Alternative Life

by Matt Harris

  It-itook-ihim-ia-ibit-iof-ieffort-ito-iget-iaway-ifrom-ithe-iencampment-iwithout-idrawing-iany-iobvious-iattention-ior-ibeing-itracked-iby-ithe-ioutlying-iguards,-ibut-iwhen-ihe-iwas-ifinally-isure-ihe-iwas-ialone,-iJames-iput-ithe-ismall-igolden-iwhistle-ithe-iTerminal-ihad-igiven-ihim-ibetween-ihis-ilips-iand-iblew.

  As-isoon-ias-ithe-iwhistle-isounded,-iJames-ifelt-ihimself-ibeing-ipulled-iand-ifolded-iinside-iout-iin-iwhat-icould-ieasily-ibe-ilabeled-ias-ithe-imost-ibizarre-iand-iunpleasant-ifeeling-ihe'd-iever-iexperienced.-iThen,-iseemingly-iinstantly,-ihe-ipopped-iinto-ithe-iair-ia-ifew-ifeet-iabove-ithe-ipolished-imarble-ifloor-iin-ithe-iRepository,-inot-ifar-ifrom-ithe-iTerminal's-ioutstretched-ihand.

  Looking-iaround,-ieverything-iseemed-ias-ihe-iremembered-iit,-ialthough-ithere-iwas-ia-idistinct-ilack-iof-iFrumpkin.-iWhile-ihe-ilogically-iknew-iFrumpkin-iwouldn't-ialways-ibe-isurrounding-ihim-idue-ito-ihis-iother-iduties-ias-ia-ideity,-ithe-ispace-idid-ifeel-ioddly-iempty-iwithout-ihim-ithere.

  James-iwalked-ito-ithe-iTerminal-iand-iactivated-iit,-ireceiving-ithe-inow-ifamiliar-igreeting-ifrom-iit-ibefore-iit-idisplayed-ihis-inotifications-iscreen.

  Right-iat-ithe-itop-ia-iflashing-inotification-iread-i"1-iunread-imessage".

  With-ia-icommand,-ithe-iTerminal-iopened-iit,-iand-iJames-iread:

  "New-iuser-ifunction-iavailable--i[Inventory-iManagement]

  Within-ithe-iInventory-iManagement-ifunction,-ia-iuser-ican-istore-iitems-iand-icurrency-iin-ithe-iRepository-ifor-isafe-keeping,-iand-iwithdraw-ithem-iat-iany-itime-ivia-iTerminal-iaccess.-i

  While-iwithin-iInventory-iManagement,-ia-iUser-ican-ialso-isee-iall-ipertinent-iinformation-iabout-iitems,-itheir-imagical-ior-ialchemical-iproperties-i(if-iany),-iand-itheir-irelative-ibase-ivalue-iin-ithe-iworld.

  For-iconvenience,-iUsers-imay-ialso-isell-iitems-istored-iin-ithe-iRepository-idirectly-iinto-ithe-iTerminal's-ishop-idatabase-ifor-i65%-iof-itheir-igiven-ireal-world-ivalue-iin-icurrency,-ior-itransfer-iitems-ito-iother-iindividuals-iwith-iaccess-ito-ithe-iTerminal-idirectly."

  It-iseemed-iodd-ito-ihim-ithat-ithe-iTerminal-ihadn't-ioffered-ithis-ioption-ifrom-ithe-iget-go,-isince-iit'd-ioffered-ihim-iall-iother-iaspects-iof-ithe-ishop-iservice.-iMaybe-iit-iwas-idesigned-ito-ionly-igive-ihim-iaccess-ito-ithings-iat-ia-ispecific-itime,-ior-iwhen-ispecific-icircumstances-ioccurred.-iThat's-ithe-ionly-ithing-ithat-icould-imake-iit-imake-isense-iin-ihis-ihead.

  And-iwhat-iwas-ithis-iabout-isending-iitems-ito-iother-ipeople-iwith-iaccess-ito-ithe-iTerminal?-iWho-ielse-ihad-iaccess-ito-iit,-ibesides-iFrumpkin?-iWere-ithere-iother-iusers-iof-iit-iin-ithe-iworld-iwith-ihim-ithat-ihe-iwasn't-iaware-iof?-iIt-iwas-ipuzzling,-iand-imade-ihim-iuneasy.-iHe'd-ihave-ito-icome-iback-iand-idig-iinto-ithat-ilater-iwhen-ihe-iwasn't-ipressed-ifor-itime.

  Opening-ithe-iInventory-iManagement-ifunction-ifor-ithe-ifirst-itime,-iJames-iwas-igreeted-iby-ia-ifamiliar-imenu-isetup-ithat-ireminded-ihim-ia-ilot-iof-iold-iRPGs-ilike-iUltima.-iThe-ipaper-idoll-iversion-iof-ihimself-ifrom-ithe-iInjury-iTreatment-ifunction-iwas-ithere-ion-ithe-ileft,-iand-ion-ithe-iright-iwere-ia-ibunch-iof-ipixel-iart-iboxes,-ieach-iof-iwhich-icontained-isomething-ithat-ihe-iowned.-iThere-iwas-ihis-iarmor,-ihis-ipersonal-iitems,-ihis-ibroken-iaxe,-ihis-inew-isword,-ithe-iamulet-iaround-ihis-ineck,-iand-isome-iother-iodds-iand-iends.-iThere-iat-ithe-iend-ihe-isaw-ia-ismall-iblack-ishape-ihe-ididn't-irecognize.-iWhen-ihe-ihad-ithe-iTerminal-ienlarge-ithe-iimage,-iit-ishowed-ithe-ismall-iblack-ifigurine-iof-ia-iknight-ihe'd-igotten-ifrom-iMadeleine.-iHe'd-icompletely-iforgotten-ihe-ieven-ihad-ithat.-iSelecting-ithe-iitem-iin-ithe-iinventory-ibrought-iup-ia-ismall-idisplay-iwindow-iof-ithe-iitem's-ivarious-iproperties:

  "[Figurine-iof-iPower-i(Black-iKnight)]

  Rarity:-i[Uncommon]

  Aura:-i[Strong-iTransmutation]

  Base-iValue:-i[3000-igold]-i

  Command-iWord:-i[Kilcoin]

  Function:-i[Containing-ithe-ispiritual-iessence-iof-ia-iknight,-ithis-iFigurine-iof-iPower,-iwhen-iactivated-iby-ithe-iCommand-iWord,-iwill-isummon-ithe-iavatar-iof-ia-iknight-irenowned-ifor-ihis-ibravery-iin-ibattle.-iIn-iall-irespects-iand-iabilities,-ithis-iavatar-iis-iequivalent-ito-ia-i2nd-level-iHuman-iFighter,-iand-iwhen-isummoned-iis-iequipped-iwith-ia-ilongsword,-ihalf-plate-imail,-iand-ia-iheavy-iwooden-ishield,-iwith-iwhich-ihe-iis-iproficient.-iAs-iwith-iall-iFigurines-iof-iPower,-ithe-isummoned-iavatar-iviews-ithe-ipossessor-iof-ithe-iFigurine-ias-itheir-ioathsworn-imaster,-iand-iwill-ifollow-iany-iinstructions-igive-ito-ithem-ito-ithe-ibest-iof-itheir-iunderstanding-iand-iability,-iso-ilong-ias-ithe-icommand-idoes-inot-iactively-iopposed-ithe-iavatar's-ialignment.-iA-isummoned-iavatar-iwill-ipersist-ifor-i24-ihours-ior-iuntil-iit-ihas-itaken-idamage-isufficient-ito-idispel-iit.-iOnce-iit-ihas-irun-iout-iof-itime-ior-ibeen-idispelled,-ithe-iFigurine-iwill-ibe-irendered-iinactive-ifor-ia-iperiod-iof-ione-iweek-ibefore-iit-iwill-ibecome-iusable-iagain.]"

  ###-iChapter-i125-i--iPreparing-iFor-iDeparture-i(part-i3)

  James-icouldn't-ibelieve-ihis-iluck.-iThis-iwould-ibe-ia-ihuge-ihelp-iin-ithe-icoming-iconflict,-iif-ihe-iwas-ireading-ithis-iright.-iHe-iglanced-idown-iat-ihis-ileg.-iHaving-iknown-iabout-ithis-iearlier-imay-ihave-ikept-ihim-ifrom-igetting-ialmost-ikilled-iin-ithe-ilast-ifight.-iThen-iagain,-iif-ihe-iused-iit-ithen,-ihe-iwouldn't-ibe-iable-ito-iuse-iit-iin-ithe-inext-iengagement-ithey-ihad-icoming,-iso-iperhaps-iit-iwas-ifor-ithe-ibest-ihe'd-inot-iknown-iuntil-inow.

  Clicking-iout-iof-ithe-iitem's-iInventory-iManagement-iwindow,-ihe-ibrought-iup-ithe-iwindow-ifor-ihis-iaxe.-iThere,-iin-ithe-icenter-iof-ithe-iscreen,-iwas-ihis-iold-ifriend,-inow-iin-itwo-ipieces.-iHaving-ilooked-iat-iit-inow,-ihe-irealized-ifor-ithe-ifirst-itime-ithat-ihe'd-inever-iactually-iseen-iwhat-iits-istats-iwere,-ior-iif-iit-ihad-iany-ispecial-iabilities.-iLooking-ithings-iover,-ihe-isaw-ithat-iit-iwas-icalled-ia-i[+1-iRending-iBattleax],-iand-iin-iaddition-ito-ibeing-iable-ito-iharm-inon-corporeal-ientities-iand-ido-iadditional-idamage-ito-ienemies,-iit-ialso-ihad-ia-iknack-ifor-itearing-ithrough-iany-inon-organic-iobject-iits-iblade-icame-iin-icontact-iwith.

  It-imade-isense,-ireally.-iHe'd-inoticed-ithat-icarving-iinto-ignoll-iarmor-iseemed-iabnormally-ieasy-iwhen-ihe-iwas-iusing-iit.-iHe-iwas-igoing-ito-imiss-ithat.

  Looking-iover-ithe-imenu,-ihe-iwas-ifaced-iwith-itwo-ioptions:

  [Repair]--iRestore-ithis-iitem-ito-iits-ioriginal-istate-ifor-i2500-igold.

  [Sell]-i--iExchange-ithis-idamaged-iitem-ifor-i2500-igold-iin-iTerminal-icredit.

  Looking-iat-ithe-itwo-ioptions,-ihe-iknew-iwhich-ione-ihe-iwanted-ito-iselect.-iHis-itrusty-iaxe-ihad-ibeen-iwith-ihim-ithrough-iso-imuch-ithus-ifar,-iand-iit-iseemed-iwrong-ito-iget-irid-iof-iit-iafter-iall-iof-ithat,-ieven-ithough-iit-iwas-ino-ilonger-iusable.-iBut-ihe-idid-inot-ihave-i2500-igold,-iand-ihe-ihad-ino-iidea-ihow-ihe-iwould-iget-iit.

  Well,-ihe-iCOULD-isell-ithe-iFigurine-iof-iPower-ihe-ihad,-ior-ithe-inew-isword-ihe'd-ijust-ibeen-igiven.-iHe-imulled-iover-iboth-ioptions.-iThe-iFigurine-iof-iPower-iwas-ijust-itoo-iuseful-ito-ipass-iup,-iso-ihe-iruled-ithat-ione-iout.-iThe-iquestion-iwas-iif-ithe-iflower-hilted-iblade-iwas-iany-ibetter-ithan-ihis-iaxe.-iIf-iit-iwas,-iit-iwould-imake-ino-isense-ifor-ihim-ito-isell-iit-ito-irepair-ia-iless-good-iweapon,-ino-imatter-ihow-isentimental-ihe-iwas-iabout-iit.

  He-iselected-ithe-isword's-iinventory-icard,-iand-iit-idisplayed-iup-iin-ifront-iof-ihim.

  "[Harrowbloom-i(Mythril-iScimitar)]

  Rarity:-i[Unique]

  Aura:-i[Extreme-iTransmutation,-iModerate-iNecromancy]

  Base-iValue:-i[35,000-igold]-i

  Function:-i

  [Forged-iin-ithe-iSecond-iAge-iby-iElven-imaster-ismiths,-iHarrowbloom-iis-ia-i+2-iKeen-iDueling-iMythril-iScimitar-iwielded-iby-iFeanor-ithe-iBlessed-ias-ihe-idefeated-ithe-iDark-iLord-iHalderghast-iat-ithe-iend-iof-ithe-iSecond-iAge.-iIn-iaddition-ito-ibeing-ia-imasterwork-iblade,-iHarrowbloom-iis-iinfused-iwith-ia-ifragment-iof-iFeanor's-ispirit,-igranting-ithe-iwielder-iadditional-iProwess-iand-iPerception-iin-icombat-iso-ilong-ias-ithey-ipossess-ithe-idrawn-iblade-iin-ihand.-iThis-ibenefit-ilasts-ifor-ia-iduration-iof-i30-iminutes-iwithin-ia-ispan-iof-i24-ihours,-iafter-iwhich-iblade's-ispirit-iis-idrained-iof-ipow
er-iand-imust-irecharge-iin-ithe-iscabbard-ifor-ian-iuninterrupted-iperiod-iof-i24-ihours-ibefore-ibeing-iusable-iagain.-iWhile-iinert,-iHarrowbloom-ifunctions-iin-iall-irespects-ilike-ia-istandard-i+2-iKeen-iDueling-iMythril-iScimitar.-iThis-i30-iminute-iperiod-ican-ibe-iextended-iby-islaying-icreatures-iof-ievil-ialignment,-iwith-ieach-ikill-iextending-ithe-ilifespan-iof-ithe-ispirit's-ienergy-iby-i2-iminutes."

  James's-ieyes-iwidened-ias-ihe-iread-ithe-iweapon's-idescription.-iIt-iwas-isomehow-ieven-imore-iunique-iand-ipowerful-ithan-ihe'd-iexpected.-iIt's-ino-iwonder-ithe-iGnoll-iChampion-ihad-ibeen-iso-idifficult-ifor-ihim-ito-iface.-iHe-isuddenly-ifelt-imore-ithan-ia-ilittle-iguilty.-iIf-iUrien-ihad-iknown-ithe-ikind-iof-iweapon-ihe-iwas-iholding,-iwould-ihe-ihave-istill-igiven-iit-ito-ihim?

  James-ishoved-ithose-ifeelings-iaside.-iIt-ididn't-imatter.-iThat-isword-iwas-ihis-inow,-iand-iwith-iit-ihe-inow-ihad-ia-imuch-ibetter-ichance-iof-isaving-iEleanor.

  He-iwent-iback-ito-ithe-iinventory-icard-ifor-ihis-ibroken-iaxe,-iand-ihesitated-ifor-ione-ifinal-imoment-ibefore-ihe-iselected-ithe-i"Exchange"-ioption.

  "Goodbye,-iold-ifriend."-iHe-isaid,-igiving-ithe-icommand.-i

  ###-iChapter-i126-i--iPreparing-iFor-iDeparture-i(part-i4)

  With-ia-ifaint-ichime,-ithe-ismall-igold-icounter-iin-ithe-itop-iright-iof-ithe-iTerminal's-idisplay-ijumped-iup-i2500-igold-iwhile-ithe-ismall-iicon-iof-ihis-ibroken-iaxe-ivanished-ifrom-ithe-iinventory-iscreen.

  Now-ithat-ihe-ihad-isome-igold-ito-iwork-iwith,-ihe-icould-istart-ilooking-iin-ithe-ishop-iand-isee-iwhat-ihe-icould-ipurchase-iwith-ihis-inew-found-iwealth.-iMaybe-ia-imagic-iitem-ior-itwo,-iand-isome-iother-isupplies.-iAt-ithis-ipoint,-ianything-iwas-ibetter-ithan-inothing.

  Opening-ithe-ishop-iinterface-iin-ithe-iTerminal,-ihe-iwas-iimmediately-igreeted-iwith-ian-iunfamiliar-iwindow-ithat-ipopped-iup-iin-ithe-imiddle-iof-ithe-iscreen.-iThe-iadvertisement-iflickered-iand-ishimmered,-iproclaiming-iin-ishining-igold-iletters-i"Super-iItem-iLottery-iExtravaganza!-iWin-iRare-iand-iUnique-iPrizes!"

  Directly-ibelow-ithe-iproclamation-iwas-ia-ismall-imarquee-ithat-ishowed-ifour-ilevels-iof-ilottery-iticket-iavailable--iCopper,-iSilver,-iGold,-iand-iPlatinum.-iCopper-itickets-iwere-i100-igold-iapiece,-iand-ieach-irank-iincreased-iby-i10-itimes-ithe-iprevious-ivalue-iso-ithat-iPlatinum-itickets-iwere-ivalued-iat-ian-ieye-watering-i10,000-igold.

  The-iadvert-itriggered-itwo-iimmediate-ireactions-iin-iJames's-ihead-ialmost-isimultaneously.-iThe-ifirst-iwas-ia-inear-ioverwhelming-idesire-ito-iplay-iit.-iThe-isecond-ithat-ifollowed-iimmediately-iafter-iwas-ithe-inear-iPTSD-level-itrauma-iof-ievery-iGatcha-igame-ihe'd-iever-iwasted-iendless-imoney-ion-itrying-ito-irandomly-iobtain-ithe-iitem-ior-icharacter-ihe-ireally-iwanted.-iAfter-ithis-ilast-i"waifu-icollector"-ihe'd-igotten-iaddicted-ito-ito-ithe-ipoint-iof-inot-ibeing-iable-ito-iafford-ifood,-ihe'd-isworn-ioff-i"loot-iboxes"-ientirely.

  Not-iletting-ihimself-ibe-itempted-iby-ithe-igambling-itrigger,-ihe-iclosed-ithe-ipop-up.-iMaybe-ihe'd-iallow-ihimself-ia-iCopper-iTicket-iafter-ihe'd-ispent-ithe-irest-iof-ihis-igold.-iMaybe.

  Now,-iwhat-ito-ispend-ihis-imoney-ion?

  He-ineeded-ito-ifocus-ion-iwhat-iwas-imost-iimportant-ifirst.-iNothing-ifancy.-iJust-ithe-imost-iessential-ithings.-iThat-iwas-iprobably-igoing-ito-ibe-ihard-ifor-ihim.

  The-ifirst-ithing-iit-ioccurred-ito-ihim-ito-iget-iwere-isome-ipotions.-iHe'd-ineglected-igetting-ithem-iup-ito-ithis-ipoint,-ilargely-iout-iof-ia-icombination-iof-iego-iand-iignorance,-ieven-iwith-iall-iof-ihis-iyears-iof-ichugging-ihealth-ipotion-iafter-ihealth-ipotion-iin-iMMOs-iand-itabletops.-iHe-iwasn't-iabout-ito-imake-ithat-isame-imistake-iagain.

  Opening-ithe-iAlchemical-iGoods-isection-iof-ithe-ishop,-ihe-iselected-ithe-itwo-iavailable-ihealth-ipotions-iand-iadded-ithem-ito-ihis-ipurchase-ilist.-iThey-iwere-ithe-isecond-ilowest-itier,-iand-icost-i100-igold-iapiece.-iWhile-ithey-iprobably-iwouldn't-imend-ibones-ior-iother-iserious-iinjuries,-ithey'd-idefinitely-ipatch-iall-iof-ithe-ilesser-iwounds-ihe-isuffered,-iand-ithat-iwould-iprobably-ibe-ienough.-iHe-ialso-ialso-ibought-ithe-isingle-iavailable-iPotion-iof-iVigor-ifor-i100-igold-ias-iwell.-iBased-ion-ithe-idescription,-iit-iwould-irestore-iphysical-ienergy-idrained-iby-ifatigue,-iexhaustion,-ior-imagic-iuse.-iConsidering-ihe-iexpected-ito-ibe-iin-icombat-ifor-ia-iwhile,-ithe-iability-ito-ibe-iable-ito-ielongate-ihis-ieffectiveness-iand-iincrease-ihis-imagic-iusage-iwould-ibe-iideal.

  Looking-ithrough-ithe-ipotions-ilist,-ihe-iconsidered-ithe-irest-iof-ithe-iavailable-istock,-ibut-iultimately-ipassed-ion-ithem.-iThe-iability-ito-itemporarily-ibuff-ihis-iattributes-iwould-ihelpful,-ibut-ieven-ithe-icheapest-ione-iran-ifor-iseveral-ihundred-igold-iand-ionly-ipromised-ia-iduration-iof-ia-ifew-iminutes.-iThe-iothers-iwould-igrant-ihim-iunique-isingle-use-iabilities-ilike-iflight-ior-ifire-ibreath,-ibut-ithese-iwere-ieven-imore-iexpensive-istill.-iWhile-ihe-ihad-i2200-igold-ileft,-ithat-iwasn't-imuch,-irelatively-ispeaking.-iHe-ihad-ito-ibe-icareful-iwith-ihow-ihe-ispent-iit-iif-ihe-iwas-igoing-ito-iget-ithe-imost-ivalue-iout-iof-iit.

  The-ionly-ione-ihe-ihesitated-ion-iwas-ithe-iPotion-iof-iFire-iImmunity.-iBut-iafter-ia-imoment-iof-iwrestling-ihimself-iout-iof-ifantasyland,-ihe-ipassed-ion-ithat-ias-iwell.-iHe-icould-icome-iback-ito-iafter-ihe-iwas-ia-isuccessful-ihero,-inot-ibefore.

  Next,-ihe-inavigated-ito-ithe-imagic-iitems-ilist,-iand-ibegan-iperusing-iwhat-iwas-iavailable.-iAs-iexpected,-ieven-iwith-i2200-igold,-ia-ilot-iof-iwhat-iwas-iavailable-isat-iout-iof-ihis-iprice-irange.-iHowever,-iwhen-ihe-ireached-ione-iitem-ipriced-iat-i1000-igold,-ihe-ifroze-iin-iplace,-iand-iwithout-ia-isecond-ithough-ispent-ithe-igold-iand-iadded-iit-ito-ihis-ilist.-i

  ###-iChapter-i127-i--iPreparing-iFor-iDeparture-i(part-i5)

  With-ianother-ifaint-ichime,-ithe-i1000-igold-ivanished-ifrom-ihis-ireserves,-iand-ithe-icloak-ion-ihis-ishoulders-ivanished.-iA-imoment-ilater,-iwith-ia-iflash-iand-ia-irustle-iof-ifabric,-ithe-idark-igreen-iwool-iwas-ireplaced-iby-ia-ideep-ired-icloak-itrimmed-iand-ipatterned-iwith-igold.-iReaching-idown-iand-igrabbing-ithe-iedge-iof-ithe-icloak-iand-ipulling-iit-iup-iin-ifront-iof-ihim,-ihe-iwilled-iit-ito-iharden.-iImmediately-ithe-icloak-iseized-iin-iplace,-iforming-ia-ihard,-ishield-like-ibarrier.-iReaching-iover-iand-iknocking-ion-ithe-ihardened-icloak-iwith-ihis-ifree-ihand,-iit-iclanged-iwith-ia-ireverberating-isound-ilike-iit-iwas-imade-iof-isteel.-iWith-ianother-ithought,-ihe-ileft-igo-iof-ithe-icloak-ihem,-iand-iit-iimmediately-ifell-iback-iinto-ilimp-ifabric,-iswishing-igently-ibehind-ihim.

  Shield-iCloaks-iwere-ialways-ione-iof-ihis-ifavorite-iitems-iin-ithe-itabletop-igames-ihe-iused-ito-iplay.-iThey-igave-ithe-iwearer-iall-isorts-iof-ioptions-ifor-iself-protection,-iwithout-ithe-ilimitations-ior-iweight-iof-ia-iregular-ishield.-iAll-iyou-ihad-ito-ido-iwas-iwill-ithe-icloak-ito-iharden,-iand-iit-iwould-ibecome-ihard-ias-isteel-iin-iwhatever-ishape-iyou-icurrently-ihad-iit-iin,-iwithout-ithe-iweight.-iNow-igranted,-ithey-iwere-isimultaneously-ia-ilot-imore-iexpensive-ithan-ia-istandard-ishield,-iand-ialso-ia-ilot-iless-idurable-idespite-ibeing-imagical.-iBut-ithat-ididn't-imatter.-iHe-inow-ifinally-ihad-ia-imeans-ito-iprotect-ihimself-iagainst-iblows-ihe-icouldn't-ideflect-iwith-ihis-iweapon,-iand-ieven-iif-ihe-ionly-imanaged-ito-iprevent-ione-ior-itwo-iof-ithose-ibefore-ithe-icloak-iwas-idestroyed,-iit'd-ibe-imore-ithan-iworth-iits-icost-iin-igold.-iHis-ilast-ifight-ihad-ishown-ihim-ijust-ihow-ivulnerable-ihe-iwas-ito-iharm-idespite-ihis-iskills.-iThe-ibest-ithing-ihe-icould-ido-iright-inow-iwould-ibe-ito-imake-isure-ihe-ididn't-ileave-ihimself-inearly-ias-idefenseless-ias-ihe-ihad-ibeen.

  Next-icame-ia-ihardened-isteel-ibreastplate-ifor-i200-igold,-iwhich-ihe-iused-ito-ireplace-ithe-ileather-ichestplate-iof-ihis-icurrent-iarmor.-iIt-iwasn't-ia-isignificant-iupgrade,-ibut-iwould-ibe-ifar-imore-ieffective-iat-ikeeping-ienemy-iweapons-iout-iof-ihis-ivital-iorgans.-iHe-ialso-itried-ion-iseveral-ihelmets,-ibut-inothing-ihe-itried-ifelt-iright.-iEventually-ihe-isettled-ion-ijust-iforgoing-iproper-ihead-iprotection-iand-iusing-ithe-ihood-iof-ihis-iShield-iCloak.-iIt-iwasn't-ithe-ibest,-ibut-iafter-isome-ithinking,-ihe-idecided-ithat-iwith-ithe-iother-iequipment-iand-iabilities-iat-ihis-idisposal,-iif-ian-ienemy-icould-iland-ia-iclean-ihit-ion-ihis-ihead,-ithat-isame-ienemy-iwould-ibe-ijust-ias-ilikely-ito-ibe-iable-ito-ikill-i
him-iwith-ithe-ihelmet-ion-ias-iwithout.-iSo-iit-imade-isense-ito-ifocus-ion-inot-idoing-ianything-ito-ihamper-ihis-iown-iabilities,-ino-imatter-ihow-ipractical-ithe-ireason-imay-ibe.

  That-ileft-ihim-i1000-igold-ito-iwork-iwith.-iNot-iseeing-iany-iother-iitems-ihe-icould-iafford-ithat-iinterested-ihim,-ihe-iclosed-iout-iof-ithe-ishop-iconsole,-iand-iswitched-iover-ito-ithe-iskill-itree.-iNow-ithat-ihe-ihad-idecent-imoney-ito-iwork-iwith,-ihe-ilooked-ithrough-ito-ifind-ithe-ipicks-ithat-iwould-igive-ihim-ithe-igreatest-ibenefit-ifor-ithe-ileast-icost.-iAfter-ia-ifew-iminutes-iflicking-ithrough-ioptions,-ihe-ifinally-isettled-ion-ia-ifew-ithat-iseemed-ilike-ithey'd-ibe-ithe-ibest.-i

  [Magical-iAptitude-iI]-icost-i500-igold-iand-idecreased-ithe-idrain-ithat-ihis-ispells-iwould-iput-ion-ihis-ibody-iby-ia-ismall-ipercentage.-iIt-iwouldn't-ibe-ia-ihuge-iboost,-ibut-iwould-imean-ian-iadditional-ispell-ior-itwo-ibefore-ihe-iwould-ibe-itapped-iout,-iwhich-icould-imean-ilife-ior-ideath-iin-ithe-icoming-ifight.

  He-ialso-ipicked-iup-i[Weapon-iFocus:-iScimitar]-ifor-i250-igold.-iWhile-ihe-iinstinctively-iknew-ihow-ito-iuse-iHarrowbloom-idue-ito-ihis-iMartial-iWeapon-iProficiency-iability,-iit-imade-isense-ifor-ihim-ito-igain-iany-iadditional-iprowess-iin-iits-iuse-ithat-ihe-icould,-iand-iif-iit-istacked-iwith-ithe-ispirit-ibonus-icontained-iwithin-ithe-iblade,-iall-ithe-ibetter.

  ###-iChapter-i128-i--iPreparing-iFor-iDeparture-i(part-i6)

  With-i250-igold-ileft,-ihe-ibought-ia-ifew-iMagic-iMissile-iscrolls-ifor-i50-igold-iapiece-ithat-ihe-islid-iin-ito-ihis-ibelt.-iWhile-imaybe-inot-ithe-imost-iefficient-iusage-iof-ihis-iremaining-igold,-ihaving-iadditional-icombat-ispells-ihe-iwouldn't-ihave-ito-ispend-iany-iof-ihis-imagic-ion-iwould-ibe-ia-ihuge-iboon.

  He-ithen-isettled-ion-ia-iCopper-iLottery-iTicket-ifor-ithe-ilast-ihundred-igold.-iHe-iwas-imore-ithan-ia-ilittle-icurious-ias-ito-iwhat-ikind-iof-ithing-ihe-icould-iwin,-iand-i100-igold-iwas-itoo-ilittle-ito-ibuy-imuch-ielse-iof-iuse.-iHe-inavigated-ito-ithe-ilottery-iscreen-iin-ithe-ishop,-iand-iselected-ithe-iCopper-iLottery-iTicket.-iWhen-ihe-idid-iso,-ithe-ilast-i100-igold-ivanished,-iand-ithe-iTerminal-iscreen-iwas-ireplaced-iby-ia-ifloating-ispinning-iwheel-iwith-idifferent-ithings-imarked-ion-idifferent-isections.-iMost-iof-ithe-isections-iwere-imarked-iwith-idifferent-iamounts-iof-icurrency,-imostly-ilower-ithan-i100-igold,-iwith-ia-ifew-ihigher.-iThere-iwere-ialso-iabout-ia-idozen-ipanels-imarked-iwith-idifferent-iitem-inames,-ilike-ihealing-ipotions-ior-ibits-iof-iarmor,-ias-iwell-ias-isilver-iand-igold-ipanels-ithat-iwere-imuch-ismaller-ithan-ithe-iothers-iand-ishowed-imagic-iitems.-iThe-ismallest-iof-iall-iwas-ia-inarrow-iblack-isliver-ithat-iwas-imarked-iwith-inothing-ibut-ia-isingle-isilver-iquestion-imark.