It was a pleasant enough ride, once Archer had taught the girl how to guide the horse properly. She seemed to be enjoying her new found freedom, as far as Archer could tell. She didn't really emote much, and her most common reply to questions was 'Nn', but Archer didn't mind. It was even a little nostalgic.

[Do you know where this road leads?] Archer asked the girl.

"Nn." She replied, which Archer took as a negative.

[Me neither. Suppose we will find out though.] Archer said with a mental shrug of the shoulders. [How about plans for the future? Anywhere you wanted to go now you got your freedom back?]

"Nn… Nn." She thought about it for a moment, but ultimately replied with a negative.

[I suppose that means were are both just a couple of drifters. I haven't decided on any path for myself either. I'm rather new to these lands.] Archer said, keeping up the almost one sided conversation.

"Nn, we can travel together." The girl said tightening her grip on the horse's reins. "I'd like to stay with you."

[Hm? I'm not opposed, but why would a girl like you want to be with a sword like me?] Archer asked the girl.

"I want to… I will fight and become stronger." She told him, seeming determined about it. "I will break through the wall."

[...What do you mean by 'break through the wall'?] Archer asked, getting more and more curious.

It turned out to be quite the story, though the child's odd behavior made it take awhile for her to explain, but they had time.

Beastkin, like the girl, seem to be a species that evolves, much like Demonic Beasts. The conditions for this evolution varied depending on the Race, but evolved Beastkin receive respect from their people.

However, the vast majority of Beastkin die without being able to evolve. There seems to be a great difference between Beastkin who had evolved, and those who hadn't.

The Black Catkin, which is the Race of the girl, hadn't had a single known case of evolution throughout all of history. Because of this, they were treated like inferior beings among the Beastkin.

The girl's parents also pursued evolution, hoping to prove that their race was not worthless, but ran out of strength in the middle of their adventure. After the parents passed on, the girl caught the eyes of Slave Traders, and was captured. Even so, she wished to continue her parents' dream of being the first Black Catkin to achieve evolution.

[Interesting.] Archer said, as he considered the girl.

She was calm, but determined. Her earlier actions against the bear and the slavers had shown her willingness to fight and do whatever it took. Archer couldn't help but think that the girl would have made a good master. She reminded him of Hakuno, in many ways, and not just because of her mostly blank expressions. Even though she had only just 'equipped' him that day, he was already starting to feel attached.

Now that he thought about it, the connection that existed between them was similar to the one between a Servant and their Master. Though it was a much more willing contract that could be broken by either party at any time.

It was something that helped Archer make up his mind. It wasn't like going around alone as a sword was going to do him any good anyways.

[Well, I'm not sure if I can help you evolve, but I can certainly make a warrior out of you.]

"Really?" The girl asked, perking up for once.

[Of course. It is only natural that a weapon like myself would assist their Master in achieving their goals.]

"Master?" She repeated, as if surprised by the word, even if her tone remained the same.

[That's right. I, the Servant Archer, have decided that you are my new Master.] Archer said. [For your goals I will fight. I am your sword.]

"...Thank you." The girl said with a small nod of her head. "Your name: Archer?"

[My name? People have called me Archer. It's more of my class than a real name, but it works.]

"Don't you have a real name?" The girl pressed.

[No. I don't. My kind are created uses the souls of old heroes as blueprints, but no one could remember the name of the man I was fashioned after. So I am nameless.] Archer explained.

"...Can I name you?"

[...It is a very kind offer, but I would rather you didn't. While I can't remember what my name was, I still take pride in who I was. Simply taking on a new name will feel wrong to me.] Archer said, gently turning down the girl's offer for a name.

"Oh…" She seemed to be a little disappointed, but she nodded her head in understanding.

[What about you? What happened to your name?] Archer asked the child.

"...They take our names away when we become slaves. Normally, our masters pick our new names." She explained to Archer. "I lost mine when I was eight."

So, she was a slave for four years, and she was still so rebellious. This one was a fighter. [Well, you aren't a slave anymore. You are free to go back to your old name if you'd like. ...Unless you have forgotten it.]

"Nn. I remember it." The girl said with a shake of her head. "My name was Fran."

(Wielder's name changed: Fran)

[Well then Fran. I look forward to our partnership together.] Archer said cheerfully.

"Nn. Looking forward to it, Archer."

[You can pull the wagon off the road here.]

"Nn?"

[You said you want to become strong, didn't you? Well then, before we start fighting monsters, I would like to make sure that you are ready to fight.] Archer said, a bit cheekily. [I hope you are ready for it, Master. I will push you hard.]

"Nn!" Fran nodded her head, visibly excited for what was to come.

Archer hoped she would keep that enthusiasm.

They went a good distance off of the road before stopping in a clearing and letting the horse go. They didn't really have the means to keep the animal, so Fran released it into the wild, hoping that it would somehow manage on its own.

Then, after a quick meal, they got to work. Archer asked her to show off some of the basic forms, which she performed easily, with the help of the level 7 [Sword Arts] Skill.

[Well, you have the basic forms down.] Archer said, though he was disappointed by how rigid her body was while performing them. It was just as he thought, her body and mind were still not used to it, but that would change. [I suppose we should try some basic sparring then.]

"Sparring? With who?" Fran asked, but rather than answering, Archer just activated the [Body Split] Skill, using Fran's body as a blueprint. Moments later, a copy of Fran was standing right in front of the original, only with silver hair and eyes and darkened skin. "Wow." Fran said, though her face didn't seem all that surprised.

"Don't worry, it is just one of the Skills I have." Archer said rolling the copies shoulders and stretching as he got used to the body. "I only have around 80% of your stats, but that should be fine." Archer then traced a wooden practice sword and smiled over at Fran. "I'm ready whenever you are. Don't be worried about holding back. Even if this body is destroyed, I won't be hurt."

Fran nodded and lifted Archer's sword body, ready to fight.

"Ugh…" Fran mumbled unintelligibly as she stared up at the sky.

It had been three hours since the sparring began and she was completely out of it.

She would have collapsed completely after just ten minutes of fighting, but Archer had kept her on her feet with Recovery Magic, replenishing her stamina whenever it started to run low and healing her bruises.

No matter what happened, she kept going, persevering long after most people would have just given up, but eventually, the mental fatigue added up and she just couldn't keep going. Considering how long her day had already been, her mental stamina was incredible for her age.

The girl showed tremendous improvement in those three hours. Her movements were becoming much more natural, her predictions and reflexes were faster. The power that she was borrowing from Archer was quickly becoming hers. Watching it all gave the old sword a sense of nostalgia, as if he was watching his own development.

Not only was she becoming better at using her borrowed Skills, her own natural level of the [Sword Arts] Skill was on the rise, and had gone from level 1 to level 4, and she had unlocked her first level of [Sword Technique]. It appeared as though by training at a level that was above her natural 'Skill' level, she was growing far more rapidly. The process was also sped up by the 'Skill Collector' and 'Incarnation of the Sword' titles.

After a while, Archer started to suspect that there was something more to it, and switched his weapon from a wooden sword to a practice spear. An hour later, Fran had developed the [Spear Art] Skill, meaning that whatever system decided who got what Skills identified the doppelganger as being part of Fran, since he was a part of her equipment, and rewarded her for the doppelganger's actions in training. And if Archer's sword body also accumulated the Skill experience, that would mean she was gaining Skill advancements for three sources, instead of just her own.

Handy. Very handy. It won't be long before she surpassed the Skill level Archer had gained from absorbing mana stones.

"Here you go." Archer said, handing the girl a bowl of cooked meat cubes and fruits. He had used the body double he had made to skin and clean some of the monster bodies he had stored inside of his [Dimensional Storage] in order to cook something for Fran, while his sword body stood guard over her. He was disappointed by his lack of spices, and being limited to the herbs, fruits and berries in the surrounding area, but he made do.

He just hoped it tasted right. This was his first time working with most of these ingredients, and he had been saddened to find out that the body double couldn't taste or digest food. So, Archer was worried when as the girl took her first few bites, tears formed in her eyes.

"Is the taste off? I'm sorry I…"

"So good." Fran said with a small shake of the head. "I can't remember the last time I had a hot meal."

"...I'm glad you like it." Archer said with a weak smile.

After eating, the young girl fell asleep, right there on the ground. Archer pulled out one of the slaver's blankets and drape it over her to keep her warm. He stood there, watching her sleep for a little.

Four years as a slave.

Four years without a hot meal, or likely even a full stomach at night. Four years without a bed, or decent blankets. Four years without clean clothes, or even a pair of shoes.

A single warm meal, a blanket to sleep under, a stolen pair of oversized shoes, stuffed with chothe until they fit, and a cloak to keep her warm… she probably felt like the queen of the world.

Her personal Skills said it all. As one experienced hardship, they gained Skills based on those events. Hunger Resistance, Cold Resistance, Exhaustion Resistance, they were all a result of things done to the girl over her lifetime.

Unacceptable!

It was unacceptable for Archer's Master to live in such conditions! To be sleeping on the cold earth! To be dressed in nothing but rags! To receive a second rate meal! As a Servant, he could not allow this to continue a moment long!

Leaving his sword body to protect the girl, he went off a short distance with the body double, as to not disturb his Master's sleep, and got to work. The wagon they stole had plenty of materials to work with, and he had another six and a half hours before the doppelganger body expired. He would have to use them well.