Chapter 3
Sam and Jesse left the building through the right entrance, and went around the corner toward the back side of the building. When they reached the back corner, they turned off to their right and walked the short distance to the woods. They entered the woods through a patch of dense ground foliage. After they passed through about ten feet of the leafy stuff, it abruptly cleared away and a narrow dirt path opened up before them. It was a rough path, with tree roots and dead branches criss-crossing it’s entire length. They managed the path up to its end at a clearing with a log cabin in it about 50 yards away from the village. The cabin itself was a perfect square, about 25 ft. per side. Jesse stopped at the edge of the clearing.
“Well, this is it. Just remember to never let him out of you sight and you’ll be okay. You can do this.”
She reached up and gave him a hug.
“Now go.” She added, giving Sam a slight shove toward the cabin.
Sam walked up to the door and stood there for a minute. He wasn’t really that nervous, even though every time he had faced Master Merin he had lost. He took a deep breath, and gathered all his thoughts. He reached for the door handle, turned it, and entered the cabin.
All the furniture in the cabin was along the walls. In each of the corners was a lantern on a stand, which gave off sweet scented smoke. There were shelves all around the walls with old swords and shields on them. There was an old chest in the back, right next to a small bed. A table and a chair were next to the left wall. There was also a book shelf filled with books on that wall. On the right wall, there was a washing basin and a large box with various tools in it. Most of the space in the middle of the room was carpeted. There were small plants growing out of the wooden floor and the carpet, even a few on the walls. Sam had asked about them once, and he had be told, “I made them grow there.” by Master Merin. Master Merin was the lone thing on the very worn carpet.
In the middle of the room, obviously standing on the carpet, was Master Merin. Yes, the same one who had said, ”I made them grow there.” about the plants. He was pretty old; one could easily tell by his wrinkled face, gnarled hands and long gray hair. He wasn’t overly tall or buff, but he was cut and looked pretty strong for an old guy. His attire was similar to Sam and Jesse’s, though it should be the other way around; they borrowed their dressing style from him. He and Sam were wearing the same colors, though his clothes were a little more worn than Sam’s. Coincidence? Hmm…no comment. Any way, the Merin, who had had his eyes closed this whole time, opened them as Sam approached him.
Silently the old man drew a pair of blades similar to Sam’s, but completely different at the same time. The swords were the same size as Sam’s, but the blades themselves were made of a different material. It wasn’t any type of metal, but it looked very much like crystal. If one looked through the facets the right way, one could swear they saw right through the blade. It also seemed to have a green tint to it, practically glowing in the torch-lit room.
Sam drew his blades, and the two combatants took up fighting stances about ten feet from each other. Sam made the first move with a left-handed vertical slice, and Merin blocked it with his right-hand sword, then countered with a left-handed jab at Sam’s stomach. Sam stopped the jab with his right-hand sword, causing Merin to stumble and turn his back on Sam. Sam took this opportunity to make another vertical slice at Merin. Quick as lightning, Merin made a clockwise turn and swung so hard with a horizontal slice that it knocked Sam’s slicing sword out of his hand and across the room.
The rest of the match went like this: Sam held Merin at bay while maneuvering around him to get his sword. After he got his other sword back, they basically took turns attacking and defending and partially disarming each other and then maneuvering around each other to get their blades back.
It ended when Merin did something he had never done before. During a lull in the fighting, Merin took a step back, sheathed his right-hand sword, and closed his eyes. Suddenly, his hair and clothes seemed to blow in a breeze only they were affected by. Merin held up his right arm and a green light emitted from his palm. Sam felt a sinking motion and looked down to see his feet under the carpet up to the ankles, and let out a shout of surprise. He looked back up to see Merin coming at him, swords raised. He raised his own swords in defense, but Merin just knocked them out of his hands and then put a sword to his throat. Sam held up his empty hands in defeat.
“You win again Master. I guess that means that I fail. But tell me, how did you do that?“ said Sam, not looking tired or dejected, but very intrigued.
“Yes, I did win, but you still pass the test. I didn’t intend for or expect you to win.” He paused, sheathed his swords, and grinned at the surprised look on Sam’s face. He also took this time to release Sam from the floor.
“Now go get Jesse. I’ll explain everything and more to you. And I have something to give you two.”
Sam, still a little surprised by everything that had just happened, went and opened the door. When he did, Jesse tumbled in onto the floor.
“I was…umm…I…” she stammered.
“You were trying to listen in, huh?” Merin finished.
“Umm…yeah,” she admitted nervously, “I just wanted to know how he did.”
“He passed. But that’s not important now. Come, follow me, the both of you.” Merin beckoned them over to the chest near his bed.
He reached underneath his pillow and pulled out a key. There was a loud click as Merin turned the key in the large, rusty padlock keeping the chest locked. He took the padlock off and opened the chest. Sam and Jesse peered over his shoulder as he pulled something out of the chest. He got up, turned around and handed Sam a mail shirt that looked like it was made from granite, not to mention very light. Sam wondered how the creator of this vest managed to make the little rings from granite. That must have been hard.
“It’s called the Granite Mail, though it’s made from something much harder and tougher than granite. I forgot what it was. It‘s earth element, so it‘ll go good on you.” Merin informed them.
He turned around and pulled something else from the chest. He turned back around and handed Jesse a mail shirt.
“This is mythril mail,” he told her, “and it’s water elemental, so I assume it’ll suit you fine.”
“Wai-” Sam started to say.
“Two more things, then I‘ll explain it all,” Merin cut him off, “Sam, unsheath your swords and lay them on the floor.”
Sam did so, and Merin took his own swords and handed them to Sam.
“They’re yours. Don’t ask, just take them. They're earth elemental too.”
Sam took them and sheathed them.
“And now for the last thing.” Merin again turned to the chest and pulled out something. This time he handed each of them a pair of gauntlets. If you’ve ever played Zelda: OoT, then you’ll understand the description in the next sentence of the gauntlets he gave them. The ones he gave Jesse looked like the silver gauntlets, but with a bluish tint, and the ones he gave Sam were like the gold gauntlets, but a duller and more brownish.
“But why-”
“I told you I’d explain it all, didn’t I?” Merin cut Sam off again, “Here goes….”
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Okay, so I didn't get around to the "remembering our world" thing. The chapter is long enough.
I promise you'll know that and more next chapter.
