A Strange Sword

[Serenity]

The cold must of distracted her from the cut she made earlier, and remembering it also brought back the pain. She moved her foot back and forth to feel it. The pain wasn't so bad, for now, but it was sure to get worse as feeling would completely return to her soon.

"Naughty? That's an interesting word to use with me. I almost feel insulted, Grayell, most of my esteemed professors would say that I was dedicated." she sighed, "Oh..but you're right. This world is completely new to me, its not quills and paper. Though we did have magic training in the university, and that good sir was also very dangerous."

She was getting quite warm now and her stomach growled a little as if reminding Serenity of a deal they made.

"Thank you for the shelter Grayell, I'm sure I'll sleep soundly and yes, please, let's eat!"

[Grayell]

Grayell got up and sat by her legs. He dragged the fish from the fire and handed her a skewer. He'd added some simply herbs which should flavor it quite nicely, but the warmth of the meal was certainly the most important element. He was not a great cook by any means - but the simplest meal in the outdoors could beat anything a gourmet chef could muster in the comfort of the city.

Grayell placed his fish aside for a moment. He rummaged through his belongings and what he'd gathered in camp and produced some large, lime green leaves.

You eat. This needs treating.

Grayell tore up one of the leaves and then ground it in his palm, it secreting a green oil. He rubbed his hands together briskly then, warming it, before taking both her feet and running his fingers and palms firmly over them. The oil tingled and almost stung a little when it was rubbed into her cut feet, but then numbed the pain.

You're not getting in the water until these heal.

[Serenity]

She jerked her foot back, away from the stinging pain and from Grayell. Serenity felt a tad sensitive about her feet, anyone who touched them she perceived as an intimate act. Perhaps, because, recently James was the only one to play with her by tickling them just to annoy her.

She gave her foot back to Grayell so she could treat it, remembering that its for her own good.

In the mean time she took a bite of her fish. Maybe it was because she was really hungry, but at that moment it was the best fish she ever had. An expression of bliss crossed her face as she tasted that first bite alone and continued to munch on it disgracefully as if she never lived in her high born home.

Catching herself before choking in her haste, she looked at Grayell and examined him for a moment. To suddenly agree to train her, make camp, and provide fresh food for her. All without asking for anything in return. Her heart sank a little at the thought.

She just agreed outright and didn't think of the burden it would put him through, all this work just to satisfy a silly request. He could have asked for gold, even another date.

Slowly, she put her skewer down on her lap and continued to look on, studying him while being quiet for the longest time as he continued his work. Serenity had to give him something.

"Veronica. My real name is Veronica Howle. Serenity is a name given to me by James, as a joke." she said laughing a little at the end, "Thank you for doing so much for me, Grayell."

[Grayell]

Grayell stopped for a moment and looked at the fire. He then smiled, continued to rub her feet. He then folded them in some of the larger leaves, but kept them in his lap to hold the dressings in place. Finally he started to eat his fish.

You're welcome. It's nothing. Seren... Veronica, I value your friendship more than I think you know. This is the very least I can do for you in return.

Grayell finished his fish, but was quiet in doing so. He tossed the scraps into the fire and patted her leg. The sun was setting and the cold was starting to settle into the riverbed.

It's getting toward night. You can either turn in or tough it out with me. Swap some stories by the fire. I wouldn't be offended if you shared that cloak with me though.

His voice was quieter than usual. It's trademark loudness and clarity had been replaced by something softer, not intimate but, well more personable. He had a quaint smile, not a complex gesture and simply waited for her decision.

[Serenity]

She smiled brightly, happy to give off some personal weight, "You may still call me Serenity, I only stuck with the name because I didn't want to use my birth name while traveling, for fear of my father finding me. I didn't exactly leave home on good terms. I've grown fond of it though, James gave it to me as a joke because, well shamefully I must admit I had quite a temper. He thought it would be funny to call me Serenity. Such is the man-child that he was." she shook her head as she remembered the thought.

Serenity finished off her tea and fish, happy with a full stomach. All the exercise and food made her tired, but she wanted to indulge Grayell a little and stay up. After all there wasn't a whole lot that she knew of him other than that he lived in the North.

She adjusted the cloak so that it could wrap around him too and she huddled a little closer to him.

"So then, what story would you like to share?"

[Grayell]

Grayell slipped a hand behind her back. It rested on the ground behind her rather than holding her, but it brought their sides together. His bare torso was rather cold by now as well. He looked at the fire and then to the sky. He thought for a moment.

A story. You know, I don't have too many that I am fond of. It seems... well it seems all my stories are rather unfortunate and not fit for such company. Perhaps you can ask me something instead. I promise to answer in return.

[Serenity]

"Hmmmm"

Through some of the time that she had been undergoing her training, she couldn't help but think of her former school life, which sadly was the upside before meeting James. Not to brag but she was a perfect student in almost every way; intelligence; magic; even in art.

Surely Grayell must have been educated in some way, perhaps someone taught him the method he was using on her.

"Did you have a sword master, Grayell? Or are you just making me walk through water just so you could cozy up against me?" she joked of course, her playful nature got the best of her when around Grayell, his bad influence she assumed.

[Grayell]

Grayell shot her a look with a smile that he reserved only for her and nodded. His eyes wandered back to the fire.

Ah, not all stories are bad after all. My master, the crotchety old bastard he was, lives in the far east. Further than most people have been. Further than any maps have plotted. It was a long journey. You see, I was on a quest as it were, a mission to master the sword. I thought I was quite good. I'd seen my share of battles. But he changed all of that. He changed me.

You see, I was never any good with fighting when I was younger. I could rough house and that sort of thing, but my true strength was the bow. After the were...

Grayell stopped. He damn near walked into telling her the very past he was intent on keeping from her. His eyes were as wide as a scared cat and he took a long moment to scold himself inwardly for such a stupid thing. He poked at the fire, started again slowly.

I suffered a hunting injury. It ruined my shoulder. Since then I just don't have it anymore. If I draw a bow, my arm simply shakes. It makes for terrible aim.

But I had a new purpose you could say and filled with more hot air than knowledge, I had decided I would seek out the man who would be my master and demand that he teach me how to master the sword.

As you can imagine, it simply wasn't as easy as all that.

[Serenity]

Serenity chuckled, agreeing with his last statement. Perhaps it wasn't the same, but she had a difficult time proving herself to a group of staff at the University, despite her talent. She had failed once before and was determined to make a change next time, which she did.

James helped a great deal in that regard and she would never forget it.

It was interesting to note that a man as strong as Gray was wouldn't be considered for training under a master right away. Perhaps there was more to it than just swinging a sword around, much like she was doing.

"So what did you have to do to prove yourself?"

[Grayell]

Grayell laughed just a little.

Well, after making a fool of myself on multiple occasions, I was taught - the hard way - about humility. Something about an old woman whooping you with a broom like she was wielding a sword sort of forces you to consider what you think you know about swordplay. I went from kicking ass to kissing boots - I couldn't hold my own in that damned country. See, over there; the sword was their way of life. There were children that were better fighters than I. I figured that I would have to beat someone to prove I was good enough to teach and well, I was wrong.

What I had to do was prove I wanted to learn. Not to show off. I went one last time to the building where my master taught, but I wasn't getting in. I'd made a big enough ass of myself. So stuck outside, ticked off and feeling like I was simply going to be stuck in a foreign land with no hope of getting home in a hurry; I noticed another man outside the gates. He was simply standing there. Not moving. Just standing.

I asked him what he was doing. He said he was waiting to be let in. I thought that was strange, so I joined him and stood there.

Grayell laughed again and shook his head.

I had no idea what he was doing, but had decided I wasn't leaving before he did. I wasn't about to LOSE to someone standing around. Gee I was an ass. Funny thing was, he didn't leave, not for a while. It was three days later that he had decided to finally leave, after standing there the whole time, not moving; but by then someone else had come along and was standing there.

I saw six other people come and go in my time standing. I lost track of the days. I honestly don't know how I did it. Standing seems like such a simple thing until it's been a month without moving - which is just beyond me now.

But after however long it took, the master invited me in. I thought finally I would learn the sword from him. He yelled at me for not eating, fed me and then demanded I work in the kitchen to pay off the debt. He allowed me to stay there, working to pay for my room and food. It would be another six months before he even let me touch a sword.

[Serenity]

Serenity looked at him in disbelief, "You stood around for a whole month, without food? Forgive me if I sound skeptical."

Although hearing the end of this chapter brought on a new question, "And how long till I can raise a sword?"

Serenity liked to think that she possessed a lot of patience, at least a little more than she used too, but she wasn't so keen on waiting half a year before raising a sword that she bought. Even so, the lady would have to respect Grayell's instruction no matter what. Its what she would do for any of her professors back home.

"Well then go on, what happened next? What was your training like?"

[Grayell]

Grayell chuckled and shook his head. He rolled his neck and groaned a little, rubbed his hands on his arms. Night was upon them now.

How about I continue my story tomorrow night - after you train some more. I think it's best we turn in, it's getting too chilly out here.

Grayell rocked onto his feet and crouched, bouncing a little to work out the kinks. He then dusted off and grabbed some more firewood to put on the fire.

If you need anything in the night, let me know. Be sure to stay warm - and if you get cold, let me know. None of this freezing half to death business miss. I'll see you in the morning.

Grayell placed a couple of logs in the fire, sending sparks into the night sky. He watched them for a moment, but offered her a hand to help her to her feet.

Keep the cloak tonight. I think I'll manage.

[Serenity]

She pouted, and for a moment was a little reluctant to go to bed right away as her intrigue in Grayell's story made her forget her fatigue. When he did mention sleep though, Serenity couldn't help but yawn and decided that it would be best.

The lady didn't want to keep the cloak to herself, but she knew that Grayell would insist regardless. She gave him her hand, not wanting to crawl to bed and let him help her to her sleeping place.

[Grayell]

Grayell smiled but as she took her first step, the pain in her feet was evident. He stopped - then threw an arm about her waist and lifted her off of the rocks and onto the grass a few feet away. He put her down carefully.

C'mon, let's get you situated. Your feet will be fine in the morning if you stay off them.

Grayell lifted the grass door he had made for the shelter and crouched to take a look inside. Even at the door it was remarkably warmer than outside. It was larger than one might expect too - enough room for a cot off the ground and just enough for someone to sit up on the bed comfortably. He had padded it with dry moss and strewn grass and boughs across the floor. A regular little hut.

He waited til she climbed onto the bed and handed her the cloak. She'd be warm at least, it was going to be bitterly cold.

Alright miss, you're all set. I'll be up most the night tending the fire so I'll have an eye on things. Lemme know if you need anything.

[Serenity]

Grayell... she blushed a little when she was picked up, and was thankful that it was too dark to see.

She eased herself into her makeshift bed and took the cloak gracefully, thankful for it.

"Again, you've done much for me Grayell. I promise to show you the same generosity in the future."

She layed down carefully, her muscles were still sore and it ached as Serenity made the adjustments. When she was settled she wrapped the cloak around herself and nuzzled against the bed spread.

"Good night, Grayell" she smiling, sincerely thankful.


At first her little hut seemed cozy enough, but as the night went on she had difficulty sleeping, as she normally did in new surroundings. It eventually became cold like Grayell said and she would wrap the cloak tighter around herself until she adjusted to it. It must be worse for him she thought.

There were times when she wanted to go out and check if he was there, and request that he go to sleep himself. That man was stubborn though, almost as much as she was.

Eventually she tried not to think so much and attempt a peaceful mind so she could finally go to sleep.

For some reason her voice teacher, Ms. Ramo, came to mind and with that thought the last song that the beautiful vocalist taught her. Rather, a song she learned by listening to her instructor sing it idly. The artist never bothered to teach Serenity the song, but she did tell her the story of it, and how she learned it from a tribe of wanderers or something similar.

She really liked it, but couldn't understand the words as it was in a language she never sung before, but the melody was lovely. She picked up on the consonants, vowels, every little detail so she could sing it herself. It seemed silly, but perhaps singing herself to sleep would be the trick.

Serenity started humming, quietly enough to herself so it wouldn't cause stress in her throat. As she did the words, or what she thought were the words, came to her.

Ma linn a...
ki nu taa mun
irr u sill ua ta moon...

Unknown to her, a little aura began to appear around her as she continued to sing the song, her wind magic was activating.

Outside her hut, where Grayell might still be waiting, the winds began to pick up and currents were circling her hut. It wasn't a dangerous current though, and Grayell could sense a familiarity with this wind. Like the night she sang her song on the hill next to Wistvale. Yet something about it was a tad different.

It was as clear as a consistent stream of water, and its touch was softer than a woman's. The current passed through Grayell, as if it wanted him to listen to Serenity's song.

The wind would encircle her hut, as if to gather her words and then pass through Grayell before seeking the sky once more. It was not just her voice though, it was as if many voices were spoken at once, creating a harmony that seemed unnatural to recreate.

They sang through him, as if telling him a story or a lesson. It was not a song for performance, but a song to pass down from people to people. Serenity didn't know it as she continued to sing the song to herself, but the music contained a certain magic that her teacher was reluctant to tell her about. She couldn't even hear what was going on outside as the wind passed it through the ears of Grayell alone.

There was a presence in it, Grayell could hear, benevolent and wise. As Serenity finished, her wind slowed to a halt and faded away as if it was never there to begin with.

She fell asleep soon after.