Vuldir Arskan's Arc

Chapter 2 of 2

Vuldir walked the narrow forest path toward the nearest village. His brown vest shifted with each step, and his tail swept the ground behind him. He needed to find someone willing to learn. Someone with patience and fire both. The sword he'd found yesterday hung at his hip now, wrapped in leather. Morning light filtered through the canopy above. Birds called from the branches. He'd spent fifty years building his skills, and now they would die with him unless he found the right student. The village appeared ahead through the trees. Vuldir straightened his shoulders and kept walking. The market square buzzed with morning activity. Vuldir moved between the stalls, studying faces. No one looked right. Too young. Too old. Too comfortable with their simple lives. He stopped at a weapon smith's table and ran his clawed fingers over a metal shield. The surface gleamed with detailed engravings along its edges. The smith nodded at him. Vuldir lifted the Guardian's Shield and tested its weight. Heavy enough to build strength. Solid enough to take repeated strikes. He paid the smith and tucked it under his arm. When he found his student, they would need to practice both attack and defense. The shield would let them train properly without injury. Vuldir left the village with his purchase. His search would continue, but now he had the tools ready. His future student just needed to appear.