It only took a short stop at home base to clean up and restock traveling supplies for the road out. Silver took what little time that was given to doze off next to the familiar wooden ladder and catch as much sleep as he could before Shadow eventually roused him to begin the journey eastward. No amount of complaining or mumbling about being tired swayed the elder hedgehog from his goal. And this time, unlike all previous missions the young hedgehog had attended, Shadow wanted him to come with.
"The second you picked a fight with that pack of stalkers, you solidified yourself in your title." Shadow had said as he drug the grumbling prodigy away from his oh so beloved home. "Mephiles will stop at nothing to wipe you off the board for good - so you better learn how to be an unstoppable fighter or else your life is forfeit."
Silver couldn't help but think about those words as he travelled along the roads. Every day he trudged along at Shadow's side, the scolding echoed in his skull and overcame his other meaningless thoughts. Before, his head had been filled with the desire for food and the curiosity of legends. But now? He was in real danger. At only seven years old he had proven himself to be a worthy fighter and a student of the fabled Hero. Now the demon of shadow and crystal was after him. Slashing claws, beams of purple, and armies of monsters.
Being too large to ride on Shadow's armored shoulders didn't help him feel any better either. Having been labeled a big boy now on top of aging out of the small helplessness of a hoglet brought the weight of responsibility tumbling onto his back. He couldn't just hide in Shadow's cloak anymore when things got too scary. He wasn't invisible to strangers as they passed by on the road. And worst of all, he wasn't too young to spar.
Despite the travel, Shadow still placed emphasis on training Silver how to fight. Every day, he located a suitable place to practice sets and do medium contact fighting. That was new since the trip had started. Before helping the rangers, Silver was used to light blows - too soft to even leave a bruise. Shadow had encouraged Silver to fight back with full force, but the switch from expecting soft returns to having to deal with the adult playing rougher was quite unsettling. The imp hadn't held back at all during his fight and a punch to the face of that force was something Silver had only experienced during Branch's drunken outbursts. Having harsher blows from Shadow only drove his anxieties deeper as the need to block each punch and kick was more and more important as his mentor drove the stakes higher and higher.
Silver didn't blame him for starting to go harder. Mephiles could hold up to Shadow's power with almost equal might; driving fights and battles on for hours - even days. Surely the demon's abilities could end a young hedgehog like Silver. Heck, he hadn't even dealt with fights to the scale of Shadow's battles yet. There was no way that he could handle someone of Mephiles's power. All it took was one wrong move and the hedgehog would be finished. The lack of confidence of such fighting from both himself and Shadow certainly did not help him feel any safer in the world at large.
Gripping Shadow's hand was the only comfort he could find. At least he felt confident that if he gave the leather gloves a nervous squeeze, the elder would respond with a sympathetic squeeze back. Even though he wasn't as small or as unnoticed as he used to be, Shadow was still there for him in his own unusual way.
Having been taught to hunt, the hedgehog was often encouraged to find his own food. The elder would stay behind and start a fire while Silver wandered off to find some animal or vegetable. It felt good that Shadow felt he was capable enough for this task. Flickies, rabbits, mice… the young hedgehog was quite good at finding the meats he liked best. Once he had even run across wild onion - perfect for spicing up the pocky he had caught that day. Shadow was quite annoyed at the fact that Silver kept trying to bring back berries and sweetstalk though. "Sugary foods are not good for your teeth" he kept scolding, but the fact he did not take the food away meant the harsh words were empty. Silver resorted to eating them before taking his hunt back to the fire to avoid the nagging.
Sweet treats were useful to the young hedgehog after all. The brain tingling goodness helped him feel better despite his situation. Berries, sweet herbs, and even flower nectar all helped melt the stress away with each bite. Shadow would never understand, but Silver didn't care. Sometimes he would spot a plant as they walked along the roads. His power served most useful for grabbing the sweet treat and pulling it to his hands. A critical look was often given, but Shadow's harsh stare still remained empty of any real threats. The elder could be as judgemental as he wanted - Silver was going to eat them anyways.
One day as he was eating the salivating goodness of a sweetstalk he had found, a group of robbers had sprung from the trees and descended on the two. Silver was at first quite intimidated at the four thieves, but the anxiety melted away as he noticed their improper stances. Off balanced knees, exposed chests, weak grips… the young hedgehog wondered if this was how Shadow felt when people kept challenging him. Their words were full of anger and they pointed their knives aggressively at them. Silver could only nonchalantly hold onto the elder's hand and keep chewing on his plant, quietly imagining to himself how the elder was going to take each of them down.
"Give me your money, Ranger." The first one spoke, waving his knife at the ebony hedgehog.
"No stiffing us either." A second demanded.
"You would really rob a hedgehog with a child?" Shadow sighed, rubbing his brow. "There really is no honor among thieves."
"We don't care." The second growled. "Honor or not we are taking what you have - and give us those pretty knives too."
"I don't have the time for this-"
As he stepped to move past the thief in front of him, the bird raced his knife to the elder's nose - placing the blade directly on the hedgehog's tan cheek. A motion was made that clearly was intended to draw blood, but when none was spilt he resorted to placing the tip directly on Shadow's chest.
"You are going to give us your satchel." The bird growled, pushing the tip slightly.
"And the knives." The thief next to him spoke up.
Calmly, Shadow looked down to his leg where one of his prized blades hung snug in their custom sheaths. Casually, he undid the snap, fumbling a bit (on purpose Silver guessed) before fishing it out by the crossguards. For a moment he held it, staring at his reflection before turning the blade so his annoyed eyes could meet his young companion's.
"No funny business." The bird growled, pushing the tip harder on the hedgehog's chest.
"I really can't be bothered." Shadow sighed.
The thieves looked amongst themselves, clearly wondering what on earth the statement could mean. Boredly, Shadow gave the knife a toss, spinning it in midair before catching it on the flat of its blade.
"I won't waste my energy on you." He scoffed. "Here, take this Silver - let's give you some practice."
Before the hedgehog in question could ask what was meant, Silver found the handle of Shadow's professional weapon lowered to his level and the hand holding his released.
"I said no funny busines-" Shadow stepped to the side right as the bird thrusted to stab, knocking him off balance and sending him tripping to the road.
Silver gripped the knife, shoving the sweetstalk deeper into his mouth and spinning himself into a stance away from the fallen robber. With hands outstretched into a starting position, he allowed himself a sly smile.
"What kind of a joke is this?" The second thief scoffed, taking swaggering steps towards the young opponent. "You really think a child can hold up against us?"
"You underestimate your opponent." Shadow replied. "Go on Silver."
A step, a spin, and a thrust. Silver advanced on the second robber and barely missed stabbing the belted waist - instead opting to give a small slice to the raccoon on the way back. Yelping in surprise, the thief hopped through a flinch.
"That's the idea." Shadow commented. "Don't hurt them too much - they're just civilians."
"Civilians?"
Silver dropped his stance and spun, driving his heel into the knee of the startled thief and twisting to punch him where it smarts. Planted foot, upward trajectory…and… pow! As the raccoon dropped to the road in silent screams, the rest of the thieves muttered angrily.
"Who do you think you are!" The first robber shouted, rising to his knees and pointing his knife at the snow white hedgehog. "Get him!"
"Watch your six."
Silver turned just in time to see one of the thieves attempting to stab him from behind. Instinctually, he raised Shadow's blade and knocked the knife away with a practiced swipe. Sparks sprung from between the metal as the robber's hand swung uncoordinatedly to the side. Unlike his own, the elder's weapon was streamlined and aerodynamic - slicing through air and metal alike as it left a sizable chip in the opponent's cheap metal. Its weight was greater than that of his own, and yet its balance was so perfect Silver found himself wanting to use it all the time.
The robber found his balance and swiped again - this time his buddy attempting to grab the young hedgehog from the side at the same time. Diving between the third robbers legs, Silver emerged on the other side - kicking the back of the unbalanced knees and dropping him into the path of the other one. A shout sounded as the robber stabbed his partner in the shoulder but Silver only had a split moment to think as the first thief made a move on him too. Slipping to the side, Silver knocked the ring-shaped pommel into the thief's skull. A screech was earned as he backed away from the pile of robbers.
"That was easy." Silver mumbled, reaching up to stabilize the plant he was still chewing on.
"Your form could use some work." Shadow commented. "You need to keep your core solid. Stop letting your spine wiggle around like that; you leave yourself open to being knocked over."
"W-what kind of a game is this!" The first thief shouted, standing from his knees as the robbers behind him struggled to remove the knife.
"It's not a game." Shadow calmly spoke. "It's training."
"I'm learning how to fight multiple opponents." Silver beamed, biting through the stalk.
"You're insane!" He shouted. "I'll kill you!"
"You really think you could do that?" Shadow answered. "When you were beaten by a seven year-old?"
"This isn't funny." The thief shouted, gripping his knife and pointing it at the two. "I've killed three before and I'm not afraid to make it four."
"And you think that makes you worthy to run a gang of thieves." Shadow shook his head. "Kids these days. Come on, Silver, we have places to be."
Silver stuck his tongue out with a rude raspberry before turning to follow Shadow down the road.
"I will do it!"
"Try." Shadow taunted, not turning to look at his opponent.
A yell emerged from behind the two hedgehogs as the bird launched himself at the elder. Silver turned just in time to see him swing the knife at Shadow's back. Startled by the gall that the thief had, Silver flinched into a defensive stance with a wince. Before the blade could even reach the leather cloak, the elder thrust his foot back - driving his heel into the direct center of the bird's abdomen; killing all momentum he had built up. Air knocked out, the bird could only muster a wheeze as his body fell limp from shock.
"Go home." Shadow ordered, not even turning to face his opponent. "You know nothing of the dangers that travel this road. You'll get yourself killed."
Silently, the bird fell from Shadow's heavy boot. Clutching his injury he laid there. Silver couldn't help but feel mild sympathy as the two began walking away from the group of robbers. He wasn't even sure sympathy was the right word though. The dominant feeling overrunning his system was pride.
He had done it! He had beaten a bunch of bad guys but this time with Shadow to witness! All by himself no less. Sure these were untrained delinquents with no skill to back them up but he had still beaten four of them! Without killing them!
"That's kinda how I dealt with the stalkers." Silver beamed, turning over Shadow's blade in his paws and looking at the knife more deeply. "Except I aimed for the eyes and was throwing the knife."
"Throwing it?"
Silver gave the sweetstalk a suck as a grin crossed his face. Tightening his core, he raised Shadow's knife hand over his head. Noticing the stance assumed, the elder stepped to the side to give the hedgehog a good look.
"Step, twist, and…"
Silver exhaled sharply as he followed through with the motions. Accelerating the blade with his mind, he felt the handle leave his grip. Rapidly, it raced through the air - following the trajectory and sinking deep into the trunk of a nearby evergreen with a harsh thunk.
"How's your aim?" Shadow asked, red eyes examining the kid and calculating the distance.
"Pretty good." Silver shrugged. Extending his hand once more, he grasped the knife with his mind and pulled. It raced backwards from the tree at the same speed it arrive. With only moments, Silver reflexively caught it as he finished his yanking motion - giving the knife an excited bounce as he beamed up at his mentor.
"I would suggest practicing your aim if you want to nurture this skill." Shadow spoke, nodding in approval as he continued his walk down the road. "Being able to split a pine needle in half is a good goal to have. Your throwing speed and damage is a variable that will appear with time."
Silver gave an excited nod. Gripping the elders blade, he trotted to catch up. Feeling the leather sit comfortably in his paws, the hedgehog couldn't help but give the knife another lookover. The shiny metal reflected his eyes back as he inspected it thoroughly. Its shape was far more dangerous than the blade that rested at his hip. Its triangular build formed a deadly double-edged point with a sharpened edge and one side ending in a serrated heel. Silver had seen Shadow use this part for wood, but as he held the weapon in his hands, he felt as if he could use it to saw bone.
The handle and crossguards seemed refined and sturdy - easy to use and balancing the whole knife quite nicely. The leather from the grip wrapped nicely around a groove between the blade and crossguard, holding everything steady and adding an extra spot to nicely place his thumb. As he flipped it over in his paws, a small inscription on the crossguard caught his eye. He almost had to squint to read it, but when he did - a slightly familiar name revealed itself.
Fishing his own blade from his hip, Silver turned his knife until he found the inscription on the crossguard. Yard Prower. Silver hadn't given it much thought. Until now that is. The inscription on Shadow's blade was slightly different - a different method of branding even.
"What does 'Acre Prower' mean?" Silver asked, looking between the two blades.
"Acre Prower was the best blacksmith who ever lived." Shadow responded. "He made these blades custom for me."
"Woah…" Silver brushed his thumb over the name, feeling prestige and honor for even getting to hold the weapon.
"Acre blades are known as the best weapons on the planet." Shadow continued. "Any Prower-made weapon, really, but Acre outdid them all."
"What about Yard Prower?" Silver excitedly asked.
"Yard is Acre's grandson." Came the response. "That knife was made for Tone when he was your age. It was replaced by his current weapon and when he received a new knife, he left it with me in the case another Prodigy would need it."
"Why did he make a knife for Tone?"
"I asked him to."
"Will I get a weapon from Yard?" Silver asked, eyes gleaming with excitement.
"I don't know." Shadow answered candidly. "It depends whether his shop is still up in Central City and if he is still alive."
"Oh…"
"He should be well over sixty now." Shadow sighed. "The chances of you getting a weapon from him are pretty slim even if he is still alive."
"Did all the Prodigies get weapons from the Prowers?"
"I have known the Prower line for a little over 200 years." Shadow stated. "Each one has gotten a weapon of my request; starting all the way back with Miles Prower when he engineered Signal inhibitor braces to control his power. It's been a tradition of mine to get my Prodigies Prowermade gear at some point in their lives. Signal with his braces, Breeze her Kevlar fans, Axon a custom knife, and Tone his axe."
Silver stared at the two blades with a hint of disappointment. A great line of weaponsmiths that Shadow was in personal contact with? That was pretty cool. But getting a personal weapon from them? The hedgehog couldn't help but feel left out.
"It will take time to see what weapon suits you best." Shadow stated, holding his hand to request his weapon back. "We must pick up pace. I hope to be at Crescent City within the week."