The Maybe Ancient Blade

Sophia woke up with a start and sat up right, breathing heavily. In her mind she still saw the dead green eye of the girl. Sophia looked down at her chest. No mark and she definitely was back in her own body. Her hands followed her orders again as well.

“What was that…” she mumbled.

“My dream,” answered Kieran her question.

Sophia looked to the side and found him sitting in the same spot as the night before, leaning against the wall. His grey-purplish eyes were fixed on hers. Instinctively she pulled her cover up.

“Your dream? That means…” Sophia said hesitantly “what I saw was your…”

“Past? Yes…” Kieran confirmed slowly, “It always haunts me in my dreams.”

“So, you were still a child when you… got that mark?”

“I was…”

They stared at each other for a few moments. Then Sophia got up and Kieran turned his head to the side, looking away. She began dressing herself.

“I can’t stop you from looking into my dreams, but…” began Kieran after a while without looking at her, “The only things you’ll find there are pain and suffering…”

Sophia fastened the buckle of her belt and turned towards him. She wasn’t wearing her inquisitor robes, but a brown linen shirt and pants, with a simple grey cloak thrown over her shoulders.

“That girl… with the same eyes as mine…” she began and watched his face twitch, “What was her name?”

Kieran slowly turned his head and looked directly back at her.

“I don’t remember anymore…” he replied with a sorrowful voice.

Sophia saw real pain in his grey-purplish eyes, and she felt a twinge of pity for him. She rubbed her face trying to physically get rid of this feeling when she noticed the sword next to him.

“Is that the same sword I bought for you yesterday?” Sophia asked in slight disbelief.

Kieran looked to his side and grabbed it.

“It is,” he replied with a half-smile.

Sophia got closer to him and held out her arm. Kieran got up turned the sword and placed the hilt in her hand. Sophia took the weapon and looked at it closer, while turning it slowly. The rust was gone and had revealed the shining steel that was hiding beneath it. It looked plain at first sight, with no extra embellishments, but the blade showed a high level of craftmanship to a trained eye. Sophia placed it on top of her index finger. The sword was perfectly balanced with its center of gravity slightly above the cross guard. She turned around and gripped it with both hands. Kieran had replaced the old leather around the hilt with new one. She swung the longsword.

Woosh

The weapon cut through the air and it felt like an extension of her body. After a few additional swings she had to admit that this weapon felt good to wield.

“That’s unusual…” Kieran said behind her.

“What?” Sophia asked and turned around.

“Don’t most mages see the use of martial weapons beneath them? Since magic is the greatest weapon to wield?”

“True… but my ancestor, a very powerful mage, was said to be once beaten by a single swordman in a fight. That’s when he realized that even if you know a thousand spells, it only takes one blade to the chest and you’re dead. He made it custom for everyone in my family to train with the sword from that day forward and we kept the tradition to today.”

“Wise man.”

Sophia flourished the sword and pointed it right at Kieran’s face.

“Well, you probably know very well how the sword can beat magic, huh Mage Murderer?” she remarked with a challenging smile.

“Yes…” Kieran replied calmy, looking past the sword tip, “I do.”

They stared at each other for a few seconds, before Sophia lowered the sword. She then tossed it towards him and Kieran caught it.

“I must admit… “Sophia mentioned, “You’re not bad at polishing swords.”

Kieran chuckled.

“I do have some experience…” he replied, “but more credit goes to the ones who forged it. To be still in this good of a condition after such a long time takes a tremendous amount of skill.”

“Who do you think forged it?” Sophia asked.

Kieran thought for a while and looked at the sword in his hand.

“What do you know about the ancient races that lived on these lands before mankind?” he asked suddenly.

“One of them was said to be very skilled with magic. Not much is known, since there are only very few traces left of them and even less of their magic… There are some spells described in ancient grimoires, but most are impossible to be recreated today,” Sophia mentioned and pointed at Kieran’s chest, “I think that this mark on your chest could be the result of recreating one of those…maybe.”

“It is…”

“You think the sword was made by those ancients? I don’t think so… there is no trace of magic in it.”

“There was another race who was incapable of using magic, but they were masterful craftsman, said to be capable of forging everlasting weapons and tools. But there is even less left of them…”

“How do you know all that?”

“Someone who knows a lot about those ancient races once told me…”

“And who was that?”

“I can’t tell you.”

Sophia furrowed her brows.

“One of those who gave you that mark?” She rephrased her question.

“No.” Kieran replied.

“One that you murdered?”

He gave a tired chuckle.

“No…” Kieran said and looked at Sophia, “That person… I’m incapable of killing.”

“Why?” Sophia inquired.

“I can’t tell you.”

Sophia sighed slightly irritated.

“Well, whatever… enjoy your maybe ancient blade as long as you can then… When we’re done with the mission you’re gonna hand it over, since I paid for it, understood?” she remarked, “Maybe I can sell it for good money…”

Sophia then went to a cupboard and grabbed some hard bread, sausages and a bit of cheese. She tossed some of it to Kieran.

“Breakfast,“ she said and took a bite of the sausage, “After that we’ll be on our way, so make yourself ready.”