A day had passed since Alex's raid announcement. In the village's crisis meeting room, he was already waiting for the five dwarf teenagers. Sitting next to the slimes, he sighed:
"You, at least, are punctual. The dwarves, on the other hand… are they always late?"
The slimes bounced joyfully, while a young dwarf arrived first.
Kiran. Small but athletic, black hair slicked back, lively hazel eyes. He yawned loudly.
"Why do we have to get up so early… Hynn?!" His eyes lit up when he saw Alex and the slimes. "I'm the first? Rohh… I could have slept longer!"
Three other dwarves arrived after him:
• Doran, broad-shouldered, messy brown hair, intense green eyes.
• Fira, small and agile, braided red hair, sparkling amber eyes.
• Tessa, stocky and sturdy, medium-length blond hair, calm blue eyes.
Finally, Andris came in behind them, hands in his pockets.
"So, boss, why did you gather us here?" he asked.
Alex smirked. "You're going to pick the giant fruits. As for me, I'll raid the ants alone… and I'm going to train you with the sword, in case something unexpected happens."
"Cool!" said Andris. "That's going to add skills to my arsenal!"
Kiran jumped and grabbed Alex's collar, full of excitement:
"Really? You're really going to teach us how to handle a sword?"
Even Alex was a little unsettled, but in Kiran's eyes he saw the same passion he himself felt for forging.
Tessa sighed: "There he goes again… losing it."
Alex nodded with a smirk.
"Let go of me, kid. Yes, I'll teach you how to handle a sword. If you run into a monster, you'll need to either escape… or defend yourselves."
"All right! Please, teach us quickly!"
exclaimed Kiran.
"Did we really have to start this early?" grumbled Doran.
Alex then pulled out a bag and took out five wooden swords, each carved by his own hands. He handed them out:
"The sooner you start, the sooner you'll be ready. In four days, we leave."
Kiran nodded enthusiastically. "All right, boss!" The others repeated after him.
They headed toward the center of the village. Alex ordered them:
"To begin, you'll run all around the village until I tell you to stop."
Fira groaned: "Oh no… I don't want to sweat…"
Alex placed his hand on the ground. Mana spread into the earth and five stone wolves emerged.
"The best training is under real conditions."
The dwarves panicked.
"No, boss! You don't have to!" shouted Andris.
Alex smiled: "I know."
The wolves chased them. The dwarves ran with all their might, terrified, while Alex and the slimes burst out laughing.
An hour later, exhausted, Andris begged:
"Boss… call off your wolves… we can't take it anymore!"
Alex snapped his fingers. The wolves dissolved into dust and the dwarves could finally breathe. All collapsed, exhausted… all except Kiran. He, on the contrary, was smiling, already eager to learn how to handle the sword.
Alex laid the wooden swords on the ground of the clearing, calm and silent, disturbed only by the rustling of the leaves.
"Good. Before striking, you must understand what you are holding. It's not just a piece of wood. It is your extension. If you don't respect it, it won't respect you."
Kiran examined his sword like a treasure. "It's really solid…" he murmured.
Andris twirled his, a mischievous smile on his face: "Hmm… I feel like it's going to understand me."
Tessa and Fira lined up with discipline. Doran, staying back, carefully observed Alex's movements.
Alex raised his hand: "Today, we start gently. Learn to know the sword, to feel its weight and its balance. Every move matters."
A studious silence fell over the group. Even Andris seemed focused.
Alex smiled inwardly: "Very well. We start now… and remember: handling a sword is as much patience as it is strength."
The dwarves exchanged an excited glance, ready for their first training.
Four days later…