Chapter 23: Clashers
We go to Galthoral's. When we get there, it seems he is working on a new prototype.
"Hey, pal. Can you forge me a short spear?"
"Spear? To the right as usual, shorter should be at lower shelves. Take one you like and do not touch the one that is on the table. I am working on it and waiting for it to cool down"
"Well, see ya around, weapon maniac"
"Just take the one you want." He sways his hand
A short spear.
This one is too long, this one is too heavy.
Too spiky, too rough, too short, feel almost right but too heavy on the head.
This one should be perfect. Wooden grip, iron body, sharp tip and feel balanced like a giant needle with a beak of a bird.
"Alira, this is your weapon. Now get to meet the lazy old fart, shall we?"
"Why would you have such a grudge against him?"
"He has been kind of annoying for the past few years. He slept for five years while I had to get resources circulated myself."
"That is not bad..."
"He is irritating. Speaking of devils, we are here"
We stand in front of his palace. This place is still the same for years even that old man sleeping on the throne too.
"WAKE UP, YOU LAZY OLD FART!"
"Let me sleep for another year" he sways his hand
"Who is that old man on the throne?" she tugs my cloak
"That is the king not a servant, little one"
"You brought a human here for what? Jehidas"
"Her parents are dead"
"It would be more profit if you sold her for a couple of coins"
"I may be cruel but I have my line"
"A hysterical person who would lop people's heads for fun?"
"But it doesn't mean that I would kill children, would I?"
"Alright, for the question you are about to ask, the answer is that she is capable of using fate changing magic"
"Any proof?"
"Why would she be alive when bandits were just about to find her?"
"How did you know that?"
"Because I was the first sage to master fate magic. I looked through her fate and past. There was a lot of luck and she exchanged it by accident. The misfortunate that day was accumulated by her own luck exhaustion. But then, her luck was back and she met you."
"Was that all true, old man?" she sighs in grief
"Don't change fate again, little one. It is best to change your fate when it is necessary" he still sits there and comb his beard with his hand.
"Alright lazy old fart, we take our leave. Keep sleeping for couple of years then"
"Hopefully, you won't disturb my sleep ever again"
Outside again…
Why would I need to ask him about her anyway?
Alright, let's focus on going back.
We have to go to the sand elves' place first then go back home.
These days, humans have some pretty nice foods and I have some raw ores. I need to trade them all for weapons and tools.
Beside Galthoral's goods, I also need another amount of goods that are crafted from elves so I can have enough quantity for this trip. This time, fermented meat and some malt should be good.
****
"Mister merchant, why would you bring this human here?"
"Her parents died"
"Sorry for your loss, little one" the chief nods his head.
"We might have to stay here for a day or two for this girl to have a good rest. You have any room for her staying?"
"We haven't expected another newcomer for years but I think she should be okay with a tent right?"
"Good, I scouted the area anyway, there is no sandstorm in three days."
"You such a caring person, mister merchant"
"Alira, can you hold this spear?"
"I guess I can" She holds onto the short spear
And as soon as I let it go, she still manages to hold it well.
"Listen carefully, try to lift this spear and hold it as long as you can. You can only take a break after an hour, I am going to grab a spear to show you my way of using it."
****
I grabbed a spear from the smithy . I need to wait for another fifty minutes or so. She is quite persistent.
"Are you tired?"
"Not yet"
"Enough of this teasing, I got pranked like that when I first trained with my mentor before"
"..."
"Seriously, it is worth nothing to do so"
"Haaaaaaaaaaa. I...hate...you...now"
"In my shoes, I had it worse. I spent 2 hours like that until one of my senior came in"
"How could you manage to hold like that?"
"Usually, half an hour is too much for a drake. With that kind of spears as heavy as a tree, you will understand what kind of strength a drake holds. "
"Who were you?"
"I was a lord, a ground drake lord. Flying was not in my favor but my strength was unmatched by any other drake."
"I expect a flying drake to be a lord"
"Humans know quite shallow in drake society. We choose our leader according to wisdom, strength and honor."
"So, a muscle brain like a ground drake can be a leader?"
"Listen here, Alira. You wanna taste a blow from me now?"
I quickly hit my spear on the ground. The sand flies.
"Kuek! Kuek! That was too much"
"It was only tenth of my strength back then"
I continue the training. The way of a drake. Every movement has to be swift, without hesitation and strong. Charge and thrust are the basics. Slam requires strength, sweep requires swiftness and spinning requires swiftness and strength.
Back when I was a drake lord, my favorite weapon was a halberd that can cut a drake in half, split a dwarven helmet with one slam and crush a wall with one blow.
Drake weapons are the finest craft after the dwarf's. Treated with heat of his breath instead of forge, shaped by hand instead of tongs and folded with strength instead of hammer. Dwarves can make tools and weapons as sharp as a drake's but cannot withstand hellfire from volcanoes.
Once enemies get a hold of drake's weapons, they rather use them as siege weapons than melt them down to become weapons of their own. It is said that only a few powerful red mages can melt down those weapons but not fast enough to cast new weapons. Even if they are shaped, it is impossible to sharpen those weapons or file them to the desired shape.
****
"So Alira, would you like to have a break?"
"I can still do it." She is standing quite shaky
"Haiz, it is quite hopeless of you, it is quite dark already. When we get back, I will train you more"
I carry her on my back while holding two spears. I return the borrowed spear back and carry her to the tent. After putting her down, I put her spear next to her. I sit down.
The moon is shining with a glimpse of ruby tonight heh?
I check my jagged dagger, it is still sharp like a shard of broken glass. My gun is still clean as usual, click clack, the hammer is still fine, thump clack, the chamber still works fine like a safe.
This cursed staff? Well, it is just another stick to hit people around. I wonder if this is the base for my gun, would it become something beyond powerful if I just increase
One thing for sure, I need to find someone who can do this. Galthoral can't integrate them, an expert alchemist should do.
Black robes? No, they are at war with the church. Too busy
Kiltan? No, he is a fighter.
Asking that drunk elf? No, she got banished.
Maybe I should go to the capital and ask someone about basic alchemy.
Fine, I have to do everything myself huh?
Maybe next morning, on the road, I ask her if she knows any alchemist she came across.