It happened in a moment when Arthur didn’t expect it at all. He was completely occupied with his own thoughts, yet, out of nowhere, his senses and mind were pulled toward that feeling as if they were getting dragged by force.
Something in that corner stimulated his senses so powerfully that he had to double-check if there was even an enemy of sorts. But, what he saw there was not what he expected.
Blinking slowly, Arthur moved from his spot and approached the corner, his eyes completely focused on the object as if it were the only thing available in the room. Everything around him turned into a blur in a split second. Arthur forgot about Merry and even his purpose for visiting her shop.
“Arthur?” Merry looked up when she noticed Arthur acting weird. However, the boy didn’t respond to her and continued walking to his target till he stopped in front of it.
He stared at it for a good few seconds before he bent down and slowly picked it up with both hands. The thing was in reality a sword. A very plain-looking sword with a normal sheath. It had no features on its surface nor on the handle. Just a normal sword in every sense of the word.
But, for some reason, Arthur was completely fascinated by it. Using his hand, he pushed the layer of dust off its surface and traced it with his hand. The way he was touching it was as if he was dealing with a precious piece of art rather than a normal sword.
“What are you looking at, kid?” Merry stopped her search and approached Arthur. This was the first time she had seen the kid act that way and it raised many questions in her head. Touching his shoulder, she peeked at the sword and then at his face.
“Why are you looking at this sword?”
“…”
“Arthur?”
‘What happened to this kid? Did he lose his mind?’ She asked herself.
“Hey, Arthur. Can you hear me?” She tapped his shoulder a few times. “Wake the hell up, kid!” Then, as if she lost her patience, she shook him violently. The aggressive move finally snapped Arthur out of his daze.
“Huh?” He blinked as he looked up.
“Why were you looking at that sword as if it’s your long-lost father?”
“What?” Arthur raised an eyebrow as he looked down at the sword. “I did that?” He asked.
“Yes, I’ve been calling for you for the last minute. Are you ok?”
‘I felt something for a second there and then I completely lost track of time and space.’ He thought to himself. ‘Why did that happen? Why did this sword call for me?’
Arthur didn’t even hesitate to admit it, the feeling was clearly a call from this normal-looking sword. It had beckoned him to approach it and pick it up and Arthur complied instantly. Something was definitely off about it.
“…” Staring at it silently, he asked Merry. “What is this sword?”
“That one?” She raised an eyebrow. “It’s just a normal mid-range sword with a narrow blade.” She said.
Experience more on empire
“There is nothing special about it?” He asked.
“No, it’s just a piece of scrap, Arthur.” She said. Merry doesn’t even remember where she got that thing from which proved that it was just an old iron sword. There was nothing special about it. If it was special, she would’ve most certainly remembered where she got it from. Her mind was a large catalog of weaponry.
“Hmm…” Arthur frowned as he slowly unsheathed the sword, admiring the old, iron blade. Even when it looked so old and forgotten, Arthur’s senses kept pulling him towards this weapon. He didn’t know why it was happening and he frankly didn’t care. There was something special about this sword, his guts were telling him.
“How much do you sell this thing for?” He asked.
“What? Are you seriously considering buying that thing? I don’t really understand how your brain works, kid. But, that sword will probably break before you can even give it a good try. That blade is so old, it might as well be ashes at this point.”
Merry knew about swords more than anyone else and she was certain of it, that sword was just a scrap of metal as old as her lifetime perhaps.
“… How much?” Arthur repeated, completely ignoring her comments.
‘He’s completely serious. What is wrong with him?’ Merry rubbed her forehead. “Uh, a bronze coin? I don’t even intend to sell it to anyone.”
“Here.” Arthur opened his pouch and gave her a bronze coin. “I’m taking it.” He said.
“…” Merry looked at the bronze coin, completely speechless. The entire situation was comically ridiculous. “Kid… You might be going insane, after all.”
“Hahaha, I’m fine. I just like to do stuff my own way.” Arthur shrugged as he put his new sword back in its sheath. “In any case, I’m done here, I will excuse myself now.”
Then, he started walking toward the exit. Merry stared at him for a second before her eyes suddenly flashed with a hint of realization.
“Hey, wait a second, kid.” She said.
“Hm?”
“I have been wanting to ask you this question since our last meeting.” She said. Remembering what she noticed the last time Arthur met her, Merry clenched her fists a little tight. “It is a very weird question, but bear with me.”
“…” Arthur didn’t react as he waited for her to speak. He didn’t think much of her question as he assumed it was just something related to his sword. However, what he heard next completely shattered that image to pieces.
“Have you ever met two people called Nina and Miro?” She asked as she looked up at him.
“…” Arthur was stunned for a moment as if an electric current had struck his body. ‘Huh? Did I hear her right?’
“…”
“Did you meet them before?” She asked. “Just be honest with me, I’m not trying to get you in trouble, trust me.”
Merry’s playful tone was completely gone and all Arthur could see left was a deeply serious look on her face and almost wavering voice as if she was struggling to contain her emotions.
“…” Arthur opened his mouth and then closed it. ‘Why does she know their names? What the hell is going on?’
Arthur never in his wildest imagination even assumed that Merry would know Nina and Miro. Those two aren’t supposed to be known here. Even more so, why did she ask him if he knew them? How did she link them together?
A thousand questions filled his mind. But, the most important one at that moment was what Arthur was supposed to reply to that.
‘Should I just say I don’t know what she’s talking about? But, then again, the way she’s looking at me. She almost looks… worried. And hopeful?’
Arthur believed that he judged people very well and the way Merry was looking at that moment didn’t give him any suspicion at all. His senses didn’t alert him to danger. Slowly, the realization cleared up in his mind.
“… Yeah, I have met them before. Why do you know about Nina and Miro?” He asked with a calm tone.
A//N: Don’t forget to give the book some golden tickets for good luck! :3