In front of a mirror, Astrael buttoned his simple, charcoal grey linen tunic, which was unadorned. And sturdy leather boots.
Today, he would sightsee through his own eyes. He wanted to see the world beyond his house, the vast world and et new people.
Elara entered his chamber door, adjusting his collar. "Stay close, Young Lord. It is very crowded in the market."
"I will," Astrael promised, excitent in his voice.
He departed from his manor with two guards behind him.
The Ravestria town unfolded before him. Sunlight ward the path as they passed through the main gate, leaving the manor’s quiet elegance.
"nd your pots! nd your pans!"
"Buy this sword for only 50 copper!"
As he entered the market of the town, he could hear the clang-clang sound of a nearby smithy in a nearby alley. The overlapping shouts of the vendors and the distant laughter of children echoed from a side street.
He slled the sweet tang of a baking bread. It pulled Astrael towards a bakery shop, its window fogged with steam. An old woman wiped her hands on an apron sared with leftover flour, squinting at the guards flanking him.
"Well now," she asked, "Lost, little master?"
Astrael pressed a copper coin onto the counter. "Could I have one sweet roll, please?"
"Yes, bringing," she said, fetching one bun, still warm. Honey dripped onto her thumb. "Here. It’s best when eaten hot." She smiled while giving it to him.
He took it carefully."Thank you, ma’am."
"Mind your sleeves, Young Lord," Elara whispered.
But Astrael was already biting it. The sweetness lted in his mouth.
As they strolled around the market, they listened to the bustling hawkers.
"Two coppers for that leathery old boot? Robbery!"
"You kiss your mother with that mouth, Harkin? This bass leapt into my net this dawn!"
He licked honey from his thumb, watching a few of children his apparent age play in the mud.
"What’s that, Elara?"Astrael pointed towards a timber-frad tall building where n and won in leather and chainmail flowed in and out." Those people look... different."
Elara gazed towards the building. "That’s the Adventurers Guild, Young Lord. Best not linger too close, so patrons can be... rough." She lowered her voice as a hulking man with an axe strapped to his back staggered out.
Having a rough idea, he asked, "Adventurers’ Guild?"
"Yes," Elara explained, keeping a firm hand on his shoulder. "It’s where folk go to take on work too dangerous or wild for the town guard. Hunting monsters, escorting rchants, retrieving relics from old ruins... that sort of thing."
Astrael nodded while activating [Appraise] on the hulking man.
[Target: Rynna]
Rank: Novice stage 3
Skills: Chopping (Interdiate), Strengths (Interdiate)
Threat: Interdiate
Disposition: Anxious
"So are," Elara conceded, watching a tall veteran with a scarred face.
"Others learn the hard way that strength isn’t just steel and muscle. See that one?" She nodded toward a man limping out, his arm in a sling. "You should not bite more than you can chew"
Astrael nodded. Suddenly, a commotion erupted near the guild doors.
Two n in boiled leather argued fiercely over a crumpled parchnt.
"-told you the marsh swamp was south of the standing stones, not north!"
"Your map’s older than your boots, Jarek!!"
One shoved the other. Astrael’s guards imdiately stepped closer, hands resting on the sword’s handle, ready to take action.
A strong-looking adventurer, nearby, barked a single, sharp word. "Enough". The quarrelling n froze, muttering apologies before slinking away.
"Let’s go, Young Lord.’ Elara urged him. "The fountain is this way."
As they turned, Astrael glanced back one last ti. His gaze locked with a small figure entering the guild, a girl with sharp, blue eyes and white hair like moonlight.
[Appraise: ???]
[Error: Target Obscured.]
Before he could process it, she lted back into the gloom.
’Error? It is the first ti." Astrael was confused and didn’t think much.
As they walked, Astrael heard the clanking sound nearby.
Curious, he went there and stood in front of the weapon shop.
"Young lord?" Elara asked, watching him enter the shop.
Weapons line the walls, longsword, axe, spear. Behind the counter, a bald man with arms like a tree trunk polished a dagger.
"Well, now. Nobles usually send stewards for their steel." His eyes narrowed at Astrael’s guards." Looking for anything, lad?"
Astrael’s gaze locked on a simple short sword. Oak-hilted, unadorned, its blade glead like winter ice.
"How much for that one?" Astrael asked while pointing towards the sword.
"Fine eyes! That’s Veridian steel, one of the sharpest tals. Ten silvers. No bargain." The man said while grinning.
Elara beside him, hissing,"Young Lord, you can’t-
Astrael ignored her, "Five. The crossguard is uneven at the edge," He pointed to a barely visible flaw.
The man’s grin faded.
’Appraise, ’ Astrael silently muttered.
[Na: Borin Ironhand]
[Race: ???]
[Rank: ???]
[Cultivation: ???]
[Threat Assessnt: High]
[Primary Skills: ???]
[Note: Impressed]
’Wha-?’ Astrael was shocked, seeing the status of the seemingly old man, but he maintained a calm face.
"Hmph. Nine silvers, and I’ll hone it myself." Borin harrumped.
"Six silvers. Final offer." Astrael said.
A beat of silence passed as both locked gazes. Astrael didn’t flinch. Then Borin laughed. "Done! You are sothing else, boy." He slid the blade across the counter. "Keep the edge sharp and your wits sharper."
Astrael gripped the hilt. The weight felt right.
Elara, wrinkling her nose, said, "Your mother will have my head...."
"Tell her it’s for cutting apples," Astrael replied while sheathing it at his belt.
As they stepped back into the sunlight, Astrael smiled while muttering, ’Apparise’
[Short sword: ENDER (Sealed)]
[Grade: Unique?]
[Description: A short sword forged from the Veridian steel, one of the sharpest tals known, by blacksmith Borin Ironhand. Its edge cuts through armour like butter and perfectly balanced.]
***
🌟 Hey, fellow traveler of tales and treasures! 🧭 Your presence here is a journey filled with surprises, like uncovering hidden gems 💎. Isn’t it fascinating how a little GOLDEN ✨ sothing can change everything? 💛
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