We left the bar soon after. It was getting dark, and I still wanted to stop by a smith. Elyane said she’d take Zaion to his apartment to get his stuff before stopping by her own to do the same. I told them I’d let Grimoire and Calmar know and ask them about hiring the two on. I don’t think they’d complain, and I had enough in my Experience Bank I could probably give them a salary out of my own pocket if I needed to.

  “So, what’re you gonna do about Calmar?” Deacon asked as we walked.

  “Hm?” I looked up at him. We were heading towards the smithy by the river I’d first bought all of my gear from. “Nothing. Why would I?”

  “You aren’t concerned?”

  I shrugged and started to look around, keeping an eye out for attempted pickpockets. It was late enough that the streets weren’t that crowded, though. “If he does something, I’ll address it, but he’s old enough to say something if he really wanted to do something about it. And he hasn’t done anything like to try to peak in on me showering or something.”

  We were both silent for a few blocks. I heard the rhythmic pounding of hammers on anvils still. With how late it was, I had half expected the smithy to be quiet, but maybe they had people working at all times of the day and night?

  “If you’re sure about it, I’ll just make sure to let you know if I notice anything concerning.” Deacon finally said. “It’s my job to keep you safe, after all.”

  I stopped and turned to look at him, smiling up at him, “I appreciate it. I really do.” I rolled my shoulders as I tried to burn off nervous energy. Apparently complimenting people was also not something I was good at. “I’m pretty sure I’d be lost without someone to help, not just with keeping me safe.”

  Deacon snorted in amusement, “You’d be fine. Probably up to your eyeballs in trouble, but I’m glad to keep the level at waist deep.”

  “Thanks.” I said, dryly. “I’m glad you have such a high opinion of me.”

  He let out a dramatic sigh, “Dani, Dani, Dani.” His hand ran up his face and turned into a sweeping gesture to hold his hat over his heart, “I say this with the most respect possible, but you are a trouble magnet.”

  I thwacked him on his unfinished arm with the back of my hand, “And you’ve kept me safe with one hand missing. I should work harder at it when you get it back.”

  He rolled his eyes and put his hat back on his head, “In all seriousness, I had considered quitting after the incident with the thugs in the alley. The fact that you regretted killing them was the only thing that stopped me.”

  I threw my hands up in frustration, “I still don’t even know how I did all that. You saw what happened when I tried to use some of my skills regularly. Some of the worst pain I’ve experienced, short of the monthly cramps.”

  Deacon looked disgusted, “Ew.”

  I rolled my eyes, “If I’ve got to deal with it, you get to listen about it.” I said as I started walking away. “Not like I enjoy talking about it either. Still feels like my body is betraying me.”

  We made it to the shop entrance of the blacksmith and there was a tinkle of a bell as we entered. I looked over and saw a man with skin so tanned it almost looked like leather. Was reading a book when we walked in and he looked up from it to us. “Picking up or browsing?”

  I looked him over, “Where’s the other guy?”

  “He’s on the day shift. And only four days a week. All the smiths take turns manning the shop in order to avoid the anvil fees.” He sat up and set the book facedown on the counter. “What can I help you with?”

  I reached into my spatial closet and pulled out the torn up tonfa I still had. The other I hadn’t bothered to pick up from the farm. “I need some replacements. I tried to stop a blade, and these barely slowed them down.”

  He whistled and picked it up, “I remember these coming in. Some adventurer sold em, so it wasn’t made by us. We’ve a few woodworkers who work with us, though, who make stuff like this. Looking for the same, or an upgrade?”

  “Upgrade. Something with at least a metal core, maybe a spike on the short end?” I said, pointing to the end I wanted it on. “Two of em.”

  He tapped his chin, “I think I could handle the request. It’d give me something interesting to work with, though it’ll cost ya if you want anything good.”

  “Any enchantments possible?” I asked, eyebrows raised hopefully.

  “I can see if the woodworker has some designs we could use. Bare minimum, I can enhance the durability as long as there are metal parts. If our wood guy can do regrowth or something it’d save on repair costs as well, though I’m not sure if he managed to figure it out.” He looked me up and down. “I’ve got a few projects ahead, if there isn’t a rush, but I’ll need at least 1,000 PEC up front to hold the spot.”

  “It also needs to be able to conduct mana.” I added.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  “Internal Manipulation or External Spells?” He asked, bringing out a notepad and writing down some notes.

  “Both.”

  “Both?” He raised an eyebrow. “You’re an overachiever. That’ll be tricky, since they don’t play well together.”

  “Why not?” I asked as I tried to peak at his notes. “I’m still new to this.”

  “I can explain that later,” Deacon interrupted. “No need to take up his time.”

  The man shrugged, “If I can only do one, which would you prefer?”

  I considered it and looked up at Deacon, “Recommendations?”

  “Intrinsic is better for something you want to hit someone with.” Deacon said, walking over to examine some weapons locked behind a case. “Extrinsic is more of a force multiplier for spells.”

  “I can recommend someone who can make a wand or staff. Otherwise you’ll have to look into a jeweler for some kind of ring focus.”

  I thought back to the merchants many rings, “Know anyone selling enchanted jewelry and focuses.”

  “It’s foci.” The man said, “And not personally. They tend to be in the Artisan District on the other side of town. There’s a smithy there too that does enchantments on unfinished blades and gear that we send people to if they want something specific.”

  I shook my head, “Whatever you can do will be fine for the tonfas. I would like something to go over my hands for punching someone, though.”

  “Oooh, I’ve got some Spiked Knuckles someone paid for and never showed up for. The enchantment for it is pretty nasty, widening the tip before you pull them back out with an application of will.” He walked over to the case and opened it. The man picked up an item that looked like a bar of metal with holes in it and rather sharp spikes on the end. He slipped them on and I watched them resize. Suddenly, the tips seemed to spring out in an X of translucent blades.

  Deacon winced, but I whistled. “I’m guessing they channel mana too?”

  He nodded, “It’s got a little slot for a PEC in the handle.” The shopkeeper took it off and showed me the base. He flipped a switch and I saw a small orange crystal. “Converting crystals has to be done at a bank, but an orange will last for a few months of light use.”

  You can use PEC to power objects?! I thought, mind blown. The shopkeeper smirked, “Never seen crystals used to power objects? It’s surprising how many people don’t realize how many uses the things have. How do you think the city powers it’s streetlights?”

  I shook my head, “I… had some head trauma. I’m still filling in holes from it.” I said, giving a brief explanation rather than getting into the story.

  “Sorry to hear that.” He looked over to Deacon, “If you don’t want to, there’s a couple books the nobles buy their brats. You should see if it’ll help your daughter out.”

  A grin slowly formed on my face as I looked over at Deacon. Deacon, had a look of disgusted horror, “I’m her bodyguard. And we look nothing alike!” He exclaimed.

  The man shrugged, “Not my place to judge.” He said, looking between us, “Though I guess you’re right. So, what would that make you, miss…”

  “Dani Rosecrest.” I said shifting my grin to a smile. I pulled a violet crystal from my pocket, “For the tonfas. How much for the knuckles?”

  He blinked in surprise and laughed, “Oh, that’s great.” The man went back behind the counter and dropped the crystal somewhere behind the counter. “Get a lot of ores from deeper in the fields, though it’s a pain in the ass to work with.”

  I need to figure out just what all comes out of that dungeon. I put it on my long list of things to do. “Will you use that on my tonfas?”

  He shrugged, “Maybe, though there’s ore from the Cavern of Mirrors that might work as well. I’ll ask around for whatever would be best.” Tapping his finger to his chin, he went and wrote down another note on the page he was using for my order. “How do you usually use the tonfas, can you show me?”

  I did my best to show him how I have been using them with the broken one. “I grab it by all three sides, really depends on what I need it for. Against the Prius, I used them more like a pick.”

  He made a thoughtful noise and made a few more notes. “Alright, if I have any further questions I’ll send a runner with a message.” He clapped his hands together, “Now, about the knuckles. The original order was for 15,000 PEC. He paid half up front, so maybe 10,000 PEC, though I’ll have to tell him who bought them so he can try and get them from you. You okay with that?”

  I nodded and pulled out some more crystals, before I’d finished setting five purple crystals on the counter, Deacon put his hand over them, “Well, since we’ll potentially dealing with an unruly former client, we should get a discount.”

  The shopkeeper frowned and glared at Deacon, “That’s with the discount.”

  Deacon blinked, “What?”

  “She’s putting in an order for a piece that’s going to be close to ten times that after labor costs.” He shrugged again, “An order thats been sitting there for months doesn’t really rate high on my concerns.”

  I paused as I put the rest on the counter, “Uh… is 1,000 PEC enough for starting?” I was starting to get lower on funds…

  “It’ll be fine. Will you be able to afford the finished product?” The shopkeeper grinned, knowing full well he was dealing with someone wealthy.

  I nodded slowly, “Shouldn’t be a problem…”

  “Then no issue. Especially if, as I suspect, you’ll be using those,” He pointed at the knuckles, “To acquire more money to spend here.”

  I slipped the knuckles into my pockets, wincing as I felt something tear. I sighed and just put them in my Spatial Storage. “And I’ll probably need a new wardrobe soon too.”

  The shopkeeper laughed, “You’d be surprised how often that happens. Nice storage, by the way. Is it an item or a trait?”

  “Trait. Pretty expensive one too.” I grumbled, closing the closet.

  “I’ll say, but worth every blue. Even small ones sell for more than my smithy makes in a month.” He shook his head, “I’d kill for something to carry ingots in.”

  I shrugged, “If you charge anywhere close to what you’re going to for mine, I’m even more thankful I’ve got it.”

  “Good, appreciate what you have.” He said with a smile. “If there’s nothing else, I was getting to a good part in my book.”

  I walked around and picked up a few more things. A warhammer with a nasty looking pick on the back. It was a little large but easy to handle. There was a halberd I noticed that looked like it’d be interesting to try, and I finished with a quiver of arrows that came out of a barrel full of similar. Overall, it cost another 500 PEC, but I was still trying stuff.

  And the bonus stats from getting them to Tier 1 would be nice.