I press the tip of my sword into the dirt - okay maybe that's a Goumin's spine, wasn't really looking down at the time - and lean somewhat heavily on it as I beam at Basco.

I don't want to admit that one of the grunts slashed at my right arm, just above my wrist, and that it's bleeding. I hold my hand at an angle so that the blood maybe won't trickle down onto the visible parts of my skin.

"Can you even play that?" I tilt my head, trying not to pant too hard from the pain that's slowly building as my adrenaline wears off. "That's a musical instrument, right?"