Blade Hunt

Fred considered the question. If she had been a servant to the D'Honaire family, she would naturally have been familiar with this Lord Frederigo. However, trying to remember the knight's face brought up nothing more than random blurred images, much like when she tried to recall her past.

On the other hand, she did find the name's similarity to hers rather striking. Sure, there were many names that could be shortened to "Fred," both male and female. Still, could it really be coincidence? Had she been named after this knight? If so, the D'Honaire family must have been very important to her own. This could be a valuable lead.

"I think so," she answered.

"Unfortunately, we have little knowledge of their servants, but I can try to find out, milady. That said, it seems strange that a servant would be out here alone."

This made Astra pause. "That is strange. Was she sent to find the missing lord? Or perhaps, this was a blade hunt. Do Allarians have blade hunts?"

Fynia shook her head. "Not that I know, milady. Until recently, Allaria has had far too few monsters for a proper blade hunt."

Seeing Fred's lost expression, Astra tried to explain. "It's an Aqualarian tradition to prove ourselves as hunters. In fact, this trip into Allaria was supposed to be my own blade hunt. See?"

Astra reached into her bag and brought out a wicked looking weapon. The broad ebony-coloured blade curved gently like a scimitar before terminating not in a point but in a forward facing spike. Meanwhile, the concave back of the blade was serrated, giving the impression it could be used to saw through bone.

"This is my family's blade passed down from mother to daughter for four generations," Astra stated proudly.

Fred studied the weapon carefully. As with horseback riding, she just knew what this was. This sword had not been built for war, too impractical for clashing with human weapons. No, this blade was designed to kill something other than man. "You hunt monsters."

Grinning, Astra patted the sword fondly. "Of course. I'm an Aqualarian. It is what we do."

Astra then talked of her home, a nation tucked between the southern mountains and the deserts beyond. The deserts provided many riches from trading with the sand elf caravans, but many dangers, too. For monsters roamed that scorching wasteland and frequently invaded Aqualarian territory. Monsters from the mountains also came down from the other side. Thus, every Aqualarian warrior from childhood was trained to kill monsters.

Fred listened transfixed. It all sounded so foreign, and yet, it sent a thrill through her body. Fighting monsters? Why did the thought of it just call to her? Glancing at the blade in Astra's hand, she felt her fingers twitch.

"Would you like to hold it?" Astra offered. "I see how you look at it. Go ahead."

Controlling her eagerness, Fred accepted the weapon and hefted it a few times. It was surprisingly light for its size, probably made of something other than metal but comparable in toughness. Without thinking, she gave it a few swings, tracing an intricate pattern in the air.

Astra nodded. "You have good technique, as if you had been trained. Maybe you were on a blade hunt, after all."

Fred thought this over.

1. Fred asks for a weapon of her own, thinking it could be another clue.
2. Fred asks to see a demonstration of Aqualarian sword fighting.
3. Astra offers to spar.
4. Suddenly, the group is attacked by a cave troll. Unusually far from its habitat, was it driven here by something?
5. Suddenly, the group is attacked by a wyvern, a smaller cousin of dragons but still quite a threat.
6. Without further incident, the group reaches Aqualaria.

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