Lin Feng woke up in the morning to the sound of metal grinding against metal. He was surprised to find the old man woken up before him. He held the large axe in his hand and was polishing it by rubbing it against a rock. The task was proving difficult because of having only one arm.
"Let me do it," Lin Feng offered taking the axe in his hands. The old man and held the rock stabilizing it while he sharpened the edge of the axe against it.
"We will need money money to go to town. The axe would fetch a higher price this way."
Lin Feng paused. "Why are you selling it? How will I practice from now on?"
"We have no other option. The fruits that we have would barely allow us to reach the nearest station. Besides after you get into the academy you would not need it."
He was not convinced but he knew no other ways to get money. He continued to sharpen the blade. After the axe had been sharpened the old man tore off the leather grip completely and laid down a new grip made of thin rope. He polished the axe as Lin Feng looked on fondingly.
They began packing up their belongings. All of their belongings fit in an old looking backpack. He took two set of clothes and his axe. The old man put in his clothes and a few utensils. They ate a portion of meat and kept the rest. They set off at a walk towards the nearest village. Lin Feng carried the backpack on his back and a sack containing wild fruits in his right hand. His wood-chopping axe was tied to his waist. The old man carried the large axe on his back.
Following the narrow walking trail, they reached the village by afternoon. Lin Feng led the way to the merchant to whom he usually sold his fruits. The merchant agreed to let them sit in his cart which was going to the nearest town in exchange of his sack of wild fruits. The cart was pulled by two horses. Apart from them, the driver and the merchant's assistant sat in the front. In the behind, it was laden with vegetables and fruits. The cart started after two hours. The sadness of leaving that place behind was soon replaced by the joys of travelling. Lin Feng had never gone this far from his home. To him everything felt new and exciting.
For the first two hours or so, it traveled through the forest on a thin broken road. After that the vegetation decreased, the road widened and became much better. They covered much more distance in the next two hours than in the previous two. They also passed a few villages in between. A few carts could be seen going to and fro on the roads. They stopped at an inn to let the horses rest and feed. Lin Feng woke up the old man who had fallen asleep. They ate their own food, refusing to spend their money in the inn.
The driver then informed them that they were halfway to the town. It would take them three more hours to reach their destination. The old man fell asleep almost immediately. Lin Feng although excited felt tired due to travelling and drifted to sleep.
"Wake up" the old man roused him out of his sleep. "We have arrived." Lin Feng got off the cart and looked around in wonder. He could see a building in red and white colours. It was two storeys tall. Its platform extended in both directions to a long distance. On its entrance "Sector 26-14 Railway Station" was written in large black font on a white background. He stood looking all around at this sight.
The cart took off after they gave their thanks. "Come let us go in." the old man beckoned. Lin Feng followed behind him. Inside the walls were painted up to shoulder height in red and above white. They entered through a small passage which had a lot of travellers going in and out. The old man looked about and found his way to the digital information board while he stared at numerous electronic board.
"There is no train to Sector 4-2. We will have to go to Sector 11-2 first and then take a train from there."
Lin Feng was still trying to find how the old man learnt this when he said - "Come we need to sell the axe first." He asked a few people for directions to the market and made his way there. He moved along the road looking left and right until he found a weapons shop.
The shop was a small room with a wooden counter to the front. A variety of swords, axes and other cutting tools were displayed on the walls. The top of the counter bore many marks made by various weapons.
"I wish to sell my hunter's axe." said the old man in as authoritative tone as he could muster while taking the axe off his back and placing it on the counter.
The shopkeeper, a middle aged man with rough beard, took a glance at his customer before picking up the axe in his hands and inspecting it. He judged the sharpness of the head and the marks upon it. Then he undid the wrapped rope upon the handle.
"Lemington 600. It would require a new grip and some major work in the blade." Turning the axe in hands he added, "Altogether I can offer you 80$ for it."
The old man said, "Lemington 600 doesn't sell for much less even in second or third time. The price you offered is too less."
"That was the time when Lemington 600 used to be one of most used models. Everyone prefers the Kossbergs today. In this town we do don't get many hunters." the shopkeeper said looking at the old man.
The old man was surprised, "Kossberg. The same as the one that sold PEDs?"
The shopkeeper chuckled - "Yes, it's the same one. Weapons and PEDs aren't the only things they sell though." Pointing to the axe he said, "Will you sell it?"
"Uh, yes."
The shopkeeper looked up with his pen held in the air - "What name should I put?"
"Lin Ming"
Lin Feng looked up quizzically at the old man but he was looking straight ahead. As they walked back towards the station, he said - "Why did you not give your name?"
"I did. Call me Ming from now on."