AT THE SAME TIME
XAVIER'S FIRST PERSON POV:
Before I could even register that I was starting, I saw Villiam step forward, his usually quiet presence suddenly intense. He eyed the necklace with an almost predatory gaze, and then, without a second thought, he spoke.
"I'll take it." Villiam said, his voice steady, though there was an edge to it that made me pause.
The merchant blinked, clearly surprised.
"That? You want to trade this... for that necklace?"Merchant asked.
Villiam didn't answer right away. Instead, he reached into his pack. There was a quiet rustle of fabric, and then, one by one, he started pulling things out: sharp, gleaming claws, venom sacs so fresh they still pulsed with danger. The merchant's eyes widened with each piece, and I could see the greed flickering in his gaze.
"You're sure you want to trade this loot?" The merchant asked, his voice sounding almost too eager. "These are rare items F to A raptor claws, venom sacs from some of the deadliest creatures in the land…"
"I want the necklace." Villiam said again, his voice low, unwavering.
The merchant hesitated, glancing between the loot on the table and the simple silver necklace. I couldn't help but wonder why Villiam would trade so much for something so small. But I stayed quiet, watching as the merchant finally gave in with a resigned chuckle.
"Well, I've never met anyone so set on something so simple." The merchant said, shaking his head in disbelief. "But a deal's a deal."
The clink of coins echoed in the room as Villiam handed over his payment for the necklace, his fingers brushing against the cool metal, a soft smile tugging at his lips. The merchant, looking satisfied with the trade, secured the necklace in a small pouch and handed it over to Villiam.
"Pleasure doing business, lad." The merchant said with a wink, his eyes gleaming with something more than simple transactional interest.
But there was a moment of hesitation, a pause that seemed to linger before the merchant spoke again. His gaze shifted back to the necklace in Villiam's hand.
"That necklace... there's something about it." The merchant said, his voice taking on a softer, almost reverent tone. "It's not just a piece of jewellery, is it."
Villiam's fingers traced the delicate chain of the necklace, his eyes softening as he looked at it.
"It's from my home." He said quietly, his voice thick with emotion. "Stoneheart. The craftsmanship... it's something you don't see anymore. My people, my village... they made these with their own hands. It's all I have left of them right now."
The merchant's eyes flickered with something deeper than sympathy recognition, perhaps, or a shared understanding of loss. He paused, his gaze shifting to the crate he had brought in, as though something inside had been waiting for this very moment.
"Stoneheart, huh?" The merchant's voice was quiet, almost thoughtful. "It's not every day I meet someone from that place. You know, I've got something here that might interest you. Something I've been holding onto for a long time."
Villiam's curiosity piqued.
"What is it?" He asked, his voice tinged with the kind of cautious hope that only someone who had lost everything could feel.
The merchant reached into his crate and pulled out an item wrapped in thick cloth. With deliberate care, he unravelled the fabric to reveal what lay beneath. Villiam's breath caught in his throat as his eyes locked onto the object a uniform. Not just any uniform, but the uniform of a royal soldier.
The colors were deep red and gold, vibrant. The fabric shimmered, as if imbued with an ancient magic. The embroidery on the shoulders was exquisite, golden thread, woven with intricate patterns of shields and swords, symbols of strength and authority. This was no simple garment; it was the kind of uniform worn by the kingsguard of Stoneheart, worn by the royal soldiers who had once defended the village's honor. Villiam took an instinctive step forward, his eyes wide as he reached out, fingers trembling.
"No it can't be..." His voice broke as he touched the fabric, as if he was afraid it might dissolve into dust the moment he made contact.
The merchant nodded solemnly, his voice lowering.
"It's from Stoneheart. The royal soldiers wore this. The finest craftsmanship the village ever produced. I've held onto it for years, waiting for the right person."Merchant said.
Villiam's hands shook as he ran them over the uniform, the weight of it settling into his chest.
"This was made by my people." He said softly. "The royal soldiers… this was their symbol. I remember my father telling me stories about the men who wore these. They were the protectors, the ones who kept the peace."
The merchant watched him closely, his expression unreadable, but there was a knowing look in his eyes.
"The village's finest... It's not just a piece of clothing, lad. It's a legacy. A symbol of what Stoneheart stood for. Pride. Honor. Loyalty." Merchant said.
Villiam's voice cracked, the emotions threatening to overwhelm him.
"I thought everything was lost. I thought I'd never see anything like this again. But now… now I can feel them again. I can feel my people, my home."Villiam said.
The merchant gave a small, understanding nod, his gaze softening as he stepped back, allowing Villiam to absorb the gravity of the moment.
"I know it's a lot to take in, lad. But you should know wearing this... it's not just about what you've lost. It's about what you still carry with you. Stoneheart may be gone, but its legacy is in your blood. It's in who you are."He said.
Villiam stood there, the royal-soldier uniform in his hands, as if it held the very essence of Stoneheart. He held it close, as if afraid it might vanish if he let go. His voice was barely a whisper, thick with emotion.
"Can I... can I wear it? Just for a moment?"Villiam asked.
The merchant, his face softened with something akin to empathy, nodded slowly.
"It's yours, lad. I'm letting you get it and no need for money since you paid a lot already. You were meant to wear it. Go ahead."He said.
Villiam's hands shook as he put the uniform on, the fabric sliding over his skin like it was made for him, like it was a part of him. As the uniform settled into place, Villiam's posture straightened. His shoulders lifted, and the transformation was immediate. It was as though he was no longer just Villiam from the village, it was as though he was the embodiment of the royal soldiers themselves.
"I never thought... I never thought I would wear this again." He whispered, his voice raw with emotion. "I never thought I would feel like this again."
The room was quiet for a moment, the weight of the moment hanging heavy in the air. Then Denlor, who had been watching with his usual stoic expression, spoke up, his voice thick with surprise.
"By the gods, Villiam… you look... you look like you were born to wear that."Denlor said.
Lina's eyes were wide with amazement.
"It's like you've stepped into the past." She murmured, her voice full of awe.
Isabella, who had been silent up until now, stepped forward, her cheeks flushed as she gazed at Villiam.
"You look... incredible." She said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Villiam looked at all of them, his eyes shining with something new, something brighter than he had known in a long time.
"This isn't just a uniform." He said softly. "It's my legacy. It's who I am."
The merchant stepped back, watching Villiam with a nod of approval.
"Exactly. And now, lad, you can carry that legacy with you wherever you go."Merchant said.
As class was over, I realized I had never seen Villiam so happy before. Everyone was looking at him and strangely, he did enjoy all the attention he was getting it.
"You look like a commander." Lina said, her eyes wide, circling him like he was a living painting. "No like a prince."
Villiam laughed, but it was light, unburdened.
"I feel like one."Villiam said.
Even Denlor, usually indifferent to flair, was squinting with something like approval.
"Never thought I'd see Stoneheart embroidery again. I thought it was all stories."Denlor said.
Villiam turned, letting everyone see the back of the uniform, the flowing cape-like fabric that carried his movement with quiet authority.
"My mother used to say the tailors of Stoneheart wove loyalty into every thread." He said. "Every guard wore this. The best of us. They stood when everyone else fled."
And he stood tall now straighter than I'd ever seen him. There wasn't a hint of the quiet, background Villiam we'd known at the start of the term. That Villiam had lost everything. This one had reclaimed something ancient.
Laura stepped forward next, her face gentle.
"It suits you so well. Like it was waiting for you."Laura said.
Villiam's grin stretched even wider.
"Maybe it was." He said.
Then Isabella, red in the cheeks and trying not to meet his eyes, finally dared a glance.
"It's… really, really nice." She muttered. "You look... kind of amazing."
Villiam turned to her with the kind of soft smile that carried stories.
"Thank you."He said.
Headmaster Celvin, who'd slipped in unnoticed at some point, stood by the door, arms crossed.
"Stoneheart craftsmanship." He murmured, half to himself. "Hadn't seen that in decades." He eyed Villiam with something that looked like pride. "Seems like not everything from that place was lost after all."
Villiam straightened at that, like the words struck deep. His eyes were glassy but proud.
"I want to carry it forward. For them. For what Stoneheart stood for."Villiam said.
And he meant it. Every word rang out with purpose, and the way everyone was staring at him, not with pity, not with curiosity, but with admiration, showed they believed it too. It wasn't just the uniform. It was him. Villiam of Stoneheart. The successor of something gone, a survivor of ruin, wrapped in red and gold, standing proud in a sea of friends who finally saw the warrior beneath. And for the first time in all the chaos of our world, I saw him smile without a trace of sorrow. And gods, he looked good in it.