The Path of the Sword and an Unlikely Friend Part 2

Jace sighed, trudging toward the back. The weapons in the so-called “budget section” were a sorry sight , rusted blades, chipped daggers, and bent spears piled carelessly. He lifted a few swords, but most felt like they’d crumble in mid-swing.

"Ugh, this is hopeless," Jace grumbled, kicking at a fallen helmet. "What am I supposed to fight with, a spoon?"

But then, tucked between cracked shields and rusted axes, a particular sword caught his eye. Unlike the others, it bore no gleam, no glow. The metal was dulled and worn, its leather-wrapped hilt frayed. Yet, despite its aged appearance, it radiated an unexplainable presence as if it had endured countless battles and survived.

Curiosity overtook caution. Jace reached out.

The moment his fingers brushed the hilt, a pulse of dark energy shot through him. His eyes widened as tendrils of shadow wrapped around his hand, spiraling up his arm. A strange force lifted him from the ground, suspending him mid-air.

"W-What the hell..."

A low hum resonated through the air. Then, as quickly as it began, the energy dispersed, and Jace collapsed to the floor. He gasped, trembling from the experience.

"Hah… hah… That was... awesome!"

A manic grin spread across his face. "A sword shrouded in mystery! A dark power that chose me!"

He sprinted to the counter, slamming the sword down in front of the stunned shopkeeper.

"How much for this one?"

The man inspected it lazily. "That thing? 20 silver coins."

Jace threw the coins down without hesitation. "Deal."

An Alley Encounter :

With his newfound sword strapped to his side, Jace strolled through the narrow alleyways, savoring the thrill of his mysterious weapon.

"Now, all I need is an adventurer’s approval," he mused aloud. "Soon, I’ll be unstoppable"

His thoughts were interrupted by a commotion up ahead. In the shadows of the alley, three rugged-looking men surrounded a boy his age, their sneers twisted with malice. The boy clutched a small satchel to his chest.

"Hand it over, runt," one thug growled.

"Yeah, we don’t have all day!"

Jace’s eyes lit up. "A classic scenario! Helpless victim. Ruthless criminals. And a hero to the rescue!"

Without thinking, he bolted forward.

"Hey! What are you thugs doing, ganging up on one guy like that?"

The three turned, momentarily surprised. Then, one of them snorted. "Uh, yeah. We’re robbing him. Obviously."

They burst into laughter.

Jace unsheathed his sword dramatically, though the dull blade didn’t quite give off the intimidation he hoped for.

"You dare laugh in the face of justice? Prepare yourselves!"

One thug squinted. "Your mana’s so low I can’t even sense it."

"That’s because it’s too powerful to measure!" Jace bluffed, striking a ridiculous pose.

"Get him."

The fight was chaotic. Jace swung wildly, and to his surprise, he wasn’t half bad. The sword’s weight felt familiar, as though it guided him. Though the thugs fought back, Jace’s stubborn resilience kept him standing. But soon, exhaustion crept in.

"Ugh… I might have… underestimated this."

Just as he was about to collapse, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the alley.

"Guards!" one thug shouted.

The criminals scattered, leaving Jace hunched over, panting. The boy he’d tried to protect rushed to his side.

"Are you okay?"

Jace waved him off. "Of course! That was nothing for a hero like me!"

"Thank you for helping me. My name’s Nicholas Grimson. But you can call me Nick."

"Jace. And don’t worry, Nick I always lend a hand to those in need."

"Wow, you’re actually pretty good with a sword. Are you an adventurer?"

"Not yet. But I will , I need someone to approve my application."

Nick beamed. "Lucky you. I’m an adventurer."

Jace blinked. "Wait. Seriously?"