Folklore - The Series

9: Sagittarius Bow

Sabin - The Artisan

While rubbing two pearls together, Sabin eyed his client suspiciously,
Shifting his focus on his task, he noticed fine white dusts on his finger;

"Real, but no ordinary pearls - rather, mermaid tears," he said firmly.

The human seemed nervous, "Uh, yeah... I- uhm, yeah they- they are sir."

Sabin got curious, "How did you manage to harvest some? It's rare."

His client lost its patience, "Look, just give me the gold coins, Centaur,"
Frowning, he handed over a pouch, "Drop by anytime if you have more."

The human just hurriedly left his store, making Sabin shake his head,
"Then they say Folks are abusive," Good thing he chose to lay low.

He knew it won't be long until the war starts and the King will be dead-

A woman entered, looking like a Folk, Sabin eyed her from head to toe,

She craned her neck to look up to him and he's right, she's a Werewolf.

Her almond shaped eyes held wilderness in its depths that it's alluring,
But Sabin was more concerned of the fact that her race is collapsing.

"I want to buy the Sagittarius Bow," her voice came out like a rush.

"Why would you even need a weapon? Wolves are experts in hunting-"

"I am barely a wolf," She wanders around the shelves she'd brush,

He follows her to the weaponry facing a window that's floor-to-ceiling,

The display also included armors, shields, and items to use in battle.

Sabin gestures to a cage trap, "This one could be more useful to you,"
He moved to the poisoned darts, "In aiming, these ones are easier too."

Lady Wolf ignored that, "Name your price, I can double it Mr. Centaur."
"It's Sabin, and the bow's value isn't the first problem, make it the tenth,"

He turns to a large wooden chest to pull out the main jewel of his store,

A single-piece recurve bow stretched twice as long as the draw length;

The limbs curve away from the user, allowing more tension in the bow

For enhanced force to be released; finally, the bowstring held power,
When loosened, this would allow the arrow to travel further and faster.

"I designed this specially for a Warrior, and clearly, you ain't one."
Sabin allowed the lady to freely feast her eyes upon its desired object,

He's half-expecting her to back out, but the fire in her eyes wasn't gone.

She stretched one arm towards him, handing something he can't reject.

"Diamonds?" Sabin looks at her again, and then back to the gemstones,

He smirked, "For someone starving, you sure seem to be so wealthy,"
She looks away so he continues, "Whose pocket was these from, lady?"

Loud thumping sounds of the Knights outside the crowded street,
Diverted both their attention, and they scooted closer to the window.

"What are they doing in the Border City? They have no one to greet,"

He heard her mumble but Sabin's eyes was only fixed on what follow,

Caged wagons containing wounded Folks were paraded with pride;

"It's a queue for execution," he noticed, then observed something,
There is one woman, not a Folk, who looked unharmed but suffering.

Several cages passed by but then the last wagon contained someone,
That Sabin knew from the moment he saw its rage-filled monochrome eyes;

"You gotta be kidding me," And the closing of his small store begun,

"What are you doing? We're not done! And don't cover up with lies,"

He met her annoyed face but Sabin wasn't so sure if he'd tell the truth;

Seeing him silent, she added, "I am a Folk too, we are not enemies,"
Then her eyes blazed rage, "And war will have no room for apologies."

He breathed loudly, "One of the Folks we saw outside was a rebel,
Apparently, someone brewed a grand scheme to kill the current Human king

Whom, of course, needed a supply run for weapons, ring a bell?"

Her eyes widened, "You're that one? Who smuggles something?"

Sabin swung his bag on his back, "Lady, if we don't fight, we die;

The Clans are perishing one by one, yours' starving to death right?"

Her face went grim, "Then I want to become one of you and fight."

Staring intently at her, Sabin needed to make sure she isn't a traitor,
Since the price of the information he'd give her might kill them both;

But then someone aggressively knocked at the closed front door,

Knowing what happens next, he faced her, "You must swear an oath."

She swiftly grabbed a knife and made a cut through her right palm,

The people outside are now banging the door as Sabin copied her,
With own blood in both their hands, a handshake became stronger.

The door was destroyed spewing a pair of Knights aiming at them,
Sabin quickly released arrows from the special bow for defense;

Ater making a double clean kill, he returned to the lady all the gem,

"More will follow since I'm already identified, and it will be dense,"

He handed over the bow and arrows, which actually surprised her.

Amid the chaos, she smiled for the first time,"Wilan, my name's Wilan."
He grinned, "It was nice knowing you, Wilan, now fight for your Clan."

A/N:
Heyyy did u spot the easter eggs? Guess who owned the monochrome eyes? And who might be the woman, who was the only one that isn't a Folk, in line to be executed? Last but not least, those mermaid tears seem oddly familiar, no?

And yeah, it was Wilan who stole the diamonds in Nymph's Gift.

See u on the next update!!