Fear Not The Elf Who Knows 10,000 Spells - Chapter 4

"So, you're really leaving, huh kid?" Lässig said in a casual tone from behind me as I finished packing what clothes and notebooks I had for training and ideas, things I tried, what worked and what didn't and what I learned, etc.

The blond young man, wore a loose orange scarf around his neck, standing with a casual demeanor that seemed like the signature image of the 'cool kid'.

"Yep." I said definitely as I closed the bag, and lifted over my shoulder, as I turned to leave.

"You know, the other kids usually left much later. Like fourteen or fifteen when they found someone to apprentice under." Lässig pointed out, but made no move to stop me.

"That is way too long to wait." Fourteen? Fifteen? That's already a twenthith of my life!

"Not that long, kid. Why are you rushing off so much?" Lässig said as I walked passed him. He easily kept up with his longer stride.

"Because I don't wanna waste any time. And I know I could do more if I knew more. I wanna learn the thing I want or need to learn, so I could be able to travel around and do what I want." I stopped to turn and give Lässig a smile. "Basically work hard now, so I can enjoy my life without worry later on." I said before continuing on my way.

"That's not really how it works, little guy. You're living whether you're rushing or not. You won't be able to enjoy anything if you put a condition on it, and keep thinking you're suppose to finish something first." Lässig said.

I paused for a moment. That... sounded like some unexpected wisdom. It was good advice, and I'm surprised it came from Lässig of all people.

I looked back and he raised an eyebrow at me, as he leaned back his hands now behind his head.

Or maybe it's laziness disguised as wisdom. That seemed more fitting for the oldest orphan still around.

Honestly, it almost sounds like some lesson the Frieren anime would give.

"Nah, I know what I'm doing." I shook my head and walked forward. I ignored Lässig snort behind me.

===x===

My farewell was... surprising.

As I stood in front of the orphanage, it looked like almost everyone came to say goodbye.

Why? I don't even remember everyone's name beyond the matron, Rein, Lässig, Rot, Nervös and Ungeduld. And I only remember the last three because they're my roommates.

"I really hoped this day would come much later, but I suppose you were always too mature to stay put." Matron Gütig with a sad smile. "Take care of yourself, listen to Mr. Schroff and come visit often."

"I'll visit whenever I can," I said automatically. It's what I said to my relatives in my past life whenever they said similar things.

Matron Gütig let out a short laugh. She was still smiling but the sadness seemed deeper to my eyes. Weird.

Everyone said their version of goodbyes, with me replying, smiling or nodding.

"Make damn sure to be amazing, you hear, Trenn. Don't let your smarts make you lazy." Lässig said with a laugh as he ruffled my hair.

"I'm not you, Lässig." I said batting his arm away. He just laughed as he stood back.

My sight fell to Rein, who stood looking down, sad and hugging a pink teddy bear.

I sighed, as I was already feeling bad about telling her that I was still leaving.

"I'm never gonna see you again." Rein said.

...Where did that come from?

"I'm gonna visit," I leaned down, balancing with one hand on my knees, and the other placed on her shoulder to reassure her. "We may not see each other as much, but I'll be sure to come back when I can. At least you can be sure we'll see each other when Mr. Schroff comes back with his stuff."

Rein shook her head like a stubborn child, tears at the edge of her eyes.

I thought she'd run back inside in a tantrum. Instead she jumped up and hugged me. I let her pull me down as I kneeled and hugged her back.

Why was she this emotional...? I'm the only one who actively spent time with her, aren't I? I mean, I babysat her when I could because there's no out else, but...

Kids, emotions and attachments. Can't say I understand any of that. Still, she'll get over it, she might even forget or feel distant about me when I meet her months, or a year from now. I'll just be someone whom she used to spend time with, but then she'd grow up and make new friends.

Or she might die from this civil war if the fighting comes here. 

An insidious thought wormed itself into my head, before I forcibly shut it down.

"I'm gonna miss you." Rein said, now crying.

"I'm gonna miss you too, kid." I said back easily, finally glad this goodbye was coming to an end, while feeling bad for her.

Rein shook her head, as if I wasn't understanding something.

Honestly, you'd think I'm going away to war with how she's reacting. The awkward goodbye continued for a moment longer, before I finally left the orphanage and everyone behind, waving at them as they waved at me.

Rein was waving the hardest. Cute kid.

===x===

"Hey, Löwenjunges. I came to say good bye."

"Hey, kid. Wait a moment, I got just the thing for you."

Mr. Schroff didn't seem to mind the detour, as we passed by Löwenjunges' home on the way out.

Löwenjunges was gone for a moment, and came back with a sword and sheath.

"Woah." I blinked at the sword he brought out. That, uuuh, looks kinda expensive.

"I know what you're thinking, and trust me, it's junk." Löwenjunges said with a chuckle.

"What?" I looked at him in confusion.

"Well, not to a beginner, but to any practicing swordsman, it might as well be." He sheathed the sword and handed it to me. I almost dropped it as I was handed the strap. "Yep. It's stupidly heavy. It was some blacksmith's experiment with different alloys. He made a sword," Löwenjunges thought for a moment, shaking his head back and forth before settling on how to describe it. "As durable and sharp as a normal sword. But it was much, much heavier than a normal one. That wouldn't have been a problem, although sharpening it would have been annoying due to that durability. Had it been just that, I could have still ended up in the hands of an aspiring swordsman, or the like."

"So, what's the problem?" I asked as I wore it over my shoulder, and took a moment to adjust to the weight.

"See how heavy that sword is?" He said with a sigh.

"Yeah?"

"That's how it's always gonna be." Löwenjunges said definitively.

"...Huh?" That sounds... awesome. Like the ultimate training sword.

"Yep. No Warrior wants to use a sword that's too difficult to wield in a real fight." Löwenjunges sighed with regret.

"Say what?" I'm not getting the issue here. In fact, isn't this thing too valuable to be giving off to some random kid. Löwenjunges, are you... actually a good merchant? Am I robbing you right now?

"Said blacksmith asked a mage to enchant it, and said mage misunderstood and made it so that the initial weight and heaviness of the sword would say constant for the user." Löwenjunges explained, but I still don't see the issue.

"Huh. Junk." Schroff said with a nod from behind me.

"Huh!? How?" I said looking back at him.

"Useless in a real fight. No point." Schroff summarized.

"That's basically the issue. It might be good for training, but in a real battle, where seconds matter, using a sword that's too unwieldy would cause the user's death." Löwenjunges added.

"Why not sell it to a noble?" I pointed out. "Seriously I feel like I'm taking advantage of you by taking this for free." I couldn't help but say. I know I should just be happy for my good fortune, but it feels sleazy.

"That's because you're a good kid." Löwenjunges patted my head with a smile. I let him since I'm robbing him of a magic sword. "But no noble in the Southern Land would bother to buy this as it would just be a luxury item. It would be too expensive and useless."

"Kid is right though. What about nobles outside of the Southern Lands." Schroff pointed out.

Löwenjunges sighed as he ran a hand through his blond hair.

"Sadly travelling had become kind of hard near the border due to the increase fighting between the Shields and the Coalition. I don't know for how long I'll be stuck here with my wares." He said, hiding his dejection.

Why don't you just leave your wares and run away? Is what I wanted to ask but felt it might sound stupid or insensitive.

"I'm... not sure how to pay you back for this." I said awkwardly.

"How about you become a legendary adventurer and we'll call it even." Löwenjunges said with a grin and a laugh. "I get to say, 'I gave the Great Trenn his legendary sword'."

"Didn't you say it was useless, other than for training?" I chuckled.

"Call it a hunch, but I have a feeling you'll figure something out." Löwenjunges said back.

Schroff grunted behind me impatiently. With a more hasty goodbye, I left Löwenjunges behind, as the old man and I finally went to the city gate.

===x===

A short inspection where I saw that mage Trottel trying to act tough, which fell flat against Schroff's stoic face, and then we were off.

We left Schwanz. On foot.

"Mr. Schroff?"

"Hmm?" He grunted.

"Don't you have a wagon with a horse?" I asked, confused.

"No. If you can't endure this, you might as well go back." He said. Is he trying to get rid of me?

Ah, no. This is the whole tough mentorship thing starting.

"Alright, cool." I nodded and stepped next to him to keep up. "Although is this really how you usually travel, every time from the mountains to the city?"

Schroff looked at me surprised for a moment, before just hardening his eyes, focusing forward on the road ahead, the stoic look back in his eyes.

"No. I use a spell for high-speed movement, along with a spell to make things I carry be light in weight." He explained. "However if I don't have the stamina and strength to do those actions normally then it's useless. Unless you can complete this journey without the aid of magic, then there's no point in teaching you." Schroff said in a definitive tone, before glancing at me for my reaction.

"Alright! Seems reasonable." I nodded at the logic. His magic is about improving physical capabilities, then obviously the base abilities need to be good.

I did my best not to show my hype and excitement at the confirmation that the old man did know Jilwer. I think I succeeded.

Soon. Soon Speed will be mine!

Schroff looked surprised at my casual reply, but tried to shrug it off. He grunted while grumbling under his breath, then we continued walking in silence.

For a while.

"Sooo, what kind of magic and trade skills will I be learning?" I asked.

"Save your breath while you walk, it's going to be a long journey. We'll talk while we make camp and rest along the way." Schroff said. "Talk only to point out something important, or if you sense danger. I'm more likely to sense danger before you, but if you notice something tell me anyways. Don't worry, if I sense anything on the road I'll let you know, since you're my charge now." 

...That sounded like some old man bullshit, because he doesn't want to talk but I'll let it go.

"Got it."

===

AN: ...Wow. Trenn is kinda an unempathic selfish dick. Weird to realize that after I've written the scene with him and Rein. Also yes, Rein isn't being dramatic for dramatic's sake. (Hint: HoTS. Acronym for a character in Frieren)