Dwarven Warhammer

"Warhammers aren't easy to learn, much less master. And humans live far shorter lives than Dwarves. If I taught an ordinary young human to use a warhammer, and they had no talent for it, they might squander precious years."

"They'd be better off spending that time learning swordsmanship or another weapon. That might give them a better chance of finding their path as a Professional."

"I see." Understanding dawned on Rain's face, and he nodded.

But one question still nagged at him: what exactly was the relationship between Combat Techniques and the professions a Professional could pursue?

Did they correspond one-to-one, or only in part?

Or did two or more professions share many of the same Combat Techniques?

So Rain asked, "Instructor Humbert, do Combat Techniques for different types of weapons all lead to Warrior Professions?"

Humbert frowned at the question. After a moment's thought, he said:

"That's too broad a question for me to answer."

"Let's take warhammers as an example. If you were a Dwarf like me and used a one-handed hammer and shield, mastering three related Combat Techniques might allow you to awaken the Shield Hammerer profession."

"Some of my people don't like shields. They prefer heavier, more powerful two-handed warhammers, and they often awaken the Great Hammerer profession."

"Both are specializations within the broader warrior category."

"But a very few of my people prefer wielding a light warhammer in each hand. They often awaken the Shadow Hammer Walker profession, which belongs to the Rogue branch."

"But you're human," Humbert continued, changing tack.

"As far as I know, even if a human masters the Combat Techniques associated with two-handed warhammers, they won't awaken the Great Hammerer specialization. They'll become an ordinary warrior instead."

"I've heard that's because of our Dwarven racial gift, Gigantification."

Rain nodded repeatedly as Humbert spoke. His thoughts raced, and he quickly picked out the key points:

Mastering three Combat Techniques generally gives someone a chance to awaken a profession.

Even among Dwarves who use warhammers, there are several different professions. Some fall under warriors, while others fall under Rogues.

Dwarves have a unique racial gift. So even if two people master the same Combat Techniques, their different races might lead them to awaken different professions.

Humbert had only used Dwarves and warhammers as examples, but Rain had still learned a great deal.

Before this, Rain had had no idea what profession he might pursue. Now he at least had a vague picture.

"Instructor Humbert, if I master the three Combat Techniques you mentioned for warhammers and shields, will I awaken a Warrior Profession?" Rain asked after a moment's thought.

It was a more specific version of his first question.

"Hmm... If I remember correctly, a human who masters shield Combat Techniques might awaken a warrior specialization called Shield Bearer."

"Shield Bearer?" Rain was taken aback.

It was the first time he had heard of that profession.

"Yes. A warrior who specializes in defense."

"But enough about that."

"Next, I'll teach you the basic warhammer moves."

Humbert waved a hand, ending the discussion.

Rain was a little disappointed. He still had a third question: What if someone masters several Combat Techniques but also knows spells? What profession would they awaken?

Still, this would not be Rain's only day studying under Humbert. He would have other chances to ask.

Besides, the thought of finally learning to use a warhammer stirred a flicker of excitement in him.

A few minutes later.

Humbert held a heavy one-handed hammer and demonstrated how to grip it. He braced his right hand against the handle, keeping his fingers slightly loose.

"See? Grip it firmly, but don't clamp down on the handle. The hammer is an extension of your arm. Imagine the warhammer is your arm."

"Depending on how you strike, you need to adjust both the hammerhead's position and the way you apply force, and do it quickly."

As he spoke, Humbert kept rotating the heavy hammer, turning first its flat face, then its pointed end toward the ground.

"Draw your power from your waist and legs when you swing. Don't rely on your arm alone. That's brute force, and if you overdo it, you could injure your shoulder joint."

"If you've worked as a blacksmith, you'll understand. It's much like the way you put force into a hammer blow at the forge."

"In fact, that's why quite a few famous warriors, Dwarf and human alike, started out as blacksmiths."

Humbert guided him step by step, and Rain threw himself into learning.

With the Boarfolk Warrior's Hammer Proficiency lv1 helping him, and his attention fixed entirely on the lesson, Rain soon had most of the basic movements Humbert taught him down.

Humbert watched in growing amazement.

"Rain, your talent with warhammers is a real surprise. At this rate, you'll be ready to learn Combat Techniques before long."

"If you didn't look nothing like a Dwarf, I'd wonder whether you had Dwarf blood somewhere in your ancestry," Humbert said with a smile, giving Rain another look.

As though something had come back to him, Humbert suddenly said, "Rain, a warrior must do more than charge bravely into battle. He must also protect his teammates."

"For a while, I want you to practice with the shield alongside the warhammer."

"Yes, Instructor."

Rain wondered why Humbert had brought that up so suddenly, but he nodded.

"That's enough for today."

"Thank you for the instruction."

Rain bowed slightly and left the room.

Watching Rain go, Humbert sighed inwardly.

Yulis, he's the tenth talented young person I've taught to use a warhammer. I'll soon have fulfilled my promise to you. After that, it'll be time for me to return to the Iron Hills.

After his first lesson, Rain found Lia to ask about the fees for learning the warhammer and, eventually, Combat Techniques.

"There's no fee for warhammer lessons. As for Combat Techniques... Rain, are you ready to learn them already?" Lia's eyes widened slightly at his question. She was plainly surprised.

"Huh?" Rain blinked.

"Warhammer lessons are free?"

"Yes. Instructor Humbert has never charged for them," Lia said, shaking her head.

She seemed about to add something, then stopped herself.

"Is there a reason for that, Miss Lia?" Rain asked, curious.

Lia hesitated, looked at Rain again, then spoke softly.

"Hmm... I heard Instructor Humbert used to be an Adventurer. Many years ago, he went to Lancot Snow Mountain with a companion, and she died there."

"After that, Instructor Humbert stayed at the Mill Town association branch and has taught basic warrior moves there ever since. You know, with his abilities, he'd be more than qualified to teach Warrior Professions in Dorn City."

"And... I heard his companion was a beautiful human woman, a priestess," Lia added in a whisper.

Rain had struggled to follow where Lia was going until that last sentence. Then understanding dawned.

A beautiful human priestess?

So there was some promise, or perhaps a lingering attachment, born of love?

"I see."

"Shh! Rain, don't bring this up in front of Instructor Humbert. And, um, you didn't hear it from me." Lia glanced around nervously as she warned him.

"Understood!" Rain nodded at once.

Over the following days.

With the other team members injured, the team's activities were on hold. That gave Rain the chance to immerse himself completely in learning the warhammer.

After paying those five silver coins, Rain's savings had been wiped out. He had only a little over two silver coins left for living expenses. But he believed that time spent sharpening the axe was never wasted.

His single-minded focus, coupled with Hammer Proficiency lv1, soon helped him master the basics of using a warhammer.

"Rain, you have real talent."

After seeing Rain's diligence and talent over the past several days, Humbert regarded him with growing warmth.

"You're ready to learn a Combat Technique. Today, I'll teach you Armor-Breaking Strike."

"Armor-Breaking Strike?" Rain's eyes lit up.

At last, I'm going to learn a Combat Technique!

Setting aside abilities derived from monster bloodlines, this would be the first Combat Technique he had encountered.

"Yes. Armor-Breaking Strike is a general-purpose Combat Technique, not one exclusive to Dwarf warriors."

As he spoke, Humbert hung a piece of wrought iron shaped like a breastplate around the ironwood dummy's neck.

Then he took a hammer with a pointed end and a flat face from the weapon rack, hefted and turned it a couple of times in his hand, and stepped back beside the ironwood dummy.

"Watch closely, Rain."