directly in front of him.
The blacksmith followed Xalen’s line of sight. He laughed heartily as he slapped Xalen’s back. “It looks like you take after Reave.” Motioning for Xalen to follow, he dashed across the long room, coming to a stop before the silver chestplate. He took it in his hands and handed it over.
The first thing Xalen noticed was just how light it felt.
“Feels light, right?” said Febron, mimicking Xalen’s thoughts. “It’s made of Acolyte steel, the same material that Reave’s sword is made of. You won’t find a lighter, yet stronger material anywhere in the known galaxy.”
Xalen ran his hands through thick left shoulder blade, which was much bigger than the right one. It felt soft and smooth under his fingers.
“If you like that, take a look at this.” Febron handed the young Alioth a medium, curved sword. Xalen took it in his hand. Immediately, he felt as if he had been reunited with a long-lost friend. Unlike the sniper, which had felt alien and cumbersome in his grasp, the sword felt like an extension of himself, a piece of his very flesh and bone. He took a few practice swings, admiring the low whoosh sounds that emanated in its wake.
Like the armor, it was silver and was made up of Acolyte steel. The hilt consisted of a two sharp ends that Xalen was certain could be used to eliminate someone at extreme close ranges.
“This feels very good,” said Xalen. “I could work with this.”
Febron gave an exaggerated smile that spread widely across his battered face. “I’m so glad you found it to your liking. Like the sniper, I designed this armor and sword myself. Though I was beginning to think no one would ever claim it.”
Xalen took a few more practice swings, feeling more at ease with every second that passed. “Why is that?”
“Acolyte steel is not for everyone. Less than one percent of Alioths can wield it properly. It requires a certain…” Xalen found that he didn’t mind this pause as much as the previous ones. “Finesse that few beings possess. Furthermore, the steel is not compatible with the skin of most people. It immediately causes a terrible rash for most who attempt to wield it, that’s why it’s been called the ‘blistering steel’ by many.”
Xalen didn’t care much about the history of the steel, or what people chose to call it. He slipped the thin breastplate over his head. It fitted snugly over his chest and torso. The leggings felt as comfortable as the rest of the suit. He then slowly sheathed the sword.
He did his best to not smile too much, but he failed. Ever since he’d left Vintra, he had felt like an intruder in this world of elite warriors that he had been thrust into. A pathetic simpleton looking through an impenetrable window. But he had shattered that window. He was now one of them. He was an Alioth.
Chapter 7
A short step back. That was Junia’s initial reaction when Xalen and Febron ascended from below. She tried to hide her surprise with a roll of her eyes.
“C’mon, Junia,” said Febron, smirking. “You can’t deny he looks good in silver.” The blacksmith ruffled Xalen’s hair. “It even matches his hair. And, in case you hadn’t noticed, that’s Acolyte steel he’s wearing, just like Reave.”
“I noticed,” said Junia, looking unimpressed.
“Can you send Reave a message?” Febron pressed on. “Let him know that we have another Acolyte user in the Alioth ranks.”
Junia frowned, and Febron’s face turned an ashy white.
“I’m sorry,” he mumbled under his breath. “For a second there I forgot about your past and…”
“Stop talking!” ordered Junia. The blacksmith quickly complied. The woman turned to Xalen. She looked none too happy, which caused the Alioth student to move a few feet away from her. “Let’s go. I h’ve issues I must at’nd to back at the dojo.”
She turned and stomped back into the dense forest. She didn’t look back, nor did she answer when Febron yelled out a
The blacksmith followed Xalen’s line of sight. He laughed heartily as he slapped Xalen’s back. “It looks like you take after Reave.” Motioning for Xalen to follow, he dashed across the long room, coming to a stop before the silver chestplate. He took it in his hands and handed it over.
The first thing Xalen noticed was just how light it felt.
“Feels light, right?” said Febron, mimicking Xalen’s thoughts. “It’s made of Acolyte steel, the same material that Reave’s sword is made of. You won’t find a lighter, yet stronger material anywhere in the known galaxy.”
Xalen ran his hands through thick left shoulder blade, which was much bigger than the right one. It felt soft and smooth under his fingers.
“If you like that, take a look at this.” Febron handed the young Alioth a medium, curved sword. Xalen took it in his hand. Immediately, he felt as if he had been reunited with a long-lost friend. Unlike the sniper, which had felt alien and cumbersome in his grasp, the sword felt like an extension of himself, a piece of his very flesh and bone. He took a few practice swings, admiring the low whoosh sounds that emanated in its wake.
Like the armor, it was silver and was made up of Acolyte steel. The hilt consisted of a two sharp ends that Xalen was certain could be used to eliminate someone at extreme close ranges.
“This feels very good,” said Xalen. “I could work with this.”
Febron gave an exaggerated smile that spread widely across his battered face. “I’m so glad you found it to your liking. Like the sniper, I designed this armor and sword myself. Though I was beginning to think no one would ever claim it.”
Xalen took a few more practice swings, feeling more at ease with every second that passed. “Why is that?”
“Acolyte steel is not for everyone. Less than one percent of Alioths can wield it properly. It requires a certain…” Xalen found that he didn’t mind this pause as much as the previous ones. “Finesse that few beings possess. Furthermore, the steel is not compatible with the skin of most people. It immediately causes a terrible rash for most who attempt to wield it, that’s why it’s been called the ‘blistering steel’ by many.”
Xalen didn’t care much about the history of the steel, or what people chose to call it. He slipped the thin breastplate over his head. It fitted snugly over his chest and torso. The leggings felt as comfortable as the rest of the suit. He then slowly sheathed the sword.
He did his best to not smile too much, but he failed. Ever since he’d left Vintra, he had felt like an intruder in this world of elite warriors that he had been thrust into. A pathetic simpleton looking through an impenetrable window. But he had shattered that window. He was now one of them. He was an Alioth.
Chapter 7
A short step back. That was Junia’s initial reaction when Xalen and Febron ascended from below. She tried to hide her surprise with a roll of her eyes.
“C’mon, Junia,” said Febron, smirking. “You can’t deny he looks good in silver.” The blacksmith ruffled Xalen’s hair. “It even matches his hair. And, in case you hadn’t noticed, that’s Acolyte steel he’s wearing, just like Reave.”
“I noticed,” said Junia, looking unimpressed.
“Can you send Reave a message?” Febron pressed on. “Let him know that we have another Acolyte user in the Alioth ranks.”
Junia frowned, and Febron’s face turned an ashy white.
“I’m sorry,” he mumbled under his breath. “For a second there I forgot about your past and…”
“Stop talking!” ordered Junia. The blacksmith quickly complied. The woman turned to Xalen. She looked none too happy, which caused the Alioth student to move a few feet away from her. “Let’s go. I h’ve issues I must at’nd to back at the dojo.”
She turned and stomped back into the dense forest. She didn’t look back, nor did she answer when Febron yelled out a
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