Whistling happily in the kitchen, Saldia was making dinner — the usual for Teclos and herself, but a specially herb-spiced healthy meal for Talmir.

  One week had already passed since Talmir returned from his mission.

  She wouldn't admit it, but she kind of liked that Talmir was injured — not badly, of course, but just enough that he had to stay at home. Usually, he came back late at night from scouting or hunts, so now that he was home, she was happy she could spend time with him.

  "Hmmm, I could prolong his stay here and mix some rather unhealthy herb mixture," she whispered.

  By instinct, she grabbed a bottle of spineblight ivy — a toxic herb with red thorns and black veins. Although toxic, it had its use in medical treatments if mixed with the right ingredients and diluted. When applied properly, it could reduce high fever, inflammation, or even purge small infections.

  But if used for its toxic traits, it could have the opposite effect. Its thorns could induce high fever or hallucinations, and in bigger doses it could even be lethal.

  She suddenly wanted to put a small dose into Talmir's pot so he would get a fever and be sick just a bit longer.

  "No, no, no, Saldia… this is a dangerous line of thought," she told herself.

  Just then Teclos walked into the kitchen.

  "Mom, can I eat later—"

  Before he could finish, Saldia screamed and dropped the bottle on the floor.

  "Aaaah! Teclos! Don't startle me like that!"

  Looking down, Teclos recognized the herb and wondered.

  "Mom, I don't think Father has any inflammations… why were you using that herb?"

  She answered with a forced smile.

  "It can calm fever as well, so I thought I'd brew it just in case. Anyway, why did you want to eat later again?" she quickly changed the subject.

  "Gillard made a new short sword, so me and Ralph are going to check it out. He's right outside — so can I please go?"

  "Yes, you may go, but don't be back too late," she said. And as Teclos walked out the door, her smile disappeared and cold sweat appeared on her forehead.

  "Phew, that was close." Looking at the ivy scattered across the floor, she sighed. "I'd better clean this up and finish dinner."

  She carefully picked up the herbs and placed them in another jar, then finished the meal and brought Talmir a plate of bitterroot gruel.

  He smelled it.

  "Oh no… not again…" Talmir thought.

  Bitterroot gruel was a torture device — at least Talmir thought so. The ingredients were simple: boiled bitterroot, which tasted like mud or hard tree bark; thin broth; and ground marrowweed, which supposedly helped blood flow but tasted horrible.

  It had a watery, sour, earthy taste with no real flavor — but despite that, it was exceptionally good medicine, so he had to eat it. Now that he was at his wife's mercy, he didn't dare complain lest she brewed something even worse out of anger.

  For Talmir, two weeks seemed impossible to survive. After the first two days, he already felt like he'd had enough. Just lying there and eating healthy food… Well, being pampered by his beautiful wife helped, but he could only take so much of the food she brought.

  She was by no means a bad cook — she even managed to make that godawful food taste not so bad.

  "What I wouldn't give for a nice steak right now…" he whispered to himself.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  Then there was the other problem: Talmir was naturally an outgoing man — not a social butterfly, but a nature-loving, camping type. He loved solo trips to the mountains, fishing, and hunting. Being chained to a bed felt like another form of torture.

  Then Saldia walked in with the food, interupting his thoughts.

  "Honey, i made you dinner,"

  She said lovingly with a smile. Talmir felt lucky and unlucky at the same time, but atleast he didn't know that he was almost poisoned by this beauty.

  While Talmir wallowed in self-pity while Saldia spoon fed him, Teclos was making his way toward the smithy with Ralph.

  "How much do you think he's improved?" Teclos asked.

  "What do you mean? Of course he's improved a lot! After all, his teacher and master is his father, Iron Hammer Drada — one of the best blacksmiths in this kingdom!"

  "He's that famous?" Teclos wondered.

  "Dude, you live under a rock… how could you not know this? He's literally the pride of our village," mocked Ralph.

  "Maybe I live under a rock, but at least it's not the same one you use as a brain," said Teclos.

  "Whatever, grumpy tree-boy. You just don't get it. Your mom should get you a book on how to be social — maybe then you'll realize people exist outside your rock collection," Ralph shot back.

  "If by people you mean yourself, I think I can safely say I've already got the full experience."

  "Yes, you are right — but you waste this premium experience on interacting with other humans by talking to plants instead."

  "Ugh." Teclos grunted.

  Ralph smirked. "What? No more comebacks?"

  As their banter finished in Teclos's defeat, they arrived at the smithy, where a steady hammering echoed. Unless there was a special event in the village, that hammer never stopped — from early morning, before even the roosters woke, until nightfall.

  There was a reason Drada, the head blacksmith, was called a genius and one of the kingdom's best.

  Going to the back door, they bypassed the hunters and customers and went up the stairs to the second floor, straight to Gillard's room.

  Opening the door, Ralph announced himself with a grin.

  "Hey man, we came to see the new sword!"

  "Yeah, Ralph said it was a short sword. Did you engrave something cool on it by chance?" Teclos asked curiously.

  Welcoming them in, Gillard sat in his room holding a beautiful sword in his hands.

  The sword was a simple arming sword — single-handed, straight, double-edged. The metal had an unusual dark blue tint, catching the light subtly without gleaming. The hilt was plain but sturdy, wrapped in worn leather, practical and comfortable, hinting at quiet strength and balance.

  Smiling, Gillard held the blade like a father would hold his child.

  "This — this is the best work I've done so far, guys. Father even praised it. You can't imagine how strict his criteria for a good sword are!" he laughed, overflowing with happiness.

  It was the first time they'd seen him like that, and soon they all laughed with him.

  "Can I hold it?" Teclos asked.

  "Sure — and while you look at it, I'll explain the details." After handing him the sword, Gillard began excitedly,

  "First, I used a rare metal Father gave me — orichalcum. It's basically two grades under mithril in mana conductivity, but sturdier. Perfect for beginner squires and aspiring knights. It took me eight days to make — that's why I was always here instead of with you guys. The hammering was brutal. I'm pretty strong for my age, but this metal barely moved. I hammered, shaped, folded, quenched — relentless. It was as stubborn as a mule, i tell you! Once the shape was done, I made a hilt from star-willow wood Father prepared — it's a flexible wood that won't break or splinter so easily — and wrapped it in wolf leather as a finish. And here it is, my best work!"

  While Ralph was suprised Gillard could even talk that much,Teclos swung the sword and it released a sharp ringing noise. It felt sturdy in his hands.

  "Once we come of age, you have to make three swords for all of us, Gillard," said Teclos eyes sparkling.

  A second later Ralph chimed in,

  "Yes! And with swords like that, we can go on our first hunt together! Just imagine people's faces when we bring back a lightning wolf or a fire bear — with those blades it's possible, I tell you!"

  "Pfff, you'd piss your pants encountering a stone boar, let alone a bear," laughed Teclos, as did Gillard.

  "Yeah, I bet Ralph wouldn't even bring a wind hare."

  Ralph leaned back, grinning wickedly.

  "Oh, a wind hare? Please. I'd catch it blindfolded, roast it for lunch, and still get back in time to laugh at you two whining like lost puppies. Keep dreaming, tree-boy and giant-wannabe — I'll be the one making legends while you're still arguing over pebbles."

  Gillard laughed.

  "Sure you would. But seriously, guys, I doubt I can make the same kind of swords again. The material cost is huge — and three of them? Father would work me to the bone to pay it off. I'll forge us weapons, don't worry — just not from the same material."

  Ralph patted his shoulder.

  "Don't sweat it, buddy. We're not gonna mooch off you. I can bring leather armor from my pops and tasty jerky. Teclos can bring poisons and healing potions. You bring the swords, Gillard — then we'll be ready for anything on our coming-of-age hunt!"

  "For once I agree with Ralph," said Teclos, patting both of them on the shoulders.

  Gillard just smiled at first and then replied, "i know this is cheesy, but i'm glad to have awesome friends like you two. It's a deal! We will win that hunt!" He stated full of energy, lifting his sword.

  Later that evening, when Teclos returned home, he didn't go inside immediately. Instead, he sat under the apple trees again — lotus position, channeling mana, and breathing again.

  "Who knows… maybe we'll be the most famous hunters in the world. Maybe I'll name us the Three Musketeers," he thought with a smile on his face.

  Refocusing on his training, he directed mana from his lungs upward again. He made another attempt at forming the mind circle. This time tho, it was different, the mana spun wildly — faster, and faster still. His senses expanded, becoming sharper. It made him dizzy, but it also meant he was getting close.

  His sensory perception opened up.

  He could sense every bug around him, the grass, the trees — even Talmir sleeping and Saldia sipping tea — everything in a fifteen to twenty-meter radius, even beneath the soil. His eyes shot open involuntarily; he could see through the darkness, glimpse at its patterns, a clue on how he could shape and mould it more easily. It was like an epiphany — like his brain was receiving an update on how to use beginner darkness magic.

  The mana spun faster, merging with his mind. Darkness lifted him off the ground; his eyes turned pitch-black like a demon's — emotionless and cold.

  It was frightening. He could smell better, see better, think faster, remember more, sense mana more clearly, feel more — so many enhancements he couldn't explain yet overwhelming him. He was dizzy — so very dizzy. He pushed through with all of his will power, forcing the mana just that little faster and then —

  It clicked.

  The circle finally formed and merged with his being.

  His eyes returned to normal, and he fell to the ground, immediately vomiting his last meal.

  This was strange. Talmir never mentioned such a strong reaction to forming a first mind circle. If he had to describe it, it was like forming three circles at once. His core was normal enough but heart circle had already been a major change, but this… this was something else entirely.

  "Wow… I didn't expect that," he said, pleasantly surprised. Wiping his mouth, he wondered, "Did they lie about the pain or dizziness? No… Father might be tough, but he wouldn't lie."

  Unable to explain it, he decided to get up, thats when a foul smell hit him.

  "Ugh, I smell really bad…"

  He went inside to soak in the bath and go to bed. Then he remembered the time after looking out the window.

  "Yeah, I should hurry… otherwise I'll be dead if Mom finds out how late i am."

  It hadn't fully sunk in yet — but at the tender age of eleven, he had formed his third circle. A record for the village, and possibly even for the entire county.

  Tomorow a shock awaited his parents, and a new day.