After finishing their conversation, Florã and Lorian made their way to the village head's small but well-kept home. The older man, his face lined with the weight of responsibility and age, greeted them warmly. His kind eyes lingered on Florã, his concern evident.
"Florã," he began, his voice gentle, "are you feeling better now? You looked completely drained the last time I saw you."
Florã smiled politely, though a flicker of fatigue crossed her face. "I'm fine now, thank you for asking. There's a lot to do, so I've been trying to push through. Don't worry about me—I'm managing."
The village head nodded, his shoulders relaxing slightly. "That's good to hear. So, what brings the two of you here? I take it this is about the village?"
Florã straightened, her expression becoming more resolute. "Yes. I've been thinking about what needs to be done to strengthen the village and ensure its safety in the long run. My plan is to start by teaching the villagers basic self-defense. If they can protect themselves, they'll be less vulnerable to attacks in the future. Once that's underway, the next priority is rebuilding the village properly. It's been through too much."
She paused, her gaze sharpening. "But we'll need help for that. Rebuilding isn't something that can be done with brute force alone—it needs skill and precision. Is there anyone in this village who's skilled in construction? Or perhaps someone from a nearby village who could help us?"
The village head's expression turned pensive as he stroked his beard, the faint light from the window casting deep shadows across his face. "Unfortunately, there's no one here with that kind of expertise," he admitted after a moment. "Our people have always relied on simple methods and hard work to get by. For a task of this scale, you'll need someone truly skilled."
Florã's heart sank slightly, but she remained composed. "What about nearby? Is there anyone close enough to call on for help?"
The village head hesitated, his eyes narrowing as if weighing his words. "There is… one possibility," he said slowly. "About a day's journey from here lies a small city of dwarfs. They're known for their unmatched craftsmanship—especially in building and architecture. If anyone could help rebuild this village properly, it would be them."
Florã's eyes lit up for a brief moment before she caught the reluctance in his tone. "But?" she prompted.
The village head sighed deeply, leaning back in his chair. "The dwarfs are a proud and stubborn people. They don't trust outsiders, especially those of other races. Convincing them to lend their expertise will be no small task, and truthfully, there's a good chance they'll refuse outright. You could make the journey and return empty-handed. That's a day lost for what might be no gain."
Florã frowned, her mind already racing through possible solutions. She glanced at Lorian, who seemed to be quietly mulling over the situation as well. "Even if the chances are slim," she said firmly, "we have to try. We can't rebuild this village properly without skilled hands, and if the dwarfs are our best option, then it's worth the risk."
The village head studied her with a mix of admiration and concern. "It's a bold choice, and not an easy one," he said. "But I can see you've made up your mind. Just be prepared for a tough negotiation—dwarfs don't bend easily."
Lorian leaned against the doorframe, a slight grin tugging at his lips. "Looks like we're off to charm some grumpy dwarfs," he said, his tone light but his eyes sharp. "This should be fun."
Florã rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a faint smile. "Fun might not be the word I'd use, but it's the only path forward. Let's just hope they're willing to listen."
As the conversation ended, the weight of the task ahead pressed down on them. Yet, despite the uncertainty, Florã felt a flicker of hope. One step at a time, she reminded herself. That's how they'd rebuild this village—and its people.
Florã's expression hardened with determination as she looked at the village head. "We will leave for the dwarfs' city in four days," she said firmly. "But in the meantime, we need to focus on teaching the villagers basic self-defense. If we're not going to be around all the time, they need to at least be able to fight back when necessary. Even if they can't become masters of combat, a little skill will go a long way in helping them protect themselves."
The village head nodded solemnly, understanding the gravity of her words. "You're right," he agreed. "The village can't rely on outsiders forever, and the more self-sufficient they are, the better."
Florã's gaze swept across the room as she spoke, her voice taking on a commanding tone. "I request, Village Head, that you summon all the healthy and able-bodied young people who are capable of learning defense. We need to start this training as soon as possible."
Without hesitation, the village head turned to one of his assistants and gave the order. "Go and gather the young people, the ones who are fit and able. Tell them to meet here as soon as possible."
The assistant bowed and hurried off to carry out the task. The village head turned back to Florã. "It will take a little time, but we'll have them here soon enough. I'll make sure everyone is informed. In the meantime, if there's anything else you need, don't hesitate to ask."
Florã nodded. "Thank you. We'll use the next few days wisely."
As the village head's assistant began rallying the villagers, Florã felt a sense of urgency building within her. They had only a few days before they left for the dwarfs, and there was a lot to accomplish in that time. At least this first step, the training, would ensure that the village wasn't left defenseless. She turned to Lorian, determination in her eyes. "Let's make sure we're ready. We'll need to be at our best if we're going to take on the dwarfs."
Lorian grinned, already eager to get started. "Always ready. Let's show them what we've got."
Florã's brow furrowed as she thought about the villagers who would be learning self-defense. "The problem is," she began, addressing the village head, "these people don't know how to protect themselves. That means we won't have weapons for them, at least not immediately."
The village head nodded in understanding, his expression thoughtful. "We do have some weapons," he said after a moment. "About 40 swords. They're not of the best quality, though, mostly old and worn. Still, for basic defense, they should suffice, at least for a time."
Florã's eyes lit up with a mix of determination and practicality. "I see. So we'll need to save those swords for the most critical moments. We can't afford to waste them in practice." She paused, tapping her fingers against her arm as she thought through the problem. "But for training, we need something to simulate real combat. We don't have any practice swords, so…"
A sudden idea clicked in her mind, and a small, confident smile spread across her face. "I know! Let's use sticks from the trees. We can find some branches with a similar weight and balance to a sword. They'll be good enough for practice. And for those who are more skilled, we can use knives to trim the branches, removing any waste parts and shaping them to be more manageable."
The village head's face softened with approval. "That's an excellent idea. It may not be the same as a proper sword, but it's a practical solution. The weight and feel should help them get used to the motions, and once we have the chance, we can upgrade the weapons."
Florã nodded, feeling more confident now that they had a plan. "Exactly. For now, we'll make do with what we have. We don't need to be perfect, but we do need to be prepared. We'll teach them the basics—footwork, stances, how to defend themselves with whatever they have. The rest will come in time."
Lorian, who had been quietly listening, added with a grin, "It's not the sword that makes the fighter, after all. Let's get those sticks and start the training."
Florã turned to him with a nod, then addressed the village head. "Once the villagers gather, we'll begin. The sooner they start, the better."
The village head nodded in agreement. "I'll have the gathering ready soon. You'll have your students."
With that, Florã felt a sense of momentum building. The next few days would be crucial, and every moment of training would count. They might not have the best resources, but she was determined to make the most of what they had. The village would be ready, one step at a time.
As the villagers began to gather, Florã stood near the center of the village square, organizing her thoughts and preparing for the upcoming training session. Her eyes scanned the crowd, taking in the various faces eager for instruction. That's when she noticed a small group of people standing off to the side. A young girl, no older than fifteen, stood among them, her posture tense. She was surrounded by a few older individuals who seemed to be her family. They were all looking at the girl with a mix of concern and disapproval.
Florã's intuition told her that something wasn't right, so she made her way over to them. As soon as they saw her approach, the group greeted her with deep respect, calling her "Young Master Floren" in unison. The formal address felt a little out of place, but Florã waved it off with a friendly smile.
"What's the problem?" Florã asked gently, her eyes focusing on the girl. "Why are you all standing here instead of joining the others for training?"
The older woman closest to the girl looked down at her with a sigh, her voice filled with concern. "She's a girl, Young Master," she explained, her words hesitant. "We don't believe she should be involved in something so dangerous. Fighting is not a woman's place."
Florã's expression hardened, the protective instinct she often kept in check bubbling to the surface. She took a step closer to the girl and knelt down to meet her eyes. The girl was clearly struggling, her hands fidgeting nervously, and her eyes avoided meeting Florã's, as though she had already internalized the belief that she wasn't allowed to participate.
Florã took a deep breath, fighting back the surge of frustration. She turned back to the family, her voice firm but compassionate. "She is human, just like everyone else here. Being a girl does not make her any less capable than the men."
The group looked uncertain, but Florã wasn't finished. She stood tall and addressed them all, speaking more to the girl than anyone else. "In fact, there are advantages to being a girl, advantages that can be crucial in combat."
The older man in the group raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical, and muttered, "How can that be?"
Florã turned her attention back to the girl. "You have a lighter body than most of the men here," she said, her voice calm and encouraging. "That means you can move more smoothly, your agility is better. You can duck, weave, and strike faster than they can, because your body isn't weighed down by muscle or bulk. You'll be able to outmaneuver them with ease if you train hard enough."
The girl's eyes flickered with a spark of hope, but it was quickly extinguished by the doubt in her heart. Florã could see that she was still unsure. The family exchanged nervous glances, and the hesitation was palpable in the air.
"And don't forget," Florã continued, her tone softening but growing more insistent, "you can run faster. That's a huge advantage in a fight, especially if you need to retreat or evade. You can outpace your opponent, get to safer ground quickly, and you'll have the element of surprise. Your speed is your greatest asset."
She saw the hesitation in the girl's eyes slowly begin to fade as the words took root. The girl's posture shifted, the weight of self-doubt lifting slightly. Florã reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder. "You don't need to be like the men to be valuable in battle. Your strength is different, and that's okay. What matters is that you're willing to stand up for yourself and for this village."
The family members exchanged uncertain glances, but they seemed to be slowly coming around. The older man spoke up again, but his tone was gentler now. "You truly believe she can learn to fight?"
Florã nodded, her eyes unwavering. "I do. And so should you." She turned back to the girl, offering her a warm smile. "I'll help you every step of the way. You won't be alone."
The girl finally looked up at Florã, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and determination. Slowly, she nodded. "Okay... I'll try."
Florã smiled and gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "That's all I ask."
The family members, though still uncertain, began to nod in agreement. The older woman spoke up again, more softly this time. "If you believe in her, then we will support her, too."
Florã nodded once more, turning to face the growing crowd of villagers. "Good. Now, gather your strength. We start training today, and it won't be easy, but every one of you has the potential to defend this village."
The girl, though still clearly nervous, straightened her back and took a tentative step toward the rest of the group. Florã watched her with quiet pride, knowing that this was just the beginning of the girl's journey to find her strength. It wasn't about gender or size—it was about determination, and Florã was certain this girl would find hers.