The sun was rising in the kingdom of Veldran. The castle was quiet, obviously no sane person wakes up this early except… Theren.
He was in the garden making a wooden sword as he promised Aven to make one.
Meanwhile in one of the rooms of castle Aven was asleep. Suspiciously Tenebis Veritas was floating over sleeping Aven who had his mouth open, it usually didn't start floating this early.
In the next moment it slowly started descending into Aven's mouth… The sword tip went in luckily it was sheathed but still… the whole sword might just choke out Aven.
Oh Aven seems to have felt something wrong. He hasn't open his eyes but let's see.
What is this weird feeling? Why does it feel like my mouth is full, he thought.
Little did he know Tenebis Veritas was literally inside his mouth. He opened his eyes completely and the first thing he saw wasn't Theren or his own hands but it was the damn sword tip inside his mouth and the sword was still descending into his mouth. Like it was trying to not choke him but park inside him.
Tenebis Veritas seeing Aven awake slowly started floating up and got out of Aven's mouth. Before it could act like it was doing nothing.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING??? You damn sword! Trying to ruin my damn taste buds again with that dirty sheath of yours or what! The sheath is there for a reason so that you don't leave an iron taste in my mouth. But are you now trying to leave the taste of whatever material that sheath is made from??" Aven said.
This dude is more worried about his taste buds than the fact he might get choked to death. This is the second time this has happened. The first time it happened was a day ago.
Tenebis Veritas at the same time as today tried to enter Aven's mouth and during that time it wasn't sheathed and if it weren't for Theren coming to wake Aven up the sword might have choked him to death but you know what he said. He said, "Are you trying to ruin my damn taste buds with that rusty iron taste?"
So in the end Theren asked Tenebis Veritas nicely to put on the sheath and it listened. Which is surprising that it listened.
On to the current time.
"I just did it out of curiosity. I didn't intend to choke you. Trust me, why would a legendary sword like me try that," Tenebis Veritas said.
"Don't try to act like you are good. You literally threw rocks at me when we first met and literally chased me like you intended to kill me. There's no way I can trust a sword like you. When previously you have attempted that stuff," he replied.
"I never said I was good. But I just did this out of curiosity okay? Just leave it your taste buds are okay right?," it replied.
Aven looked like he wanted to argue further but from outside the window a voice cut in:
"Stop arguing with Tenebis Veritas the first thing in the morning. Aven go get ready your training is gonna start soon. I'm almost done with creating the wooden sword for you. So eat your breakfast and get changed," Theren practically screamed.
Aven stopped arguing with Tenebis Veritas. He got his teeth brushed, changed clothes and started eating breakfast Theren had left for him.
Tenebis Veritas just floated around looking smug. How do I know it looked smug? Why are you even questioning me? Anyway Theren is such a good dude if it weren't for him these 2 fools would've argued for hours.
By 2 fools I obviously mean Tenebis Veritas and Aven.
Anyway, let's continue.
Aven stepped out of his room after being done with breakfast. He was headed towards the garden. Aven tried to close the door behind Tenebis Veritas and leave it there but apparently it can open doors as long as there are no locks. Aven was shocked but shrugged it off cuz he is used to this stuff now.
How is it even opening doors you ask? You will know very soon if you still haven't figured it out that is.
Aven reached the garden where Theren stood in his hand the wooden sword he made.
Theren hands Aven the wooden sword.
Aven was able to lift the wooden sword which is a good thing.
"Thank you Sir Theren. I will train hard with this wooden sword. The hard work you put in hopefully won't go to waste," he said.
Aven doesn't seem the most positive from what he said. I mean can't blame him, mostly whatever he said would be easy ended up being difficult or rather annoying to do.
"You are welcome, Aven. Do not worry I will make sure you make the best use of the sword. Also making a wooden sword is a easy task. First I will show you how to do and then you gotta try and replicate it," Theren said.
Theren raised his sword, the metal reflecting the sun's ray and then slashed downward.
"Think of it like this. Put all your weight into a single strike, then keep doing it in different directions, that's how you make sure no opening is left….,"
Aven nodded, trying to remember everything.
"For this one, raise the sword, then bring it down with all your strength. A single strike can decide the outcome of the battle. Every hit and opening used matters. You understood what I said, right? Now show me your determination by doing what I just did," Theren said
"Yeah I understood what you said," Aven said
Most of it atleast, he thought.
Aven starts by holding the wooden sword in two hands and then tries to mimic Theren's stance. He moves his leg a bit apart, making his back straight and raising the wooden sword.
Yes this is how Theren looked like before he did the strike. I think so at least?, he thought.
Theren moved towards Aven. Straightened his back a bit more, told him to grip the sword a bit lower than the hilt, and corrected how his stance was when raising the sword.
"This should do the job," he said.
Aven raised his sword and slashed downward. But yeah he almost fell because he put too much force making him lose his balance. If it wasn't for Theren catching him he would've been head first on ground.
"Wow mortal you failed a task as easy as that…," Tenebis Veritas said.
Aven looked towards it knowing there's no point in arguing with that.
"I have seen kids do better than you. It's a shame that you can't do such a simple task," it said.
Aven lets out a big sigh before turning his back on Tenebis Veritas.
He goes back to his training. He keeps trying but there's always a mistake. Sometimes he puts too little force and sometimes his grip gets loose.
Other times one of his legs gives up due to standing too much or him accidentally throwing the wooden sword towards the maids working in the garden because he forget to hold a firm grip, he actually ends up hitting one of them and he starts apologising for that.
But they say it didn't even hurt.
It's already close to sunset now and Aven still hasn't landed a single almost perfect strike let alone a perfect strike. He's been doing that since morning.
He's covered in sweat. He's still doing that stance and trying to strike downwards.
Theren is still there, always correcting him when he makes a mistake. Tenebis Veritas is still there floating but hasn't spoken in a long time.
Finally Aven takes the stance once again, raising his sword and strikes downwards. This time the stance is almost perfect, the weight behind the strike is noticeable, no inconsistency in stance when striking and the force behind the strike can be felt.
Theren smiles and seems proud.
Even Tenebis Veritas was faintly glowing. Was it being proud of Aven or what?
Aven just collapses to the ground after that and the wooden sword is lying on his chest. He's lying on the garden grass looking at te sky which is now orange as the sun is about to set.
Aven was breathing heavily.
I did it finally! This took so long but was worth the time. It felt good to finally land a strike, he thought
Theren came near Aven and was standing there.
"That was an almost perfect strike. You did a good job today and today's training ends here. So, go to take a bath and I will bring the food later," he said
Theren walked away. Aven was there still lying on the ground. Aven held the wooden sword a bit above him so his eyes could see it.
"Phew, I didn't damage the sword created by Sir Theren. I saw my life flash before me when I threw the sword at those maids accidentally and it hit them. I should probably get going" he said quietly.
On the other side as Theren was walking down the castle corridor. He let out a long sigh.
"Aven is a good kid but he has no talent for this. He is physically unfit and even though he works hard unless he gets fit and doesn't lose interest in this. There is still hope he could become good" he muttered to himself.
He thinks of Tenebis Veritas and realises something else:
"Tenebis Veritas doesn't help the case either as they both always fight. It's like seeing a cat and dog fight each other. I know Tenebis Veritas is supposed to be a legendary sword but compared to Lux Spes it feels rather unwise" he thought.
He remembers how he trained Fell a few years ago:
"Fell had both talent and hard work. He catched on to things very fast and Lux Spes was both supportive and annoying during the training. It always said stuff like keep going on Fell and keep training so that you can get yourself a statue with me being on your side. It seemed to want to make Fell a famous hero and increase its own reputation at the same time. At least it didn't demotivate Fell unlike Tenebis Veritas" he thought, looking frustrated.
A young maid passing by said "Are you okay Sir Theren, you look quite frustrated?"
Theren said "I am just worried about that kid Aven. He's a good kid and works hard but unlike Fell he doesn't seem talented. But one thing is for sure if he keeps working hard he can become good. There must be a reason he was called to this world by Tenebis Veritas even though I don't understand why it hates him" he said.
The maid replied with "The sword probably hates him because its expectations are too high. I have seen Master Fell train with you. The sword Lux Spes wouldn't shut up and just talked about statues or keeping the name as a hero. It seemed more concerned about its status than anything even though it sounded like it was motivating Fell. Oh, I have talked too much. I have to go, take care of yourself Sir Theren" she nodded before walking away.
Theren was thinking now.
"Hmph.. so I just needed someone else's opinion huh..? Tenebis Veritas has crazy expectations and is trying to make Aven work harder out of spite. While Lux Spes kept motivating Fell because it wanted to maintain its status as a sword wielded only by legendary heroes" he said to himself.
Theren seemed to have been freed from his worries and started walking towards his next assignment.
On the other side.
Aven was done taking a bath and had changed into the clothes that were provided to him. The wooden sword is lying near his bed. Tenebis Veritas is laying in a corner.
There's still time for dinner I think. I should take a walk in the garden, he thought.
Aven opens the door of his room and heads towards the garden. He's walking through the hallway. It's pretty quiet. He reaches the garden finally.
"It is pretty empty for what it's like during the day. Now that I notice this place is really huge" he said while just walking around.
Aven is just walking around at his own pace. He finally looks up. He looks shocked.
"How the hell did I not notice this before. Why are there 2 moons? Why is one of them blue and another red..? This makes no sense to me but again I don't really know much about space again. Plus this is a different planet so is this how it is here? Still weird" he said with an expression of someone who saw something he can't register.
"I think I had enough of walking today. I should just head back…" he starts walking towards his room after saying that.
He's in the corridor and sees Sir Theren waiting outside his room with food.
"Sorry for making you wait, Sir Theren" he said.
"Aven don't worry I just reached here". He replied.
Aven and Theren entered the room together and Theren placed the food on the table.
Theren cleared his throat and said "I can't teach you for the next few days as I have to go with the King as his butler. The king said he knows that I'm supposed to teach you but I have been his butler for so long it doesn't seem right to take someone else with him. I can't reject king orders so I will have to go. I'm leaving tomorrow in the morning with the King and the rest of the people who are going" he said.
"I understand Sir Theren. But can I ask where the King is going? I'm a bit curious" he replied.
"The King is going to a banquet with his family in the neighbouring kingdom which is ruled by one of his many allies. He is taking Fell and Evan with him for protection too. Then there will be many others" he replied
"Only Fell and Evan, why isn't Alina going?" he asked.
"Alina is in charge of guarding the castle while they are away and she isn't interested in these events anyway. Also I told you all this because the King did ask me to tell you about this if he asks" he said.
Aven just nodded and said "Well good luck in your travels Sir Theren and take care of yourself".
Theren walked out of the room after nodding and not before telling Aven to eat his dinner quickly as someone will be here to pick up his plates.
Aven ate his dinner which was just some meat and vegetables.
A few minutes after he was done eating his dinner someone knocked on his door and Aven opened. A maid was standing there. She didn't say much, just came in and took the plate and walked out.
Aven closed the door after she left.
He laid on his bed and his glasses were on the table. He also kept the wooden sword on table as it kept falling down.
Aven now looked at Tenebis Veritas.
"Tenebis Veritas if you try to park yourself inside my mouth again. I swear I will never wield you even if I'm able to wield you in the foreseeable future. I don't want my taste buds to be ruined" he said.
Tenebis Veritas for once didn't say anything and that was more unsettling for Aven.
"Say something you sword" he said.
It still didn't say anything. Aven took its silence as a yes to the fact it won't enter his mouth.
He laid on his bed and slowly drifted away to his sleep.
Next day at dawn. The king, his family and others set out for the banquet in the carriage. Aven didn't wake up from that noise.
A few hours after the King and others went out. A huge explosion sound woke Aven up.
"What the hell, what was that noise? I thought I could sleep way more today" he sighed.
What could be the source of the explosion. Whatever it may be, it's gonna be an eventful day for Aven regardless.
To be continued…