Alternent kinds part 9

     It was morning, I didn't fall asleep after that Nightmare I will admit I was a little nervous of falling back to sleep, I just kept my eyes closed and think "where to look for the grand Templar, I guess east is a good bet but still it's not smart to just go head on before I know where to go, since I want to fight her in a public area, embarrass and shame the name of the Templars themselves, and it will bring up Keidran support and.." I heard the door creek open and the sound of creeks in the wood work I can totally tell that it was Al trying to scare me I bet, I soon heard the footsteps stop and hear the faint breathing over my head I opened my eyes and saw that he had two pans and was about to bang them together but I stopped him before the pans hit each other "what the hell are you doing you're going to wake up Laura," I said quietly, "don't worry I wasn't going to do it I was just testing your senses and they seem to be in great shape, and besides I knew you were awake, I could hear you whimpering from the other room, come on to the other room," he said to me and we went to the other room "what happened last night?" he asked "I was having a nightmare, I was being grabbed by these hands and… they burned me, the pain was so vivid I thought I was going to die or pass out from it," I explained "interesting… burns," he wondered "it was one of the torture ceremonies I had when I was a prisoner, the last nightmare I had was being torn apart, I think that was when I was on a stretching table," I said back to him "so you are reliving your pain… sucks to be you, well why don't you take that new Katana of yours for a spin, I will get some breakfast for us," he said "K, if Laura asks tell her I am outside."  I grabbed my shirt and headed outside, I unsheathed my katana, gazed at the shimmering blade, it glowed orange from the rising sun, Al truly outdone himself with this blade, since the Katana is an Eastern weapon from the Home land of the humans so not many smiths know the forgery style, I wonder how he was able to get the knowledge of the process.  I started to chop the blade in a steady rhythm while stepping back and forth from each swing, striking as if I was aiming to split solid stone in two, after that I started to attack the open air as if I was surrounded, working on every type of slash and stab remembering what my master, Myari sensei, taught me when I was a teen. After a half hour of training I heard someone behind me "good morning Jacob," I turned around and saw Laura "Morning, I hope you had a good night sleep," I asked "It was fine (she smiled), that's a strange looking blade I've never seen one before," she said and I explained "it's called a Katana it's a blade that is used by warriors called Samurai, they are human warriors from the eastern part of the Human homeland," "so are you a samurai?" she asked "well I was trained as one, you see a Katana is made for slashing, you can cut down multiple enemies with this blade if you use it correctly, its truly a blade for protecting people, and cutting down enemies," I re-sheathed my blade "hey um Jacob there is another thing I want to ask, the reason I didn't ask before now was… well I didn't want to get you uncomfortable again," she said to me "if you ask I will try to answer," I said to her then she asked her question "do you… enjoy killing people, I just want to know," "are you asking if I enjoy slashing, decapitating, and gutting my enemies, seeing their face when I plunge their bodies into the ground while they are still breathing and turning their faces into mush?" I said to her and she looked nervous then I continued "to be honest I don't like killing people, even if they are my enemies, when I kill someone I am taking the most valuable treasure they have, the one thing that defines what they are, and leaving grief for those who knew them," I answered to her "if you don't like killing, then why did you kill those Templars?" she asked with a confused look "because they didn't value life, they struck down Doc, the closest thing as a father to you, in cold blood and they will just keep on killing without a care in the world, if I turned my back and let them live they will just keep on killing and… they would have killed you. 'never find joy in taking someone's life' my master taught me that, she also taught me this 'my blade will act as a shield for the innocent' and 'never die but never run away or else everyone you wished to protect will die behind you,'" I said to her "you seem to have a lot of kind and wise idols in your life, thank you for answering anyway Al says breakfast is ready and he changed up the meal with bacon as well as sausage," she said to me "ok tell him I will be in in a moment," I said "hey Jacob," she said "yeah," "is… everything all right?" she asked "yeah why do you ask?" I asked "Oh, no reason," I was a little worried when she asked.  We walked back into the house and there was Al in a black smiths apron "HEY JACOB!! How's the sword treatin' ya?" Al asked, "it handles like a dream I will say again, you outdone yourself," I complimented him, "here we go, an eggy in a basket with bacon bits on top and a side of sausage for Jacob, a biscuit with egg, bacon and sausage for the young lady, and an eggy in a basket for me," says Al "thanks Al" I said, "yes, thank you," said Laura as we all dug in to the breakfast that we were given, "hey umm, Laura I was wondering if you could pick some things up from the market," Al asked "um sure what do you want me to pick up,  groceries?" she asked "um no, more like iron, steel, and things like that, I should have a list for you," Al said. After we ate breakfast we all cleaned ourselves up and Al gave Laura the list "here ya go Laura, these are the items I need and all were prepaid so you just have to show my shop emblem and they will give it to you with no fuss, this town is more tolerant about Keidran so their shouldn't be any problems "ok thanks, I be back when I get the stuff," Laura said before she walked out the door "we will meet up with you later to get the stuff back to the shop," Al said, she nodded and went out, "Jacob I forgot to mention this last night, the Templar has changed since you were gone," Al told me, "so that old lady finally retired," I said "well no, apparently she was killed, but according to hark, the body was never found and a white Keidran was stealing her clothes," Al explained "that smells like bull to me, who's the new Grand Templar," I asked "this guy named Trace Legacy, not much is known about him, rumors say that his wife died and was corrupted from grief and tried to resurrect her," "hell I bet he is corrupt beyond repair, no matter how much magic its impossible to bring back someone who is dead," I said "but either way, be careful, I suggest expanding your Field in magic, but enough of that, help me out with the shop." After that conversation me and Laura worked with Al on his shop.

     We stayed at Al's shop for a few weeks, during those few weeks, I've been working on my sage magic, seeing how far my magic can go and testing out the Katana that Al made for me, its magic absorbing abilities are very interesting, it spell casting power is limited, to each element it had one spell each, but the spells were strong itself, and on the side I trained Laura, in her combat skills, she progressed very well, I feel that she can handle herself in a fight… but to be honest I don't want her to fight, she has a gift of healing people, her hands saved my life.  We started packing for the trip, I decided to travel further south, Al said that my old friend Alexander Cross was still in but I wondered if she actually wanted to travel with me "hey Laura?" I asked "hmm?" she replied "do you want to keep traveling with me or are we going are separate ways?" I asked her "hmmmm, I want to keep traveling with you, this is the farthest I've ever been from home, and besides… I like you," she said and I started to blush, "uh um as a friend I mean," she said quickly, I started to chuckle but it started to grow to an outburst laugh "what's so funny?" she asked in a confused tone "sorry your reaction was very funny to me, I'm glad that we are still traveling together," I put my coat on and I saw Laura staring at me "is my reaction still confusing you?" I asked "no… where did you a coat like that?" Laura asked "well it was originally mine Al was able to recover it, he is a good friend, the case that this old thing was in wasn't touched or sold," Al walked into the room, "all right I got you equipment, pots pans, dried meat, new blankets, two back packs, and a bag filled with Temp silver coins," Al said "Temp coins?" I wondered "oh right, the currency has changed over the years, the Templars have taken over the banks, there is a Temp copper coin, a Temple silver coin that is worth 20 copper coins, then there is the Temp gold coins that are worth 35 silver coins, so that means that a gold coin is worth 700 copper coins ya got that?" Al explained "yeah I think I got it, either way, thanks for everything you have done for us," I said as I shook Al's hand "likewise… old friend," he said "and thanks from me as well you truly are a great man," Laura said to al as she moved her hand towards him he took off his glove, revealing his scars and shook her hand "your hands of a doctor, tell you what Laura, Jacob told me you are into medicine soo the next time we meet I will give you the best medical supplies that you will ever see," Al said "y-you can tell I work in medicine, by just feeling my hands?" she was in awe "don't get excited i told him you were into medicine," I said "but still, you are willing to make me some supplies without any pay?" Laura asked "well, I have to order the right amount of materials and make a proper case for the equipment so it will take a while, but besides that yeah, they will be the best, the will not rust and they will never go dull truly be a beauty to behold." Al said "I can't wait then," she said with a wide grin.  We headed out not knowing what is ahead of us; it will take a few months to get to the western human city, and they say that traveling with two is always better than traveling with one, so I am thankful for her about that as well.