She nodded her head with a gleeful smile.
I just smiled.
That smile returned quickly.
Cerila blushed slightly as she stared off into the crowd with an ear-to-ear smile. The simple cloth hood she wore was unable to hide her feelings. It honestly made my heart flutter seeing her like this.
I haven’t seen her like this in years…it’s almost a return to how things used to be, how she used to be so excited to do just about anything with me, regardless of how mundane it was.
We walked around for only a moment before Cerila pulled me into a stall. The stall owner gave us a quick rundown of the game and said it was best if we just went against each other and ourselves. The buy-in was only a single silver coin, making it practically free. However, if we won, we could get a snack from the next vendor over.
Not wanting to miss out, we decided to play. The game was relatively simple. It was almost like a miniature game of Bastion Ball that was slightly modified, and…well, come to think of it, it didn’t have much in common at all. All we had to do was toss a ball into some rings to score points which a lot of sports games were like.
However, there was a catch to this game. We had to score an exact amount of points. If we were under or over, we lost. And the rings varied in size, with the smaller rings being worth more points. And just on the math alone, you had to make a ball through one of the smallest rings at least once to win. And if you missed more than twice on the small rings, it was a guaranteed loss.
Quite tricky seeing that the small rings were going to be challenging to hit. But with not much on the line, Cerila and I decided just to enjoy ourselves. Naturally, we both aimed for the smallest circle first, and we both hit our marks. The stall owner looked surprised, but he managed to shake it off, probably assuming we just got lucky.
But we didn’t.
“Have a nice day,” he mumbled as he handed us our vouchers.
Of course, Cerila and I both won. We scored a perfect game with an extra ball to spare. Something like that shouldn’t have been too difficult for us. Also, the stall owner wasn’t rigging the game in any way so it was all fair and square. I imagine that somebody who wasn’t well-trained in not using their mana enhancement would struggle and end up playing a few rounds.
We made our way to the snack stall, and once we handed over the voucher, we got a somewhat surprised look. The old lady gazed across at the other stall owner only to shrug and hand us two small things on sticks covered in chocolate. A quick glance at the price showed that these things were pretty expensive for something so tiny.
“What are these exactly?” I asked her.
“Chocolate-covered apple slices. I hope you enjoy them,” she said with a polite nod.
Oh, hey, that sounds pretty good.
I wasted no time and ate the whole apple slice in one bite. The immediate sweetness of the chocolate hit my tongue, only to be swept away by the rush of the tarty sourness of the apple. It was sour enough to make me pucker my lips in surprise. But soon after, the velvety chocolate coated my mouth again, leaving an interesting aftertaste.
I could do without the sour part. It’s not bad. It's just that the chocolate is being defiled. And I can’t have that.
I looked over to find Cerila watching me with wide eyes.
She shook her head quickly and immediately took a small bite out of her treat. But it seemed her apple was a lot sourer than mine, or she was far more surprised. Her lips puckered, and her tongue lolled out of her mouth. I couldn’t help but laugh at the sight.
She playfully shoved me as her face turned red. She held the half-bitten apple close to her chest only to finish it off with a single quick bite. Her face puckered again, and she slapped her thigh once, but she suddenly stood tall with a stoic face, trying to pretend it didn’t bother her at all.
Cerila puffed her cheeks out at me.
Cerila gently pushed me again as she let out a small noise. It was her holding back a small chuckle. And seeing her like that brought a smile to my face.
Then Cerila looked surprised for a moment and started sniffing into the air.
Are there different kinds of sniffs? Like…do sniffs of certain lengths…change…I don’t even know. I feel like asking would be a bit awkward.
Cerila nodded meekly.
We waded through the crowd of people with ease. Nobody seemed too interested in making a fuss or bothering us, or anyone for that matter. We got the occasional muffled gasp of surprise and stares because of me, but even that was at an all-time low.
The people here seemed genuinely unbothered by my presence, and it was refreshing. Everyone just wanted to have a good time while the blizzard had subsided. I also imagine that the first winter storm slowing down was the indicator for the Field Games to start.
Cerila moved with purpose until she brought us into a small clearing. A handful of people spectated a group of men throwing spears and javelins at painted straw targets. But it was over to the side a bit where a much larger crowd was gathered.
A group of onlookers was enjoying a spear-throwing match. A burly leopard Beastmen was facing off against an equally large Human. The Human’s hairy arms exploded out from his sleeveless leather jacket and were so thick that if somebody told me he was an old giant Dwarf, I would have believed them. I mean, his legs were as wide as some people’s bodies.
His curly black hair and beard exploded out from his measly-sized hood all the way down to his barrel chest, and I watched with piqued interest. He threw a giant spear with such force that once it connected with the straw target, it exploded into a ball of yellow hay. The man was a beast and the fact that he could muster that much strength without mana enhancement was impressive.
The Beastmen shook his head in defeat but was still grinning as he prepared to throw his spear. The Beastmen’s weapon flew true, and it hit the hay target hard enough to make it rock, but it lacked the explosive force of the other man.
The Human chuckled with a gravelly voice and patted the Beastmen on the back in a friendly manner. I wasn’t sure what the two were competing at since they both hit the target with similar accuracy. I guess they were truly attempting to see how strong they were. The Human scanned the crowd, and to my surprise, Cerila waved at him, and he looked utterly shocked for a moment before laughing and waving back.
Cerila nodded and waved for the man to come over. He lumbered over, still chuckling to himself. The man stood right in front of both of us and he had to be standing nearly seven feet tall. If King Maxwell was a body builder of epic proportions then that man was king of the Vikings.
“Well, if it ain’t little Miss White, good to see you smiling for a change,” he said with a grin.
The man looked over from her to me and raised his bushy eyebrows. “Well, slap my back and call me a Troll. An Elf with tan skin, High Elf Ears, and the eye of a damn Dragon. You're the freaking Dragon Slayer.”
“I suppose so,” I said back.
“You suppose so, huh?” he said with a gravelly chuckle. “Guess you aren’t hidin yourself.”
Cerila took out her black stone tablet from her Spatial Ring and started writing away.
Agnar just laughed again. “Hi? That’s all little Miss White has to say to me after all this time?”
But Agnar stopped laughing as he absentmindedly gazed between us. His head slowly moved back, and his beady black eyes widened. It looked like the man suddenly pieced together the answer to the universe.
“No way…Miss White…was this guy your fiance that you were looking for?” Agnar mumbled in disbelief.
Fiance? Well…I guess she wasn’t wrong.
Cerila’s face blushed but she kept nodding her head with a happy smile as she continued to write on her tablet.
“Nice to meet you, Agnar,” I said, simply extending a hand.
The big man reached down with his giant bear palm covering my hand. But then snorted. “Helped? You saved my behind, Miss White. Never would have thought an Opal adventurer would be able to take down a Black Orc in the blink of an eye.” Agnar shook his head in disbelief as he looked over at me. “Who would have thought the one she was trying to save was the damn Dragon Slayer. Color me surprised…it’s a weird and wild world out here.”
Agnar and Cerila talked amongst each other for a bit. I decided not to interrupt, but I did catch glimpses of Cerila’s tablet every now and again. Of course, my name was often on there. Eventually, Agnar let out a long sigh and strolled over to me.
“You any good at throwing a spear, Dragon Slayer?” he asked.
“I’ve got some training,” I admitted.
Dad had taught me the proper way to throw spears and javelins. Naturally, those were two different stances, but I learned them nonetheless. Typically, it wasn’t the best method for a spear user to throw his only weapon, but sometimes it was needed and even a useful strategy in certain situations. And as Aganar proved, if you can supply enough force, then you can quickly devastate a creature or person.
“Good, I’m gonna brag about this for the rest of my life. Even my descendants will be retelling my feats,” he chuckled.
“I think you are cutting me a bit short, Agnar,” I argued.
Agnar waved me away with a chuckle. “I have no doubts you will be skillful, Dragon Slayer, but I’ll be damned if I Iet somebody still wet behind the ears beat me in my own domain.”
The man tossed me a spear and I gave it a once over. It wasn’t all that amazing. Decent weight and size for the average person which meant it was a bit small for me. Judging by the barrel he pulled it from, they appeared to all be mass-produced iron spears. Probably a military surplus if I had to guess.
“So…just aim for the target? Are there points or something to go off of?” I asked as I twirled the spear around.
“Nah, just hit the target and don’t use mana enhancement. Although I bet that will be a challenge for ya. Aim for the second column. These close ones are too easy…unless the Dragon Slayer needs to warm up?” he chuckled.
“No, I’ll be fine with the further targets,” I told him.
There were three rows of targets at different distances and sizes. The closest targets were about as big as a boulder and were pretty damn close. I imagined it was for people who just wanted to toss a spear for fun. However, anyone with even a bit of skill could easily hit their mark.
The second row’s targets were a lot smaller, probably a bit smaller than an average person, and they were nearing the maximum distance a typical spear could be thrown. Any further and the person would be entering javelin territory. As for the third row, that required a javelin and a good amount of skill as the targets were no bigger than a Human head. Hitting those would be a challenge even for me.
The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
So without waiting any longer…I reared back and launched the spear straight into the center of the first target.
Cerila clapped a few times behind me, and Agnar let out a long whistle and looked me up and down. “Well damn. That was a good throw, and you didn’t even use mana enhancement,” he said eying my magic item.
“I already had the dang lecture ready in my head to give you some pointers since everybody messes up on their first try. Guess you ain’t the Dragon Slayer for nothing.”
“I believe it’s your turn, Agnar,” I said with a slight grin.
“Don’t get too cocky now, Dragon Slayer. I didn’t get promoted to Sapphire for my dashing looks,” he said with a deep gravelly laugh.
So, he’s a Sapphire Adventurer? Just a single rank below Emerald. This guy is no country bumpkin. He’s the elite of the elite in the Adventurers Guild. Of course, that also begs the question as to why Cerila was even close to a Ruby or Sapphire threat-level dungeon.
And as his rank suggested, Agnar did not disappoint. I was half expecting him to muscle the spear to the target, but I was surprised once more. The man wasn’t all talk, he had a solid form to his powerful throw, and it was good. Probably better than mine. I suppose this guy has been throwing spears before I even existed. He looked to be in his late forties, but it was hard to tell with an overflowing beard covering his face.
I walked over to grab another spear but decided I’d ask him a few questions. “Hey, do you mind telling me what happened with Cerila? And how she came to be in a dungeon with you?”
Agnar looked surprised for a moment but shrugged. “You got the wrong idea, Dragon Slayer. I wasn’t in a dungeon with her. She just showed up randomly. I had no idea she was there.”
“So she just… wandered into a dungeon? What about her Dwarf companion?” I asked him as I prepared to throw the next spear.
“Dwarf? I ain’t see a Dwarf with her. But yeah, it sure seems like she walked in randomly. It turned out she smelled blood from the entrance or something and came to investigate,” he said with a shrug.
“Anyway, I hired a party of adventurers to explore that place with me. I was hunting a rare Spotted Sabertooth that people said they found. It was going to be a hunt to remember, but things didn’t go as planned,” he said.
I threw the spear into the target, hitting it dead center again. “Oh? And what happened?”
“Well, we found the Spotted Sabertooth, but not how I imagined it. It was draped over the shoulders of a big ol’ Black Orc. Not the kind of sight somebody wants to see,” Agnar grumbled as he tossed his spear into the target, striking it perfectly in the center.
Black Orcs, huh? I read that they were mutated Orcs that were far stronger and smarter than the average green-skinned Orc. An Orc was a threat level of about fifty or so. Dangerous enough to warrant an adventurer team or skilled fighter to interfere.
A group of Orcs, depending on the size of the horde, could quickly get up to a threat level of one hundred, or the equivalent of a threat to raze a village or small town. A single Black Orc was a threat level of one hundred by itself.
“That thing had a dungeon item as well. It was using a bow so strong it pierced straight through our Vanguard's iron shield like it was nothing. The poor guy didn’t even get a chance to scream before he died. From there on, it was a bloodbath—a mere party of four against a Black Orc and at least ten regular orcs. Our Warrior didn’t last long either,” Agnar said solemnly.
“I understand. I’m sorry I brought it up,” I apologized as I hit the last spear target.
Piecing everything together was easy enough…
Digging into other adventurers’ pasts was taboo. I had thoughtlessly asked because I was curious and didn’t consider Agnar’s feelings. Not everyone could wade through mental anguish and come out unscathed on the other end.
Agnar quickly tossed his spear for another perfect strike. Currently, we were three for three. Agnar nodded his head and led me to the javelin-throwing third row. There were only two targets on this range—one for each contestant.
“It’s fine. Stuff like that happens in that line of work, you know? No point in sinking in the past. That’s what my papa always used to say,” he said, with a slightly less enthusiastic chuckle.
Agnar tossed me a javelin, and it was as I expected. It was better in make and clearly made for throwing as its weight was distributed better, and it was a more appropriate size. However, it was still a simple, mass-produced product.
“I’ll go first this time since you went first last. But if we both hit our target, we’ll just move on to the final target. But, uh, you need a warmup for that? I don’t want you complaining I didn’t give you a chance,” he asked.
“I’ll make do,” I said.
Agnar got into a stance but looked over his shoulder. “Say, since you asked me some questions, how about I get to tell you something?”
Tell me instead of ask?
“I don’t see why not,” I responded.
Agnar let out a deep breath and looked straight ahead. “I don’t know what kind of relationship you two have, but let me tell you this. Little Miss White over there really cares about you. Even after she cut a Black Orc in half, weapon and all, she was ready to walk away without saying a damn word. I had to hold onto her sleeve like some kind of snotty kid just to get her to stop and talk for five seconds. She had nothing but hollow eyes and a burning drive to save you.”
“I know that…”
Agnar looked back over at me. “Do you? To me, it seems like she is real happy to be here with you, but you don’t look too happy to be here with her.”
“And how would you know that?” I shot back a bit more defensively than I meant. Even though I knew he was probably right.
“As I said, you are still wet behind the ears, Dragon Slayer. I might not be the sharpest spear around, but I know a thing or two,” he chuckled.
Agnar repositioned himself. He took a few steps forward, and in a perfect show of his skill, he threw the javelin in a textbook way. It was baffling to witness such a large man elegantly glide across the ground and throw a javelin with nothing but sheer technique.
And the javelin flew true. It drew a wondrous arc as it smacked straight into the head-sized target. The target exploded into a burst of hay. It genuinely was an exceptional throw. Even more so, considering he did it without mana enhancement.
Agnar let out another deep breath and nodded at his impressive feat. “I ain’t gonna pry into your business anymore or pretend to know the situation you're in with her. She tried saving you, and you ended up becoming the Dragon Slayer, so now you should protect her, you know? The same energy and all that. It’s hard to find somebody that is willing to go solo into a dungeon just for a damn small chance at finding someone.”
The big man turned to me and sighed as he ran a hand through his beard. “Just don’t let her wither away alone and ignore her like you are now.” He pointed a large stubby finger at me. “Cuz if you do, I’ll find ya myself and launch you on an Elf-sized spear down range.”
That would be…an impressive feat. But I feel he may be capable of doing just that.
And to be honest, I didn’t even know how to respond to him. I’d just been enjoying the day with Cerila. I was ignoring the crux of our underlying problems. Truth be told, I didn’t know what to say or what to do about it. I don’t think Agnar’s words helped me figure it out, but they reminded me that I was running from it all.
And it was just hurting Cerila…what do I do…
When Bowen asked me those series of questions on that bench overlooking the school, I answered all of them in regard to Sylvia. But when I asked myself those questions and inserted Cerila into them, I got the exact same answers.
I didn’t like the idea of Cerila being with another man. And I did want to make her happy. I cared about her not just because of a sense of recompense. I always cared about Cerila, even though it took me a long time to realize it. I mean, I willingly sacrificed my life just to give her a better shot at life.
Was that something even best friends did? If it was Padraic instead of Cerila, would I have done the same thing? I like to think that I would have, but…who knows if I would have at the moment?
I had plans to do something. To change my current position with Sylvia. I imagined it would be a slow process, knowing me. But, no, it was a guarantee that it would be like that. But…
Sigh…even after all this time, it’s still hard to work through this stuff.
I felt somebody nudge me on the side, breaking me out of my thoughts.
I caught Agnar watching me with a satisfied grin. “Nervous, Dragon Slayer?”
“In your dreams, old man,” I said as I took up my javelin.
Agnar let out another chuckle but I had to admit he was definitely a better javelin thrower than I was. And I doubted I’d be as elegant as him, but I wasn’t entirely out of my depth.
Well, here goes nothing.
Just like Agnar, I took my running steps and launched the javelin from my hand. It felt good coming out, and even without mana enhancement it felt powerful and accurate. My javelin lacked the elegant arc of Agnar’s, but it soared through the air toward the target. And for all my worries, I was awarded the satisfying sound of a javelin impacting the target. It might not have been as brutal of an impact as Agnar’s, but a hit was a hit.
Cerila was the first to reach me as she pulled on my shoulder with an ear-to-ear smile. She didn’t even seem surprised that I hit the target and instead gave me words of encouragement.
She looked more surprised at my question than me hitting the head-sized target from long range.
Agnar was just smiling as he watched us, but he turned his head and called out into the crowd. A lanky man waddled out from the gathering of people. I hadn’t even realized there were that many people watching us. I sort of just tuned them out, and since they didn’t even whoop or holler, it was no surprise that I hadn’t noticed them.
Agnar gave the man some quick instructions, and he grabbed two palm-sized plates and ran out into the field. “Alright, Dragon Slayer. This is the last target, and she’s a rough one, so this is how it’s gonna work. If one of us hits it and the other doesn’t, then that person wins. If neither of us hit it, everything’s a draw, yeah?”
“A draw? No throw-off or something?” I questioned.
Agnar chuckled and slapped me on the shoulder. “Heck no. Tying with the Dragon Slayer is almost as good as beating him!” he chuckled.
“I guess—hey…wait…that guy is going really far,” I said as I pointed down the field.
He was nearly at the maximum distance, well out of the conventional javelin range. We were nearing bow and arrow territory with that kind of distance.
“Scared? You can forfeit,” he chuckled.
“I wouldn’t say I’m afraid, but this seems a bit overkill. Do you really mean to tell me that this is normal? Has anyone ever hit this target before?” I argued.
Agnar grinned so brightly I could see his white teeth through his curly black beard. “Yeah, I have,” he said with complete confidence. “Not just once or twice either. I don’t miss, Dragon Slayer.”
Well…if that’s the case, then I had to see it because this was out of the realm of normalcy. That would be a godly feat, even with Agnar’s technique and strength. I don’t think Dad or even King Maxwell could make it on their first try.
“Just to prove it, I’ll go first.” He pointed at his eyes and then at me. “Just watch and learn, Dragon Slayer. Watch and learn…” he trailed off.
Agnar dropped into a comfortable position with his javelin held high. He took a few deep breaths and exhaled slowly. Everyone around us was utterly silent as we watched on with bated breath.
Agnar gave a loud roar, and the man down the field haphazardly tossed the plate into the air. There was no way each throw was uniform which probably made this last target even more impossible. Agnar took a lot of running steps, far more than he did with the last target, and tensed his body.
The muscles on his arms, shoulders, and legs bulged with pure power as he stepped into the crowd. His foot literally sank into the soft soil, and he launched his javelin with an audible woosh.
The piece of wood and iron shot through the air like an arrow with such force I didn’t think I would have been able to track it without my Dragon eye. Agnar was a beast, for sure. But with that throw, he was a god amongst men.
Because he hit the damn target…not on its way up or down but at its apex.
The crowd erupted into a cheer at the feat of skill and strength. I felt myself clapping at the feat, and Cerila even slightly pushed my shoulder in excitement as she clapped furiously.
Agnar bathed in the praise and swept his arms to the side. “You’re up, Dragon Slayer.”
“Big shoes to fill,” I chuckled. “That was an impressive toss, Agnar.”
“Flattery ain’t gonna hit the target, Dragon Slayer,” Agnar chuckled.
I picked my weapon up and looked over to Agnar. “Hey…do I have to yell as you did?”
He cocked his head to the side with a playful smile. “Gotta let him know when to throw someway.”
“Bit embarrassing, but I suppose when in Rome do as the Romans do,” I muttered to myself.
Agnar gave me a funny look because I said that in English, but I ignored him. I had a target to hit, and Cerila’s expecting and excited gaze was not making this easier.
I calmed my mind and body and prepared myself for the throw, tuning out the world. It didn’t matter if it was a nearly impossible target. That didn’t mean I was going to go at this half-baked and not try. Besides, as Agnar proved, it was doable, albeit extraordinarily difficult.
I opened my eyes and let out a roar of my own. I didn’t even check to see if the man was going to throw the target and was already in the middle of my steps when I acquired the target. I knew aiming for the apex would be too much, so I opted to hit the mark on its downward trajectory.
The javelin released from my hand with a satisfying swoosh as it flew off toward the target. It felt good on release. I was confident I was on the mark. All I could do was watch in anticipation as time slowed down, and just then…only then…
Did I miss.
My javelin hit the dirt, missing the plate by a good margin. I let out a sigh, and the crowd let out groans. I wish I could say that I was close. That if the target was thrown slightly better or if I was a bit luckier, I would have hit it, but that wasn’t the case.
I could make the same throw a hundred times and hit it a single time if I was lucky. Agnar’s throw was just that spectacular. I lost fair and square.
Agnar wiped the sweat off his face and patted me on the back. “I tell you what, Dragon Slayer, you had me nervous there for a moment. I thought you just about had it with your yell alone,” he said with a chuckle that was filled with far more jolly than the previous ones.
“You ain’t mad, right? Want a retoss or something?” Agnar asked me.
“No sir, I lost this round without a doubt. You are the better javelin thrower for sure,” I said, admitting my defeat.
Agar nodded his head and smiled. “Humble too. Takes a man with a good head and heart to admit that. Got plenty of people who complain about their toss being unfair. No wonder she likes you so much,” he said as he looked behind me.
I followed his eyes, and Cerila's face was bright red, her tail moving back and forth. She tried hiding with what little fabric was left on her hood but to no avail. It was quite adorable if I do say so myself.