Chapter Fifteen - Sir Quin

"Isan.."

Beaming a big smile Isan stepped forward and gave the man a hug, patting his back twice before moving back. The man did not smile, he simply stared back at Isan unfazed. "What are you doing here Isan, I told you to leave me alone last time we saw each other."

"Ahhh, well. Some things happened and now I need your help." Isan's eyes glancing at Noah, who stood there silent not sure what to do.

The man at the door stared Noah down and then up, "I'll let you explain but that is it."

Leaving the door open and walking back into his small house, Isan and Noah followed behind closing the door. As they entered the house they followed the man through the corridor, one door was on the left, one on the right and there was a final door at the end of the corridor.

Opening the door on the left and going into a room that had a fireplace in the centre with a chimney above it that was made by having cylinder hole raised from the roof that the smoke float through and out.

Around the fire were wooden carved benches, with wool dark coloured blankets cover the majority of them. There were a few shelves with various trinkets that Noah didn't recognise and in the corner of a room a chest with a big lock but no lock hole.

The gentleman gestured to the bench opposite himself as he sat down. Staring at Noah, "Okay Isan, tell me what has happened." His powerful voice made to room feel like it was full of electricity. His eyes narrowed as he stared at Noah,

Noah couldn't help but start fidgeting, he felt uncomfortable under the gaze from the man sitting across from him. He moved closer to Isan, starting to regret his decision to be trained by the ex Dragon Trooper.

Noticing the gaze Isan raised his voice a little louder. "This is Noah, do you remember after the incident I was saved by a citizen from the Ferndere zone? This is his son before he passed he asked me to train him and give him the chance to become a knight."

Squinting and looking at Isan, Noah hadn't known that was what had happened. It made more sense, Isan might have disagreed and tried to do something else for his father but when he passed early Isan must have chosen to continue with Oran's wish.

Some people might be a little sad to know they weren't a special pick through Isan but Noah saw it differently, from before he was even a man. Oran had been planning to make Noah into the strongest and best person he could be even after getting the opportunity to ask a dragon trooper for anything.

Noah also appreciated Isan even more for every little thing he had done for him and his mother. From the painting of Oran and the wooden sword to taking him to train and become a great man.

"What does that have to do with me? I am a retired man who spends his time hunting and relaxing. Why would you take this boy to me when you know he shouldn't even be in this zone."

A small smirk twitched on Isan, "Well we both know sometimes the rules need to be broken and there was an incident while we travelled into the Dragons Keep and I am no longer allowed to have guests there for a few years..." Raising and lowering his shoulders in a shrug.

Leaning back and watching the smoke rise the man let out a sigh, "Why am I always cleaning up after you even when I am retired? Do you understand the concept of being retired or is it you just like being a pain in my ass. You know I am fucking done with people. If you weren't my underling from when I was a Trooper I wouldn't even allow you to visit."

Letting out a laugh and sitting further back, "You know you would be lonely without me. Noah is a good lad, he already learned the basics through a training sword I made for him. It's just tidying him up and teaching him the correct ways of a knight. Nothing difficult, I promise to get some good wines for you to drink your life away after?"

"Trying to bribe me? Ha - Ha. Isan I am done with people, I am not taking in a child, do I look like an orphanage? Get the fuck out before I throw you out." Standing up, walking to the chest opening it and taking out a bottle filled with a dark blue liquid.

Forcing a smile Isan stood up, patting Noah's back. "Noah, please go wait outside by the lake. I have a few words I need to say to Quin before we leave." Leaving through the doors the came, Noah's head was spinning and he was feeling demoralised.

When he got outside he went by the lake as Isan said too. He looked back at the small hut hidden in the forest and just stared at the window with the light flicker. When Noah focused a little more he noticed the windows suddenly had a blue light covering them but as soon as he noticed it, it disappeared.

He waited for half an hour and didn't see a change, he decided to lie down and stare into the sky. Watching the clouds pass slowly, seeing them in different shapes. The sky slowly turned into a dark red as the sun had passed the mid-day point hours beforehand. Noah had lost track of time and was just thinking to himself.

Closing his eyes and waiting for Isan to come out. Eventually, he heard some footsteps coming his way, when he looked up Isan was walking towards him taking extra steps to the left and to the right. His eyes half-closed, the cloak that he usually had covering him was up and acting more like a cape, underneath the cloak was a dark silver armour glimmering in the moonlight which had risen.

Noah had just noticed that the moon had risen, the time had passed faster than he had expected not realising that the day was already over. He took a look at the lake and saw the moon shining through the leaves of the tree.

When Noah turned to look back at Isan he was already standing beside him and had his hand on Noah's shoulder. His armour had the symbol that Isan had used magic to display when entering the Bernard zone.

Isan blinked hard and smiled at Noah, "No- ahhh. I have done the impossible! Hahaha!" Squeezing Noah's shoulder and shaking his head, rubbing his eyes. "Sorry I am a little tipsy yet it had to be done to convince Sir Quin to teach you. He will teach you until my punishment is over and I can teach you myself, but.." Leaning closer into Noah, "I have great expectations that you will already have learned everything that you need to." Smiling wider and brushing Noah's head.

His eyes were attracted to the bright moon that was breaking through the forest leaves, Noah said his thanks and was trying to ask Sir Isan how he had done it but Isan interrupted Noah, "Noah."

Pausing and going quiet, Noah waited patiently again. "Your father was a great man. I am sorry for your loss. When I look at you I can see him in you. Please make sure you make use of this chance that he refused."

Isan started to walk away from the hut and into the forest. Noah asked him where he was going and he was told that he was going to meet Hallan and go back to the Dragon Keep. Telling Noah to go great his new master and do his best in training. He would visit when he could.

Noah stood watching Isan leave rather confused when he could no longer see Isan in the shadows of the tree he turned back to see Sir Quin standing at the front of the house staring down at Noah. Not knowing what Sir Quin was thinking Noah briskly walked over and bowed to him not knowing the practice for one to greet their master he took a guess.

"What are you doing boy? When you greet me simply nod. I am not your teacher just a substitute until Isan can take you in. When you speak to me call me quin. I am not a Dragon Trooper anymore, nor am I your master so that will work."

Nodding as Quin said all this, Noah planned to be like a sponge to everything he said.

"You will spend the nights on the couch. Your training regime will be 300 laps around the lake and then we will spar until midday. Make sure to wake up for sunrise, I am not your fucking alarm."

Quin turned and walked back into the house in a better state than Sir Isan leaving. He took the door on the right and closed it sharply before Noah could ask any questions.

He could only go in and go to sleep in the living room, the fire had burned out and all that was left was the embers. Noah used the blanket on the couch to wrap up and ignore the cold that seemed to come out of nowhere when he entered the room.

Closing his eyes and falling asleep quickly, wanting to make sure he was in top condition for tomorrow.