Kael lay motionless on the bed, his breathing shallow and labored. The fever had claid him again.
His pale skin glistened with perspiration, and dark circles shadowed his sunken eyes. It pained Leya to see her brother in such a weakened state, but there was little she could do except wait and hope.
Mitch recounted the morning’s events in hushed tones, careful not to disturb Kael’s fitful rest. He described the innkeeper’s nervous deanor, the hastily offered compensation, and the fight.
"Tsk," Leya clicked her tongue in disapproval, shaking her head. "You could have gotten far more from that innkeeper. Ten days of free lodging and so als? That’s practically nothing to a man of his ans."
Her green eyes flashed with shrewd calculation. "You should have demanded several hundred gold coins to keep your mouth shut about the whole affair.
He would have paid without hesitation, his entire livelihood depended on guests feeling safe within those warded walls. If word spread that assassins could simply bypass his protective enchantnts, his business would crumble overnight."
"I’ll rember that for next ti," Mitch replied with a rueful smile. "Though hopefully there won’t be a next ti. Oh, and I found this." He carefully extracted the letter from his pocket, the parchnt bearing the mysterious signature of ’M.’
Leya studied the docunt, her brow furrowing in concentration. "M... M..." she murmured, turning the letter over in her hands.
"The handwriting is refined, expensive ink, quality parchnt. This person has resources."
"Should we report this to the city guard?" Mitch asked, uncertainty creeping into his voice. The weight of the letter seed heavier now, laden with unspoken dangers.
Leya’s laugh was bitter and humorless.
"Oh, certainly. Let’s march straight to the guardhouse and announce that we’ve stumbled upon evidence of a drug dealer who employs assassins capable of penetrating magical wards." Her voice dripped with sarcasm as she gestured dismissively.
"So of those guards might already be on this ’M’s payroll. What if one of them decides we’re ddling in affairs that don’t concern us? What if they point us out to their employer as troubleso witnesses?"
She shook her head firmly. "No, Mitch. This is a hornet’s nest we don’t want to kick. It’s not our fight, and we have enough problems of our own." Her gaze drifted toward her brother’s prone form, emphasizing her point.
Mitch nodded, understanding her reasoning even if it left him feeling sowhat unsatisfied. "I suppose you’re right. I’m going to do so more shopping, want to co along, Leya?"
"No, I want to stay here with Kael." She brushed a strand of hair from her brother’s fevered forehead with gentle fingers. "He might wake up, and I don’t want him to be alone."
"Of course. The innkeeper gave the finest room in the establishnt, apparently his way of showing gratitude." Mitch’s eyes t Leya’s, his gaze lingering on the green depths that seed to catch and hold the afternoon light.
"You should co see it after sunset. The view from the balcony is supposed to be spectacular."
"Mhm," Leya murmured softly, a delicate blush coloring her cheeks as she looked away. The invitation carried undertones that neither of them voiced directly, but both understood.
Mitch took his leave, stepping back into the bustling streets of the city. He had a purpose now, his pocket dinsion was the size of a small room, and he’d been a fool not to take full advantage of such a remarkable boon.
With a hundred gold coins weighing down his purse, he began his walk in the outer district where mortal craftsn and rchants catered to everyday needs. The prices here were refreshingly reasonable compared to the inner circle’s magical establishnts.
His first stop was a textile rchant’s shop, where he selected a double-sized cotton mattress that promised comfort far superior to most inn bedding. He added soft down pillows, thick towels, and bed linens.
From there, he moved to a general goods store where he acquired sturdy eating utensils, several wooden buckets of varying sizes, and a selection of practical clothing suitable for travel or extended stays away from civilization.
The food vendor’s stall provided him with provisions that could withstand long storage: strips of seasoned beef jerky, hard-baked biscuits that would keep for months, and an assortnt of spices and condints to make even the blandest trail food palatable.
The entire shopping expedition in the outer district cost him re just a re few gold coins
The inner circle proved far more expensive, as expected. Here, magical enhancent touched everything from the simplest tools to the most elaborate weapons. He found a specialized survival shop whose prices made him wince, but the quality was undeniable.
The tent he selected was crafted from materials that would repel both water and magical interference. The mana lantern would provide steady illumination for weeks on a single magical charge, far superior to torch or candle fla.
The compact mana stove could heat food or boil water with remarkable efficiency, and the sleeping bags were enchanted to maintain a comfortable temperature regardless of external conditions.
Despite already possessing a comfortable mattress, Mitch purchased two sleeping bags; experience had taught him that redundancy in survival equipnt was never wasteful.
Finally, he made his way to the Adventurer’s Guild marketplace, the crown jewel of the city’s comrcial district. During his previous visit with Leya, they had departed hastily before he could properly explore the incredible variety of magical items on display.
Now he had ti to browse at leisure.
The mage equipnt shop drew him in imdiately. Staffs of varying designs and power levels lined the walls, each one humming with contained magical energy.
The centerpiece of the collection made him whistle in appreciation:
[Tier 2 Bronze wood erald staff – Made through magic ways, mana consumption -10%, spell range 15%, 5% casting speed. It helps its wearer channel his mana more easily. It can cast one wind slash spell every 12 hours.]
The staff was a work of art, however, the price tag of nearly a thousand gold coins made Mitch’s remaining funds seem pathetically inadequate.
The other staffs ranged from moderately useful to barely functional. So offered only passive magical bonuses without active abilities, while others contained only a single spell.
All of them, however, shared the common benefit of making mana channeling more efficient and controlled.
Curiosity prompted Mitch to request a demonstration with one of the cheapest staffs. The shopkeeper, eager to make a sale, allowed him to hold and briefly test a tier one item. Mitch concentrated, feeling the staff’s influence on his magical energy flow.
While the effect was noticeable, he quickly realized that for his particular fighting style, the sword remained superior. In close combat, the staff’s reach and fragility made it more liability than an asset.
He could perhaps use it for blocking or striking, but it lacked the durability to withstand more than one or two hits.
He bought himself the cheapest staff he could find.
[Tier 1 Oak wood chipped athyst staff – Made by an amateur crafter, it helps its wearer channel his mana more easily.] 3 gold coins.
I’ll experint with it later, Mitch thought, storing the staff in his pocket dinsion. At worst, I’m out three gold coins. At best, I might discover new ways to integrate magic into my combat techniques.
His next destination was a skill book shop that catered to all classes, not exclusively mages like the previous establishnt he had visited with Leya.
The proprietor, a scholarly-looking woman with ink-stained fingers, guided him to the sections most likely to interest a warrior-mage hybrid.
The first book that caught his attention seed perfectly suited to his needs:
[Body strengthening skill book – use mana to strengthen your body, making you faster and more resilient. It requires at least 15 points in body stat.] 80 gold coins.
[Mana sword slash skill book – send a mana slash from your sword, it has a good range. It requires at least 10 points in body stat] 140 gold coins.
[Visual aquity skill book – use mana to strengthen your eyes, making you see farther, better, wider than normal. It requires at least 15 points in body stat.] 40 gold coins.
"Stat requirents," Mitch murmured to himself, intrigued. This was the first ti he had encountered skills with prerequisites.
The Body Strengthening book particularly appealed to him. With his substantial mana reserves, he could potentially maintain enhanced physical capabilities throughout an entire battle, transforming himself into a formidable warrior-mage hybrid.
However, his current financial resources fell short of acquiring all three books, forcing him to prioritize future purchases.
As he continued browsing the various shops and stalls, absorbing the incredible diversity of magical items and services available, one particularly unremarkable establishnt caught his attention.
"I need that!"
Reviews
All reviews (0)