Assessing the Sun's position, Aurelius determined it was roughly 4 in the afternoon. That left him with a window of roughly 6 hours to find a weapon and exit the city before the front gate closed for the night. Emerging from the alleyway, Aurelius was greeted by the vibrant hustle and bustle of the city that he had grown accustomed to. The capital city was a city of stark contrasts, with the rich and powerful living lavish lifestyles while the poor, like Aurelius, struggled to scrape by and find their place amidst the extravagance.
Aurelius merged into the bustling crowd, adopting his usual strategy of keeping his head down and maintaining a low profile. However, despite his efforts, Aurelius stood out conspicuously, towering a few inches taller than even the taller High Elves in the bustling crowd. It seemed that the transformation that had made him the Chosen had added to his height, making him more imposing. Moreover, his shabby attire, a patchwork of worn-out garments, earned him disapproving glances from passersby.
Aurelius made an extra effort to lower his gaze and fade into the masses as he steadily advanced toward his destination. Within the crowd, Aurelius couldn't help but catch fragments of conversations about the selection of a new Chosen. The air was heavy with a mix of hope, anticipation, and fear. However, amidst this charged atmosphere, rumors began to circulate. Whispers spoke of certain noble houses, dissatisfied with their own scions not being chosen, placing bounties on the head of the selected individual. Aurelius had been pondering whether to continue hiding his identity as a Chosen, and these rumors only strengthened his decision to do so.
Arriving at the new, secluded alleyway, Aurelius double and triple checked he wasn’t being followed. He rarely ventured into this alleyway, and never during the day time.
“Desperate times call for desperate measures,” Aurelius muttered under his breath.
Swiftly moving towards the end of the alleyway, Aurelius quickly uncovered his hidden pouch which was tucked away beneath the crevices of a secluded corner. Within this pouch contained the summation of all of Aurelius’ remaining wealth, worth roughly… 89 copper coins. Aurelius sighed in disappointment, realizing it was highly unlikely that the sum he possessed would be sufficient to purchase a sword, the weapon he needed.
Realizing that there was no harm in trying, Aurelius sought out a shop owner who might be willing to sell a sword at such a meager price. Carefully tucking the pouch into the folds of his tattered garments, he awkwardly emerged from the alley, navigating his way back into the bustling main street.
As Aurelius navigated through the bustling main street, he scanned the shop fronts with a discerning eye, searching for a glimmer of hope. His gaze fell upon a modest store tucked between two buildings. Its sign, weathered by time, read "Ragnar's Wares" in faded letters. A flicker of hope ignited within Aurelius as he approached the humble shop.
Upon entering, a bell tinkled overhead, announcing his arrival. The shop's interior was dimly lit, the air thick with the scent of aged wood and leather. Shelves lined with an assortment of items—daggers, rusty armor pieces, and trinkets—revealed a collection as worn and weary as the store itself. At the counter stood a middle-aged man with a grizzled beard, his eyes tired but kind.
"Can I help you, lad?" the shopkeeper asked, his voice a rasp from years of conversations with patrons.
"I'm in need of a sword," Aurelius replied, attempting to conceal the hint of desperation in his voice. The shopkeeper raised an eyebrow, sizing up Aurelius from head to toe.
"A sword, you say? And what brings you here, seeking such a weapon?"
Aurelius hesitated for a moment, weighing his words.
"I have... a limited budget," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "But I seek something that can aid me in protecting myself, something within my means."
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The shopkeeper's eyes softened, a flicker of understanding crossing his weathered face.
"Times are tough for many, lad. You're not the first to come seeking a weapon on a tight budget." He motioned Aurelius closer to the counter, leaning in conspiratorially. "I might have something that could suit your needs."
From beneath the counter, the shopkeeper produced a worn leather-bound book, its pages yellowed with age. "This here is my catalog of hidden treasures. It holds the secrets to items I've acquired over the years, some of which are not on display."
As Aurelius thumbed through the catalog of hidden treasures, his eyes fell upon a section dedicated to swords. Each weapon seemed more formidable than the last, but their prices were well beyond his meager budget. The cheapest sword on sale was 2 silver coins. At the conversion rate of 100 Bronze to 1 silver, Aurelius was still missing at least 111 bronze coins.
Disappointment washed over Aurelius, and he sighed, realizing that his search for a suitable sword within his means might be in vain.
Glancing outside the shop's small window, Aurelius observed the setting sun inching closer to the horizon. Time was slipping away, and he couldn't afford to spend hours scouring the city for another shop with affordable weaponry. The urgency of his situation gnawed at him, reminding him of the limited window he had to find a weapon and leave the city before the gates closed for the night. With a heavy heart, he closed the catalog and approached the shopkeeper.
"I appreciate your help, but it seems I may not have enough time to find a sword within my budget. I must be on my way."
The shopkeeper nodded understandingly, his gaze filled with sympathy. “I apologize for not having a sword that meets your needs. It's a challenging time, lad, and weapons of quality come at a cost.”
Aurelius thanked the shopkeeper and stepped back onto the bustling main street. The vibrant atmosphere that had initially excited him now felt suffocating, knowing that time was slipping through his fingers. He looked up at the sinking sun and felt a surge of determination. He couldn't afford to waste any more precious moments searching for a sword.
Just then, his eyes caught sight of the short wall not too far away. Perched on top of it were two guards, lazily chatting and seemingly unbothered by their surroundings. The opportunity was too tempting to resist. Aurelius's heart quickened with anticipation as a plan took shape in his mind.
With renewed determination, Aurelius swiftly made his way towards a secluded spot right next to the wall, hidden from view. Knowing that his teleportation abilities had a limited range, he focused on his intended destination—just a few feet away atop the short wall. As he concentrated his mana and envisioned himself standing there, he felt the unfamiliar sensation well up inside of him.
In an instant, Aurelius reappeared on the top of the short wall, silently standing beside the unsuspecting guards. They continued their conversation, oblivious to his sudden appearance. Aurelius seized the opportunity and slowly approached one of the guards, his movements as stealthy as a shadow.
Carefully, Aurelius reached out and grasped the hilt of one of the swords, his heart pounding with anticipation. Just as his fingers closed around it, a slight creak of leather alerted the guards to his presence. Their eyes widened in surprise as they turned to face Aurelius, their hands instinctively reaching for their weapons. But Aurelius was already a step ahead. With a burst of energy, he activated his teleportation ability once more, vanishing from the top of the wall in the blink of an eye.
The guards stared at the empty space where he had stood, their confusion evident.
"What just happened?" one guard exclaimed, glancing around in bewilderment.
"I don't know," the other guard replied, scanning the area. "He was just here!"
Aurelius reappeared in a hidden alley not too far away, clutching the stolen sword tightly. He took a moment to catch his breath, his heart still racing from the adrenaline. The guards' confusion would buy him some time, but he knew he couldn't stay in one place for long.
Aurelius took a deep breath, steeling himself as he contemplated his next move. In order to make room, Aurelius discarded the coin pouch and deftly tucked his sword securely into the folds of his tattered clothes. Pulling up his hood, Aurelius swiftly navigated the maze-like structure of the city, heading towards the main city gate that would lead him towards the mountain range.
As Aurelius approached the city gate, his heart sank. The sight before him seemed both promising and daunting. Even at this late hour, the gates stood wide open with masses of merchants bustling in and out of the city. However, Aurelius’ hopes were crushed when his eyes scanned the imposing walls, now vigilantly patrolled by guards that seemed to be on high alert, their eyes constantly scanning the moving crowd.