Silia's Heartbreaking Past
Silia. A girl carrying a heartbreaking past. Abandoned by her blood relatives, she had wandered the world until a hand of salvation reached out to her. Cast aside by her father and forsaken by her siblings, the one who saved her was a human just like her mother. And so Silia found a new family and spent what felt like a dreamlike time with them. She knew their lifespans differed from hers, yet she must have believed that this blissful happiness would last forever.
But then an incident tore her away from them. Once more left alone, she endured a grueling period. After enduring hardship after hardship, it was only natural her personality grew rough around the edges. That was why I could understand her sharp tongue and constant grumbling. For someone who could neither laugh nor cry easily, that was the only way she could express her emotions.
Yet if she said something so easily misunderstood, what was I supposed to do?
"Vern? What do you mean by 'did it once'? And what is this about following someone around?"
"That's..."
I was at a loss. If she phrased it like that, anyone would jump to the wrong conclusion. I opened my mouth to explain, but Silia cut in before I could.
"Wait, aren't you the silver-haired girl from last time? So that's why you pretended not to know me?"
No, why are you getting involved? Last time you told me to stay away from you. I had planned to keep following her regardless of what she said, but if you reacted like this, I had no choice. It was time for Plan A.
"That's not it. I simply thought the clothes suited you. I had no intention of pretending not to know you."
"W-what? What are you even saying? Stop dodging the question."
"V-Vern?"
"Luna, they really do suit you. Still, it's only spring, so you should wear something a little warmer."
"...Haa, forget it. Anyway, why do your face and hands look like that? Did you get beaten up by someone...?"
"There was a bit of a situation."
"What? More importantly, what are you two? Are you on a date or something?"
As she spoke, her eyes scanned Elisha from head to toe.
"W-what? What are you talking about? We're just..."
"Your coats even match. No, wait—the silver-haired girl's coat looks a little big. Did you borrow it?"
"We only bought some clothes. We were just about to head to the weapon shop."
"Huuung, is that so? Hmm..."
No, why did it feel like I was the one making excuses? It almost seemed like I had done something wrong. Regardless...
"Ah, and the club application went through without any issues. We also secured a club room, so I'll let you know the location."
"Wow, it actually worked? Ugh, do we really have to participate?"
"We do."
"This is such a pain. I shouldn't have joined."
"You two keep talking like I'm not even here. We can discuss the club later. Vern, let's go already?"
"Hey, you don't have to rush me. I was planning to leave anyway since there weren't any clothes I liked. You didn't have to make it so obvious you hated being here. Hmph."
"And you—don't go getting beaten up wherever you go," she added before walking out.
Wait, didn't she come here to buy clothes? She just left. What an unpredictable girl. She appeared out of nowhere and disappeared just as suddenly. Could anyone really stick around someone like her? She was like a stray cat that could bolt at any moment—my future looked bleak. Still, even while grumbling, she showed concern. Telling me not to get beaten up... It reminded me of my little sister. When we were young, she used to worry about me whenever I came home injured. Of course, she grumbled just like Silia did.
While I was still staring after her, Elisha spoke up.
"Who was that girl? From last time, too. Vern, what exactly is your relationship with her?"
"Nothing special. She's just a member of the same club."
"It feels like there's more to it... Anyway, let's just leave. Staying here any longer would be a nuisance to the shop."
"You're right."
—Ding
After purchasing all our clothes, we stepped outside. The streets were still bustling with people. It made sense—midday was approaching, so of course it was crowded. We had eaten not long ago, so there was no need for another meal. Now we just needed to visit the weapon shop to stock up on potions and a new sword. I turned to Elisha.
"Elisha, I'll make good use of the clothes. I'm heading to the shop now—will you come along?"
"I have to stop by your room anyway, so I'll just go with you."
"Understood."
We made our way toward the weapon shop. The sun hung high overhead, and a cool breeze drifted through the air. Yes, this was spring. Warm enough to be pleasant, yet with a refreshing wind. Part of me wanted to savor the moment, but acquiring a weapon came first. After my previous sword broke, I hadn't been able to replace it. Without a proper weapon, I had no choice but to rely on magic for now. My magic packed a punch, but it consumed a great deal of mana. That was why I needed items to support me. Right now, a sword was the priority.
My swordsmanship wasn't particularly refined, but thanks to Vern's efforts, the basic stances had become ingrained in my body. Or rather, the body remembered them. That foundation had helped me overcome several crises. Therefore, a sword was essential. Having one would also open up more tactical options in actual combat. Even without using magic, I would have a decent level of combat ability. When necessary, I could also enchant the blade. In terms of reach...
Well, perhaps not. The protagonist Ian and Lloyd both used swords, but half the academy students relied on magic. Still, simply carrying a sword expanded my available strategies. And for the upcoming dungeon exploration, a sword would be indispensable. The academy hadn't made an official announcement yet, but I recalled that around this time, students were grouped into teams for dungeon expeditions. A proper notice would likely come soon. In any case, I needed more than just a sword—various tools would be required. During dungeon exploration, we could use every item we carried.
Lost in thought, I arrived at the weapon shop before I knew it. The streets had been so crowded that we had walked in silence, which made the trip feel quicker.
—Ding
Hmm, not many people inside. Then again, who would visit a weapon shop on a day like this? Everyone was probably out with friends. Maybe we were the strange ones for coming here. Regardless, I began scanning the shop for anything useful. While I examined the weapons, Elisha browsed beside me, looking them over from various angles.
"Hmm. As expected, none of this stock is any good. I should have stocked up on multiple longswords instead."
"Vern, can you use appraisal magic or something? These all look decent to me... though the prices are a bit high."
"You can tell just by looking. Nothing worthwhile came in this time either. This longsword still seems like the best option."
"So you're the black-haired kid who came by last time."
While we were inspecting the weapons, someone called out to us. We turned around to see who it was.
"The owner, I presume."
"Not something a merchant should say, but you're right—the current stock isn't great."
Walter, the weapon shop owner. He wore an eyepatch over one eye, had a thick beard and unkempt hair, and his large frame gave him the air of a pirate. Despite his appearance, he was a decent man. His prices were fairer than most places, and he sold all sorts of miscellaneous goods besides weapons.
"It's been a while since last time. Since there's a lady present, allow me to introduce myself again. I'm Walter, the owner of this shop."
"Ah, hello."
Elisha greeted him in a slightly timid voice, perhaps intimidated by his appearance. Still, he wouldn't have called me over without a reason.
"So, what did you need?"
"Hmm, right. You bought this longsword last time too, didn't you? Seeing you back for another sword, I guess you broke it?"
"That's correct. So what did you want to talk about?"
"Hold on a moment. During the last practical exercise, you were the one who took down that chimera, right? Vern Flame."
"Yes, that was me. So what is it you want to say?"
With black hair like this, everyone seemed to recognize me. Word about the practical exercise must have spread. In that case, the flow of this conversation was...
"Hah, you're quite the impatient one. Anyway, this longsword was personally procured from someone I know. Objectively speaking, it's quite high-quality."
"Is that so?"
"Its durability is on par with anything here, and the edge is exceptionally sharp. If you managed to break a sword like that, you must have taken down something pretty strong."
"This sword doesn't break easily under normal circumstances," he added.
"So what exactly are you trying to tell me?"
"What I'm saying is, if you're looking for a decent sword, get one from this place."
As he spoke, he pulled out a piece of paper and a pen from his pocket, scribbled something down, and handed it to me.
"That person will forge a sword suited to you. You seem to know quality when you see it, so I'm sure you'll be satisfied right away."
"Why are you giving me this information?"
"Just... watching the two of you brought back old memories."
"I see. Then I'll gratefully accept the information."
"Th-thank you."
"Ah, and when you meet that person, be sure to mention I sent you."
After that, we continued searching for anything useful. To think this event would trigger for me. If you defeated a powerful monster like a chimera with a sword bought here, a special event would occur. The dialogue differed slightly from the game, but Walter still introduced me to a blacksmith he knew. The fact that I had slain a chimera must have triggered it. And to think that longsword had been made by that person... Well, I had suspected as much. In any case, there was no downside for me. Meeting the blacksmith early wasn't a bad thing. His personality might be abrasive, but his skill was unmatched. I also happened to have materials from the chimera and the dire wolf I had defeated. I had more than enough to forge a sword. If needed, I could gather additional materials before going. All in all, it hadn't been a bad day.