“Koharu, how’s your father?“ said Kyran, turning to her.

“He’s fine, but his skin is beginning to show more signs of resistance,” she replied.

“It’s almost time, perhaps,” said Kyran.

“I think so,” replied Koharu.

“Do you mean … Yoshida is going to die?” I asked.

“Yes, it may happen in the next several decades as the process of resistance is wearing his body down,” Kyran answered.

“What is this process of resistance of the body? It doesn’t sound good.”

“It’s nothing serious. It’s an internal reaction caused by the extremely balanced mental state that makes the body produce a type of hormone called the rejuvenating hormone. However, Yoshida’s body still has the original code which limits his lifespan, and now, he has almost reached his limit. The process of resistance will make his skin glow, smooth, and healthy.”

“That seems to be a good thing, doesn’t it?” I said.

“Yes, it is definitely a benefit as he will look much younger,” Kyran answered.

“Well, so how can this be bad? “

“It’s not really bad, we are observing the phenomenon that his soul would be completely ready, but his body wouldn’t. A body that has been coded for disintegration but has received the rejuvenating hormone is somehow like an old engine that receives a super fuel; it won’t be able to continue working. When it comes to this stage, the hormones accumulate in the harder parts of the body, such as in the bones, teeth, hair, and nails. Eventually, the body, which mostly composed of elements of earth and water, won’t be able to prevent the deterioration anymore and cease functioning. Sometimes, some people’s hair and nails continue to grow even after death. Their body won’t decompose but will become all skinny and bony. When the body is cremated, the solid elements like bones and teeth turn into pieces of clear crystals.”

“They’re called relics, right?” I asked immediately.

“Maybe, yes, but it’s not anything extraordinary, it’s a phenomenon that takes place because of the high-frequency energy that remains in the solid elements,” he replied.

“So, when you all die, will your bones become crystals too?” I asked.

“Yes, they would but it’s a gradual accumulation throughout our lifetime. The hormones we produce every day is normally used up within the day, but some of them remain. After some hundred thousands or millions of years, this has an effect. The crystals in our bodies however are more compact and stable than yours. When we are cremated, our skeletons remain intact and turn into clear crystals, and not into powder like yours do,” he explained.

“Everybody, dinner is ready!” Masada called from the kitchen.

Kyran’s wife had prepared dinner since afternoon, so we could eat early. She brought out some of the dishes from the kitchen.

“Let me help you,” said Koharu. “Wow! It looks delicious!” she said, seeing the dishes Masada was carrying.

“Please enjoy your dinner,” Kyran invited me when all the dishes were laid on the table.

Dinner was served as simple dishes, one for each of us. The first dish came with a small bowl of soup, and combined three different kinds of food. The first one looked similar to potatoes and taros, I guessed. They were cut into chunky cubes and appeared in three different colours, purple, red, and yellow. All of its sides were charred as if they had been grilled on a flat pan until they were cooked. I noticed that they were also seasoned with spices. Later I found out, that the spices had been grilled together with the cubes, and I have to admit that they tasted really good. It was savory and creamy with the rich aroma of butter and spices. After having taken a bite, it melted with the sweetness of the tubers, and the explosion of flavors culminated together perfectly.

The second dish was composed of several types of mushrooms, fried with butter and herbal powder, topped with thick white gravy. The third dish was a salad made with fresh vegetables and flowers, combined with many different kinds of nuts, and nicely mixed with different seasonings. The dish was followed by a bowl of thick soup, which was equally delicious as well.

“Are there many bladesmiths like you in the city?” I started the conversation.

“Not many, there’re only three of us, my brother, my grandfather and me. We all live in this area.”

“Lately, my brother and my grandfather shifted to make agricultural tools, like axes, hoes, saws, spades, and shovels.”

“Why is that?” I asked.

“Maybe their knives were not so much in demand, as many of them remained in the shop for a long time. But after turning to make other kinds of agricultural tools, more people were happy to take them. As for me, I only forge knives because people still request for them.”

“No one else forges knives?” I asked.

“I’m the only one in this city, but there are more in other cities. Sometimes people from the other cities come to take my knives, but the more I make, the quicker they run out of stock. The owner of the knife shop told me that they are often taken by folks from other cities.”

“This area is very rich in iron, hence, we can mine it everywhere.”

“I see, now I understand why you chose to stay here,” I said.

“Yes, but when I look for ore to make into iron, I search for sources beyond this mining area.”

“Why is that?” I asked.

“Although you can find iron ore everywhere here, not all of it is good enough to make my knives,” he replied.

“Then where do you get it from?”

“About three kilometers away, there’s a mine that I once discovered by chance. The iron ore taken from this mine is harder than any other in general,” he said. “The sharpness and the hardness of my handcrafted knives made with this iron from this mine can slice through a piece of steel.”

“Oh wow, really?” I exclaimed.

“This may be the reason why my knives are so popular,” he said.

“Pick one! Amongst all the knives in this room, there’s one meant for you,” Kyran told me, as he stretched his hand around the room.