Leaving the house, Mikael walked along the road, past the now more familiar houses, shops and people he came across. Laurence his shop no longer stood at their previous location, it now being vacant, ready to be occupied by another merchant.
He was not yet gone, but sold most of his merchandise and bought some, about to travel again and try his skill in another location.
'Good for him, he sold a lot over the last few days.'
His companion Horo played a vital part, advertising their goods and bringing in customers. Laurence promoted his goods very eloquent, together with the quality product of which Mikael bought some most went away happy.
The Weather was more cloudy than before, wind picking up speed, making the air more humid, and when hitting Mikaels skin also colder all around.
He wrapped his thick, brown jacket tighter, buttoning it up to the top.
'Should have also bought a scarf.' He thought, taking out some gloves made of thick wool, sliding them over his hands, instantly embracing the encompassing warmth.
Along the road he saw more familiar faces, recognizing them by passing them every so often.
The elderly woman hanging out wet clothes she already washed, a man walking around his yard, axe on the shoulder, carrying logs to his chopping block , ready to stack up some fire wood for drying.
Older kids in good clothes walked also along the road, passing him on their way to a school on the other side of the village. Beron told him they teach there more advanced knowledge, but the costs are too high for common worker class, so only more wealthy professions or these with the right connections could get into it.
'Must be nice, to learn everything necessary in peace, not coming out as stupid and dumb like me.'
His lack of more common knowledge made itself visible every day, sometimes more, other times less.
Last time he asked Beron why this Village was called one, not a town. As a response, Beron had difficulty at first to describe it, as he himself never questioned it.
"A city is much, much bigger. More people, more shops, merchants and traders. A lot more streets, buildings and traffic. You see we use here barely any half-magic items, purely because they would cost too much and are valuable, but a town, cities and the capital Camelot would use them far more frequently, using them as lamps, for tools, equipment or weapons. The Guild Branches also are bigger, having sometimes more stories, personal and external institutions, like our Inn here that is sponsored by Chrysalis."
The lecture continued after that, Mikael not wanting to embarrass himself even more, feeling already pretty clueless about the world, but Emily encouraged him.
One night she came to their little lesson, saying:"You are not stupid. And how should it change if you don't ask. Ask away, because you either get all the information you can, or truly stay ignorant."
His spirit lifted, he ask here and there, about the surrounding, work for the Guild, Equipment and other little things, that came to his mind at that time.
Beron helped him a bit choosing things for his backpack, like a spare flask or more tools, like a shovel, scissors and spare parts, as well as cleaning brushes, rags and oil.
Arriving at the forge, hell pit already crackled happily, sparks bursting out and steam escaping from the crannies.
'Boss's already working? Quite early for him, shouldn't have taken his first smoke at that time.'
The sun rose, warming his back, washing the walls and roofs in a golden light, but only for it to be covered up more often than not by the clouds.
"Boss, I'm here!" he knocked quickly, not waiting anymore for a response, as Roàn often dozed off when he came, letting him stay outside till he repeated his action, louder and getting an angry reaction.
"Ohh, lad! Great timing." Roàn came out from his inner smithy, the towel around his shoulders steaming, like the pipe than was held up by his thin lips. Sweat ran from his forehead down his temples, dropping to the ground off his chin.
"I still have a bit of work to do. Can ya get our product and polish it up a bit? Customer receives it soon, maybe a hour, two top. Ya know where the oil is."
He went back inside. In his time here Mikael only once used the inside forge, to make a knife for a hunter. The air there was thick, hot and stuffy.
'Boss doesn't like working in there, what's his motive to do it now?'
He didn't thought long about it, taking out a clean cloth, oil and fat. Sitting on the table, he placed the Sword in its beautiful crafted black silvery scabbard, unsheathing it carefully to not dull the blade unnecessarily and began running his oily cloth in a fluid motion along the blade, careful around the thin and sharp single sided blade.
Using the high quality fat, he smoothed out the leather, removing any remaining fingerprints.
The scabbard received a similar treatment, and after he was done, the sword reflected his picture clearly, as if he looked in a quiet, clean lake.
His green eyes had more dept unlike the last time he saw himself, having lost a bit of its sparkle. The brown hair longer, tousle around his ears. He got the jaw from his father, like his thin lips, but the nose skin from his mother, or so he was told.
He dwelt a bit, trying to see in himself his father, but having no success. He sheathed the sword again, it sliding in without any blocking. It laid on the white cloth again, the contrast making it look even more grand, in its full 68 cm.
"If the customer isn't satisfied with that, I eat my pipe." Roàn bellowed, throwing his towel away after wiping off his sweat, going to his kitchen, taking out some mead and roasted meat, cut up and sprinkled with salt.
He put a cup before Mikael, filling it up with a bit of the honey beer and a plate containing the lightly red meat.
"No matter what they may say, we deserve a good breakfast for our work. It's also for ya work, can't have meat every day, but who cares. I enjoyed working with ya."
Mikael got a friendly palm hitting his back, rocking him forth a bit, but quickly recovering, looking at that bear-like person that treated him like a proper assistant, not some handyman hired out of need.
"Same here, Boss. I liked my time here very much. Thank you for everything you taught me."
"Aye, but now dig in. Haven't the whole morning. And be careful..." Roàn wanted to warn, just as Mikael took a sip of his mead, the burning sensation and warmth welcoming, but also forcing him to cough," the mead might be a bit strong undiluted for you." Mikael quickly got the hang of himself, clearing his throat and taking the meat with his hand, the texture being a bit chewy, but juicy and aromatic.
"Took it like a champ." Roàn shook his head, also beginning to eat and drink.
After finishing, they talked a bit, mostly Roàn asking what Mikael wants to do afterwards.
He said he wanted to achieve more personal progress, achieving so by fulfilling more practical quests.
"Do ya have anything for that? Bet you thought 'bout everything, except the most important thing." Roàn laid back on his chair, it cracking under his weight, pointing his smoking pipe towards Mikael.
He recalled everything he had now, counting inwardly his things and money, certain he had at least the bare minimum.
"I think I have everyt..." his eyes wandered to the longsword, laying there, looking fabulous.
"Ahhhh? Did the card turned?" He followed his eyes, a smile spreading under his bushy beard.
"A weapon." he murmured, wondering how he could forget that.
"DAMN RIGHT, A WEAPON!" Roàn bursted out, maybe louder than necessary.
"What were ya trying to achieve as a hunter? Killing Goblins with that bundle of paper ya carry 'round? Trust we, won't survive long like that."
"But I want to start by doing smaller quests, gathering herbs or scout some locations, keeping a safe distance from danger." Mikael defended himself, already guessing the answer.
"And nothing will happen? Ya won't need to defend against surprises or uncontrollable events? Goblins, Kobolds, ferocious beasts and other creatures can come up like that!" He snapped his finger, adding:" And Humans aren't the nicest, either. At least they think again, seeing ya armed and prepared."
'He's right. I at least need something like that, or my hunter days won't continue for long.'
He held weapons in his hand, knifes or swords, and the feeling they gave him was security. The weight, the knowledge he could use it to defend, but it slipped his mind to have on on his own.
"Guess I have to look out for one, maybe a smaller sword, or a lance. Heard they are easy to use."
Roàn only smirked slightly, not interrupting his thought process. He put out his pipe, removing the tableware and hasty wiping away stains and obvious dirt.
As the sun was still covered up a bit, the light was dim, and Roàn took a stick and lit with it the candles in the room, making it brighter and cozier, together with throwing some wood in the chimney.
"Get ready lad, our guests arrives."
Mikael perked his ears, faintly hearing the clomping of heavy hoofs and the sound of wheels digging into the earth.
'Is it their carriage?'
"Here, hold that up, drop it and you won't see the light again."
He got the sword, holding it with a white cloth, the flames dancing in the reflection of the black wood.
The carriage stopped, the heavy doors opening and closing quickly, and the door was knocked shortly afterwards.
Roàn walked to the door, opening it, showing the guest the interior.
"I came here to get my requested sword, I hope it is ready?" A hard, female voice asked, it sounding faintly familiar to Mikaels ears.
"Finished and hopefully to ya expectations. I at least am. Common in."
Her steps echoed in the building, accompanied by a gush of cool air from the outside, effecting Mikael and sending again a shudder down his back.