Elias walked back to his housing within the witches coven. The growing evening was quiet. No one else was around. In one hand he held Alice’s sword, dropped after finishing her practice for the day. He left the sword just inside the door of the housing structure. Inside he found Thompson eating his dinner at the table.

“Alice seemed upset,” he remarked.

“Training was slow today. I want her to start learning the fourth sword move in the set. It was not being understood and grasped as quickly as she would have liked.” Elias found a seat at the table and sat down.

“Well, she has had to learn so much in only a few weeks. Now that we are here she has to learn this Sword Breath magic from the witches. It is a lot to learn and prepare for an unknown date when she will have to face the embodiment of evil and corruption as the prophecy has foretold.”

Elias sighed, rubbing the weariness from his brow. "Perhaps you're right," he conceded. "We've been treating every day as a battle, every lesson as though it might be the last before she faces her destiny. But even heroes need a day of respite."

Thompson nodded, pausing between bites. "A day off could be beneficial. A chance to recharge might give her clarity and renew her spirit. After all, the Sword Breath requires not just physical strength, but mental fortitude and willpower."

Elias leaned back in his chair, the wood creaking softly under his weight. "I fear if she is not ready, all will be lost. But I must also remember she is not just a weapon we are forging. She is a young woman, with limits. When I look at her, I see the makings of a legend, but there's a fine line between forging and fracturing."

“You have been with her longer than me and spend almost every day training with her. So, you should know her best and what you should do. Maybe something is interesting within the walls of this coven that you can show to her. Teach her something else other than swordsmanship for a day,” said Thompson.

Elias nodded, his fingers tracing the grain of the wooden table. "Indeed, perhaps a change in the routine could work wonders," he mused. "But enough about the day's worries. Tell me, Thompson, how have your own sessions been faring? Your crossbow training and the rest?"

Thompson set his fork down, his brow furrowing as he considered the question. "The crossbow training is coming along. I have continued to work on accuracy training as well as speed. It has been repetitive but great practice.”

"That's good to hear," Elias said with a nod. "Accuracy is vital. And what of the other training?"

“Seeing as you and Alice have been doing lots of physical training I decided that I would add that to my schedule as well. The witches were able to help assess my needs and develop parts of a training plan so that I could improve where I needed it the most. They have a strange ability to remove my exhaustion and tiredness with their magic and it has been exceedingly helpful.”

“That ability does seem nice. On my side of things, they have focused on Alice entirely. She needs to learn the Sword Breath ability to a high degree of understanding. It seems as though everything else can wait because I will still be there to help teach her the sword moves and guide her to the Sword Temple.”

“You know I grew up hearing great stories of the Sword Temple, its history, and tales of its previous locations. There used to be multiple locations in almost every major area. Now though, it is in ruins.”

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“Back in those days, the temple was more than just a place of learning—it was a sanctuary, a beacon of hope," Elias began, his eyes distant, as if he could see the hallowed halls before him. "The grandeur of the Sword Temple at its peak was something to behold. The central spire reached towards the heavens, a testament to our commitment to the sword arts. Every morning, the air would be filled with the rhythmic sound of steel clashing against steel as apprentices practiced their forms. The sun would glint off the blades, casting long, dancing shadows across the training yards. Those tales often spoke of the vast kingdoms and distant lands that looked to the Sword Temple as a symbol of strength and unity. It was a place that helped to shape our world."

Elias paused, a small smile creeping onto his face. "There was a camaraderie among those of us at the temple. We were a hundred strong, each person with a different story, and a different reason for being there, but united by a single purpose. We would train from dawn until dusk, pushing our bodies and minds to their limits. The masters were strict but fair, and every lesson was a step towards mastery. After my first year, Sir Callum of the West took note of me and gave me personal instruction. From then on I was under his wing, and he helped me greatly."

His expression darkened as he continued. "But then the war started. The monsters emerged corruption spread like a plague, and one by one, our people were called away. The temple's bells, which once rang out in celebration of mastery and enlightenment, began tolling for departure and mourning. With each bell, the temple lost not just a sword arm, but a part of its soul. Even Sir Callum was called away and I joined him in the war efforts. We defended villages and helped the kingdom’s soldiers when the outer islands and Dawncoast were hit."

"Now, it lies in ruins, the halls empty, the training yards overgrown," Elias said, his voice barely above a whisper. "The war didn't just claim lives; it claimed my heritage. If there are any true swordsmen left then they couldn’t be found near civilization. But it's not the end—not yet. We have Alice, and she carries within her the spark that could reignite the Sword Temple's legacy."

“I hope that day can come,” said Thompson solemnly. “Everything around us has shrunk. The people have hope now that things can change. Now with the hero preparing there is an end in sight. An end to the evils that have plagued me for too long.”

Elias nodded at Thompson's words; his gaze now fixed on the window. "Alice is indeed our best hope. I just wish it was over sooner.”

“That has seemingly been said for an entire generation and everyone I have known growing up.”

Elias looked at Thompson’s bowl of food. His stomach felt empty, and the smell of the food hit him. “I think it is time I got some food. Keep working on your training as well. You have been extremely helpful, and I am glad that the king chose you to join us and assist us on our journey.”

Elias rose out of his seat. Elias pushed himself up with a sigh, the old chair creaking under the shift of his weight. The day was waning, and the light that spilled through the grimy window was turning gold, casting long shadows.

Thompson nodded in agreement. "I'll take to the checking out their library. I just found out they have one today, see if there's something we might have missed. Something that could give Alice an edge."

“That is a good idea. Though some of the buildings in this sanctuary have gone into disrepair they have interesting things in them and had reasons to be built. I didn’t have time to visit the library last time I was here. Maybe I should visit the library as part of my ‘rest day’.”

Leaving Thompson to his studies, Elias made his way to the modest kitchen. The house might have been old and in disrepair, but it provided shelter and a space to plan and prepare. The clinking and clattering sounds of pots and pans mingled with the crackling of the fire in the hearth as Elias set about preparing something to eat. His hands moved with the same precision and care he would have used to maintain his sword—each movement practiced; each choice deliberate.

There were some leftover items from Thompson’s dinner for him to get started with. Soon a new batch of the soup was being poured out into a new bowl. He blew on it as he let it cool. Thompson passed him after finishing his meal and cleaned up. They were silent in their work. After cleaning up Thompson left for his room. Elias ate alone considering the days ahead.