Lauri and Laurence both stared at the light blade that looked like it belonged drawn on a piece of paper by a child.
Slowly, reaching forward, Laurence held its blade between his thumb and index finger. Applying the slightest bit of pressure, the sword shattered immediately.
The two awakened blinked. After a few moments, Laurence spoke.
"That was probably the weakest weapon I've ever seen, I wouldn't be surprised if it shattered when swung at something of the Husk-Born rank. It would seem that the weapons you create in your mind are weaker than the weapons you recreate. Are there any other things you could try and recreate?
Closing his eyes, one thing came to Lauri's mind.
'Laurence's walking stick. Let's think, made from wood. It starts at the bottom. Moving upwards, it twists slightly halfway up the top and at the top. The odd branches where those baubles hang from.'
Laurence laughed as he saw a recreation of his staff appear in Lauri's hand.
Opening his eyes, Lauri smiled, seeing the recreation. Unlike that absolutely horrendous sword, the staff was a complete one-to-one recreation.
Laurence held out his hand, strings burst from his chest, moving towards his hand. Wrapping around themselves they began to elongate, the light subsided, revealing Laurence's staff.
Lauri's eyes widened.
'Wait what? Laurence's staff was an Imprint this entire time, I never realised.'
Taking the replica of his staff from Lauri, Laurence smiled as he held the two staffs together.
"I must say, Lauri, you've done a great job of replicating my staff. But alas," Laurence dismissed his staff, allowing it to unspool into the strings of light that quickly returned to his body. Slightly squeezing the replica of his staff, Laurence smiled at Lauri. "It is time for the strength test."
As Laurence began to squeeze, Lauri frowned, expecting the worst. Although, unlike the shitty sword, the staff held up under the slight pressure. It wasn't until Laurence subjected it to the same pressure the replica of Lauri's knife had undergone that the staff shattered into pieces.
Satisfied by this, Laurence looked at his student.
"Well, you have certainly obtained an interesting Talent. To be able to summon a weapon at a moment's notice and have it be of the same rank as yourself. Not bad at all."
Despite the praise he was receiving, Lauri frowned.
"That's nice and all, but, is it strong? Sure, if I fight something made of shadow then I'll be at the advantage, but what if my opponent isn't made out of shadow? What if it's made of solid stone, or hell what if it's made out of light? Then there's nothing I'd be able to do…"
Laurence softly shook his head.
"Oh you, don't be such a fool, Lauri."
Lauri waited for Laurence to say something more, but as he raised his head, Lauri's eye twitched. Laurence had returned to the pond and was raising a handful of water to his lips.
"Hey!" Lauri shouted, storming up to Laurence. "How are you just going to call me a fool and then walk away!"
Finishing his drink, Laurence ran his wet hands through his hair. Turning around, he shrugged.
"I gave you the compliments you were deserving of. Your Talent has the potential to grow into a strong one, combined with your Innate Talent, you have nothing to be wary of. So what more would you ask of my Lauri? I'm your mentor, not your parent. I told you when we first started travelling that I'll give you what I believe you are deserving of. If you think you deserve more, then you will have to work for it."
Exhaling, Laurence tilted his head.
"Do you think you are deserving of more, Lauri?"
Unable to look Laurence in the eye, Lauri looked away.
"I… I guess I am."
Walking up to Lauri, he stopped, patting him on the shoulder.
"When you are certain, we can have this conversation again. Come on now," Continuing past Lauri, Laurence summoned his staff, stabbing it into the ground. "We have a long walk home. If we keep up a good pace, we might make it home before nightfall…" Turning around, Laurence shrugged. "Maybe "
Turning around, Lauri frowned, staring at Laurence's back.
Laurence had always been a symbol of protection for the normal people in the village. He was the strongest being Lauri had ever met, man or Fiend. Unlike Light Stealer or Caretaker, Laurence seemed to make an active attempt to suppress his intimidating aura.
Lauri chuckled, "Probably to not give everyone a heart attack."
Lauri's smile paled a little as he watched his mentor's back.
'But I'm not really the same naive little boy I was a year ago, hell I feel different than I did five days ago. I see the world differently now. Since I'm no longer normal, no longer just human. I see everything differently,' Gritting his teeth, Lauri raised his head. 'And now I have one burning question I wish I could ask you.'
Looking at Laurence's back, Lauri felt as if he was gazing upon the sun itself. Pure, unbridled power writhed beneath Laurence's skin like the calm before a story. If Laurence unleashed his full potential, who could imagine the damage he could unleash?
'I wonder, will I ever reach that kind of power?'
Stopping, Laurence lazily rolled his head to look at Lauri.
"Are you coming, or were you lying about not being tired? You're a big boy now, I'm not carrying you."
Despite his thoughts, Lauri couldn't help but smile, a slight giggle escaping his lips.
Shaking his head, Lauri jogged to catch up with his mentor.
***
A young girl quickly ran around the kitchen of her home, on the opposite side of the room an old lady sat comfortably on her rocking chair. Not watching the girl, the old lady had her eyes closed. Her head was turned facing the window. Outside the world was bathed in a faint orange as the sun began to steadily set.
"Did you get the vegetables ready?"
Sliding an assortment of vegetables into a bubbling pot hanging above a warm fire. The girl turned to her elder.
"Yes, Granny. I've also prepared the table, prepared a fresh jug of water and made sure Richard has washed himself." Pausing, the girl turned to the elderly lady. "I'm more than happy to prepare food for you and Richard, Granny." Glancing at the table, the girl furrowed her brow. "But why did you ask me to set the table and prepare a meal for five people? You, Richard, and I would only account for three people."
The old woman chuckled, her eyes moving under her scarred eyelids, coming to rest on where the girl was standing. A small smile crept across her weathered lips.
"Funny you should ask that, Merry, because I believe we will be receiving two very special guests for tonight's dinner."