HEDRIC STAN.
I stood behind the counter, as I looked at leona's brat, who kept staring the wooden box in my right hand. Scratching my beard I placed the wooden box infront of her. "Well open it brat, that's yours." She stared back at me with clear disbelief in her eyes, I laughed at her expression, as I pushed the box towards her.
She opned the box with such gentleness like it was a baby, as she opened the lid. There was a long sword, sheathed inside a black scabbard. There weren't any designs or decorations, it was simple and clean. "It's one my best blades, if i say so myself. Well what are you waiting for take the sword out."
She kept staring at the sheathed blade in disbelief, after sometime and the encouragement from her uncle, she took the sword out of the box and removed it from it's scabbard.
ASTRID SHADOWBANE.
I unsheathed the blade from its scabbard, as the silvery blade caught the orange light from the smith shop. Turning the sword, two crimson eyes stared back at me, cold and distant. Then I realised it was my own reflection, it was a thin long sword, that fit in my hand perfectly, like it was tailor made just for me, I raised the sword into the air above my head and brought it down in a clean practiced arc, as it cut through the air and a sword that was displayed right next to the counter.
I put the sword back into its scabbard quickly and placed it on the counter table. "I'm sorry, but I don't have the money, to buy a sword like this." I heard Hedric clicking his tongue."
"Tch you didn't tell the brat did you william? What a pain in the ass." Hedric replied with a slight irritated tone.
"My bad oldman, I was planning on her telling her when she comes here." uncle william replied as he scratched his neck with embarrassment.
I was confused at what was happening here, this amazing sword is for me? and why are these two talking to themselves, and what was my uncle have to do with any of this? so many questions ran through my mind, as i considered which one to ask but before i could ask them, oldman Hedric started speaking again.
"You don't have to worry about paying me anything kid, your uncle already paid and. He even bought all the materials needed to make this sword." Hedric said, with his rough voice as he pointed a finger at my uncle.
I locked eyes with my uncle as he studied the sword. "Uncle I—" He cut me off mid sentence as he started speaking.
"Take this with you Ast, that way me and your— aunty would feel safe no matter where you end up." He said as he placed the sword in my hands.
Holding the sword tight in my hand I said. "Thank you, I will take good care of this sword and— myself Dad." I gave him a contempt smile and a— tight hug." I wanted that moment last a bit longer, but thanks to Hedric.
"Tch so dramatic. You still haven't unlocked the full sharpness yet." He said, but there is no malicious intent behind his words, the man is just impatient.
Pulling away from my unc— no, my...Dad.. yeah that sounds good. I looked albert, his gaze locked onto the sword in my hand. "What do you mean full sharpness, wasn't it sharp enough already? I mean it just cut through that sword over there in half." I said, as I pointed towards the sword I sliced in two few minutes ago when testing the swords weight.
Hedric, finally looked at me. "pull the sword put of it's scabbard and pour 3 drops of your blood on the blade and you will know what i meant by TRUE sharpness." He said that with such confidence, that I will definitely be impressed.
I took the sword out of it's scabbard, and ran my thumb finger along the silver blade's sharp edge. With out much effort the blood from my finger trickled on to the blade and it was— "It's absorbing my blood."
I said with clear disbelief, and the next second the blood on the sword disappeared and the silvery blade turned into a crimson as it shined against the orange light in the black smith shop, I looked at albert amd at the sword my jaw slack.
Albert who stood behind his counter laughed and said while picking up some swords inside the table. "Yep, that's the expression I wanted to see, man it never gets old, I tell ya. Anyway check the sword's sharpness now, this one."
Then he threw 2 swords at me unsheathed, my sword which was in my hand unsheathed, but my poster was relaxed, I didn't know what to do in these kinds of situations, but one thing is clear, if i don't do anything, the swords will injure me.
I resolved myself, as I bought my own sword parallel to my neck and took step forward and drew my sword leaving a crimson arc in its wake, as it sliced through both swords from the tips to their handle. I wanted to divert their direction, but my sword went straight through them, cutting them like a hot knife cutting through butter.
My eyes widened as I looked at the sword and the man who forged it in disbelief, Hedric who watching who threw the swords, started laughing. "It can cut through anything, just make sure you don't injure yourself, ya hear?" after saying what he wanted to say he disappeared into the door behind him, saying. "Good luck out there little lady."
"Thank you" I said, not knowing if he heard me or not, I looked at me uncle who was smiling, as he started speaking. "well it's about time i return home, otherwise your aunty will start complaining." He said with his usual rough tone as he tapped my shoulder and headed home.
I put the sword in it's scabbard and placed it in the rations bag I bought with me, as I headed out myself, after buying everything I wanted, I wandered the village one last time, now knowing when I'll every get another chance, as I walked, I wandered near the ocean.
Taking my shoes off, I wanted into the sandy beach, the sun was almost setting, the view making it look like the sun and the ocean are meeting at a single point. My coat which protected me from the cold winds, rippled against the ocean winds, I watched as the waves crashed into the sand and went back into the ocean.
While I was enjoying the moment, a sudden and familiar sweat voice interrupted my train of thought.
"Astrid is that you?" The nobleman from the woodwoks family 'Gordon' walked towards me, in his noble attire of whites and golds, he also had emblem of a tree on the right side of his chest, pinned to his blazer.
I looked at the man and turned to face him. "Hello mister Gordon, it's really nice to see you here at this time— I'm going to give you my answer sir Gordon." Gordon tried to stop me but I kept speaking.
"let me finish what i'm trying to sir Gordon, it would be best if you listened to me." I said the words coming out a bit harsher than I intended, "I'm sorry sir Gordon, I can't accept your proposal, and also i'm leaving shegan the day after tomorrow, I wanted to say this back then, but you just walked off without even listening to me." I pulled out the crimson box in my hand and haded it over to Gordon. "please take this, i'm sure you will find someone better."
Gordon with disbelief as stared at the box in
my hand, like he was sure I was going to accept his proposal, Gordon was hesitant to take the box, I pulled his hand and placed the box in his palm and my turned my back and looked at the ocean one last time. My confident gait came to a halt, as Gordon called out to me. "Astrid why? people would die to have an opportunity like this, give me a proper answer." He ordered, as glared at me, irritated.
I turned my head to look over my shoulders, as I returned the glare. "There is nothing wrong with you sir Gordon, the problem is me, i'm not cut out to have to normal life, like the rest of you, and I have a purpose, for that i'll do anything." with that I turned my back and left without waiting for a reply.
After a few minutes of walking, I finally made it back home, and the first thing did is, took off the thick coat and sank into the bed with a long sigh. I slept like a baby, putting everything that happened to the back of my mind, as I drifted of too deep sleep.
The rest of the day went by, without much happening, As I went arround saying goodbye to everyone in village I knew. except my— actual family.