Chapter 127
The Moon is made of Cheese
“Arlaine,” Nick repeated what Connie said when they began the conversation about their next plan. “You picked Arlaine. Of all the lands you could have chosen…you picked Arlaine.”
“Yes.”
“What is Arlaine?” Akula asked. She knew much about the Grasslands, where to find the best place to hunt, where every single watering hole was. But outside her place of birth, she knew woefully little.
“It is a land near the tip of South Calendia. Nobles consider being sent thereabouts to be a punishment, not a reward,” Ethel explained while sipping her tea.
“A death sentence to Highborn Socializing,” Martell added. “Once you are there, say goodbye to any hope of rising to the top of the social ladder.”
“Nevertheless, it is where I need to go.”
Nick sighed and cupped his face with his hands. After a few seconds, he inhaled loudly and grumbled. “Fine. But our wagon will not be enough to weather the trip. We need to change to a better, sturdier one. Then supplies. It’s gonna be a bit pricy.”
Connie wordlessly pulled out a bag of gold and pushed it forward.
Nick saw the glittering gold and groaned. “Oh yeah, I forgot. We’re bloody friggin’ rich now. Gotta get used to that,” he counted the provisions he needed to take in his mind. “Give me five – no - four days.”
“You’re leaving again, Connie?” Sen said with a pouting face.
“Sorry, Sen. This is something I have to do,” Connie put her on her lap and wiped her dirty hands. “But we still have a few days. So, while I’m here, let’s make the best of it. Tell me everything you’ve done while I’m gone.”
Sen then proceeded to excitedly tell Connie what’s been going on. Only when the sky had grown dark, and her eyes could no longer open did she stop.
As she watched their backs disappear into the night, Connie thought of how Sen would live if she had never met her. If, that girl had never found the courage to pester her back then.
Perhaps she would have to grow up, sooner than later.
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Connie entered the Hunter’s Guild the day after with Illumca and Akula in tow. As for Nick, he had many things to take care of for their journey and Martell offered to accompany him. Many eyes turned to look at them as they stepped inside, but the three were used to this treatment and paid them no heed.
“Cosette.”
“Connie! You’re back!” the young girl with pink hair beamed.
“I heard the news from the Capital! Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“That’s nice to hear. Are you here for a Quest?” the girl continued hopefully. “Or perhaps just to see me?”
Illumca’s eyes narrowed when she heard her, but Cosette was not a lily-livered girl. Then, Cosette’s eyes slowly widened as she looked up to see the towering presence of the Centaur and gasped lightly.
“Ah, this is my new party member and companion. This is Cosette, a friend of mine,” Connie introduced them to each other.
“I am Akula Altanghazar,” the blue-cloaked Centaur introduced herself. She did not offer her arm, however, as she saw that she would break the pink-haired Receptionist in two if she had done so.
“I’ve heard stories about Centaurs from the other Hunters, but this is my first time seeing one. You look very strong, have you ever considered becoming a Hunter?”
“A Hunter? I’ve never thought about that.”
“South Calendia?” Cosette said, after a brief sigh of disappointment. “Do you have some business there?”
“Yes. I got land there, someplace named Arlaine.”
“Arlaine?” Cosette said. “Hmm. I remember. That’s quite a remote place. Ah, right!” Cosette’s eyes widened as a thought came to her. “It’s a shame you missed him. If you just returned three days earlier, you would have had a chance to meet with Guild Master Sabrac. He said he is looking forward to meeting the one who defeated the Hero of Vorzenny.”
“Sabrac?” Akula repeated the name with awe. “Sabrac the Dragonslayer?”
“You know him?” Illumca asked.
“Know?” Akula smiled widely. “One of my Father’s wishes is to take his head and present it to our Ancestors!”
“Didn’t your father also want to have my father’s head on a stick?” Connie said. Slightly perplexed at this uncommon head-collecting obsession Akula’s father had. “Is this a part of your culture?”
“Indeed! It is a great honor!” Akula said with a face full of pride.
“I doubt he could do that,” Cosette chuckled. “Guild Master Sabrac is an old rival of the Lord General and the second strongest warrior in Calendia. Being one of the very few Hunters who had attained S Rank in the Guild. There is a reason why he is called a Dragonslayer," Cosette shook her pink head. "In any case, Guild Master Sabrac is practical man. As long as one is capable, he would take them in,” she leaned in and whispered. “That is why he tolerated the Vice Guild Master.”
"If my father is here, he would say that it is even more reason to do that."
"Yessh. Next thing I know, you'd want my head on a stick too," Connie said jokingly.
"Well, I wouldn't say no to that," Akula said with all seriousness. "I think your head would be most beautiful on a stick."
The blonde-haired girl paused as she traded looks with an incredulous Illumca. "Did anyone ever say that they never know when you are joking or not?"
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In the other side of town, Albert Planthorne was examining an intricate brocade on a mannequin when he heard his door opening. Upon seeing the person coming in, he narrowed his eyes.
“Good afternoon, Mister Planthorne. My Mistress ordered me to get her orders from you.”
“Oh, it’s you,” the old man said. “I was expecting your Lady to come here personally. I was looking forward to showing her my newest work. But you’ll do. Yes, you’ll do,” the man tried to hide his smile, but he was radiating giddiness. “Now, tell me everything about what transpired in Cairula.”
“Well, I don’t have the –“
“Come now, I am sure you can spare some time for an old man. I have worked my hardest on you and your companions’ clothing after all.”
Martell chuckled lightly. The man is the best tailor in the continent, after all. Indulging him a bit would be profitable in the long run. He then agreed and proceeded to tell him every detail.
While listening to the story eagerly, the old man’s gaunt face beamed. “So, my fineries had a part in foiling the ill intentions of Vorzenny. What a story! I knew Lady Connie is an exceptional person! She is worthy of my finest!” he then continued. “So, you are heading to the South are you? Then I will have to make some changes to the clothes. How soon will you be heading out?”
“It should be within the week.”
“Very well, tell your Mistress that I need to do some adjustments to the clothes. It will be finished in two days.”
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
“Wait, I was told to get it today!”
By then, the old, lanky man had already started writing a plan on a book, completely forgetting the flustered young Beastfolk. Martell gave up after a few tries and went back after.
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Connie and her entourage left early in the morning a few days later on their new wagon and old horses, just before the cock crowed three times. Akula preferred to walk on her own, as she disliked feeling cramped inside the wagon.
After cutting across the boring Flatlands that took the better part of the afternoon, they entered a forest. The forest was called Bredda. A name that came from the Second King of Calendia’s wife. It was not as dense as Zelbes, and the colors that covered it were almost like blazing fire. Deep red.
Sunlight came peeking through from the forest canopy and onto the forest floor, giving it a solitary atmosphere.
As they rode, Akula suddenly turned to her left and shot an arrow. There was a quick squeal and the sound of something heavy falling. Illumca immediately vanished and returned with a dead boar.
“Straight through the head,” Illumca said, “Impressive.”
“The Grasslands provide to those who are able. I have trained in archery since I was very young,” Akula replied. “I remember that Elves are also naturally gifted in archery. Would you like to train with me sometime?”
“I don’t do archery,” The Dark Elf said while hauling it over her shoulder. Her tone had a hint of distaste in it.
"I still feel like we should stay a bit longer, Sen seemed to miss you a lot," Nick commented.
"We still have time after we return," Connie answered simply. "Perhaps she would not even miss me that much with what I planned for her."
Before they left, Connie had left Ethel with more than enough money to advance the business and hire a few more people, including the directions she wanted her to take. This included her desire to get Sen a proper education.
While they were bantering, Martell’s ears twitched. He looked at the road before them and spoke. “Horses. About fifteen of them.”
Indeed, not long after, Nick saw men in hunter’s clothing rode up to them arrogantly. Five men went around to their left and right, surrounding them. A man that looked to be their leader, greasy-haired and one-eyed, began to speak with a very thick accent.
“Ho, there, ladies. Where might you be going?”
“Barandur Pass,” Nick said with a bored expression. “And we want no problem here, so if you’ll just let us be on our way –“
“Well now, we can’t have that, can we? Bredda Forest is a very dangerous place. Who knows what danger you might come to without proper protection,” he suggested. “I and my nice friends here can escort you to Barandur Pass…for the right price.”
“This is the first time I’ve seen robbers that don’t just outright rob you,” Akula commented. “Is this normal in this part of Calendia?”
“Judging from his clothes and way of speaking, he might be a former Noble who have fallen on hard times,” Martell added.
“Must be slim pickings too, looking at their mugs,” Nick noted the impoverished look on the robbers.
“You wound me,” the man said, the corner of his eyes twitching. “I am just offering my sincere service.”
Why are these people not intimidated? They are clearly outnumbered!
“And if we don’t pay?” Illumca asked.
The greasy man gulped upon laying his eyes on the beautiful dark elf. He had never seen such a beautiful woman. A shame that she had a scar on her.
“Well, there might be trouble ahead then,” he said, trying to control himself.
“Enough talking, Boss! Let’s just rob ‘em!”
“Yeah!” the other men agreed and raised their weapons.
“Oh, threatening us, are they? They have guts,” a languid voice spoke from within the wagon. Suddenly they felt like something cold touched the back of their necks. Their enthusiasms were quickly dampened, and a tinge of fear crept up from the pit of their heart. “See if we can find their bravery when their guts are spilled.”
Immediately, Martell obeyed and opened his Sword Box. “As you wish, Mistress.”
“Let me test my new daggers.”
“Been a while since I punish evildoers!”
The greasy man raised his sword in alarm, but it was too late. A sword had embedded itself in his chest. And the one holding it was smiling with the pure innocence of a child. “Do none of you even think of having an Analyze Skill? Otherwise, you won’t be stupid enough to try your hand at killing someone higher leveled than you.”
“K-kill them!!” the man nearest to the leader panicked when he saw their leader dispatched so quickly.
“I’m…just going to stay here,” Nick said as he watched Illumca severing the head of a man to his right and moved on to another without even giving them a chance to retaliate. “You all got this.”
When the last of the men was dead, it did not take more than a few minutes. As Illumca was wiping her new daggers on the leaves, she glanced over her shoulder at Martell, who was crouching on the ground.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m collecting their swords. I need them for my Arts,” Martell said as he threw a chipped but decent quality sword into his Item Ring. “Waste not, want not.”
It was a forgettable conversation between the two of them. But for the rest of the world many years after this, the name Sword Collector would become an object of fear.
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When the sky grew dark, they made camp and feasted on their recently caught bounty.
The fat of the swine above the makeshift campfire made a delectable sizzling sound, and the aroma of roasted meat tickled their noses. Akula, who volunteered to turn the meat on its spit, sneaked a few sliced into her mouth, as she now felt comfortable enough to remove her veil in front of them.
Only now did they realize that the Centaur was - in reality - quite a heavy eater. She had finished a whole leg by herself.
Nick had tanned the swine’s leather and poured salt on some lean parts of the meat, intending to preserve them for later use.
“We will reach Barandur Pass the day after tomorrow,” the man said as she massaged the salted meat to get the salt into the meat properly.
“After that, it’s unknown territory for me. We might have to get a local guide to get us there.”
“That’s fine with me,” Connie said, as she licked hot fat off her fingers. “By the way, Martell. Can you show me again the thrust you did when you kill the robbers’ leader?”
Martell obeyed and took out his sword from his wooden box and repeated the move. Connie inspected his posture and did a few adjustments, poking and kicking at his legs.
“Do it again.”
When he did as he was told, his eyes widened in surprise.
“How…? It felt different that time. It felt…more powerful!”
“Of course, I did not reach my current understanding of the sword without picking up a few tricks,” Connie said. “But you are much better than I was at your age. You pick things very fast, you damn genius. You might even reach Sword Comprehending soon.”
“I’m sorry,” Martell apologized, not knowing what to say. “But can you explain to me what Sword Comprehending is?”
“Didn’t I teach you about the concept of the Stages of Understanding the Sword?”
“Yes, but I still don’t understand. How do I know if I have reached the next stage? Does it feel the same as leveling up?”
“Well, no. When you get it, you get it. It is a state of both the heart and the mind, you see.”
Yet just by looking at the eyes of her disciple, Connie knew that her explanation drew blanks.
Connie folded her arms and rubbed her chin. The way the people in Grea think was very different from my old world. They lack patience and understanding of the abstract due to their tendency to put numbers in everything; in essence, limiting themselves to those numbers. Which made it harder to convey certain ideas.
Even Martell, who showed brilliance in how he processed things, was not immune to this. Furthermore, Connie had never experienced leveling up so she could not describe it.
“…hmm, how do I make it easier to understand? Give me some time.”
Connie’s some time turned out to take a few hours. Nick and Martell had fallen asleep. Akula, who was by nature, not a nocturnal Beastfolk, had been nodding off. Only Illumca was still dutifully sitting by her side, silently watching.
The blonde-haired girl said after a time. “Illumca, wake Martell and Akula up, then follow me.”
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After waking the two up, they followed Connie to a clearing by the lake. She signaled for them to sit on the grass. Whilst they did so, she took a dried branch from a fallen tree and swung it around playfully.
“What a beautiful night,” She gazed at the full moon with a nostalgic expression. “Do you know what the moon is made of?”
“My grandmother once told me in one of her tales that it was made of young sheep’s cheese, molded by Huna, daughter of Hurgul, when the Night Mother Anukara asked for milk that she could hold in her hand,” Akula replied.
“In my tribe’s lore, it is said that the moon is a lamp, gifted by Thalamut for Anukara so that it could light her way in the night sky.”
“Mmm…” Connie nodded. “Yes. To some, the moon is a ball of young cheese. And to others, it is a beautiful lamp. Now, I know you are questioning why I am taking you here in the middle of the night and ask you about the moon."
"It's because I wish to confer some knowledge to you. Something that needs you to think outside the numbers its limits."
"Are you sure I should be here?" Akula asked. "I'm not your disciple."
"That is fine. It will be useful for you too. What I am talking about is a School of Thought. A way of thinking. And now, I have a question for all of you.” Connie waved the branch that she was playing with and pointed it at Illumca. “What is a sword?”
“A – a weapon,” Illumca said quickly, with the speed of a student who wished to earn the teacher’s goodwill.
“A sword is something to cut people with,” Akula gave her answer.
“A tool,” Martell said when it came to his turn. “A flattened iron with an edge.”
Connie smiled after hearing their answers. “A tool? A weapon? A flattened iron fashioned with an edge, capable of deciding the life and death of its wielder as well as its victim? In the understanding of common men, yes. But shallow, too shallow. You are too focused on the form.”
She rubbed her chin and asked them again. “Let me ask a different question this time. What can a sword do?”
“You can…cut with it?” Illumca answered, slightly confused.
“Is this a sword?” she waved the branch in front of her.
“Of course not. That’s a tree branch!” Akula said, snickering. “Are you playing with us?”
Connie made a sudden slashing motion, and a falling leaf was cut into two right in front of their eyes. This made the three of them fall silent from disbelief.
“And yet it cuts,” she then snatched one of the falling leaves out of the air with her fingers and asked again.
“Is this a sword?”
“That’s…a leaf,” Illumca answered, unsure of what to say.
This time, Connie infused her Energy into the leaf and slashed the branch he was holding to two.
“And yet it cuts,” Connie let the pause linger in the air so they could digest what she just showed them. “Do you get the idea now?”
“I…I don’t get it,” Martell’s face began to redden as he tried to understand.
“What I just showed you is a peek to the highest understanding of the sword. It is called…One with the Sword,” Connie explained. “And not just sword, every path of Mastery of weapons have their own levels of understanding. It takes ages of training, comprehension, and a lot of luck to reach.”
“B-but that’s not how swords work!” Martell was near mad after seeing what Connie did. “It isn’t logical!”
Connie smiled knowingly. “It seems that I need to make it simpler. So that you may understand the sword and avoid the same mistake I made in my pursuit of the Path, I think it is easier if I explain it to you through a story,"
Illumca noted the melancholic expression of her paramour and teacher, illuminated by the moonlight.
"I will tell you...my story.”