In front of many moons, a dragon stared down upon Ferrum who laid and drifted in the water.
"You are weak. You cannot even wield my power unlike your siblings."
Ferrum watched as the dragon descended. Its wings dimmed as the dragon stretched them.
"Who are you?" Ferrum asked. The dragon's eyes glowed before he approached Ferrum. Being only a few inches away from Ferrum.
"Want to know my name? Know how to wield my power first."
The dragon spoke in a hostile tone before smashing the ground, light filling Ferrum's vision.
Ferrum opened his eyes and stared at a wooden ceiling.
He coughed a bit before slowly sitting up. He looked around the room. To the looks of it, it seemed to be an infirmary of some sort, though he was the only one in it.
He looked out the window and looked at the beautiful scenery. It was almost like the scenery back at home though this was more prettier. Living up on the mountains for most of his life, it was either a view similar to this or pure white snow.
"Awake are you?" A voice said and Ferrum quickly turned around.
It was a woman with white hair which fell past her shoulders, scarlet red eyes and a white coat with black fur. She had a sword strapped to her waist, the carving on its sheath dimmed. Behind her was an elderly man who was unarmed, but his presence gave off a dangerous aura.
"My name is Mairi Yoshida. This is my father, Daryl Yoshida, the chief of the village."
Mairi sat on the end of the bed and placed a neat stack of clothes on the end before handing Ferrum a plate with food.
"What's your name?" She asked politely.
"F…" Ferrum hesitated for a second but eventually figured that she had no ill intentions towards him.
"Ferrum. Ferrum Vesper."
"Ferrum. That is a beautiful name." Mairi said before laying across the bed.
"My group and I found you in a crater in the middle of a forest. We rescued you and brought you to our village where the land is occupied by the Imperial Kingdom of Ulram. Our village is right on the border, colliding with the border of Brital. So where did you come from? Unless you were just born in a crater, I reckon you came from somewhere in Brital."
Ferrum didn't know how he should respond. The Clara-Cordis were a secretive clan and only a select group of people outside the clan were able to know of their location.
Then it dawned to him as images flashed through his mind. Explosions erupting in his village, a harpy and a demon, and fleeing away from the destroyed mountain that was once his home.
At that point, there was nothing to hide and Ferrum spoke.
When he was done, Mairi's father, Daryl, spoke his mind.
"I don't know how people can live up on a mountain. So tall and it's always cold."
"Father, that is not what you should be saying right now."
"S-sorry." Daryl responded, scratching the back of his head.
"Ahem, I apologize. For my father's manners and your village. So it was the empire that attacked you?"
"Yes. I don't know why they did. Our people have been in their care for many years and we have even worked with them. For them to suddenly want to get rid of us."
"Well, you are in a safe place now. A man who used to live in our village is now a commander in Ulram's Imperial Army. We are in his safe hands."
Mairi took off the canteen from her belt and placed it next to Ferrum.
"So, do you know how you got here? In Ulram I mean."
Ferrum scratched his head. His memory was still fuzzy and he didn't remember much. It was a mystery how he managed to travel so far and end up here.
"I have no clue. All I remember was that I was… killed. Last I remember was… escaping."
Mairi held her chin and nodded her head. Then she got up and tapped her father's shoulder. As the two walked to the door, Mairi turned around.
"Now then, I'm not going to bother you any further. I am going to leave you with your thoughts. Those clothes are for you and the food is curry with rice. There is fresh cold water in the canteen. Rest. Tomorrow, my people will help get you fitted and accustomed to my village. I hope you know how to fight. You owe me."
When the door shut, Ferrum can hear Mairi and her father chatting. He ignored them and picked up the spoon. He then took a bite of the curry.
"Tasty."
The next day, Ferrum approached a building where Eranheart stood at the front. When Eranheart spotted Ferrum, he signaled him to come to him.
"So, Ferrum was it?"
"Yes, that's correct."
"Well, Lady Yoshida told me to help get you a weapon from our finest blacksmith. You can't go hunting without a weapon now."
The two entered the building where a woman stood behind a display of weapons. Eranheart approached her.
"Hello there Aoi. Is Garan in the back?" Eranheart asked.
"Yes he is, do you want me to get him?" Aoi responded and Eranheart nodded.
"Since she's going to the back, why don't you select a weapon on the display? Garan's blacksmithing skills are the finest in the world. The only problem is it takes a while. So even when you tell him what weapon you want, it's going to take at least a week to actually make it."
"So… do I like… pay?"
"Nah, Lady Yoshida said she'll cover the cost. However, she does want you to repay her back. I recommend choosing something that isn't overpriced and too cheap. Something that can last you at least a month or two in harsh conditions. I remember my lesson leaving my blade unsheathed in the fucking rain."
A minute later, Aoi came out the back with a man who had a stain on his cheek.
"Eranheart! How long has it been since you've come here? How's the dagger doing for yah?"
"Hasn't broken yet. Anyway, my friend here is going to need a weapon commissioned."
Garan looked at Ferrum and inspected him from head to toe. With only a single glance, he knew what weapon Ferrum wanted.
"So you're a man who likes to use his fist, huh? Gauntlets and maybe with some claws at the end. Then at the same time, you must have experience using a broadsword. I can only do one however."
"Wow, that's amazing! How did you know that!?" Ferrum asked, amazed at Garan's gauging.
"Years of experience, and a dad who will force you to work for him for years."
"From a glance, Garan can decipher what weapon suits you the most. I don't know how he does it but so far he hasn't disappointed anyone." Eranheart said, inspecting a dagger that was on display.
"Well then, since I can only choose one, I'll go with the broadsword."
"Great! Do you have a design?"
Ferrum stared at Garan. He turned towards Eranheart who stared at a wall before turning towards the window, putting his hands behind his head.
"I may have forgotten that part."
Aoi sighed as she reached under the counter and pulled out a blank paper and a pencil, handing it to Ferrum.
"I hope you are good at drawing. Usually when someone gets a weapon forged they should have at least a reference to how it should look like. We've had people who would request a weapon commission only to not bring a reference." Aoi explained as she glanced at Eranheart.
Ferrum quickly drew up a little design of his broadsword and when he handed it to Aoi, she was amazed at his drawing skills.
"That's amazing! Are you an artist of some sort?"
"Well, not really. I just practice with my mother a lot so drawing is pretty easy for me."
"I see. Well then honey, you know what to do next?" Aoi said, handing the drawing to Garan.
"Alright! So what shall I forge it in?"
"Ah! Lady Yoshida wants it to be crafted in that new metal you guys got like a month ago."
"Elemanium? As much as I want to, I've only ever forged one blade with Elemanium and the results, though not unsatisfactory, were quite mediocre. It has the same durability as Mythril and a texture as dull as gray."
"Well, it's my Lady's orders. You know what happens if she doesn't get what she wants."
Garan groaned before walking to the back. After a few minutes, Garan came out with a longsword, catching Ferrum just before he was about to purchase a weapon.
"Ah, good! You haven't left yet."
"Garan? What is that in your hand?" Eranheart asked. Garan placed the blade on the counter and unveiled it to Ferrum.
"Since you'll be using a sword made of Elemanium, I want you to test this weapon out. This is a blade made of Elemanium. Consider this a temporary substitution for your weapon."
Ferrum inspected the blade, grabbing it by its handle. It was light in his hands and the sharp edges were sharpened to perfection.
"I'll take it then. When should I return?"
"The sword should be ready by next week. I will be seeing you by then."
"Anyway, how much should it be?" Eranheart asked, considering he was going to be paying with Mairi's money.
"That'll be 30,000 Herals." Aoi responded and Eranheart cringed.
"Uhh… looks like you'll be working for a while, Ferrum."
Ferrum looked at the two confusingly and asked if that was expensive or not. Back in the Clara-Cordis, people did not pay with Herals. Everything was free in the village though privileges like that weren't to be abused. Ferrum was taught the way money worked but he never had used it before.
"What do you mean? That's expensive! Each hunt we only earn like 100-1000. Though the chief's family has like over a million Herals, they didn't just get that money from taxing and hunts. Earning money is pretty hard these days. Unless you're doing night hunts." Eranheart explained, muttering the last sentence under his breath.
"I see. Sorry for asking."
After that was done, Eranheart gave Ferrum directions to a clothing shop where he will meet up with Cerana.
As Ferrum walked through the streets, a sharp pain ran through his chest. He fell onto his knees and held onto it. Some people noticed this and went to provide aid, though Ferrum refused. The pain slowly went away but Ferrum was confused.
'Am I still cursed?' Ferrum could not help but think. Though it didn't seem like he was affected much, he could figure out why he seemed to be feeling better.
'Maybe the apothecary's medicine actually worked. If this village has an apothecary, I'll give it a visit.'
Minutes later, Ferrum spotted a woman who looked like Cerana by Eranheart's description. She was tall, had a mean look on her face, and a spear on her back.
Cerana turned and spotted Ferrum approaching.
"Ferrum, was it?" Cerana asked, glaring at him.
"Correct."
"Come with me, those clothes look unbecoming with a face like that."
"Are you suggesting something?"
"I am saying you look like shit." Cerana responded harshly.
Ferrum let out a disappointing sigh.
'Is everyone here born with a sharp tongue?'