The Path of Learning (3)
Adventure preparations continued into the next day.
Before the rooster crowed at dawn, Ashu and I washed up, got dressed, and left the inn together.
Ashu had some morning prayer or blessing to attend, while I headed to the blacksmith district where Hodo was. They did their most important work at night without sunlight, so I went before sunrise.
He'd promised to make me a new crossbow, and the fact he was borrowing a whole forge for it meant he was putting serious effort into it.
The old one that broke yesterday had been a makeshift job—whittled from cart wood on the road and assembled in the dungeon. Aside from the string, it was over 99% wood. This time, though, he planned to properly cast things like the trigger and tension fittings.
On the city outskirts by the river.
I entered one of the blacksmith districts where the clang of hammers echoed from afar, guarded at the entrance by a dwarf soldier.
Inside, Hodo was holding the assembled crossbow, testing the trigger pull.
I didn't say a word, just waited quietly nearby. I knew better than to interrupt his focus—he either wouldn't hear me or would jump out of his skin.
Even after earning each other's trust in the cave-in and growing comfortable around one another, that first meeting with Hodo had shown his shy side. You have to sweat the small stuff with people you know well.
"Hmm... Hm. Huh? Ah! You're here. Perfect timing. I was trying to tune it to my own strength and stamina, but it wasn't quite right. Care to give it a shot?"
Just like old Jasgiria, artisans always prioritize their work over chit-chat with newcomers.
The crossbow looked just like the last one—short stock, three-shot magazine. Same shape overall.
I picked it up and fired at the prepared target.
"Whoa, less shake than before, and it hits true. Only thing is, the trigger's a bit heavy."
Solid and reliable. The best weapons are easy to use, tough, and low-maintenance.
Loading was even smoother now. There was a stirrup-like foot brace up front—you planted it in the ground, stepped on it, and cranked the string back with both hands.
"That's not all. Try loading it with this."
Hodo hooked a hand-cranked pulley onto the bottom string and turned the handle to draw it back.
Normally, you'd hook the string in the middle by hand.
But with this loader, he stretched the bottom string all the way to the tiller end.
"This dragon tendon string is something else. I knew it was tough, but stretching this far?"
"Come on, come on! Save the review for after you fire it."
I swallowed hard without realizing it. Holding my breath to aim, my finger trembled slightly on the trigger—I had to steady my breathing again.
THWACK!! CRACK!!!
The bolt punched through the target and shattered the wall behind it. It went through the wall!
Did I just fire a crossbow? Or a ballista? One of those three strings was basically a sniper or siege weapon now!
The recoil was brutal for a crossbow—the front end kicked up right after the shot.
"Krahahahahaha!! That's the face I live for!! Satisfied?"
"Satisfied? I'm terrified. If your finger gets caught pulling that string all the way... it'd slice right off. And we need a guard for the support hand to keep fingers from flying."
"Even in the heat of the moment, you're already asking for upgrades. You're no pushover."
For all his words, Hodo seemed thrilled by the feedback, humming as he dove into revisions.
The recoil meant we'd need a proper buttstock too.
My tweaks were mostly finishing touches, and with the sun rising, the work wrapped up.
The base was so well-crafted, and Hodo's hands so quick and precise, that every little request got implemented on the spot. Amazing skill.
Finally, we test-fired it fully drawn. Thwang, thwang. So this is what it could do!
Felt like firing a rifle. Adjusting the sights, it nailed long, short, and mid-range shots!
This full-auto bliss. It's been too long!
"Kirgil, where'd you learn to shoot like that? Even I didn't expect this level of accuracy from my own work."
'Heh, basic training back home.' Yeah, couldn't say that.
"Learned from a master hunter in my hometown."
Good enough dodge. Not entirely a lie—Elias was a hell of a marksman.
"Here, my parting gift. And an invitation."
If it broke or needed mods, you'd bring it back to the maker, who'd reference it for improvements.
Handing it off to someone else might even be an insult. Better ask Ashu later, just in case.
Anyway.
"I love this invitation custom of yours. Next time, I'll bring even crazier ideas."
"Kirgil, your ideas are always welcome. Tricky, but fascinating and fun.
Work's done—time for a drink!"
"You read my mind. Let's go!"
Day drinking by the clock, after-work beers by the vibe. After Hairil, Hodo was my last in this city.
It'd be a thanks-and-farewell session.
We grabbed a spot at a nearby tavern, and somehow Ashu showed up right at lunchtime, homing in on Hodo. When I raised an eyebrow, she flashed her ring at me.
Ah, right—the stalking ring.
As the three of us got rowdy, an uninvited guest barged in.
"Hey, you punk!! The guy who was supposed to show today didn't! I hunted all over thinking you'd left the city!! Not picking up your stuff?!"
Jasgiria popped up out of nowhere and plopped down unasked. I'd totally forgotten I was supposed to visit him, thanks to the drinks.
Come on, old man—was he done with business lately?
"Running around at my age worked up an appetite. Barkeep! Drinks here too! And food!!"
"......"
With the stranger, Hodo clammed up, eyes wide, glancing at me.
This called for an intro.
"See this bracelet on Ashu? You made the 'Light's Companion.'"
"Ho! So you're the one. Pleasure. Name's Hodo from Patermos Kingdom. That processing technique and gem—been curious since forever. Couldn't pry into the princess's stuff, so I played dumb. Who knew the maker was right here. What tools? How fine the color control?"
Artisan spots artisan. Didn't even ask his name first—straight to shop talk.
Color control? No clue what that meant.
"What's with the kid? Sharp eye, though. Hold up—drinks first! Gotta wet the throat."
I showed Jasgiria the crossbow I'd gotten that morning, and only then did he ask Hodo's name.
One shy artisan, one rude one—they clicked perfectly.
Hodo geeked out over Jasgiria's magic processing methods.
What started as a farewell turned into a maker meetup. Whatever—fun's fun.
Hitting me now: new bonds tangling like this is the real thrill of adventure.
Back home, trips left photos of food and sights. Not bad, but nothing on memories etched with people.
Ashu and I were leaving with the merchants tomorrow. Jasgiria said he'd checked the guild to find me.
We lost track of time yakking—sunset snuck up.
We parted from Hodo with promises of future meets and letters. I walked the old man back to his shop, arm in arm.
Via the adventurer guild relay, merchant wagons lined up on the city outskirts.
Not just academy-bound ones—wagons to everywhere, parked in rows.
Like trucks awaiting cargo or a dawn bus terminal, goods and folks bustled about.
Once ready, they peeled off one by one.
Five wagons to the academy. Ashu and I boarded the last empty one, heading back after deliveries.
Not just hired guards like us—paying passengers treated it like a bus.
As we rolled out, I spotted Jasgiria puffing smoke. Waved happily—he chucked a pouch my way.
Before I could ask what, he turned and puffed off into the city.
The pouch overflowed with my custom magic tools. Tough ones to make.
Guess he pulled an all-nighter after drinks last night.
Gruff bastard—going all coy at the end.
Gotta mention this in my letter to Lirisa.
The wagons trundled smoothly along the highway. Like early-morning bus riders, everyone slept through breakfast.
Even with the jolts, the sway lulled you right under.
Noon, we passed the border checkpoint and left Darania territory.
Foreign soil now. Roads got rougher, but otherwise no big change.
Highways usually had wagons and patrols zipping along—wide, paved, minimal bounce. Post-border? Constant rattles, dust kicking up.
Ashu said this stretch was called the "Path of Learning."
Mid-explanation on the name's origin, one lesson hit home.
"Bandits!!"
This world's security was trash enough that carrying weapons everywhere felt normal.
Now I got why mounted guards patrolled the highways nonstop.
Bandits right after the border? Yeah.