As Alec finished another round of practice, he leaned back against the cave wall. His mind always occupied with practicing the sword and making sure he could eat. He never really thought about what he wanted beyond his daily routine.
The orphanage and woods were the only real home he's had. There are dirt roads out of town he'd seen wagons come from but didn't know much of the geography around Hillburn.
While other kids read books and learned about great cities that are far away. Alec went out into the woods and listened to Owen teach about survival. He knew Hillburn was located in the Ironwood forest of the Grant Kingdom. It's a small rural kingdom with a single large city called Burton but he didn't know how to get there.
He sighed as his eye's felt heavy after all the practice. He'd decided he wanted to keep practicing his sword. As long as he can survive, there isn't a reason to look for another town or city. After settling his thoughts he drifted off, back against the wall and sword across his lap.
Alec got up at sunrise and headed out into the forest. The snow had fully melted from the forest floor, leaving the soggy soil beneath Alec's boots. Water still dripped from the branches overhead in steady drops, and the river had grown louder with the thaw. What had once been white and silent was now mud, moss, and the sharp smell of damp earth.
Alec moved carefully through the trees with his short sword resting against his shoulder, eyes scanning the familiar trails between the brush. The air was still cold, but the harsh sting of winter cold had faded. The creatures of the forest would be moving again.
He had gone farther from the cave than he had all winter, following the narrow trail that curved toward the old goblin huts.
A shrill, ugly screech somewhere ahead broke the sounds of his boots in the wet soil.
Alec froze instantly.
Another followed, then another, layered over the sound of movement and screeching chatter.
Slowly, he crouched lower and moved through the brush until the clearing came into view.
The huts were occupied again.
A large group of goblins had settled among the mud-and-straw structures. Many more than before. At least fifteen that he could count from the treeline, maybe more hidden inside the huts or behind the partially collapsed fence. Some moved between the buildings carrying sacks and crude weapons. Others crouched near a small fire pit, tearing at what looked like some kind of carcass.
A small smile formed on Alec's face.
His fingers tightened around the sword hilt as he watched them. He thought about getting more crystals and testing out his improved skills with the sword.
But there were too many to fight directly.
He stayed there for several minutes, watching their movements the same way he had before, figuring out where they wandered and which ones strayed too far from the others.
Then he slowly backed away and returned toward the cave. The walk back was quiet except for the soft squishing of wet earth beneath his feet. His mind was already going over possibilities.
He could lure one away.
Wait for one to patrol near the woods.
Kill it quietly.
But halfway back to the cave, another thought entered his mind.
When he stepped near the ruined stone chamber, the green fire from the seated armor cast long, pale shadows across the walls.
His eyes moved toward the remains of the wolf.
What had once been a black-furred body was now little more than decomposed bone and dried scraps of hide near the edge of the stone tiles. The smell had mostly faded.
Alec stopped.
Then slowly looked toward the armor.
Still seated.
Still waiting.
His mind shifted.
A slow smile spread across his face. He turned and headed back toward the clearing.
This time he moved quietly through the outer edge of the woods, searching until he found a heavy fallen branch nearly as long as his arm. It was thick and solid, still damp from the melting snow.
He gripped it tightly as he waited. Time passed slowly. A goblin eventually wandered near the treeline, muttering to itself as it crouched near the broken fence and dug through the mud with its hands.
Alec moved quickly as he stepped from the brush and swung the branch with both hands as hard as he could.
The wood cracked against the side of the goblin's head with a dull, heavy sound.
The creature dropped immediately.
Alec stood there breathing hard, surprised for a moment that it had worked so easily.
Then he quickly grabbed the goblin by one leg and began dragging it through the woods.
The creature was lighter than he expected but still awkward, its limp arms catching on roots and brush as he pulled it toward the cave.
By the time he reached the entrance, his arms were burning. He dropped it for a moment and stared at the stone tiles ahead.
Then, gripping the goblin under both arms, Alec dragged it to the edge.
He stood it upright clumsily.
The goblin swayed, still limp as Alec shoved.
The body stumbled forward onto the stone tile floor. The green fire from the armor flared.
The armor rose from the stone chair with a slow grinding sound, dust and sediment falling from between the plates as it stood to its full height.
Alec's eyes widened as watched everything.
Every movement.
Every shift of weight.
The greatsword lifted.
The armor stepped forward with its right foot first, the weight transferring smoothly into the motion. Its shoulders turned with the swing, both gauntleted hands tightening on the hilt.
The blade came down in a brutal diagonal arc.
One clean swing.
The goblin split apart before it could even wake. Blood sprayed across the tiles. The armor stood still for a moment. Then slowly turned and returned to the chair, settling back into its seated position as if nothing had happened.
Alec didn't move. His heart was racing.
His eyes kept replaying the swing in his mind.
The foot placement.
The shoulder turn.
The angle of the blade.
The way the armor's body moved with the strike.
He stepped forward outside the tiles and picked up his sword with both hands.
Then he tried it.
Right foot first.
Step.
Turn.
Swing.
The blade cut through the air.
Wrong.
Too wide.
He nearly lost his balance.
Alec reset immediately.
Again.
Step.
Turn.
Swing.
Closer.
Still wrong.
Again.
And again.
And again.
The forest outside slowly darkened while he practiced.
His breathing deepened.
Sweat ran down his face despite the cold air.
He became completely absorbed in the movement. His mind focused until there was only the memory of the armor's swing and the feel of his own body trying to imitate it.
Every mistake frustrated him.
Every slight improvement fed something deeper inside him.
He wanted it perfect. Needed it.
By the time his arms began trembling, he had repeated the motion dozens of times. His chest rose and fell heavily as he looked back toward the stone tiles.
The goblin corpse still lay there in two pieces. Alec grabbed the short spear. Carefully staying off the tile floor, he hooked the spear into the goblin's shoulder and dragged the remains toward him a little at a time.
The armor didn't move.
Once the corpse was within reach, Alec crouched and cut into its chest. The crystal was small. He struck it against the pommel of his sword. The familiar cool sensation spread through his body. His muscles seemed to absorb it quicker. The exhaustion in his arms dulled slightly.
Alec exhaled slowly.
Then he grabbed the goblin by one leg and dragged the corpse back outside the cave, hauling it deeper into the forest before tossing it among the brush.
When he returned, he stood at the cave entrance looking toward the armor.
A slow smile spread across his face.
He understood now.
He didn't need wolves.
He didn't need to wait.
He could make the armor teach him.
Goblin after goblin.
Swing after swing.
As many times as he wanted.
Alec looked back toward the dark forest where the huts stood hidden beyond the trees.
There were plenty left.
His grip tightened around the sword.
Tomorrow, he would go back. He would take them one by one.
Bring them here.
Watch.
Learn.
Practice.
The satisfaction of the thought settled warmly in his chest. Alec felt something close to a purpose.
He had found a way to learn more about the sword from his new armored teacher.