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~~~~ââ~~~~~~~~ââ~~~~"
A plain longsword was handed to Lynn.
Rough leather wrapped the hilt. A simple crossguard. No decoration.
A standard guard's blade. Heavy. Solid. Pure function.
Lynn reached out. His fingertips touched the cold hilt.
In that instantâwarmth surged from his palm, flooding his entire body. Something long dormant in his blood awakened.
Memory fragments that weren't his own surged up again.
Not the terror of White Walkers this time.
Countless nights on the Wall. Swinging a sword through wind and snow.
Fighting wildlings. The blade cutting through fleshâthat dragging resistance.
Alliser Thorne's monotone bark: "Hold it steady! Worthless!"
"Your sword is your life!"
The original owner's instinctsâcarved into boneâfused completely with Lynn's soul.
[Synchronizing predecessor's combat memories...]
[Synchronization complete!]
[Congratulations! New skill acquired: Longsword (Proficient) 18/100]
[Congratulations! New skill acquired: Riding (Beginner) 9/10]
[Congratulations! New skill acquired: Unarmed Combat (Proficient) 84/100]
Lynn's eyes changed.
Before, they'd burned with the fire of survival.
Now, that fire had a steel edge.
His five fingers closed around the hilt. Firm. The longsword wasn't a dead thing anymoreâit was an extension of his body.
"Let's go."
Robb Stark's voice cut through.
The young wolf lord had already mounted his warhorse. He glanced at Lynnâstill measuring him.
Lynn said nothing. Swung smoothly onto a spare pony.
A group of twenty riders soon passed through Winterfell's gates.
Cold wind howled across the plains. The column left a long trail of hoofprints in the snow.
Theon Greyjoy rode up beside Robb. Glanced back at Lynn trailing at the rear. Smirked.
"Robb, you actually trust this guy?"
"A deserter who broke his Night's Watch vows. Now he says he'll fight for the North."
"Don't you find that funny?"
Robb kept his eyes forward. His young face showed little emotion. "Father told me to watch him."
"That's enough."
Theon shrugged. "Fine. Hope he doesn't drag us down."
"Otherwise, I won't mind helping Lord Stark enforce the law early."
Their voices weren't loud. But the wind carried fragments to Lynn's ears.
He didn't care.
Just felt the sword's weight in his hand. Felt the strength slowly returning to his body.
Words had power. But swords and blood earned respect faster.
The group followed a tributary of the White Knife eastward.
The smell of blood thickened as they went deeper.
Finally, at the edge of a burned forest, they found the caravan's remains.
Overturned wagons. Scattered cargo. Snow and frozen blood staining the ground mottled black-red.
Several corpses lay stiff in the snow, faces frozen in terror. Ravens circled overhead, croaking harshly.
"They left recently." An experienced veteran examined the wagon tracks. "Half a day at most."
Robb's face darkened. His hand tightened on his sword hilt.
"After them."
The column moved again. Hooves trampled blood-soaked snow with dull thuds.
A few miles laterâ
Faint sounds drifted from a sparse grove ahead. Crackling campfire. Rough laughter and curses.
Robb raised his hand. The column stopped.
Everyone dismounted silently.
"Jory, take five men. Flank left."
Robb's voice was low, calm as he assigned tasks.
"Theon, your archery's good. Find high ground. Cover us."
"The restâwith me."
He looked at Lynn last. "You. Stay close. Don't wander."
Order and warning both.
Lynn nodded. Drew his longsword.
The blade sang as it left the scabbardâa clear, ringing note.
Cold steel reflected Lynn's calm eyes.
He'd made his choice long ago.
To live better, he had to kill.
They crept into the forest. Pushed through the last bushes blocking their view.
In a clearing ahead, a dozen ragged bandits sat around a campfire. Tearing into roasted meat. Guzzling stolen ale.
Weapons tossed carelessly beside them. Faces full of post-raid indulgence and arrogance.
A cold gleam flashed in Robb's eyes. He raised his sword.
"FOR THE NORTH!"
The roar split the air like thunder!
Robb charged first. Stark guards followed, battle cries shaking the sky.
The bandits scattered in panic. Grabbed weapons. One choked on his drink, coughing violently.
Theon's arrow whistled throughâpierced a bandit's throat clean.
Battle erupted.
Lynn's breathing stayed steady. His heart pounded strong in his chest.
He didn't roar like the others. Just focused entirely on the chaotic battlefield.
These bandits were just armed commoners. Nothing more.
One bandit noticed Lynn.
Tall. Brutal face. Saw Lynn's ragged black cloak and pale complexion. Eyes flashed with contempt.
Easy prey.
He grinned viciously. Raised a short-handled axe. Swung hard at Lynn's head!
Wind howled.
Lynn's body moved faster than his mind.
Sidestepped the axe blade.
Now!
Lynn didn't retreat. Stepped forward. Dropped his center of gravity.
His longsword thrust upward from a vicious angle.
The Longsword (Proficient) skillâpure instinct now.
No fancy moves. Just the simplest, deadliest thrust.
Squelch.
A soft sound.
The blade pierced the bandit's throat perfectly.
The vicious grin froze. Contempt turned to absolute terror.
He tried to scream. Only a wet, gasping wheeze came out.
Blood ran down the bladeâhotâcoating Lynn's hand.
[Bandit killed x1, Experience +1]
Lynn felt no discomfort. Only exhilaration.
No hesitation. He ripped the sword free.
Hot blood sprayed. The tall bandit toppled like a felled tree.
Everything happened in a heartbeat. The surrounding battle cries seemed distant.
Lynn wiped his blood-slick hand on his clothes. Now, his eyes held only life and death.
Two more bandits saw their comrade fall. Roared. Charged from both sides.
A curved blade. A wooden club. Cutting off all escape.
Lynn drew a deep breath.
His footwork shifted. Body twisted. Dodged the lethal blade.
Simultaneously, his longsword parried outwardâblocked the club aimed at his skull.
Lynn's wrist flicked. The sword slid down the club's length.
Clubs don't have crossguards.
"AAAGH!"
A shrill scream. The club-wielder's hand was severed clean. The club fell. Blood gushed.
Before the other bandit could react, Lynn closed in.
No wasted movement. A clean horizontal slash. The blade cut air.
The bandit's eyes barely registered the flash of steel.
Next momentâhis world spun.
[Bandit killed x1, Experience +1]
[Bandit killed x1, Experience +1]
Lynn reversed his grip. Stabbed through the handless bandit's heart. Ended his suffering.
Three kills in seconds.
Lynn stood, sword in hand.
Hot blood splattered across his body.
The surrounding bandits froze. Stared. Backed away instinctively. Fear filled their eyes.
Nearby, Robb Starkâwho'd just cut down an enemyâsaw everything.
Shock covered his young face.
This deserter just killed three men that fast?
~~~~ââ~~~~~~~ââ~~~~Â
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