About seven months had passed since Kamil returned home. His parents gave him a warm welcome. It had been only a month or two he had been away but it felt like ages nevertheless.
When he told his parents what had transpired that made him come back, his mother looked deeply troubled while his father didn’t seem to have much, if any, grasp on what was really going on.
Regardless, their peaceful tea harvesting life resumed. With the old maid having taken over the task of doing most, if not all, house chores, the whole family was out at work. Even Faro started to help the work although, to be frank, he was mostly useless.
Of course, as Vilma’s belly got larger, she no longer worked and soon gave birth.
It was another son which made the old maid so ecstatic that she cried her eyes out while cradling the newly born baby and kept telling them that they were blessed.
The baby was just like Faro, with blonde hair and blue eyes. Such were Vilma’s features. Grent had brown hair and dark eyes.
And there was something else Kamil had been working on. He had been practising his swordsmanship from a local retired adventurer. He was a guy in late 30s who had to retire early due to some wounds. He had apparently turned into a farmer. Upon spotting Kamil’s short sword, he grew an urge to ask if he needed training.
Long story short, he had been training once or twice a week with the guy. In his previous life, Tom had never learned any formal swordsmanship. Thus, it had been helpful to learn the basics. The only reason Kamil was able to defeat Noah Harder was due to his unorthodox way of swordsmanship. As someone who was basically self-taught, his swordsmanship style wasn’t predictable.
In other words, a thug may have been able to see what Kamil was about to do, but a formally trained knight like Noah was never going to be able to predict.
And a new guest visited them one day which brightened up his rather dull days.
“Miss. Brugg?” It was Greta Brugg, a young historian working for the Fenchel house. He recognized her instantly. She was a good looking woman after all.
“Hello, Sir. Kamil. It has been a while.”
“What are you doing here, Miss. Brugg?”
“I am here for two purposes. One, I am here to update you on events of the house Fenchel. Two, I am here to teach you some wind magic. I am a wind mage myself.”
According to Greta, not long after he returned to Laufeld, Lord Fenchel ordered to arrest Lady Fenchel who had already fled the manor. However, she did not take her daughter with her.
“What happened to the daughter then?”
“She is under house arrest.”
“But she hasn’t done anything wrong?”
“She hasn’t.” She wouldn’t elaborate further although it wasn’t hard to guess what fate awaited her.
“He can’t kill her?!” He dared ask.
She, again, refused to elaborate.
“Isn’t she, like, Lord Fenchel’s real daughter?” He argued anyway.
“Sir. Kamil, to our lord, you are the only child he has.”
Because I have a fucking penis?!
He really wanted to tell her that.
What the fuck is wrong with you nobles?! The kid hasn’t done anything wrong here! Send her in exile or something at the least!
Again, he really wanted to tell her such. Instead, deeply sighing, he fell down to the ground hopelessly. They were on a small hill not far from Laufeld.
“The truth is,” She said timidly. “I volunteered to come here. The air at the Fenchel house in Lux at the moment is not very good. Besides..., I had to get away.”
“Huh?”
“I, ehm, got proposed.”
“Eh?”
Apparently, the guard captain, Noah Harder proposed to her.
Well, the man’s got a good taste, I will give him that.
“So..., what do you think, Sir. Kamil?” She was blushing hard when she asked.
.... What? Is she seriously asking or consulting me about her marriage? She is asking a kid, 7 year-old? Must have panicked a lot. She basically ran away.
“Well..., I’ve met Sir. Harder a few times. My impression of him was good.”
Actually, comical rather. But she does not need to know what happened.
Greta was silent. It looked like she wanted to say something but she kept her mouth shut.
“L,let me teach you wind magic!” She stood up at once. It was a poor attempt at changing the subject, but Kamil couldn’t care less. It wasn’t like he’d be able to give her any meaningful advice on her love life. Besides, he was fairly certain that she was going to accept Mr. Harder’s proposal at this point. She just needed to let the shock die down.
“What spells do you know, Sir. Kamil? Oh, and what’s your affinity with wind?”
“Mr. Hunt told me that it was about five. And I know breeze, gust, haste, and levitation.”
She made a V (victory) sign with a giggle. “I am seven!”
Is that your mental age, ma’am?
He wanted to say. Anyway, she began her short lecture.
“Wind magic is a mix of offensive and buff spells. Most of its offensive spells are area of effect but lack the kick that fire spells have.”
She cutely pointed her index finger upwards.
“But the most important aspect about magic is how you apply it to your combat style. The haste spell can be applied to yourself if you are a warrior, providing you with a speed boost. There is no set way to use spells. It’s basically whatever goes as long as you are creative enough.”
Her lecture made him think -
“Can it be applied to archery?”
She rolled her eyes in thoughts as her index finger moved onto her lips.
Man, she’s cute. Lucky you, Mr. Harder.
“You could...,” She mumbled. “But I can’t think of any. After all, I don’t know anything at all about archery.”
“Whatever goes, huh....”
He stood up at once and exclaimed, “Spirits of wind, hear my call! Eh..., could you summon me a bow?”
Nothing, and Greta tilted her head. Shrugging, he said to himself, “Figured as much.” Without hoping for any positive outcome, he blurted out his next awkward request. “Spirits of wind, hear my call! Can you make me an arrow?”
Then out of nowhere an arrow appeared in front of him or rather it was a greenish translucent arrow shaped object floating in front of him.
“Oh, wow!” Greta clapped cutely.
“Oh, wow,” Kamil repeated after her. He tried to touch it, but his fingers went right through it. “How do I handle this?” He wondered aloud.
“Maybe you need a bow?”
He did have a practice bow at home. So, he ran and came back with a bow in hand. The summoned arrow vanished as soon as he moved afar from it.
“Spirits of wind, hear my call! Summon a wind arrow!”
This time, the greenish translucent arrow shaped object slotted itself in the bow.
“So, this is how it works!” Kamil exclaimed in joy. He drew the bow and fired at a random direction. The arrow flew with power and didn’t seem to lose speed but simply vanished at one point. He wasn’t sure but felt it was about 50 meters.
“I think you may have invented a new spell!” Greta remarked and chanted, “Elementals of wind, heed my call! Summon a wind arrow!”
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The same arrow but brighter in green appeared in front of her as well. “It works!” She cried joyfully.
I could definitely use this. I wonder how many I can summon though.
He attempted to summon as many as he could before feeling lightheaded. He could summon about ten.
I wish I knew about this as Tom. I could have saved money.
Several days came and went with Greta. During that time, she taught him a list of basic wind spells. In addition to breeze, gust, haste, and levitation, Kamil learned wind blade and whirlwind.
Wind blade was the most basic offensive spell for wind mages. It was a single target offensive spell. The whirlwind spell was a wind version of fireball spell. Greta warned him not to cast it for the time being since he might pass out after casting it.
At one point, Kamil decided to do a little bit of adventuring.
“With just the two of us?”
“I want to test out the wind arrow against real targets. We won’t go far.”
According to Greta, the southern region was relatively safer.
“The further you go North, the nastier it gets,” She added.
Kamil did recall the villager elder’s warning not to go out at all at night. Even under daylight, there was a rule that a group of three grown men were required to venture out. The only exception to that rule was hunters who had to act alone in search of prey.
“Having said that, it’s still not a good idea. It will be just me virtually. We need at least one more, a warrior type,” She suggested.
Thus, Kamil inquired the retired adventurer whose name was Martin.
“I can’t,” He refused. “I mean I have to farm.”
“Does that mean you are able to physically?”
“Well, if it’s just weak monsters, like goblins, I should be fine. But, like I said, I have to farm.”
“What if I pay for your troubles?”
Kamil didn’t have money, so he looked at Greta who noticed his stare. Pointing at herself, she responded, “Me?”
“Who else? I am just a kid. I don’t have any money.” Looking back at Martin, he inquired, “How much for about 3 days worth of adventuring?”
Martin folded his arms and let out a groan. He was a farmer but did not own any actual farms. Instead, he was employed by a wealthy farmer as a worker, meaning as long as someone could work in his place, it was fine.
“A silver coin. That should be enough to hire someone in my place and then some extra for me.”
Greta didn’t seem to have any issues with that and took out a silver coin from her coin bag on her belt.
“There you go.”
“Thanks, young miss.”
“Give me a day, will you? I need to find someone and I will need to prepare my gears. I haven’t used them for a few years.”
“Alright, meet you tomorrow morning at the town gate?”
“Sounds good to me.”
Back home, Greta was thoroughly enjoying her time with Faro and Taro.
I should be thankful that I was given somewhat of a better name... My poor brothers.
Apparently, Vilma named Kamil. Faro and Taro were named by Grent.
“Oh, look how cute your nose is!” She poked Taro’s nose and then his cheek who in turn beamed a baby smile and grabbed her finger.
“So cute!”
She was dying.
“Don’t bully the baby too much, milady,” The old maid warned.
Pouting, Greta argued back, “ How rude! I am not bullying! I am playing with Taro!”
Then she took the baby out and began to cradle him.
She’s really enjoying it. Well, I am sure you will have your own soon with Mr. Harder.
The next morning, Martin was already there at the town gate when Kamil and Greta arrived. He was donning what appeared to be a mostly leather armour with a few plate parts. His shoulder, elbow, and knee pads were plates. He had a round wooden shield and a backpack on his back and a long sword on his belt.
He looked the part.
“It’s been some years since the last time I partook in an adventure,” He remarked as they departed Laufeld.
As for Kamil, he had a practice bow on his back and the short sword given by Elias Hunt. Both of them were on his back. Equipping the short sword on his belt hindered his movements.
As for Greta, she wore a light brown robe with a belt tightening her waist. She had a wooden staff in her hand. Her belt had numerous potions and a few pouches. Finally, she, too, had a backpack on her back.
Those backpacks contained food, water, and flints.
The immediate vicinity of Laufeld was peaceful. There were occasional animals and that was it.
“What will we find eventually?” Kamil asked.
“Laufeld is mostly peaceful,” Greta remarked. “But, if we head eastward toward the mountains, we will find something.”
“Shall we head east then?”
Thus, they headed eastward and reached the mountains within half a day of walking.
“Bingo,” Martin said with a whistle.
There was a group of three goblins wandering about.
“There must be a goblin camp nearby,” Greta remarked.
A goblin looked like a green toddler but much uglier. Its ears were long and pointy. They were wearing loincloths and crude clubs in their hands. And they had no hair on their head.
“Should be easy enough,” Martin said as he walked toward them. Drawing out his shield and sword, he entered his battle stance.
The three goblins hissed and barked at Martin who was approaching carefully with his shield up.
Meanwhile, Kamil pulled out his bow and chanted, “Spirits of wind, wind arrow.” A green translucent arrow appeared slotted in his bow. He drew it and shot. It flew straight at one of the goblins’ heads and pierced right through its skull. Spouting blood out of the holes on front and back, the goblin’s eyes became mucky as it fell right down.
Surprised, Martin glanced back at Kamil.
“Not bad at all, lad! Was that wind magic?”
“Yeah.”
“Never seen anyone using it like that.”
It was indeed not bad at all. In fact, it was better than using conventional arrows.
“Miss. Brugg, don’t help us unless we ask for it, okay?”
Greta nodded.
Two more arrows in quick succession, and the goblins were down. Martin didn’t have to do anything at all.
Then they set for the night.
“Things can get really rough once you go far enough,” Martin said as he set up a campfire while Greta was taking out jerkies which were covered by clean white linen sheets.
“I can do ten of those arrows per day,” Kamil said while taking two strips of jerkies along with a waterskin.
“Ten, huh. How good are you with your short sword?”
“Probably decent enough not to hinder you. Miss. Brugg can pack a punch, I assume.”
Greta replied, “Offensive wind spells are all area effect spells. A small goblin horde should be no problem as long as you two can pick on strays.”
“Man, we should have picked up a guild request then,” Martin lamented half-jokingly.
“I didn’t know that there was a guild in Laufeld?”
“There isn’t. But there is a message board at tavern where you can find some odd jobs. It’s operated by the Lux guild and is updated daily.”
No wonder Kamil didn’t know. As a child, he’d never even approach the tavern.
“Anyway,” Martin continued. “Let’s try to locate a goblin camp tomorrow and wipe it out. There could be some good loot.”
And, therefore, the group began to seek out the possible goblin camp which wasn’t too hard by tracking footprints.
The goblin camp looked like a miniature version of a crude nomadic camp. There were three basic tarp hide tents with numerous camp fires around it where they were cooking questionable meats. Some goblins were blissfully asleep in the tent while others were either watching the meat being cooked or wandering around in search of something, likely extra food.
“I can blow them up at once but I guess that is not the preferred option?” It was Greta.
Kamil began counting whatever he could. “That’s way more than ten,” He remarked.
“I won’t stand much of a chance against that many,” Martin said.
They were hiding under brushes not far from the camp. After giving it a thought, Kamil suggested.
“Miss. Brugg, I think you should blow them up. That should get rid of most of the goblins, yeah?”
“Probably.”
“We will pick up remnants.”
“That sounds good to me,” Martin agreed. “By the way, are we heading home after this?”
“I think so.”
“Let’s do this then. I hope they got some good loot.”
Upon agreement, Greta stood up from the bushes at once and began to chant.
“Elementals of wind, heed my call! Grant me a powerful wind to blow my enemies away from afar: Whirlwind!”
A single cone of whirlwind appeared right in the middle of the goblin camp, blowing away the three basic tarp tents instantly along with goblins. It soon picked up other various debris from the camp, and the whole whirlwind became opaque. It danced around for a good 5 minutes before dying off, dropping whatever it was holding into the ground.
“Charge!” Martin dashed forward with Kamil readying his bow.
Greta chanted, “Elementals of wind, heed my call! Grant speed to my allies: Haste!”
Both Martin and Kamil’s bodies glowed in greenish hue momentarily.
“Ohh, thanks, Miss!” Martin exclaimed as he found himself in awe of his newfound speed.
“Spirits of wind, hear my call! Wind arrow!”
The cleanup operation proved to be a piece of cake. Martin slashed down either confused or wounded goblins with ease while Kamil was shooting down those that were either fleeing or trying to attack Martin from behind.
Soon enough, they were inspecting what was once a goblin camp site for loot.
“Look at that, it’s a silver dagger,” Marin remarked as he rummaged through a file of a tarp camp. “Some jewelry as well.”
Greta was not at all interested in looting. As for Kamil, he picked up what he could carry in his pockets which were mostly jewelry and a few gemstones.
The happiest person in the end was Martin whose loot would patch a decent amount of coins.
“Why did you even retire, Mister? You looked fine,” Kamil asked Martin who was packing loot up in his backpack.
“It’s mostly my knee and left shoulder. My knee hurts really bad sometimes, and I’ve had a poison arrow stuck in my shoulder which never really fully healed.”
He elaborated further that, on good days, he was perfectly fine. But, on bad days, he wouldn’t be able to do much, if at all, as a warrior. So, he retired early.
“I can still farm even when my knee and shoulder hurt,” He added.
“Have you had a water mage look at you?” Greta asked to which Martin shook his head.
“They tend to charge too much. I couldn’t afford one at that time. The wound itself is all healed up now. I doubt it can be healed at this point.”
Greta nodded along. Kamil recalled a similar situation with Fio who had her tendon cut and wasn’t healed in time for a full recovery. She limped since then.
“Anyway, let’s go home, shall we?” With a grunt, Martin picked up his backpack. It looked heavy. It was packed to brim with loot. In fact, he gave all remaining food to Greta to free up space in his backpack.
Upon returning, Martin threw a casual salute as farewell and disappeared.
“We could do this again sometime,” was his last words.
Greta turned to Kamil.
“Sir. Kamil, I think I should go back to Lux.”
He knew she would leave at one point but couldn’t hide his disappointment. She was a nice person to hang out with, not to mention she was cute.
“I shouldn’t stop you. Thanks for everything so far.”
Nodding lightly, she cast levitation and flew away.