Ananiel

I arrive at the inn lobby with chatter in the air. Plenty of people conversed around the lobby as I made my way towards the front counter.

“...Have you heard? Gina Cornelius, the district mage is not returning for the festival.”

“...Really? How come?”

“...From what I have heard, there’s been an accident and she has fallen ill.”

“...Man, I was looking forward to her magical performance…”

I felt a tapping over my shoulder and turned around to Yuka, smiling awkwardly.

“Are you alright? Did you get your wound healed?”

I nod my head,

“So when are we going to do the wolf hunt?”

A look of surprise filled Yuka’s face for a moment as a more natural smile filled her face.

“We can go right now! Or tomorrow. Either or, we are acquiring funds for the festival”

Letting out a light chuckle, I ask

“When is the festival?”

“It’s in 4 days. But we should go sooner rather than later. A lot of farmers are complaining recently…”

I see her anxiousness and answer,

“Sure, we can go in a bit. I want to visit the blacksmith first. See what wares are available.”

Yuka’s eyes lightened up as she headed over to her party and pulled on the red-haired one’s shirt.

“Khalid! Help our new member out.”

In a slightly irritated voice, Khalid asks

“What for?”

“Sir mage wants to see the blacksmith. You have a good eye for weapons so, please and thank you!”

Khalid sighs and walks towards me.

“Hello again newbie, you want me to help get you a weapon?”

“Well… I already have a weapon, but I would like to check what the blacksmith has.”

I tap the sword sheath and Khalid lets out another sigh.

“Alright, I will go with you. But make it quick! We will start the wolf hunt after you're done.”

Nodding, I stand up and follow Khalid out of the inn.

The road smelt of rainwater as frigid air flowed out of the alleyways. The sun did not peak its light past the clouds, but the sky illuminated the city below. Instinctually, I tucked my hands under my cloak as the cold wind became unbearable. Khalid, on the other hand, continued pacing without budging from the wind.

“Are you not cold?”

I ask in a worrisome tone.

“Nah, been through worse. Try training in the winter at midnight. You will wish you were in warm air like this.”

He lets out a chuckle and slows down his walking.

“Are you uncomfortable?”

“Why?”

“You walk with a limp.”

My face blushes as I turn my eyes in embarrassment.

“It’s at least smart to carry a weapon, right?”

“But if you can’t properly wield that weapon… then what's the point?”

Khalid looks at his palm and then grabs on my forearm

“Extend you palm out”

I un-ball my hand, revealing a palish white palm. Clammy and cold from the surrounding air.

“Anyone can tell by your palms that you have never wielded a sword before…”

My brows furrowed as I swallowed the criticism down my throat.

“But, let's see what you can do.”

Khalid glances up at my face covered in confusion and curiosity and walks ahead.

“What do you mean?”

I asked but got no response and the rest of the walk was rather silent.

Cling* Clang*, the chirping of metal sang its repetitive song as we approached a hut which connected to a smithery out back.

“We are here.”

I hear Khalid say as he pushes the front door open. The store was rather dark, with sunlight leaking through the dust-covered windows. Khalid pulled back the curtains and our eyes glanced up to the opened backdoor.

“Follow me”

I watch Khalid enter the backdoor and proceed to follow through. Gray clouds plumed from a quenched sword as the blacksmith turned towards us.

“Ah, visitors…”

I hear him grumble as his eyes glances away from the sword and towards Khalid.

“Oh! Hello, it’s been a while Khalid!”

Khalid lowers his head and smirks,

“Yes, it has…”

The blacksmith lowers the quenched sword on a metal table,

“Come on now! Don’t be so down towards your uncle!”

“...”

“So you brought a friend! Hello there, my name is Dominic. What is your name?”

I also lower my head, pondering on some excuse of a name to go by,

“Call me… Clover. Ya, that sounds like a good name.”

Khalid scratches his head as Dominic walks up towards us

“So, what do you want from me, Clover?”

I see Khalid glance towards me slightly irritated, and answers in my stead

“He wants a weapon picked out for him. Something light, and beginner friendly.”

Dominic analyzes my physique for a moment and approaches me.

“Open your palm out.”

I listen as he rubs his thumb over my palm.

“hmmm… Not much of a warrior…”

He glances at my eyes,

“So, what weapon are you expecting?”

Tilting my head, I think for a moment and answer

“Something light, with good reach”

Dominic's eyes glanced at my hip.

“Can I see that sword?”

“Sure.”

He unsheathes the sword from the scabbard and reveals the tarnished sword.

“Where did you get this?”

I see his eyes glaring at me as he analyzes the hilt’s emblem.

“..I got it from a corpse.”

He furrows his brows and puts the sword on the table as I explain further,

“I was with a caravan that was set to head to Cornelius. Unfortunately, an accident happened and everyone except me parished.”

he lets out a sigh,

“This sword is gifted to mercenaries in Idosa, the city off to the south-west of us… I can let you trade it for something, if you want.”

Nodding, I watch Dominic place the sword back in the scabbard and he glances at Khalid

“Show him around and let him try out the weapons. I will be busy finishing up this sword.”

He glances towards me and smiles

“If you need anything, let me know.”

I walk up towards Dominic awkwardly and take out the Watcher’s emblem. Letting out a surprised face, he chuckles and glares at me.

“I see… So you are the one that lantern is talking about. I will let you know about the task after you choose a weapon.”

Khalid taps on my shoulder and gestures to me to follow him.

“Come, I think I know what weapon will fit you.”

Entering into the hut, I watch Khalid light up a few lamps, revealing a mess of weapons and armors.

“It was this box…”

Khalid lifts a long wooden box and places it in front of me.

“Here, try this weapon out.”

He opens the case and reveals a spear. The weight of the spear seemed well balanced, with a nice pummel counter-weight, a polished wooden shaft, and a reliable looking spearhead. It felt nice in the hand. Sizing it up, I found that the spear shaft went below my shoulders.

“So, How is the spear?”

“It seems really nice. Can I try this out?”

“Sure, give me a sec to match the length.”

Khalid sizes up the spear with a pole and hands me the pole.

“Alright, I think your ready to start practicing”

We both leave out the side door and head towards a lonesome training dummy.

“To start, hold the pole like this and face the dummy”

Khalid stands with his left side forward, standing in a linear stance with his backfoot horizontal. His stance was similar to a right-angle triangle and his knees were bent low

“Make sure you keep your knees bent, as this allows quicker movements and stability”

His eyes glare into the dummy, taking up his full attention. With a soft exhale and swift inhale, Khalid thrusts the pole forward, leaving a dent into the dummy.

“Remember, you can lean into the thrust. Providing more impact in the movement”

Khalid breaks out of his concentration and gives me a smile.

“Alright, your turn now!”

Handing me the pole, I walk up to the dummy and try to match the posture that Khalid had. Feeling comfortable, I bent my knees and focused my concentration on the dummy. Inhaling and exhaling, then swiftly inhaling again, I push my arms forward and strike the dummy. Thud* I released my focus and looked at my impact.

“Hardly a dent…”

I think as Khalid rubs his hand over the impact mark.

“Hmm, Not bad… made a good scratch on it. Also, don’t compare your strike to mine, I have been training for most of my life.”

I nod, but the feeling of disappointment still lingering in my heart. Khalid grabs onto the pole and pulls it out of my hands.

“Alright, now for the next lesson”

He stands in the same position and starts concentrating on the dummy once more. Pulling the spear back with his left arm, he goes for a slight swipe and follows up with a thrust.

“This is a classic technique. You swipe the spear and go for a quick thrust. This is good for knocking away the sword and quickly ending the fight.”

Showcasing it a few more times, Khalid steps back and hands me the pole.

“Alright, you basically got the basics. There still are wide swings and stance swapping, you will figure that out with enough time and practice. Have fun!”

He pushes me forward and lets out a satisfied hmph.

Soon, I find myself getting comfortable with these movements and start changing my hand positions.

“If my hands are too high up, then the shaft will stop at my ribs or back, but it leads to very swift strikes with the forward hand. If my hands are too far back, I can swing very well, but it can become an issue if the spearhead is too heavy…”

Slowly but surely, I find myself following an attack pattern,

“Swipe, thrust, swipe, and thrust once more”

Feeling satisfied with my discoveries, I fall back onto the ground and look up at the grey sky.

“Hmm, maybe I’m missing something?”

I feel my heart pulsing against my chest and I shrug,

“Guess it’s a good time for a break”

After catching my breath, I hear Khalid walking out the door with some glass bottles of water.He smirks after glancing towards the training dummy.

“You made a real good dent on the dummy. Here, have some water.”

Taking the bottle and drinking, Khalid takes the pole and gestures me to get going.

“Hurry up now, we still have that wolf hunt to do.”

“Sure, be with ya in a sec”

I wipe the sweat off my forehead and start walking towards the blacksmith hut. Khalid goes over to the spear as I direct my eyes towards the counter. Dominic sat comfortably with a cup of tea and waved towards me.

“Hey, Clover was it?”

He hands me a folded piece of paper.

“This is your task from me. Go check out a few things while you are out there.”

He gets up and taps on the paper in my hand,

“All the info is on there, and I heard from Lantern that he will help you on this. I vouch he’s reliable enough.”

“So what of the party then?”

I ask, glancing towards Khalid and back to Dominic.

“Hmmm… Scout the area out first then decide if they should be included.”

I nod as I hear Khalid approaching,

“Didn’t know you were already close to my uncle.”

Khalid chuckles as Dominic lets out a laugh,

“Ha, nah. I just saw some potential in the young lad.”

He pats my back and says

“Go on now, hate to delay your adventures.”

As pushes us both out the hut and closes the door.