The fire was silently crackling on the lush, green plains. The wind was gently breezing and two moons, both soothing to the soul while the stars glittered in the night stared down from above the five men. Cheery laughter was coming from John and Marn, Hugo was silent and still like a statue while Karn was tending to the fire and barbecuing meat the group had brought along from Faldar. Rullin flipping through pages of his book would occasionally look up with squinted eyes finding this scene barbaric and unsuited for his tastes. Drake was still lost in his thoughts thinking about his previous life before thinking about his current situation.
'Either I need ask John or Hugo for some training, I don't want to hinder them in the upcoming journey. I had never been a soldier in my previous life but here circumstances require courage, grit, and fast reflexes. Not knowing the original bodies story doesn't help either. However, I can't let that stop me. I need to do something for my body to get stronger and learn how to fight.'
Drake got up and walked to a clearing behind John and Marn. Both moons reflecting enough light from the sun to give a light hue of white basking the ground in its grandeur. Everyone discreetly glanced at Drake as he started in plank position before starting a set of push ups and sit ups. Drake went till he could feel his arms and stomach ache, strings of sweat slowly dripping on the ground making a small puddle.
As Drake was about to go wash himself in a pond nearby ,John and Marn approached him.
"Getting some work in eh?"
Drake nodded.
"I was wondering if Sir Tenebris could teach me sword play. I have been thinking about it during the day and realize I'm extremely weak but I don't want that to continue. Since I have no memories, I would like to learn."
"Hahahaha~ of course! I've been waiting since this morning! You can rely on me boy!"
Drake wryly smiled realizing he found a battle addict. Without further delay John started teaching Drake how to hold, wield, and fight with a sword. John figured at some point he would have gotten his fight because he had a spare long sword to bring along on the journey. Drake slowly inspected the sword and had to admit it was grand. A black handle with green highlights and a long silver color covered the blade.
'Personally I favor the katana, but that was due for my love of Japanese culture. But there is none of that here, I wonder if they even have katana shaped swords in this world...'
Drake did not much time to think much as the training began. John was ruthless in assaults, always finding openings and hitting Drake with the butt of his longsword. Drake barely lasted 5 minutes before he was covered in bruises lying on the ground. Once Drake could get up again John started instructing him on practice moves and sequences that could help him in fights both against humans and beasts. The training went on for a little over an hour before finishing up.
Drake grabbed a towel and went towards a crystal clear pond reflecting the two moons in the sky. The water was serene and smooth other than occasional ripples due to the wind. In the pond, fish swimming about no bigger than a hand. The fish scales were of multitude of colors; black, green, blue, orange, and red. Drake hopped in scaring the fish away as if a calamity came within their domain. Once Drake dried off he went back to camp and lied down.
'Two moons, that's something you'd never see on Earth. Quite beautiful, only if Tia and Jenny were here...knowing they went through the same thing as me before I died....'
Drake's blood started to boil at the thought of them being tortured the same as him. Drake knew the pain felt like someone pulling pieces of your skin off one cell at a time but there was nothing he could do. Severely drugged to the point where he couldn't move and tortured day in and day out made his blood boil even further.
Unnoticed to everyone who was sleeping Drake's black pupil turned into slits of a reptilian while his crimson eyes had a hue of flowing blood red. His canines became sharper and stayed there for a minute before Drake got over the turbulent emotions he was feeling.
'It's too late now. I hope their souls found peace...'
Drake gave a weary sigh which ended the shift in his eyes before they returned to normal, completely unaware of what happened.
Drake woke up sore the next day, finding it hard to get off his feet. He knew that it was due to the training and work out but it was necessary. Drake got up, surprisingly, before everyone else but John who was on the last watch of the night was observing him. Drake went and did the same work out before he was once again soaked in his sweat, muscles aching to the point of giving out. He then asked John once more for a quick training session where he acquired even more bruises but didn't complain. John started to have a good impression of Drake. Most people would give up after being brutally trained in such a way but not Drake.
Once everyone was awake they set off to Miller Town where they would stay for the night before going into the mountains for three days.
The day quickly passed by and the group at arrived at Miller Town which compared to the mountains look like a gnat fleeing from terror of a ruthless predator. The tip of the mountain tops were like watchers over the world, so tall that they reached above the clouds. A dark a gloomy atmosphere pervaded through the ranges and small town at its base. A few kilometers away a path at the most western side of the town wormed its way inside the mountain.
"Where does that path lead?"
"It leads to the mines that have been found and are currently being excavated."
John responded to Drake's question as they slowly made their way through the town to a large house near the center. Both miners and farmers could be seen moving around the town buying goods that they would need or food that was hunted for dinner. Drake made a rough estimate that there was about half the amount of residents living in Miller Town compared to Feldar, roughly two-thousand five hundred. The farmers came from the eastern road and gate where the group entered while miners could be seen walking from the west along the road from the mountains, dirty and covered in soot from the long day of being underground.
The group arrived at the manor where a few maids, butler and a man wearing gaudy clothing were waiting. John and company got off their horses while the man approached them.
"Baron Tenebris! Welcome to Miller Town, you look as young as the day I met you 4 years ago! I am pleased to be at your service and offer my humble abode for you to rest in."
"Thank you, Lord Fang."
The city lord was as fat as a cow with a double chin with lots of jewelry adorned all over his body. Necklaces, bracelets, and rings of gold sparkled as if they were just cleaned for this occasion. He was wearing a baggy maroon colored robe that couldn't even come down to the ground as his stomach held most of it near his upper brea- chest. Drake's impression of this man was terrible to say the least once he heard the lathering words meant to stroke John's ego and suck up to him. John neither over did with his response but gave a curt reply acknowledging the city lord.
'Definitely the worst kind of guy you can find, all show and no go and desperate for attention. Probably has shady dealings behind John's back. Because of government contracts and even some backdoor deals I did it's easy to tell these people apart, though I was never proud of it. Also Baron Tenebris did just come into power as a baron but that's not my problem. John and Tina have to deal with it. The sun still hasn't set and I want to go see a blacksmith.'
Once the initial greetings were done Drake went to inform John of his plan.
"Ok, but take Karn or Hugo with you. They have been here before and I'd rather not leave you alone for your own safety."
"Baron Tenebris, let me watch the boy."
Karn volunteered and spoke his first words since the start of the expedition which shocked Drake. Although he didn't show it on his face Karn was a very caring man and looked after others he considered friends as if they were family. Although they hadn't interacted much Karn was starting to see Drake as a Tenebris because of his interactions with John and seeing him train with the mistress and daughter of the Tenebris house.
"Thanks Karn, I appreciate it."
Karn nodded towards Drake who could only let out a short sigh. Drake was having a little trouble understanding Karn but he went with it. Drake hoped that Karn wouldn't get bored at the blacksmith. Drake had no idea how it would go but he was curious to see if this world had steel or something of the equivalent, he had no idea how it might turn out because of Aether Energy. Are minerals the same or slightly different due to inoculation of Aether Energy on the atomic level or are they unaffected. Drake hoped by going to the blacksmith he could clear up some doubts before heading into the mountain.