Norbert walked around the camp, seeing Mark standing in the same area the day before. Eating a chunk of bread, as he looked up and spotted Norbert, splitting his chunk in half and throwing it towards Norbert. Catching it out of the air, Norbert bit into it, his teeth sinking into the softness. Walking forward, Norbert quickly scoffed the food down, sipping his drink and confirming it wasn't too hot before downing the rest.
Placing his backpack on the side with the cup on top, Norbert stood before Mark. "So, what are we going to do today?"
"The same thing we did yesterday to ensure you haven't forgotten overnight."
Norbert nodded his head in defeat. Drawing the sword and feeling it bite slightly, he was instantly embarrassed by his previous bravado. Focusing on the task at hand, Norbert pulled out the sword and put it back in; over and over again, Norbert continued, getting it quicker than before and not after too much time; he could sheath the sword without looking down at the entry point.
Continuing this, Mark shouted, "Next!" Norbert kept the sword out, raising it above his head, swung it, stopping it and pointing at Mark. Swipe after swipe came, slowly getting used to the feel of wielding the blade again. Focusing on his strength, Norbert dropped one hand down to his side, wielding the blade in only a single hand.
Feeling his muscles pulse with energy, Norbert swung the sword, the first time able to keep it still pointing at Mark. Again and again, Norbert continued, hearing the sound of the sword cutting the air and increasing in pitch. Sounds Norbert commonly heard from a fly swatter, not a hulking piece of metal.
In mid-swing, Mark raised his blade again to block the sword. Seeing it coming this time and not wanting to drop it, Norbert prepared his hand, bringing it down even faster.
CLANG
The two swords echoed against each other, neither sword dropping to the ground. Wiping the sweat from his forehead Norbert disengaged his sword, holding it in position. "Left" The command came from Mark, Norbert swinging the sword down to the left, the clang of metal ringing out.
Feeling the resistance, Norbert brought his sword back up again. "Left," Mark said again, the two blades meeting. The pattern repeated itself repeatedly, the two blades meeting each other.
After breaking apart, Norbert looked up at the sky, seeing that half the day had already been spent on this. Mark moved his sword from the side to in front of him, resting in the air and pointing at Norbert.
"And now we spar", Mark whispered to himself.
"What did you say?" Norbert asked as Mark's sword came hurtling towards his face. With a shriek, Norbert brought the sword down in time. The sword reverberated in his hand as Mark brought the sword down, slashing towards the top of Norbert's leg.
Trying to bring it back in time but unable to, Norbert felt the impact on his leg, not the sharp pain of something slicing his skin. Looking down at his leg Norbert saw no cut in his pants, happy that he wouldn't need to be healed and that his pants were still acceptable.
Mark stepped back again. Norbert prepared his sword in front of him, copying Mark's placement. Mark stepped forward again, swinging his sword at Norbert's head in a wide arch. Norbert twisted to the side, catching the blade with his own. Mark instantly brought his sword back to him, the two swords sliding against each other as he continued, the blade sliding past him and Norbert needing to move his sword in the same direction. The two swords skidded together in front of Norbert's face.
Mark's sword slid past, Norbert having to overextend and lose his balance as he felt Mark's sword slap into his back. Sprawled on the ground, Norbert just breathed out. Getting up with the sword in hand, Norbert faced Mark once more. He was feeling a bruise forming on his back from the last strike.
***
Like this, they continued for the rest of the day. When the sun finally dipped down, Norbert felt worse for wear. Sure, his body would be covered in bruises in a couple of hours and unable to move correctly tomorrow.
Limping his way towards the tent, Norbert found Azalea sitting at the table. Walking forward, taking his backpack off his back, and leaning the sword up against the table, Norbert dived into the words.
Keeping the pendant on his clothes so he could have easy access when he wanted to take it off to hear the words properly come out of his mouth. During the night, Norbert's vocabulary slowly increased, looking at the words coming and going before his eyes.
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Page after page of writing, Norbert took read through, trying to cram all of the information into his head. By the time he had the pendant on, he was started to be less and less, still needing it to understand Azalea's property but now able to properly listen to basic and simple instructions.
They continued through the night, Azalea leaving Norbert sometime during it. Norbert just continued to read through, memorising the words he had written that he understood, highlighting the punctuation and how the words formed together.
***
Norbert spent the next several days fighting during the sun up and reading when the sun went down; the sun streamed down as Norbert lifted his head, hair sticking up at all weird angles. Azalea came in as usual and handed him a cup. Blowing on it and saying his thanks, Norbert sipped on the drink.
Azalea did the same; between sips, she said, "We will be heading off today."
Norbert, stunned slightly, only nodded in response, not moving from his current position. As he finished his drink, Norbert could see people walking to and fro in front of the tent flap. Having finished, Norbert knew he could no longer hide away. Tying his sword back to his belt, Norbert picked up his backpack, placing the paper he had been using inside, keeping it within the bestiary so it would not get crushed.
Stepping outside, Norbert made his way to the mess tent, returning the cup once clean with all of its other companions. Looking around at what to do next, Norbert looked for someone familiar.
Seeing Mathaos walk into the tent, Norbert went over to him. "Anything I can do to help out?" Norbert asked.
Mathaos just looked at Norbert, startled for a moment. "Man, I haven't seen you in here for ages. I hope you had fun training; I know I couldn't stand it if I were you. And there's no need to help; we have nearly gotten most of it packed away."
In response, Norbert just raised an eyebrow, waving his hands about the tent with all its contents still mostly where they stayed during his trip. Mathaos just shook his head. "You'll see", he said in response.
Norbert, just shrugging, made his way out of the tent, standing on the hill facing where the river would be. Feeling something land on his head Norbert reached up, patting Obsius as he settled down.
"So, what have you been doing for the past few days?" Norbert asked the bird. Receiving chirps in response, Norbert just nodded along, knowing if he didn't play with the bird's speech, it would result in him getting pecked constantly and buffeted by the bird's wings for the rest of the day.
Norbert just watched, unable to see the river and what was past it from his vantage. Remembering running out the first time, making sure he wouldn't get lost, and spotting the wild animals about the place rarely.
Now he looked upon the hills, seeing life breathed into them. The creatures he would expect now bound around, the small rabbits with their sharp teeth, the massive deer, and the wolves slowly making their way between the hills. It was all there.
Looking out, satisfied with a work well done, Norbert placed his hands on his hips, admiring the scenery untouched by man. Well, mostly untouched, as Norbert could make out the craters he had made the other day. Chuckling, thinking he could hide these, Norbert heard the tents flapping behind him.
Seeing the mages stand around the tent, a circle between them, they chanted together. The wind seemed to pick up within their target. Suddenly the tent shrunk, stopping with it big enough to fit in his palm. Walking forward, one of the mages delicately picked it up and placed it in a bottle, the tent floating in the middle.
Heading to the next one, the task was repeated until all three tents were carefully stowed away. Norbert looked out at the hill he had called home for the last several days, seeing all evidence of their stay there slowly being stripped away.
Standing up, Norbert walked with the group heading towards the town. Seeing the kids rush up, they all want to hug and give them all something. Norbert has an enormous flock in the group and is being waded down by little trinkets and exciting rocks. All of them insist he returns, Norbert promising he would.
The procession concluded, Dousan at the lead to the gate on the hill. Norbert looked and saw the robed man already there; Dousan nodded. The robed man placed his staff through, the portal whisking to life.
Stepping through, Norbert waited for a tense breath; as the staff appeared again, the party started to make their way through.
Norbert, one of the last, waved to the kids, all of them waving back in return. As Norbert stepped through, he felt his body stretch until he reached the other side. Out the other side, Norbert stepped forward, seeing he was back in the Alasium.
The group headed through the crowd, Norbert able to pick the faces of the party with ease now. Going through an entryway, Norbert recognised as the point they met to leave from before.
Everyone sat at the bar, breaking out into their respective groups; Dousan, still standing, said, "Thanks, everyone, for the quick pack up. We have the next couple of days free. Have fun in the city but not too much, and remember to check back in here every day to know when we need to depart for the next place. With that, enjoy your time here."
Dousan began to sit down before an outcry came from all around. Dousan just laughed, standing up again, saying, "Thought you would forget, of course, it's also payday, so go to your head and get your coins."
The room instantly bustled, Norbert, standing still, not knowing what to do. Dobert stepped behind him, holding him with both hands. "Want to hang out with us for the next few days?" Dobert asked.
Looking at the table, Norbert saw the other scouts all hanging around. Nodding, Norbert remembered, "Sure, but unless I need to continue training, then sadly not", Norbert added, feeling slightly down about potentially needing to miss out.
Receiving a slap on his back in return, Dobert shouted to Dousan across the room, "Hey Dousan, does Norbert need to continue his training while here?"
Dousan just looked towards the group. "NO!" he shouted back over the bustle of the room.
"See, I told you", Dobert said, the heat rising to Norbert's cheeks, excited for what he would see in the big city.