The story of Lozan

Written by Milark

The goal

It’s done, all of my work led to this moment! The sigil looks like it’s bursting with energy. Nervously I say the words: “Nê tapo jarena têpoza molaje Namora e zaloje”. I can feel the energy rushing through my veins. “It’s working!”.

The sword

“Why do I always have to do all of the tedious work?”. “Mom sent me to go get flour again. For the third time this week”, “ugh, I can’t even relax for a few hours”. Monaje, the outermost province of Zetara is being continuously attacked by the neighbouring nation, Kowatsa .The Legion is sending many soldiers, mages, medics and all kinds of workers needed in the struggle to the province capital. For this very reason business is booming for Lozan and his family. “Welcome back Lozan!”, I look over at the farmer standing in front of his huge windmill and nod. “Good morning Mister Gajo. The old Mister Gajo leaning on his cane invites me in. “So how much ya’ need today” he says. “Hmmm, I think 20 Ponja would be alright”. I say, under the deafening sound of the sweeping windmill. “That’s quite the weight for a young lad to carry , I see all of these travelers have quite the appetite ay?”. He’s right, the shop has been full day and night. My parents don't get much sleep, neither do I. especially those darn mages. Sometimes they stay for hours, searching. And then leave without buying anything. Of course no one dares say anything about this. Again, neither do I. “Boy, don’t fall asleep!”. Confused I look around the old dusty windmill, “oh right.” I take the bags and leave. And start the long walk. After arriving home I drop the bags, run upstairs and lock my door. However busy, I will be taking this nap. I wake up from the sound of footsteps going up the stairs. “Lozan open your door!”, It’s my dad. “We need you in the shop, RIGHT NOW!”. “Be there in a bit”. I hear my dad walking down the stairs again. I quickly get dressed. Dad wasn’t kidding, there about twenty-one people in the shop right now. On a normal day the shop would hold around ten people at max. I know what dad wants me to do, so I get to work. After working for a few hours, something happens. A tall figure in a dark purple hood that looked like it costed more than the entire shop combined stepped into the shop. Every person inside noticed and looked stressed. All of them trying to hide the surprised looks on their faces and continue as if nothing happened. The mage notices this and chuckles and says, “come on I’m not the king!”. Most people laugh softly and the nervousness in the room seems to be gone. The mage continues to look around the shop for hours like most mages do. He looks like he has a question. My dad pushes me to him, “go help him Lozan!”. The look on his face is serious. I go over to help the man. “Do you need any help sir?”. He looks over, hidden behind the purple hood is the face of a man in his forties, handsome but not staggering. His bright purple eyes stare directly at me. “Yes indeed, I was looking for some najonê bird bones, and some common ink.” I try to remember if we had any najonê bones. Tired from the previous hours of work It doesn’t come to mind. So I try to help him with the ink, of which we have plenty. Still nervous about not being able to recall if we had the bones I help the Mage find the ink. “Over there”, I point to a faucet in the wall that leads to a big ink tank. “Thanks young man”, the mage winks and walks to the faucet. Jug of Ink in hand the man signs that he wants me to come over. “So, what about the bones”, Whilst the man was getting the ink I tried my hardest to find the bones and last minute luckily I found them. Stashed away on some old forgotten shelf. “Yes sir, right here”. I pull the bones out of my pocket and show them to him. He inspects them briefly and thanks me. It’s starting to get light again, I’ve been working all night. As the last person leaves the shop I begin to wrap things up preparing to close. We get one day off per two weeks, that day is today. “Good work son” my dad says, dropping the 3 turquoise coins in my hand. “Twenty-one, I can finally buy that sword now!” I had been saving up to buy a sword, seeing all these knight in the shop I became obsessed with becoming one and joining the army. “Yes, I know you have been saving up, so go buy yourself that sword”. I hug my dad and run off to the smith.