“Finally I’m reaching you!” A voice exclaimed.
In front of me was a flying fish, shining in every color imaginable.
The shine was so intense, I had to shield my eyes.
“Do you have any idea how much work you gave me?!” The fish whines and morphs into a small androgynous, but gorgeous figure, wearing a blazer and skirt in a color I’ve never seen before.
It was a mix of green and blue, but the depth was too intense, forcing me to avert my eyes a bit.
“Umm I’m sorry?” “How dare you not wait for your caseworker and simply reincarnate!” The entity complained.
“Do you have any idea how many problems you caused?!” “So you’re a god…dess?” I ask her, fully stunned by what’s happening.
“Did I die again?” My voice was sad.
“Oh don’t worry about that, I’m visiting you in your dream, but you still have to sign the reincarnation agreement.” She(?) held up a stack of paper, almost a meter tall and seemingly materialized out of thin air and a pen.
“Can I at least get cheat skills when I sign now?” “Cheat skills?
You reincarnated before your soul could be patched, there’s no chance for you until next time.” The entity stated matter of factly.
“But this is a world filled with monsters!” “Please just sign the paperwork okay?” “Give me a cheat skiiiill!!” I pleaded, voice desperate.
The guild bells were blaring, jolting me out of my dreams.
I still had sleep in my eyes and more asleep than awake, not remembering what I dreamed about, but it felt important.
I looked up from bed.
My parents were up already, putting on their armor.
I was 15 now and had started training with my parents properly.
Mom turned around, “go back to sleep sweetie, your father and I will be back soon.” Her voice sounded reassuring, so I went back to sleep.
Guild bells were a regular thing and more annoying if they were anything and I quickly dozed off.
Someone began poking my cheek and still asleep I swatted at it with my hand, but to no avail.
Now my other cheek got poked, to my dismay.
Finally opening my eyes, a pair of golden ones stared right back at me.
“About time you wake up,” Rune seemed a bit peeved, but her ears were red.
It wasn’t usual to barge into homes uninvited, so it was clear my parents came back in the meantime and let her in.
Groggily, I sat up and looked around.
My parents’ weapons were back, but no sign of them.
I stiffled a yawn, “where are…” “Your parents?
They’re still at the guild, scolding Hans.” She interrupted me.
“That idiot pulled a herd of raging boars including an alpha.” “What a dumbass.” I sigh, the habit getting worse.
“Isn’t he supposed to be silver rank 5?” “Whatever,” Rune turned sour, “you were supposed to meet me at the training grounds!” I stretched myself and Rune suddenly turned away from me.
Then I took my leather vest and shorts and got ready.
Slipping into my shoes, I wondered why Runes ears were reddened, but I’ve learned she could be a bit odd around me.
Rune moved towards the door, “hurry up now, we don’t have all day to train.” I followed her outside and the sun stood high up in the sky.
“So I really overslept that much?” She didn’t answer, instead she simply continued to walk to the training grounds.
The village was lively today and Liz, the old barrel of a man, stood in front of his store, advertising the new delivery of potions and hi-potions to potential customers.
We came past the hunters guild.
A carriage with a guild porter moving provisions was busily preparing for accompanying a hunting party.
A young hunter stood nearby and talked with a guild employee.
“Good morning Barde,” I waved at him.
The once scrawny teenager turned around.
His arms had a few deep scars from monster bites.
At his belt gleamed a guild seal with one golden mark on it.
Rune let out a huff.
Again.
She really didn’t like him at all.
Especially since he got to gold rank faster than her parents did.
“What are you going to hunt this time?” “Oh, hey Aria,” he waved back, “Rune’s with you too, hey.” He nodded towards the guild employee and turned to us.
“We’re planning on taking down a high Myzura drake.” He turned towards the porter, “could we pack a few more cleaner bombs?” “A Myzura drake, huh..” I mumbled, spacing out.
They were snake-like drakes, flightless even, but their water affinity and high pressure water jets made them true hunter killers.
Before reincarnating, I’ve slain my fair share of them, because of their cute Miko outfit.
It wasn’t practical, but I loved to wear it to festival events.
A kick lands in my shin, “are you done dawdling?
Not that I care about you, but you owe me for waking you up today.” Rune grabbed me by the collar pulling me with her.
“Have fun girls!” Bard calls after us.
She immediately pulls harder on my garbs collar, stomping with her feet.
Sure, Rune was by no means a tall girl, in fact she was smaller than me by a head, but she compensated for it with a brute core strength that put adults to shame.
I stood no chance, but to accept it when she behaved like this.
We reached the training area and Rune let go of me.
Before I managed to compose myself, she already broke into a sprint and almost vaulted the wall up.
Her moves were fluid and captivating.
Not wanting to be outdone by her, I started climbing, “you still can’t wall run?” Rune’s voice resounded from above.
I continued climbing, sweat dripping down my brow.
My fingers found the proper holds naturally, having learned climbing from the devilish girl above me.
“Stop thinking rude things!” Rune protested as if reading my mind.
As I reached the edge of the wall, I pull myself up and dusted off my hands.
The view from up top the rock wall was gorgeous.
Sure it wasn’t the highest point you could climb, but you could see the grassy fields in the distance and the small village nestled close to the small mountain where the training grounds were.
“You’re as slow as ever,” Rune complained, holding a set of dual blades.
The left one was slightly longer, being almost a full one hander, while her off hand held a dagger.
Both were wooden of course.
She turned her head, nodding towards a weapons rack that’s usually not on top of the rock wall, with a training lance and shield leaning against it.
I had a hunch how it got up here, but I couldn’t imagine Rune carrying it at all.
I strapped the shield to my right arm, heavy as it was and tried lifting the lance.
It was even heavier and it took all I had to hold it properly.
If properly meant the tip being stuck in the rocky floor and me not being able to fully lift it.
It became clear I’d no chance of using this weapon at all.
I turned my head towards the open yurt, “maybe I should try something lighter?” I wondered aloud.
Back when this was still a game, I actually preferred sword and shield, especially since it was so broken if you wore the right artifact around your neck.
“You’re Norlans daughter and can’t even lift the same type of weapon?” Rune mocked me, “next you’re telling me you want to use a sword and shield like a wuss.
Bet you’ll just end up mediocre like Hans!” Okay, now she’s done it.
Ignoring her mocking, I jumped down the rock face, rolling my body to avoid injury.
I walked up to the yurt and grabbed a wooden set of sword and shield.
Sure she mocked me for it, but I bet her face’ll be funny when I actually manage to parry and block all her attacks, I fantasized.
I strapped the small buckler-like shield to my arm and fastened the wooden one hander to my waist.
Then, much to Runes surprise, I broke off into a sprint.
My foot found purchase on the first foothold and I used the small crevice and momentum to vault upwards, my other foot finding purchase.
I grabbed one of the upper footholds and moved up until I stood in front of Rune again.
I was double as fast as before and she looked startled by my skill.
“Look at that, maybe you’re not so mediocre at all.” She hid part of her face with her hand and avoided my gaze.
It was as close to a compliment she could give.
“Bet you won’t run your mouth when I win against you,” I provoked her.
I saw a vein almost pop on her temple and smirked, my shield arm ready.
“Just because you’re impressing me one time,” Rune started, only to stop midway through and charge at me, the wooden swords in her hand ready to slice at me.
Her face was flushed up to her ears, but she held a murderous glare.
Here she comes, I thought and heaved up my shield arm right before a left right combination by her sword and dagger.
The first hit made my arm feel a bit numb, as I could only block, but when her offhand impacted, I tried to parry her and she stumbled.
The opening was long enough for me to draw my one hander, but not much more.
“Don’t underestimate sword and shield!” I yelled at her, my voice charged with passion for this underestimated weapon.
Rune’s next attack came even quicker than before and rolled backwards from the heavy impact into my shield.
I didn’t lose my footing and managed to parry another strike with my sword.
I gave her no time to even stumble, as my shield smashed into her abdomen, making her grunt.
Her small body skidded across the ground, her feet leaving a long trail.
She shifted the grip on both swords backhand and took a lower stance with a dangerous glint in her golden eyes.
I kept track of her with my eyes as she began zigzagging around me.
My eyes burned with strain.
She was fast!
Too fast!
A wooden sword grazed my thigh, her dagger stopped at my throat.
I had no idea how she did it, but she appeared right behind me, her head leaning on my shoulder with a smirk on her face.
“I won,” Rune stated, catching her breath, skin almost glowing from sweat and sunlight.
She took a step back, relaxing her stance and sheathed her dual blades, only to pull out licorice wrapped in wax paper.
Rune took out one lace and held it out to me.
Without thinking, I bite into the licorice in her hand, drawing it out of her hand with my teeth.
I happily munched on the licorice lace, sadly there weren’t that many other sweets in this village, so licorice had to make do.
“Thanks Rune,” I smiled at her as she stood there frozen in place.
What a silly girl she was.
After training into the evening, we went back home.
We walked past the guild building, Barde was gone already.
I guess he’s on his way now and silently prayed he would succeed.
The village center was in big commotion, “it’s your fault he died!” I hear a woman screaming, her voice filled with despair.
“If you hadn’t convinced him to hunt a raging boar sounder with you!” “She’s right!” Another voice blares.
A group of men and women stood around Hans who looked sullen.
“Do you think those hunts are children’s games?!” A man yells into Hans’s face, spittle flying before his fist slams into Hans face, “that’s for getting my kid hurt again!”