A few days had passed since my mother's classes started. I'd learned a lot. Mom was a great teacher, although always strict and demanding. The more skills I demonstrated, the longer the classes lasted. Sometimes she looked at me strangely, I suppose wondering how I was able to do things.
The first thing I learned was the basic elements; each spell was related to an element, or several if the wizard wanted to combine them: for fire, ' Ignis '; for wind, ' Ventus '; for water, ' Aqua '; and finally, for earth, ' Terra '. Each spell had a purpose and a way, but the most important thing in all of them was how the wizard imagined it. If they visualized it wrong, it could turn out in different ways. According to Mom, it could be: losing mana and the spell doing nothing, or it could explode in your face due to too much mana in the air.
The first method was harmless if it was in a controlled environment, but if it were on the battlefield, in a quick life-or-death struggle, making such a mistake would only lead to death. The other type of mistake didn't need much explanation; having your own spell blow up in your face isn't something I think would turn out well.
After using the cleansing spell on the claw, I began practicing spells consistently with my mother's supervision. I could now use several types, but I still shouldn't imagine very detailed applications. If I made spells too detailed or tried to spend more than I had, the headache always returned. There was one occasion when I used a fire spell to represent the form of the Ursing I fought so my mother could see it, but when the spell began to take shape, I fainted; the mana consumption was so great that I couldn't even advance halfway through the performance. When I woke up, my mother was by my side with a big smile. She told me that I had attempted something that was very difficult and placed a great deal of strain on the sorcerer, but that it had been an excellent attempt.
Along with my mother's lessons, I had begun trying to forge the claws I had. The first claw I tried to shape had been damaged. While heating it, the claw began to absorb the heat, and when I tried to file it down to rough it out, it was so hard that I couldn't even get through the first layer. I let it cool for a long time and filed again. This time it was effective, but I had overdone it, and it became so thin that when I used it, it broke in half.
With the remaining piece of claw, I tried infusing it with different types of magic—water, wind, earth—but none had the same effect as fire. I imagined the reason was because of what my mother had said: Ursings grow up to learn to manipulate fire, and their bodies are suited to it.
After experimenting with the first claw, I started on the other seven. I hadn't used the claw I cleaned yet.
The first type of dagger I attempted was one with a curved tip. I tried to follow a knife I really liked, the Chilean Corvo, but I had modified it so that the curve at the tip was the natural curve of the claw. It would also be single-edged, running along the longer part of the blade, making it look like a knife with a curved tip. Since I had cut the claw with a piece of bone, I decided to leave the dagger without a guard; this would make it lighter and would have a natural stop due to the change in size between the bone and the beginning of the claw.
I started by roughing the claw evenly, trying to leave it flat, and then began shaping the edge, from where the natural stop started to the curved tip. I continued doing this for about three or four hours. Fortunately, I'd already cleaned the claw with a weaker spell; otherwise, it would have taken longer.
When I finally finished, the work looked very nice. It could have been improved, but for the first time doing it on such hard material, it turned out excellent. With that motivation, I made another one the same way, but this time it took me less time, almost two hours, and it also turned out very well.
I decided to make a change for the next one. I would try to make a type of knife that had two straight edges and would also have a single edge. It reminded me a lot of the boning-type knives used back in the day, with a thin point and a good edge.
After figuring out the process, I got started. In less than three hours, I had four new blades. Now, only two blanks remained; I wanted to keep the one I'd cleaned for decoration.
I let go of everything I was doing and started meditating. No matter how tired I was, I wouldn't miss my daily meditation routine.
The next day, I'd already started helping around the house, and it wasn't long before the first meal was ready. Today I'd surprise my parents with the progress I'd made with the claws. I'd decided to give them each one, but they'd have to choose.
When we finished breakfast, I took out the four blades I had made and placed them on the table. I told them I wanted to give them one, and they should choose which one they wanted. With tears in their eyes, they both congratulated me on such a good job. They said that handling animal bones and claws to make weapons was a difficult process and required good technique.
My mother had chosen the boning knife, and Dad had chosen the curved one. The two of them spent a while examining the knives. I told my mother that if she applied a fire spell to the knife, it would become harder and also sharper. She quickly tried it and was surprised to find that instead of getting hot, the knife only turned a little redder.
My mother once again warned me and told me to be very careful when sharing things like what I had just given them. I didn't think much of it and retreated to the bedroom to start working on the last two claws. For these, I wanted to up the ante and try making a double-edged throwing dagger, which, while smaller than the others, could be more useful. The idea was to make a symmetrical dagger, with the edge reaching all the way to the tip.
I began to execute my idea. With the first claw, I started slowly. First, I made it as even as possible, which made it almost two centimetres shorter than the others. After that, I ground it down on both sides to achieve the edge I desired. When I finished, I spent quite a while repairing it; it had a good center of gravity and was well centered on the bone, the point wasn't crooked, and the two edges were aligned. I was happy with the work, but it had taken me a long time—almost five hours for a single dagger.
My mother had already prepared lunch, so I decided to take a break. Since I already knew what kind of dagger I wanted, I focused on the saber I would make with the bone I brought. It would be a small saber since the bone wasn't very long; it would be 50 centimetres long with a curved tip, similar to the katanas from the land, with a single edge. I would like to add a guard and make the handle with some of the animal's hide, so I would have to ask Mom for some strips.
After lunch, while the meat was still from the Ursing, I asked my mother if she could give me some strips of the animal's hide. She didn't even think about it; she said she'd give them to me later. Now the problem was what guard she wanted to put on it; I suppose it'll be left unguarded for now.
By the end of the day, I'd finished all the claws and the saber. I was proud of my work; it had taken a lot of effort to make all the weapons. But they had all turned out excellently; the Ursing's leather strips gave the saber a very nice touch. I'd tried using the fire spell on the saber, and it was also effective—not as effective as it was on the claws, but it would still do the trick.
Even though I was so tired, I kept telling myself I couldn't miss my daily meditation, so I did so as not to lose the routine I already had. I'd decided to return to the forest the next day, hoping to find some kind of shield to protect myself. Having a more effective method of attack, I should take advantage of it. After meditating, I tried using the saber for a while to get used to it and be able to move better.
The time came, and since my parents knew what I was doing, I had left early so I could return sooner, without having to rush so much. They both wished me luck and to be careful. Mom had even prepared some food and given me a new bag to pack whatever I found.
I started jogging towards the forest, as I had planned the previous time, trying to reach the lake if possible.
"Frank, I think we should buy Sam some books. I understand they're very expensive, but he doesn't yet know what he can and can't gather from the forest. I think if we sell the skin he brought home and pool some of our savings, we can buy a book about plants or fruits," my mother said as they watched me walk away. "You could also take advantage of the opportunity and take him to see the town. He's never been there, and you could show him how to take care of it. If money is needed, I think the knife he gave me could be sold for a good price."
"Emma," he sighed, "I don't think it's a good idea to sell the knives Sam made. If he finds out, he'll be mad at us. With the savings we have and the fur, I can try to buy something, or ask Grandma Thea if she can trade it for a herbology book, or at least something to help her figure out what she can and can't pick. Knowledge of the animals in the forest might also be helpful, but those books or maps are too expensive for us."
"Tomorrow morning, after I've taken care of the chores, I'll set off with him to Grandma Thea's. At least we can get some information."
Meanwhile, in the forest, a shadow was stealthily following what looked like a human infant. They had encountered it twice before, and this would be the third. It had always been curious about the human who came along; the shadow wondered why it was moving that way, making so much unnatural noise.
"If he wants to hunt something, he should first learn to walk. That's why he was attacked last time. Although he took a good portion of the meat, I enjoyed the free feast." He thought as he watched.
- "Wow, finally."- I said when I finally saw the lake- "This lake is very beautiful, I wish I could put on some music and take some pictures."
Music is one of the things I miss most. Not being able to listen to something when I'm bored is deadly. I don't know how people live in this world without being able to entertain themselves.
On the way I couldn't find anything, it would be great if I could catch something.
- "I'll try," I thought.
I began picking some berries near the shore when, out of the corner of my eye, I felt movement. I tried not to react. I waited patiently, by the shore, for a fish to approach. I always tried to be aware of my surroundings, but it was exhausting to be constantly alert.
Suddenly, I saw a fish approaching the berries I had thrown into the water. When it was close enough, I tried to imagine a net I had woven with the wind, and at that moment I chanted ' Ventus .' The fish was immediately caught in the net; now the problem was how to retrieve it. I hadn't thought about how to get it out of the water, and trying to chant another spell would be very stressful for me.
The only thing I could think of was to throw the dagger I'd made. When I threw it, luckily it hit its target. I ran out and reeled in the fish. It wasn't very big, but it was a decent dinner.
I placed it to the side and waited. After a while, another fish appeared.
I stayed in that spot for quite a while; I had managed to catch five fish. Suddenly, I saw something approaching. I pulled the fish that was furthest from me, and whatever was trying to catch it stayed fixed in place. I had been waiting for it for quite a while; I was very surprised to see what it was.
It looked like a cub of a type of puma. It was dark yellow, with brown spots on its back, and its tail was very long, almost as long as its body. I thought it was kind of cute.
"Hey kid! If we wanted to eat, you could have come closer. Why do you always jump out to steal from me? Last time you also stole what was left of my Ursing," I said to the cub that looked like a puma and threw him one of the fish I had.
He cautiously picked it up and ran off. At that moment, I realized that the shadow that saved me must have also been that little one. I hope I can see him again.
After that I stayed a little longer and started packing to leave.