After staying in the Capital for a week I'm all but exhausted, as much as I enjoy traveling this place isn't for me, It's way too cramped for my liking but today is the day I get to get my sword. As I walked towards the Smithy I thought back to the week. I was trying to activate the 'Gift of Strength' through muscle workouts and generating an image of me increasing my strength, but it didn't work. All these experiments with no results are so frustrating because I don't know what to do and I don't know where I could find someone with the specific Gift... actually, I do know one place but it's somewhere I would rather not go. The Orc Continent. They're all known for having physical abilities beyond what should be possible normally, but this being due to a Gift or just the race itself is something I wouldn't know which is the only reason I've not decided if I would go or not.
All this thinking and not getting anywhere is exhausting but I don't have time to be down because I'm getting a new sword! Saying I'm excited would be a huge understatement swords have been the only thing that fascinates me to no end. Now I'm getting one made by one of the greatest smiths known to mankind, it all was rather exciting if I had to say so myself. I got there ten minutes after walking out of the inn, Thorgrim was sitting behind his desk looking at something I couldn't see. He saw me walking in and immediately went to get the sword without me having to ask which was convenient. I had to wait for a few minutes before he walked back out with a smooth black katana.
It looked amazing! I couldn't believe such a blade would be mine. I was getting all giddy and excited over a sword which some people would find rather strange but Thorgrim seemed just as proud of the sword as I was excited about it.
"Human this is the sword I forged, one of the best blades I've ever made so take care of it"
"Yes, of course, sir!" He handed me the sword and I was surprised by how light it felt. It would fit perfectly with my combat style. There's only one sword that has felt better, but that doesn't count since it was an innate sword made to be a perfect fit for the wielder. This sword was something that not even some Royals could obtain. I immediately wanted to go test it out. After thanking the Smith and paying him a tip for the amazing work, I left and went to find an area where I could train and swing my sword for hours on end. I found a place behind the inn where I trained for five hours straight, working out with the sword and admiring it.
My business here in the Dwarfen continent was over though so I spent the rest of the day just in my room recovering from the workout and planning on where I should go next. Maybe the Elves' continent? I could find Scarlett and Michael and join up with them again, it would be safer than traveling alone for sure but that Michael guy feels like something is wrong with him but I can't put my finger on it. It's probably nothing anyway so I shouldn't worry about it. Thinking it over for a while I decided I would join up with them again before deciding what I would do further.
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
The next day I went on my way after greeting and thanking the smith again for the sword, I wondered if I should make straight for the Elves' continent or just try to meet them going back to the Human continent, I thought it would be more likely they're still in the elven continent because Scarlett wanted to train there and not just look around like I did. Plus it's only been a week it would be a shame to go so far away and only stay for a week. If I go at a jogging pace I should make it in 2 or 3 days, yeah that sounds about right. Alright, off I go!
*** *** ***
It's been 2 days since leaving the smith and I should see the Elf's border soon unless I miscalculated but I threw that thought right as I thought about it. Ever since leaving the Dwarfen continents borders, I've felt this awful sense of dread, it almost feels the same as the day of the Massacre but not quite the same and not as alarming. This probably means it's just a feeling of leaving safety rather than being in actual danger. It kept getting worse, this feeling I hated it, it reminded me of that witch of a woman.
I couldn't shake off the feeling of dread that was slowly creeping up on me. It was like a cold hand clutching at my heart, reminding me of the Massacre. I tried to push the thoughts away, but the more I did so, the more they came back, stronger than ever.
I knew I had to confront the memories, but I was afraid of what I might find. There was one event that haunted me the most. The day my parents and best friend died because of me being too weak to fight. I had tried to forget, tried to move on, but the memory still lingered, like a dark cloud that refused to dissipate. I knew I had to face my fears, to confront the past that had been weighing me down for so long. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, letting the memories flood my mind. It was painful, like ripping off a band-aid from a wound that had never healed. I felt tears streaming down my face, but I didn't care. I needed to let go, to move on. Why am I feeling this? This shouldn't have hit me so hard. Did I not move on? Magic? Was someone tearing at my mind with magic? It had to be.
I looked around nervously left, right, forward but then I looked behind me... The Woman who killed everyone I cared about stood there at least a kilometer away. I could see the smile on the demon's face. So it was her that was tugging at my mind like this, what a horrible person. I knew I had to run, she was too powerful I could see the mana flowing around her like tentacles. Seeing her was the reason for this dread this terrible feeling. I can't fight. Too strong. Run. Run away. You can't fight. She's too powerful. That's correct I have to run. So that's what I did, I ran away... again. I could somehow hear her laughing. Don't turn back. RUN AWAY. Something was screaming at me. What is it? I told myself I would face her but now here I am running away. I reached the border of the continent of elves, just as I reached it I turned back to check if she was there. She wasn't. She never was.