The Supreme Puppet

The Supreme Puppet (Vol.1) Chapter 4: Learning To Be Human

At the training grounds, I elegantly spun around and swung my sword, unleashing a powerful breeze throughout the room. After training, I put Excalibur back in its sheath and walked out.

After Blacksmith left to rest, exhausted from our training session together, I continued training by myself to further improve my fighting skills to be of better use to him. I practiced different styles and attacks using Excalibur, swinging my sword and thrusting it. I moved around the room testing my agility and my evasive skills, practicing my acrobatics. As I trained, I learned to manage and control my strength.

I headed upstairs and walked down the hall to Blacksmith's room. I quietly opened the door and took a peek inside, finding Blacksmith lying on his bed with his back turned towards me.

He was still asleep. The last time he slept, I came into his room after having nothing else to do and laid down beside him to stay by his side. In doing so, I woke him up. Now having learned my mistake, I will try my best not to wake him up again.

I grabbed onto the knob of the door and fully opened the door. I carefully took one step inside his room.

"Is there something you need?"

"...!"

I stopped and looked at him. Blacksmith sat up from his bed and faced me.

I failed...

I was disappointed in myself. Even when I tried to be quiet and stealthy, it didn't work out so well. I accidentally woke him up for a second time.

"If you thought you woke me up, don't worry. I've already been awake for a while. It's not your fault," he said, reassuring me.

"I see."

Blacksmith yawned, covering his mouth. "So? How was your training? Was it enough to keep you active?"

I nodded. "It was well. I've learned a lot, even though it was only for a short time."

"I'm glad to hear that."

Blacksmith got up from bed and went to open the curtains. Outside the window, he looks to see the bright orange sun in the beautiful blue sky and birds chirping as they flew in the air.

"It's daytime," he said to himself. "Hm...maybe after eating breakfast, I'll go out."

"Go out where?" I asked.

"Windebenen," he replied. "I'm running out of some metals and wood. I think I'll visit the town to buy some materials. While I'm there, I'll sell the parts we had left over from the trolls and wyverns. I won't be back until some time later."

"I see."

Windebenen was the town down south Blacksmith mentioned to me before. It was a place where many humans lived together. I've never been to a town before. I wonder what it was like. Were they all similar to Blacksmith? What did they do in a town? So many questions came into my mind.

"What is it, Celeste?" he asked, noticing me and tilting his head.

"Blacksmith-sama, is it alright if I could come along?" I asked.

Surprised, his face lit up. "Why?"

"I want to learn more about the outside world, including the human towns and cities. I want to see what it's like."

He placed his hand to his chin. "I don't want anyone to find out about you, but...I suppose this would be a good chance to see how you would act and adapt to the environment around you."

"I can go?"

He nodded, then raised his finger. "However, if you're coming with me, you can't do anything unless I tell you to. You have to keep your identity as a puppet a secret. If anyone asks you who you are, tell them you're a friend of mine. Understood?"