After an hour of planning, Lan and his father had the blueprint for the alterations. The two would have spent the next three days working on it non-stop if not for Lan’s mother periodically pulling them out of the workshop to be normal humans for short periods.

Along with eating during their mandatory breaks, Lan’s father showed him some swordwork and the unarmed fighting style he knew.

‘Every adventurer will find themselves without their weapon at some point, so it’s best to learn to use your fists in more than just tavern brawls.’ His father smiled as they approached the large tree before their home. With the encroaching winter, the leaves started to take on the light blue colouration they were known for in winter.

‘This is a style that a group of us in the village learned from a retired adventurer.’ Lan’s father explained as he placed his leather apron under the tree and stretched his arms. ‘this style is designed by the archers of Shirada, who are not allowed to touch any weapon other than a bow, not even a shield. As a result, they train to turn their bodies into their backup weapon. This works out well when you use a weapon like a spear, too.

Demonstrating greater speed and flexibility than someone his size should be able to. Lan’s father fell into a sequence that started with jabs and strikes before turning with a cross into a sidekick, then a front kick.

‘Although you should try not to be as flashy as that, the point is to use your attacks to open up a path for your next attack. It may sound obvious, but once you start learning, you will get what I mean.’ With that, Lan’s father walked him through the basics of the Arrow Fist.

As Lan started following his father in the first sequence, he began to understand the mindset of the people who had devised the style. There was no running away. Blocking and evading were only done to look for an opening for a powerful counter with a fist, elbow, or knee before following it up with crushing kicks.

[New Skill Acquired: Arrow Fist]

That wasn’t the only skill Lan learned over the three days. On the second day, Lan learned crafting and repairing skills.

[New Skill Acquired: Crafting]

[New Skill Acquired: Repairing]

Knowing what had just happened, Lan’s father patted him on the shoulder as he walked past. Lan just stared at the runica on his tome. At one point in his life, that skill was the only thing he wanted. As a core skill of the crafter class, Lan would never be able to reach the level of even a bad crafter without the class item and title, but that didn’t matter. The skill had more meaning now than it would have ever had before. Even if he was right in thinking the hunt would never end for him like it did for his father, it was one more thing that he would cherish.

When his mother dragged them out for something to eat, Lan was surprised to see someone other than Maya setting the table.

It was Lily.

‘Lily?’ Lan asked, getting an answer from his mother, who rested her hands on Lily’s shoulders.

‘Lily wanted to learn to cook, so I am teaching her.’ His mother smiled, and that was all she would say. In any case, it allowed them to plan the party for the kids while training and working on the sword.

‘I have been thinking, but I can’t come up with anything to serve the children at the naming party.’ Lily sighed.

‘Yeah…’ Lan thought, taking a bite of his apple. It was something that he had been thinking about as well. Whatever they picked would have to be something that wasn’t done lightly. The main dessert was meant to be meaningful, and it didn’t make sense to think they would all like the same things.

Suddenly, something came to him. ‘I think I might have an idea.’

‘Oh? What.’ Lily asked, only getting a smile from Lan.

‘You will just have to wait and see.’ He winked before hoping that Miss Lucy still made it or at least would make it for him. From what he could remember, it hadn’t gone well when she introduced it, but it seemed perfect for the party.

Maybe it was because she trusted him or was happy to pass the responsibility on to him, but Lily nodded before looking down and steepling her fingers.

‘So, Lan. I was talking to your mother and was thinking of going along with you on the Campaign…’ she ended before looking up at him for his reaction.

‘That’s a great idea!’ Lan perked up.

‘Huh?’ Lily sat up too.

‘Not actually going on the Campaign,’ Lan explained, ‘but I am sure they will need as many healers as we can get.’ On the guild contract against the Razerwolves, one of the healer’s guilds had followed, and he was sure they had gotten a share of the job. If they could get Lily a share of the Campaign rewards, they wouldn’t have to worry about the children for a long time. ‘plus, that spell of yours could be invaluable.’

Now that he had decided to come back, Lan knew he needed to come up with a more permanent solution, but this would help a lot.

‘Oh, that was easier than I thought.’ Lily breathed out with something colouring her tone.

‘Well, yeah.’ Lan laughed, ‘surrounded by Adventurers and healers. The only place you would be safer is here.’ he smiled as he nodded to his home.

Seeing this, Lily smiled, ‘You seem different when you talk about the Campaign now… It’s nice not seeing the shadow over you when you bring it up. I don’t know. I guess it makes me feel better about it all.’

‘I am just no longer thinking about whether I will return, just how?’ Lan laughed before looking steadfast. ‘I am going to come back. Even the world's end won't stand in my way anymore.’ He joked, which made Lily perk up.

‘And I will do my best to help put you back together.’ She declared with enough determination to be cute.

‘Put me back together?’ Lan laughed. Realising what she had said, Lily looked like she would apologise. ‘Yeah, I guess I deserve that one.’ Lan added, making her relax and laugh with him.

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On the morning of the third day, Lan and his father finished the alterations to his sword. Standing in as his father’s apprentice, Lan couldn’t touch the sword as it was being worked on, not just because of his lack of stats and skills, as no one but the one working on the object could touch it without risking lowering the quality.

No, Lan’s role was to do everything but touch the piece. Preparing tools and components, and when his father started to etch the runes, meaning he couldn’t allow his concentration to falter, Lan became his second pair of hands and second mind, understanding and preparing the next part before his father asked for it.

Even though the last time practising had been years ago, Lan didn’t miss a step. Even with all the connections and runes that the skeleton needed, Lan somehow managed to stay in the moment, not being a second late handing over a part or tool and not breaking his father's concentration by bumping into him while handing something to him.

Not that Lan thought that doing so would have even mattered, as his father seemed to have reached a level of focus that he had never seen before, which was flawless in execution.

Watching, Lan knew his father was nearing mastery of his art, and he couldn’t be prouder.

‘There…’ Lan’s father said as he joined the frame with the segmented scabbard, and both seemed to take a breath for the first time in what felt like hours.

Falling back into a chair, Lan felt tension he didn’t even know he was holding leave him. ‘How does my back hurt more now than being thrown into a tree.’ Lan sighed, stretching.

‘Great work, Son,’ his father said as he patted him on the shoulder before picking up the sword and scabbard and offering them to him.

‘What?’ Lan asked, sitting up. ‘You should be the one to test it first.’ He finished short of raising his hands.

His father smiled and shook his head. ‘This is your sword, son, and I didn’t make these changes for a customer. I made them for you.’

Lan didn’t know what to say. He knew his father's work was flawless, but he would always check them himself. Allowing Lan to be the first to try it was a statement that he had put so much care and effort into this one piece that he knew it would be perfect. This was a weapon he trusted with the life of his son.

Taking the offered blade and scabbard with reverence, he looked at them. The pommel of the sword had been etched with the runes. Instead of what they had planned, the sword was now connected by the opening of the scabbard.

Knowing what to look for, Lan traced his thumb over one of the fine, dark silver metal rings, the only sign of one of the brakepoints for the transformation.

Without another moment of hesitation, Lan brought the top of the scabbard and the pommel of Spellthief together. The sound of a hammer striking metal rang through the room, joined by the sparks from the two halves becoming one as the scabbard unfurled and snapped back twice as long as before, the cap at the bottom of the now spear reconfiguring into a spike.

Lan spun the spear, finding the balance to be perfect.

‘This is incredible!’ he said before sending a trace of mana into the rune, making it snap back into two halves as his father smiled.

‘Try feeding it some magic in the spear form.’

Nodding, Lan joined the two halves before cutting a line of fire silk and igniting it. As the fire runes burst to life, dancing along the heart of the blade, Lan noticed more changes happening as he watched. The metal rings along the shaft began to glow with fire runes as the blade and point of the spear burst into life with flames near their bases.

‘Wow!’ Lan stepped back before realising the flames weren’t burning him. Despite looking a little more aggressive, it was clear it was the same fire as the magic and wouldn’t burn him.

‘The metal of that sword is incredible. It can pass on its properties to other metals that it is linked to. Almost as if this was how it is meant to be used.’ Lan’s father explained as he watched over the blade.

‘Thanks, Dad. This is great.’ Lan smiled and spun the spear. ‘You think I am ready to learn to use the spear?’

‘Not just yet.’ His father smiled back.

Moments later, Lan found himself out without his spear as he stood across from his father, which was only made a little more daunting because they had a little audience picnicking under the tree.

‘Do your best, you two!’ Maya cheered as Lan and his father fell into stance.

‘Be careful.’ Lily added.

‘Don’t worry, Lan, if your father gets hurt, I won’t be mad.’ His mother called. ‘Kurt, you better not lay a finger on my son.’ She warned, even though her tone made it clear that she was joking.

‘Pay them no mind.’ his father said. ‘you have been picking up on this faster than I expected. For this sparring match, I want you to try and find and capitalise on any openings, extra points for being able to counter and start your own attack.’

Lan nodded, and with that, they began.

Lan’s father shot forward with a kick that Lan backstepped before blocking the sequence of punches. Jumping back to make some space, Lan couldn’t help but smile as his father closed the gap in the blink of an eye. Even though his father was holding back and by a lot, he was doing it so well that Lan really started to feel like it was a real fight. And although the style was still new to him. Fighting wasn’t.

Lan shot forward, seeing an open as his father landed from a kick, only to be met by a fist inches from his face.

‘Nice try,’ Lan’s father smiled, ‘your reaction was good, but your timing is a little off.’

‘Right.’ Lan nodded before putting up his guard. But a few moments later, he found himself in the same position when another opening vanished before he could reach it.

Lan fought back a curse; he was overthinking things and allowing that moment of hesitation to slow him down. Something his father clearly picked up on and wouldn’t let Lan dwell on as he started to strike a little faster until Lan didn’t have time to think at all, to the point that when he did finally manage to score a point, he almost didn’t notice until his father smiled and stepped away from his follow up attack which he had done without thinking.

‘That’s it, and extra points for following it up.’

‘Thanks.’ Lan breathed, feeling a little proud of managing even that much.

‘Great work, my sweet!’ His mother cheered, and Lan suddenly felt his face colour.

‘She is right to be proud. That was really well done. I have to remind myself that you have already been in actual combat. Now come on, let's say three points, and we can call it a day.’

With that, Lan nodded and fell into stance just as his father leapt towards him, closing the gap with a sweeping kick that Lan spun away from, turning his momentum into a back fist that his father caught and pushed away before shooting a knee that Lan blocked with both hands.

Over the cheering of his mother and Maya, Lan made his first point by doing as he had been told, using his blocks and evasions to make an opening.

Afterwards, Lan found himself falling into a state that was new to him. It wasn’t the fire of combat, but not too far off. Lan blocked his father’s subsequent attacks before countering, and although he didn’t score another point, he returned his own string of attacks that pushed his father back.

As Lan felt a smile form on his face that mirrored his father’s, Lan knew what it was. He was having fun. Not the thrill of hearing the hunter's song, or at least not the same song. There was no life or death, just the love of the competition and getting to face off against the man he looked up to the most.

Lan gained his second point almost without realising and long before the cheering stopped.

Lost in the moment, it took Lan a second to notice the cheering had not only died down, but Tyr had emerged from her crystal and was now fighting with him, tracing light along his strikes before racing to position herself in the right spot for a Wispwalk as if she too was learning from this fight.

Although he never used even a fraction of his full strength, Lan could see that his father was revelling in the fight as much as he was. The exchange of blows almost became a game as his father kept him in the moment with a pace that pushed him just enough.

Caught up in the moment, Lan saw Tyr shoot past him before calling to him. Without thinking, Lan followed, and as he appeared from the Wispwalk, turned only to find his father spinning to meet him. For a moment, Lan saw it, the light the others had talked about that burned in the eyes of a hunter as his father aimed his elbow at Lan’s throat.

Then, his father’s eyes fell on Lan, widening as the light vanished to be replaced with the same eyes Lan had always known. Which was a good thing, as his father's elbow stopped like a dagger, pointing an inch from Lan’s neck.

‘Are you okay?’ his father asked, grabbing his shoulder.

‘Yeah.’ Lan said, ‘Sorry, I got a little carried away there.’

‘Me too.’ his father breathed before they both laughed, a laugh that died down as they felt danger approaching them.