Walkabout 2

I would continue my travel during the day, and have my lessons with Master Gyron during the night.

"There have been seven widely accepted schools of spellcasting over time, each with a number of spells that pertain to its particular purpose. Weaving of Air and Fire, Destruction. Spells that harm the target by damaging its health with either elemental or magical attacks, draining and damaging its attributes, skills, health, magic, and fatigue, making it weak to the elements, poisons and magic, and corroding its armor and weapons." He waited for me once more.

After I gave him a nod, he continued. "Restoration, spells that augment the target by restoring its health, attributes, stamina, and magicka, fortifying its health, attributes, skills, stamina, and magicka, granting it resistances to the elements, magic, disease, paralysis, poison, and un-enchanted weapons, curing it of disease, poison, and paralysis."

Afterwards, we talked a little bit more about Destruction and Restoration, then he took his leave.

After pondering on the lessons of that day, I continued with my swinging practice.

[Perfection in the eight basic cuts is critical—though you will never use them in battle.]

The words never went out of my mind and with my continued practice, more and more appeared.

[The high guard is most suitable for feints and crossovers, but mind your nether limbs.]

[A closed line is not open.]

Even though I couldn't understand them much, I kept performing the eight basic cuts as much as I could.

But after a few days, I started feeling restless.

Like I was trapped in a cage and wanted to get out.

I talked about my distress with Master Gyron, "Then you must do so. Reach within you and free the one that had been caged until now. It has formed but still formless. It kept calling out to you but you never listened."

"How do I do that Master?"

"Wondering how to do that? Close your eyes and wander around. Not your soul but let your mind, your thoughts guide you towards." He said.

But I did as he told, I closed my eyes and let my thoughts wander.

I thought about the dragon, and the words it uttered.

{Yol Toor!}

It felt as if the words were calling out to me, wanting me to utter them. But I felt as if it was the wrong calling.

So, I thought of something else.

I thought of the small but beautiful village of Riverwood. Of the crowds, some escaping from, some walking towards the danger.

Then I thought of the small family with good hearts. Of their help. Of the sounds I heard early in the morning. Of the clanging.

The Blacksmith, The Hearth, The Forge.

The Creation.

The Sword.

Yes, that is what it was.

I am The Blacksmith, I am The Hearth, I am The Forge. And my Creation…

A Sword.

And I opened my eyes. What laid between my palm was 'something' pale, misty, insubstantial, and as if it was made of light. It wasn't even sword-like. It didn't settle in a shape, it continued turning and twisting. It couldn't even cut hay, let alone a foe.

But I knew what it was.

It didn't have the proprieties yet, but it was a sword.

My Sword.

A sword made of me, my mind, my thoughts.

"Congratulations. You have formed your Shehai."

"My Shehai?"

"Indeed. These is none left, but in the distant past, there used to be warriors who followed the Way of the Sword who called themselves The Sword-Singers. They were known for their invincibility with the sword. They called it the king of all weapons. And followed the Way to such extremities that, some stopped using forged blades and formed their own swords from their minds. Sword of Mind, Shehai. Those who could form it were known as Ansei, Sword-Saints."

"Ansei? But it doesn't even have anything physical." I demonstrated by trying to cut a tree but Shehai passed through it without harming it.

"Indeed. A Shehai of the third rank cannot do anything. It is only a benchmark for stepping into the true Way of the Sword. A Shehai of the second rank was known as an unstoppable weapon of great might, they could cut through foes like a scythe cutting through wheat. But a Shehai of the first rank…That is when they get truly dangerous. They were known as disasters. With a single swing, they could create shockwaves, cleave the land in two and destroy the very laws of nature. In fact it is speculated that it was a Shehai of the first rank that sank an ancient continent."

"Sinking a continent?" I asked flabbergasted. "There is no way that could be true."

A single sword sinking a continent? Nope.

"Hmmhmm It could have been an exaggeration. Many feats accomplished by heroes are recorded with such."

"Indeed."

"But you have formed your Shehai, didn't you? The first Shehai in centuries in fact, well, at least among those recorded, but if you reach the first rank of the Shehai, you would know the truth, wouldn't you?"

Then I contemplated his words. Indeed, the stories must have been exaggerated, but what if it wasn't? And I was already walking my Way of the Sword. Maybe one day I could reach the first rank and see it with my own eyes.

"Then, how do I reach the first rank? Just continue swinging my sword night and day?"

He combed his beard and answered with humor. "Hoho no, the ancient warriors who formed their Shehai, would go on a Walkabout."

"Walkabout?"

"Indeed. They would wander from place to place, engaging in battles, righting wrongs and seeking to end the strife. If you want to develop as an Ansei, you have to see the world and find your Way." He said with the same humor while combing his beard.

"I understand. I originally wanted to go to the College of Winterhold, but with you here Master Gyron, I no longer feel the urgent need to do so. I will still go there but it is not as urgent as before, so I will do as you have told. I will go on my Walkabout to find my Way of the Sword."

"Hmmhmm well, it is up to you to decide what you will be doing, meanwhile let's end this here today. I'm sure you would want to make yourself familiar with it. Farewell." Then, he disappeared.

It was the next day, when I finally saw the high walls of my destination.

It looked like there was still half a day of travel left, but I still changed my armor with my previous tunic.

Who knows how they would behave to a man dressed in Imperial armor, and I didn't want to find out the hard way.

I kept my sword and dagger strapped though.

As I kept walking, I soon reached a farm.

And then I heard the sound of a battle.

'Oh, not again.'

With that thought, I was going to change my path to go around them but an earthquake interrupted me.

"Woah." I found my balance with difficulty and then looked towards the source.

*Boom!

There three people fighting against a giant. A man in heavy armor was at the front grabbing the attention of the giant so that his comrades, an archer and a swordswoman, was leaving wounds on its body.

"Raaah!" The giant swung its club but the man took it like a champ with his shield.

"What the?" I shocked from the demonstration of an absurd strength from the man for taking a full swing from a giant.

With his attack blocked, the giant tried to recover his balance but it was too late.

An arrow found its way to its eye, and the swordsman plunged her sword through the giant's throat.

With a gurgle, the giant fell forward.

"Well, that's taken care of. No thanks to you."

I was taken from my musing by a voice. When I looked towards the source, I saw a red haired, fierce looking woman.

But looking at her, I noticed that I didn't hear any sound of her footsteps doesn't matter how much I have been occupied.

"You didn't look like you needed help." I said.

"Certainly not. But a true warrior would have relished the opportunity to take on a giant. That's why I'm here with my Shield-Brothers." She said with blatant distaste in her voice.

"No, thank you. I know where I'm currently standing. A giant is out of my reach at the moment."

"Ah! A man accepting his short-comings. How rare." She said with approval this time.

"What was the issue with the giant?"

"It was too close to the city and causing problems in the farm so they made a request for the Companions."

"Companions?"

"An outsider, eh? Never heard of the Companions? An order of warriors. We are brothers and sisters in honor. And we show up to solve problems if the coin is good enough."

'Wandering from place to place, righting wrongs and trying to end strife? Isn't this like this 'Companions' was made for me?' I thought.

"Is it possible to join you?"

"Not for me to say. You'll have to talk to Kodlak Whitemane up in Jorrvaskr. The old man's got a good sense for people. He can look in your eyes and tell your worth. If you go to him, good luck."

"Where is Jorrvaskr?"

"Oh, right. You were an outsider. You can find Jorrvaskr in Whiterun. Ask the people there. If they weren't living under a rock they would know where Jorrvaskr is."

"I see. Thank you. I'm Alaric by the way." I said.

"Hmm, it was nice talking to you Alaric. But let's say I will tell you my name if you manage to join the Companions. A challenge if you will." She said mysteriously.

"Hey, Aela! We're done here! Let's go!" But then, her male companion shouted from afar, where they took care of the corpse.

Then, "Haaah so much for being mysterious. Thanks ice-brain!" She said sighing.

Then she turned and left towards her companions but turned towards me once more before leaving. "I guess the previous challenge is useless now, so I will be giving you something better this time. You can look forward to your reward. Good luck." She said with a grin, then left with the others.

Likely they had another job since they didn't head towards Whiterun.

Then I turned to walk towards my way.