"How many times has it been now." Merlin groaned glancing up at me from his seated position on the other side of the workshop blood rushing to my head "I don't know, How many times have you been prowling at the inn's for women?" I retorted as the branch wrapped around my legs loosened and I fell face first against the wood floor "This time was different, I've received word from an old acquaintance, we'll be going on a trip." Merlin stated picking up the swords off of my workbench and large piece of cloth from the crate next to his workbench "Make sure you get everything you need we won't be coming back for quite a while." Merlin stated picking up his staff that was leaning against the wall behind him as I Stood up dusting myself off affixing the sheaths to my belt applying alterations to hold them in place before pulling the cloak over my shoulders tying the string in the front to hold it in place "Where are we going?" I asked as I took some of the supplies off of my workbench into a sack "You'll see when we get there." Merlin remarked pushing the door open.
A day had passed as the carriage rode down the dirt path, drops of water that had breached the canvas cover slapped against the top of my cloak rhymically looking up at Merlin I wasn't surprised to see he had taken to napping with his staff rested against his shoulder lifting my hands up from under my cloak I eyed the scars peeking out from just under my sleeves as I activated my trigger seeing my magic circuits start to glow as I flexed my hands 'numb' I mentally Sighed as the pain in my hands dissipated only to get replaced by the stinging sensation from my magic circuits prompting me to shut them off. "Great." I muttered looking out the back of the carriage watching the trees pass by. Turning back to Merlin I released a groan pulling my hood down, closing my eyes as I fell asleep to the sound of the water hitting my cloak. On the third day we reached Bristol, a quaint town just three days' ride from Roan, governed by Baron Wolfred, a kind man. By the time I had woken up it was still raining Merlin had already dismounted the carriage and was conversing with the driver giving me plenty of time to collect my things and exit the carriage moving to stand just behind Merlin as the driver bid farewell as he went on down the road "So why are we here?" I asked watching as Merlin switched his staff into his right hand bringing his hand to his chin "For now you can do whatever you feel you need to do, but don't under any circumstances use your magic here recently there have been rumors of Phantasmal Beasts in the area with a sweet tooth for Magus like you and I." He stated dodging the question as I nodded handing him his travel pack "I won't go to far just outside of town, I want to practice with these swords." I remarked tapping my hand against the pommels of the two swords "Those swords are very special, treat them well, why don't you my oh so faithful student." Merlin smirked before he began walking towards the town.
Giving me a moment of silence as my hand dropped to my side once more I took a moment to observe my surroundings to my right was the forest's edge that covered the entire side of the town and to my left was a vast empty field, sighing I pondered my options taking note of what Merlin had told me earlier opting to use the field for today I turned walking a good distance out into the field setting my pack down on the ground along with my cloak adjusting the padded leather straps across my chest before releasing a deep sigh I grabbed ahold of both hilts drawing one with ease and the other with a small amount of difficulty the broken sword held in my right hand while the other sat in my left making me lean slightly to my left before I adjusted my grip on the sword 'No magic huh' I mentally sighed as I spread my stance out broken sword pointed forward at a slight diagonal angle and the full sword was at my side point just above the ground; my grip on it shaking slightly forcing me to frown before I sheathed the broken sword and shifting my stance once more bringing my left foot back and my right foot forward holding the sword in front of me giving it a test swing repeating the process till I adjusted to the weight of the sword as I took one of my hands off repeating it once more bringing it in for a downward slash to before pulling a reversal slashing it upwards spinning around horizontal slashing forward grunting in the process watching as the wheat and grass around me was pushed back from the swing "This sword is too off balanced." I groaned, sheathing it extracting the broken sword once more testing it feeling a considerable difference, my swings were faster and more precise "What are you doing with that broken thing?" A voice asked from behind me prompting me to drop my stance and turn to face them.
"It's been quite awhile since we've last spoken Ector, how goes training for your two sons?" I asked the grin on my face ever growing as Sir Ector set a mug down on the table between us "As well as it should be, Kay has learned to adapt to change in duels while Arturia has learned the fundamentals well." Ector remarked as he took a seat leaning his sword against the table "So do you mind telling me why you came here out of the blue I thought you said it wasn't time yet." He asked, prompting me to drop my facade for a brief moment. "I've found someone qualified to become my apprentice, he's interesting to say the least." I responded as Ector perked up at my words "You're sure you're not messing with me, you Merlin the greatest Magus in the world has found an apprentice." Ector Scoffed taking a drink from his mug as I sighed "I've seen several strange things occur around him that he has fallen oblivious to after one of his lessons I found him talking to Caliburn." Watching as Ector spat out some of his drink, "Is he worthy?" He asked as I sat there for a moment "For once I do not know His future is clouded to me but I do know our young little Dragon will have a strong pull on his future." I stated as someone knocked on the door behind us "Father ,Kay is doing it again." A voice called out from the other side of the door prompting Sir Ector to stand with a groan "What has he done now." I whispered to Ector as he opened the door "Unfortunately Kay gained this bad habit where he keeps requesting duels with anyone who looks strong." He sighed as we left the room to see Artoria standing across from us looking winded. "Where is he now?" Ector asked as Artoria caught her breath " In a field just outside of town against some kid using a Broken sword." As she said this I could feel a vein pop on my head "It seems we must make haste now Leste we want Kay's new opponent to be pummeled into the ground." Ector remarked as Artoria led the way.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" I asked, watching as the squire across from me drew his sword while I waited, legs parted slightly as I stood with my hand on my side and the broken sword held loosely in my other hand. "I'm sure of it, why do you want to back out." He scoffed charging forward as I brought my sword up countering it to my left only for him to swing again horizontally forcing me to draw the heavy sword blocking his strike before slamming the hilt down forcing his sword into the ground "Try again." I smirked, taking my hand off of my second sword "That's not fair." He called prompting me to shrug as I held the broken sword out to my side pointing it towards the ground when he charged again I felt a tingling sensation in my arm before a searing pain spread through my arm forcing me to use both of my hands to guard against the next strike only for it to be shattered and my sleeve was shredded up to my elbow and the bones in my forearm shattered grunting through the pain I grabbed the hilt of my second sword slamming it into the Squire's gut as we both fell back him clutching his gut while I picked up the broken sword from the ground where it had fallen off to my side with my good arm once again remembering what Merlin had asked me to refrain from using here 'Crap this is gonna hurt.' I mentally groaned as I ripped off the rest of my sleeve making it into a makeshift splint "What are you doing?" The squire coughed as I stopped for a moment glancing over in his direction " You broke my forearm, in that last strike." I stated as he pushed himself up wobbling over to my seated position stopping at the sight of the scars up and down my arm "Are those-" he started to ask before I cut him off "Yes" as he crouched down and started helping me with it "When did you get them?" He asked as I sighed letting him finish tying the splint "A long time ago." I stated shrugging as we both turned towards the sound of footsteps approaching us "KAY!" A voice called out prompting me to turn and freeze on the spot 'Oh no.' I mentally groaned as the sight of Merlin who was smirking at me as the other three began conversing "Emric that injury doesn't look so good and might impede on training, you have my permission to use magic just this once." Merlin sighed prompting the other people's attention "Alright." I sighed, hoisting my arm into my lap, closing my eyes, releasing a breath as I activated my magic circuits all at once feeling a burst of prana surged into my arm. 'Reset the bone,shift the tendons and ligaments back into place and finally apply minor enhancements around the break to speed up the healing.' As I opened my eyes I felt a cold chill run down my back like something was out of place in the air "Done" I groaned as Merlin stood next to me leaning down to examine my work "good job resetting the bone,my oh so faithfully student." He smirked pulling me up "He's the one you spoke of Merlin?" The older one said, prompting me to look over and make eye contact with the knight that had been standing next to Merlin.
Taking a moment to catch my breath but before I could respond he held up his hand stopping me "before we continue this discussion I think it would be best if we reconvene back to the house, Kay help him up." He said as the squire I had been sparring against extended his hand down to me prompting me to take it as he wretched me up off the ground releasing a groan in the process. Taking a moment I glanced towards the other person who hadn't spoken since arriving only to be interrupted by a familiar cloak getting thrown on my head "Really." I sighed pulling it off and re-wrapping it around my neck pulling the hood up once more "We don't need anyone seeing your arm right now barring the few people here." Merlin remarked picking up my pack that had gone forgotten for who knows how long before gesturing for us all to move "As Sir Ector has stated it would be best for us to go inside." He smirked looking directly at me forcing me to groan as I followed the elderly knight.