The council

Chapter 4: 30-50

More training

Over the next few weeks, Freya seems distant. That's fair, I did reject her after all. I decide to leave her be.

I hear word of a new adventurer in town. I decided to go ask him to train me for a little bit. With enough convincing, he agreed.

He taught me the basics of swordsmanship and archery. I took a liking specifically to the longbow. Not that I had any specific proficiency with the weapon, but I just enjoyed it.

Over the next three years, I became an expert in my bow and sword.

One day, when I was training, I saw a kid. He was watching me in awe. I decided to speak to him. "Hey kid, what's up?"

"Oh, uhhh... not much."

"Interested in the bow?"

"Yeah..."

"Come here." I lower my bow and put my arrow back in the quiver. The kid walks over to me, and I hand him my bow. "Try it out."

The kid pulls back the string, mimicking what I was just doing. I pull an arrow out of my quiver. "Spread your middle finger and ring finger out. I'll put the arrow in between. When you think the arrow is aimed correctly, let go of your right hand."

The kid takes a moment to aim, then fires. He hits the target, but not anywhere near the bullseye. "Nice one, for your first time at least."

"Will you train me?"

"Huh?"

"Train me."

"Uh... Okay?" What's your name?"

"Yukine."

I trained Yukine within the next three years. He eventually got to my level, so we gave each other advice.

I decided to go to public language studies and learn Dwarven, Halfling, and Gnomish. It took me 4 years to learn it all and become fluent.

After one of these sessions, I decide I want to leave the feywilds and venture into the common realm.

When I got home, I decided to tell my mother. "Hey, mother... I want to leave the feywilds. I don't want to stay here all my life."

"Don't leave just yet. Wait five years, and I can give you something of your fathers..."

"He left me something?"

"Of course he did. You'll see soon."

"I'll stay then."

"Why don't you get a job until then? You can save up money for the journey."

At her recommendation, I start applying to places I frequent. It took a while, but I got a job at a drug store. I learned heaps about medicine there. I also know quite a few medicinal herbs as I was sent out to grab quite a few.

Preparing for the journey

After 5 years of working at the pharmacy and not spending any money myself, I had accumulated 120 gp. Each one equals 100 sp. I'd say I worked pretty hard.

I return home and put the coins that I earned today in the bag holding every other coin. My mother then pulls me aside. "Are you still wanting to leave?"

"Yes. I still want to go."

She sighs after hearing me. She goes into our back room and brings me a rusted sword. "This was your father's. He'd want you to have it."

"It's so rusted..."

"I'll give you the money. Take it to a blacksmith and have it repaired. The sword is yours now."

"Thank you..."

The next day, I took the sword to a local blacksmith to get it repaired. He said it would take a while since he had many other jobs. I told him that's fine, and I'll be back next month to pick it up.

I guess I won't be leaving anytime soon. I'll leave when I'm fifty then...

On my way home, I see Freya again. It's been a while since we've talked...

I decide to walk up and start a conversation. "Hey... it's been a while."

"Yeah, it has..."

There is an awkward silence between us. Maybe I shouldn't have tried to start a conversation...

"So... how have you been?" She breaks the silence.

"Well, I've been preparing to leave the feywilds."

"Huh? You're leaving?!"

"Yeah. I don't like this staying in one place thing. I just want to go out and explore the unventured."

"So... will you be coming back?"

"I'm not sure. Probably, but I don't want to stay here often."

"Can I... come with?"

"You... want to come with? Why?"

"You're a social person, right? You'd go insane being alone. You probably aren't thinking about inviting anyone, so let me come along."

"Fair point. I'm leaving when I turn 50. Do you have training with any weapons?"

"No, but I hear you're trained in both the sword and the bow. Could you teach me?"

I sigh. "Sure."

Throughout the next four years, I went to collect my sword and trained Freya in the art of the longbow. I also tried to train her with the sword, but she didn't understand anything about it.

We met up at the southernmost point of the village and had a bunch of people seeing us off, most of which I don't know. I whisper to Freya. "What are all these people doing here?"

"They're here to see us off. Sweet, huh?"

"I don't know most of these people."

"Still, they came to see is off. Be happy about it."

"It weirds me out..."

"Well, let's be off! The journey begins!"