“It’s a good sword. Now, let’s actually begin. Ja– ah, Jill was trying to teach you how to be a Vision, but I will be teaching you how to use a sword. You’ve clearly had some training before, but it hasn’t just been with a sword. What is your weapon?”

“Mostly just my fists. I sparred with my…friends back at home. How could you tell?” Linna asked.

“You’re standing in a fighting stance and you didn’t panic when the caravan got attacked,” Ethan said. “Now, I suspect you’re familiar with the islander style of combat.”

His sword flicked out of its sheathe and he demonstrated several sword forms. The blade hummed threateningly as it cut through the air. Ethan’s calm air seemed to be devoured by an oppressive force that emitted out from him in invisible waves. Each strike seemed to hold the power to cut through several men at once.

“That was what Stonvaut looked like when he fought!” Linna said, taking a step back in shock. “How do you know his fighting style? Have you met him?”

The oppressive aura vanished, and Ethan slid his sword back into its sheathe.

“Never heard of him, I’m afraid. However, this is a sword technique unique to a certain group of people in the Islands,” Ethan said, giving Linna a knowing look.

Linna paled slightly, but Ethan shook his head with a laugh.

“Don’t look so worried. I don’t care about where you came from or even what you plan to do in the future. I’m just here to teach you how to fight. The style I just demonstrated is not suited to you. It is meant to crush opponents with sheer force and to intimidate people with brutality.”

“So what are you going to teach me?” Linna asked.

“How to win,” Ethan said, a slow smile spreading across his face.

The caravan reached Aaron’s Vale at dawn several days later. They came to a stop along the side of a short hay barricade that encircled the town. The caravan workers wasted no time in grabbing their goods and forming a line to get inside the small town.

“Remind me why we’re wasting our time in this dump?” Jasper asked as he joined Ethan and Linna at the back of the line.

“It’s better than wasting time sitting in a wagon!” Linna replied, absentmindedly rubbing one of many dark bruises that had started to form on her arms. “Besides, I need to buy some things for the road. The next town we stop at is a week away.”

“Wait, you have money?” Jasper asked, his eyes darting over to the small pouch that Linna had donned around her waist.

The new Vision put a hand protectively over the pouch and gave Jasper a warning glare.

“Hands off. It’s mine.”

“Sheesh. Calm down. I didn’t plan to take it, I was just surprised,” Jasper grumbled.

“Sorry. I overreacted there. I think you just reminded me a little of someone I knew,” Linna said apologetically. She paused for a moment. “But you still can’t have any.”

“Bah. I was just going to borrow it for a little,” Jasper kicked the ground and pouted, a strange expression on what appeared to be a fully grown, albeit short, human.

The line moved forward at a steady pace. It didn’t take the three long to get to the lone guard standing watch at the edge of a small gap in the barricade. His helmet was worn and rusted, and the man looked bored out of his mind. He gave them a cursory glance, his eyebrow twitching slightly at the second sword buckled to Ethan’s waist.

“Why do you need two swords?” He asked Ethan.

“In case I lose one inside someone else,” Ethan said seriously.

“I see,” the guard said, taken aback. “You best not let that happen in Aaron’s Vale.”

He eyed Linna and Jasper, but they both gave him innocent smiles. The guard sighed waved them onwards and pointedly looked in the other direction as they passed. Jasper glanced over at Ethan with a smirk.

“Real balls of steel on this one,” he commented, jerking a thumb back at the guard.

“Friendly folk in this town,” Ethan said. “But they really don’t seem very prepared to defend themselves. I hope they don’t get any trouble from monsters or bandits.”

“Aye. Would be real tragic,” Jasper said, smoothing his hair down and licking his lips.

“It’s not like they’ve got anything to rob. The only things in Aaron’s Vale are a blacksmith, some farmers, and a tailor,” Linna said, frowning at Jasper.

Jasper’s face fell. Then he perked up again as his hand brushed the empty sheathe at his waist. He tugged at Linna’s sleeve to get her attention.

“A blacksmith? Guess this visit might not be a waste after all. Where’s he hiding?”

“I’ve got no clue, but I’d assume he’s near the middle of town.” Linna said, scratching the side of her head. “He shouldn’t be too hard to find. Aaron’s Vale is small.”

The Vision thanked her and darted off, leaving Ethan and Linna behind. Linna quickly checked to make sure her pouch hadn’t left its position at her side and then looked awkwardly over at Ethan.

“Sorry. My money just feels unsafe around him. I can’t really put a finger on why.”

“Listen to your instincts,” Ethan said, grinning. “Your money is never safe near Jill. Speaking of which, I’m afraid I have no money at the moment. I’ll just wait here until you’re done shopping. Make sure you get back soon enough for us to continue training.”

Linna covered a grimace and forced herself to keep from glancing down at her hands.

“That’s fine. I won’t be too long,” she said, heading deeper into the town.