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06. Engraving ............ “Try shouting your sweetheart’s name before you attack!” Anli shook her head, momentarily puzzled on where that stray thought came from. As she recalled, it was Duelle the Onion Warrior who had told her that little piece of combat advice some time ago. “Nah... Whatever.” The girl said, casually shrugging it off before returning to work on her sword. The blade had dulled, and eventually broke during the heat of combat one day, but she was able to fend off the foes with the aid of a dear comrade and friend. Besides, Anli liked swords. Looking at them, using them, learning their secret arts, forging them... She really liked swords. So her sword would be her own as she worked in her backyard smithy, improving on it with magical enhancements, tempered metal and re-worked leather fixings. After many long, enjoyable hours, the sword was repaired, shining and strong and ready to complete with the engraving of a name. But then the girl paused as another stray thought crossed her mind as the renewed blade lay still in her hands. Hues and swirls of teal, violet and white formed an image with sandy-blonde hair and turquoise-blue eyes... Anli allowed her thoughts to linger and then fade away. Now she knew the name of her sword when before she simply going to call it “Sharp and Pointy”. The name was chiseled, and the sword now became a beacon of strength and love, as the girl whispered its name with affection. “Escad...” ............ END The sixth of a series of drabbles, shorts, and stand-alones that chronicle the romantic and otherwise relationship of Escad and "Anli" the Heroine. Inspired by the forging/tempering weapons and armor in the game, and Duelle’s “Shout your sweetheart’s name!” line in his battle mode tutorial in the game. And yes, my gameplay Heroine (Anli) really does have a sword named “Escad”. Hey, why not? XDEscad, "Anli" the Heroine and Legend of Mana are copyright © to SquareEnix. Fanfiction by Cheetah Smith. |