William immediately stepped back when Franklin spoke.
He knew that tone.
Osric adjusted his grip on the sword and shield as Franklin stepped onto the training ground.
The older knight picked up a wooden training sword from the rack and rolled his shoulder once.
"Attack me."
Osric didn't hesitate.
He stepped forward and swung.
Franklin easily deflected the strike.
The difference in experience was obvious.
The wooden blade redirected Osric's sword with effortless precision before Franklin tapped his shield.
"Again."
Osric moved in once more.
Another exchange followed.
Then another.
At first, Franklin treated the spar lightly.
He moved with the calm control of someone who had fought for decades, redirecting every strike and punishing every opening with effortless counters.
But after a few minutes, Franklin's eyes narrowed slightly.
Osric's strikes were stronger than before.
Not wildly so.
But enough to notice.
Franklin increased the pressure.
Their blades clashed again.
And again.
Wood struck wood with sharp cracking sounds that echoed across the training yard.
Osric blocked, stepped aside, and countered.
Franklin forced him back.
Then forward.
Then back again.
William watched from the side with growing confusion.
"What the hell…"
Osric had always been improving quickly.
But this was different.
The exchanges continued.
Five minutes.
Ten minutes.
Franklin's attacks became faster.
Sharper.
More demanding.
Osric struggled to keep up at times, but something strange was happening.
Every few exchanges, his movements became slightly cleaner.
His shield positioning improved.
His footwork tightened.
The sword in his hand began to move more naturally.
It wasn't sudden.
It was gradual.
But Franklin noticed it immediately.
'Interesting.'
He pressed harder.
Osric barely blocked a quick strike aimed at his shoulder and pushed Franklin's blade aside before countering.
Franklin parried easily.
But his gaze sharpened.
'He's adapting.'
Another clash.
Osric stepped forward.
Shield first.
Sword following.
Franklin blocked and pushed him away.
But the attack had been timed better than before.
The spar continued.
Sweat slowly formed on Osric's brow.
His breathing grew heavier.
But his movements didn't grow sloppier.
They grew better.
Minute by minute.
Exchange by exchange.
Thirty minutes passed.
Finally, Franklin lowered his sword.
"That's enough."
Osric stopped immediately.
His chest rose and fell with heavy breaths.
William stared at him.
"You've got to be kidding me."
Osric wiped the sweat from his forehead.
Then suddenly—
"Ding!"
A blue window appeared in front of him.
Swordsmanship (E) Minor Progress.
Shield Mastery (E) Minor Progress.
Osric blinked.
Then smiled slightly.
Franklin watched him closely.
The old knight slowly placed the training sword back on the rack.
For a moment, he said nothing.
Then he looked back at Osric.
There was clear approval in his eyes.
"Impressive."
'I am curious how this is possible, but even if Osric himself knows, he probably wouldn't tell me.'
'I'll just keep observing.'
"Osric, let's spar at least once a week from now on."
"Sure."
Osric was more than okay with that.
William looked jealous.
'To get mentored by a knight. Must be nice.'
'But I get it. Osric is both skilled and the hardest working guy I know.'
Meanwhile, Osric wanted to ask Franklin something before he left.
"Franklin. I have a question unrelated to training."
"What is it?"
"Do you know of a good information broker? Preferably one that is knowledgeable of everything containing in Lowbrook."
Franklin didn't expect such a question.
"Information is very important. It's on me for not introducing you to one sooner."
"Come to my office. I will write down the address and tell you the password you need to know."
Osric waved at William before leaving with Franklin.
"I'll be here again tomorrow morning. Keep training and don't forget about looking for recruits."
William sighed.
"Alright."
'I wonder what he's up to.'
'No. Let's just focus on my own task.'
—
Later that day.
The sun had already gone down.
Osric stood in front of an old and small library.
'Is this the right place?'
'I was expecting a bar or something similar.'
He walked inside.
The door wasn't locked.
There were only a couple of dim lights above a few high book shelves.
'This place is pretty creepy, but I've seen much worse.'
Osric walked to the empty front desk.
There was a small bell on it.
He pushed it.
"Ding!"
An old man with a hunched back walked out of the back room.
Once he was behind the desk, in front of Osric, the old man just stared at him without saying a word.
'No greeting or question?'
'Guess I'll just say the password.'
"I'm looking for a horror book."
The old man finally spoke.
A one word question came out in a raspy soft voice.
"Name?"
"Beneath the surface lies the unknown."
The was an awkward silence.
Osric felt uncomfortable.
The old man nodded and gestured with his finger to follow him.
'Must've been correct. Well I didn't doubt it, since it came from Franklin.'
They walked into the back room.
It looked like a normal dusty office, but the old man pulled at a book that was on the single bookshelf in that office, and the whole thing slid to the side.
'A secret entrance.'
There were stairs leading to a basement.
Once they were down the spiralling stone staircase, there was another man waiting there.
He looked like a thug, but had a calmer demeanour.
"New client?"
The old man just nodded and turned around before walking back up.
Osric was not used to such a secretive place, but he remained calm.
The thug looked Osric up and down.
"First time?"
"Yes." Osric answered.
"Got it. Follow me."
In front of the staircase, there was just one hallway with two doors on each side and one at the very end.
The thug walked towards the first door to the right and knocked.
A muscular man with an axe strapped to his waist opened the door.
The first thug spoke.
"There's a new client. Is number 5 open?"
"Yeah." The armed man answered.
"You can enter." The thug told Osric.
Osric just nodded and followed the muscular man inside.
He entered and caught sight of a masked person in a hood sitting behind a small table.
The muscular man closed the door behind them and just stood there, as if not allowing Osric to leave.
'I have to remain calm.'
'I am no longer as weak as my past self.'
He walked towards the table and sat down in front of the masked person.
"Welcome. You must be Osric." A soft masculine voice said.
Osric couldn't hide his surprise.
'How does he know my name?'