by Jackson Bale
Rose,---confused,---turns---her---head.---“What---do---you---mean---we---have---no---homes---available?---I’ve---killed---off---the---other---[Nobles]---years---ago.---There---should---still---be---some---available.”
David---stutters,---“Um,---most---of---the---homes---have---been---given---or---sold---off---while---others---have---been---turned---into---businesses---or---other---important---buildings---we---lacked.”
“Even---my---uncle’s---home?---I---am---pretty---sure---I---told---you---to---not---give---that---house---to---anyone.”
David's---ears---flatten,---“That---house---is---currently---being---used---as---a---medical---ward---for---severely---injured---[Guards]---and---[Soldiers].”
“Ahhhh,---right.---Our---former---medical---ward---was---burned---down---two---weeks---ago.---We---should---really---have---that---building---fixed.”
“Construction---is---already---underway.---It---should---be---finished---relatively---soon.”
Rose---claps---her---hands,---smiling.---She---turns---to---Rathic,”---It---seems---it---will---take---a---bit---longer---before---you---can---get---your---house.---In---the---meantime,---how---about---you---rest---at---my---castle---until---it---is---ready?”
Though---Rathic---has---not---moved---or---done---much---of---anything,---it---was---clear---to---him---that---he---is---severely---lacking---in---the---ability---to---deal---with---this---woman.---He---has---not---accepted---any---deal.---Nothing.---It---was---mostly---her---making---the---deal---for---him---without---even---acknowledging---his---thoughts---or---even---allowing---him---to---make---a---possible---counteroffer.---Which---is---annoying,---because---he---feels---like---he---has---no---control---over---anything.
“I---accept---your---hospitality,”---he---answers.
The---[Lady]---snorts,---“You---sound---so---defeated,”---she---says,---standing---up---and---then---leaning---over---the---table,---grabbing---the---plate---with---a---pastry---on---it.
She---then---walks---out---of---the---room,---saying---nothing---more.
Rathic---and---David---just---look---at---her,---staring---at---the---door,---completely---flabbergasted---and---confused.
“I---will,---um,---show---you---to---your---room,”---David---says,---walking---towards---the---door,---blushing---at---his---lady’s---lack---of---tact.
Rathic---shakes---his---head---and---rubs---his---temples.---He---stands---up---and---follows---David---out---of---the---room.
Chapter---Thirty---Five:---Enchanting
“But---why---must---I---go?---I’m---busy.---I---have---a---lot---of---orders---to---fill.---Find---some---other---[Blacksmith]---to---help---you.---I---ain’t---getting---nowhere---near---that---woman---again.”
Scarlet---rolls---her---eyes---as---she---stares---at---the---dwarf---hunkered---over---an---unfinished---sword.
“Garrus,---you’re---the---only---[Blacksmith]---in---the---whole---city---and---those---orders---can---be---filled---much---later---after---our---little---battle.---We’ve---gotten---enough---weapons---and---armor---now---to---fully---arm---all---of---the---[Guards].---Also,---[Lady]---Rose---likes---you.---You---have---nothing---to---worry---about.”
A---shiver---quickly---comes---down---Garrus’---back---as---he---turns---his---head,---looking---at---the---[Captain]---of---the---guard.---A---tall---woman---with---Scarlet---red---hair---stares---back---at---him,---her---eyes---pleading---towards---the---much---shorter---dwarf.
“The---woman---looked---at---me---like---she---looks---at---a---slice---of---cake.”
“She---doesn’t---mea-”
“She---drugged---the---food---Scarlet!”---the---dwarf---yells,---eyes---wide.---“I---woke---up---in---her---bed,---completely---naked---with---literal---chocolate---sauce---on---my---dick!---I---thought---it---was---poop!---I---ain’t---getting---nowhere---near---that---goddam---woman.---I’d---rather---take---a---dagger---up---the---ass---than---be---raped---again.”
Scarlet---quickly---coughs---into---her---hand,---doing---her---best---to---hide---her---blush---from---the---glaring---and---angry---[Blacksmith].---Granted,---Scarlet---does---know---that---Rose---can---be---very…---different---in---her---ways---of---doing---things,---but---out---of---every---[Lady]---or---[Lord]---that---Scarlet---had---met,---she---is---by---far---the---most---capable.
*Sigh*
“Garrus,---Rose---has---convinced---a---[Trader]---to---give---up---enchanted---items---in---exchange---for---a---house.---A---weapon---and---an---entire---set---of---armor.---All---enchanted.---You---could---buy---several---homes---for---what---it's---worth.”she---exclaims---pleadingly.
Garrus---stares---at---her,---frowning,---but---lifts---an---eyebrow,---a---clear---show---of---interest.
“I---need---you---to---help---me---pick---the---weapons---and---armor.---I---need---your---eyes---Garrus.---Please…”
Garrus’---hands---rub---his---face,---moving---up---and---down,---ending---with---his---soot-covered---beard.---“Lass,---she---better---not---get---anywhere---near---me.”
A---smile---blooms---on---Scarlet’s---face---as---she---moves---forward---and---hugs---the---bulky---but---short---dwarf.
“Thank---you!”---she---yells,---squeezing---tightly.
This---causes---the---dwarf---to---shake---his---head---and---groan---out---loud.---How---she---ends---up---manipulating---him---like---so,---he---doesn’t---know.---He---just---has---to---make---sure---to---not---eat---or---drink---anything---at---the---castle.
Scarlet---stops---hugging---and---moves---back.
“Thank---you---Garrus.---I---don't---want---to---be---conned---out---of---good---gear.---Eir---knows---I---deserve---something---for---all---my---struggles.”
“Lass,---you---can---talk---about---your---struggles---after---you---get---your---crotch---covered---in---chocolate.---In---the---meantime,---I’m---going---to---finish---my---work---here.---Come---find---me---later---when---you---need---me,”---he---says---before---turning---back---around---towards---his---table---inside---his---smithy.
Scarlet---bites---her---lip,---“Um,---about---that.---They’re---waiting---for---me---to---choose---right---this---moment.”
Garrus---stops---and---turns---around,---a---look---of---betrayal---and---horror---on---his---face.---He---was---not---ready.
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Was---it---a---mistake---to---accept---an---offer---to---give---up---an---entire---set---of---enchanted---armor?---Yes---it---was,---a---fact---which---Henrietta---had---berated---Rathic---for---possibly---a---good---hour.---Enchanted---gear,---especially---a---set,---is---extremely---costly---to---make.---If---the---armor---is---made---of---leather,---then---it---has---to---be---leather---from---certain---monsters,---usually---magic---ones---from---dungeons.---On---top---of---that,---to---make---the---enchantment---decently---strong---and---indefinite,---you---need---to---mix---in---crystals---from---awakened---dungeon---monsters.---The---crystals---have---the---natural---ability---to---absorb---mana,---allowing---enchantments---to---charge---themselves.
The---same---thing---applies---to---metal---armor,---except---it---requires---even---more---crystal---powder---to---be---used,---causing---the---price---to---increase---further.---Which---is---why---Henrietta---had---polished---all---of---the---lower---and---cheaper---armors,---to---make---them---look---more---expensive---while---the---higher---quality---ones---were---made---to---look---inferior,---at---least---by---sight---alone.
Unfortunately,---the---[Captain]---of---the---[Guard]---had---brought---someone---to---help---her---choose,---and---to---Rathic’s---dismay,---it---was---a---dwarf.---A---[Blacksmith]---dwarf---to---be---exact.---One---high---enough---in---level---that---he---is---using---[Advanced---Identify]---on---every---single---item---that---Rathic---had---arrayed---for---the---[Captain]---to---choose.
“This---one---looks---very---nice.---Sturdy---too,”---the---[Captain]---says,---eyeing---a---particular---piece---of---an---elegant---breastplate.---A---beautiful---piece---of---art,---something---that---a---[Lord]---wo
uld---wear…---a---very---low-level---one.
The---dwarf---turns---and---moves---to---the---breastplate.---He---taps---it,---listening---to---it,---frowning---before---activating---his---skill.
“This---is---shit.---Beautiful---shit,---but---still---utter---shit.---I’d---barely---even---call---this---armor.---Heck,---I’d---barely---even---call---it---steel.---It---has---enough---impurities---removed---to---allow---an---enchantment,---but---instead---of---having---an---enchantment---to---increase---its---durability,---it---has---an---enchantment---to---decrease---weight.---Combined---with---the---fact---that---this---armor---has---very---little---metal---and---more---embroidery,---it---was---clearly---made---for---a---prancing---[Noble]---to---impress---others---than---to---even---block---a---blade.”
The---dwarf---shakes---his---head---before---turning---around---and---looking---through---all---of---the---armors---and---weapons.---And---there---are---a---lot---of---them---to---go---through.---Rathic---was---quite---rich.---After---all,---a---[General’s]---salary---tended---to---be---very---very---large.---Combine---that---with---obtaining---armor---from---defeated---enemy---soldiers---and---you---can---bet---Rathic---has---a---lot---of---items---to---sell.
Of---course,---certain---items---are---significantly---better---than---others,---especially---at---the---common---grade---level,---where---pretty---much---anything---with---an---enchant---is---considered.
“This---one,”---the---dwarf---says,---pointing---at---a---rather---scratched---up---breastplate---with---chainmail---joints---and---a---small---logo---of---a---hammer---and---stone---at---the---bottom---left,---“Is---probably---the---best---piece---of---armor---here.”
The---[Captain]---looks---at---the---armor---and---frowns.---The---armor---is---covered---in---cuts,---seemingly---dirty---and---not---very---aesthetically---pleasing.---It---also---looks---heavy,---though---it---does---seem---to---have---amazing---coverage---in---joint---protection.
“This---doesn't---look---all---that---good.---It---looks---like---it's---damaged.”
The---dwarf---snorts---before---pointing---at---the---logo,---“That,---lass,---is---a---dwarven---logo,”---he---taps---the---armor,---smiling,---“made---by---clan---Rock---Hammer,---an---old---clan---known---for---making---very---heavy---defensive---armor.---And---these---scratches,”---he---traces---the---armor,---“are---proof---that---this---armor---is---very---good.”
The---[Captain]---looks---at---the---armor.---She---then---touches---it,---immediately---finding---that---the---armor---weighs---a---significant---amount.
“This---is---too---heavy.---I---can-,”---she---stops---as---she---finds---the---dwarf---looking---at---her,---a---smile---on---his---face.
“This---armor---has---two---enchants,”---he---says.
“The---first---enchant---is---[Light---Metal],---which---decreases---the---weight---of---all---armor---worn.---A---good---enchant,---especially---considering---the---other---enchant---which---is---[Minor---Strength],---increasing---your---strength---by---a---small---amount.”
He---turns---to---Rathic,---finding---the---man---with---a---frown---on---his---face,---“Of---course,---this---armor---is---only---truly---good---in---a---set,---otherwise,---it---would---still---be---too---heavy.”
Rathic---sighs---and---shakes---his---head---before---moving---and---collecting---the---rest---of---the---armor---set.---A---set---of---armor---he---had---obtained---after---killing---an---enemy---[Captain]---himself---by---striking---through---the---bottom---of---the---helmet.
“Here---is---the---set,”---Rathic---says,---placing---the---items---on---the---table---next---to---the---chest---plate.
The---dwarf---takes---a---quick---look---at---the---other---pieces---before---nodding---and---turning---to---the---[Captain].
“Alright---Scarlet,---before---you---put---it---on,---take---it---to---my---smithy---so---I---can---work---on---those---scratches,”---the---dwarf---says.
“Your---name---is---Scarlet?”
Scarlet---was---about---to---grab---the---armor---and---put---it---on---a---cart---but---stops---as---she---looks---up---at---Rathic,---her---eyes---widening.
“Oh,---I---forgot---to---introduce---myself.---I---am---[Captain]---Scarlet,---leader---of---the---guard---and---under---[Lady]---Rose’s---employ,”---she---says,---immediately---attempting---a---curtsy---but---looking---awkward---trying---it.
“Is---your---father---Alfonso?---An---[Innkeeper]---at---the---Sundered---Lands---Inn?”---Rathic---asks,---ignoring---the---woman's---pathetic---attempt---of---a---curtsey.
Scarlet's---eyes---widen,---she---steps---forward,---“You---know---my---father?---Is---he---well?---Is---he---okay?”
Rathic---nods,---a---smile---forming---on---his---face.---What---are---the---chances---that---he---would---bump---into---the---man's---daughter---of---all---things?---A---level---72---[Captain]---as---well.
“Yes,---he---is---doing---quite---well.---He---even---told---me---to---tell---you---that---he---loves---you---and---misses---you.”
“Daddy,”---she---says,---looking---down,---smiling---now,---a---brilliant---relieved---smile.---Apparently,---she---had---been---worried.---Understandable---considering---how---long---she---had---not---heard---about---or---seen---her---father.
*Ahem*
Breaking---the---moment,---all---eyes---turn---to---the---dwarf.
“We---still---need---to---pick---out---a---weapon.”
“What---kind?”---Rathic---asks.---He---has---several---types,---though---not---many---that---are---ranked---rare.
“Longsword,”---she---says---quickly.---Granted,---she---can---use---a---short---sword---alongside---a---shield,---but---since---she---became---a---[Captain],---she---found---herself---wanting---something---longer---and---with---a---bit---more---impact---to---go---alongside---her---now---higher---strength---stat.
Rathic---nods---before---moving---towards---the---back---of---the---room---and---picking---up---four---sheathed---weapons.---He---then---places---them---on---the---table.---Each---blade---has---different---designs,---some---slightly---longer,---others---slightly---shorter,---but---each---seems---to---be---different,---seemingly---a---different---personality.
The---dwarf---immediately---takes---each---sword,---unsheathing---it---and---test---swinging---it,---nodding---after---each---time---before---resheathing.---As---he---places---the---last---one---back---on---the---table,---he---activates---his---skill,---checking---each---swords’---enchantments---out,---he---frowns.
Scarlet---notices---the---frown.
“What’s---wrong---Garrus?”
Garrus---shakes---his---head,---”They're---all---very---good,---none---dwarven---made,---but---all---are---extremely---good---and---are---clearly---of---rare---quality.---Rare---to---see---so---many---weapons---of---this---rank---together,”---the---dwarf---looks---at---Rathic,---“especially---here---of---all---places.”
He---looks---back---down---at---the---blades,---feeling---each---one.
“Which---is---where---the---problems---comes---in.”
He---points---towards---the---shortest---blade,---though---a---seemingly---bulkier---one.
“This---one---is---called---Edago,---a---shorter---longsword---but---with---increased---weight.---It---is---designed---for---indoor---combat---and---to---be---wielded---with---both---hands.---Not---a---weapon---I---would---recommend---for---you---as---you---prefer---to---utilize---a---shield.---Too---heavy---unless---you---end---up---becoming---a---[General]---or---something.”
Rathic---silently---nods---at---the---dwarf's---explanation.---All---tier---two---classes---are---huge---leaps---not---only---in---skills---but---also---in---stats.---Rathic---himself---had---had---his---strength---increase---by---a---significant---amount---when---he---became---a---[General].---He---went---from---a---respectable---47---to---a---impressive---63.---And---that,---of---course,---is---not---counting---the---increase---of---his---other---physical---stats.
The---dwarf---points---towards---the---other---weapon,---the---longest---weapon.
“This---one---is-
--called---Arrid---and---is---probably---the---one---I---would---least---recommend---for---you.---It---is---a---very---long---thin---blade---with---several---enchants---to---lower---the---weight---while---increasing---the---sharpness---of---weapon.---This---is---a---specialist---blade,---made---for---[Swordmasters]---or---[Blademasters].---A---very---high---skill---weapon---not---at---all---good---against---armor---unless---you---have---the---appropriate---skill,”---the---dwarf---looks---up---towards---the---[Captain],---“skills---in---which---a---[Captain]---is---unable---to---obtain.”
Scarlet---nods.---She---knows---that---as---good---and---strong---as---she---is,---she---can---never---be---as---good---as---someone---of---a---similar---level---with---a---specialist---class.---But---that---is---fine,---her---skills---are---made---for---mass---fights,---not---one---on---one---skirmishes.