Two red demons faced off in a ring, though one was considerably larger than the other. They wore only loincloths and stood barefoot atop the sandy floor, appraising each other, each sure of his own victory.
Fight! the referee shouted, jumping away just in ti to avoid a haymaker. The larger demon had made the opening move, but the smaller one easily avoided it, ducking low for a counterattack.
See? Isnt this a spectacle? Badal said, munching on so fried flour snacks while Vir sat next to him with a concerned look.
Look, even your bandys enjoying this! Badal said.
It was true; Neel gazed at the combatants with rapt attention, his tail swinging energetically. Which was especially incredible, considering Badals bag of sweet treats right nearby.
Even now, my pursuers near Balindam, Vir replied. I dont have ti for this! Every mont wasted made him increasingly anxious.
Exactly why you should make so. Youll be off to the Ashen Realm soon. The Ashen Realm, of all places! Trust , you can use every bit of normalcy you can find before venturing into that place, because I assure you, you will miss this life.
I dont doubt it, Vir said softly. Hed been in the middle of packing his things when Badal had barged in and demanded they go watch the fights.
A popular sport here amongst demons in the Undercity, fights were common, as was betting. More than that, it was the feeling of safety Vir knew hed miss. Nowhere was safe in the Ash. How long would it be before he could let his guard down like this again?
So? Who do you think will win?
Vir thought for a mont. The larger demon was no doubt stronger. Both were in great shape, but the bigger foe simply had more muscles, and by his movents, knew how to use them.
The smaller demon, Vir said. It wasnt just that he was partial to mobility and dexterity; the smaller demon had anticipated nearly all his opponents attacks.
Aye, the big guy over there winds up a tad too much. Lets on that a punch is coming. But Ive seen him fight before. Hes got a trick or two up his sleeves.
Just then, the smaller demon landed a hit. While it didnt look like anything special, the larger demon stumbled back, encouraging the smaller demon to press his attack.
Its a trap, Vir whispered.
The big demon suddenly righted his balance and threw a vicious punch to his opponents gut, sending him tumbling away.
He did not get back up.
And we have a winner! the referee announced.
Vir couldnt help comparing this fight to the one he might very well have against the Hiranyan jai of Realms and his cadre. He fully planned on avoiding a confrontation, but fate seed to enjoy foiling him.
Now co, let us see the armorer. Badal rose and beckoned Vir to follow.
Vir was planning on visiting there himself, but based on what hed seen in the Upper City, he kept his hopes in check.
They left the giant cavern for one of the many tunnels that connected to it, and after a solid ten minutes of walking, finally arrived at a nondescript wooden door.
Unlike the door, though, the room inside was hardly bland. Weapons and armor covered the walls, and racks of steel glistened in the light of a forge that ran hot, casting a warm glow upon the room and complinting the electrical rope lights that brightly illuminated the entire space.
With the subterranean construction, it all made for a cozy space, despite its large size.
And unlike the Upper city, here Vir saw plenty of high quality steel weapons, including so seric ones. Even seric armor.
While Neel wanted to bound around, Vir grabbed his collar, restraining his overeager pet. He couldnt afford Neel knocking over stands and scratching up armor.
Looks like the demons keep the best stuff for themselves, Vir thought, growing excited at the weapons on display. The Tribunal had even compensated him for his help during the raid, bringing his total wealth to just over two serics.
Only a year ago, the idea of having a seric coin to his na seed unthinkable. Hed surely have swooned. Yet now, both he and Maiya had accomplished that feat. Sotis, he pinched himself to make sure this wasnt all just a dream.
Ho, Akar! You around? Badal shouted.
A sooty-faced four-ard red demon popped his head up over the racks and waved back. Badal! What brings you ere?
Looking for weapons and armor for this guy. Vir. You got the ssage from Lord Reth?
Disanna, actually, the blacksmith, Akar, replied. Ca down ere herself!
Whats this all about? Vir asked.
You get a discount, Akar replied. A hundred percent off.
A hundred isnt that
By order of the Tribunal, youre to take whatever you need for your trip. Free of charge.
Virs eyes bulged. Anything?
Anything. Well, anything you can carry on ye! Akar said, laughing. Can have you clearing out my shop now, can I?
Thats but why?
Only the Tribunal could tell you that, friend, Badal said, but if I had to guess? They see in you a promising ally. They might not dissuade you from venturing into the Ash, but the least they can do is to help you co ho safely.
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I honestly dont know what to say. Thank you.
Akar shrugged. Thank the Tribunal. Im jus doing my job. So, whatll it be?
Seric chakrams and chakris, Vir said imdiately.
Hmm. Chakrams, eh? Not a common request. Dont have any on handId have to forge em from scratch. How long you got?
As soon as possible. I want to leave within a day.
Akar exhaled. Sorry, friend. Im good, but Im no miracle worker. Dont think I can make that happen for ya.
I see Vir said, doing his best to hide his disappointnt. Truthfully, Ive already got so good kit. My katars seric.
What about armor? Why dont we outfit him with so seric pieces? Badal offered.
Aye, I could do seric bracers and greaves to replace the ones you got there. Make em less gaudy, too. As for your cuirass hmm. Might have just the thing, if itll fit, he said, beckoning them to the racks of armor displayed against the wall. With the electrical lights placed inside them, they glowed, as if alive.
Virs eyes imdiately went to a black-and-blood red brigandine. Not only did it look nacing, its craftsmanship was exquisite. Upon closer examination, the black pieces werent black at all, but an exotic seric tal pattern, veiled by black chainmail that sat in front of the plates. Instead of leather to bind the plates, it used mail, allowing for more flexibility. And unlike most brigs where the tal was fully hidden, this piece left sections exposed to show off the tal underneath, using mail only where necessary.
Noticed that oddity, did ya? Akar said. With seric being as strong as it is, theres hardly a need to protect all of it with more leather. Keeps it lighter this way. More supple, but it doesnt lose any strength. One of my masterpieces, if Im honest.
Though it lacked carvings or gold, the way the seric plates wove into the black sh srized Vir. It was the most beautiful piece of armor hed ever seen, and suddenly, he felt very insecure.
How much would this go for? If I had to pay for it?
Armor like this? A seric and a half, easy.
Once again, Vir felt like no amount of wealth in this world was enough. In the village of Brij, a seric wouldve made anyone a king. Most there hadnt even seen a seric coin their whole life. Here? Even with ten serics, Vir doubted hed feel rich.
Right, then. Ive got seric bracers, pauldrons, and greaves, ready to go. Jus take yer pick, Akar said, pointing to the small selection of finely crafted pieces.
They varied slightly in design, with so being larger to cover more area, and others prioritizing ease of movent.
Vir normally wouldve opted for the lighter, smaller pieces in an instant, but this was the Ashen Realm he was venturing into. A single swipe from an Ash Beasts bladed limb could sever his whole arm. More protection was probably not a bad thing.
And if theres as much Ash Prana there as I think there is, I can use Dance of the Shadow Demon all I want.
He wouldnt have to rely only on his parkour and Kalari training to evade enemiesDance would give him a better option.
Ill take this one, Vir said, pointing to a larger pauldron. Not the largest, but enough to fully cover his shoulders. Likewise, he opted for slightly longer bracers that covered his entire forearm, and segnted greaves that ran from his boots all the way to his cuirass. That one would take more getting used tothough it articulated surprisingly well, the extra weight required more effort on his part.
Luckily, he could abuse Empower to speed up his movents in the Ash. Almost like a second set of muscles. As fearso as the Ashen Realm was, Vir was more than a little excited to see just how strong hed grow there.
Right. Co back tonight. Should have all this tailored to ya by then. We can do so final adjustnts, and ye can walk right out wearing em, if you like!
Thanks Akar, Vir said, bowing his head to the four-ard demon. This might very well save my life in the Ash.
Hope so, friend, Akar said. Tis why I make this stuff. So warriors like you co ho safe n sound. Now, if youll excuse , youve just given a lot of work and not much ti to do it. Best get to it.
After being chased out of Akars shop, Vir was about to bid Badal farewell when the gray demon stopped him.
That money you have. What do you plan to do with it?
I didnt really have any plans.
That was a lie. He was thinking of giving most of it to Maiyacoinage would be no good in the Ashen Realm, and assuming he made it to the Demon Realm, theyd likely use their own coinage. Silvers would be quite so extra weight to lug along on the off-chance that the demons used the sa currency. While he could solve that problem by exchanging the currency for a seric coin, hed kick himself if he took it with him, only to find out it was useless. Or worse, if it was destroyed or lost in the Ash.
Instead, he was planning on using it to pay her for a service hed hope she could render. Neither Neel nor Bumpycurrently stabled in Avicould follow him into the Ash. He hoped Maiya could care for them in his absence.
The only coin he planned on bringing with him were Rudviks coppers, which were tucked safely at the bottom of his rucksack.
I have a proposition, if youll hear ? Badal asked.
How long will this take? I really need to prepare.
Trust , itll be worth your ti, Badal said, guiding Vir through a tunnel that led back to the Upper City.
The tunnel led to a trapdoor that opened into a guarded room. Exchanging nods with the demons posted there, they exited to an empty alley and the blinding brightness of daylight. Though the tunnels were all lit with the Orders non-magical light, their output was incomparable to that of the sun, and Vir and Neel both took a minute before they could fully open their eyes.
Badal led Vir through the streets to a location very near the Promontorythe hill with a view of the Runean oceanstopping in front of a house before rummaging around for a key. With a click, the door opened, and inside Vir found an empty, though spacious abode.
What do you think? Badal asked, gesturing at the tall ceilings. The third floor of the house boasted a commanding view of the ocean below, and the ho itself was situated upon a clean, wide cobblestone street. The neighborhood was on the nicer side of those Vir had seen in Balindam.
Its nice? Vir said. But I already have a ho in the Undercity. Besides, this place is much too large for , and Ill be leaving soon. What use do I have for another house?
Badal smiled. Oh, no. This wouldnt be for you to live in. You see the hos on these streets? Theyre all owned by demons.
Demons live in there? Vir asked in surprise. Not the Undercity?
Few demons live here. They rely own the places. Human families rent these hos, paying a fixed amount each month. You could leave your money here, sitting idle. Or you could invest it while youre gone. By renting out the ho, youll accrue inco, and when you return, youll have a small fortune waiting for you. Especially if youll be gone for a while.
Thats I dunno, Badal. This all sounds nice, but I dont have the ti for this. It must be a lot of work going through the formalities. Not to ntion all the work involved with renting it out.
No need. Give Lord Reth your coin and hell handle everything. The Order has a program for this very thing. By increasing the wealth of its demons, the Order increases its own power. A win-win situation, yes?
I see. Even ignoring the free weapons they gifted him, the Order had done so much for him. Theyd given him a ho in the Undercity, and more importantly, had welcod him as one of their own. They were even willing to defend him against the jai of Realmsthe highest rank jai below the Pri jai himselfas well as the powerful demon hunting him. Trusting them with money he no longer needed ca easily.
How much does a ho like this go for?
These hos are subsidized by the Order. Itd normally cost several serics, but thanks to the governnt program, they sell for a single seric to demons. If you had more, Id have suggested purchasing a business, but even with subsidies, the upfront cost is steep.
Do you own any?
Oh, yes. I have several houses and a couple of businesses, Badal said.
Vir would never have guessed Badal was that wealthy. Neither his behavior nor his clothing betrayed a trace of it.
Very well, Vir said. I'll take two. But only on one condition. Id like the proceeds to go to my friend Maiya. For safe keeping.
Im sure that can be arranged, Badal replied with a nod.
Vir nodded, his thoughts already drifting away. The whole ti Badal had been showing him around, Vir had been distracted, thinking of only one thing. His power, and how to improve it. If he was venturing into the Ash, he'd need every advantage he could get.
He'd been mulling over how to progress for a while, and now, finally, he had the ti to pursue it.
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