 

         The young man stepped further into the shop and placed his hand on one of the pieces on the wall, carefully tracing the delicate designs on the piece. Jongin knew he should probably remind his customer to be careful, but the man's wariness caught Jongin's attention. Did he perhaps have a certain appretiation for artistry? 

        "I was interested in buying a sword of some sort." The man finally spoke after some time. "It's a gift. For my brother."

        The man then turned his attention to Jongin. "You don't...recognize my face by any chance, do you?" His voice carried confusion, but rose in a light sort of way as if it were a good thing that he wasn't recongized. 

       Jongin shook his head. "Should I?" 

       The man let a small, relaxed chuckle. His smile made him seem brighter and a bit of the stiffness of his character seemed to fade away a bit. He rolled his shoulders back. "Not at all. That was the answer I was hoping to hear."

      Puzzled, Jongin wasn't exactly sure how to respond, so he decided to just let the thought slip from his mind. Grabbing a towel nearby, he wiped the sweat from his forehead and hands. "Is there any design in particular that you are looking for? Any particular details or-."

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