The sight of the newly forged weapons are found next to Velgrus they all shine but each uniquely forged differently from one another. Each of them call towards who they were forged to. They each pick up their new weapons feeling there power just from holding them. Velgrus awakens from the presence of the group. Velgrus raises an eyebrow, "How are they? I'm sure it's hard to tell just from now but do they look good enough to you all?
They all nod in a sort of amazement. Velgrus seems happy and confident with his new work, "how about we test them a bit, maybe have some friendly duels? Whaddya say?"
They all get excited Luna jumping in excitement, "Yes! That sounds great!"
The rest agree including Albion, "I'm excited to test my skills on you all."
They head outside where Velgrus leads them to a training facility, empty just for them. Velgrus, "Here it is, what matchup should we go for first?"
Albion volunteers and so does Ciaran, a great matchup between two sword users and the original 2 members of the group. Albion, "This'll be fun, Ciaran, but I won't hold back just because you my uncle."
Ciaran, "Neither will I, nephew."
They both hold their brand new swords ready to have a friendly duel. Velgrus decides to count down for them, "5..... 4.... 3... 2.. 1. Fight."
They rush towards each other, the first strike being dealt by Ciaran who does a diagonal cut aimed towards the shoulder of Albion, who parries the attack and pushes him back, pushing into the offensive, attacking in a flurry, finally ending his combo in a horizontal slash aimed towards the middle of Ciaran's body, but he blocks it just by the tip of his sword. Ciaran decides to focus, starting the next offensive with a piercing attack, Albion deciding to dodge instead of parry, and counter attacks Ciaran, who kicks Albion's sword, but he keeps his grip on the sword and cuts downward making a cut on Ciaran's leg, who then loses balance and Albion officially ends the duel. Albion points his sword and smiles at Ciaran, "your getting a bit old, good duel though."
Ciaran laughs it off, "maybe your right, I am getting old."
The sounds of applause from the others fill the room Velgrus speaking in specific, "Great duel, I underestimated the two of you a bit. For the next match, Luna and Sylvan you two should duel."
Sylvan smirks noticing a slight pattern and pointing it out, "I guess these were picked based on who was related to each other."
Velgrus laughs, "I guess your right, I didn't notice"
"Let's carry on now, you two ready?"
They both nod and Velgrus counts down from 5 this being a unique matchup, on one side an elf who is skilled with a bow a weapon primarily used at range which he can also manage well in short range while on the other side is a dark elf who is skilled with two daggers which is a primarily short range but she can also manage from range. They begin the fight and Sylvan begins with 3 consecutive shots in a row, Luna catching one, as Sylvan quickly lines up his next shot Luna quickly reacts and throws one of her daggers, perfectly parrying the arrow and allowing her to ambush him from the side, Sylvan using his bow to defend attacks as Luna quickly grabs her other dagger and consecutively attack with both daggers not letting up until Sylvan uses his bow to shift the weight and pushing her over. He now points his bow at her face and she accepts defeat."
The rest applause Velgrus saying, "Unique matchup, that was interesting to watch for sure. Great move by you Luna, unfortunately you let Sylvan get the upper hand and win though."
Sylvan helps Luna up, "great match, your a pretty smart fighter."
Luna smirks and takes his hand getting on her feet, "Thanks, I'll work on my technique and maybe beat you next time."
Sylvan smiles with a competitive spirit, "sounds good, I'm looking forward to it."
Velgrus interrupts after they are done, "I think that's it for now, we should get going on this journey of ours."
They all get ready and leave the training facility. Sylvan checks up on Velgrus, "you ready to leave your shop and home?"
Velgrus nods, "I've been ready, I love this place but I needed this anyways. I needed a break."
Sylvan, "I understand, I had to make a similar decision."
Velgrus nods and he gets his stuff and he is now ready, "Let's get going leader."
He directs this towards Albion, Albion is a bit confused, "Leader? What makes you think I'm the leader?"
Velgrus smirks, "nothing specifically you just feel like the leader, your quiet but your observant. I like that, your just like how our leader was."
Albion raises an eyebrow, "and who would that leader be?"
Velgrus shrugs off the question, "nobody special, just a good leader nothing more."
Albion decides to leave this be and plays his role as leader, "you ready for the journey ahead? I think our group is fully assembled the 5 of us will defeat Maliketh. From now on, that is our one and only goal."
The rest of them nod and they march forward heading towards Noctyrium looking and thinking about the journey ahead. A strong sense of justice fills the air. On the journey they stop at towns, just before they make the final journey they reach a small town just west of Noctyrium. Albion calls out to the rest of the group, "Let's rest here for the day, any objections?"
Sylvan speaks, "Hell no, I'm tired."
The rest of the group agrees and they rent some rooms at a local inn. They all know tomorrow will finally be the day that they have been waiting for. They're all nervous. Albion decides to go to the roof of the inn and sit there staring off into the distance in the middle of the night, observing. The door opens from behind him, it's Luna. She goes and sits near him also looking into the distance, the peaceful silence something they both enjoy, until she finally speaks up, "The stars are beautiful tonight..."
She's silent for a few moments, "Are you nervous about tomorrow?"
Albion doesn't reply for a moment but finally does, "Yeah... I am but it'll be fine, I just hope we can win or at least come out with all of us alive."
Luna nods understandingly, "I get it, I feel the same way, I'm nervous but also hopeful."
Albion agrees, "hopeful for sure, but I still can't sleep."
Luna smiles, "well me either, so I guess we're both not able to sleep."
They both get quiet for what seems like a few minutes. Albion just continues to start into the distance and at the stars. Luna taps on Albion's shoulder, as he looks in her direction Luna kisses him. Albion blushes slightly also confused, "w-what was that for?"
Luna blushes too at what she just did, "it was for saving me. And also because... Nevermind."
Albion is speechless. It's now awkward Luna tries to ease the air, "sorry. I made it awkward didn't I?"
Albion shakes his head, "it's alright, I just didn't expect I'd be having my first kiss today or with such a beautiful girl."
Luna blushes at his words not expecting him to say that, "Beautiful? Really? A-and first kiss?"
Albion smiles and nods, "Yeah, you're a beautiful girl. And it's true, that was my first kiss, I've lived in a palace my whole life so I've never really got to do something like that."
Luna is thinking a bit, "We're a lot more similar than I thought the more I think about it."
Albion agrees, "your right, we are pretty similar."
The silence starts and continues as Albion starts thinking more about how his life has been, "I've been so busy I haven't been able to think, I haven't even been able to grieve my own father's death or even think about, not even really able to shed tears for him let alone Lucius."
Albion almost seems mad at himself for not being able to grieve his father who he is understanding more and more what his death means. Luna looks a bit down, "Sorry..."
Albion has a bit of a sad expression as well, "why are you sorry?"
Luna shrugs it off, "it's nothing."
Luna finally realizes how long they've been out here, "oh, sorry for keeping you up for so long, we should get to bed."
Albion realizes too, "yeah, your right."
They both go down together. Before they each enter their separate rooms Luna speaks up, "Good night, Albion."
Albion looks a bit surprised but responds, "Yeah, good night."
They both go into their own rooms and finally sleep. A few hours later the sun creeps up in the distance and shines onto Albion's face, waking him up. They all meet downstairs, Albion the last one to wake up. He yawns before speaking, "Is everyone ready?"
They all nod looking at each other to make sure they are all ready and they get up and leave the inn and exiting the town heading east towards Noctyrium, ready for the difficult battles that await them.