Enjoy
A few days passed, and Aria was finally fed up of staying at home, and stewing in her own depression, so she decided to go back to school.
Heading inside, the kids were a little more silent then usual, especially Cammy, her eyes looked red and slightly puffed, Aria too had slightly puffed eyes, but most of her crying happened when he had first died.
Looking around the rest of them seemed a little more depressed.
Huffing she stated, "How long are all of you going to sulk!"
They looked at her. "You can't say you aren't depressed too."
Aria sighed, "Listen, we can't stew in depression alright… it becomes unbearable to live with yourself if you do that, so please…"
Mana clapped when she came into the classroom, "Alright class we'll be learning about how to make Chinese dishes, and various deserts." She beamed, but you could tell that even she was affected by Aaron's death.
Sitting next to Orland like she always did, he humphed.
"Well at least your acting normal."
Orland sighed, "You know, if someone close to me died, I probably wouldn't be back in school, and especially not ridiculing others about morning for your brother."
She smiled slightly, "Like I said, I'm just glad you're not all sympathetic for me."
"You're just a stupid human."
After the class, Orland didn't make any hateful remarks towards her, "Hold on a minute, you are sympathizing…"
He blushed slightly, "Am not… I just don't feel like ridiculing you…"
"Oh then what is that small little blush I see on your face?"
He glared at her, "You are so annoying you know that! Honestly…"
Aria smirked. "Which reminds me." Her face grew more serious. "How are you able to see dreams?"
He looked away, "It's not controlled alright… if I had a choice, I would've stayed out of your dreams… but I couldn't alright? I don't know how I saw your dreams and I don't know why, but just say thank you and this can all be over alright human…"
Aria frowned, "O really? What other dreams have you seen?"
He scowled at her, "Aria, really don't feel like explaining, but if it helps that small mind of yours, none alright!"
Aria raised an eyebrow, but he stormed off with his books before she could ask, and muttered, "Stupid human… asking me trivial questions."
Walking out of the school, she headed over to the notice board. She spotted a notice crossed out from Cammy.
"I need some flowers."
Her head started to pang, "What do you think of these flowers?" A tear ran down her eye, if only she had known that Aaron could've successfully given her the flowers…
Heading down the road, she looked towards Tanya's shop, and walked inside. "Ah love, how are you feeling!" Tanya greeted Aria warmly as she came up to her.
Smiling, she replied, "Good Tanya, just a little tired."
Tanya patted her on the head, "If there is anything I can do for you, and just say the word alright?"
She nodded, "Do you know of any swords that can be good defense and good offence?"
Tanya raised an eyebrow, Aria quickly covered it up,
"Just in case an orc or something comes down into the mainland."
Rubbing her chin, she pondered, "Your going to disobey your mother aren't you?"
Aria looked down, "…..NMas…"
Tanya patted her again, "Well luv, you'll have to be discrete about it… hmm lets see what I have."
Looking up, she stared gob smacked, "You aren't going to tell me that it's dangerous- that I'll get killed, or some big creature is going to kill me one day?"
Tanya chuckled, "Jake might tell you that stuff in hopes of terrifying you outta it. But I personally know, that you will not be convinced and would just try to find another solution… sooo."
Looking through all the piles of scrap metal she finally pulled out an iron box. "For 10,000 gold you may have this."
Aria looked at it, "What is it?"
"Inside of this box there are two exact looking molds, find out what to do, which is all I will tell you, so take or no?"
Taking out her pouch, she handed her 10,000 gold.
Tanya nodded, and handed her the box.
"By the way, I've only made a few of these, so make sure you are precise with all of the metals you use with it. After all, I've trained with only one sword."
Aria nodded, barely holding the box with both hands. "Thank you Tanya!"
Tanya laughed, "Don't worry about it child, we do not need to lose another loved one, but take that over to the school instead of the house alright… I'll have to refund you."
Aria smiled, "Don't worry I was planning on doing that."
Taking the box over to the school, she looked around before heading in to make sure that Barrett nor Mana were around when she headed inside, and over to the workshop.
Opening the box, there were several strange looking tools along with two molds of identical looking swords. There was also a block of wood, shinier metal then iron, but less shiny then refined gold or platinum, and a very small black rock. Picking up the black rock, it was as dull as charcoal, but it didn't crumble when she scratched it with her nail slightly.
Placing it back, she closed the box. "What am I supposed to do with this…" She muttered before walking over to the supply closet, and storing inside of there, before heading back home and falling asleep. Next day she let her mind wander, about what both of those sword molds could possibly be, after all, they were not like a sword design she's ever seen or heard of before...
"An so we finally use an insect skin, any questions?"
Her hand reacted on its own and lifted itself into the air.
"Yes Aria?" He asked.
"What hypothetically would two swords be used for?"
Barrett rubbed his chin. "…. By what situation do you mean?"
Aria swallowed, "I mean two of the exact same molds of a sword, but it's one that has a very strange design?"
Sighing, he pondered, "…. Well I would usually say that it could be a spare sword if one was to be destroyed, but…. There is a form of swords that are called duel blades. Although if I recall…. not many people ever use the style of swordsmanship. Why do you ask?"
Aria shook her head, "I was reading a book on swords, and one came up, I couldn't read the writing, but they looked unusual."
Nodding, he stated, "Yes elves tend to use that style of swordsmanship more then humans or dwarves. Dual blade fighting is more of an agile technique, and requires a lot of discipline. Does this answer your question?"
She nodded, "Thank you sir!" Orland gave her a questioning look.
After class, all of the kids left the room except for Aria, who was drawing again.
"Why so curious about an Elven weapon?"
She jumped slightly, "Don't scare me twinkle toes, I just saw it in a book when I was at Tanya's."
He raised an eyebrow, "Doing what?"
Standing up, she growled, "Why do you care, honestly, you're always bothering me about the caves, then just because I was curious about a weapon I had never seen."
He closed his eyes, "You didn't answer my question."
"I handed the spear that Aaron owned back to Tanya alright,"
"Your lying."
"Am not!"
"I can hear it Aria."
"I'm not, honestly I just walked in there!"
"But not to give her the spear."
"Why are you talking to me, don't you just ignore me for the most part?"
"Now because I'm right you feel like you have to change the subject."
She flinched, "Stop acting like a know it all! Just because you're an elf doesn't mean you know everything alright!" She yelled backing away from him.
He stared blankly, "And why do you never try to open up to others? Your human right?"
She thought about it, most people didn't know about this whole situation about her going into the caves, or really how Aaron died. Even her own mother had no idea she held two tablet stones.
Once again what is now 2 points for the elf, 0 for the human.
He sighed, "So are you going to tell me, or will I have to ask Tanya myself?"
She remained silent for several moments. "She won't tell you, and nor will I, alright, keep your nose outta my business alright!"
Grabbing her wrist, he stared at her dangerously, "Aria, I now don't even have to know, you're voice tells me you own something similar to them. Let me tell you, listen to your mother, don't go back in there!"
Pulling her hand back, she growled, "Why?"
"Didn't you learn from you're brothers death? That thing is after you two, now tell me?"
Raising an eyebrow, she remarked, "So you don't know? You were lying this time!"
"Aria, it is rare for me to call humans by their names, but I can see your dreams! Have you forgotten about that?"
Pausing for a moment, she looked away, "…..Tanya handed me a template for a duel sword, she said it was something that could be used as a defense and offence."
Sighing with exasperation, he muttered, "Why would Tanya give you such a weapon?"
Turning away, Aria sighed, "Probably cause she knows I would be better off with it, and from now on, stop telling me that I need to stop going into the caves, I don't care if I see that shadowed beast again, just as long as I… never mind!"
TBC
