"A Whisper of Doubt" (part 2)
It was the elderly man whose life he had saved by holding the cart loaded with leather when it broke down.
"Good morning, sir," Leo greeted him as he approached. "How can I help you today?"
"No, no, no! I will help you today. I saw you looking at all kinds of armor all over the market, and I owe you from the past. Come, come!" The gentleman seemed euphoric.
"Sir, I have little money; I cannot buy anything of your quality."
"Don't be so humble. I will give you such a boon. Take your money and find a blacksmith to have suitable attire made. You, my little savior!" Old man said.
Ironically, Leo was almost twice the size of the gentleman to be called "my little".
Leo thought about the offer. A cold sensation passed through his leg, a phantom pain from the recent wound.
He then decided to accept, swallowing his pride. He just wanted to stay alive.
He looked among the hides the gentleman had and could give him.
Then chose the Leirion boar hide.
He remembered how hard it was to cut through the skin of that muscle-bound monster that almost took his life. So he decided on that one.
"Great choice! Come here, boy." The old man took a charcoal stick wrapped in thin paper and wrote something on a small papyrus.
He gave it to Leo and said, "here is the address of a great armorer. Tell him Old Man Campbell sent you."
Leo took the paper from the gentleman's hand and thanked him profusely.
He took the boar hides and, after a few minutes of walking through the market, got lost among some alleys.
He felt lost and thought about going back and asking the old man for directions. When he spotted a small sign in a place almost bordering the slums and the market.
Leo opened the creaking door slowly, announcing his entrance.
"Hello, is anyone in charge here?" Leo asked, seeing no one inside at first glance.
In the shop, there was a man sitting with his back to the counter on an old wooden stool.
He was shirtless, wearing ordinary pants and a black leather apron. His shoulder-length hair was wet with sweat, and his shimmering white beard gave the shop a mysterious air.
The way he worked exuded a dense and rustic aura, like a true master craftsman.
He was currently working on a piece of leather, his large hands moving with a surprising dexterity.
The man remained silent.
Leo approached and was about to say something while the man continued his work with the leather in his hands.
"Mr. Camb—"
The man sniffed the air like a hunting dog and interrupted Leo.
"One gold coin for your boar leather," he said in an extremely serious voice, not even looking at Leo.
"Okay..." Leo placed the leather on the counter with a gold coin and turned to leave the shop without another word.
He understood the armorer's message: don't interrupt me.
Then the armorer simply said, "Come back tomorrow."
Leo let out a "uh-huh" and left the shop after reading the atmosphere that he should follow with this armorer.
The day was hot that summer morning, but Leo didn't mind the weather much.
He decided to go to the Guild House to ask for some information.
Arriving at the Guild House, Leo looked for Silica, but she wasn't there. It was her day off.
So he went to the regular counter and talked to a cashier.
"I'd like some information, please," Leo said, presenting his GHMC.
"Certainly, Mr. Leonard," she responded after checking his ID. "How may I help you?"
"Are there any caravans going towards the ruins of Besen Village?"
"There's one leaving tomorrow afternoon, sir," she replied. "The journey is 200 kilometers, so it will take two days, and you'll probably arrive at sunset."
"How can I get a horse instead of relying on caravans?" Leo asked curiously.
"You can buy our daily rental tokens or buy a horse directly from the stable," the girl answered mechanically.
"Just out of curiosity, what's the price?"
"Mr. Leonard, renting a horse costs 50 silver coins per day. Buying a horse, however, varies according to its quality and can cost from 4 platinum coins to 500."
"What the heck?" Leo was startled by the price; it was a fortune. He could live for a whole year on 5 platinum coins.
"Excuse me, Mr. Leonard, what did you say?" She still sounded like a robot, her expression unchanging.
"Uh... thank you for the information," Leo mumbled, turning to leave, feeling a wave of despair wash over him.
Leo realized that his mood had shifted in recent days. He didn't feel as demotivated, just a lingering sadness in his heart that he didn't know if he could cure.
Leo sighed deeply and thought that he should return to Besen village and would do so as soon as possible.
He owed it to himself and to Mia to confront the ghosts of his past.
Motivated to master his dual-wielding abilities, Leo decided to seek information at Gothia's magical library.
"I really need a class". He thought, "there has to be a way. A better technique. A more effective style. Something to unlock my full potential. "
The bustling activity of Gothia's central square enveloped him as he strolled.
The soft melody of a mandolin accompanied the voice of a bard narrating a fable, creating a magical medieval atmosphere. Benches hosted lively conversations, while the crowd flowed in constant movement.
It was the beating heart of the duchy, a verdant oasis with flower gardens that danced before the eyes of those who passed by.
Leo felt a strange presence watching him. He turned behind a couple of times, but there was no one suspicious.
He kept feeling uneasy in his way, like someone was following him. His hand instinctively went to the hilts of his swords.
He quickened his pace to the library.
"I'd be safe here" he murmured.
The library stood before him, an imposing building with a mystical aura. Magical symbols adorned the stone walls, and a subtle glow emanated from the arched windows.
Inside, the ceiling was tall and vaulted, with long rows of shelves greeting those who entered.
Leo was surrounded by a profound silence, broken only by the rustling of pages and the murmur of distant voices. The aroma of old scrolls, mana dust, and incense filled the air.
He approached the counter, where a librarian with a long white beard greeted him with a knowing look.
"Um, hello," Leo said, a little nervously. "I was wondering if you could help me. I need to find some information about…dual-wielding fighting styles."
With a mysterious smile and without saying a word, the librarian led him through the maze-like hallways. It was lined with tall bookcases that were full of old books and forgotten stories.
They reached a restricted section.
"Your GHMC please, sir?"
Leonard showed him.
After a brief inspection, he retrieved a relatively small book compared to the others. The gentleman left him after handing him the book.
Leonard looked for a nearby table, but not finding one, he sat on the floor and immersed himself in reading.
It was a book about extinct swordsmen, a style not seen for a long time.
Upon opening and reading it, he discovered a variety of dual-wielding fighting styles:
Blade Dancer: Prioritizes agility and speed with fluid and unpredictable movements.
Spectral Duelist: Combines swift attacks with illusions and misdirection techniques.
Storms Master: Channels their strength into torrential attacks through the swords.
Mirror Warrior: Uses two swords to create a whirlwind of steel, deflecting attacks like a shield.
Shadow Hunter: A master of fighting in the dark.
While looking at the pictures and reading the words in the book, Leonard had that creepy feeling that someone was watching him again.
He felt his heart racing and started to sweat as he looked around, but he did not see anyone that seemed fishy.
The library was quiet, and everyone was busy reading.
"Was it all in my head? Or was someone spying on me?" Leo started to get nervous and wanted to leave.
He ran to the door and pushed it open. The sound of his boots broke the sudden silence.
For an instant, he was blinded by the intense sunlight that struck him like a punch.
He left the library with a lot of new information, but he also felt anxious.
He needed to get ready for his trip to Besen, but he couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching him.
"Who would be interested in me? And why? Should I go to Besen now?" A whisper of doubt, cold and insidious, slithered into his mind.