Kago
Active Member
Word Count: 2,311
Dio rolled onto his side and stared at the dirty drapes covering the window. The sun would be rising soon and he had not slept a wink. Irving’s words about training sent a rush of conflicting emotions through him. Indignation initially seized control. As he calmed, however, he could sense confusion, curiosity, and even a twinge of anxiety stir within his heart.
The last time he felt such a combination of emotions was when he decided to leave his family behind. He had stayed up the entire night while debating his decision. As morning broke, he had finally talked himself out of going, arguing that his family needed him more.
As Dio watched his parents and brothers eating that morning, he realized that he had made the wrong choice. The only reason they had such a life of luxury was due to the sailors ferrying supplies across the Sea of Aquinlona. With the persistent raids, the supplies would eventually stop. Dio would not watch his family suffer – not when he could prevent it.
Just like then, his decision was easy. Innocent laicar were suffering - and would continue to suffer - if he did not put an end to The Baron and his gang. First, he needed a new battle axe.
Casting the sheet aside, Dio rose from the bed. The small room was silent aside from the slight sounds of Aeliana’s breathing. He slipped the linen shirt over his trousers. The hunter scowled at having such flimsy clothes and made a mental note to acquire more suitable attire as soon as possible.
Hastening down the stairs, Dio dipped into a side door leading to the kitchen. He grabbed a slab of seared meat off of a tray near the door and scarfed it down in only a few, hearty bites. Then, he made his way to the blacksmith’s shop.
Expecting to need to wake Elidor from his drunken sleep, Dio kicked the door open and was pleasantly surprised to see the white bearded blacksmith ambling across the workshop. Elidor immediately twisted toward the entrance.
“Ah, there you are!” he said, nearly shouting with excitement. He beamed widely and made his way over to the hunter. “It’s about time! I’ve been waiting for a half hour!”
Dio raised an eyebrow. They never began before daybreak. Not to mention, he recalled the blacksmith being completely intoxicated only a few hours ago.
“Why aren’t you passed out somewhere? You were speaking incoherently not that long ago.”
Elidor bellowed a laugh and his breath reeked of liquor. “Blood of the beast. Let’s just say I’m more creative when I’m a wee bit drunk.”
Dio narrowed his eyes and glared disapprovingly toward the blacksmith.
“Oh, don’t be like that! I’ve got a present for you!”
The hunter’s mood lightened a bit. Had he remembered to make the battle axe? No, it could not be possible.
Elidor turned and strode directly toward a large, metallic cabinet on the far wall of the workshop. Sturdy gray doors stood sentry over the contents within. Measuring nearly twice his height and double his girth, Dio could not help but notice that the cabinet’s doors were missing handles.
Pulling a dirty, gray key from somewhere inside his shirt, the blacksmith inserted it into a nearly seamless gap in the right-hand door. Handful of small clicking sounds reverberated from within before the doors slowly opened of their own accord.
Lights near the top and bottom illuminated the inside. Hanging from metallic pegs was an arsenal of weapons ranging from blades and swords to staves and gauntlets. The inner lining of the doors held an armament of firearms more numerous than Dio had ever seen in a single place.
Awestruck, the hunter almost missed Elidor reaching for one of the larger weapons before turning to hand it to him. Dio glanced down and immediately recognized a familiar sight. He took the double-headed battle axe in both hands with a grin. The smooth steel felt cool in his palms despite the natural warmth of the room.
As he took a measured swing, the weapon felt perfectly weighted and balanced. Dio looked back at the blacksmith with newfound respect. Elidor was more than merely proficient at his craft.
“I was gonna ask how it felt, but since you clearly don’t look like you want to kill me, I’ll take that as a good sign,” Elidor said with a chuckle.
“It’s exactly what I need,” Dio admitted.
“Well,” the blacksmith said with a sigh, “you’re not going to like this next part.”
Elidor snatched the battle axe from the hunter with surprising agility. He carefully returned the weapon to its mounting in the cabinet.
The hunter fought the tempest of rage and confusion swirling within him. Why would he take back his gift? Why not allow him to take the battle axe with him now to start the training Irving promised for this morning. What would stop him throwing the blacksmith aside and claiming the weapon for himself?
“If you’ll bear with me a moment,” Elidor said meekly as he shied back from the hunter’s threatening expression, “I will explain why you shouldn’t use a battle axe.”
Dio exhaled through gritted teeth. He didn’t care to listen to the old man’s rambling. He just wanted his battle axe.
The blacksmith stepped to the side, allowing Dio to see the contents of the cabinet in their entirety.
“Over the years, I’ve practiced making various kinds of weapons. From steel to gunpowder, I have dabbled in enough types of weaponry to classify as more than just an arm enthusiast. More of artem than a true mastery however.
“With that having been said, I believe my true skill lies not in creating weapons but helping select the best weapon for an individual.”
Elidor stepped to the far, left hand side of the cabinet and gestured toward two pistols. In their mounting, one crossed over the other to form an ‘x’.
“Take these for example. Pistoleers typically have a certain flighty personality. They would rather unload a few shots at a target and retreat than take the time to line up a single shot that could end it. That clearly doesn’t mesh with your demeanor.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Dio interjected bitterly. The tempest had dampened slightly, but his annoyance had not been fully quelled. “I’ve heard something similar before. Guns aren’t my style. Daggers feel like tooth picks in my hands. With my size and power, axes are the way to go.”
“Close, but not quite,” Elidor said. A hint of excitement glimmered in his eyes. “Normally, axes would be the best weapon for you. Their ability to split through most things would put your immense strength to great use. However, they lack the flexibility that you’ll need in the coming combat situations.”
Dio growled. Not only had he taken back his gift, but now Elidor wanted him to change weapons. He had used a battle axe for over twenty years. How could he be effective if he had to learn an entirely new weapon?
“Now, now,” the blacksmith said and raised his palms before him. “Just allow me to explain my reasoning.”
Sliding in front of the cabinet, he reached for a large, thick blade. Turning, Elidor extended it toward him.
Dio reluctantly grasped the handle with one hand and placed his other underneath the dull grey blade. He felt the weight of the sword immediately. Once it began to move, very little would be able to stop its momentum.
In addition, he noticed that the sword was unpolished and reflected very little light. Its dual edges were sharpened extremely thin, but its core still maintained a sizable thickness. The tang of the oversized sword was wrapped with a rough, reddish material that seemed to grip back at his hand.
Dio looked up and grunted.
“The great sword is a tool that has been implemented in combat for ages. Like the battle axe, those who wield this type of weapon belong to the Barbaris discipline. Many stances and attack styles transfer over. So, the only thing that truly changes is the weapon you wield. And the great sword gives you more length of the blade to use. It’s an elegant weapon for a more-”
Elidor paused and cautiously eyed the grungy hunter. “Well, you get the gist.”
Dio lowered his eyes back to the blade in question. He recalled hearing of men wielding weapons like this, tearing through many men on the battlefield. Their prowess spread through the lands like words on the wind. But, he was not searching for glory.
“I’ll take the axe,” the hunter said with finality and extended the sword back to Elidor.
The blacksmith looked as though he’d been slapped across the face. “I don’t understand. I just explained that this weapon will serve you immensely better. And you just openly reject it?”
When Elidor did not move to take the blade back, Dio stepped forward and returned it to the mounting. He reached over and grabbed the shaft of the battle axe. The smooth metal felt natural in his hands once more. A slight ringing of metal on metal resounded in the room as he pulled it free from the cabinet.
“Don’t take it personally, Elidor. I just don’t have the time to waste getting used to a new weapon entirely. People are dying,” Dio said and patted the man on the shoulder once. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some training to get to.”
The hunter strode halfway across the room when he heard the rush of something fly past his head. The dagger stuck into the wooden doorframe before him with a clunk. Stunned, he turned to see Elidor shouldering the massive great sword.
“That weapon does not belong to you,” the blacksmith shouted. “If you try to leave this room with it, I will be forced to treat you like a thief.”
Dio glared at him. “I have neither the time nor patience for this.”
“Well, you better make some!”
Elidor lunged toward him with the large sword towing behind. As he entered his range, the blacksmith torqued the blade sideways in a horizontal slash.
Dio raised the shaft of the battle axe to block the oncoming blow. When the two collided, he felt the jolt of the blow reverberate up his arms. He grimaced.
Elidor, however, used the momentum of the block to spin back the opposite direction and attack with another horizontal strike.
The hunter barely had enough time to extend his weapon to block. The force from second attack knocked his arms downward. His left hand lost its grip on the battle axe. A silent curse escaped his lips.
The blacksmith raised the sword above his head and slammed it down.
Dio leapt backward. His torso slammed into the side wall and sent a shockwave of pain through his body. Elidor’s sword crashed into the floor and bounced back into the air with surprising speed.
The blacksmith spun to deliver another strike and Dio hoisted the battle axe up to block. When the two collided this time, however, the great sword cleaved through the shaft of the battle axe where it connected to the head.
Dio’s body braced for the blow, yet it never came. The edge of the blade hovered inches from his neck. As he peered down its length, he spotted the blacksmith grinning widely.
“See,” Elidor said. “I told you the great sword was a superior weapon.”
The hunter grunted. “Fine. Can you take it away from my neck now?”
Elidor shook his head. “Not so fast. I want to hear you say it...”
“It’s better,” Dio said in a low grumble. Then, as he tried to step around the blade, it pressed against his neck.
“Not good enough. You need to say ‘great swords are superior to battle axes.’”
Dio glared at the blacksmith and growled.
“I can do this all day, Dio.”
“Fine,” the hunter relented. “Great swords are... superior to... battle axes.”
The great sword fell tip first into the floor of the blacksmith’s shop. Elidor released a clutched breath and bent over.
“Thank...the...Viskar!” he said in between deep breaths. “I...couldn’t...have done...that much...longer...”
Dio stared at the man disapprovingly. He had lost to not only an old man, but also a fool. Perhaps, Elidor got lucky. Or, maybe his skills had deteriorated too much in the last few years. Either way, he could not help but wonder if truly needed the training Irving suggested.
After another moment, Elidor stood back up and looked toward the battle axe in Dio’s hands.
“Well, that one is ruined. Guess we’ll have to make another one...”
The hunter cast the two pieces of the broken weapon aside.
“What for?”
“I may be a fool, but I’m not blind. I can see that you’re not going to take one fight as gospel,” the blacksmith said, retrieving the discarded pieces. “I’d wager it’ll take another five or so losses for you to realize I’m telling you the truth.”
As Elidor headed for the forge, Dio stared at his back in confusion. “Why does it matter for you to be right? Do you really want to fight me again? You said that you barely had the strength to keep going a mi ago!”
“How else are we going to train you for what the mistress has planned?”
Dio felt as though he had been plowed into by a herd of lanigerae. Elidor was working for Sorena all along. And if that was the case then...
“So, you’re my trainer?” the hunter asked in disbelief.
Elidor lowered the head of the battle axe into the forge and glanced back. “Aye. Since the first day. Now, return that great sword to its mounting and get over here. I’ll need your help if we’re going to repair this thing today.”