Ashan 10 722
Traveling to new locations was always a fascinating and educational experience, but it could be quite tiring. Eternity had spent her teens moving around Scalvoris Town, but now she was discovering that her new neighborhood was quite different. The young woman, having spent time wandering around, found herself lost at some point, where she reflected on the striking differences between the places she had ever called home. This part of town was full of energy and vitality, and she was so utterly special... and she wondered how a girl like her could ever feel at home in a place that was so alien and strange.
Her attention was drawn away from her thoughts as she passed a plaza. The young woman's curiosity was a strange creature that frequently grabbed hold of her and never let go. To appease destiny and her growing desire to explore, she walked down the plaza, but soon found herself at an inn. It seemed fated that she should partake in alcoholic beverages.
Having a tavern on the ground floor of an inn made for great people watching. Nowhere was that more apparent than in this bar. The Turning Wheel was cleaner than most bars, and its homey atmosphere was just what she needed as the novelty of her recent experiences began to wear off. After giving the area a cursory glance, she found the perfect spot to relax. She wasn't one of the people who enjoyed mingling, so she started making her way to a quiet corner. From her perch, she could observe the hive of activity in the room and think about the various groups and individuals there.
The newly in love couple swooning over one another's words. The mysterious outsider who disappears into his drink. This young lady was trying to attract attention. Everyone looks. The smaller band of vibrant merchants boasting of their victories. Any bar around, would have the same types of patrons. For her, that was a source of solace. There were some things that would remain the same no matter where she went. The unease could be alleviated, perhaps, if she began to focus on the similarities between the two cities. She reasoned that it was a good jumping off point.
Her focus was suddenly drawn to a newcomer who appeared out of nowhere to her right. A tall man entered and took a seat at the table next to hers, but she failed to notice him. Something about him piqued her interest despite the fact that he was obviously not a merchant or scholar but rather an adventurer with an athletic build.
It was nothing new for him to just follow the current. Larnan as his closest friends called him, was untethered by ties that could have kept him in one place rather than another. On this particular occasion, fate had placed a tavern directly in his path, and, in his learned opinion, this was the ideal path to take. Admittedly, this wasn't somewhere he typically hung out, but who was he to grumble about being there?
For reasons that aren't immediately obvious, this part of town has always been one of his favorite destinations. There was no better place to temporarily lose one's bearings than in this massive, brash, noisy, and audacious structure. It was always the same. The populace had taken the concept of not taking oneself too seriously to new heights. The time he spent in town was always a chance for him to unwind and refuel.
After taking a quick look around the bar, he settled on a table by the far window. The bar was packed with regulars who didn't particularly grab his attention. He sought out the unusual things instead. These were the people who didn't belong in the narrative. He was relieved to see that she was at the table next to his. When he looked, he didn't have to look very hard.
This person didn't look like . You learn the intricacies of a city's inhabitants if you spend enough time there. Even in their own country, the people stood out. The intriguing thing about the girl he was staring at was that she seemed to want to fade away into a riot of color. She was attractive enough without trying too hard to be the center of attention. Nothing about her demeanor suggested she was seeking companionship. She was simply... observing from a distance. He wanted to know why.
He went over to tell a joke, but his voice was loud enough to be heard over the other people talking around them. " For the life of me, I can't tell what it is that you're trying to find, but it seems like you're looking for something. Do you mind shedding some light on this for me?"
She paused for a moment before responding, her head tilting curiously ,an action that almost elicited a soft chuckle from him because it reminded him of something a young child might do, and then she spoke. "Maybe I'm on the hunt for something... interesting. That might not be the best word, but it's the only one I can think of at the moment. Likewise, how about you? You're not from around here, I can tell."
He laughed heartily at her remark. "I am, actually. Simply put, I am a frequent visitor. I am from Scalvoris but I have moved around town many, many times. Alright, I'll stop talking now. You're the one that doesn't look originally from these parts."
A grin sneaked past her defenses, but she knew it was warranted. Not many people were able to beat her at her own game, but he had. "I'm not, but I don't think it was that hard to figure out. I feel out of place." He waved at the waitress and ordered two drinks before turning to respond thoughtfully.
Really, I don't think anyone cares. You can't really do much to make the locals angry. They're pretty chill people overall. The city is good for losing yourself and finding something new. That's my personal opinion. It's up to you to decide once you get to know the area better." An engaging discussion had just begun.
Because of the frequent pauses in their conversation, neither of them noticed that dusk was approaching. They covered a wide variety of subjects. Larnan appreciated having the undivided attention of someone who wasn't expecting anything from him as Eternity listened to his tales of travel with wide eyes and a thousand questions. He was fine with obligations and demands, but sometimes he just needed to have a good time chatting with a total stranger. He looked out the window, sighed, and got up from his seat. "I guess it's time to call it a night, but I'd be happy to take you home if that's okay with you."
Normally, Eternity would have turned down such an offer immediately, but she felt she could trust Larnan to do exactly what he said. She didn't understand her emotions. She was a naturally reserved person who took considerable time to learn about a new person before allowing them any degree of her trust. She considered her options, smiled at him, and got up from her chair. "The only condition is that you tell me more about your sword training. I've heard a thing or two about how to use them." He signaled for her to follow him and then gathered their belongings.
"I promise to try, but you really are an insatiable learner. But I'm wondering what the draw is. You portray yourself as a curious soul, but most innocent looking women like you despise weapons. Give me a reason to doubt you by defending your interests." As he finished his sentence, a small giggle escaped her. "You're going to defend them?" They entered the street, and she paused for a moment to consider her argument. "Have you ever questioned whether or not you're passing up something great? I occupy my time at the library. A book can be a refuge from the world, but it also makes me feel like I'm running away from something that could alter the course of my life. If I continue down this road, I will have a prosperous life, but I doubt that this is the destiny that fate has for me. I'm supposed to veer off the beaten path and pursue my passions."
Before answering, he gave her words some thought. "I wasn't planning on having such a serious discussion with you tonight, but now that we've gotten to this point, I'd like to tell you something. You seem like a wise young lady, and my own beliefs about fate lead me to believe that you will end up exactly where you are supposed to be in life regardless of your plans, efforts, or the direction in which you look. That which must be will be. If something is meant to be, it will either find you or you will find it." When he saw her, he smiled at her playfully. "Also, I really hope the term "young lady" doesn't bother you. I say this without any malice intended. To be honest, I've never met anyone your age who was so introspective. It's unusual that I have more life experience than you do."
Turning onto a major city street, she was the one to start laughing. "I'll try my best not to be offended. Assuming that you are correct then it stands to reason that my encounter with you was preordained. Now, how about you get down to the business of educating me in the ways of the sword? Larnan smiled and gave in, realizing he was doomed to fail in his attempt to dissuade her.
"I'll give in to your demands now. I guess it depends on the kind of sword you're referring to. Different types include longswords, daggers, and great swords. When most people think of swords, images of longswords typically come to mind. What sets a longsword apart from other swords?" She thought and then used her common sense. "It's longer than other swords?"
"Yes, The longsword is distinguished by its longer blade and grip, both of which point to the fact that it is intended to be used with both hands. A sort sword is a one-handed sword that is shorter than traditional two-handed swords. Larnan smiled briefly and nodded at her as she repeated what he'd said. "In essence, those were spot-on descriptions... and since you have amassed such a wealth of data, what one observation have you made regarding the characterization of swords?"
"I think some people call swords different things," Eternity said with a shrug.
He flashed her a grin and nodded briefly. "It's not always easy to find your way around the blades industry. Then there are the variations that exist between different regions. A sword may be known by several names in different parts of the world. Classifying them is a huge hassle. Many people do this, but I don't see the point. We'll be discussing only two of these weapons—the longsword and the gladius—for the time being. For the simple reason that I'll only have time to teach you one of them, and together we'll use some deductive reasoning to determine which one."
Eternity looked away from him for a second to take in her surroundings so that she could plan the most efficient path back to her house, and then she turned back to him and listen to him say, "The long blade of a longsword has the added benefit of keeping an attacker at a safe distance from your body. But… Because you're a female, you've always had less strength than men. There's a chance that a longsword would be too taxing to use effectively. Also, you don't look like you have ever done any kind of strength training, so it might be difficult for you to even learn much as you are now."
Larnan continued after a few moments. " There are, however, ways to adapt a longsword to make it more manageable. But that's beside the point right now — just keep going.
She refocused her attention and considered the other possibility. "A short sword? Since the blade is shorter, the assailant can get much closer to the target. It seems like a more hospitable platform for education. Nonetheless, it is typically used in conjunction with a shield, and I can imagine that mastering the coordination required to use both at once could be challenging.”
She had a sharp mind. She deserved that much from him, and he had to give it to her. The lessons she had learned in life had equipped her with the resources she needed to make wise choices. He said "...but you needn't study both at the same time. Learn the sword work first, and then add the shield when you're comfortable with the sword work."
The decision was simple, and all the reasoning he had done to get there had been for naught. "The short sword. It's more proportionate to my build and my level of fitness right now."
He nodded, then put his hand on her shoulder and helped her through the cluster of chattering people who had gathered in the way. "That's a fair evaluation. It seems reasonable to me as well. In addition, if you ever feel like you've made a mistake with your swordplay, you can simply switch to a different weapon and continue using the skills you've already honed. It is true that switching between one-handed and two-handed play is more challenging but not impossible. You've made a good call for now, so we'll hold off on bringing up the shield issue."
Now she her head in agreement. She smiled at him and gestured in the direction she wanted him to go. "Over that hill is where I make my home. The last thing I want to do is force you to accompany me on a long trek down there. The situation is under control now. Whenever that is, I hope to see you again."
He paused to give the question some careful consideration before responding. "I'll look for you ."
Eternity said, "But you don't know where I live. I just made a directional gesture." She smiled and said, "I bet there are a dozen houses over there."
"I mean, it's not like the new girl's address is that hard to find. Please." He laughed and said, "It'll be easy, now head on home."
[Template credit to Pyrre]
