Ch 13 - Mrs Winchester

It was the next day after Albion found out his affinities and Albion had left home to go somewhere important.

*Knock Knock Knock*

Albion was standing in front of an old wooden door. The door slowly opened with a creak with its rusted hinges. An old lady opening the door. Dressed in heavy white metal armour. With a similar golden infinity sigil on the chest plate as the Clergymen. A white dress with metal side plates on. White metal armour around her arms with a long white sword sheath on her waist with a white handle. All of it was perfectly white and golden.

Albion: Mrs Winchester?!!

Albion was completely shocked by what Mrs Winchester was wearing. All the amour looked way too heavy for an old lady like her. Especially for someone he had seen use a cane.

Mrs Winchester: So you did come. Just in time as well. I was about to leave.

Mrs Winchester said with a small smile. Whenever she smiled at Albion it was always soft. It was one of the many things Albion liked about her.

Albion: Leave? Is this why you're wearing really shiny white armour?

Mrs Winchester: Yes. I'm about to hit 100 years of age and when you get that old and used to work for the Holy City you get free residence until your end of life. And then you get to be buried with your brothers and sisters that you worked and fought alongside with. It's an honour for me to be able to receive that. To be able to live to such an age. {I can only thank Alekia for living this long. My husband also thinks so. An exceptional doctor and healer. He deserved more than a C rank.}

Albion who had come here with a happy smile then began to become saddened. He had just heard Mrs Winchester was leaving.

Albion: So… I won't get to see you again?

Mrs Winchester: Unless you come to the Holy City, I'm afraid not. But don't worry child. I will not forget you. And the way you remember things, I'm sure you won't forget about me.

Mrs Winchester wiped a small tear from Albion's eye onto her white metal gauntlet. Slightly rubbing Albion's hair.

Mrs Winchester: But just in case, let me give you a gift for you to remember me by.

Mrs Winchester placed a surprisingly big bag behind her and shuffled through it. Pulling out a long sword and a white paperback book.

Mrs Winchester: Now I know I said a gift but I want to give you two things. So first is the sword I used to use when training to be a paladin for the Holy City. I've kept it in proper condition in case my grandkids ever wanted to become fighters but just like their father, they became merchants.

Mrs Winchester handed Albion a long sword in a white and golden leaf sheath. It was surprisingly light for its size and when he drew the sword it was surprisingly light, not heavy to him. But it also shone brightly. The sun rays beaming off the clean, shiny metal. Inscriptions etched into the flat sides of the blade. The blade was well sharpened for how old it could have been if Mrs Winchester used it when she was young.

Mrs Winchester: In case your father says you're too young for a real sword just say it's from me. I'm sure he won't take it from you. And lastly, something I shouldn't have in the first place. Hohoho. This was the standard paladin sword technique. I'm not really supposed to share this. But I heard they changed the standard quite a few times since my day. So I'm sure it will be fine. Though if anyone asks you didn't get this from me.

Albion giggled as Mrs Winchester smiled again. She didn't want to see Albion sad about her leaving. Mrs Winchester handing Albion the paladin sword technique manual.

Mrs Winchester: Please say goodbye to your father for me. And say to your mother it was nice knowing her for the short time I did.

Albion: Wait you know my mother? {She never goes outside though?}

Albion looked up from the manual at Mrs Winchester.

Mrs Winchester: Yes. I told you I was an adventurer with your father. Hasn't he told you how he met your mother?

Albion: I… I don't know much about my mother's past life.

Albion's smile slowly turned to a frown as he felt bad he didn't know his mother better.

Mrs Winchester: Oh? There's no need to frown. I can only tell you a bit because I don't know that much either. But me and your father as well as a few other adventurers met her on a quest from the guild.

Albion: My mother was also an adventurer? {I thought Lily…}

Mrs Winchester: Oh no no. She was the mission. What was the description again… I think it was described as a Berserker Orc going in rage near a village. Specifically this one.

Albion: A BERSERKER ORC! But she looks nothing like an orc! And she's the kindest person I know!

Albion was in complete shock and surprise by the way Mrs Winchester described the mission. He would have never used those two words to describe his mother.

Mrs Winchester: Mission descriptions aren't always accurate. But your mother definitely has the Berserker class. Our party had a lot of difficulty calming her down. After seeing she wasn't an orc we didn't want to hurt her. Hohoho and your father. He was head over heels from the first moment he saw her. Even when she was destroying the forest. Awww I used to tease him so much about liking bigger, stronger, angrier women. Back then your mother had a bit of a rage issue but your father the more he got to know her found easier and easier ways of calming her down.

Albion was completely shocked that his mother had a "rage issue". On top of that, she had the berserker class. One that Albion read can only be acquired through amazing physical strength and extreme violence. In terms of class grading, it was a magic grade class. Gradings being Common, Uncommon, Rare, Magic, Unique and Legendary.

Albion: Do… do you know why she doesn't leave the house?

Albion promised himself he would let that question go but he just couldn't. It plagued his mind. His mother hadn't left the house ever since he was born. For four whole years. Who knows how long she was in there before him? He was worried for her.

Mrs Winchester: I'm sorry child. But I don't. But I can't imagine she had the best life considering her class, what race she is and how we found her.

Albion: What do you mean?

Mrs Winchester looked down at Albion. The topic this was about to delve into wasn't one that should be said to a child. And it was only an assumption on Mrs Winchesters' behalf.

Mrs Winchester: I'm sorry. I don't feel too comfortable discussing this without your father. But I also need to go little one.

Albion: Do you want me to at least help carry the bag? It looks very heavy and big.

Mrs Winchester: Hoho. Don't worry. I may not look like it, but I am mighty.

A golden glow surrounded Mrs Winchesters' body as she held the bag and threw it over her shoulder. Albion looked with wide eyes as he heard the metallic collisions inside the bag. He was right, it was heavy. Really heavy. And this old lady was carrying it over her shoulder with one hand.

Mrs Winchester: Hoho. Don't stare at women like that little one. They'll begin to assume things about you. But this is where we part. Goodbye, little Albion.

Mrs Winchester gave a small smile as she gently patted Albion's head. And in a small movement, Mrs Winchester appeared far away running off. So fast dust from the floor uplifted from her feet and where she initially stood there was a small crack. She was gone in a mere second.

Albion: {W-What… WHAT DID I JUST WITNESS?! COULDN'T SHE BARELY STAND WITHOUT HER CANE?!}

Lily: She is a powerful old lady indeed. But as expected of a former paladin. Her control over her mana is impressive.

Albion looked down at the sword and focused his vision.

[Paladins Cadet Training Sword]

Albion: It's a cool looking sword for one used by children and cadets. It's the size of a normal sword but it's so light.

Lily: The church has way too much money. If they can give swords like this to cadets that only goes to show.

Albion: But Mrs Winchester was nice. They can't all be bad.

Albion looked at Lily standing next to him.

Lily: I guess some are good or delusional. But try on the sword.

Lily held Albion's new book as Albion put on the belt around him. The sheath coming with a belt. There was plenty of room to grow in the belt. And as he looked down at his sword in its sheath on his left, he drew the sword out. The blade was thin but razor sharp, and the hilt was big but Albion had the strength to wield it. However, that didn't mean he didn't have a slight difficulty. Albion had a big smile on his face.

Lily: My little adventurer. The sword looks great on you.

Albion smiled as he sheathed the sword.

Albion: To adventure!

Lily: You mean back home?

Lily giggled as Albion blushed. Lily held Albion's hand as they walked back home. Albion carrying his book and his first-ever weapon.