It was late afternoon when they landed and now the sun was being set. Basil could feel the first pinpricks of the moon coming out. They've been walking around the market place still not able to find the anomaly. It was becoming frustrating having to dodge everyone while they walked and still try to spot a single thing wrong in an entire town. This gave the expression "finding a needle in haystack" a whole new meaning.
"Let's take a break in the empty black smith's place." Matt whispered. Chip lead them to the back of the shop so they could talk in peace.
"We need a better idea of what we're looking for. All we're doing is running around like chickens with our heads cut off." Johan said. Basil leaned back on the wooden table that was covered in different hunks of metal. From finished swords to actual hunks of metal waiting to be forged. As he grip the edge of the table his hand touched something all too familiar. It was smooth and cool. The heel of his hand grazed a tubular surface that was rougher than the rest. He turned his head to conform his thinking. It was his Metal Edge. He pulled it out of the pile by its handle.
"That's not supposed to be here." Dad said normally but his eyes held all the concern.
"Why? It's just a deformed sword. Scrap metal." Chip said confidently.
"No its not, it's my Metal Edge. What's this doing here?" He ran his thumb over the long end extremely surprised to find the blade was out. The edge was never very thick. Only about two centimeters long. How was this even possible? It was only supposed to come out during his match when the stadium activated. When not in use the blade should be retracted back inside. He needed to test it so he eyed the tips of Chip's bangs. His eyes never leaving his target, his arm lashed out. It was a straight jab staying just away from the skin on his forehead. The strike was so quick no one had time to react. It cleanly cut off a centimeter off. Everyone watched the hairs float to the dirty floor.
"This has to be the anomaly it has to be." Basil pulled the Metal Edge back. Chip stumbled back till his back slammed against the wall putting a hand over his heart.
"What the heck was that for?! You could've killed me!" He shouted as he panted.
"Sorry about that, I had to test it out to see if it was the actual blade or some kind of fake." Basil apologized. Chip took a several deep breaths and cleared his throat.
"Well thou has some experience with that weapon." The medieval accent came back.
"Yea you're really good!" Katherine chimed. The compliment didn't seem to set with Chip. By complimenting me does he think that Katherine isn't impressed by him anymore or just jealous? The last thing he needs is to get into relationship drama. But either way he wanted to get out of the room filled with weapons even though he could easily take him. Basil just shrugged his shoulders,
"I've had a lot of practice." Matt gave him a friendly laughing.
"Basil is an expert with the Metal Edge! The fact he fights with such a strange weapon always throws people off. You should've seen him in his last match!" Matt supported him with a smile.
"Thanks Matt but there's no need to brag." Yea because if you do that will only make Chip hate me more. Then he noticed that Dad was still staring at the Metal Edge in his hands. He squinted his eyes thinking hard.
"Who put it here?" He muttered. Basil looked back at the weapon. For years he had trained to use it but now it was an old friend that he only had a vague memory of that returned.
"We found the anomaly so shouldn't we get back to the time hallow?" Johan spoke up. Dad pulled out the Elucidator that was mimicking a rock.
"It won't let us!" His brow scrunched in puzzlement.
"Please don't say we have to live here for years or the rest of our lives!" Katherine whined. Basil wanted to whine to but Katherine was doing enough for the both of them.
"Maybe we just have to wait a little bit. Last time we all went back to the time hallow after Basil and I met Gary and Hodge's boss." Matt suggested.
"I agree with Matt. The Elucidator isn't letting us leave for a reason. We need to figure out what that is." Basil nodded. He hooked the Metal Edge on his belt by the handle. The last bit of daylight faded and the moon took over. The connection felt normal not like how it did when they were in that clearing. So what now? What's needs to happen? He questioned.
"Who's king now anyway?" Johan asked Dad.
"King Henry the seventh." He sighed. Basil could hear Chip mutter that it was supposed to have been him. He's still hanging on to that? That made him even more wanted to get out of this time and go anywhere else.