Rider Ward: The Dark Woods

Three

From now on Buck went to get resources. Rider remained in the blacksmith, either reading books that Buck had, or he sometimes sneaked of to hunt. Now Rider was reading Blacksmithing: Tips and Tricks, it proved to be quite helpful, he managed to make another dagger that would almost pass for a normal dagger.

Days passed like this, Rider would wake up, have breakfast. He would then read, and when Buck went out to obtain resources, he would practice his archery. Recently Buck had built him an archery target, in which as days passed he would get closer and closer to the center.

After a couple of weeks of relentless training in both archery and smithing Rider became quite good. He managed to build himself a decent looking and effective iron bow. Along with an iron quiver, and iron tipped arrows. He hadn't had the chance to thank Buck for the resources, but he was planning on it, and to give him all the money he had earned from selling his own made daggers. RIder had developed his arm muscles, though he was still skinny. 

His archery also showed great improvement, he could now hit the target with ease, however this was far different than a moving target, hence he sometimes went back to his old routines, sneaking out whenever possible.

 And Valen, from time to time, kept being a jerk to Rider. Sometimes he'd order his henchman to play pranks on Rider, like throwing a bucket of water on him. Sometimes they'd play hit and run, which gave Rider several new purple bruises, mainly on his forearm as he tried to block. And when Valen was feeling particularly vicious, he would sometimes go and annoy Buck. They couldn't do anything serious to him as he supplied all the guards of weaponry, but small things like put out the fire in his forge when he was out.  

But one day, Valen went to far.

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Rider woke up to the sound of market stalls selling. He assumed it was noon because they roughly opened up then, and he couldn't have woke up any later, and sure enough, Rider peaked out on the window to his right, and the sun was directly above. He felt a small electric shop on his neck, he couldn't tell why he was feeling this, or how he knew this, but he felt as if he was being warned of something.

He had been hunting whilst Buck was asleep that night, and Rider was pleased to say his skills have improved greatly, he could now shoot an elk on the run, but only when he was around 50 yards away. He ambled down the stairs, to find Buck by the counter, selling a dagger

"Top quality, I assure you, made with most delicacy" Persuaded Buck

"It seems rather pricey" protested the customer

"Here, have a few swings with it, I tell you, you won't find better elsewhere" Buck cried, before the rather dissapointed looking customer stalked off

And so the customer took it, took a swing with the gleaming dagger, and his face showed that he was clearly impressed, he handed over the required amount of gold, and headed out, towards the plaza.

"Woke up late, whys that, weren't sneaking of were you?" Buck asked Rider, whilst he was looking directly into his eyes

Rider was shocked, he couldn't have known, he left dice in front of his bedroom door whenever he went hunting, and he left that at certain numbers, so that if someone entered they wouldn't know the numbers facing up top. Every time he came back they remained in the exact position.

He couldn't have known

"Don't know what your talking about, i just had a rough sleep, that's all" It hurt Rider to lie to Buck, but his pleasure for hunting gave him absolutely no choice

"Alright then" Buck replied, clearly unconvinced. "Why don't you get some fresh air, as you say that you most certainly haven't  been out in a while"

So he went outside and sat by the fountain. Within the fountain he catch the shine of silver and gold coins, even a few bronze. He wondered what they wished for, and then he wondered what he would wish for. He then had it, he would wish for ....

Smoke. He could smell smoke. He spun around

It was coming from the forge

He raced towards Buck, who had dashed back from the fountain with a bucket of water, throwing it onto the fire.

but just before he reached him, he heard a cackle behind, and found that it was Valen.

He was looked pretty injured, with a black eye now and several bruises among his body. He wore a cast around his arm, and he was walking towards Rider, however he appeared to be alone.

Rider, though was burning with anger, he mustered the confidence that Valen usually had, and strode towards him.

"You were gonna kill me, you tried to burn the Blacksmith, tried to kill Buck" Rider shouted, his anger slowly growing to boiling point

"Now now Valen, lets not hold grudges." Valen replied with what appeared to be a calm tone, however a hint of fear.

Adrenaline was thriving in Rider's vain, anger pounding his heart, he wanted to kill me, leave me for dead  Rider thought, he wanted to burn my only home, now Rider was planning to return the favor.

His anger could no loner be tamed. He delivered a mighty punch to Valens face, but that wasn't all, electricity crackled in his arm and then fried Valen's skull

The beefy Valen remained standing for several seconds, then collapsed

Rider's heart was pounding at a furious rhythm now, he hadn't meant to actually harm him, did he? He was scared now, worried, sweat poured down. He knelt down and felt Valen's heartbeat, and sure enough Rider could make out a distance thump thump. Then realization dawned on him, but too late. A man behind Rider seemed to have just recovered from shock as he had then accused Rider of the worst thing possible.

"WARLOCK"

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Rider was on his feet and on full sprint to the blacksmith, he hoped Buck would be able to sort this out. Or maybe laugh and tell him this was a dream, yes that must have been whats happening Rider concluded, just a simple dream.  He reached the forge, the fire seemed to be put out and thankfully not much damage. It appeared, from Buck's expression that he had witnessed what had just occurred, and from his expression Rider could tell that this something serious and real. 

"I should have told you this earlier, Gods i am stupid" Buck rushed, and he sounded.. shamed? ", but Rider i have to be quick, your a Warlock, your life is in immediate danger, you must head south, far south until you find a small settlement, there the warlocks will find you and train you. Don't let them catch you, no matter what." He finished that with a light push on the back, indicating he had to go, now.

But Rider refused

"N-no i cant be a- a Warlock" Rider stammered. "This was just a misunderstanding i am sure of it"

"Rider listen to me, accept realit-" Buck began

"NO I cant be one" Tears were now streaming down Rider's face, the very thought of being a Warlock made him want to go into the corner of the room and cry, he was too scared of the prospect of being burned at the stake

"Rider please..." Buck begged

"NO" and then Rider collected his bow and quiver then ran out of the blacksmith.

Ran out of the stronghold

But not south.

North, where the forest lay

The forest that called him.

And was calling him now