We walked east, north east, where there were woods, that is usually where we would find the boar. If it had just been me and running, or flying, then I could have been done with the quest already, but since being done with a quest that should have taken days, in a few hours was very suspicious and because I was traveling with others dared not risk it.

  When it was night, we broke camp. We created a fire and set up our tents. As we sat around the fire the elf said. “You were right about that sword, I have never seen its make, however it does seem oddly familiar.” “I don’t see how, it is my own design, I have found it a lot more efficient to use, especially since it is light.”

  As I said so I unsheathed the katana, I hated lying and saying that I had designed the katana, but I was technically right I had designed this katana and it was the first in this world.

  The titanium alloy glinted in the firelight, the curve bending and reflecting the light in s strange way, the blood groove in it casting light in a different direction. “May I?” asked the elf. I gave him the katana and he was surprised at the lightness of it; I had also worked extra mana into the blade so it was even stronger.

  He stood up and cut at the air and marvelled at the balance it provided. He gave it back and said, “truly a masterpiece if it wasn’t so thin it could break easily.” “It won’t, I worked a special metal into it, and its enchanted, the metal I used is stronger than steel, yet lighter than it, I used the same alloy for my knifes and blade.”

  I sheathed my katana and took out my knife and handed it to him, he weighed it in his palm and then did a few quick cuts in the air, then handed it back. “If what you say is true, then these may very well even trifle some of the work of dwarves I have seen.”

  I took it as a compliment and said, “elves have very finely crafted equipment too, although as far as I remember you also like to create your own. As such you can know how best to use it, they say an elven bow is better crafted than dwarven ballista if one has the strength to pull the string.”

  “You are correct, we pride ourselves in the abilities we were given.” The camp lapsed in to silence for a while and then Norena asked, “would you like to spar with me?” I looked at her, she was standing, it seems that since our food had settled, she was ready to spar, she took her long sword out and I stood up and went over to her. We stood a way from the camp taking our stances.

  They looked perplexed at my stance, I was standing feet planted apart, hips slightly rotated and feet planted in the form I knew from my haedong kumdo lessons. My katana was still in its sheath.

  She lunged, to me she was moving in slow motion, she had thrust her sword forward, trying to use the advantage a longer blade gave, I simply stepped in twisting as I unsheathed my sword and while doing so parried her blow, and as she stepped backward, I was there, katana at her throat.

  “I yield.” she said, although she was a lot taller than me, she seemed able to see me as a legitimate danger. I had within the first two moves bested her in speed, wit, and technique. After our bout she turned and started, practicing by herself I went back to the camp fire and sat down.

  “That is the first time I have seen her bested.” Gelnair said. “And that with such a strange sword.” I had also taken of my cloak so he could now see my armour underneath. “You move with grace even though you move incredibly fast, and instead of stepping backward and out of the sword’s attack range you step forward.

  When you didn’t immediately unsheathe your sword when you started, I thought you were too open, I see now that it was the plan. Because you already knew when to unsheathe and parry her attack, and your foot work was phenomenal. You have a very strange technique, and I have never seen anyone use a draw as a block and an attack before, except when they drew from the back to do and overhead slash.” He mused slightly like in thought.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  “Very astute, I had worked out this technique when I was a younger boy, and as you said, it’s based upon the least amount of movement necessary to block parry and attack.” I spoke.

  “But why go forward and not back?” he asked. “it’s simple, one, she wouldn’t expect it, and two, her legs are longer than mine, if she had stepped further forward, then I would not have as much distance as I would have liked.

  Her advantage is her length and strength, but that is also her weakness, she moves further forward than most, which is why a long sword works so well with her style; however, my style is to give the illusion of distance. While keeping it close and personal. By moving in I use her own length against her and when she tried to backstep she already had the edge of my blade against her throat, that is also what gave the grace.” I spoke.

  “That is very interesting, and you don’t even use your skill with the blade as your primary way, you are a magician, you say.” He said, and during my speech the Cendarian had stopped and listened to what I had to say about her and she was now trying to work out ways she could have kept me father away.

  “I can use both, it comes in handy when you have to fight monsters who are only weak to a certain element.” At this, Tania looked up. “Can you demonstrate?” she said. “Okay.” I stood up again, Norena had sat down and was now watching me intently.

  I took my stance, a different one than before and breathed in, readying myself for magic, I took a bit of mana and surrounded my blade which was still in its sheath, I caused it to go aflame, my blade would not be harmed by it, but it would have flames surrounding it, as I did so it slid a bit out of the sheath and the flames licked the hilt.

  I drew my sword which had a blue flame around it and then slashed. The flame became two flames, one stayed on my blade, but the other one followed the path my blade had cut and went forward, slicing down a few trees in the direction I had cut, the trees landed with a crash and the bottom set alight.

  I quickly used a water spell to quench the fire and then I used my healer spell on the trees and they grew and picked themselves up, and slowly grew around the burn marks.

  When I sat down all three looked at me with stunned expressions on their faces. Gilnair was the first to recover. “How did you fix the trees?” he asked me. “I used a healing spell. With a morphing spell, it helped it know what to do.” I answered.

  “Amazing, I have never seen someone use spells without incantations before how do you do it?” asked Tania. “it is simple really, focus the mana into what I want done, as long as I fully understand, and can visualise what I want, then I can make it.”

  “Wait does that mean you can use most of the elements?” “Yes and no, there might be some I can’t use, but overall, I just simply figure out how to get the same result while using another element.” I answered her second question. “Wait how do you do that?”

  “That I think I will keep to myself.” I said, smiling at the pout she made. I think it about time I turned in for the night.” I spoke. and went to my tent, “wake me up when it’s my turn for night watch.” I said before clasping my tent closed.

  The next morning, just before dawn broke over the horizon, I stood up and went to the stream near our camp. I took a quick wash by creating a pit and filling it with warm water. I felt quite refreshed when I returned. “Morning young man, I trust you slept well after I last took over night duty?’ the elf said.

  “Yes, thank you, I slept well, I must say, I think we might stumble onto that boar today.” I replied while sitting down across from him.

  “I think you may be right human, no excuse me Lucian, I must not be impolite.” Gilnair said. “Oh please, don’t let it bother you, Gilnair, I don’t really mind.” “Well, I thank you for your understanding.” He replied while smiling.

  After a little while the two women came out of their tent, Tania stretching and yawning, Norena, merely starting to pack up the tent. I took it as my que to go and get my things ready for travel. As I was packing my stuff, I could not help but want to finally get to kill these boars, they were shaping up to be impressive foes, according to Gilnair, taking on one alone is not that big of a problem, the problem is they move in herds.

  And they also have a magic ability suited just for that. Known as herd strength. While two or more of them are close to each other, they can massively boost the others around them. Which means the bigger the heard the tougher they are.

  We were now starting to move even faster, by running, we were able to cut down on the time factor. Although to me this felt more like a jog than anything else. I was impressed by their stamina and endurance, because they were able to keep running until after midday. That WAS when we reached the boars.

  ***

  To take these out, it would be best to do stealthily, seeing as going straight at it would make the herd activate their ability. And the only things that really harm it enough to make a difference would be elemental magic.

  Especially cold attacks. Although now was the best time to take them all out, there was ten of them, well worth the S,rank tag.