The relic handler has arrived!

     The following morning came a raid. Van armored up and prepared, but was ordered to hold back with Ansanlyn and Sonno, who stood in front of them staring intently at the battle. His intimidating size and features would normally keep all but the most stalwart enemies at bay. This was not necessary at this time. Between Eloin and Glam the enemy never had a chance to go anywhere near the others. Every time Eloin used her sword, one or more Goblonii fell. Each stroke was precise, always targeting vital locations. A neck might be pierced as the blade was speeding to meet the eye of another, or she'd sidestep to line two enemies up and skewer them both. Van knew he'd have to switch solely to a single bladed weapon if he ever wanted to reach that level of finesse. However, just watching her was a master class in foot work and maneuvering. He could perhaps achieve something similar with his glowing black saber. He opined he had yet to figure out a way to get the sound he wanted from it.

          After the battle Eloin approached The elf and the other human, who were both enjoying their coffee facsimiles. Grinning at Van, she said "I hope you're ready. Glam wants me to train you." Van nodded an affirmation, standing up. Eloin continued, "He said you're a relic-user that can potentially use ranged attacks, but you want to use a sword....?"

     "to be honest, I don't know how to do much yet. Nearly all my practice has gone into making a sword... and even that I don't do well."

     "Show me." she requested simply. Van took out the cast iron handle he'd been using as a hilt, and produced his long jagged sword. "I see," murmured Eloin. I think I can help." She gestured for Glam to head over. Glam had started loading the Goblonii into a cart to take out to the woods. He knew the enemy would gather them up and mourn them. Compassion for their allies were one of their few redeeming qualities. When Glam got there, Eloin asked him, "Do you see the shape he is trying to make?" without waiting for an answer she continued, "I want you to make it out of wood, something with a decent grip, and I want you to stain it black." She looked back at Van. "You'll use it for our training. You'll name it, sleep with it, never let it out of your sight. It will become so solid in your mind, I think you'll be able to summon something just like it, any time you want." Glam slapped his forehead, wondering how he hadn't thought of it. Eloin had been one of his students, after all. She'd long ago surpassed his training, however, and perhaps even surpassed himself.

     It didn't take Glam long. The wooden 'blade' only took him a few minutes. he made a passable hilt, but was working on a more permanent one. He'd had Van try several he had laying around and worked with him to get a good idea of what would work and what style he'd like.

     Van became miserable quickly. He had been avoiding running. It was something he disliked. Running was one of the first elements of training his father had him do. He wanted to box, not to run. But his father was firm. If you want to box, you run. Evidently Eloin was also a believer of that particular science. At least she ran with him. 

     He was guiltily becoming attracted to her. She was the first woman he had seen in a romantic light for many years. Still, it seemed like just recently he watched Ella languish and die in bed. Natural causes, they said. It was unnatural to him, for her to pass and for him to live on. He started drinking. He tried to take up smoking but he just couldn't do it. He lost track of time, as days and weeks and months passed by. He wandered around the house, seeing memories. He didn't know if he was drinking to remember or forget. In the end he remembered her and forgot everything else. When they evicted him from the house, he took one thing. It was the movie poster for Star Fury. Ella didn't like much, but she loved that movie. It was one of the few things they had in common. It was ruined not long after, wet with dew every morning he slept at the park.

     Still, he admired Eloin. In his mind she was age appropriate, despite being physically close to 50 years his senior. 

     Close to a week passed with no more raids. Glam mentioned dejectedly, perhaps the Goblonii leader what killed his family had perished elsewhere. He looked old when he said it, and almost fragile, as though, had he stood sideways it would be revealed he was just a cardboard cutout. Several days later he'd be proved wrong, abundantly so. 

     There were no scouts this time; no warning. It didn't happen in the morning, but at dusk. As Eloin and Van were returning from their run they could hear the cacophony of battle and roaring. They cut through the trees, and over the hill to the valley farm. What they saw horrified them, convincing as it was they were too late; that no matter what happened now didn't truly matter,  that Glam, being pulled away from the battle by Sonno with Ansanlyn sprinting alongside, was defeated. If Glam were to live, a safe place would need to be established for Ansanlyn to help him. 

     Eloin gave a shrill whoop and instantly Sonno changed direction toward them. Their weapons were ready and they waded into combat. Driving a veritable mini horde of goblonii were not one Ogrii as before, but two Ogrii and a small, orderly unit of Hoblonii. 

     They engaged the horde. More agile and practiced then before, Van set upon them with a fury. But these goblonii were tough, far tougher then before. He heard his name being shouted and looked up to see Eloin dancing smoothly through the enemy ranks. "You're using a wooden sword you idiot!" she shouted. He summoned his blade even over top the wooden one, which, displaced, ceased to exist. On reflex he cast glow on it. His situation reversed quickly. Instead of skillfully battling his way through the enemy only for them to seem unaffected, now his weapon seemed so effective it was as though skill was wasted. This was not true, however, as his ease was just the effectiveness of his training.

     They had been running in their armor for the added bonus to their training, but both were very conscious of their unprotected heads. Once more the enemies scant armor, flesh and bones were a pitiable obstacle to the black sword. However Van had to use it to defend as well, specifically from long hafted and ranged weapons. He was almost upon the neat shield formation of the hoblonii, two ranks, with the ones in front using shield and swords, while the second rank used spears. Eloin had actually stopped her progress and was having trouble with them as well as continuing attacks by the horde. It was then the Ogrii, bringing up the rear in relative safety began hurling goblonii at them. The glowing black sword sheared through them as they came flying, but for Eloin it was more difficult. Her blades could redirect them but she suffered the possibility of being knocked off balance. She had to brace herself in preparation for each attack, and unable to dodge as effectively started suffering wounds from the horde. A Hoblonii spear user managed to pierce her deeply in the thigh, managing to aim just inside the leg plate. Van feared he wouldn't make it in time. He feared he would lose not one, but two or more of his new friends. 

     Then something inexplicable happened. A goblin hurled at Eloin hit the band of Hoblonii and a spear user about to follow up on the wound to her leg instead skewered a goblonii. It's friend took offense and hurled himself over the shieldman and with daggers, began devestating the spear wielders. A shieldman turned around and spit him on his sword. This started a free for all, during which goblonii thrown by the ogrii were careening out of control, usually hitting other goblonii. Eloin managed to gain control of her situation. Nodding to Van they began working their way toward the ogrii. Seeing this, the Ogrii fled, soon to be followed by the rest. Eloin smiled and called to Van. "Vestis has arrived!"