TABLE OF CONTENTS

Beyond the Sea of Atlas IV

Western Eresian Continent: Europe Region V
Prologue VII
The Lost Sword: Act I 9
The Lost Sword: Act II 20
The Lost Sword: Act III 30
The Lost Sword: Act IV 38
The Lost Sword: Act V 47
The Lost Sword: Act VI 54
The Lost Sword: Act VII 62
The Lost Sword: Act VIII 74
Epilogue 78
Beyond the Sea of Atlas Western Eresian Continent: Europe Region

IV V

Dogi
"the Wallcrusher"
A vagabond who prides
himself in his strength. Adol
met him during his first
adventure in Esteria. Dogi
has accompanied Adol on
his travels ever since.
Adol "the Red" Christin
A young man with fiery red hair who would become a
renowned adventurer with over a hundred adventurer
journals. At the age of sixteen, he embarked on his
first adventure in Esteria. Since then, he's traveled
with his companion, Dogi, to see every corner of the
world. Their last adventure brought them through
Altago, a region in northern Afroca. And now, they
are continuing north through Ispani.
Prologue
On the road through Ispani...
I t's an evening like any other. Adol and Dogi set up camp far
away from civilization. The forest is asleep; branches above
sway gently in the wind, scattering curtains of moonlight into
the canopy above a campfire.
The two travelers had just completed a hunt for wild game,
and have prepared a hearty stew with the day’s bounty. To
offset the gamy flavor of the meat, Adol tosses an assortment
of herbs and spices into the kettle.
The meal concludes with a pot as clean as it was before
they started cooking, save for some loose bones. With full
stomachs, they unwind, relishing the many moments like
these and the many more to come.
Dogi lies on his side, a position he made routine after filling
meals to give his belly room to digest.
Adol draws his sword from the sheath, beginning his own
after-meal routine. The blade reflects the moonlight, casting a
pearl-white ribbon across the soil. The Moon Gem embedded
in its hilt scintillates elegantly with a mystifying beauty that
rivals the moon itself.
Adol's cherished sword, Caliocerion.
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 After acquiring it in Altago, Adol wielded it through
countless trials and tribulations. The unique forging method
lent itself to the arcane power residing within the Moon Gem.
It divides as easily as any regular knife cuts through water–
truly a weapon of immactulate quality.
Adol sharpens Caliocerion attentively on his whetstone
before lightly applying oil from its guard down to its point
on both sides of the blade. He finishes his maintenance by
gently polishing it with wool. Simply cleaning the blemishes
and stains off after battles wouldn't do it justice. Adol repeats
this strict regimen daily, battle or not.
"You really like that sword, don'tcha?" proclaims Dogi,
impressed by Adol's diligence.
"I guess I do," replies Adol, now finished with his daily
cleaning. He gives the blade a swing in the air, satisfied with
his work.
He never had a proclivity for neglecting his weapons, but
it was true that he was especially devoted to the condition
of this blade in particular. This wasn't the first weapon of
legendary caliber Adol acquired. In fact, he possessed several
in his past adventures, but he lost them all invariably after
each—perhaps by virtue of misfortune, or perhaps by some
manner of curse.
But this time will be different. He will care for it and leave
nothing to luck. This time, surely, Adol Christin will not lose
his prized sword.
VIII
ACT I
T he next day, Adol and Dogi continue their journey and
find themselves on a forest path.
A howl echoes through the trees, stopping them in their
tracks. It sounds like wolves. An entire pack of them. And
among them, the faint cry of a girl.
"What's wrong, Adol?" Dogi inquires, detecting Adol's
concern.
"I think someone's in trouble. I'm going to check it out."
"Hey! Wait—!"
Before Dogi could finish warning him, Adol was already
in the wind.
The concerned adventurer soon comes across a girl huddled
at the foot of a tree, shielding her face with her arms and
frightened half to death. As he feared, a pack of ravenous
wolves encircles the girl, teeth bared.
Without a moment's hesitation, Adol draws Caliocerion,
dashing headlong into the pack of wolves. He makes a single
horizontal slash, severing one wolf cleanly in half.
In retaliation, the other wolves turn their attention toward
their new aggressor, now encircling him. Eight wolves
remain. Though severely outnumbered, Adol has been in
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far less favorable situations before. Besides, he has already
succeeded in diverting them away from the girl.
The first two wolves strike in tandem. Adol jumps to dodge
the first, and sidesteps to avoid the second. The third wolf
strikes. Adol cuts it down mid-air, and with a firm kick, sends
the fourth soaring into the air. The remaining four attack all
at once, knowing now not to underestimate their prey. He
retracts his blade behind him before unleashing a cyclone of
lateral swings.
"Haaah!!!"
With each revolution, an eviscerated wolf. Adol glares upon
the remaining wolves, daring them to charge again.
Realizing they had become the prey, the wolves retreat into
the woods, tails tucked between their legs.
After scanning his surroundings for other threats, Adol
wipes Caliocerion and sheathes it. The girl seems frightened,
albeit uninjured. Adol offers her his hand slowly so as not to
alarm her.
"Are you okay?" Adol asks in a reassuring tone.
She looks up, reaches her hand out...and slaps his hand
away.
"What was that for!?" she snaps. The girl isn't shaking with
fear but with anger. She scowls at Adol with such seething
indignation that tears begin streaming down her face.
Adol stammers, uncertain how to respond. He had saved
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THE LOST SWORD
many from certain deaths before, but none returned the favor
with such animosity.
"I was preparing for this for so long, and you ruined it!" the
girl exclaims. She wipes her tears from her face.
Dogi bursts through the nearby brush, winded from his
pursuit of Adol. His fists are raised, ready for a fight. His
eyes dart left and right, and upon seeing the crying girl, he
gives an exasperated sigh. "Aw, c'mon, Adol. You makin' a
poor girl cry again?"
"What do you mean by 'again'?" asks Adol, frowning.
He apologizes profusely to the girl, though still thoroughly
confused.
The girl explains her situation to Adol and Dogi.
"So you put yourself in harm's way on purpose just to test
out some armor!?" Dogi asks, astounded. Adol nods silently,
wondering the same thing.
"That's right. Believe it or not, I'm a blacksmith," she
proclaims.
The two travelers see that the young blacksmith is much
shorter than Adol. It's especially apparent given the thick full-
body suit of armor she's encased in. This might've been her
first time in combat. Her silky, blonde hair extends past her
shoulders, and she wears a guileless expression with youthful
candor, though not without a tinge of skepticism.
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"Huh. So you really forged that armor yourself," observes
Dogi, unable to hide his surprise.
"Its durability makes it seem like it could be heavy, but it's
well-balanced. It's a fine piece of ironwork," praises Adol.
The girl glows with delight. "It sure is. You know your
stuff. What's your name?"
"I'm Adol Christin. I'm an adventurer."
"And I'm Dogi. We're adventure pals," Dogi jokes.
The girl looks the two up and down with dubious curiosity.
"My name is Cesilica Kentia."
"Sorry about earlier, Cesilica," reiterates Adol, "I didn't
know I was interfering."
"You should be sorry. Have you any idea how much
planning that took?" she chides, puffing out her cheeks.
"You're saying you planned on almost being wolf food?"
asks Dogi.
"That was nothing! You can't expect results without taking
risks!”
Dogi’s attempt to make her realize the absurdity in her
justification is to no avail.
Cesilica's eyes are ablaze with ardent passion for her craft,
a fleeting spark soon extinguished by a sudden wave of
melancholy. "But lately, I've been in a bit of a slump. So,
yeah, maybe I was a little desperate."
Dogi chuckles. "So today's little stunt isn't an everyday
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THE LOST SWORD
thing for you."
"That's right. Normally, I'd experiment with boars instead
of wolves."
"And how...is that any safer?" Dogi mutters to Adol,
looking askance at Cesilica.
"I guess I might have taken my grievances out on you
guys... Sorry," she concedes. She turns away, but her words
are sincere. Her stiff demeanor loosens.
"Give me your weapons. I'll make it up to you by fixing
them up." Cesilica grins while holding out her hand. "Consider
yourselves lucky you met me."
Adol nods, unsheathing Caliocerion. Cesilica gasps, eyes
wide as saucers the instant she glimpses the hilt. "Wh-What
in the world is that!?"
"It's a sword... Why?" Dogi answers, puzzled by her
reaction.
"I know it's a sword. I want to know its name!"
"Caliocerion," Adol responds.
Cesilica snatches the sword from Adol. "Caliocerion...
Wow!" She runs her finger down the length of the blade,
ensorcelled by its craftsmanship.
"Um, excuse me, Cesilica..." Adol interjects, not wishing
to disturb her reverie.
"Look at this!" Cesilica motions with her head toward the
blade, not once taking her eyes off it. Her finger wanders
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across the edge of the blade and around the guard.
"Be careful. It's really sharp," Adol advises.
"You think I don't know that? I know what it is. It's a
legendary sword!"
"Oh, is it?"
"Its design resembles a longsword, but its weight distribution
is more akin to a claymore or a rapier. You'd expect it to be
unbalanced, but it's perfect! And not only that—the gem in
the hilt—it's not just an accessory, it's emanating some kind
of energy! This is miraculous! I—" Cesilica's long-winded
adulation shows no sign of relenting.
"It's a good sword," interrupts Adol with a tense smile,
suspecting where she was going with this.
"Adol Christin," Cesilica declares with arms akimbo. Here
it is. Adol takes one step away from Cesilica's assertive
gesture. "Can you give me this sword?"
Adol immediately declines. "I can't do that."
"I'll compensate you, of course." Cesilica confidently
presents two fingers in the air. "How about this much?"
"No." Adol rebukes her without asking how many zeros
she implied.
"Then how about this much?"
Cesilica raises a third finger with absolute certainty that
Adol would fall victim to her exceptional haggling skills.
Adol shakes his head, again declining the supposedly
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THE LOST SWORD
generous offer.
"Ugh! Fine, if you're going to rob me blind, just get on with
it already!" Cesilica adamantly retorts. Her hand trembles as
she extends her thumb and her little finger as well, displaying
all five fingers, fully extended
Adol shakes his head once more. "It's not about the money."
Cesilica takes a moment to digest his words. What could be
more important than money?
Then, it hits her. She falls silent, looking down in
disappointment before releasing a sigh of surrender. "I get it.
You're after my body, aren't you?"
"What...?"
"I've devoted my entire life to blacksmithing, mind, soul,
and body included." With tragic conviction, she sprawls onto
the ground. "Come on, let's get this over with."
"Get...what over with?"
"Mother, Father, forgive me for what I'm about to do."
Cesilica attempts to take what she surely thinks is an
alluring pose, but in her full suit of armor, she only manages
to produce an unflattering contortion. "I just have one request.
Could you have that big guy go somewhere else? I don't think
I can bear the shame of having someone watching..."
"You got it. Well, I'll leave you two to it!" chortles Dogi,
giving Adol a pat on the shoulder before beginning to march
off.
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"Wait, don't go, Dogi!" implores Adol.
"Why are you stopping him?" Cesilica asks.
A brief moment later, she comes to a dreadful realization.
"Wait...you monster!" Her voice shrinks with every word.
"It's just that...it's my first time, and I don't think I can handle
both of you..."
Adol is speechless, afraid that correcting this
misunderstanding would dig himself a deeper hole.
Dogi notices his apprehension and steps in. "That's all right,
miss blacksmith. I'll sit this one out. You two take all the time
in the world."
Thanks, Dogi.
She stammers, wiping her tears, "R-Really...?"
"Sure. I think I saw a stream a ways back. I might just catch
some fish for later—you could join us!" Dogi snickers, giving
her a waggish thumbs up.
Adol has a sinking feeling that he's not going to live this
down. Before things get out of hand, he puts his foot down,
"That's enough Dogi. She doesn't deserve this."
"All right, all right," Dogi chuckles, "I couldn't resist."
Cesilica turns to Adol, struggling to understand their banter.
"Is even this not enough for you, you red-haired brute!?"
she snaps.
"I don't want anything from you. The sword's not for sale.
And that's final."
"So...you're not after my body?"
"No."
"Then why did you let me beg like that!?"
"Sorry..."
Cesilica falls silent.
With every moment, her face turns redder and redder
until she erupts. "How dare you take advantage of my pure,
innocent heart!"
"I didn't do anything..." remarks Adol, defending himself.
Lashing out when embarrassed seems to be Cesilica's
modus operandi. Adol sighs as she continues chastising him.
After Cesilica settles down, she turns her attention back to
the sword.
"Well, tell me then, why don't you want to sell it?" she
probes.
"It's very important to me."
"I guess I understand. As a swordsman, your sword is your
lifeline."
"That's also true, but Caliocerion and I have been through
a lot together. It's not just a sword to me."
"I see, I see..." Cesilica assents. "So nothing I do will
change your mind?"
"No, unfortunately."
"Okay. I understand."

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Cesilica begins gathering her belongings. Adol and Dogi,
relieved that she had finally given up her relentless assault,
pick up their packs in kind. These are still the city's outskirts,
and there's a ways left until they reach the city itself. Only a
few spare hours remain in the day.
"Been a pleasure, kid." Dogi waves.
Adol smiles, "Perhaps we'll meet again."
And the two set off...unbeknownst to them that Cesilica
follows close behind in silence. Adol notices her following
as if she was a stray puppy. When Adol stops, she stops. And
when he continues walking, she follows.
Then Adol stops again...and turns to her.
"Cesilica...?"
"What's the matter? We don't have all day," presses Cesilica.
Adol fears there was a misunderstanding. "Are you
following us?"
"Of course."
There's not a modicum of hesitation in her voice.
"It couldn't hurt, Adol," Dogi laughs cheerfully. "Every
route's a scenic route when you've got company, right?"
Adol yields. "You're right. Okay, she can come with us."
"So? How far you taggin' along? Till we get to the next
town?" asks Dogi as they continue walking.
"Isn't it obvious? Until he gives me that sword!" Cesilica
jabs a finger at Adol. She clearly hasn't given up yet and
doesn't intend to anytime soon.
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Adol reiterates his stance. "I already said that I'm not giving
up this sword—not for money, not for anything. Not this
one."
"You might not give it to me, but if, say, theoretically, you
get attacked by a beast and end up as its dinner, you won't
mind me commandeering it from your corpse, right?"
Adol groans, "For crying out loud..."
"Kid, if we're gonna be dinner, then you may as well be the
appetizer, seein' as you ain't much of a fighter," Dogi jests.
"Don't worry about me. I've got my sturdiest armor on, and
I can just curl up into a ball," assures Cesilica, missing Dogi's
joke. "There's not a single beast with claws or teeth sharp
enough to pierce through my armor."
"That's one way to survive, I guess..."
"Yeah, I know!" she grins with pride. "You can rest assured
knowing that I'll pick up your bones once the beasts finish
licking them clean."
"Thanks...I think?" Dogi chuckles apprehensively.
And with that, their two-person duo became a three-person
caravan.
19

ACT II
A dol, Dogi, and Cesilica sit around tonight's campfire,
each with a skewer of freshly grilled fish and a bowl
of soup.
"Wow! It's flavorful, juicy, and cooked to perfection! And
don't get me started on this crispy skin!" Cesilica happily
guzzles down the remaining broth in her bowl. "And this
soup! How did you make this with only vegetables and
mushrooms!? It's refreshing, savory, and filling, yet it's so
hard not to go back for another sip!"
She greedily reaches for another fish roasting by the fire.
"You've got a hefty appetite for one so small," Dogi
observes, finishing off his fourth fish himself.
"I'm still growing, so I've got to put some meat on these
bones if I want to properly swing my hammer."
"That's the spirit."
Cesilica and Dogi seem to be getting along swimmingly.
"Hey, Dogi, did you catch all these fish? I haven't been this
full in ages!"
"Nah. All I caught was this little guy today," chuckles Dogi,
holding up a single morsel of a fish barely big enough to serve
as bait. He tosses it into the air, catching it in his mouth. He
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gulps it down without chewing.
"Oh, then did you catch them, Adol?" Cesilica inquires.
Enjoying his meal, Adol replies, "Yeah."
"He made the soup too," adds Dogi.
Cesilica turns to Adol. "Hm... Is there anything you can't
do?"
"Well, I've been on the road for a long time. We were also
castaways for a few months, so I know a thing or two about
foraging and cooking with ingredients found in the wild,"
explains Adol.
"Interesting..." Cesilica is thoroughly impressed, though it
doesn't stop her from stuffing her face with fish and soup.
After dinner, Adol feels restless without his daily routine.
Earlier in the day, Adol had agreed to defer the maintenance
of Caliocerion to Cesilica for the day.
Cesilica, on the other hand, snorts with excitement as she
revels in the opportunity bestowed upon her.
Three days pass before they reach the next town. When they
arrive, they find an inn to stay for the night. Neither Dogi nor
Adol have felt the comfort of a bed in a long time.
The next day, they split up to stock up on supplies and sell
pelts and other items they gathered on their travels.
That evening, the three of them sit at a table in a pub for
dinner. Cesilica is the first to comment on the fare.
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"It's not bad for the price, but the food here's kinda bland."
Dogi lets out a hearty laugh. "You a food critic now,
Cesilica?"
"I just think Adol's cooking makes this look like prison
food."
"That's a bit of an overstatement," denies Adol.
"But the drinks! Man, I can't get enough of 'em! And these
pickled beans are the cat's pajamas!" exclaims Dogi as he
tosses a handful of them into his mouth, washing them down
with another pint.
"Take it easy, Dogi," advises Adol.
The three of them enjoy the warm meal and an amicable
conversation while Dogi orders another round.
"I've been wonderin'," Dogi asks Cesilica between flagons,
"what's with that getup?"
Cesilica no longer dons the suit of armor she had on when
they met. Instead, she wears an expertly crafted, demure-
yet-graceful dress adorned with colors that compliment her
complexion. Her golden hair is neatly groomed, and her poise
is dignified. One could mistake her for a noble.
"This is the kind of stuff I wear every day," Cesilica casually
explains. "You didn't think I wore armor everywhere, did
you? That armor I had on earlier is just my merchandise–or
should I say 'was' my merchandise."
"Does that mean you already sold it?" inquires Adol.
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Cesilica responds proudly, "That's right."
"Must've made a tidy sum from that armor if you could
afford a dress like that," says Dogi, admiring the garment.
"No, I made this dress too."
"No kiddin'... That dress would put any other tailor to
shame."
Cesilica sips her beverage, unmoved by the flattery.
"Clothes aren't all that different from armor, so it's just
something I dabble in on the side."
Adol's historical assemblage of armaments weren't limited
to only weapons; he also owned countless shields, accessories,
and armors, so it's no surprise to him that the armor Cesilica
wore sold on their first day in town.
"Speaking of which—that armor—it was meticulously
designed, down to every joint," mentions Adol.
"I'm glad you noticed, Adol! I wouldn't sell it if it wasn't
both beautiful and functional. But you know what ticks me
off? There are some idiots who couldn't appreciate beauty if
it descended from the heavens!"
Cesilica maunders on about aesthetic principles while Dogi
and Adol listen reluctantly. After their meal is finished, the
topic of conversation shifts to their plans for the next day.
"We're leaving tomorrow, right?" asks Cesilica.
Dogi hesitates. "Yup. And you're...taggin' along too, I'm
guessin'?"
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"That goes without saying. But out of curiosity, where are
we going?"
"We don't exactly have a destination in mind, but after we're
past Ispani, we're thinkin' Gllia."
"Gllia... I see..." muses Cesilica.
"Have you been there before?"
"Yes, but before it was annexed by the Romun Empire."
Dogi grumbles, recalling their past encounters with them.
"Romuns, huh...?"
"That reminds me. I heard they were keeping an eye on you
two," mentions Cesilica.
Adol's head sinks. "I never thought we'd be labeled
criminals..."
"Rumors are rumors. Pay 'em no mind," comforts Dogi.
"Speaking of rumors, I heard something interesting about
Gllia," continues Cesilica. "There's a city called Balduq in
Gllia Erdlingen. Apparently, it's got a massive prison."
Dogi scratches his chin. "Balduq, the Prison City. I know
of it."
Cesilica glances around her and leans over the table.
"Yeah. Merchants who've been there claimed there to be
strange ruins deep within the prison with monsters in them,
and that nobody who's ever gone in lived to tell the story,"
she murmurs with a sardonic grin. "They're all just a bunch
of tall tales, if you ask me."
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"Really? That's...very interesting..." muses Adol as all the
possibilities flitter through his imagination.
"Adol...you ain't already fantasizin' about goin' in there, are
ya?" implores Dogi. "I've heard about breakin' out of prisons,
but breakin' in? That's a hard pass for me."
"Me? Breaking into a prison? I'd never...do something like
that," asserts Adol, barely convinced by his own words.
Cesilica laughs, "You're a strange man, Adol."
Dogi chimes in. "I also heard something earlier today as
well. Something that bothered me."
"What's that?" asks Adol.
"Just further down the road outside of town, there's a nest
belonging to a monster bird or somethin'."
"A...monster bird?"
"They say that it can lift a cow into the clouds in a single
swoop."
Cesilica cackles, "Hah, listen to yourselves! Monster bird?
Don't tell me you believe any of that malarky!"
"Actually, if it's a Primordial, then it could..."
Cesilica grimaces. It doesn't seem like Adol was joking.
Dogi folds his arms in thought. "I thought the same thing.
That's why it got my attention."
"What's a Primordial?" asks Cesilica.
"Long story short, they're old, they're dangerous, and
they've got a mouthful of gnashing teeth."
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"Maybe we're worried about nothing," Adol asserts.
"There's no way a Primordial would be in a place like this."
"Yeah. You're probably right."
Cesilica isn't satisfied with their lukewarm explanation, but
she's not interested in prying further either.
"What about you, Adol?" she asks.
He responds, "What about me?"
"Did you hear any rumors in town today?"
"Oh, were we exchanging rumors we heard?"
"Ugh. Did you hear any or not!?"
"Well... I did, but it's not that interesting."
"Just spit it out already!"
"Uh, something about bandits running rampant."
Dogi nods. "Nothin' new about that."
Cesilica mimics Dogi's nod. "Yeah, tell me something I
don't know."
"And what else, Adol?" continues Dogi.
"That's it," concludes Adol.
Dogi and Cesilica are dumbfounded, faces awash with
vacant stares.
"I said it wasn't interesting." Adol shrugs.
"Yeah...but most people say that for dramatic effect!"
exclaims Cesilica.
Dogi expresses his disappointment. "I was hopin' it'd be
somethin' that would blow the monster bird thing outta the
water."
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"I'm not sure what you two were expecting..." sighs Adol
before changing the subject. "You were already traveling on
your own when you met us, right, Cesilica?"
"That's right."
"We don't mind you traveling with us, but don't you have
anywhere else you have to be?"
"Nope. I'm in the same boat as you guys. I wasn't heading
anywhere in particular."
"Oh, are you a wandering blacksmith then? From what I
know of them, they go from town to town, sellin' their works
to spread their name."
"No, I'm doing it for training. Each nation has its own
forging techniques and materials specific to that region.
I'm going to learn all those techniques and become the best
blacksmith in the world."
Dogi and Adol are in awe at her dedication. In hindsight,
they now understand why she went through such great lengths
to test her armor.
"You've got moxie, kid! How about a drink on me?" Dogi
beams, patting her on the back.
"No, thanks. It's nothing to write home about. That's what
my father did, so I'm doing it too." A shroud of melancholy
hangs over her head.
"Your father was also a blacksmith?" asks Adol.
"Yes. The Kentia lineage is one of celebrated blacksmiths.
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What it lacks in influence, it makes up for in acclaim." adulthood. Cesilica's mood lightened after hearing Adol's
"Hm. I didn't take you for the ritzy type," Dogi remarks. "I story.
guess you ain't like any of the blacksmiths I know." "I'll drink to that. Cheers, Adol!" proclaims Dogi, his third
"Father was exceptionally gifted, even within the family. attempt at getting someone to drink with him.
They called him a prodigy." "I think I've had enough for today."
"That's why you're traveling—to follow in your dad's Undeterred, Dogi pours a drink for him anyway.
footsteps."
"Yes."
Cesilica's expression saddens the more she speaks about her
father. Dogi attempts again to cheer her up.
"You're all right, kid. How about a drink now?"
"I said no, thanks."
Cesilica's story reminds Adol of his own past.
"You and I have a lot in common," he states.
"Like what?" It’s uncommon for someone to commiserate
with her, much less relate to her unusual upbringing.
"My dad was a traveling novelist. He would go from region
to region collecting literature and writing travelogues. Most
of my knowledge about the world outside of our tiny village
was from him. I was captivated by the prospect of adventure.
That might be why I'm an errant adventurer today."
"Really...?"
"Yeah. There's nothing wrong with looking up to your
parents or even wanting to emulate them." Adol purposefully
omitted the tidbit about things changing as you approach

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ACT III
L ater that night, Adol carries the sleeping Dogi to his room
before returning to the bar. As much as he wants to, Adol
is unable to turn in for the night. Cesilica demanded that he
come straight back to the bar, and he feels guilty for leaving
her there by herself.
Regardless, he makes an attempt at convincing her to return
to the inn as well. "It's getting late, Cesilica. How about
hitting the hay soon?"
"Adoooool... You *hic* came back!" She slumps over the
table, utensils and bowls scattered about. She reaches her
arms toward Adol, clumsily grasping at the air.
"Are you drunk? I don't remember you having any
alcohol..."
"Alcohol!? A lady like me!? Psssh, I would *hic* never!"
Dogi had drunk everything that was ordered before he left,
and it didn't look like there were any new flagons on the
table. But there is something on the table: a half-empty saucer
formerly home to a full serving of pickled beans. Pickled
beans are a regional Ispani specialty made by marinating
beans in fruit wine, and a favorite snack in Ispani bars.
Depending on where in Ispani the dish is served, the wines
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used are fermented from different local fruits. Adol knows
this because Dogi made it a point to visit bars in every
province to taste the pickled beans unique to each. He had
seen many a bar patron devour plate after plate of them, but
he had never seen someone actually become inebriated just
from a handful alone.
Cesilica was in no mood to retire for the night before the
beans, and now, she’s even less so.
Adol waves down the passing waitress. He orders a glass
of water.
"Adoool! Please, pretty please, give me Caliocerion!"
Cesilica implores.
"It's going to be the same answer every time: No."
"Just let me hold it then! I'll *hic* clean it for you!" Cesilica
holds out her hands eagerly.
"Sorry, but not right now."
"What? Why not!?" she whines.
"There's no way I'm handing you a sword while you're
drunk."
Cesilica slams her hands down on the table, drawing
sidelong glances of other patrons. "I'm not a baby, you know!"
"That's not what I'm saying."
The waitress returns with a glass of water. Cesilica
reaches for the half-empty bowl of beans again, but Adol
surreptitiously replaces it with the water. Cesilica clutches
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the glass and guzzles it down before wiping the nonexistent
beer head from her lips with her sleeve.
She stands up, placing one foot firmly upon her chair as she
points a sharp finger directly at Adol's face.
"I'm a grown adult, I'll have you know. It's uncouth to take
advantage of a lady like me."
Adol lowers his head, hoping anyone listening to her tirade
wouldn't think it was him she was talking about.
Cesilica doesn't seem to notice, much less care.
"Furthermore, I am a full-fledged blacksmith who managed
to sell all her merchandise today," she gloats.
"You sure did." Adol nods, popping a pickled bean into
his mouth.
"I said, I sold it all."
"Yeah."
"I...sold..." Cesilica begins to bawl hysterically.
"C-Cesilica?"
Adol the Red, the notorious adventurer who felled countless
adversaries, gods included, is wholly stupefied before this
crying girl.
"What's that guy doing to that poor girl!? He's making her
cry!" The once-furtive murmurs of the other patrons escalate
to accusatory chatter.
Cesilica sniffs and wipes her tears.
Adol smiles reassuringly and attempts to console her. "Are
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you all right?"
"They didn't even look at my merchandise at first! All
because I was a little girl. But boy did they change their tune
once they heard the name 'Kentia'!"
"Is that when you sold everything?"
"That's right. Normally, I don't rely on my family name
to close a deal, but I wanted to get the sale done in the little
time we had in this town. They didn't even know what they
were buying. They only cared about the name stamped on it."
Cesilica hangs her head, fists clenched at her sides.
"But isn't that a good thing? You deserved to sell that armor.
It was nothing less than a masterwork."
Cesilica fumes at Adol's words. It's the very thing she was
tired of hearing time and time again. "If it was really that
good, then they would've known it immediately! It shouldn't
matter who forged it! It just means that I'm not good enough
on my own..."
"Not everyone can tell the difference between a good and a
bad piece of equipment," Adol remarks, "but I've seen enough
to know that yours are among the best money can buy. And
that's the honest truth."
A smile begins to sprout on her face, but it quickly sinks
back into a frown. "Still, they're not as good as my Father's
or Caliocerion."
It's common, even admirable for one to admire the work
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of their parents, but it's unrealistic at best to believe that it's
possible to rival the lost techniques that forged the legendary
weapons Adol's gotten his hands on. It has nothing to do with
how good the blacksmith is; it's simply impossible. Even so,
Adol refrains from mentioning it. There's no reason to get in
the way of Cesilica's desire to improve her skills.
"I want to be the best. I won't settle with being good or
even one of the best, I want to be the single best blacksmith
in the world," she declares, tears streaming down her face.
Her words are too painful to speak without choking her. "But
no matter how hard I try, I can't improve, and I don't know
why... How can I show myself to Father like this?"
And there it was—the underlying dilemma. Now, Adol was
beginning to understand Cesilica's cynicism.
His tactfulness is overpowered by his curiosity. "What
happened to your dad?" he asks.
Cesilica would normally take offense to such insensitivity,
but as she turns to Adol to rake him over the coals, she sees
only unadulterated sincerity. Maybe it's the alcohol, or maybe
it's something else, but she gives in and tells him what he
wants to know.
"Remember when I said my father traveled the world once?
The truth is, he did it not once, but twice."
"Twice?" asks Adol intently.
"Yes. The first time he left was when he was young, before
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he met my mom. It was during his travels that he met her.
After that, he stopped traveling, took her home, and they
got married," Cesilica reminisces with a gentle smile. She
chuckles sadly. "The second time was the day he told me he
had nothing more to teach me. And that's the last time I ever
saw him."
"So your father is..."
Before Adol can assume the worst, Cesilica shakes her
head. "He's not dead. Sometimes when I pass through cities,
I see merchants selling things he made. He must still be out
there somewhere."
Adol nods sympathetically.
"I waited for him, but he never came home. I think he didn't
want to see me because he didn't approve of my skills. That's
what made me decide to look for him myself."
The waitress stops by with another glass of water and sets
it on the table, glancing at the two to ensure things are under
control. Cesilica snatches up the glass and gulps the water
down. She coughs with a look of revulsion.
"What kind of water is this? It has no taste. How bizarre."
Adol furrows his brow in confusion. Where does she come
from where water has taste?
Cesilica disregards the minor oddity. "Anyway, I thought
I'd polish up my skills while I was looking for him. If I can't
find him, then I'll get so famous, he'll have no choice but to
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find me! One way or another, I'm going to see him again."
A steadfast resolve. It was a farfetched fool's errand, but
she believed it with every fiber of her being. That alone could
very well turn this pipe dream into reality.
Cesilica continues through tears, "But it was all for nothing.
Sure, I learned some techniques, but I'm still missing that
something I need to forge a real masterwork," she sobs. "As
long as I'm not good enough, he's not going to want to see
me..."
Cesilica had mentioned she was in a slump when they first
met. This must be why. She's always been headstrong; it
wasn't a front, but her survival strategy. All she wanted was
to see her father again. If not for her perseverance, she might
not have made it this far.
"Cesilica..." Adol starts. He has a solution in mind.
"I-I'm fine, so I don't want you patronizing me."
"I want to help you look for your father," he offers, drawing
a surprised look from Cesilica.
"You will...?"
"Yes."
"But why?"
"I can't say I know for sure, but I see how determined you
are, and it makes me want to help you achieve your dream."
Cesilica wipes her tears, a gesture Adol is quite familiar
with by now. She blushes, realizing how many of her secrets
she had just divulged to him, and how he decided to humor
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her anyway. In shame, she turns her head away to feign
contempt.
"You really are a pushover, aren't you?" she pouts.
Adol laughs, "I get that a lot, actually."
A silent moment of respite passes between them.
"So...you really want to help me?" Cesilica asks softly with
an eager hesitation.
"That's right. I meant every word."
Cesilica looks down, twiddling her fingers. Adol catches a
glimpse of a concealed smile.
"But you don't have to," asserts Cesilica calmly. "I decided
that I was going to find my Father myself by honing my skills
as a blacksmith."
"Then I'll help you do that too," maintains Adol.
"Really? You'll help me with blacksmithing?" Cesilica
beams, unable to contain her mirth. "Okay. I accept you as
my assistant!"
Adol is taken aback. "Uh, all right, but I don't know much
about smithing." He scratches his head. "I can help you with
your research, but I can't give you Caliocerion."
"I wasn't going to ask for it!" Cesilica protests, then more
quietly, "Well, I wouldn't say no if you offered..."
She stands on her chair, now towering over the seated Adol.
She's taking this master-assistant thing with fervent gusto.
"Okay, assistant," she commands, "you're going to test my
new equipment in my place!"
37

ACT IV
A dol, Dogi, and Cesilica trek through the mountain trails,
running a day behind their intended schedule.
"Sorry about the sudden change of plans, Dogi," apologizes
Adol.
Dogi guffaws. "Don't sweat it. I'd be worried if you didn't
get us caught up in something. Wouldn't be an adventurer if
everything went as planned."
Wasn't that the gospel truth.
"And besides, she's our friend. When a friend needs a
helping hand, we give 'em two," he chuckles.
They would've left yesterday, but Cesilica had rented
a smithy to forge a variety of equipment that now needed
field testing. Adol and Dogi find themselves following the
intrepid Cesilica, who marches off the beaten path deep into
the mountains.
"Hurry up, slowpokes!" she shouts at the two behind her.
They struggle to keep up with Cesilica, both encumbered
by the arsenal she forged the day before, not to mention the
baggage she had them lug all the way up the mountain. Adol
had agreed to help her test her equipment, but this isn't exactly
what he had in mind.
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Cesilica dons her light leather cuirass. It has an elegant
design suitable for everyday wear. She claimed it was more
durable than steel yet light as leather, making it one of her
favorite armors.
As Cesilica trudges along, anxious to test her work, Dogi
and Adol scramble after her.
A hunter they had met the day before informed them of
some spots favored by local beasts. Upon arriving at the
designated location, Dogi and Cesilica hide in the brush near a
small glade in the woods. The plan is to observe Adol's battle
from a distance, and should Adol find himself in trouble,
they're to come out of hiding and aid him. Of course, Dogi
knows it won't come to that.
Adol sets a bundle of special herbs aflame in the center of
the glade. The combined scent of these herbs is known to
attract beasts when burned.
After a short period of waiting, Cesilica murmurs,
"Something's here!"
A large shadow darts through the trees. The branches
tremble as it passes. It emerges from the wood, towering
over Adol.
It's a bear, at least three melye tall. There's a distinct pattern
on its fur which Adol recognizes. It's an elgari bear native
to central Eresia. They're omnivorous and aren't known to
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attack humans, so it must've been aggravated by the scent
of the herbs. And it certainly isn't happy about it in the least.
It bellows a ferocious roar before felling a nearby tree with
a single strike of its enormous claws in a show of strength.
Adol had witnessed an elgari bear's strength before and
knows they are capable of turning boulders into rubble. But
where it excels in strength, it lacks in agility. If things go
south, they can hightail it with relative ease. It's perfect for
testing the durability of armor and weapons.
"Let's get this started," Cesilica whispers to herself,
clenching her fists in anticipation. In that moment, she spots
a second bear emerging quietly from behind Adol.
"Adol! There's another—" She attempts to warn Adol, but
Dogi covers her mouth. He knows that if the bears catch
wind of Cesilica, Adol would have a far more difficult time
dealing with them. A second bear makes things a little more
complicated. They can't escape as easily as they had planned,
making the operation twice as risky.
Cesilica brushes Dogi's hand away and whispers with
desperate urgency, "What do you suggest we do!? We have
to save him, right?"
Dogi, on the other hand, is as calm as a pikkard relaxing
on the beach on a summer day. "It'll be fine," he assures her.
Adol notices the second bear and positions himself in
fighting position away from them to keep both in his sights.
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It isn't an ideal situation, but he'll manage...or so he thinks.
From the woods comes a series of thundering quakes, each
tremor louder than the last.
Then silence.
And suddenly, a deafening crash echoes through the
entire forest as several trees are swept aside like sticks in a
hurricane. In the wake of this destruction is a single elgari
bear, nearly five melye tall, towering over Adol. This must
be the leader of the other two.
Cesilica swallows her disappointment. They can't continue
the mission like this.
She takes a deep breath to give Adol the signal to retreat,
but before she can, Adol raises his hand into the air, gesturing
to the two hiding in the bush behind him not to take action.
"I've got this! I'm going to fight them!" Adol's voice
resonates through the air amidst the growling of the three
bears surrounding him.
This guy's an idiot, Cesilica thinks to herself, This isn't a
test, it's suicide.
As if reading her mind, Adol glances back, a confident
smirk stretched across one cheek.
Or maybe he does have a chance…
The three bears close in on Adol, a similar scenario from
a day not too long ago, though Cesilica was in Adol's place.
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They circle their prey with a steady rhythm, synchronized,
leaving no opportunity to escape.
Despite his plight, Adol keeps his sword sheathed. He
wields a shield strapped to his right wrist. He recalls the plan:
to first test the durability of the shield before resorting to
weapons.
Cesilica marvels at Adol's dedication despite the
circumstances.
Adol charges shield-first into one of the bears. Reflexively,
it strikes directly down upon Adol. He raises the shield above
his head, absorbing the impact of the blow. It's as if the weight
of a mountain is bearing down upon him. He shifts his feet to
the side before diverting the blow into the ground.
As if anticipating this maneuver, the second bear lunges,
attempting to catch Adol off balance. Adol pivots on his left
foot to dodge the strike before leaping back. When the third
bear takes a swing at his new position from the right, he
deflects with the shield, leaping back in an acrobatic flip with
the momentum of the attack.
Cesilica gasps in admiration. She finds it remarkable that
Adol's nimbleness allows him to defend against all three
bears.
After evading the onslaught for a while, Adol retreats to
a safe distance and examines the shield. Impressive. Not
even a scratch, though it might've been because he used the
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shield to divert attacks before the full weight of each blow
was absorbed. It's not enough to test the full capabilities of
the shield.
The second bear charges in a rage. Adol plants his back foot
firmly in the dirt behind him and raises the shield directly
between him and the charging bear. With a crash that sends
shockwaves through the trees, the bear’s claw makes contact
with the shield. A direct hit. Adol's feet dig into the dirt from
the collision, but he doesn't buckle.
Without warning, a glint catches his eye from above. Adol
instinctively dodges, unable to reposition the shield to deflect
the overhead attack. The claw slices through the air before
smashing into the soil, carving deep gashes that were meant
for Adol.
This hunt isn't over yet.
The larger bear observed Adol's tendencies with every
sidestep and parry. It anticipates his landing destination, both
claws high in the air. It's too late to dodge. The claws descend
like a meteor upon Adol. He quickly raises the shield above
him just as he did with the first bear.
A thunderous BANG unleashes a shockwave of dust into
the air.
Dogi and Cesilica wait, holding their breath as the cloud
settles.
When it does, there's a crater in the ground where the bear
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struck, but no Adol. At the corner of their eyes, they see Adol
some distance away from the bears, brushing the dust from
his shoulders.
He examines the shield enthusiastically. This time, there are
several shallow, parallel gashes in it left by the claws, but the
overall structural integrity of the shield is unimpaired. Adol
waves the shield in the air, gesturing to Cesilica that the first
phase of the test had been completed.
In response, Cesilica opens a pocket-sized mirror she carries
in her satchel, and uses it to reflect light in his direction.
The second phase, fortunately, had already been completed
during the first test. Adol was to focus on evasive tactics to
see how easily one could move while wearing the shield. As
far as Cesilica is concerned, Adol had more than successfully
demonstrated that with flying colors. The design proves
impeccable...
Adol raises his hands into the air, forming a triangle with
his thumbs and forefingers.
Cesilica grumbles. This was the sign indicating less-than-
exceptional performance.
What could've been the problem...? Cesilica speculates.
No, now's not the time for brainstorming.
She signals again with the mirror. Proceed to the third
phase.
Adol sets the shield aside, along with the heavy segments of
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the armor he was wearing. It's time to put the weapons to the
test. Of course, this meant the weapons Cesilica had forged,
not Caliocerion.
Cesilica feels it's almost sacrilegious for him to wield
a sword that isn't Caliocerion, but Adol was the one who
insisted on testing weapons too. Besides, it could serve as a
reminder not to take Caliocerion for granted.
He unsheathes the blade.
This would be Cesilica's first time witnessing Adol fight
since he rescued her on the day they met. Since then, they
haven't encountered anything that would warrant him drawing
his sword, aside from the everyday hunting of small game.
Even now, in the midst of very real danger, or what Cesilica
thought of as dangerous, he never takes the offensive.
She can finally observe the spectacle from a front-row seat.
His stance, his composure…
The sight could only be described as beautiful...simply
beautiful.
It's nothing like the beauty of a traditional sword dance,
a graceful flourish of blades accompanied by rhythmic
drumming. No, this is beautiful in that each and every
movement is driven by intent and purpose. From the way he
shifts his weight from foot to foot in every step, to the way
his eyes scan his surroundings to minimize blind spots, every
part working in harmony toward a single goal: victory.
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So that's why he discarded the armor. It would only restrict
him. Cesilica realizes.
What surprises Cesilica most is the way he wields the sword
like it's an extension of his own body, as if he had fought a
hundred battles with this very sword before. She's positive
this is the first time he's so much as touched the blade, and yet,
he understands it immediately. Its weight, shape, sharpness,
balance...perhaps even more than the blade's creator herself.
Cesilica has always forged weapons to serve as extensions of
their wielders, but Adol is the first to ever fully embrace it.
Beyond the sword itself, he knows how to distance himself
from his target according to the blade's length, and he knows
when and where to strike, which angle of the blade exerts
the most force. This is true beauty only a blacksmith could
appreciate.
However, what Cesilica fails to understand is Adol's
swordplay. It's a style she's never seen before, a style that
she can only explain as an amalgamation of sword styles
found all across the world. No master of any single style
could comprehend it or teach it. Only Adol the Red, traveler
of the world and survivor of countless trials, could've adopted
such a style.
Cesilica trembles as she imagines the hardships he must
have gone through. She's at a loss for words, entranced by
the performance unfolding before her.
46
ACT V
T he three sit around a campfire in the evening recounting
the day's experiment. A kettle sits atop the fire, bubbling
peacefully as their meal stews. The aroma of bear meat, wild
vegetables, spices, and mushrooms wafts from within.
They recollect how Adol made quick work of all three bears
so soon after drawing the blade.
It took but a single thrust into a vital point to fell each of
the first two bears. The third bear, the largest, refused to go
down after several blows but eventually succumbed when
Adol dealt a decisive strike to the neck.
The real battle came after when they were skinning the thick
fur from all three elgari bears. Every part would be used in
some way or another. The meat, while gamy, is palatable with
the right cooking methods. The organs are coveted for their
medicinal properties. The claws and teeth could be used to
make accessories, but it was the highly valuable and highly
lustrous elgari pelt that made this expedition truly lucrative.
After amassing these spoils of their hunt, they found
themselves in another conundrum: how would they return
with the meat of three bears in addition to the equipment
they tested?
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Their solution was simple but apt: they would have a
magnificent feast that night, and the three would stuff
themselves with as much elgari bear meat they could eat.
Cesilica hunches over the fire, ogling the kettle.
"Is it ready yet?" she asks, drooling.
Adol stirs the stew with the wooden spoon he had brought.
He lifts a spoonful, exposing glistening chunks of tender
meat and vegetables. Specks of herbs and spices they used
to counteract the gaminess line the thickened broth.
"Yeah," says Adol, "that should do it."
"Time to dig in!" celebrates Dogi, bowl and spoon already
in hand.
Adol spoons heaping servings for Dogi and Cesilica before
serving himself, and the three impatiently begin eating.
Cesilica fawns over the meal in pure bliss.
"How can I describe this...?" she says, her words garbled as
she chews, "I know! It's an explosion!"
"An explosion?" Dogi asks absently, too focused on
shoveling stew into his mouth.
"Yup, a great big explosion! Like an erupting volcano!"
Adol can't begin to decipher Cesilica's analogy. He laughs
along as he scoops several more chunks of raw bear meat
into the stew.
"It punches you in the face with rich, meaty flavor! The
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spices and the meat are like two rival gladiators motivating
each other to get stronger! And not to mention the textures.
It's all so good! You realize this, right Adol!?
"After making this so many times, I'd like to think that I
do," Adol chuckles.
After finishing her speech, Cesilica scarfs down the rest of
her bowl without another word. And then another bowl. And
another. Dogi and Cesilica clean out every last drop of the
pot faster than Adol can add ingredients.
"Slow down, you two. We have more than enough meat to
last us the week," reassures Adol.
After the stew was finished, it's back to business.
"The shield performed well enough, but the armor was still
a bit lacking," Cesilica says in contemplation. "What do you
think, Adol?"
"Well, I actually found it to be more flexible than most I've
worn, but the joints felt a little stiff."
"I crafted it based on observations I made when watching
soldiers train," Cesilica says, "so it makes sense a master
swordsman like you would find it limiting. You move quite
a bit more than your average swordsman would."
"The sword has the opposite problem. It's sharp, light,
balanced, and easy to wield. Maybe too easy. If the sword's
point of balance was a bit closer to the point of the blade, it
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would allow the user to put more weight behind each strike."
"More weight, more difficult to wield... I never thought
about it like that," mulls Cesilica.
The two continue their discussion until sunset. Meanwhile,
Dogi sleeps nearby on his bedroll, snoring loudly. A bare-
knuckle purist, he doesn't have the same penchant for
weapons and armor that Adol does, and he had enough bear
stew to put him in hibernation for a month.
The stars sparkle in the sky, and the serene cooing of forest
critters lingers beyond the glade as the campfire crackles and
snaps.
Cesilica lies on her bedroll, squirming restlessly. She turns
on her back toward the fire. Adol tends to it while keeping
watch.
She reflects on the day's battle, still perplexed how someone
so carefree—so unburdened by greed or ambition—could
fight with such ferocity.
He's kind of cool... Cesilica thinks before catching herself.
No, you idiot! What are you thinking!?
She focuses her train of thought. The key is in the way Adol
fought—the key to getting her out of her slump. It's there, but
she doesn't quite grasp what exactly it is yet. She just knows
it's close.
There's only one thing left to do.
Finding her newfound resolve, she shuts her eyes for the
night.
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Days pass quickly. After they had arrived at the next town,
Cesilica rented a smithy to craft new equipment and reinforce
their existing pieces. They would depart from the town to test
the new equipment, and proceed to the next town. This would
be their routine for the next few weeks.
Today, like any other day, the three prepare to set course
for a new town. As they depart, Cesilica makes a sudden
announcement.
"Thank you, you two. This is where we part ways."
This takes Adol and Dogi by surprise.
"Something happen?" inquires Dogi.
"You've helped me conduct all the tests I needed," she
states. "That's all there is to it."
"Why didn't you tell us earlier?" asks Adol.
Cesilica's expression darkens. "Because it would've been
too hard," she says, voice trembling. "I was having too much
fun traveling with you two..."
Adol and Dogi give each other a quick smile.
Dogi pats Cesilica on the back. "You've got heart, kid."
"We're going to miss you, Cesilica," adds Adol.
Cesilica turns away, concealing her embarrassment.
"Anybody would be sad to lose their assistants. No need to
get all worked up about it."
You're the only one getting worked up... thinks Adol.
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All three wait for someone else to say good-bye first. An
awkward silence ensues.
Cesilica is the first to break the silence. "So, uh, thanks.
As a blacksmith, you've done me a great service. I guess I
should've forged you something, but I don't think I'm capable
of making something good enough to return the favor I owe
you."
"Aw. We're travel buddies. That's what we do. We look out
for each other. Ain't that right, Adol?" Dogi laughs, giving
Adol a slap on the back.
"That's right. You don't owe us anything," assures Adol.
"You've given us plenty already."
Indeed, Cesilica had maintained and polished their
equipment, making them better than they were before she
came along, and provided them with accessories and other
trinkets she had made. Still, she insists it wasn't enough to
repay them.
"I'll have to repay this debt another time," she asserts. "I
promise I will."
She plants her left hand firmly at her waist, her right thumb
coming up to her chest as she proudly points to herself.
"You'd better remember the name Cesilica Kentia," she
proclaims. "I'm going to forge something legendary one day."
"I don't think we could forget if we tried," chuckles Dogi.
Adol nods in agreement. "We'll always remember you."
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And with this heartfelt farewell, the intrepid blacksmith
parts ways with her traveling companions.
She purposely chooses the path opposite Adol and Dogi.
She's reluctant to leave them, and she had lied to them about
having nothing else to test. In fact, she's always devising new
things to try, so there would be no end to the experiments
if she'd stayed with them. Combined with the observational
data she gleaned from Adol's battles, she could achieve
breakthrough after breakthrough. On top of that, she still
hasn't found that key she was looking for, whatever it is.
But this is for the best. In the short time they were together,
Cesilica began to rely heavily on Adol for her work, which
would've eventually stifled her ability to improve her skills
on her own.
The next time I see them, I'm going to be the best blacksmith
in the world!
Accompanied by only her newfound determination, Cesilica
takes the next junction toward a small mountain road.
53

ACT VI
C esilica blinks awake. She doesn't recognize her
surroundings.
She's in a small, cell-like room roughly carved from the
stone all around her. Wooden boxes and splintered planks
lay strewn across the cold stone floor.
As she slowly collects her memories, a piercing headache
befalls her. She's immediately reminded of yesterday's events.
After she took to the mountain path alone, she had been
walking for several hours when she heard a voice, "Hey, kid!"
For an instant, she hoped it was Dogi before realizing that
was unlikely. The voice was neither as gentle as Dogi's, nor
as sonorous. On the contrary, it was baleful and malicious.
Cesilica turned to the man calling her. He was disheveled
and reeked of alcohol and stagnant blood.
"Can I help you?" she asked hesitantly. She didn't want to
talk to him, but she figured the safest thing to do was comply.
"You must not be from around here, kid. This is our turf,"
the man sneered. "Anyone fixin' to pass through's liable to
pay a toll. I'll take...everything you got on ya!"
The bushes rustled. From them emerged over ten men
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armed to the teeth with weapons.
Ugh. What shoddy craftsmanship. Cesilica groaned to
herself. No, this is no time to be scrutinizing their weapons!
It's just her luck. She had parted with Adol and Dogi not
half a day before. There was nothing she could do. She hadn't
the energy nor the means to contest ten men, armed or not.
"I'll give you my money, just let me pass," she stated calmly.
"Good choice. Now hand it over."
She was relieved they were only after her money. She
wanted to be done with these hooligans and proceed on her
journey. The closer they got, the more pungent their odors
became.
Cesilica withdrew the money from her satchel.
"Wait, Boss!" one of the men shouted.
Oh no. Please, just take the money and go.
"This girl's definitely a noble!"
What?
"This money's just a measly drop in an ocean of riches. If
we put her up for ransom, we can make a fortune and live it
up in town with the other big shots!"
"Hm... You have a point," the first bandit muttered.
The Kentias were well-regarded throughout the continent,
but they were far from being nobles, let alone have the money
for ransom. Besides, the Kentias were far, far away from this
remote neck of the woods.
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"A noble!? I'm not a—" she started, but was interrupted by
a bandit.
"Don't play dumb with us! We ain't as gullible as ya
might think! Only a noble could afford a getup like that," he
declared, gesturing at her coat.
Cesilica looked down. She was wearing the fur coat she
crafted from the elgari bear pelts. She went so far as to
embroider it. It didn't cross her mind at first because she wore
it every day.
The three elgari bears yielded enough pelts for Cesilica to
make one for Dogi and Adol both, but they declined, claiming
expensive vanities were wasted on them.
She understood now why they mistook her for a noble.
"I'm really not a noble. I made this coat myself actually—"
"Made a coat from elgari bear pelt you just happened to
come across? You ain't foolin' us, little lady."
Can't argue with that...
And that's how Cesilica came to be imprisoned in this dusty
cell somewhere within the bandit hideout. It could've been a
makeshift prison or some kind of out-of-commission storage
room.
She grumbles with exasperation. It was one thing to be
mugged, but it was another to be mistaken for a noble and
kidnapped for ransom. Of all the things that could've gone
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wrong, this was surely the worst. Despite that, she isn't
afraid; not like how she would've been before she met Adol.
She is now steadfast in her ambition of becoming the best
blacksmith in the world worthy of her father's praise.
This is merely a setback. A really, really inconvenient
setback.
All this idle time alone gives Cesilica a silent moment
of contemplation. Her thoughts meander into the past. She
recalls something her father taught her: "Everything you forge
is perfect, but nothing more."
At the time, Cesilica didn't know what to make of it, and
that hadn't changed after all these years. It shall be the first
question she'll ask him when she sees him again.
If she sees him again.
Cesilica shakes her head. Get a grip.
But it's too late. The fear of not being able to see her father
again sets in, and it's all she can think about.
Maybe her luck will turn around and the bandits will find
out there's nobody to demand a ransom from. Then it'll be a
simple matter of letting her go…
...As if. What did she expect? That the bandits would cut
her loose and say, "Sorry, miss, it was our misunderstanding!
Have a nice day!"
Nobody can help her—not Adol, not Dogi. Cesilica has
only herself to depend on now.
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The room she's held captive in is small, claustrophobic,
even. There's a single door made up of vertical wooden rods
reinforced with iron chains. No doubt it was made hastily
out of scraps. Beyond the door is a tunnel-like hallway, the
walls roughly carved away in the same way her cell is. She
must be underground or in a cave. If only she had her favorite
hammer, she could smash the door to pieces in an instant.
Alas, her satchel is nowhere in sight.
Even if Cesilica knew where her stuff is being kept, there
wouldn't be enough time to devise a plan to get to it before
they find out she isn't a noble. And once they do, she'll be of
no more use to them alive. Or maybe...they'll make her pay
some other way.
She sits in the corner of her cell, hugging her knees, her
composure washed away by a deluge of despair.
If I die, I'll never make another sword, shield, or armor...
I'll never see Father again…
If Adol were here, he'd turn these thugs into bandit pies...
But that was wishful thinking.
Suddenly, she hears alarmed shouts followed by rapid
footsteps coming from down the hall, then the unmistakable
sound of clashing steel. It must be an intruder.
Maybe it really is Adol!
No. Don't get your hopes up, Cesilica. Any hopes you have
are sure to be dashed by the harsh reality of your grisly fate…
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A deafening crash rattles the cell. The room fills with dust
and debris. Where the door once stood is now a gaping hole.
In that hole stands a majestic figure of a well-built man.
"Hey, kid. Miss me?"
"Dogi!!!" cries Cesilica in relief.
Dogi chuckles. "Disappointed I'm not Adol?"
"What? No! How did you get here?" Cesilica glances
around Dogi. "What did you break that wall with?"
"They don't call me 'Dogi the Wallcrusher' for nothin'," he
grins, raising a fist. "I've sneezed down bigger walls."
Cesilica sighs. How does one learn they're proficient in
wall-breaking?
"If you were wonderin', Adol's here too. He was the
distraction," says Dogi.
Cesilica quickly peeks her head out of the hole in the wall,
scanning side to side for Adol.
"C'mon. Let's get out of here," asserts Dogi, stepping
outside.
Cesilica follows closely behind. "After you," she replies.
The two tiptoe down the ill-lit tunnel, peeking around
corners to check for bandits.
"Hey, how did you know I was in trouble?" asks Cesilica.
"Funny story. After we parted ways, Adol claimed he'd
forgotten to ask you somethin'," replies Dogi. "Before I knew
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it, we were skedaddlin' after ya."
"I see. And what was it that he needed to ask me?"
"Somethin' 'bout your dad's name."
"Oh, that's right. I never did tell you guys, did I?"
Cesilica and Dogi chat as they continue toward the entrance
of the tunnel.
Dogi explains how he and Adol found her. "After tracin'
your footsteps for a while, we spotted some of your tools
lyin' along the trail."
"Those barbarians!" shouts Cesilica before remembering
they were supposed to be taking the stealthy approach.
Dogi hands Cesilica her satchel full of her tools. "Yeah,
'course I picked 'em up for ya."
"Oh! My precious, beautiful babies! Did they hurt you!?"
Cesilica embraces her tools while rubbing her cheeks on
them.
"Most of these are more valuable than anything they have
in this dump. Those dimwits probably couldn't tell brass from
gold," she scoffs.
"You can say that again," Dogi concurs. "Findin' you was
a walk in the park, what with all their tracks and your bread
crumb trail of tools and gadgets."
"I didn't know you guys were well-versed in infiltration
tactics too."
"Infiltration tactics?" laughs Dogi. "If that's what you wanna
call it. Adol's got a knack for figurin' things out. He always
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knows how to solve those mind-bogglin' labyrinth puzzles."
"Puzzles, huh...?"
After every corner is another hallway, and another corner
after that. No exit in sight.
"Speaking of labyrinth puzzles, you sure this isn't one of
them?" grumbles Cesilica.
"Hah. You're tellin' me. Findin' you in this cave wasn't easy.
But boy, was this cave bigger than I expected."
"You knew about this place?"
"Yeah. Adol overheard some folks in town talkin' about it.
Said there were bandits livin' here now, but it used to be a
nest for some enormous monsters."
Cesilica shudders. "Enormous...? Just how enormous,
exactly?"
"Dunno, probably a lot bigger than elgari bears, by the looks
of these tunnels."
"So...did those bandits slay those monsters before moving
in?"
"I doubt it. Judgin' by the state of this cave, it must've
been years since the monsters abandoned this place. These
guys probably just happened upon it and made themselves
at home."
"Hm... I've spent some time here, and there's something
peculiar about this cave..." Cesilica remarks, deep in thought.
Before Cesilica can finish her thought, they finally see the
light at the end of the tunnel.
61

ACT VII
U pon exiting the cave, Cesilica and Dogi find themselves
at the summit of a steep ridge. Cesilica gasps to catch
her breath, glancing back at the tunnel and thinking that if
she'd never have to return to that godforsaken hole, it'd be
too soon.
Below the ridge, there's an open field. In the center of it is
Adol, who's in the midst of battle with what seems like an
army of bandits swarming to take him down. But in spite of
their numbers, they are swept away like leaves in the wind
with each swing of Caliocerion.
"None of these hooligans are any match for Adol, but they
won't stop comin'," says Dogi.
"They're like cockroaches," Dogi and Cesilica both remark
simultaneously.
"Cesilica's safe and sound, Adol. Forget these guys and let's
scram!" Dogi hollers to Adol, who glances at Cesilica and
sighs in relief upon seeing her.
"There's too many of them!" he shouts. "Go on ahead
without me. I'll catch up to you later!"
Cesilica looks to Dogi in panic. "Dogi, you have to help
him!" she pleads.
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"Can't do that kid," he replies, arms folded. "If I did, who'd
watch you?"
"I'll stay here. I can fend for myself if they try coming up
here."
Indeed, the entrance to the tunnel is too high to climb
quickly. Descending would be tricky, but ascending would
be near impossible in combat.
"Okay," agrees Dogi, "but if anything happens, you give
me a shout."
Cesilica nods, and Dogi starts down the hill.
Melye by melye, his strides grow broader and broader as he
gains speed. Before long, he's become an unstoppable boulder
rolling down the hillside into the throng of unsuspecting
bandits. They stand no chance against the juggernaut.
Those poor, poor bandits.
Cesilica turns her attention toward Adol, hoping to observe
him fighting in actual combat against other humans. Over the
duration of the month they were together, she had witnessed
him fight several times with swords she forged, but never with
Caliocerion. The legendary sword itself left her awestruck,
but what she sees now will be etched in her memory forever.
Adol wields Caliocerion firmly, yet delicately. His motions
are fluid, yet precise. His defensive maneuvers coalesce with
his attacks, every swing of Caliocerion felling another bandit.
Assailants flank him from all sides, hoping to catch him from
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an unguarded angle, but he effortlessly evades every attempt.
The bandits call in reinforcements. They bring a multitude
of new weapons: polearms, shields, axes, hammers, and
knives.
Nothing phases the fiery swordsman in the least. It's as if
he'd fought this exact battle a thousand times before, every
second foretold to him by a higher power. There was no other
perceivable explanation for his superhuman reactions.
As if Adol's sheer combat prowess isn't enough, none of the
fallen bandits end up sustaining any fatal injuries. They lie
on the ground, groaning in pain. Adol used just enough force
to incapacitate them for a few hours. It's one thing to leave
enemies dead in the wake of a destructive rampage, but it's
something else entirely to leave every opponent defeated but
without permanent injuries.
I knew my swords were lacking... Cesilica thinks to herself,
but I didn't realize just how much.
She's somewhat disappointed in herself, but she can't help
but smile. This was the true test of her ability. It wasn't by
testing her own weapons, but seeing in action another, truly
great weapon that proves how far she is from forging one.
All this time, she thought the sword was just an extension of
its wielder.
Now, Cesilica finally had the answer she was searching
for: Caliocerion is an extension of Adol, but he is likewise
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an extension of Caliocerion.
It sounds strange, thinking aloud to herself, but Cesilica
can't think of a better way to put it. Adol envisions his target,
and Caliocerion strikes it. It's as if the sword adapts to its user,
as if it has a mind of its own.
Cesilica recalls the time she first set eyes upon the blade. It
was apparent then that Caliocerion was a peerless weapon and
that not just any swordsman could wield it. But she realizes
now that it was more than aptitude or experience that allows
Adol to wield Caliocerion with such consummate mastery:
Only Adol is capable of wielding Caliocerion.
The legendary blade is perfectly suited to Adol's physique,
his style, and even his habits. No other master swordsman,
even one on par with Adol, could wield Caliocerion as he
could.
Everything you forge is perfect, but nothing more.
Those were the words her father said to her, and in this
moment, Cesilica finally understands.
In the eyes of any appraiser, her weapons were indisputably
superb. They were perfect in the sense that anyone could
bring out their full potential. From a commercial perspective,
this was the ideal approach.
But it would never be enough to forge the ultimate weapon.
No, it's only half of the equation. She never before
considered what kind of swordsman would be wielding the
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weapons, how the weapon would amplify his or her individual
strengths. The perfect weapon must be forged specifically for
its wielder.
But this approach would not be achievable without cost.
Each weapon forged like this would no longer be a "perfect"
weapon. In the hands of everyone else, these weapons could
scarcely be used as garden tools. This is a sacrifice Cesilica
will have to accept.
Her heart pounds with exhilaration. Her fingers twitch,
itching to get her hands on an anvil and hammer and begin
smithing.
But not yet. They must escape with the skin on their backs
first.
Just as she gathered from their taste in weapons, the bandits
fight without any indication of training or refinement. But
what they lack in strength they make up for in numbers.
Surely, Adol and Dogi will grow fatigued eventually.
If only there were ten more Dogi-like boulders, I could
scatter the bandits in one fell swoop…
Then, an idea comes to Cesilica. She digs into her satchel
and withdraws her favorite hammer and an iron wedge.
She's a first-rate blacksmith, and true blacksmiths don't only
forge weapons; they source their own materials. Cesilica is
no exception. She would often venture into the mountains
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herself and excavate ores. She knew exactly what type
of metamorphic rock comprised the ridge after hours of
examining its composition from within her cell. She knew
how to spot the hardest points, and more importantly, how to
spot the most vulnerable.
She nests the wedge into a soft point in the rock below her
and lifts the hammer above her head, bringing it down upon
the wedge with all her might.
CRACK!
A small split emerges parallel to the edge of the ridge.
Cesilica removes the wedge and places it at the end of the
split. She raises her hammer again.
CRAAACK!!!
The split grows even larger this time. She repeats the
process several more times. Finally, Cesilica surveys her
progress, analyzing the structure of the rock, as well as the
trajectory of the fissure. Just one more drive.
CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!!!
The split widens, then zig-zags down the side of the cliff.
"Incomiiiiiing!" she shouts, warning Adol and Dogi, who
are staving off bandits back-to-back.
A massive chunk of the cliffside breaks free from the
ridge, tilting over slowly before tumbling downward. As it
plummets, the mass of rock breaks apart into smaller boulders
that quickly gain speed.
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The bits of rock plunge into the bandit ranks, wreaking total
havoc. The avalanche itself isn’t enough to kill them, but the
ensuing disarray is enough of a distraction.
Cesilica has a plan. Once they rendezvous and climb the
ridge, they can escape from the other side quickly while
preventing bandits from following them.
Cesilica waves her arms at the two. "C'mon! Get up here
while you still can!"
Adol and Dogi wave back, signaling their understanding.
They begin making their way up the hill when Adol spots
something above Cesilica. His eyes widen with dread. Dogi
sees his expression change and looks up.
"Kid!!!" shouts Dogi. "Get down!"
Cesilica raises an eyebrow. "Get down?" She had told them
to go up the hill, and now they're asking her to go to them?
Suddenly, a shadow envelops Cesilica, then the entire ridge.
A mighty gust knocks her off her feet.
"Wh-What's going on!?" Cesilica stammers as she picks
herself up. She turns and looks up behind her, only to be
paralyzed at the sight. "It's...a bird!?"
The so-called "bird" soaring above them is like none any
of them had ever seen. Its wingspan extends over twenty
melye long, and its beak makes the bandits' spears look like
toothpicks. There's no doubt that this is the monstrous bird
Dogi mentioned at the pub.
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"They say that it can lift a cow into the clouds in a single
swoop."
That's how Dogi described it. If it really does exist, then
this must be it.
CRAAAW!!!
The bird lets out a piercing screech, forcing the three to
cover their ears.
It surges past the ridge, then dives straight down toward the
bandits. The impact from the bird slamming into the ground
sends a dozen of them flying. Its assault has only begun.
Using its razor-sharp talons and beak, it bombards nearby
bandits with a relentless onslaught.
They stand no chance.
Adol and Dogi take advantage of the chaos and continue
climbing the hill toward Cesilica.
Cesilica stands agape, horrified at the ensuing devastation.
The monster bird, satisfied with the damage it's dealt, takes
to the air again.
Hah, serves those bandits right. Good thing it's leaving
now.
As if reading her mind, the bird turns back toward the
ridge's summit, this time diving at Cesilica. She freezes in
fear realizing that she is to be its next meal.
"Cesilica! Run!!!"
It could've been Adol's voice; it could've been her
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imagination. Cesilica, paralyzed by her impending doom,
finds herself unable to distinguish between reality and
delusions. She knows she has to run, but her feet refuse to
move.
CRAAAW...!
The bird screeches once again, this time, much closer to
Cesilica. The shrillness of it sends a piercing pang through
her head. Her vision fades for an instant, and in the next, the
bird is upon her.
So this is how I die...
She embraces her fate, but instead of being eaten, she feels
its talons grasp her shoulders before it soars into the sky, all
the while arrows from bandits whiz past.
As she looks down, she can barely make out a figure of a
red-haired man chasing after her. It's Adol. But the bird flies
higher, and her only saving grace draws farther away. No
legendary sword or swordsman can help her now. A stroke
of luck spared her a few more moments of life, but it will
surely end soon.
Cesilica bemoans her haplessness.
I finally found the answer I've been searching for, and I'm
going to die before I can do anything with it. Oh, and I forgot
to repay Adol... I couldn't even do that…
Cesilica watches as Adol desperately attempts to catch up
when he abruptly stops running. Maybe he's finally given up.
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Adol draws Caliocerion from his sheath. He raises it behind
his head with the point toward Cesilica as if throwing a
javelin, and then...hurls Caliocerion with all his might.
It sails through the air, whistling like an arrow, something
Cesilica had never seen a sword do before.
Unlike the volley of arrows from the bandits, the bird is
unable to evade Caliocerion. It plunges into the base of its
wing.
CRAWWW...
The wound is deep. It can't fly anymore, not with the extra
weight of its prey in its talons. The bird's immediate reaction
is to release its grip, sending its prey free-falling through the
sky.
Out of the frying pan and into the fire.
Cesilica screams as the ground rapidly draws closer. She
shuts her eyes anticipating the impact, and…
Adol catches her.
Concerned that she might've been injured, Adol carries her
to safety behind a nearby boulder. She appears to be all right.
The monster bird furiously scans the area with its piercing
eyes, feeble wings flapping asynchronously in pain. But its
wound is too severe. It turns away and flutters weakly into
the horizon.
Cesilica takes a deep breath. The worst is over. Then,
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another wave of panic sets in. Regret, frustration, helplessness, relief…

"Adol! What are we gonna do!?" she cries, pointing toward Cesilica, conflicted and unable to contain her mixed
the direction of the bird. emotions, bawls louder than before.
Adol smiles. "I don't think it'll be coming back for seconds When Dogi arrives, he sighs. Adol had made her cry. Again.
anytime soon."
"I'm not talking about the dumb bird, I'm talking about
Caliocerion!"
Adol had thrown the sword and saved Cesilica, by nothing
short of a miracle, to be sure. But it came at a cost: the bird
had fled with Caliocerion still lodged deep under its wing.
"And so the curse strikes again..." Adol mutters to himself.
He's disappointed that he lost his beloved sword, but he's not
sad in the least. "All that really matters is that you're safe."
"That's not all that really matters!" she sobs. "You loved
that sword, and it was perfect for you! You said it was more
than just a sword to you!"
"The purpose of a weapon is to protect what's important to
you," explains Adol. "If I failed to save you, there wouldn't
be a point to having a sword at all."
Cesilica sniffles, suspecting he was trying to console her.
That sword was his soul as a swordsman, his very essence.
How could he discard it without hesitation to save someone
he barely knew? Or perhaps legendary swords just seem
to gravitate to him. Perhaps they recognize him to be a
swordsman who would wield them for the purpose they were
created.
72 73

ACT VIII
D awn has nearly broken. Adol, Dogi, and Cesilica sit
together at a table at a pub in the nearest town.
"I hear that bandit gang disbanded," chuckles Dogi, flagon
in hand.
Adol and Dogi had reduced their willing forces by nearly
half, and with the monster bird attack on the same day…
Well, none of them had been the same since.
"Serves them right!" blurts Cesilica, seemingly insouciant
about the earlier day's ordeal. She clearly has no sympathy
for the defunct bandits.
"I asked around in town, hoping to find out more about that
bird," says Adol, "I found some interesting things."
"Adol heard an interesting rumor? Finally!" jokes Cesilica.
Dogi, also curious about their avian friend, asks, "What'd
you find out?"
"The townspeople say it has an ancient name: Erard Garoll."
"That's too hard to remember," dismisses Cesilica.
"Nothin' wrong with callin' it what it is: a monster bird,"
agrees Dogi.
"Yeah, I agree," Adol says, nodding. "And you two probably
figured it out already, but that cave the bandits were using as
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a hideout was actually that thing's nest."
"I don't understand that," says Cesilica. "Why would a bird
that size live in a cave? There's no way it could fly in there."
"Apparently, since it's so big, its wings take a long time to
develop. When they're young, the only way to get around is
on foot," explains Adol.
"That makes sense."
"Judgin' by the size of that cave, the baby monster birds
must be the size of bears," laughs Dogi.
"And when they finally do grow their wings, they leave the
cave and fly somewhere far away," concludes Adol.
"That's when the bandits moved in."
Cesilica scratches her chin. "Then how come this one came
back?"
"Who knows? Maybe it wanted to lay eggs," Adol surmises.
"Whatever the reason, it's not surprising it was furious after
seeing those bandits had taken over its home like that."
"Oh..." Cesilica mutters. "Then do you think it targeted me
because I caused that avalanche?"
"That's possible, but I have a different theory."
"And what's that?"
"The townspeople also told me its staple prey is young
elgari bears..."
"So it attacked me because..." Cesilica looks down at her
elgari bear fur coat.
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"That's right. That coat made it think you were food." The intrepid blacksmith beams brighter than the two
"This coat is by far the worst thing I've ever made!" Cesilica travelers had ever seen.
exclaims. "Okay," grins Adol, "I'll hold you to that."
"It's just a coat, kid. Take it easy," teases Dogi.
"No, it's not! It must be cursed!" With that, Cesilica Kentia departs for her next destination,
eager to forge weapons and armor for her future satisfied
The three share a cheerful conversation over drinks and customers. She will travel alone, but not without her trusty
food. Before they know it, sunlight begins pouring through tools, her newfound smithing philosophy, and of course,
the windows of the pub. the memories of her friendship with a certain red-haired
"Well, looks like it's about time I go," Cesilica says as she adventurer and his sturdy companion.
begins to gather her belongings.
"So soon?" asks Dogi.
"Cesilica... I—" Adol begins, but Cesilica promptly
interjects.
"Don't. Say. Anything!" She raises her palms toward his
face. "We said our good-byes just the other day already. I
don't want to say it again. It'll be too awkward."
An awkward silence falls between them anyway.
"But I will say this..." Cesilica begins, standing upon her
chair.
With a hand on her waist and the other pointed firmly at
Adol, she declares a pledge:
"The next time we meet, Adol Christin, I'm going to make
you a sword that's even better than Caliocerion! Just you
wait!"

76 77
 NIHON FALCOM CORPORATION

Epilogue

I n a different town, Dogi waits for Adol outside a local

weapon shop. The bell above the door rings, and Dogi
hears the clerk shout, "Thanks for your business!" as Adol
exits the shop. He has in his hands a shiny new short sword.
"Downsizin', are we?" teases Dogi.
"This was all they had..."
"Maybe you should've let the kid make one for you." Published 2020
"That's all right. I'm used to using these now."
Each of Adol's adventures started with a short sword. It
Story by:
isn't much, but holding such a humble weapon fills him with Nihon Falcom Corporation
suspense and excitement. He gives it a swing. Yes, this sword
will accompany him into the next adventure. Localization by:
NIS America, Inc.
4 Hutton Centre Dr., Ste. 650,
...But little does he know, Adol will be parting ways with Santa Ana, CA 92707
this short sword sooner than he thinks...

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THE END

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Licensed to and published by NIS America, Inc.

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