***

Arameth 

Days went on and what happened in Jacob’s pit became just another day. We traveled through open plains, forested areas, past cabins, and farms. After five days we arrived at a small village where we decided to find rest for the night.

Whilst Sebastian and Katla went to find a place to rest, me and Gottfrid stayed by the wagon. I decided to pull my sword out of its sheath.

Shorter. I think as I let my pressure waves tun through my sword. As the incantation is formed in my head I say.

"Form."

The sword’s blade becomes shorter like a dagger. I test it out by slashing the air and doing some light sparing.

"You've been doing that a lot recently. Are you starting to get the hang of it?" Gottfrid asked.

"Yeah, I think I've gotten the basics down at least. Just have to be more comfortable using it in combat." I say.

"You know what? You are actually the second person I've met who uses Form." Gottfrid tells me.

"I am?"

"Yeah. When I was a kid back in my hometown of Wintergrasp, there once was this woman who used it. She used it on every weapon she owned and even herself." Gottfrid told me.

"Herself?" I ask.

"Yeah. She would use it to grow more arms or to create more mouth to talk with."

Maybe that’s what Magnus meant when he used spike on his leg?

"Since I never could then do you mind if I ask you something?"

"Go ahead." I said.

"Well, how does it work? Like how do you do it?" Gottfrid asked.

"Well, I let my pressure waves run through the sword as it was a part of me and then I think of how to reform it. If the incantation shows up in my head I use it, and then well it just reforms. Do you understand?" I try to explain.

"I think so. Doesn't sound complicated." Gottfrid said.

"Well according to Sebastian, who read it in a book, imagine that everything has a set number. For example, this sword. Let's say it has the set number 10. With form I can change that set number and that way it changes the form or effect of the item. Like if I change it to 12 then maybe it wouldn't be solid anymore or if I change it to 9 and it becomes something like dagger." I explain.

"Then I have one more question. Have you ever tried to change the weapon to move in a different direction?" he asked.

"How do you mean?"

"I mean could you change the direction your sword would grow in? Like could you make it go straight to the right?" He asked.

"I guess, but I can't see any use in it." I tell him.

Gottfrid then picked up a stick on the ground and started to draw in the dirt.

"Let's say this dot is you and this cross is your opponent. Now if you were to attack and from your right suddenly a second opponent would appear. Would it not be useful to have your sword curve in his direction and take him out quickly?" He asked.

"I guess I didn't think of that." I say, feeling dumb for not considering it.

"Now what if the cross has a vanguard or they set up some magic shield in front of them?" He asks.

"What if you were to extend your sword have it curve around the shield and then hitting the target? Would that work?" he asked.

"I think so." I answer.

I then raise my sword and think of it extending forward to then change its course to the right. Whilst running my waves through it, I feel the incantation being formed.

"Form."

With that, it extended forward to then bend in a way unfamiliar to metal. It almost looked like it was made from a liquid. However, as fast as I made it, I fell to the ground as I felt how my legs gave in to exhaustion.

"Whoa, kid you okay? Usually, you seem to handle at least six of those incantations." Gottfrid asked helping me back to my feet.

"I think that having it bend in such ways takes more out of me. I think I can revert it back though." I say.

Concentrating yet again, I use Form to revert it back to its original shape.

"it seems I just have to train more." I say with a laugh.

As Gottfrid helps to lean me against the wagon I say.

"I actually wanted to know something about you. If it’s okay."

"Go ahead." Gottfrid said.

"I’ve only known you for about eight days now, but you have never even taken off your armor, not even to eat. Why is that?" I ask.

Gottfrid stood quiet for a second.

"It's... personal. Let’s just leave it at that." he said, sounding rather annoyed.

"Okay..."

As I sat down resting Gottfrid took out a small piece of paper from his belt along with a small, sharpened pencil and started to write something. 

"What is it you're writing?" I asked.

"My last will." Gottfrid said calmly.

"Last will?" I asked.

"Oh, I guess you don’t know. Well, it's the last wish of anyone who has decided to live by their weapon, to live adventuring and exploring. To live as a warrior." Gottfrid said.

"The last will make sure that the wishes of the warrior are heard. You keep it on your person always. You might change it and rewrite it many times but no matter what, you don't let anyone read it before the day you die. It's an unspoken rule that no matter if you're stealing or find it abandoned, you don't open it." Gottfrid explained. 

"It's to show respect towards the warriors who wrote it. It could include what of the people's belongings go where or if they wish for something to be forgotten. Sometimes the letters are sent to the hometown of the warrior, as a sort of remembrance. Since a warrior’s grave is where they are killed, there are only some places to go and remember the fallen. So, the letter boards are used for just that. To mourn and remember the brave souls who didn't let anyone get in their way. The ones who lived free." Gottfrid continued.

"Oh." I let out.

"But a kid like you shouldn't worry about their life right now. It's now the fun begins. Now when your journey starts." Gottfrid let out with a laugh.

 His words make me snicker.

Haven’t I been doing just that the past month?

Just some minutes later Sebastian and Katla returned.

"How did it go?" Gottfrid asked.

"Well, they have a local tavern where we could get something to eat, but nowhere to sleep so we will have to continue to use the wagon." Sebastian explained. 

"I'm fine to sleep wherever, if I can get something to eat." Gottfrid joked. 

"Oh and talking about sleep. Don’t think I don’t know what you're doing!" Gottfrid said putting his finger on Sebastian.

"Eh... what?" Sebastian said, confused.

"You haven't been sleeping at all for the past three days! You’ve just been driving the wagon without actual rest. It's not healthy!" Gottfrid lectured Sebastian.

"I'm just not tired." Sebastian pouted.

"Bullshit! If you don’t care about yourself, then think about the kid. What kind of example are you setting for him?" Gottfrid asked pointing towards me.

"What kind of example am I setting for the one who sleeps the most of us?" Sebastian asked mockingly. Making Katla giggle.

"Anyway, I hear ya. I promise to do my best to actually sleep tonight." Sebastian said.

When I felt able to walk again, we decided to park the wagon at a nearby stable and check out the small market to gather more rations.

Walking down to the small village we walk by children playing and many farmers giving us a warm welcome. at the center of the village stood a big round building with a sign that said, "The Messy Trout". around it sat some old ladies selling fish, next to them sat some younger folk selling their crops or home weaved clothing.

As we walked through the stalls, I decided to ask both Kalta and Gottfrid about something.

"I thought that since we will be traveling together for a bit now, that if you could maybe give me some advice on how I fight?" I asked.

Katla and Gottfrid looked towards each other and then back to me.

"You want us to help you? Like, train you?" Katla asked.

"Not exactly more like help me or give me advice. I have seen how good Gottfrid is at combat and heard the same about you Katla so I just wanted to see if I could learn something from you two. Since Sebastian isn’t much help in that area." I say.

"Well, I don’t see why we couldn't." Katla said.

Gottfrid gave me nod.

Katla and Gottfrid went on to buy in more rations for the journey and Sebastian went on to ask about the area.

I noticed a stall where an older woman sat with piles of books.

"I'm just gonna check out something real quick." I said before walking towards the stall.

As I approached her, she seemed to have noticed me.

"Oh, hello there, can I help you with anything?" She asked. Her voice soft and quiet.

"I was just wondering if I could look through these books or if they are for sale?"

"Oh, I'm sorry they are my personal collection so no I can’t sell them however if you want to look through them then by all means do so. I sat up this stall hoping to get more of the younger folk here interested. But I guess my books aren’t interesting enough." She said.

"Oh, I’m sure they are just busy and don’t have time to for the moment." I say wanting to make her feel better. 

She gave me a smile and went back to read the book she held in her hands. Looking through the books I found.

Curiosity by James Oliver. Kings of the past Vol IV by Gregory the third. Basic understanding of the first principle by Laura Von Birch. Basic understanding of the third principle by Laura Von Birch. The Little Hare by Cornilia Samsun, and many more laid on her stall.

I took my time to look through as many as I could. Looking for anything about the mountain king, about form, or anything about pressure waves in general.

Like before, I found nothing on the mountain king and nothing on Form. However, I found out that when using pressure waves there was a way to efficiently minimize the amount of energy spent when casting, without minimizing the effects of the incantation. It involved meditating in order to attune myself more to my own pressure waves. As well as performing incantations at the same time, which would help understand how to minimize the amount of energy spent.

When I got done reading the sun was ready to set. I met up with the others at the messy trout. The tavern was full of people drinking and eating. We ordered some meat pies and the three of them got ale to drink.

The night was full of fun as the entire tavern erupted in song and dance and festivities. Sweeping us up in the process. It was the first time in a while that I felt that I could let loose and not really worry about anything. Drinks were passed around by everyone, even I got myself handed a drink. I took a sip and immediately spit it up again.

How could they drink this? I thought.

Gottfrid was the center of attention as he was basically a dancing set of armor constantly chugging ale after ale. Katla sat with some old men who were playing cards and Sebastian seemed to have trouble standing up. As I went to help him, he pointed towards a pretty muscular guy and shouted.

"You! I bet you 40 Oura that this kid could beat you in a strength contest!" pointing to me.

The guy turned around and looked at us.

"You sure?" The guy asked a bit concerned.

"You chicken?!" Sebastian blurred out.

"Fine! You know what I bet 50 Oura he can’t!" The guy erupted.

"Deal" Sebastian shouted.

"Sebastian, what are you doing?" I whispered to him.

"I-It’s fine, you're half giant you're born stronger than us humans." He tried to whisper back. However, thanks to the loud music and chatting none seemed to hear him.

So, there I was face to face with a muscular man holding out his arm to challenge me to an arm wrestling contest. I grabbed his hand, looking around it seemed that we had gathered quite the crowd.

"1...2...3!" the crowd shouted as they started the match. Without much strength, I easily overpowered the man. As in one swoop, his arm hit the table and thus I was the victor.

The man looked at me shocked but reluctantly gave me the money.

"Anyone else?" Sebastian asked, falling down to the seat next to me.