Chapter 16 – Hidden Edge
The workshop was quiet except for the rhythmic sound of Steven's tools working in harmony. His eyes were fixed on the small design schematic laid out before him. He'd worked on this idea for a while now a weapon of convenience, a defense mechanism that was personal, discreet, and designed for close encounters only.
A hidden blade.
It wasn't anything like the flashy blasters or gauntlets he'd made so far. This was about finesse. Precision. And most importantly control.
The blueprint had started simple: a retractable blade, hidden within a compact wrist sheath. A flick of a switch, and it would slide out with a satisfying click. Perfect for tight situations, especially when he didn't want to draw attention.
But now, it was becoming more than just a weapon. It was a way to keep himself prepared something he'd never had back on Earth, where he had no powers, no innate skill in combat. The academy had trained its students to use Hextech for everything, but for Steven, that wasn't enough. Hextech was a tool, not a martial art.
And if push ever came to shove, he needed something more personal.
...
...
"Thinking of getting into the assassin business now?" Sera's voice broke through his concentration.
Steven barely flinched. "Not exactly."
She leaned over his shoulder, peering at the design. "A hidden blade, huh? I thought you were more about non-lethal stuff."
"I am," he replied, fingers brushing over the sleek metallic design he was refining. "But sometimes, you don't have a choice. This isn't for killing anyone. Just… defending myself in a world where things could get really ugly."
Sera raised an eyebrow but didn't argue. Instead, she pulled up a chair beside him and started fiddling with the small gear assembly on the side of the mechanism. "You know, if you want, I could help with the casing. Get it a little more… sleek."
Steven grinned at her. "That's what I like about you — you never back away from a challenge."
She chuckled. "I just like making things look cool."
The next few hours passed in a quiet, focused haze. Steven continued working on the delicate internal springs, fine-tuning the trigger mechanism. Every adjustment was critical, and he needed precision. He had to make sure the blade was sharp enough to serve as a true defense tool but would retract seamlessly into its casing without any risk of malfunction.
Finally, after an entire afternoon of fine-tuning, it was ready. Steven flicked the small switch on the wrist sheath and watched with satisfaction as the blade shot out with a quiet, precise movement a gleaming silver edge, just long enough for close-quarters combat, retracting with a soft hiss when deactivated.
"Test run?" he asked, glancing over at Sera.
She narrowed her eyes, clearly wary. "I'm not letting you test this on me."
He laughed, pushing the blade away from her face. "I didn't mean it like that."
Instead, he slid the sheath onto his wrist and tested it himself, pulling the blade out in smooth, fluid motions. The weight was perfect. Not too heavy, but enough to give a solid, balanced feel when it was in action.
"It's perfect," Steven said, smiling to himself. "This could really work."
Sera eyed him carefully, arms crossed. "You sure you want to keep something like that?"
He hesitated before speaking, realizing how much his approach to weapons had changed since arriving in this world. "I don't like the idea of needing it, but I don't have a choice. I can't wait for the world to just let me live peacefully."
"Yeah," she said quietly, "I get that."
She seemed to soften, like she understood the weight of his decision. Steven knew that in their world, violence wasn't always a choice. But it was still a line he'd never intended to cross, and yet, here he was, building tools of defense.
There was no turning back. Not yet.
For now, the hidden blade was a necessary precaution and that was all. A way to make sure that when the storm came, he was ready to weather it. And maybe, just maybe, find a way to survive it.
Steven gave the blade one last look before nodding to himself, thoughts swirling with the possibility of what he was now prepared for. He'd created a tool for himself, a discreet weapon, but in his mind, a quiet thought emerged just in case the world ever expects something more from me.
Sera, noticing his thoughtful expression, asked, "What's going on in that head of yours?"
He smiled slightly, giving a shrug. "Nothing, just thinking about how I might look if I started running across rooftops, hidden blade in hand."
She blinked, then laughed. "That's… an interesting image. But I don't think we have any rooftops that high."
"Well," Steven mused, "in a way, this whole thing's like being prepared for a fight. No capes or jumping off buildings just me and what I've got."
Sera raised an eyebrow, still amused. "Next time you talk about rooftops, remind me to stay out of your way."