We moved past the gate and into the town proper, and was greeted by a ‘main street’ maybe 200 yards long.

The very first thing I did was message Root.

"Hey umm Root just a heads up. There’s a female guard at the south gate… she… how do I put it…" I sort of trailed off as I was sending a message to Root.

"Thanks for the heads up…?" he replied back with apprehension and confusion.

The town itself seemed a bit older compared to what I had seen in the past. It had a sizable Inn that catered to traveling delvers, as well as several small shops and a sizable blacksmith shop from what I could tell.

"Hey I just realized I could sell the aluminum hammer here." I mentioned to Orlo.

"Give me a little bit and I'll let you know if we need coin. We had quite a bit but we also didn't factor in having to kit out a new adventure. We would also get quite a bit more in the capital." Orlo said.

"Oh I also still have the Harlequin scepter, I think some of that was good as well." I said.

"Oh forgot about all of that." Orlo said thoughtfully, then added "It’s been a crazy couple of weeks…"

We entered the Seariously Cozy Inn and Orlo went straight to the counter to get a room. They were greeted by a Bun with silver-gray hair pulled back in a neat bun and a pair of spectacles perched on the bridge of her nose, she exudes a quiet authority and a warm, motherly demeanor.

I paused, allowing my gaze to sweep the surroundings. The ground floor unfolds into a communal dining hall, where lingering breakfast patrons share the space with a backdrop of a rather sizable kitchen tucked in the rear. The Inn and the surrounding town exude a well-maintained charm, gracefully embracing their seasoned history with an air of both age and continued use.

"Ah, your lodgings shall be on the third floor, my dear. Take a jaunt up the stairs and you'll find it—fourth door on your right, it is." The Innkeeper said and I followed Orlo up.

"So we can get in and pick up some supplies. Particularly colder weather gear… at least for you. What else do we want to do?" I asked the other two.

"I'll wander around town and listen for anything of interest.” Lluvia said.

“I'd like to collect some information from the Seekers…” I said.

“Well you could have that chance tonight if that Seeker Bun was serious.” Lluvia said.

That made me pause.

“Umm I mean she looked fine I guess… but I’m not so sure about her personality.” I said.

“Oh yeah total bitch, but it might be good practice for the future as well… ” Lluvia said.

“Orlo? What are your plans…” I said, trying to change the subject.

“Gathering provisions then listen in at the dining hall this evening. Which reminds me I need arms for the provisions.” They said.

So, there we were, Lluvia trailing us down the stairs and pulling a vanishing act into the crowd. Orlo and I hit up the general store, snagging a bunch of random stuff, several cozy capes, and some additional gear for the cold.

I then came up with an idea as we walked past the blacksmiths shop.

“Hey, give me a few minutes. I'd like to talk to the blacksmith about something.” I told Orlo, they just shrugged and followed me.

Upon entering the Blacksmith's establishment, a meticulously organized showroom unfolded before us, showcasing an array of armors, weapons, and equipment. The layout was discerningly structured, with a section dedicated to each item category—Splint Mail, gauntlets, chainmail, short swords, long swords, daggers, and hammers—all meticulously displayed in a cohesive manner.

“Morning, Sir! Welcome to the Humble Bun Blacksmith. How can Lessy hop to your service today?” The bun woman behind the counter who I assumed was Lessy had a robust physique and sinewy arms, evidence of years spent at the forge. Her chestnut hair and tall ears, streaked with silver, was pulled back in a practical bun, and her piercing gaze, framed by crow's feet, reflects both strength and seasoned wisdom. The ‘sir’ made me inwardly flint which was annoying as all hell after living years as a woman… old habits never die I guess.

“I’m looking for some raw stock actually if that is possible.” I asked.

“Bit of an unusual request, Anything specific we can nibble on to help you out??” The Bun woman asked.

“Maybe, I would need 4 steel cylinders each about ‘this’ long.” I said and indicated with my index fingers about 10 inches in length.

“Could be done.” Blacksmith Lessy said.

“I would also need maybe a dozen different smaller parts that in general should be simpler to make, some could be made out of bronze.” I added.

“Most likely doable would you by chance have any drawing to hop off of if you are looking for a particular design?” Lessy asked.

I made a face as I thought.

“In theory I could but the more I think about it the more I realize I need to put some serious thought into this…” I said, continuing to think.

“Ah, always hopping into big ideas, you bring to mind my first and third sons. However, they lacked the patience for the meticulous craft of blacksmithing.” She said, again another internal wince.

“Any lightweight crossbows?” I asked.

“We've got a standard one right there on the wall, The whole setup is locally nibbled, you know.” she indicated off to the side. It looked like a slightly larger version than what I had originally used.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

“Then, there was this special nibble we crafted, part of it paid for, but the buyer never hopped in to collect. Been sitting there for over a year now.” she said and headed into the back to grab it.

What she unveiled was a crossbow, a fusion of steel and wood. At the tips of the compact limbs, there appeared to be either cams or pulleys, giving it a notably modern flair compared to what I'd been observing, especially in the design of the stock and grip.

“Did the customer design this or did you?” I asked.

"Buyer hopped alongside us on the limb design, and the stock—well, that was their little nibble of creativity too." She said.

“How much?” I asked, Orlo let out a small chirp of annoyance and a roll of their eyes.

“That right there's got some aluminum in it—used for the track part. Remarkable stuff, light as a nibble and tough as steel. Does that hop into your memory at all?” She asked.

“Yup, not quite as tough as some alloys of steel but the ratio of strength to weight can make up for that in manytasks.” I said looking at the crossbow, not really paying attention to what I was saying.

“Is it spring steel for the arms?” I asked finally look back at her.

She was giving me the most peculiar look, something between astonishment and confusion.

“Sorry did I miss something?” I asked.

“I've crossed paths with blacksmiths who barely hopped onto the aluminum waggon; this stuff is that rare. The reason this has been a tough sell is because very few understand and trust something so new.” she said, continuing to look at me.

“Ah… umm… I mean I’ve worked with aluminum before. So umm how much?” I added, then asked.

“About 60 Gold Galleons.” She said after a momentary pause.

“Nicooo… that is an insane amount. A regular light crossbow only costs 4.” Orlo whispered to me almost saying Nicole.

“How much would you give me for this hammer?” I asked pulling out the aluminum hammer, setting it next to the crossbow.

Her eyes went wide seeing the hammer.

“That is easily 100 Gold Galleons worth of aluminum.” She muttered before snapping her mouth shut. Then continued with “Well then, I'd need to nibble it down and work the material. No single source to hop back and recoup my investment, you see.”

“Trade then, hammer for the crossbow and any plans you still have. Also I would like to have some etching done in several spots. Oh and some ammo, and replacement strings and a few other odds and ends.” I said.

Orlo squawked again at what I was doing.

“Deal” the shopkeeper said immediately.

“Mind if I stop back in a little bit and work with you on some of the engraving?” I asked.

“Sure thing, it'd be a delight! And if you wouldn't mind chating a bit about where you learned your metallurgy, I'd be all ears.” She said.

“WHAT WAS THAT!” Orlo shouted at me in a whisper, Avian Fury apparent.

“Let’s get back to the room and I can explain.” I said also in a whisper and with a very big smile on my face.

“We could have gotten like 200 Gold at the capital for that hammer you sold it for maybe one-sixth of its value!?” They were still shouting at me in a whisper.

“Orlo… I'm almost positive that the design was a modern day implementation of a compound crossbow from my world.” I quietly told them.

That caused Orlo to freeze in place.

“That was a Riftwalker designed weapon?” They asked cautiously.

“Have you ever seen a crossbow use pulleys?” I asked.

“Well no but I don’t use crossbows! So how the heck would I know?” They said, still throwing a birdy tantrum.

“Orlo think about it, if there has been another Riftwalker that could come up with that design from most likely from memory then they are at least as smart as I am.” I said.

“So… intelligence isn't everything.” They said heatled.

“No, that means they know things like computers, materials science, metallurgy and more… They might have a year or more ahead of us in manufacturing for all we know. I would not be surprised if the price of aluminum comes down fast in the next few years.” I said.

“But we probably could have had that money in a few weeks, well before the price changed. The price was still high when we left the capital.” They complained.

“Fair but I needed a new ranged weapon and I also now own the schematics. Beats me trying to build a pipe rifle and ammo, or a pepper box.” I said.

“What the heck are you going on about?” Orlo asked, pacing back and forth.

“Gun… GunSmithing… Better weapons… And the problem? I might not be the only one who knows.” I said.

That stopped them in their tracks and they looked at me with alarm.

“We might not be able to corner the market on anything!?” They whispered back in a panic.

Once the other party arrived and got a room I was able to duck in.

“Ok… so I’ve already had Orlo yell at me for this but I purchased a crossbow from the smith here.” I said quietly.

“Okay? You're a big girl…boy? Wait what are we going with right now? I am so confused” Turnip said.

“O right.. Let me switch back for a while… I miss my boobs and hips. I'm keeping the ears for now, I like the ears they are fun… when I dont hit them on door frames.” I whispered then concentrated on my skill and while in private I looked like Nicole again.

“That’s better…” I said to myself.

“I was hesitant at first seeing you go full Bun but it suits you quite well.” Turnip said.

“Wait, your skill changes your voice too?” Root asked, noticing the slight shift and resonance and tone.

“I mean it could but I just used my original voice if I am running around as Nick.” I said.

“Right… will get back to that discussion… So you said something about a Crossbow?” Root asked.

“Yeah it was a custom build from about a year ago the smith said… the problem was the price was 60 Gold galleons… which I'm guessing is a lot.” I said quietly.

“WHY WOULD YOU WASTE THAT MUCH COIN ON A CROSSBOW.” Root whisper shouted at me.

“Two fold, first it used aluminum in its construction. Second, it was of a modern design from my world.” I said.

That caused Root to pause.

“Yeah… that very likely means that another Riftwalker has been running around for at least a year now. Who knows maybe they died shortly before I was selected or they could still be running around… It's too much to speculate on but if they could come up with this design then they are at least as smart as I am.” I said.

“Wait, there could be another Riftwalker that also knows about computers and other technology as well?” Iser asked excitedly.

“Maybe…” I said.

“Alright… so you purchased a 60 gold gallion crossbow… that is effectively from your world… where did you get the money?” Turnip asked.

“Sold the Aluminum hammer… but could have been worth as much as 200 gold galleons.” I said a bit sheepishly.

“Ah… and Orlo thought that was a poor investment… because of course they did…” Root said.

“Honestly as soon as I saw the design… well I doubt aluminum will hold the price you guys originally said.” I added.

“That's actually a fair point… you might have just gotten away with a steal then if that pans out.” Root said.

“Oh also odds and ends are included in that order so let me know if we need any well… odds or ends… Now let me ping Lluvia so she can watch my back while I work on some runes and glyphs with the blacksmith… then ‘date night’...” I said the last part sarcastically.