Valerian, The Legendary

The boy was surprised, and asked, “Why a dragonhead?”

Gellard replied, “This is my mark, if you are in need to have them repaired, then the other grandmasters will help you without any cost.”

Valerian raised his head in confusion and asked, “Why?”

“This is a basic practice among grandmasters. Don’t worry about it, we do this to inspect the craft used by the rivals.”, explained Gellard.

Valerian nodded, and gazed back at the daggers inside the box, he asked, “The cross guard is narrow than usual.”

Gellard nodded and said, “They can be used as throwing knives. The princess told me that you have the earth and wind attributes? Pick the wind blade, and then channel your mana in it.”

Valerian thought Gellard wanted him to test the blade, so he picked up the blade, and felt it in his hand. Azula watched everything from the size with a faint smile on her face. The boy caressed the hilt and said, “This feels good in my hand.”

.....

Gellard raised his chin slightly and said, “That is wood from the cloud fruit tree. It will make the channeling smoother.”

Without delay, Valerian channeled the energy inside the dagger and he felt that it was really smooth. The blacksmith on the side said, “Now throw it and make sure to keep your mana channeling.”

Valerian did not understand at first but thinking about it, he still threw the knife at the wall. The dagger made a whooshing sound and then it was lodged in the wall. The weapon was so good that only the hilt could be seen outside.

Gellard was surprised and said, “Turns out you are a battle mage. No wonder you could throw it that hard. Now, try to sense your mana inside the dagger.”

The silver-haired boy closed his eyes and focused on sensing the mana flow. After a short while, he was surprised, usually it should be impossible for him to sense mana in an object that was not in direct contact with his body, but right now it seemed like a thread of mana was connected to the back of the dagger.

He opened his eyes with surprise written all over his face, he could not understand how was the mana still connected to the dagger, he turned his head to the old muscular man, who was smirking with pride.

Gellard said, “The trick lies in the material that can conduct mana, for example, the skin of a magical beast. The core of these daggers happen to have such a magical piece inside them, all selected with respect to their favored attribute. The wind dagger has the fur of the grade three magical beast, Storm Lion. The hair from the mane are the best wind mana conductor.”

His voice was calm, but the pride he reflected was too obvious. Valerian usually did not like arrogant people, but this old man defined that if one had the skill, it was not arrogant but confidence.

The princess said, “Val, try to tug at the mana thread.”

Valerian woke up and tried to tug at the thread, and instantly the knife in the wall flew back to him. It was so smoothly pulled out as if the wall was not made of stone but wax. He caught the dagger in his hand and said, “This is a very good dagger.”

Gellard raised his brow and said, “I will count you ignorant and not drop to your level. Also, it is late and I need my rest, Your Highness, pay up.”

Azula nodded and she took out a few gold notes from behind her belt and gave them to Gellard. The man said, “Thank you for your patronage, do come again soon.”

These notes could be exchanged for real gold coins at any trading firm in the empire. Valerian then placed the dagger back in the box and secured the kitten on his head with his hands and said, “Thank you for your hard work, Senior Gellard.”

The old man chuckled and said, “You can be taught. Good.”

Valerian carried the box and followed after Azula. He was not selfish, he was just not sure how to convey his thanks to her. The two walked in silence, the girl led and he followed. At this moment, his heart was overwhelmed with complicated emotions. He looked at her back and suddenly asked, “Why did you buy me such an expensive thing? Is it because of the relationship we share?”

Azula stopped and turned around, she looked at the boy, who was trying to avoid her gaze, seemingly flustered. This was the first time she had witness such an appearance of his.

She sighed and said, “Val, a lot of things can influence the decision of a person. At first, I cared for you because of your talent. Later, you showed me that everyone has a pride and dignity that must not be overstepped just because of the difference in status.

I am deeply grateful to you, for showing me the flaws in my character. You have inspired me to be a better version of me, and I am trying to be one sincerely. When you left with Vertex, I was worried, and asked mother. She told me the relationship we had.

It would be a lie to say that I was able to digest and accept it instantly, but when I thought about it, having a younger brother is not a bad thing. I will not say that I love you a lot right now, but yes, I do feel that you are a part of my family. Is that enough for your heart to trust me a little bit? Families are meant to care and love each other, Val. Not to question their intentions.”

Her voice was calm and she was really patient with him. Valerian looked in her eyes in the end and said, “I am touched, thank you.”

His gentle expression surprised the princess, she did not know what to say, when she came back to reality the boy had already walked ahead. She suddenly asked, “Why did you say that you were touched?”

Valerian replied with his signs, ‘At first I used to think I am only unable to cry out of sadness, but it seems like even in joy I cannot shed tears.’

He was putting his emotions into words, and he did not say it out loud because when emotions were in chaos, the collar chain produced an indifferent voice. He was not a stone. Thinking about that he sighed and the two people returned to the palace.

In his room, Valerian placed the kitten on the bed and sat down on the ground. He opened the box in front of him and channeled the mana in all of the daggers one by one. This set of weapons surprised him a lot. The various effects of channeling mana in those blades made him fascinated.

However, he also realized, that if he was to use these daggers too much, it will expose his skills to the people outside. Thus he decided to keep the rest for emergency and use, earth and wind attribute ones usually.

After placing the dagger box back in his trunk, he slowly packed up his stuff. He looked at the kitten on the bed, that seemed to be looking at him with curiosity. He smiled and said, “Tomorrow, we go back to academy. I train there, do you want to come with me or stay here with the Empress?”

His tone was calm and gentle. Valerian himself did not understand how such a tone came in to play when he was dealing with the dragon in front of him. Probably, because he thought that her condition was similar to him.

The kitten made a few purrs and meows, Valerian caressed her cheeks and said, “Fine, you can come with me then.”

After packing he lay down on the ground like usual and was about to sleep when his chest sank from a gentle weight. He looked down and found Fortuna had turned back to her dragon form and was laying over him, curled like a ball.

He smiled and thought, ‘Maybe I am not as lonely as I may feel, Mother Diligentia. It has been long since I have talked to you...’

He spent his time looking at the moon outside and thinking about his journey from the banks of the stream in the forest till here. Unknowingly, he fell asleep. He only woke up when the door was knocked.

He covered Fortuna with a blanket to hide her, and opened the door. He looked at the person in front of him and asked, “Sister, why did you come to wake me up in person, where is that maid of yours?”

Azula was standing outside the door and she was shocked by his words.