Even as Shogo was just beginning to read his story, Linnea had a feeling that the young man's creation had a hidden meaning. And with each new sentence, these assumptions grew stronger, until they turned into a certainty – yes, Shogo's story was not about what one might think at first glance. Linnea could not help but be impressed by the efforts of her former classmate, spent on creating one long and, perhaps, not obvious joke for everyone. What he certainly had was enthusiasm. The girl even felt a little like asking him if he was planning a sequel about a large cave. Equally, out of a desire to see what Shogo would answer and what he would come up with next. However, such questions could wait until the end of the club meeting.
Linnea decided to make her own story quite simple – with a clear and understandable idea, but without any special tricks. Firstly, she simply didn't have time for complex plots right now, and secondly, she thought that it was better to practice first, and then take on something that required great talent and effort. All that remained was to hope that the attendees would like the fruits of her labor.
The Renowned Sword
The name "Alea" has become legendary – this sword has been wielded by more than one hero. It was used to slay dragons and demons, win battles in tournaments, and, as people say, any warrior who possessed it eventually became a hero of his own ballad, sometimes even more than one. Now, however, this sword was at rest – it was not hanging on the belt of another brave man, but was behind a display case in a store, waiting for a new owner. An owner who was willing to pay a small fortune for such a famous name.
Of course, such a rich man did not keep himself waiting long and soon dumped the coveted amount on the counter, still afraid to believe in his luck. After all, what are paltry trinkets compared to glory and admiration in the eyes of people? Compared to the realization that your name will go down in history? At the same time, the young man who bought the sword could not help but laugh at the stupidity and naivety of the merchant, who agreed to part with such a thing. He could have become a hero, be loved by people, but instead, he sat in a store and was ready to exchange his ticket to success for a handful of coins. Pleased with his purchase, the rich man left the store – his mind was consumed by fantasies of glory and greatness.
Two months passed, and the new owner of "Alea" returned, and he looked frankly miserable – his hair was disheveled, his eyes were wide with anger, his once impressive coat was torn to shreds, and there were traces of fresh wounds on his hands and neck. "What did you sell me, you scoundrel?!" – the rich man roared angrily, quickly walking up to the counter – "Did you decide to make a fool of me? Your legendary weapon is just a piece of iron! I couldn't even handle a bunch of bandits, let alone demons and dragons! I demand an explanation!" To emphasize his words, the man grabbed the store owner by the lapels, but he did not show any fear – his gaze was cold, and his voice was calm. "I did not deceive you, the weapon I sold you is indeed 'Alea', a weapon from legends. I would never deceive my customers," replied the merchant, and even the enraged rich man understood from his tone that he was not lying – "The problem is that you forgot about the most important thing. It is not the sword that makes the man – it is the man who makes the sword."
Ment
