To Sharpen the Blade Once More (10)

T’was yet another rainy morn when Korv awoke. It was a light, peaceful rain and he chose to wander outside to enjoy the cool, calming air.

Korv truly enjoyed mornings like this. Slightly gray and quiet, with just a hint of sun peeking out from behind the clouds, reminding all that hope was always just around the corner.

He sat in quiet contemplation with his daily brew. He had begun his journey to reenter the fray. This was a time of rebirth, indeed. Though he had faced countless battles in his day, even a seasoned warrior like Korv sometimes had to come to terms with the nervousness that precedes a great campaign. He reminded himself that this was not fear, but excitement at the prospect of a new battle. He knew in his heart that his skills were worthy, and he was a more than capable hand.

As he finished his brew, he prepared to start his day in earnest. He must procure victuals and continue his search for a conquest that was worthy of his mettle.

The rain had lifted slightly and only the gray sky remained as Korv set out to leave the village. This day would take him through some less than desirable area on the way to his destination, but it could not be helped. He did not mind the journey so much. He must merely remember to be continually aware of his surroundings as he moved about.

He moved through the area without incident, but his caution was warranted. Only a week before, there had been an attack by bandits very near the path he needed to tread. While he was a warrior, Korv knew that avoidance, if possible, was always best.

He made his way to the local market and proceeded to look over the bountiful harvests available to him. There was always a wide variety of choices, and sometimes Korv wished he could take them all home with him! As he was still training to regain his form and skill, He opted for mostly fresher selections and limited the amount of treats he would allow himself.

On his way to the open exhibition, Korv was stopped by a local merchant who asked for a moment of his time. He was in the employ of a man who had heard of Korv’s skills, and was in need of someone with a mighty sword arm.

As they conversed, he asked Korv questions about the battles he had fought previously, and of his leadership skills in various campaigns.

Korv spoke briefly and concisely about his experiences, being mindful not to be too humble nor too boastful. The art of negotiation was a delicate one, indeed. One must always be cautious, so as not to drive the other party off, but keep them invested in the tale.

The merchant seemed quite impressed with Korv’s experiences and wished to speak more on the morrow. Korv cheerfully agreed, and they would meet again at the appointed time.

Korv, spirits high now, made for home. He must prepare to meet again with this gentleman, and learn more about the opportunity they may have to offer him.

As he sat for his evening meal, Korv looked forward to the coming days, hopeful that his return from exile would not last much longer. He had made progress today, and for him, this was a minor victory on the road back to the fields of conquest.


Comments

27 responses to “To Sharpen the Blade Once More (10)”

  1. Progressing nicely, and there are some good personal growth guidance messages in the story as well.โ€‚The only criticism I can offer at all is that the A.I. is writing it more like a summary of a story than an actual story.โ€‚More actual dialog and “show, don’t tell” would really push your work over the top.

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    1. I don’t use AI for the writing. Only for the pics.

      Liked by 1 person

    2. But now that you have said that, I clearly need to alter my style ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ

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      1. My bad on the A.I. thing, I thought I recalled you saying you used it at least for editing, etc…โ€‚That was probably Rick at the AI Story Writers blog though, lol.

        I used to be the world’s worst on show don’t tell and I’m still struggling with it more than I should.โ€‚Writing, like everything in life, is a learning process though.โ€‚The stories are already great, so any improvement is just icing on the cake.โ€‚Read enough fan fiction and you’ll see how many people can’t even get that part close to right.

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      2. I have made comments in the past that I have no issue if people use it for editing, etc., just don’t use it to write the whole dang article for you lol
        I personally haven’t used it for that at this point in time. Only for pics and research for non-writing related stuff.

        I appreciate the comment, and also, if it reads like an AI text summary, that’s the last thing I want, so good feedback. Thank you!

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  2. Thanks.โ€‚I *TRY* to keep my feedback constructive, especially after flying off the handle myself at bad feedback in the past.โ€‚It’s a redhead thing, LOL.โ€‚But seriously, I try to better about giving and taking feedback anymore.

    As far as the use of A.I. goes…โ€‚I’ve made quite a few negative remarks about it in the past.โ€‚My self-hosted WP blog has a “100% Human Content” logo on it.โ€‚I still try to be open minded about people using it as a learning tool though.โ€‚Likewise, I don’t see anything wrong with editing.โ€‚Grammarly and similar tools can be a godsend after hours of writing.โ€‚Proofreading at that point only reads what you think you wrote, LOL.

    Pics…โ€‚Well, I have to admit the purist in me dislikes the idea.โ€‚Artists put in a ton of work to learn their craft just like writers do.โ€‚The alternatives to A.I. for people like as aren’t great though.โ€‚Take stuff from the internet and hopefully get away with it under fair use laws, pay for every picture we use (gets costly), invest in something like Poser and Daz3D to make our own.โ€‚That’s almost as much work and more cost than learning to draw by hand…โ€‚OR… A.I.โ€‚I’ve been at war with myself over breaking down and using it myself.

    OK, I’ll shut up now, LOL

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    1. I understand why artists and other creators would bristle against it. I get like that with AI created music, so I too, still have my hangups about it at times.
      But then I think about myself with the pics, and how I am grateful that there’s a way for me to try and create the things I see in my head, since I am not talented in the regard of illustration. Someone who is not musically inclined might feel the same way.

      As far as writing, the folks that use it for entire articles. I mean, hey, whatever, but it is soooooo dry and sterile. Which is why I appreciated your comment, because that’s the last thing I want my writing to be.

      I actually saw a blog post a couple weeks back and the blogger had forgotten to cut out the AI portion of the chat where it said it is not human, and therefore cannot relay human emotion, but it could give it a summary of the topic. Oops. ๐Ÿ˜„

      I also accept the reality that it’s not going away, so I might as well have some kind of fun with it if I can.
      There’s no clear cut answer, and I do understand the conflict, as I too go through it at times.

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  3. I see Korv is growing fonder of his softer self!

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    1. In some ways, but make no mistake, he can still be fierce lol

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  4. Why does it feel like he has more in his head than heโ€™s expressing out to the world, perhaps itโ€™s my innate sense or paranoia you can say but I do think heโ€™s planning something big amidst his everyday existence

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    1. Some plans are best kept to oneself until ready to execute. Too much time spent talking is less time spent doing ๐Ÿ˜‰

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      1. Agreed, my friend

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  5. I like the tempo of the story. The prose along with the images lead us through Korvโ€™s day. He has shared with us some important details, and some exciting potential opportunities! With these kinds of stories and images, we are being taken along on a journey. Thanks for the show and tell, which is similar to how one would write a childrenโ€™s book. Not that this is a childrenโ€™s book, but it is written in that way, so the reader feels part of Korvโ€™s day. Ready for the next installment.๐Ÿ˜Š

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    1. Oh, there’s a high degree of childishness involved, trust me lol
      Thanks! ๐Ÿ™

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      1. lol, well Iโ€™m not seeing it ๐Ÿ˜Š

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      2. Just a pinch is all ๐Ÿ˜‰

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  6. I need to catch up, my friend. Nice story so far.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Edward. I am very glad you like it ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ™

      Liked by 1 person

  7. seems to be going well thus far….for Korv…am glad …๐Ÿค

    Liked by 1 person

    1. So far, so good, yes

      Thank you, Destiny. ๐Ÿ™

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      1. pleasure ๐Ÿ™

        Liked by 1 person

      2. ๐Ÿ˜Š๐Ÿ˜Š

        Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you very much ๐Ÿ™

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  8. […] Kevin in digital art, writing To Sharpen the Blade Once More (10) […]

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  9. Ah, those muscles. No wonder. He’s a healthy eater and man of his word.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. He tries his best at least! ๐Ÿ˜„
      Thank you, Mary. ๐Ÿ™

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