Chapter One: Riding Towards the Dawn (Pt.24 Final)

In the candlelight wholeheartedly making the sword belt, is this girl really Jamini? She is fully focusing on the needlework, her face muscles are all relaxed, revealing a serene face. I unwittingly said:

"My destiny... Really strange. Even in Summer, I couldn't imagine that I actually would be going to the capital. And now because it's Autumn..."

Jamini is stitching while answering:

"Because it's Autumn?"

"Yea. Into the Autumn, Cathselprime appeared, I became a wizard's assistant, Dad became Amutaat's captive, and lastly I have to go to the capital. I had heard that Autumn has magic..."

"What do you mean? Why do you say that Autumn has magic?"

"This is Autumn. During Spring and Summer, the vitality of all lives on the earth burns vigorously. But once they're touched by the hand of Autumn, this vitality disappears. And soon after it'll be Winter, which represents death. So Autumn is very mysterious. The dying life. The looming death. In the short while between the vitality disappears and the death comes, all mysterious things will happen. That is the magical time appears in Autumn."

"Magihal Kime? (Magical Time?) "

Jamini is trying to cut the thread with her teeth, so the pronunciation is a bit strange. She could wait until the line is cut before she spoke, but she just said it out. Really cute. I smiled. I tell her the story about this magical time that Karl likes a lot.

"In different places, this so-called Magical Time is different too. What can be determined is that, it must be in a certain period during Autumn. If someone happened to get to a place which's in Magical Time, he will meet  a variety of rare things. In the short autumn, from the fallen leaves covering the earth, until the first snow descending, this person will get a memory that remains forever, that sometimes he himself may not notice. He might just remember what happened in that Autumn, after a few years, or when he gets old, he would suddenly found the time special. But in case someone know that he has entered the Magical Time, from the fallen leaves covering the earth, until the first snow descending, he can achieve something amazing. "

"Oh my god ..."

"When King Rhuterino started the Glorious Seven Weeks War, it was also the time that leaves started falling. You should know the story of him defeating Dragon Lord? In the end of the tragic war, Dragon Lord finally fell down. But then snow began floating down from the sky. As a result, King Rhuterino couldn't even lift his sword, so Dragon King just fled. And King Rhuterino could no longer use a sword since then."

"So, that period was..."

"The Magical Autumn of King Rhuterino. Before the onset of Winter, he completed the greatest thing in his life, but at the same time that thing is also uncompleted."

Why does Karl like this story? I wonder if it's related to this incomplete ending? I don't like this kind of stories. I like the one which is simple and complete. But this story seems to suit Jaimini's taste. Jamini is holding her cheeks, made an expression showing that she's immersed in the fantasy. Then Jamini seemed to suddenly awake, and said:

"Done. Put it on and have a look. "

I looked at the sword belt that Jamini made for me. She's not able to make a delicate belt that can be worn around the waist, so this is just a thing that is attached to the scabbard, and can be hung on the shoulder. Once I put the bastard sword on my shoulder, Jamini said like apologizing:

"It'd be great if it can be tied on your waist..."

"Not at all. Now my both hands are free, I also feel very comfortable when I walk. It's fine."

I put on this thing, and then tried to pull out my sword, managed to pull it out uneasily. What do you expect? this is not an ordinary sword, but a 2 cubits long greatsword. I bothered for a while, then moved my left arm around to the back, pulled down the scabbard and tried to pull again. This time I pulled it out smoothly. I suddenly feel great that I don't have a shield. I deliberately showed Jamini that I can pull out the sword easily, and then said:

"Clang! Not bad huh? It suits exactly with the length of my arm. Thank you."

Jamini chuckled. I plugged the sword back again and said:

"It's very late already. You should go. Go home, I'll take you back."

Jamini picked up her shawl on the bed, wrapped her head and shoulder. I took a lamp and went out.

"Do you want to try riding?"

Jamini riding on Jamini. Ha, really interesting. Although Jamini looked a bit scared, she agreed.

I took the horse over, made it stood still and then looked at Jamini. Jamini looks a bit embarrassed. In fact, so am I. I grabbed Jamini's waist, lifted her to the horseback. It was a simple task for me, moreover I have OPG now, she is even lighter. Jamini is sitting sideways on the horseback, I gave her the lamp, and then grabbed the rein and began bringing the horse to walk. In the wind of the autumn night, the rare crunch sound makes people feel very unique. If it's winter night, the leaves will be like going to fall, issue buzzing sound, but autumn night is not like this. We are listening to the sounds of crickets, walking into the woods. Jamini on the horse is holding the oil lamp, the light shines us into a gray. The surrounding trees also seem to absorb the light directly.

But I feel very happy. Tomorrow, I'm going to depart. While we are going to be right back, but even just for a while, the scenes around seem to become brand-new, are approaching to me. I plugged one hand in my pants, and another hand is grabbing the rein, walking while whistling. The horse is very well-behaved and obedient. Does this guy know Jamini has the same name as it? Why is it so docile? Jamini who's sitting on the house is stroking the horse's mane, and also singing along with my whistles. Occasionally her hand would block the light from the oil lamp on her another hand, she would see the shadow and scare herself, then quickly put her hand down. Whenever this happened, Jamini would nervously scream, and I would giggle.

Joyce said that the two of us are like a noble lady and a knight apprentice? Now this scenario seems to be really alike. I have nothing to say.

※

Huh? Strange. The road became shorter? We can now see Jamini's home in front. I scratched my head, and let the horse stop, and then turned my head and stretched out my arms. Jamini didn't think anything and jumped down. At the moment I seized Jamini's waist in the air, a plan emerge in my mind.

I grabbed Jamini but didn't put her down, I said:

"Oh really. Jamini?"

"Huh?"

"Do you want me to give you a suggestion?"

"What?"

"You have to be careful, don't put yourself into a situation that you can't escape."

Jamini didn't understand what I'm saying, but I still followed my plan. Jamini is now in my arms, where can she escape? Jamini's eyes suddenly widened...

※

....After a while, I put Jamini down, then picked up the lamp she dropped on the ground, rode on the horse and ran away like lightning. Than Jamini began to yell:

"Hey! Huchi! Your bad! Ahhhhhhhhhh!"

That's why I told her not to fall into a situation that she can't escape. Even so, I'm no where better than her. Judging by I think Jamini is beautiful this fact, I will probably be her knight for a lifetime. It seems that this is my miserable fate.

※ ※ ※

The next day before the sun rises, in the gray dawn, I nailed up my house's door.

I thought I am doing something awesome, but think about it carefully, I'm just nailing up a door. But the problem is, this is the home I've stayed for 17 years since I was born.

I heard that our king had a bad brother. This brother should have been the king. But he has a very bad personality, his behavior is also a mess, so the House of Lords banished his identity, put his brother into the seat of the Crown Prince.

The story of this banished Crown Prince reminds me one thing that is very consistent with my current situation. This banished prince nailed up his room one day. The internal staffs of the palace were surprised, and asked him the reason, he said:

"My future is out there somewhere, so I have to go outside, but the past I cherish is inside here, so I will come back before I die. Without the past there will be no future, so I want this room sealed until that time."

Then he ran out of the palace, on that day he got banished by the House of Lords.

Yes, no matter what kind of wanderer, in the end there is a place for him to go back. Maybe the home he escaped from, or homeland, even orphans, he has somewhere hiding his precious memories. He will yearn this place throughout his life constantly, and gain the power to continue travelling from the yearn. Conversely, to nail up his own past, means that he is going to put himself to an adventurous future.

Ah! I'm too good in speaking. Because my heart was strangely excited suddenly, I accidentally hammered my finger twice.

I tossed my finger while locked up the workshop, then I put on the harnesses on the horse, began to go to  Karl's home. While the morning mist shrouded around, I've never got lost because of this.

Karl is doing the same works as I did before. He stopped and noticed me, then showed a smile.

"Ah, you are really early, Nedval."

I smiled, took the hammer with nails from him, nailed one in each room. Carl shook his head with a smile.

"You can now control your strength very well. Looks very natural huh?"

"Because I received that kind of ridiculous training everyday. What's on your back?"

There's a longbow on his back. Karl shrugged his shoulders, said:

"Because, after all, it's a trip, we have to be armed, don't we? I still know a little archery."

"But where's Sanson?"

Then there was a sound of hooves, Sanson's shadow appeared in the fog. He hastily stopped the two horses and then jumped down.

"Hah..Hah.... Sorry! You waited long?"

"No, no. We were just ready."

I looked at the face of Sanson, almost laughed out loudly. Sanson's eyes are red. He probably cried in the morning when he stepped out from his home. No, no. Hum, how would he let his father Joyce see him like this... Ahhh!

I approached Sanson. Sanson saw me making a sinister smile and walking towards him, immediately put out a vigilance expression. I suddenly drilled my nose to Sanson's chest, Sanson was scared and stepped back.

"Ah... It smells so good!"

Sanson not just swallowed my bait, even peremptorily swallowed the hook.

"Hey! Huchi, what, what's the smell?"

"You turn really fast! Hehehehe! "

He must have hesitated for a long time, then finally sneaked to see the girl on the way to here.

Then he must hugged and cried with her. I deliberately imitated the sound of a man and a woman said:

"You've just came back, now you are leaving again!"

"I'm sorry, but I am a soldier..... Wouuu, in fact, I don't want to leave too, Wouaaaa!"

"Ah, so this is our destiny? We should use love to face this punishment bravely!"

Sanson's face is turning red and green, I laughed and got on the horse. Karl got to know which one is his horse, then loaded his stuffs on it, then got on the horse with skilled actions. Really good at riding. Envy. But Sanson is still dejected, with a depressed expression. Karl found that Sanson looks lost, began as if to cheer him up.

"Percival, don't worry. We are not going to do something like fighting Amurtaat, are we? And if you can perfectly fulfill your duty in this mission, then its the greatest loyalty to our thane. '

"This, this is certainly! I'll lead the way."

"Do you know the way?"

"Last night I read the geography books until late night. So the path, time, necessary supplies places and estimated speed are all considered."

"Then I trust you, we'll just follow you."

Sanson even made a salute, and then began to walk in front of us. The fog is very thick, and it's forest, so there is no way to run. Therefore, we are slowly walking out of the village.

Once we are outside of the village, Sanson began to accelerate, made the first step to the capital with the speed of a rushing horse. Now the sun is rising, the road ahead us is dyed golden. Such a starting really give us a very good mood. The fog instantly dispersed, we all increased our speed all a sudden. The pain yesterday came back again. My waist is very painful, but because Sanson and Karl are running easily, so I can't be left behind alone too.

The sun is irradiating at our eyes, the wind is striking at our eyelids, it feels warm and cold.

The three of us began riding towards the dawn.

※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※  End of Chapter One  ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※

Chapter One: Riding Towards the Dawn (Pt.23)

After a day of work, the adults sitting on the chairs in front of their houses, all widened their eyes greatly. The children in the village are screaming and running in, girls are clenching their hands, looking at us with surprised visions.

My body aches haven't been eliminated, even I'm sitting on the horseback, my whole body is still in pain. And the horse is also same as me. Sanson and I are riding the horses walking on the main road of the village.

"Wow! Noble Lady Jamini's Admirer Knights Huchi is riding!"

I made a miserable smile to the cheering villagers. My whole body is stiff, and I can't control my arms too. Then I saw Jamini who has a flower on her head, playing around with the children in the village. Ah! Really can't take her anymore. Jamini seemed to notice the noises here, turned her head, so the four eyes of us are intersecting.

"Wow!"

The villagers are cheering. They probably think that I'd be like in the stories, picking up Jamini and let her sit on the saddle, and then riding towards the sunset. But in fact I don't have this idea at all. Even if I really want to do this, I can't. Because my body's pain is almost killing me!

Jamini looked at me with astonished eyes, and then came up to me. The villagers originally stood between me and Jamini immediately retreated to both sides. God, these people's actions are really unified. Jamini hesitantly walked over, and then touched the horse's cheek.

"Really beautiful... What's its name?"

"Jamini."

Jamini (The human!) blushed, the villagers began chuckling. In fact she didn't know why I name the horse like this! Jamini with the red face didn't know what to do, looked around for a while, and then touched her head. Then she finally realized there is a flower on her head. Gosh, really stupid.

Jamini took this flower off, put it on the ear of the horse. Surprisingly, Jamini (The horse!) actually stood obediently there and let her put the flower on! How could there be such a guy? Then I found a frightening fact. That is when girls want to turn into another look, they can immediately turn. Jamini who was bouncing around with the village kids just now, now actually turned into some kind of saint, said with a very slim and elegant voice:

"A horse with the same name as me. I'll give you this flower, you have serve your master nicely."

The voice trembled a little, but it's very clear from the beginning to the end.

Then Jamini turned back and ran away. The villagers are cheering again, and I just want to pass away.

I almost got immediately arrested by these people to Sinderella's Song. If it's not Sanson, I would probably be drinking there all night. Sanson said there are a lot of things to be prepared, gently sent away the villagers swarmed around us, I finally managed to escape from there.

Sanson went into the grocery store, asked the boss for the things we need. Tools like bags and ropes on horses, oil lamps, a few bowls, flint and ignition device, needle and thread, knives, iron bars, and a tripod for cooking, kettles, three large buckets... It will take forever to name them all. Anyway, we tied and put all these things on my horse, Sanson's horse, and the horse of Karl that we brought along. And then I followed Sanson to his home.

Blacksmith Joyce didn't say anything, just gave us an oil lamp, pots and pans, knives and hand axes, and gave us some plasters and herbs. Then Sanson's mother gave us some kelp, bacon, flour, corn flour, salt, pepper... Why am I naming them again? Anyway she gave us this kind of stuff. We put these categorized things on the horseback.

Sanson's mother asked me to stay at her home for dinner and sleep for the night, but I declined. Because I still want to tidy up my home a little bit, and I should nail the door, and lots of other things to do. The most important thing is, I want to have a good sleep in my own house today. So I am riding on Jamini, began to go back to my home.

I had stayed in the castle for the past several days, returning home after this long period, it should be quite deserted. Anyway, just take a sleep tonight, going to depart on tomorrow morning, so I don't want to clean up much. Maybe just make a fast dinner, eat and then go to sleep will be fine.

But when I went near my home, I was shocked.

The lamp is lit.

Is that father? No. Father was captured by Amurtaat. I got off from my horse, tied it and pulled out my bastard sword, and went close to my house. Perhaps my father escaped? Although I don't believe that will be the case, soldiers should first go back to the castle. Is that a thief?

Not possible. There is nothing to steal in my home, and in fact there is no thief such kind of characters in our village. A thief probably will not go to such a ghastly place like our village to do business.

So, is that a tramp nearby found that here's empty, so ran into it? This is possible. Our house is quite remote, plus I'm not here for a few days, the atmosphere looks very like an empty house.

"You're a dead. Watch how I finish you."

I'm sneaking up to my house, and then went close to the door. I'm ready to kick the door and rush in, but the door suddenly opened.

"Ah! Hey, Jamini? Uhhhhh!"

Gosh, really awful! Jamini opened the door, and then splashed water, that was all splashed on me. This stupid girl, actually didn't see me standing outside in the dark, and didn't notice me until she splashed all the water in the pot.

"Ah! Huchi, What are you doing here?"

"This question should be asked me!"

"That ask!"

"Uh! Jamini, what are you doing here?"

Don't know why, I feel like I am an idiot. Jamini giggled, then immediately handed me a towel hanged on the wall. I smiled, took off the hard leather, then wiped my body, and then began to rub my armor. Gosh, My hard leather! But this girl, what did she actually do in someone else's home?

"What are you doing here?"

"Preparing dinner! I heard that you are going to the capital tomorrow? Therefore I want to make something tasty for you."

"... You have just washed me, now you can chop me into pieces?"

"Oi, Huchi! You should go to take a bath!"

I stood up and muttered.

"Thank you so much."

"If it's not me, who else will help you to prepare these?"

I smiled, and went outside. Just got splashed by the water, took off my shirt and immediately went outside, so my body is shivering. Oh! Really cold. I deliberately waved my arms, and then went to the bucket nearby and began washing my body.

Ahchooo, ah, so cold.

I generally took the bath, and then went to the woods, brought the other Jamini who was tied back.

Oops, there's actually no place that I can be tie a horse around my house? I worried for a while, and first I unloaded all the things on the horseback, then I found a long rope, tied to the horse's rein, then carried it to the workshop. Because the rope is long enough, if it gets hungry it can go outside finding grass to eat, it can also drink water when it's thirsty.

※ ※

I suddenly envy the Jamini eating grass outside so much, but in order to keep my manner, I said to the Jamini in front of me:

"Thank you, I'm full. It's really a pleasant meal."

This is not a bad thing that someone make a farewell party for me when I leave the village. Even this person's cooking skill is bad enough, but I should be very grateful on her sincerity alone, shouldn't I?

Jamini told me to scoop some water for her, then began washing up the dishes. Well, she looks ridiculously beautiful at the moment. I have to stop thinking this, so I picked up a grindstone, began to grind my sword. Blacksmith Joyce has sharpened it very well, so there is no need to spend much time to grind it. This kind of daily grind, is to prevent it from rusting, and its life can be extended.

Then Jamini was like recalled something, patted her hands.

"Hey! Huchi, don't you feel bothered holding this sword with your hands and running around?"

"Huh? What, I have to do that."

"But you can't travel like this. Let me see... Do you have any leather band or spare belt?"

I tilted my head, went to the workshop and picked a leather band over. Jamini immediately came up with a needle and thread, started making a belt tying on my scabbard.

Damn. She is so beautiful.

※

Chapter One: Riding Towards the Dawn (Pt.13)

※ ※ ※

In the end Jamini is still coming with me. She looks like that she has to watch how I spend this money. But for me, once I got this large money on my hand, my eyes are completely dark. Usually I wanted to get a lot, do a lot, but once I have the real money, I don't know what to do.

"Weapon... Equipment... Weapon... Equipment... Right, buy a sword!"

I always wanted to get a good sword. In my age, boys without such a desire, where to find? But what driving me crazy is, I can't think of any place to buy a sword at the moment.

"Are you going to the blacksmith shop?

Gran Elver! You finally did something right! Among all the innocent girls you bless, the most silly one, actually got the phrase! But that's not my thought.

"No. We should go to the tavern. Making one in the blacksmith shop takes too much time... In the tavern, there are swords mortgaged as the paid for drink, we can get one easily."

Actually, I put my idea on the bastard sword of Auntie Hanna in "Sindirella's Song". Now she treats the sword as an useless object., however, why would she attempt to tell the blacksmiths to forge it into wine cups! Fortunately, Sanson's father Joyce, which is the boss of the blacksmith shop stopped her immediately, told her that this steel can't make cups. As a result, she muttered to blame whether herself was crazy, actually received something useless to offset the drinks, then threw it to somewhere. That was a long time ago, but I can still remember.

I guess no one would take it, so it should still be there. All the guards of the city have great weapons (weapons from deceased), so they won't move that thing, Apart from them, who else would want it?

※

"What did you just say?"

Aunite Hanna's eyes opened widely. I shrugged and answered:

"You didn't get what I said? I said I will pay you a lot of money, please give that sword to me."

Jamini beside is looking at me with admiring eyes. Jamini is afraid of her own mother, so she is always timid in front of middle-aged women of a similar age. I dare to make deals with Auntie Hanna like this, she immediately looked at me with infinite respect.

"That thing is still here... What do you want it for?"

"All you have to do is accept the money. What do I want it for, should be my own business right?"

See, Jamini. I am such a man. I am an awe-inspiring awesome man. Although you have a very good vision, and actually dare to like me, but for you, I am like an unclimbably tall tree.

Yes, Huchi. I was too stupid. The naive young girl doesn't realize the thing in front of her eyes is a sun fell on the ground, if try to touch it, of course she will be hurt. My heart hurts too, all of these are due to my behavior. Please forgive me, woo woo.

No. Poor girl. My fate makes me continue to hurt girls like you. I'm really sorry.

But I have no choice. You can only blame that I am too handsome.

"Why are you keeping your mouth open like this?"

Uh, what was that. I went too far. Auntie Hanna is looking at me and the bastard sword in her arms with a worried face. the sword. When I held out my hand to the sword, Auntie Hanna slapped my hand.

"Ouch!"

"You lad! I had definitely never thought of giving this thing to such a naughty kid like you, but you should now also want to protect yourself. If you don't want to make candles for your entire life, then this might be useful to you."

"Are you selling it or not?"

"I don't plan to sell it. Take it, I wanted to give it to you anyway, didn't expect that you would come to get it by yourself. Take it."

Auntie Hanna said, while handed me the bastard sword. I looked at Auntie Hanna with surprised eyes, and then said:

"A mighty warrior should pay the price for his weapon, so..."

Whack! Ouch, my head.

This thing is really troublesome tough. I want put it around my waist, but my belt not just doesn't have any sword holder things on it, it's also very fragile. So I not only will often touch the blade, it may even fall to the ground any time. And I know that belt with scabbard must have to be strong. I don't know. I have to hold the sword with my left hand and run around like this.

Even knowing my situations, Jamini is still looking at me almost with respecting eyes. I noticed that her line of sight, so my body is even straighter, walking forward proudly. Jamini doesn't dare to come close to me, so she is following me with a distance. She took a deep breath, then looked at me.

"Hmm, hmm, Huchi, where are you going?"

"Grind my sword."

"Then, then you are going to the blacksmith shop?"

"Sure."

Jamini heard my short and cool answers, she seems a bit cringed. Ah, feel so good. I lifted my chin, deliberately not looking at Jamini, continued to walk.

I probably lifted my chin too high. Doh! Aw, damn! Whose horse! Dare to shit on the way of a warrior? If I find it, then I'll immediately put it.... No, no, first find out who is its master, then put it..."

Jamini laughed her ass of, then came to help me. I completely flushed, grabbed her hand and stood up. Then I took the hay from Jamini who is still laughing, used it to wipe my pants. It's the historic day of me wearing a sword for the first time, why is it like this? All people around is scoffing. Jamini blushed and said:

"Don't laugh! Is it funny?"

Jamini is actually helping me, I really appreciate it, alright, I decided. Jamini, I will sacrifice a bit. Probably there won't be any stupid man want you to go with him. Only if I get a wife earlier, the rest of men on the world will feel relieved, so I am seriously considering to get marry with you... God, looks like I got crazy.

※ 

Blacksmith Joyce saw a 17-year-old boy came, said to him with a cool face:  "Grind the sword for me.", he expressed all his confusions with a simple sentence.

"Who are you delivering it to?"

"This sword is mine!"

"...If you want to use one, compared to this, how about that sword?"

I saw the wooden sword Sanson's brother used to play, but I didn't get angry. I came up with a simple solution. Joyce saw the 100 Purcell gold cion I took out, scratched his head.

"Damn. It may take a whole day to give change to you."

Hey, this uncle saw such a valuable gold coin, actually only reacted like this? I didn't say anything else, sat down on a wooden barrel nearby. Jamini saw the flying sparks, the noisy sound, so she doesn't want to come close, but watching a few steps behind me.

Joyce is muttering while checking the sword. Suddenly his eyes emitted strange colors.

"This is a sword in fantasy."

I swallowed nervously. Joyce stared at the blade with sharp eyes and said:

"If this is a sword, then an air rifle is a siege weapon."

Jamini laughed loudly, thumped my shoulder. I am half sad, half angry, and discouraged to say:

"Really that bad?"

"Just kidding."

"......"

Is it funny? Joyce winked at me, then Jamini laughed even louder.

"It should be that sword from Hanna right? This is a sword that had been used for a long time. If you want to treat this kind of thing, it's bit bother. Because it's too stiff. And looks didn't get good care, just got casually put somewhere. If you want to use a sword for a long time, you have maintain it everyday."

Then Joyce took out a hammer without saying a word, pulled down the tack on the sword grip. Then he put my sword into the furnace. After plugging it in, Joyce immediately picked up other materials, and began to craft other items. Uh, uh, if this continues, my sword will totally melt! Although I am very anxious, but I am still sitting there. Because someone helped me to cry out. Jamini said:

"Keeping it there won't be a problem?"

Hearing Jamini's question, Joyce nodded. He spent quite a while to craft a sickle, and I am so anxious that all my organs almost exploded, Joyce then finally gave a glance to the furnace, and then slowly put on his gloves, clipped the sword out with the pincers.

I am surprised and gazed at sword.

The bastard sword is blazing and emitting white light, like a sword-shaped flame. In the dark blacksmith shop, Joyce who is holding the shining sword, looks really like King Rhuterino. Other blacksmiths are also looking admiringly at the sword Joyce holding. Joyce smiled and said:

"Not bad. If you don't do this, then the sword can't be used."

Joyce muttered something that I don't understand, then place the sword on the anvil and began tapping . Clang! Clang! Clang!  Hey, what's happening? Looks like he is making a new sword?

"No tenacity. Surface is very uneven. The latches are a little crooked. "

Joyce appropriately tapped a few times, to flatten the surface, the crooked latches are also knocked back to position, then he clipped the sword to into a bucket. Quenching? But Joyce isn't quenching as many times as usual, just soaked into the water twice. He said to me:

"Now it's the final step. Don't need to quench anymore."

"Huh... Huh?"

Joyce took out a grindstone. Sa..Sa.. Started to grind the sword when he replied:

"In face a completed sword can't be put into the fire again. But this one hasn't been maintained for too long , it's blunt, unlikely to sharpen it's blade as original with grindstones. It had no tenacity too. This metal is steel from Zypern. The weapons from Zypern usually didn't get quenched enough, so their swords are unlikely to bend, but also because of this, if they slash with it a lot, the steel will lose its tenacity, so sometimes when it encounters bones or armors, it won't even bend if they are bad luck, but directly breaks into fragments. Only with a good quenching, steel can become durable. "

Joyce's note with the 'Sa Sa' sound of grinding, sounds a great sense of rhythm. Jamini was scared when she heard the sentences about slashing bones, she grabbed my shoulders. But my concern is something else.

"Do you mean that, the one who used this sword before, used it for a long time?"

"Right. So he used it very conveniently. Had maintained pretty good in the beginning."

Joyce grinded my sword a few time like joking, and then clipped the grip on it, fixed with nails. Joyce put the sword into a scabbard, and then gave it to me.

"Try to pull it out!"

I swallowed, and then held the grip. Cling!

Woo, wooah. My God, my heart. All the hair on my arms erected. The sword issued soft sound, after played around a bit by Joyce, now when I pull, it emits the sound that stimulates my heart. Jamini simply pasted on my post-shoulders, is revealing only her eyes looking, while gasping loudly. She made my neck itchy, at the same time hindered my action of pulling out the sword.

I pulled the entire sword out, then Joyce told me worriedly:

"Do not imitate those soldiers touching the blade with the thumb. This sword is now sharp enough to shave."

Oh, I am shocked. Because my hand is going to touch the blade. I'm embarrassingly watching the sword thoroughly. The chill issuing from the blade freezes my heart, the shining surface can even show the reflection of my face. Joyce gave me a whetstone and towel.

"I don't know what extent you can reach, however, regardless who it is, when you break a sword, you will learn, so it doesn't matter. You have to spare a time every day to grind the sword. You don't have to grind much now, one or two times will be fine. Nevertheless with the lapse of time, you may need to grind it more and more."

Joyce then took a breath, and went to a side of the blacksmith shop, found out his wallet and started counting money with twittering sound. He is probably counting how much change he needs to give me. After a while, other blacksmiths also ran to him, those half-naked, shiny men because of sweat are counting coins. The look seems to interest Jamini.

"He he hee..."

But I don't have extra effort to project my eyes to that direction. My whole spirit is concentrated on my bastard sword. Really awesome. Built for combat, a well functional body, sharp, and long enough, and very smooth. The blade around, the only mission is to hurt the enemy's body. The humming bloodthirsty top of the sword has driven to me to distraction. Then it's the cross-guard and grip. The old leather wrapped on the grip, seems pasted on my hand tightly. Should I replace the leather? No, no. Seems like changing anything on this, will likely ruin the sword.

I plug the sword back into the scabbard. But different to prior, due to the terribly sharpness, once I think of the bloodthirsty thing held in my left hand, my palm began to itch. My shoulder shrinked slightly, crossed my arms on my chest, then I looked up to the heaven with the most sincere face I can make.

Upinel, look! Today a swordsman was born, he is going to practice the law of Helkanes on this land. My hands practice the law, but they are only slaves of my soul. So I will dedicate my soul to you. Look! It's me. Please don't forget, Upinel! Er...Er... Don't know why, my tears almost to flow out.

"Huchi! Hurry up, get the grindstone and the towel. "

Damn... Damn, damn, damn girl! Ruined my great moment! Although I muttered, I still received those things. I wrapped the grindstone in the towel, put it into my pocket. Then Joyce came over and sighed.

"No matter how I counted I don't have enough. Do you need an armor?"

Oh. Almost forgot. Armor? Well, sure. Once I nodded, Joyce showed a "I knew you would say yes" face, smiled and went to the corner of the blacksmith shop and began searching. He picked a hard leather armor which matches my physique, and then took over. I want the piece of chain mail beside more, but that one is so expensive, and I don't have the courage to walk around in the village with it, so forget about that.

"You know how to make candles right? You should know how to handle grease?"

"Of course!"

For iron armors, the biggest problem is moisture. But iron is a very robust material. In comparison, leather armors even the tanning process were done well, are still very vulnerable. If someone say they found mold on an armor, it must be a leather armor. But often coating grease on a leather armor, can allow it to be used for a much longer time. And when it comes to handling grease, are there any people better than me? Isn't me a candler maker who uses bee wax and grease? I can even coat oil on my sword to make it slippery. Or shoould I coat it with an entire layer of wax, make it water-proof?

Because leather armors are soft like clothes, can directly drill into it by head, so I easily put it on. Below the neck part it separates into two sides, both sides have attached hinge holes. Of course that's the place for the strings to connect. I took over the strings from Joyce, and started to put them on clumsily. Jamini chuckled.

"Let me do it. So you will be able to open it."

I obediently gave the strings to Jamini. She leaned against my chest, and started connecting the strings.

"Hush Hush!"

What's wrong? Those blacksmiths are looking at us and started yelling and whistling. Jamini's cheeks blushed. Well, in this scene, I am also very much like the legendary King Rhuterino. I am standing striaight disposedly, and Jamini is nested in my chest, busy putting the strings on. Isn't this like the king and the maid?

Joyce smiled and said:

"It looks like the noble lady and the knight apprentice in the stories."

What, what, what!

Nevermind, I also bought a pair of boots, even bought a pair of gloves. I feel like flying in the sky, so became very kind and generous, I bought a set of dress for Jamini too. I seemed like being carried away, one hundred Purcell were instantly gone. Anyway, Jamini is so happy that she started to bounce. Looking at her face, my mood is not bad too.

Chapter One: Riding Towards the Dawn (Pt.9)

I am carrying a barrel loaded with fat oil, walking on a road in the forest. The weather is so good that I want to whistle. The wind is blowing, it's comfortable enough for me to forget the pain on my head caused by Sanson. But because of the fishy smell of the fat, all these are destroyed. I am walking silently.

Then Jamini suddenly came up to the road from a tree.

"Good afternoon!"

Jamini had her hands behind her back when she appeared, as if touching her hip.

"Got beaten badly, right?"

Instead of getting hit by Jamini's mother's palm, I rather get hit by an normal man's fist. But Jaimini who got tempered for 17 years looks nothing happened.

"Yes. But why are you carrying the oil barrel? Yesterday didn't you say that all works had been done?"

"Someone made an order again. The candles for the Amurtaat Crusade."

"Is it? How many need to be done?"

"I don't know. After the capital's knights and the expedition commanders set the operational plan, the consumption budget will be set. But I guess, they wouldn't need much."

"Why?"

Jamini began to walk with me.

"Only a few knights came, there won't be any special operation plans. Previously there were a lot of people, so they needed a lot of candles, but this time it's different. The war is actually the duel between Amurtaat and Cathselprime. So the knights don't need to stay up all night to discuss strategies... As the distance is about 10 days, so for a round-trip, around one hundred or so is enough."

"Ah. It should be right."

Jamini nodded her head and said.

"But the Dragon-Raja yesterday, if the battle started, he needs to ride on the dragon right?"

"Ah? Why? Certainly not."

"Huh? Doesn't he command on Cathselprime's back?

"That lad knows nothing about war. What you said is Dragoon. Those knights get permission of a dragon, so they can ride on the dragon's back. Dragon-Raja... is only an intermediary between the dragon and human. They are just a symbol , representing a contract that the dragon obeys the command of human."

I explained solemnly, but Jamini is just curling her lips.

"I don't understand what you're saying."

I frowned a bit.

"Gosh, headache. You girl! I'll say in this way. Where do you live? The forest of our thane, isn't it?"

"Yes."

"But is the keeper of the forest thane himself? The rights of cutting down trees in the forest, picking fruits, collecting mushrooms, hunting, all belong to the thane, isn't it?"

"Oh ... Yes."

"But in fact the keeper of the forest is your dad. You got it? In this forest, cutting down trees, collecting mushrooms, in fact rather than getting permission from the thane, we only need to get the permission from your dad."

Jamini nodded with a proud expression.

"Well, that's right."

"Understand? Dragon-Raja is the master of the dragon, but in fact if you have anything to please the dragon, you don't actually need to ask the Dragon-Raja. You can request to the dragon directly. Cathselprime also. As people said they want to eliminate Amurtaat, Cathselprime listened to these words, so she herself determined to fight the battle."

Jamini tilted his head to for a while. Then she seemed to came up with a strange idea, clapped her hands, said:

"In other words, if I ran to find Cathselprime and said: "Let me ride for a while", as long as she agreed, I can ride her? Don't need to be allowed by the Dragon-Raja?"

"Yes. You are right. So dragons communicate directly with human. The Dragon-Rajas don't need to do anything. But when there is no Dragon-Raja with the dragon, it won't bother to communicate with human, it can simply kill a human when it finds one."

"Like Amurtaat?"

"...Like that damn thing!"

I kicked a small rock on the ground. But after the stone hit a tree, it annoyingly bounced to my feet. This time I kicked it with all of my strength, the small stone disappeared in the woods.

"Don't be angry."

"Damn. I just don't want to hear that name!"

Jamini looked at me with sad eyes, but I turned away. After I turned, Jamini projected her sight to elsewhere also. We silently walked a few steps like this. Jamini suddenly said:

"Really want to try?"

"What?"

"Ask Cathselprime to let me ride for a while?"

My anger instantly disappeared. God, Gran Elver!

"...Cathselprime of course will let you ride."

"Really?"

"Sure. She will then carry you up into the sky, chew thoroughly and then swallow you with a 'gurgle' sound, and then pretend nothing happened and come down. Probably won't even burp a little. Like your size, probably can't fill her stomach..."

"Huchi! Why do you always say such terrible things?"

Jamini heavily stepped on my feet and then ran away. This damn girl. I am carrying a fat barrel on my back, so I can only shout at her. She is far from me, waving her fist.

Damn, damn, damn, this cute little thing!

Huh? Weird, am I nuts?

※

I began to refine candles.

First of all, put the processed animal fat into water, heat and simmer with small fire. After a while, all the oil floats to the surface of the water, then drag up the oil. This thing is hot, and the smell is very bad, so this time-consuming step is tough to do. After filtering the oil, add coagulants like wax. Then pour the mixture into the molds of wick. If the wick is made by twisted filament, the flame will be very nice. But filaments are very expensive. So we soil reed with oil and then dry it, make it as the wick. When reed wick burns up, it rings noisily, emits sparks, and the brightness is relatively low. But at least the material doesn't require money.

Then place these things into the shade to cool down, then pour them out from the mold, the candles are then complete. Although it looks simple to the extent that people would feel that boring, but you try it yourself. You will find this is actually not an easy thing.

For me, it's also not an easy task. No matter observing the degree of melting of the oil, the amount of the coagulant added,  or pouring the oil carefully so not to break the wick, everything needs a clever craft. If bad luck, broke a wick, then that whole candle material would all need to be dumped. I spent a very long period of time to learn the technique before I could properly pour the grease.

All important production steps were done by me. I am sitting in the open workshop, pouring the pot of oil, and thinking of my father.

If dad can provide for some guidance beside me it would be better, but he didn't even come to the workshop. I do not know where he got a wooden stick from, he is swinging it in the yard. He probably thought the stick was a spear, if he didn't label his name on it, I should be thankful. Look at his age, still swinging a stick sincerely there and shouting: "Ah! Oh! Ah!". Even he is my dad, I can't take this anymore.

"Dad!"

"Finished?"

"Ah, the molds are all filled."

We have a total of 40 molds. So to make one hundred, I have to do a few times. Of course, no one actually said that we need to make one hundred, but I guess the requirement will be around this number. Now I filled all the 40 candle molds, the pot is also just empty. Because all the residues in pot need to be discarded (Can't cook them for the second time), so I estimated before I cook, so the amount of materials used was just right.

My father saw it. Because I deliberately showed him.

"You will become a good husband."

"...Thank you."

I moved the candle molds to the shade, cleaned the pot, and tidied up the materials. During this period, dad was still there "Ha Ah!" "Hey yo!" "Hey Ha! "Ha Hi!" , shouting something irrelevant to practicing spear, swinging his stick.

"I feel painful to see this."

"You should be more humble,  respect me. Don't be jealous."

"Do you want me to practice with you?"

"In the end, it's Patricide. Then go get a stick!"

I went to the workshop to select a stick, while took a glance to the stick my dad's holding. Then I chose a particularly long and heavy one. Dad raised his brow.

"Ha ha ha. The saying goes, A Good Carpenter Doesn't Pick Tool."

I shrugged, put down the stick I just selected, then picked up a even bigger one.

"...You piece of..."

I raised the stick, started to spin and whir it above my head. I often see Sanson and his men play like this.

But I still added my own unique move. Sanson would hold to the spear to the height of his waist and stop eventually. And mine was accidentally let the stick flew out, then ran to pick it up hastily.

Anyway, Dad and I finally held the wooden sticks, we are standing in the yard and looking at each other. In my opinion, and my father even can't make a proper posture with the wooden stick. It's not a sword, why hold it in front of the chest? His feet is casually stationing, the station is very open. If I stab him now, he won't be able to dodge.

"Your feet should stand closer, as the shoulder width."

"You trying to trick me?"

"...This is a very pure recommendation."

Dad obediently combined his feet a little. I made my posture, and then said:

"Spear should be held like this. Do you think you are using an ax? Hands should seperate."

Dad did as I said. In the next 30 minutes, we performed a scene that I simply could not stand.

I didn't know before I am this kind of guy. Every time I stabbed with my stick, and when it nearly met dad I would draw it back. But Dad hit his son like hitting a dog, mercilessly. To dodge his moves is actually not so difficult. Speaking of the level of Dad, even if I stand still, he will stab to somewhere else. Instead, every time I wanted to dodge, I accidentally bumped into his stick.

"Well, can you still fight?"

"Do you think I can't fight anymore?"

"I think you are completely dead. Get up."

I stood up in father's arm. The sun is falling to the west. I leaned on the shoulder of dad, came to the table in front of the hut. Dad got a water bottle. Surrounded by red, not sure if it's because of this, father's face looks particularly warm.

I swallowed and said:

"Dad. You really think you can come back like this?"

"Ah, I am worried too. If the commander is surprised by my martial arts, drag me to the capital to see the King His Majesty, what should I do? I like this village more."

"......"

Dad poked my hair and smiled.

"Don't worry. Things will get better.  We have 8 more days to practice."

"You will depart 8 days later?"

"Ah. I heard this news today from the castle. Starting from tomorrow I will participate in the training in the castle."

"Only train for a week..."

"What's wrong. Anyway, the commanders don't have any expectation on us. They are going to let Cathselprime fight it all."

"If you hide behind Cathselprime, and someone shouted 'Charge!", You should immediately shout: "Uh! I am shot by an arrow", and then fall to the ground."

"So Amurtaat shoots arrow? I better hurry to report this to my commander."

"Who is the Commander?"

"Is a Knight came from the capital to protect the Dragon-Raja. He is called Huritchell. Heard that he is an Earl."

"Earl's ranking is higher than our thane!"

"Knowing that he is not sent to the frontline of Zypern battles, but is sent to this remote territory, it is clear. If this Earl is not useless, then he has no social skill."

"But the army of a Earl is just like this?"

"Are you actually pointing at Cathselprime and say 'just like this'?"

"You are correct then."

I turned my head towards the West. The sunset dyed the sky red. West is where Amurtaat is. I suddenly feel like the red sunset is like fire spitted by Amurtaat, somehow felt a trace of cold from the warm red light. I made a few chills, lying asleep on the table. Practicing with father seems too tiring.

※ ※ ※

The red flame is burning.

Burning houses, burning villages, burning world. All I can see are flames.

Mother is also burning.

Fire shoes, fire dress, fire hair. On her arm, a fire bracelet is ragingly burning.

Mom looks very serene, the whole picture looks very beautiful. The strange thing is, I think mother looks very warm. Looks like if I drop into her arms, the flame will bring me warmth.

I run to my mother.

Mom opens her arms. Come now. Come now.

Mom's arms spread out. Come on. Continue to spread. Come on. Eventually what mom spread out turns into a pair of black wings.

Above the shoulder of mom, there is an abnormal head. The skin is black and shiny, distorts and reflects the fire light around. There is a bending horn on the head, if run towards it like this, I will be pierced. The mouth of the head opened. Inside is a ridiculously large cave. Absolute. Darkness. Eternity. Infinity.

Why am I still running forward?

※ ※ ※

"Fool! Where are you going?"

Because the shout of Dad, I finally found myself running towards the fireplace. I stopped. If I am a little more forward, I am afraid that my scalp will be burnt.

"Had a dream?"

Looking closer, I was wrapped in the blanket lying on the floor of the room, and my father was sitting on the edge of the bed writing something. Dad put something he just wrote on the cabinet, came to me and touched my forehead, and then nodded. My forehead is full of sweat, I am still sitting there blankly until now. Even he turned my eyelids up, I am still sitting there. Finally my father held his fist and is going to punch me.

"Stop! Don't hit me."

"Great. Is it because you didn't eat before you slept? Speaking of people in your age, it should be uncommon for this to happen. There is bread on the table, eat it."

I stood up, but not to eat the bread. I went directly out of the hut.

"I go to enjoy the shade a bit."

"Go."

I was in the blanket, so when I suddenly ran outside, I suddenly felt deadly cold, and even my arms started to get goose bumps. But as it's after sweating, so it was extremely comfortable. Hell cares whether will catch a cold tomorrow. I went the bucket beside the workshop . But before the moment I drill my head into the bucket, I suddenly recoiled.

I can't see nothing in the bucket, only darkness. I can't even see water in it. I don't want put my head into it. I feel that if my head is drilled into it, my whole body will also be sucked in.

I bit my teeth and moved backwards, backed by the wall of the hut and sat down.

"Mammy!"

I wanted to say "Mom". But in my entire life, I've never had the opportunity to call her this, because when she was still here I was too small, I only knew saying "Mammy". I am naturally shouting according to my memory long time ago.

Poof. What is this? A sentimental tone of a kid in adolescent?

However, why are my cheeks wet?

※ ※ ※