New Hire

Walking through the busy streets, the girl and her servants slowed their steps and took their time.

Kedra was especially focused on the many shops littered around town, as a look at the products being sold to the common populace would give her a decent idea of the country's development and economic state.

Among the stores that she had seen, she found a general store, a herbalist, and a tailor. Each of them had well-decorated storefronts with large windows revealing the products they were offering. 

Further down the road, Kedra spotted a bookstore when a sudden realization hit her. Perhaps she could acquire more books on magic there.

Without a second thought, the girl split up from the group, heading towards the shop. Creaking open the door, she heard the characteristic sound of bells from atop the doorway. 

The store was mostly empty, with a few well-dressed patrons scanning the aisles for new literature.

Kedra soon joined in, looking all over the store for any book similar to 'The Basics of Magic Engraving'.

After a few minutes of searching, she got tired of looking and went up to the counter, where she saw a pointy-eared woman of frail build and pale skin with platinum blonde hair and piercing blue eyes.

'Is that an elf? I had no idea there were races other than humans in this world.'

The woman quickly caught Kedra's inquisitive gaze; she knew very well what had caught the girl's attention.

"Yes, child, I am an elf. Though, even if my kind is rare here in Aswal, it's very rude to stare."

"Ah! My apologies, miss. I wanted to ask you if you had any books on magic."

The elf let out a quiet chuckle, placing her hand on her mouth to cover a smile.

"I'm sorry, such things are not available to the general public. If you want to procure one, you'll have to ask a mage." A feeling of disappointment crept up within Kedra.

'How the hell was the head maid able to get one then? Did she buy it directly from a mage? I'll ask Maria when I have the chance.'

Kedra thanked the woman and, without another word, left the store. 

As she stepped out of the door, she realized that the two maids were nowhere in sight. With a sigh, she began heading towards the edge of town, thinking that she would find them eventually.

While marching down the street, Kedra noticed the road was getting less populated, the sounds of the nearby market were getting quieter, and she was no longer bumping into someone every few steps.

In this newfound silence, Kedra caught a pained grunt coming from an alleyway along her path. Staring into the dark passage, she noticed three adult men surrounding something. Going in for a closer look, the girl spotted a disheveled man dressed in rags. His thick brown hair and beard were long and unkempt; she spotted many bruises and cuts along his body, along with a missing right arm.

"Take this, you damn beggar! I'm tired of seeing you around here dirtying our town's image."

"That's right! This is your final warning; you better be gone by tomorrow or we'll dump you in the forest."

'That's so unreasonable! How is he even supposed to go anywhere in that condition?' Kedra clenched her fist tightly; the sight of such injustice had made her impulsively take out one of the magic circuits she had prepared the night before, but seeing as the three men were taking their leave, she calmed her nerves and walked towards the ragged man.

"Hey! Are you alright?" 

The man harshly coughed and wiped his face before propping himself up on a nearby wall.

"I'm fine. It's nothing a brat like you should worry about."

"You're lying! You're covered in bruises and—" Before she could finish her sentence, Kedra got a look at the man's palm. It strongly resembled what Kedra's hands looked like when she was still Bryce Fletcher, full of thick calluses from swinging swords all day. 

"Say, mister, are you a swordsman?" 

The girl's question caught the man off guard, his eyes moving from the ground to the girl's hooded face.

"You're quite perceptive, huh? Well, sure, I'll humor you. I was a swordsman before I lost my arm. Now I'm nothing more than a beggar, like those three so tactfully said."

"But why? Even if you've lost one arm, you still have the other, right?"

"It ain't that simple. I certainly tried to get used to my left hand after I lost my right, but the difference was like night and day; it was like I had returned to being a mere trainee."

"By the time I had reached a passable level with my sword, I had to sell it to pay off my damn father's debts, and look at where that got me."

Kedra understood the man, yet she could not get the image of his callused hand out of her head; it was indicative of years, maybe even decades, of experience. Something within her refused wholeheartedly to let such a man rot away in a back alley.

"If I get you a new sword, will you teach me swordsmanship?" 

The man burst out in laughter, getting interrupted by a light coughing fit. Still laughing, he uttered:

"That's a pretty good joke, kid."

Kedra simply stared at the man in silent disapproval, gently clenching her fist.

"Oh, you were serious? I mean, come on, even if I did say yes, where would you even find the money to pay for another sw—"

Before the man could finish his sentence, Kedra took out her coin pouch and threw it in front of the man, who, upon opening it, discovered the large collection of gold pieces. 

"Wah, who the hell are you, kid? There's at least twenty golds in this pouch alone." 

"I'll ask again: if I buy you a new sword, will you teach me swordsmanship? I'll even pay you a salary."

The man fell silent, and the two of them awkwardly stared at each other for minutes on end before he suddenly got up.

"Argh, what the hell? I've got nothing to lose anyway! Sure thing, kid, if you insist, I'll be your teacher."

"Very well, then from this point on, you must keep my existence a secret; should you reveal any information about me, both of our necks would be at stake."

"I mean, sure, but why? Are you a wanted criminal or something?"

Kedra did not reply; instead, she took her hood off and stared deep into the man's eyes.

Staring at the girl's features, the man immediately made a connection; he knew very well that the girl was a member of the Deslandes family, though he had never heard of such a young daughter.

"I am Kedra Deslandes. I can count on both hands the number of people who know of my existence. Today, you have been added to that list. Make sure I don't come to regret that decision."

The man was shocked, unsure of what to do. He instinctually bent a knee, lightly bowing his head.

"I, Lionel of Goldcrest, swear to take your secret to the grave."

Kedra let out a soft chuckle while pulling her hood back up with her left hand; her other hand extended forward.

"There's no point in getting all worked up. It's nice to meet you, Lionel. I hope you'll be of good service to me."

"Alright, Kedra, it's nice to meet you too." The man grabbed a hold of Kedra's hand and gently shook it, getting back up onto his feet.

As the pair stepped out of the alley, Kedra spotted Maria and Mona searching around with a worried look on their faces. Upon spotting the girl, the two maids hurried over, quickly noticing the tall man next to their lady.

"There you are, my lady! Do you have any idea how worried I w—. My lady? Who might this be?"

"Maria, this is Lionel; I've recruited him as a swordsmanship instructor."

Maria's face dropped in bewilderment.

"I really wish you would've consulted me before making such an important decision!"

"Ah, sorry about that. Anyway, we need to go buy Lionel a sword."

Maria tried to formulate a rebuttal but was too overwhelmed with emotions to properly think of a phrase; instead, she weakly sighed and conceded.

"Very well, my lady; please be quick."

After properly finishing their business, the four headed back towards the residence. Reaching the front door, they heard a loud crash coming from inside.