“I wonder if there are any Warlocks in Otacia,” I thought out loud as I read the recipe for an invisibility elixir, a form of illusion magic.
“It’s possible, even though their numbers are less than the Mages,” Mother replied.
Humans also considered Warlocks to be witches, but they were different from us. While we both had pointed ears, a Warlock’s differentiating feature were their pupil-less eyes. Like us, they could glamour their appearance to appear human. Their abilities, however, differed. Their magic could only work using spoken spells. Most impressively, every one of them could shape-shift, which only a small number of Mages with that as a special ability could do.
“What about Vampires?” I asked, my mouth drying at just the mention of them.
“I try not to imagine them in the city. Typically, they are caught quickly in environments like this.”
Though I had never encountered a Vampire, I sometimes lost sleep over the idea. They could only lurk at night, as the sun would turn them to dust. I wondered if I was being prejudiced just like those who feared Mages, but Vampires survived off blood, after all.
“Why do you have two swords, Quill?” I asked, eyeing the second sword and sheath against his back. The week had passed, and Quill was pleased to see my face had healed completely. There may have been a scar, but I healed it myself once I had the chance.
“It’s a gift for you, Flower,” Quill smirked as he removed the dark purple sheath and pulled out the sword, whose handle was obsidian with silver decals. A blue gemstone lay in its center.
“You got this for me?” I gaped.
“Seeing as though your dagger didn’t hold up well in your fight,” he said as he placed the sword back in the sheath and handed it to me, “I figured it was time to teach you a more advanced weapon.”
“Thank you…” I mumbled, unsheathing the sword myself and staring with awe. “To be fair, you never trained me with the dagger. Only evasive maneuvers.”
He smirked. “Yes, I know. We will be going over both today, but don’t beat yourself up if you don’t grasp it immediately. It will take months before you’re truly proficient in either.”
He approached me as I continued to gawk at my new sword.
“This is a greatsword,” he murmured.
“Well, I figured it would be if you got it.”
“No,” he chuckled. “It’s a greatsword. It’s meant to be used with both hands, and its long blade allows for superior cutting capabilities.”
“Oh,” I flushed.
Dumbass. I should’ve known that.
“The best advantage of using a two-handed sword is its increased power,” he continued. “It’s longer and heavier than a one-handed sword, so if we can get this down, learning the latter should be a piece of cake.”
I bounced it in my hands, surprised by the weight. I unsheathed it fully, admiring the craftsmanship up close. I didn’t even want to think of what it had cost.
“Your arms will be sore after today, but you will grow used to it over time.” He quirked a brow. “Are you feeling up to this? If not, we can wait until next week.”
“I got this.”
He grinned and led me through a few different stances, all of them feeling slightly awkward.
“Will you ever fight against me? Give me some real experience?”
He laughed. “Once you get this down, I shall consider it. Don’t want to kill your confidence just yet.” He gave me a wink, and I nudged him with my hip.
“I think I’ll give you a run for your money,” I breathed, the switching of movements beginning to hitch my breathing.
“I don’t doubt that for a second.”
That made me smile.
“I had a question,” I asked as we packed our stuff an hour later. It felt foreign yet exactly right having this sword along my back.
“Anything, Flower.”
