Chương 28: The Sword at the End of the Street

The academy reopened three days later. The first morning felt different. The students who had returned from the Fog Forest were louder than before. Some spoke about the expedition as if it had been an adventure. Others avoided the subject completely. Leo belonged to neither group. He simply returned to his routine. Classes. Meals. Training. Sleep. Yet there was one thing he had begun to notice. His wooden sword was no longer enough.

It had served its purpose during practice, but every time Leo held it, he felt the same limitation. The weight was wrong. The balance was wrong. Even the way the blade responded to his wrist felt unnatural. He needed a real sword. After the morning lessons, Leo left the academy alone. The city was only a short walk away. He had heard there was a weapons district near the eastern wall, where blacksmiths and craftsmen sold everything from ordinary hunting blades to weapons designed for high-ranking knights.

He intended to look. Nothing more. The eastern district was louder than he expected. Hammers struck metal behind open workshop doors. Steam escaped from enormous chimneys. Merchants shouted prices from crowded stalls. Rows of weapons hung beneath wooden signs. Leo passed several shops before stopping at one. There was no elaborate sign above the entrance. Only two words had been carved into the wood. HARTEN FORGE. Leo stepped inside. The heat struck him immediately.

A large man stood behind the counter, his arms covered in old burns and scars. He looked up.

"Student?"

"Yes."

"Looking for something specific?"

"A sword." The blacksmith glanced at Leo's academy uniform.

"Training sword?"

"Real." That answer earned him a longer look. The blacksmith wiped his hands on a cloth.

"Come here." Leo followed him toward the weapon racks. The first row contained cheap swords. The second held military blades. The third contained weapons with magical inscriptions. The blacksmith pointed toward them.

"Don't touch those." Leo stopped.

"Why?"

"Because half of them are enchanted badly enough to take your fingers off." Leo nodded.

"Understood." The blacksmith looked pleased. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

"At least you listen." He reached for a plain sword hanging near the back. It had a dark leather grip and a simple steel guard.

"No enchantments," he said.

"No gemstones. No noble crest." He handed it to Leo. Leo tested the weight. Too heavy. He returned it. The blacksmith gave him another. Too light. Another. The balance was better. Leo moved his wrist once. The blade followed naturally. He adjusted his grip. A second movement. Then a third. The blacksmith's eyes narrowed.

"You've used a sword before."

"A little."

"You're holding it like you've used one for twenty years." Leo looked at him.

"I learn quickly." The blacksmith laughed.

"Fair enough." He disappeared into the back room. A moment later, he returned carrying a narrow wooden case.

"This one." Leo opened it. Inside lay a black-bladed sword. The blade wasn't completely black. A thin silver line ran along its edge, catching the light whenever Leo tilted it. He lifted it. The weight settled naturally into his hand. His fingers tightened around the grip. The sword felt familiar. Not because he had used this particular weapon. Because the balance reminded him of a weapon from another life. The sensation lasted only a moment. Leo pushed the memory aside.

"How much?" The blacksmith named a price. Leo paid. The man wrapped the sword and handed it to him.

"Take care of it." Leo nodded.

"I will." As he turned to leave, the blacksmith called after him.

"Boy." Leo looked back.

"Don't swing it with your arms." Leo waited.

"Let your waist move first." Leo gave a small nod.

"I know." The blacksmith smiled.

"Then you really have used a sword before." Leo left the forge carrying the sword at his side. The afternoon streets had become busier. He walked toward the academy. Halfway there, someone shouted his name.

"Leo!" Amon came running toward him. Masha and Alice followed at a more reasonable pace. Amon looked at the sword.

"You bought one?"

"Yes."

"Let me see." Leo drew it halfway from the sheath. Amon's expression changed.

"That's a good blade."

"I thought so."

"Can I try it?"

"No." Amon looked offended.

"Why?"

"Because you just asked me after I bought it." Masha laughed.

"He's right." Alice looked at the sword.

"It suits you." Leo glanced at her.

"How would you know?"

"I've watched you train." Amon crossed his arms.

"Now I definitely want to see him fight with it."

"You'll have to wait."

"For how long?"

"Until I decide." Amon sighed dramatically.

"You're impossible." They continued walking. The conversation moved elsewhere. Masha began talking about an upcoming city festival. Amon immediately became interested when he heard there would be competitive games and food stalls. Alice mentioned that several knights from the royal guard were expected to attend. Leo listened. Then something caught his attention.

"Knights?" Alice nodded.

"Apparently, they're visiting the city tomorrow."

"Why?"

"An inspection."

"Of what?"

"The eastern defenses." Amon shrugged.

"Probably nothing interesting." Leo looked toward the distant city walls. The eastern defenses had been there for generations. Beyond them stretched forests, villages, and several old roads leading toward neighboring territories. He had never traveled that far. Perhaps he should. Not today. Someday. That evening, Leo returned to his room. He placed the new sword on the table. Then he removed it from its sheath. The blade reflected the fading sunlight. Leo stood. His feet shifted. His right hand lowered.

His breathing changed. For several seconds, he remained completely still. Then he moved. The sword cut forward. First Form — Falling Leaf A clean horizontal slash. Leo stepped. Second Form — Returning Tide The blade reversed direction. His waist turned. The sword followed. Third Form — Silent Crossing One step forward. One thrust. He stopped the blade before it reached the wall. Silence filled the room. Leo lowered the sword. The three movements were simple. Too simple. He had deliberately chosen them that way.

A technique did not need a complicated name to become powerful. It needed precision. He repeated the sequence. Again. And again. On the fourth repetition, his body moved faster. The blade passed through the air with a sharp whistle. Leo stopped. His eyes narrowed. The sword had responded differently. His internal energy had flowed through his arm at exactly the same moment his body completed the second movement. He hadn't planned it. It had simply happened. Leo looked at the sword. Then at his hand. He tried again.

Nothing. He smiled.

"Interesting." He placed the sword back in its sheath. There was no need to force the result. He had learned enough for one day. Tomorrow, he would try again. The next morning, the academy courtyard was unusually crowded. Students gathered around the entrance. A line of armored knights had arrived. Their armor bore the crest of the kingdom. At the center stood a tall woman wearing a silver cloak. Professor Gareth stood beside her. Leo stopped several meters away. The woman turned. Her eyes passed over the students.

Then they stopped briefly on Leo's sword. Her expression changed for only an instant. Recognition. Not of Leo. Of the weapon. She said something quietly to Gareth. Leo couldn't hear it. Gareth looked toward him. For a moment, their eyes met. Then the professor smiled.

"Leo." Leo approached.

"Professor?" Gareth gestured toward the knight.

"Meet Captain Seraphine Vale." The captain extended her hand.

"Good to meet you." Leo shook it.

"Likewise." Her grip was firm. Professional. She released his hand. Then she looked at the sword again.

"Where did you get that?"

"The eastern district."

"Which forge?"

"Harten." The captain's expression became thoughtful.

"Good choice." Leo glanced at the sword.

"Is there a reason?" She smiled.

"You'll find out eventually." Leo said nothing. Captain Vale turned toward the other students. The academy courtyard became noisy again. Amon whispered from behind him.

"Who is she?" Leo watched the knights preparing to leave.

"I don't know." And for once, he meant it. The captain mounted her horse. The gates opened. The knights rode toward the eastern road. Leo watched until they disappeared beyond the academy walls. His hand rested lightly against the sword at his waist. Something about the blade had changed. Or perhaps he had. Either way, he knew one thing. His days of using wooden swords were over. End of Chapter 28.