The commune was small by anyone standards and I got a sense it was a retirement home for the Wood Elves. Well, if they retired, but according to Lia, it was a location for older Wood Elves that wanted peace and tranquility that the Tree Homes did not provide. The commune was called Falling Leaves, and all the Wood Elves were at least six hundred years old and there were less than a hundred living here. 

They were right, the place was peaceful and no one disturbed you, but Lia's appearance changed that. Not to mention my intrusion upon their small community. "Lia, I am glad to see you, but you brought an outsider to our home. You know it is forbidden." the ancient Wood Elf stated as he glared at me.

"Grandfather, he saved my life and asked for the best Blacksmith I knew. I know you still tinker from time to time, so I brought him to you." Lia replied in a whining voice caused him to roll his eyes.

"Girl, you are nearly two centuries old, start acting like it.' he glared at her before turning to look at me. 'You, what did you bring me to fix? Let me guess an axe?" the Wood Elf sneered and I frowned at his tone.

"This is who you bring me to Lia? I think he has grown senile in his age. Perhaps he is only good enough to fix butter knives and forks in his old age.' I commented before turning to look at her smiling face. 'Perhaps we should go to the Obsidian Kingdom, they owe me a few favors and I am certain the Dwarves there will have no problem fulfilling my request." I told the older Wood Elf, but I was older than him, technically anyways. 

The old Wood Elf snarled and stepped closer, "As if those ham-fisted rock crushers, could compare to Elven smithing. Let me see what you have and I will tell you if anything can be done." Rodrin replied with a smug look of arrogance pasted on his face. I looked Lia who nodded encouragingly. So reluctantly I retrieved the shards and hilt of Moonlight from my inventory and placed it on the table between us.

I studied the stunned face of the Wood Elf as he ran his hands over the shards and hilt in reverence, "I require discretion and your word to never speak to anyone about this blade. Is that understood?" I asked him as his eyes focused on me and not the sword. 

"This sword...Its old and powerful even in its broken form. I cannot repair it, but I can melt it down and reforge it.' Rodrin stated as he studied me with a look of awe and worry on his face. 'Is this your blade or did you find it?" the Wood Elf asked me while studying my face.

I pulled back a little let the shadows obscure my face more, "That is my blade, given to me a very long time ago. While my armor from that time was shattered worse than my sword, I hope to salvage something of the blade. Will you do this for me?" I asked the Wood Elf who jerkily gave me a nod. 

"It will be done, sir. Give me a day and I will have a reforged blade to rival the one lost, if not better.' his eyes darted to Lia who was studying her grandfather. 'You will both stay at my home. I would suggest you stay inside while here to attract less attention." Rodrin suggested before sweeping all the shards and hilt into his inventory and walking back into his smithy muttering the whole time. 

"What was that?' Lia asked as she stared at her retreating grandfather. 'He has never called anyone sir. Boy, idiot, asshole, yes but I have never heard him say anything differential to anyone, including my father." Lia told me and I snorted in amusement. 

I smiled at her as I stood and gestured for her to lead the way, "Well there is a first time for everything Lia. Now, why would he show a difference towards your father?' I prodded her causing her to go silent as she led us out of the smithy. 'See, everyone has secrets Lia, including you. I will respect your secrets as long as you respect mine." I told her smugly and earning a glare from her, but she nodded. 

"Come on and follow me, you need to practice your blade work and I need to work out some frustrations," Lia commented as she walked away. 

I quickly followed her, "As long as you don't try to kill me, I have no problem sparring with you." I told her as I grew slightly excited at the prospect of Moonlight being repaired. 

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She looked back at me and smirked, "Don't worry I will go easy on you." I stopped stunned at the comment, then laughed as we entered the small ring of wood and dirt. It felt both familiar and different at the same time, Lia walked over to the weapon rack and pulled out two practice blades and tossed me one. 

I easily caught it and took a few swings, it was weighted but not overly so. "Rules?" I asked her as I stripped down to my basic boots, and beginner wear. 

Lia smiled as she studied me, "What rules did you go by old man?" 

"No active Skills or Abilities, no magic, just whatever physical prowess you have. No equipment. If either one of us calls a halt, we do so. No questions asked." I told her and she gave me a short nod as she stripped down to her basics. She flew at me, her blade a blur and I easily countered it and shoulder checked her back. 

She rolled away and came up to her feet as she circled me. I kept both hands on the hilt of the blade, but I could easily wield it one-handed if needed. Lia was trained, I would giver her that, but my trainers were harsh taskmasters that expected the best and easily bruised and broke things if I did not step up to the challenges I faced. 

I launched my attack, a lazy one to test both her reaction and ability to deflect or block the attack. She did neither, Lia sidestepped the swing while hammering my side with her blade. I threw myself forward in a role and came up to my feet as I blocked or deflected her attacks as I circled her, keeping us centered in the combat ring while her assault continued. I swept her sword wide and dropped down as I swept a kick out at her legs causing Lia to jump back in surprise.

I gave her a tight smile as I launched a counter-attack, my blade a blur of movement this time. Lia deflected and dodged as best as she could, but where I circled, she backpedaled and slammed into the fence lining the arena. Her eyes bulged as my sword streaked for her neck and stopped short as I pulled the blow. "Dead, again?" I asked her as I stepped back to give her a moment. 

Lia frowned as she shook her surprise off, "What is your Class? I have seen you use common Skills like Stealth and Backstab, but no specific Class Skills." she responded and I frowned as I considered my response. Information was power and if we ever came to blows, I needed an edge. I fought like a warrior, but I was a mage type. Something I would have to learn to fight like sooner rather than later based on the Skill Tree I had, but my martial skills I could keep as a backup plan. 

"Again?" I asked her and she snorted as she nodded and raised her practice blade across from me before moving to engage me. 

Four hours later, the continued practice had given me a refresher on everything I had learned from all of my teachers as well as some new lessons from Lia. They were not brutal lessons, but they were painful to learn. I sat and reviewed my notifications as I pulled out some jerky.

<<<>>>

Skill Name: Unarmed Combat

Skill Level: 3

Skill Type: Passive

Effect 1: Increases Unarmed Combat damage by 9%.

Effect 2: Increases Armed Combat damage by 2.25%.

Cost: N/A

Cooldown: N/A

Skill Name: Bladed Weapons

Skill Level: 5

Skill Type: Passive

Effect 1: Increases Bladed Weapons damage by 13%.

Cost: N/A

Cooldown: N/A

Skill Name: Dodge

Skill Level: 4

Skill Type: Passive

Effect 1: Increase the chance to Evade an attack by 11%.

Range: N/A

Cost: N/A

Cooldown: N/A

Skill Name: Parry

Skill Level: 3

Skill Type: Passive

Effect 1: Increase the chance to deflect an attack by 9%.

Range: Melee

Cost: N/A

Cooldown: N/A

<<<>>>

I dismissed the notifications as I ate the jerky from my inventory. "Well, you might be an old man, but you know how to fight. Which makes me wonder who you are even more." Lia mused as she offered me a small fruit. It looked similar to an apple, but about the size of a strawberry. 

I bit into it and was surprised by the sweet-tangy taste too it, but continued to eat it and the two that followed it. "What's next?" I asked her as I continued to eat earning a small laugh from her for I had ignored her question again. 

"Agility Course, I know you have some Rogue Skills, practice, and put them to use.' Lia commented as she ate her food. 'Then after that, head back to my grandfathers home to get some rest." the Ranger relayed as I accepted another piece of fruit, this one looked like an orange, but was blue.