Mastery Is Earned

The days that followed brought Raymond a rare spell of peace. To give his injuries time to heal, he continued staying in a modest but reasonably clean private room rather than moving into the cheaper shared dormitory. His meals were not as lavish as the one he had enjoyed on his first day back, but they were still considerably better than what most customers ate: mainly bread, eggs, beans, and meat stew, with a small portion of vegetables. His body was still recovering, so he could not afford to skimp on food.

He also visited the physician every day to have his wounds cleaned and his dressings changed. The bruises across his chest and back were gradually fading, while the wounds on his left arm and chest had begun to scab over. For the time being, however, he still could not swing a sword at full strength. Even light sword practice pulled at his injuries whenever he exerted himself. After testing himself a few times, he decided to continue resting.

During his recovery, Raymond visited the smithy several times, hoping to find a refurbished secondhand weapon. But his life would depend on the weapon he chose, so he was in no hurry to buy one. Besides comparing prices and inspecting the weapons' condition, he often asked Carter what to look for when selecting one. When Carter learned that Raymond intended to buy secondhand, he even offered to accompany him and help him choose.

Unfortunately, Carter's limited mobility made that impossible. In the end, Raymond would have to make the choice himself. Even so, Carter went over everything he needed to watch for, repeatedly and in detail.

Four days passed in the blink of an eye. During that time, the other two mercenary teams sent out to investigate also returned to town. Unlike Carter's team, neither group found any large-scale monster activity. They brought back only traces left by wild animals and scattered goblins. Based on the information gathered by all three teams, Marcus tentatively concluded that the unusual activity was concentrated on the side of Blackpine Forest nearest the Blackstone Mountains.

That day, after eating his fill and packing some food, Raymond went to Carter's home. The moment he entered, Carter said with a pleased look, “A caravan is leaving for Silverleaf Village tomorrow morning. Marcus agreed to add you to the list of guards, so you'll travel with them. The route follows the road the whole way and isn't particularly dangerous. It's just right for your current condition.”

“Silverleaf Village?” The name caught Raymond's attention.

If he remembered correctly, it was the hometown of Tom, the dead mercenary. The other two mercenaries who had died were both from Blackstone. Carter had already entrusted their money and belongings to others for delivery to their families.

Tom alone had come from Silverleaf Village. The money and death benefits owed to him, his identifying personal effects, and his shortsword all remained at Carter's home. It seemed Carter had secured this job for Raymond not only to help him earn money but also so he could deliver Tom's belongings along the way.

At that thought, Raymond could not help touching the shortsword at his waist. It had also belonged to Tom and would have to be returned during this trip to Silverleaf Village. He needed to buy a weapon of his own as soon as possible.

“That's right, Silverleaf Village.” Carter nodded. “Since you're going there anyway, take Tom's money and belongings back with you.”

“Yes, Captain Carter,” Raymond agreed.

After leaving Carter's house, Raymond retraced the now-familiar route to the smithy. The blacksmith acknowledged his arrival with a slight nod, then continued working in the forge. Raymond entered the room where the weapons were displayed and turned toward the secondhand pieces in the corner. Brand-new weapons were too expensive, and given his current finances, there was no reason to buy one.

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He soon settled on a sword and removed it from the rack in the corner. It was a reasonably well-maintained sword, slightly longer than the one he had used before but better suited to his height and reach. Several small nicks in the blade had been ground smooth, and the guard was somewhat worn, but the weapon was in good condition overall. It also came with an old scabbard and leather sword belt.

Raymond gripped the hilt, tried several different holds, then made a few restrained thrusts. Both its weight and length suited him better than his previous sword.

“I'll take this one,” Raymond told the blacksmith.

The blacksmith set down his hammer, wiped away his sweat with his dirty apron, and examined the weapon in Raymond's hands. A faint smile appeared on his face. “That sword suits you. Three silver and fifty copper, scabbard included.”

“Three silver and fifty copper?” Raymond gave a slight nod.

He had visited several times already and had a general idea of secondhand weapon prices. According to Carter, a reasonably maintained secondhand sword usually cost between three and five silver coins, depending on the condition of the blade, hilt, and guard. This sword showed signs of use but had no obvious warping or rust. Three silver and fifty copper was a fair price.

“Include a whetstone and blade oil,” Raymond said after a moment's thought.

“Ha! All right.” The blacksmith laughed heartily. “You have a deal.”

With the sword at his waist and the whetstone and blade oil packed into a small cloth pouch, Raymond returned to Carter's home.

“Mm. This really is a good sword, and well worth the price.” Carter gave his assessment after inspecting it carefully.

With Carter's approval, Raymond's last trace of doubt disappeared. The sword had cost him nearly half his entire fortune. If it proved to be a defective piece unfit for real use, it would be a costly mistake. After all, he had very little experience buying weapons.

“Want to try it out? They're all swords, but each one has a different weight. You need to get used to it as soon as possible,” Carter said as he handed the sword back.

The suggestion was exactly what Raymond wanted. He had been eager to test the first weapon that truly belonged to him.

Carter tried to follow him outside, but a sharp pain in his right knee forced him back into his seat. “Don't worry about me. Practice just outside the door.”

Raymond moved the chair to the doorway so Carter could see clearly into the yard, then carried the sword outside.

After taking a deep breath, Raymond began with the most fundamental grip and stance, slowly practicing cuts, blocks, and thrusts. Four days of rest had allowed his injuries to recover considerably, but they were still far from healed. Whenever he made a wider movement, he still felt a distinct pull across his chest, back, and left arm. Raymond therefore made no attempt to pursue speed or power. He adjusted his movements again and again, familiarizing himself with the new sword's weight, length, and handling.

The new sword was longer and heavier than his previous weapon, yet it did not feel clumsy in his hands. After a short period of adjustment, his movements gradually stabilized. Despite going several days without formal practice, the movements he had mastered remained clearly imprinted in his body. His time spent recuperating had not made him rusty.

“Huh?” Carter could not suppress a sound of surprise as he watched.

“What is it?” Raymond stopped and gently moved his aching shoulder and arm.

Carter shook his head with a rueful smile. “I thought your aptitude was mediocre, but it seems I misjudged you. You're much more talented than I realized. You've built such a solid foundation in so little time. No wonder you managed to kill so many goblins.”

Raymond replied calmly, “I still owe it to you. I never would have learned any of this otherwise, and there's still plenty I need you to correct.”

“Your fundamentals are already solid, but knowing how to perform a technique is one thing. Knowing when to use it is another,” Carter said. “In a real fight, your opponent won't stand there and wait for you to complete an entire sequence.”

“You raised your shoulder too high during that last thrust.”

Sitting beside the doorway, Carter raised his left hand and demonstrated. “Lower your shoulder slightly, and don't tense your wrist too much. Let your waist and legs drive your arm when you thrust, and the point won't waver.”

Raymond followed his instructions and tried again. His first few attempts were still somewhat stiff, but as he adjusted the movement, the sword point wavered less and less. Carter continued pointing out problems in his technique, while Raymond tried again and again to correct them. One watched and the other practiced. Before long, both were completely absorbed.

[Basic Swordsmanship Lv. 1 (57/100)]

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