The next building we went to was not as tall as the first one, but it was still pretty tall, soaring above most of the buildings in the city. We walked into the building and we were greeted as we walked through the door. “Welcome to the house of blades, my name is Aden the care taker of this house.” He said as he walked out in front of us, gesturing for us to follow him while he walked into the next room. I was so expecting the same layout as in the building of shields.
I was surprised by the more squared look of the inside of the building. Everything was separated into squares, like small rooms, each designed for specific purposes. As we walked through the rooms, I saw many different kinds of blades being made. However, for some reason none of them really called out to me, they were very nicely made knives and blades, but there was nothing I could see myself using. Actually, the fact was I don’t think I’ve ever used any of the blades that I saw here, so in reality I didn’t think any of them would actually work for me. I would most likely end up hurting myself, more than actually hurting the enemy.
I looked around at everything and wondered what I wanted to use for my own weapon. Then Aden walked up to me with a few of his best blades. “These are the best of the best. The sharpest, strongest, and lightest blades we make here. Why don’t you take one and try it out, you never know you might like one and decide to use it.” He smiled and headed to the testing room for the building. I walked in and just looked at the box, I didn’t really feel like testing out any of them, I didn’t even think I want to use any of them, but I knew I had to try at least one.
“I picked short blades because my wife told me how you fight with speed as your biggest advantage, and that’s why you couldn’t use a shield, it would slow you down when you fight and you would most definitely be needing every advantage you can get to deliver some of these packages.” Aden said as he opened the glass cover on the box and handed me the longest of the four blades that were in it. I took the blade from his hand, it was not that heavy, but it was heavier than I thought it would be from the look of it. I stepped back and swung it around a few times, then called to Adam.
He smiled, pulled his blade, and lunged at me as if I were his greatest foe, he was ready to take me down for good. I quickly block and contoured him, and then I went in for my attack. Which was blocked just barley, but still with ease. I didn’t even try again, I put the blade in the box. “What’s next that one felt a bit too heavy, it threw me off in my attack and made it easy to block even if I was moving faster.” I said to Aden as he handed me another one with a smile. “Here try this one I think you will find this one much easier to mover around with.” He smiled as he stepped back out of the way so that Adam and I could go for it.
I looked down to feel the weight of the blade, it was like it wasn’t there, I looked up with a smile, Adam was already in the middle of trying to wipe it off my face with his sword coming at me full force. I had just a second to block and I moved my hand up with the knife and stopped his blade as it came down. One thing happened that I didn’t see coming. The knife was too short and the sword slid right off the side and was coming straight for the exposed part of my arm. I vanished just as his sword would hit me leaving behind a phantom that his sword went through just as I appeared by Aden.
“Yeah, that one will definitely not work, after all, the whole point of this is to have a way to defend myself when I can’t phantom step. And if I couldn’t move like I just did I would have lost part of my arm. But I do love how it feels, almost like I’m not holding anything at all in my hands.” I said as I took the other blade from him and reappeared next to Adam. This blade was different from the first two, I thought it was strange that it curved, but I thought why not try it. This time I went in for the first attack. Lunging right at Adam.
He quickly stepped back, pulling his sword in front of him and stopping the blade dead in its tracks. I pulled back and he pulled his blade up right for me. I swung the knife in my hand and blocked his swing, even though I managed to block it I was thrown back in the process. I landed flat on my back and just laid there. “Man that hurt, ok I have to say this blade was very nice, but just a bit odd, I just couldn’t get the hang of it being curved, it threw me off a bit, what else do you have?” I asked as I brushed myself off and stood to my feet.
I was handed another curved blade but this one left me confused it curved backwards. I looked at it, I had never seen anyone use something where the point of the blade was behind the handle next to their elbow. I wondered how this would work but I thought. “What the heck it can’t be that bad.” I held it in my hand and though I couldn’t attack with this, Adam was already on his way with his attack before I could even finish what I was thinking.
He came at me, I had no idea how to use this blade to attack so I dodged backwards and punched at him. Landing a blow to his stomach, which I thought, was too easy at normal speed and I realized why it was so easy to land a bow after I saw the blade of his sword coming down at me, I acted on my first instant. I raised my hand to protect my head and I heard and unexpected clash of weapons. I had forgotten that the blade was on my arm and it stopped the sword. I smiled this could work as a shield but that’s about it, I don’t know how I would attack with it.
“That was very unexpected, but at the same time I wouldn’t know how to attack with this blade. So I don’t think you have anything I can use here, which kind of sucks, I don’t know what to do about a weapon now.” I said as I gave the blade back to Aden. He looked at me then suddenly smiled. “I know just what you need to do. Before I ran things here, I use to work for someone called the weapon finder. He is known to be able to pick the perfect weapon for anyone, no matter what they fight like or how they like the weapons to feel just by watching them move around for a few minutes. If you really want something you can fight with at any moment go to him, he will design you the best weapon possible, then come back when you have the design. My wife and I will build it for you, we haven’t had a challenge like you in a while, no one that comes to us ever leaves empty handed. So we need to get you fitted with weapons you can use before we lose our reputation.” Aden said as he walked with us back to the front of the building. Then handed me a piece of paper he had written something on.
Continues in Chapter 17 or go to previous Chapter 15
Share to help us grow and keep the stories coming.