Colin stretched as he rolled out of bed, surprised by how comfortable the simple cot-like structure was. He didn’t dwell on it, though, quickly dressing before stepping out into the hallway—just in time to see Nectarine leaving her room.
“Oh, Colin! Good morning,” she greeted brightly, her usual cheerful smile accompanied by her practical adventuring gear. “I hope you slept well! Ready for breakfast?”
“Yeah, I slept great,” Colin replied with a grin. “And breakfast sounds amazing. I’m starving.”
They headed toward the dining area, where the rest of the crew was already seated, laughing and chatting over a massive breakfast spread. Bram was the first to spot him.
“Ey, Colin!” Bram bellowed, waving him over. “Come ‘ere, lad. ‘Ave a seat n’ dig in!”
Colin joined them, grabbing a plate and piling it high with food. He also poured himself a glass of a pinkish liquid that smelled faintly of berries.
“Plenty t’ eat, boy,” Bram said with a hearty chuckle. “The Guild was generous wit’ our pay this time. We’re headin’ out tonight on another mission—simple caravan guard. Can we count ye’ in?”
Colin paused mid-bite, quickly swallowing a mouthful of eggs before nodding. “Yeah, I’m in. I need to learn how to defend myself better, and I can’t think of a safer way to do that than with you guys.”
Kae raised a skeptical eyebrow, his gaze sweeping over Colin’s frame. “How’re you gonna defend yourself with no gear? Or do we need to buy your armor and sword for you, too?”
Before Colin could respond, a heavy thud beside him made him jump. Bram had dropped a large sack onto the floor with a grin.
“Already taken care of, Kae,” Bram said. “ ‘E killed a goblin on the roadways—Guild paid him handsomely. I took it on m’self to grab ‘im some gear: armor, shortsword, knife, backpack, bedroll—the works.”
Kae’s sneer faltered slightly, though it was clear he still wasn’t thrilled. “Fine. But if he gets himself into trouble, it’s on you. I’m not babysitting.” With that, he stood and stalked off, leaving the rest of the group watching Colin expectantly.
“Well?” Lyra’s feline eyes sparkled mischievously as she leaned forward. “Are you gonna try it on, or just sit there blushing like a newlywed?”
“O-oh, right.” Colin fumbled with the sack’s cord, cheeks burning. As the bag opened, his new gear spilled out onto the floor. His eyes widened at the sight: chainmail, a few plated pieces, and two sheathed blades.
He picked up the armor first. The system automatically activated as he examined it.
[Standard Mail Armor]
Protects against most non-magical attacks.
Weight: 35 lbs
Quality: High
Additional Effect: Vitality +1 while wearing.
Equip? Yes/No
“Yes,” Colin thought.
The armor shimmered before snapping into place around his body. He marveled at the fit—it was like it had been made just for him. He noticed there was no helmet, which felt odd, but Bram spoke up before he could comment.
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“Fits ye’ like a glove,” Bram said approvingly. “Didn’t know if ye’ wanted a helmet, but I’ve got one if ye’ need it.”
Colin swung his arms experimentally, testing the armor’s mobility. It didn’t hinder his movements at all, and the lack of a helmet gave him a wide field of vision. “I think I’ll be fine without it for now. Thank you, Bram. You didn’t have to do all this for me.”
Bram clapped a heavy hand on his shoulder. “Yer one o’ us now, lad. It’s what we do.”
Next, Colin picked up one of the blades—a shortsword. He slid it from its scabbard, revealing a shimmering blue metal speckled with what looked like tiny stars.
[Starmetal Shortsword]
A blade forged from the rarest of all metals. Legends say it could cut through the stars themselves.
Weight: 1.5 lbs
Quality: Supreme
Additional Effects: Dexterity +3, Willpower +2. Allows wielder to channel magic to blend with surroundings (scales with Stealth).
Equip? Yes/No
Colin stared, awestruck. This was no ordinary blade—it was extraordinary, even without fully understanding this world’s economy. The gasps from the table confirmed his suspicion.
“A gift from an old friend,” Bram said quietly. “ ‘E told me t' pass it on t' someone who piqued my interest. Ye’ piqued my interest, boy. Treat it well.”
Colin swallowed hard, sliding the blade back into its scabbard and tying it to his belt. “Thank you, Bram,” he said, voice thick with emotion. “I don’t know what I did to deserve all this, but I’ll do my best to make you proud.”
Bram nodded gruffly, but his eyes betrayed a hint of warmth.
The rest of the items were less extraordinary but equally thoughtful: a sturdy backpack, a bedroll, and a knife with a simple yet elegant design. Colin strapped the knife to his back in a comfortable scout carry before slinging the pack over his shoulder.
As he finished gearing up, he turned to Bram again. “I hate to ask for more, but… would you or someone else be able to show me some basic sword techniques?”
“That’ll be my ssspecialty,” Sskarin hissed, speaking up for the first time. She stood, motioning for Colin to follow. “Let’ss sstart with ssstancess before the missssion.”
Colin nodded eagerly, trailing after her toward a door at the edge of the dining hall, ready to take his first steps as a true adventurer.
____________________________________________________________________________
Sskarin, as it turned out, was a master swordswoman. She had been trained from a young age to wield a blade—not just as a weapon, but as an art form. She hailed from a distant land called Eegua (pronounced Ay-Ee-Guah) and referred to herself as a "Rexlan."
For hours, she drilled Colin relentlessly. She started with the basics, forcing him to hold specific stances, then meticulously adjusting his posture as she circled him. He hadn’t even touched an actual sword yet; instead, he wielded the mightiest of beginner tools—a stick.
“You’re locking your kneesss again,” she hissed, tapping his leg with her own stick. “You need to relax your musssclesss and stay limber. Locking up in battle will get you—or your teammatesss—killed.”
Colin grunted, shifting his weight and trying to relax his burning muscles. “So, what’s Eegua like?” he asked, hoping for a distraction.
“Hot. Humid.” She slapped the back of his calf, making him flinch and collapse to one knee. “Lotsss of jungle. Beautiful, in my opinion, but many of your people find it oppressssing. You’re putting too much weight on your back leg. Try to ssshoot for a more balanced ssstance. Like thisss.”
Sskarin moved in front of him and slid smoothly into a stance she had earlier called the “Ox Guard.” Her movements were fluid, almost serpentine. She gestured for him to observe. “Now, try and pusssh me.”
Colin stood, placing his hands on her shoulders, and pushed. To his surprise, she didn’t budge—not even slightly. Her stance was solid, her posture unyielding, but she neither stumbled nor lost her guard.
“Sssee? Balanssse,” she said, her tone instructive. “It helps keep your footing and lets you block an opponent’s blade without faltering.”
And so it went—hours of repetition, adjustments, and sharp smacks from her stick to correct his form. By the time they were done,
Colin’s entire body ached. Every muscle burned, but he couldn’t help feeling hopeful. He had learned more about swordsmanship in a single session than he thought possible.
His optimism soared even further when Bram stopped by near the end of the lesson, watching them with an approving grin.
“Well?” Bram asked, folding his arms as he leaned against the doorway.
“Acceptable,” Sskarin said with a nod. “We can make a sswordssman out of him yet, Bram.”
Colin straightened, suppressing a groan as he adjusted his sore limbs. Despite the exhaustion, he smiled. For the first time, he felt like he was genuinely on the path to becoming a capable adventurer.