Nusac

Chapter 12

Faith’s POV

Two days. That’s how long I’ve walked. When I was tired I slept, when I needed to eat I would make a fire and catch something. But other than that I’ve walked. I don’t know where I am or where I’m going but I just keep walking through the deep, dank forest. My body refuses to turn and go back.

Being alone like this used to be so soothing it helped clear my mind and let me push all unwanted thoughts and feelings back and away from me. Again everything has changed here. My mind betrays me as it goes over everything that has happened over the past few days. Trying to find meaning in every movement and every word. Looking for meaning where I know there isn’t any.

This small battle inside me is only stopped when I reach the edge of the trees. I wasn’t sure it was ever going to end. I thought I could walk for months and still there would be a never-ending stretch of foliage.

Why am I surprised to see another village out here? It’s not like there is only going to be one on the planet. I have to shake my head at my own stupidity as I walk down the embankment from the forest having to jog the last few steps because of the slope and stride into the village.

This place is different. A strange contrast to the village closer to the house. Where as Institutio which is my village is always buzzing with life. It’s sort of in the middle of a group of other villages and they all go there to trade. It’s just easier than going to each one individually. So you can go to Institutio at any time of the day or night and there will always be something going on.

Here it’s quiet, almost eerily so. Everyone going about his or her own business. I stride further into the group of houses not having a chance to over look the large windmill to my right. It’s a huge and magnificent structure. As the wind pushes against the blades at the top it turns the two huge circular stones at the bottom. I assume it’s grinding wheat into flower. I mean come on what else would they use it for?

My gaze is fixed to the giant stone circles grinding against each other at the base of the structure. It’s not covered around its sides, which gives me a perfect view. The beginnings of an idea begin to leak into my mind. If I could get a large sharpening stone, which is round with a hole in it, would that work at sharpening the blades I make?

Even then how would I get it to turn? I mean I can’t have it wind powered. I’d like to be able to turn it off and it’s not like I can just control the wind or anything. This may require some thought.

Not right now though I have something a little bit more important to think about. No not Namine for fuck sake get your mind out of the gutter just for a second. No for some reason I seem to have a very cold and oh so sharp blade pressed to the left side my jawbone. I swivel my eyes in their sockets over to the left. It’s not like I want to get impaled on it or anything.

I have to raise my eyebrow at my attacker. He’s not more then a boy. Looks to me like he just hit puberty. Who gave him a sword? These things are dangerous you know. “You’re not from around here.” He states with conviction. Well mostly conviction the slight wobble in his voice on the word ‘around’ shows to me that his voice hasn’t quite finished breaking yet, also it makes the threat seem just not threatening anymore.

I smile returning my eyes to the windmill again. He doesn’t worry me. If I really wanted to I could break his neck before he could so much as step forward to push the tip of the blade into me. “That obvious huh?”

“Your clothing is very strange.” He admits still not letting up any pressure.

Damn knew I should have changed. “So it is.” I say glancing down at myself as if I’d only just noticed. I let a smile pull across my face and the tip digs a little more firmly to my jawbone. “Put that down before you hurt someone.”

He seems to be a little put back by my dismissal. “Isn’t that the point of a sword?” Was that supposed to be a pun? Yes I think it was, I think he just made a funny.

“True. But you’re the only one getting hurt in this scenario.” I’m still looking forward. I don’t want to hurt the kid but I will defend myself if he pushes it to that point.

He laughs at my comment. “I’m not the one with the sword pushed to my throat.” Oh think you’re all big do ya?

I’m done with this conversation. I bring my hand up my knuckles connecting with the flat of the blade knocking it out of harms way. I shift my weight onto one foot and turn unsheathing my own sword with the movement. I can’t hold back the large smile on my face at his look, which is a mixture of confusion and fear. “Oh how the tables have turned.” Calm down I’m only teasing but I don’t think he knows me well enough to know this as he steadies his blade.

Damn I could have a fight on my hands. This is not going to sit well with the locals.

He lunges and I have to side step pushing my blade against his so it doesn’t go through me. I swivel on my foot to face him again. He tries something else this time swings the side of the blade towards me. I push the flat of my own sword in its way and he tries the other side. I manage to block it but I have to say for a kid he’s good. All of his moves are textbook. Which is good but kind of a downfall, he doesn’t invent anything just flows into an attack which I can see coming a mile away.

I’ve kind of had enough of this now. Up until now I’ve only blocked everything that he has tried to throw my way. I push my own attack not actually aiming for anything important. The tip of the blade pushes sharply against his hand making him lose his grip and the sword, which spins and it flies into the air. I catch the hilt of it on its decent still in my offensive position. Old habits die hard.

I pull my back foot to rest next to my other and throw his sword up catching the blade of it just below the hilt. “You’re good kid.” I offer the hilt to him. “But I’m not here to hurt anyone. Just taking a look around.”

He tenderly takes his weapon back from me the tip rests against the floor when it is pulled from my grasp. “Then why did you fight?”

I sheath my sword and all tension leaves his body. “Hate to go all pre school on ya but you did kind of start it.” I’m rewarded with a small laugh and him sheathing his sword. I step forward holding out my hand. “I’m Faith.”

He takes my hand in that strange handshake I’m still not used to. “Reginmundr.” He greets me.

I nod at the odd sounding name. I’m never going to remember that. Time for nicknames. “Alright Reg it is.”

He looks slightly confused at the nickname but lets it slide choosing instead to shake his head at me and lower his arm. “So what brings you to Agrarius.”

“That’s this place right?” How naive am I? “Just exploring really.” It’s not a total lie I’m just editing out all of the x rated and soul-searching stuff.

“So you came to Agrarius? There isn’t much to explore here.” He’s shaking his head at my stupidity.

I’ve only been in this world six months what does he want from me? “Properly not but the locals seem nice.” I just made him blush. I’ve still got it. “Come on show me the tavern and I’ll buy you a drink.” No underage drinking in this place. Come on underage dinking is an invention of modern society this place is in no way modern.

“I’ll hold you to that.” I like this kid. He begins to walk away shouting over his shoulder “Are you coming?” Well that was easier than I thought it was going to be.

We sit down at the bar and he orders his drink. “I’ll have a pint.”

I smirk at this. Somehow a teenager ordering a pint is very amusing. “I’ll have anything with…” Shit how do you say alcohol. I don’t want to risk that it’s the same word in both languages and get my ass kicked by all of the locals so I cover. “I’ll have a beer.” How I know the word beer but not the word alcohol is a mystery to me. I look over at my companion while I wait for my drink. “How old are you Reg?”

He lifts his chin trying to look older than he actually is. “Nearly 15.”

I smile and shake my head at this accepting my drink from the bartender and putting the coins on the table. “If you want to make it to 15 you better learn not to pick fights you can’t win.”

I get a snort for this comment. “What would make me think I couldn’t take you?”

I lift an eyebrow and gesture to myself. “The way I dress.”

He shrugs. “You were alone and a woman.” He gets a glare for this comment. “You were in my home and I didn’t and still don’t know who you are.” His suspicion rises as he realises this.

“If I wanted to kill you Reg I would have done it outside.” The tension in his shoulders lesson. “So if you don’t mind me asking, how come you were the only person who stood up to me?”

“My father used to be head of security in the village, against demons and other stuff so it’s kind of my job.” He answers into his glass.

“He used to be.” I should have held my tongue I know that voice I’ve used it enough.

“He died last week. Took the vampire with him but I still lost my dad you know.” He looks totally unfazed by this. I’m still an emotional wreck every time I talk about my mom but this kid who isn’t even 15 yet just shrugs it off.

There really are some amazing people in this world. I can see his pain when he talks about it. Hell I’ve seen that look in the mirror a hundred times, but he’s hiding it well and it’s not eating up at him. “I’m sorry.”

He shakes his head his gaze fixed onto the liquid in his glass. “It’s ok. He died doing what was right, I can always remember him like that.”

“Yeah wish I had something like that to fall back on.” Enough with the self pity now Faith. “Why are you telling me this?”

“You seem trustworthy.” He says with a shrug.

“Yeah the trustworthy stranger who could quite easily have killed you outside.”

“Could have, but didn’t. That puts you up a notch in my book.” So trusting I don’t think I was ever this trusting.

I’m about to ask about it when a loud scream pulls me up short. “Great.” I mumble to myself running to the door. I push open the wooden door and unsheathe my sword. Running into the small quiet village is a small blonde woman. Hot on her heals is a vampire holding a nasty looking sword. The sunlight gleams up it as he swings it above his head.

I take off running managing to put my blade in the way just before it collides with the woman’s head. He looks surprised by the block and steadies his golden gaze towards me. Before he can react I bring up my booted foot and plant it in his chest making him fly backwards along the dirt track, which he was just running along.

“Slayer.” He growls from his position on the floor.

I plant my feet shoulders length apart readying myself for his attack. “At least someone around here has heard of me.”

He springs up to his feet and takes off running… In the other direction. Did I just miss something? “Hey.” I take off after him. “Me slayer you vampire it’s the old game so get back here!”

His pace doesn’t let up. Well what did I expect?