"Here, that might fit your need. It's simple, but does the job." Roàn showed him a simple brown leather sheath, just deep enough to let the knife slide in, the metal handle reflecting on its surface the flickering flames. A simple strap secured it, and could be fastened at any belt.
"Take it as a gift. For the material and equipment, I think 7 silver will suffice. The sheat only gathers dust here, so no harm giving it away."
Albeit this price was more than fair, it would drain Mikael most of his remaining funds, leaving only Copper.
'We still have to hand in the teeth and ears from the monsters, that will help me out a bit. And else I don't need anything, except a drink later.'
He paid with no heavy feeling the price, even glad he got such an opportunity.
He put the knife on his belt, so he can draw it from his back with his left hand in case he needs it, without it obstructed by the other stuff.
'Glad Sophia persuaded me to buy a new belt. This one fits far better, and the inbraided metal wired ensure stability. If it just wouldn't have been so bloody expensive.'
Night had already descended. Mikael walked along the street, straight towards Jenny's shop.
'Two birds with one stone.'
He walked in, the bell announcing his entrance.
"Back so soon? Don't tell me you got me another heavy injured patient. Sorry but I need rest, too."
She smiled, leaning on her counter and a steaming cup in hand.
"Not this time, but I want to ask a bit about magic."
"Again? I told you already that I can't teach you. I don't have any idea how to convey the feeling, and even if so, I'm prohibited to distribute dangerous knowledge like that."
"I know, but the Guild Master here, Simon was his name, said I may got the potential to learn it. I thought maybe now you might have extra information."
She put down her cup, locking the door and putting her closed sign on.
"That are amazing news, even the mere possibility is more than most even dream of. Tell me, do you sometimes have a weird feeling, as if someone looks at you or a aura surrounds a person?"
Mikael nodded. "I had that feeling, mostly as if a invisible weight is pressing me down. Or as the Tusk Stalker attacked Leon I just knew of his presence."
"Exactly that. This kind of stuff happens if a person got magic power and uses it. Your inborn mana is more stimulated, and even unintentionally some exert a bit of it. You can't imagine what some manage to do if they release their mana intentionally.
But you really lucked out. Simon as a branch manager has certain rights to act as a instructor, so teaching the basics is no problem. Another factor is your affinity tho, as well as perception and intelligence, maybe even strength. There are some kind of different magics, but I can't tell you much more than that."
"Why is it even prohibited to talk freely about magic? I thought everyone is born with mana, so why limit its spreading?"
With a sigh, Jenny brushed some strands of hair out her face behind her ear.
"See, not only is the awakening a mostly random and rare thing, but what might happen, or did happen, when the mighty forces of nature get thrown around by either inexperienced beginners or evildoers. Before the teaching was heavily restricted, maybe some random kid got told he can use his mana. He had a rough lesson and was then left alone. Of course he continued to play with it, and one lead to another. Result was, he killed himself together with at least 20 other people, maybe more, but their corpses were unidentifiable.
Or someone who had bad intentions was shown the arts of destruction, using it to torture and annihilate. Sure, these scenarios are hard to control and close to impossible to prevent, but rules help. More than we might know." she closed, fideling with her hands.
"I would like to teach you a thing or two, really, but this is the extend I can tell without breaking rules. Just hope you succeed in your mission, got a affinity and Mr. Cornfield is a good teacher."
"Alright, still thank you for talking about that. Another thing I wanted to inquire" he changed topic, noticing how increasingly nervous she became as the talk continued.
"Did Leon perhaps say anythi G about a pouch? We got rid of quite the number of monsters on our mission, and I honestly need some cash."
Jenny breathed out silently, grabbing something under her counter and giving it Mikael.
"Your companion Sophia already did so. Here is your share, and she also said: I hope he didn't forget to make my pellets, or this is gonna wander into my pockets."
She chuckled, stretching on her chair, showing her belly as the shirt rose.
Mikael blushed a bit seeing this, but kept himself under control, not staring or doing anything stupid.
"She is a strange girl, but a honest one. With one like her by your side you won't have to worry."
"I think so, too. Her open nature and saying what's on her mind is surprisingly refreshing." he took the Money, transferring it to his own pouch before bidding farewell, not without at least greeting Leon who was already back on his feet, making some simple exercises and stretches.
He then walked back to the Inn, not really knowing if Beron would still be up to go over their materials tonight.
"Finally back, aren't we. You can't chicken out from me." he got greeted in a positive teasing tone, Beron sitting already on a table in the open, a wooden board and some charcoal to practice writing ready.
Mikael only shook his head, not having the energy to refute now.
"Well, look at that. Can't see you didn't now the basics just three weeks ago. You made impressive progress." Beron praised, looking at the crooked, but readable letters as well some spun together words.
"Now I can savely leave you out into the world. Just practice and read a lot, not that it would require any effort. You have to do it every day after all."
"Thank you very much Mr. Beron, I wouldn't have imagined that someone actually takes their time and teach me this important skill." Mikael said, proud of himself and his progress.
"Don't mention it. I believe some day I, Emily or my wife might need help, too. At that time we eventually need to call you, and like that we become equal. Life is a constant give and take. It's not like we spent long on this, either."
With this they finished their last lecture, Mikael walking like dead up the stairs, got into the bed and fell asleep.
"Ouch!" he awoke the next day, finding himself on the ground and looking upwards to a fully dressed Sophia.
"You need another method of waking people up. Why are you even here?" he yawned, rubbing the sleep out his eyes.
"Worked every time till now, your fault for sleeping so long. First bell, remember?"
"Sorry, it got a bit late last night. Talked a bit with Jenny and Mr. Beron."
"Then you got the money? And I hope my pellets as well? I'm itching to shoot them into some nasty green bodies."
Mikael nodded, a poch filled with many small but quite heavy ammunition was traded.
"Thanks, I appreciate it."
'Not like you left me much of a choice.'
"Can I grab at least breakfast? Or I won't offer a good companion for the day."
"Sure, but we have to buy some provisions, too. Afterwards its straight south, into that cave and some quick buck."
Her hands already clutched a new sword she bought, and her always tired looking eyes got some life.
"Far to eager to kill some Goblins."
"You are not? I got the impression you also enjoyed smashing away their heads with the hammer. And most of all you need that training. A rookie like you has to get all the experience available."
"I was not really having fun, more like necessity and resolve." he reasoned.
But all he got was a sceptical look from Sophia.
After eating a quick breakfast and buying some dried meat and bread, they met up on the gate, equipment prepared and maintained.
"We might get to hitch a ride on a carriage, that would save us some time." Mikael suggested.
"And run the danger of suddenly being held hostage by a stranger? Most carriages here got guards hired, and I don't want to meet one crazy dude when our destination is just around the corner."
They traveled along the road that led south, and after leaving the village behind them, Mikael got for the first time a unnerving feeling. Looking back and only seeing the tips of some roofs made him quite aware again how rarely he left this place, now with just Sophia by his side.
'Have to get used to that feeling, my future now looks like that. At least Sophia is with me here for now.'
"What are you staring back for? Our goal is the front, or did you never learn directions?"
'Glad she is here. Wouldn't know what to do without her.'
He thought, walking towards the already far ahead Sophia, away from the dirt road and into the open fields.
On their journey they encountered nothing, much to the surprise to Mikael who expected something more.
As he voiced his thoughts Sophia she laughed at his ridiculousness.
"Not in every hole or cranny is a monster ready to be slain. Here people actually traverse through, so many get killed on sight. If we are lucky we might see some Jerksys. What, you don't know these, either?" she exclaimed when seeing his questioning look.
"Haaah, forgot you are a rookie through and through. Jerksys are small creatures, imagine a normal dog. Make it smaller, uglier and give it some sharp teeth and a nasty scent. And here you have it. A roaming carrier of diseases and hazards."
She was quite satisfied with her explanation, but Mikaels picture was now more like a big rat that ran around the fields biting into people's unsuspecting heels.
"Or we see a weirder creature." she called, and Mikael look to the front where a blob of some sort wriggled around the carcass of a wild horse.
"Is this thing a Slime?"