Chapter 140 - FrostBite(2)

"Oh this won't do! This simply won't do." Said Woldemir as he tried to stare further in Isabel's Iron Boot. This boot is completely made out of Iron. And since Lan Zhe's Blacksmith actually measured each individual Guard, Woldemir can't place fur into these boots. Well he can, but it will make them unwearable since the Iron Boots are designed to perfectly fit Isabel and of course the rest of the four's foot sizes. Afterwards Woldemir proceeded to say in a rather deep diss satisfaction. "I can't add fur to these Iron Boots. It simply won't fit." 

He grabbed Isabel's left foot and raised it up a little, to measure if the Iron Boot meets the length of her foot. Which got Isabel rather, shy. She wanted to slam her foot down with all her force, possibly even tipping over Woldemir. But no, she enjoyed the way his facial expressions were when he examined something, one of his eyes were usually closed in the process, and his lips shaped as if he ate something very sour. Which in some points of view might come out as offensive, but Isabel started seeing pure intent in him(now at least). She somewhat trusted him. So she just stuck to enjoying the scene instead of causing unnecessary drama. Of course, her black face cheeks were forced into a blush but no one noticed, except of course this ill.u.s.tratian man. Again! He either is only observing her or is very perceptive and pays attention to mannerism.

Seeing Isabel oddly shy in front of the Guard Commander/trainer, he didn't say a thing about it. He saw it as harmless and precious at the same time, because this is the first sign of emotion of which Isabel showed ever since she arrived here, and even after most of the troops fell back in Lan Zhe. "So what will we do now Sir? If we don't have appropriate boots for them, they simply can't continue to train under these conditions. The rest of us having appropriate fur shoes for this weather can handle it, but they? It is simply to torturous for any soul."

Hearing an ill.u.s.tratio show such concern for a race that didn't belong to his own, got Woldemir's heart touched. It is amazing how open minded people can be without the illas influences or any negative influence in particular.

As much as he appreciated this man's concern, he tried his best to focus on the main task here. "Well we will just need to make fur boots for their sizes." 

"You know how to make boots?" Asked the ill.u.s.tratian Guard with one eyebrow raised in confusion and no doubt him being in shock. He even threw his hands up in the air in shock. As far as he knew Woldemir, his main characteristic is Sword Grand Mastery! Shoe/boot making didn't exactly come up in the training schedule.

Woldemir smirked before he proceeded to reply. "Who do you think made the clothing for them? You know? The ones you see them wearing. You can't simply buy a 5 foot long fur coat if you never noticed." In the process of explaining 5 feet long clothing, he separated his hands far from each other and of course tried to gesture 5 feet with one arm posing straight and above his head, and the other straight downwards. Of course he had to let go of Isabel's foot to gesture that. Otherwise she would misunderstand it and think its a joke about her feet being to big. And smack Woldemir.(She did smack him before).

But Did perhaps knowing Mogranius for so long give Woldemir a sense of sarcasm. Last thing that Woldemir ever knew how to do before, was sarcasm. And now this joke came out normally. Simply precious.

Seeing the Guard Commander's no intent of harm with that joke. He ignored it as he didn't know to do sarcasm and sprinkled more concern in the conversation instead. "Well you do have a point there. Will it take long to make them?" More concern from ill.u.s.tratio? Woldemir couldn't get enough of it, one more selfless comment like that, and he might get distracted enough to temporarily delay start making the fur boots.

"Why?" Raised Mogranius his right eyebrow up, seeing the ill.u.s.tratio with those questioning eyes. "Do you want to return to the cold asap?" This was of course a trick question used by Woldemir. Often not so important but just a bait to test unity at this point. And his answer got Woldemir dumbfounded, to the edge where he even felt racist.

"Well. Don't get me wrong, i hate this cold weather. But..."

"But?" Arose Woldemir on his feet, took a step forward moving a bit away from Isabel. Paying his full attention to the Guard in front of him, with his eyes open wide in curiosity, and his lips strictly flat.

"I don't think it's fair for them to stay in the cold, training. And for me to stay here in this warmth considering we both get the same... can I call it pay?" What else can he call a payment based on fish?

Feeling extremely satisfied with what he heard, Woldemir placed the Iron boot on the table near him and with his arms staying loose(being a tactic that most wise Warriors know, which is always to have his hands near his Weapon instead of keeping his arms crossed or behind his back. Wasting a precious moment he could use to reach for his Sword if an attack is to happen. While at this case unnecessary, it is simply a habit now. He does it subconsciously.) "What's your name Beginner?"

Raising his front finger high in aims to correct the Guard Commander, the ill.u.s.tratian man replied. "Actually sir i'm a Warrior(level 2)."

Ignoring the fact that this man seems to have trouble with inaccurate facts, sparing no second trying to correct any information meeting his "inaccurate radar", Mogranius just focused on the fact that it was a good quality, even though slightly paranoid or maybe even overdone. This man's intent is pure after all."Well even better. What's your name?"

"My name is Arem." Finished the ill.u.s.tratian man his sentence with a warm smile forming at the end.

"Arem. With your thoughts of unity, amazing perception, clear selflessness and as far as I noticed, an urge to know more. I don't want to see you simply train to be a Guard, the time will come when you will feel that you don't fit in. You will feel on another level. I've been there." Its commonly rare to see a 42 year old GrandMaster in Swordsmanship. Men on his age are considered gifted to reach level 4(Elite), while Woldemir is nothing less but a Grand Master(Level 6). Growing up with a "giving up isn't an option" attitude, he always tried to fit in with the rest of the trainees even considering his and theirs large characteristic and progressive differences or better described, gap. Although ineffective towards lowlives, his speechcraft greatly increased.

"What do you mean by..." No doubt confused, he couldn't help but ask. It's not like he did or didn't expect these words from an ignite. No, he didn't expect these words from any person.

Firmly Grabbing Arem's left shoulder and with a smile following, Woldemir asked. "Do you want me to take you under my wing, train you to become a Guard Commander yourself."

Feeling no doubt shocked at first, Arem went with the obvious answer(for him at least) at the end."But that's your position." 

"It is. But i won't always be around. I'm 42 years old. Apart from that, with a smart man like King Michael, I doubt that we will only have one Platoon. We will need more qualified Guard Commanders instead of just putting some fool in the job." Saying that, Woldemir thought of Guard Commander Chan. He always thought that Chan got that job due to fools luck, or racial supremacy. Not because of his skillset who is no doubt very lacking, even Stefan can slap him to the ground. "In fact I'd like to use you as an example for the rest of the platoon to take. So we can form more Guard Commanders ahead of time. We can't leave anything at the last minute."

Having his heart softened. He is used to giving care, but rarely received it. At this point it isn't care as much as it is encouragement, but still. It's nice to hear something kind from anyone from once in a while. Especially from an always truthful man. "You really think i can be a Guard Commander?"

"I don't think." Smiled Woldemir widely and confidently added "I know. But."Afterwards raising his right hand up with the front finger sticking up. "It won't be easy."

Trying to assure Woldemir, Arem said under a firm tone. "If you feel that i can become one, then I will do my best to achieve that goal." Hearing that, Woldemir assured that Arem is indeed wise. He knows of the possible risk coming from the ill.u.s.tratian Alliance and even the fact that he will not receive a stable salary for the work he will intend to do. His intent was purely for the troops, for Gaster Kingdom. Shorty, patriotism.

Seeing the two men having a conversation which from a person who simply doesn't understand their language point of view. Their gestures portrayed that they were talking about the end of the world. It struck all four of the Calidum Lutum in that room, they were all wearing confused looks on their faces and were desperately trying to figure out what they were talking about. But with no translator in the house, they simply remained clueless.

Widening his eyes after he remembered the main motive of coming in his house, he turned to the Calidum Lutum and said. "Alright let's get into business. We need to measure your feet."