Atlantis

Apollo Keating

I have been to places like Miami, Los Angeles, New York, and even New Orleans during Mardi Gras. But none of it came close to preparing me for Atlantis. The city was at a constant roar, fireworks in the air from magic, the streets filled with people purchasing goods, and children running around playing. It was honestly a little chaotic seeing as I had lived in a village a tenth of the size compared to this. It felt like Carnaval de Rio except nonstop.

I was now almost ten years old and we had been here for a year. My father had got a new job working directly under the Thorne family. They were his employers before paying him to go into dungeons and collect magic items. They had always been good to us and even gave us a place on their estate property. They put him up as a security guard at one of their auction houses, though I know he misses being in the field.

“Hey, what do you want to do today sunny.” This comment came from my current teacher/supervisor Ruby Saliton. She is also a close family friend and my dad's partner when they went to the dungeons.

“I told you not to call me that anymore, it’s annoying.”

“It isn’t my fault your parents decided to name you after a literal sun god.” It was a shock to me to learn that they used to believe in the Greek gods here, though some things are a bit different.

“My mom told me it’s a handsome name thank you very much.”

“You sucked on her tit when you were a baby you are obligated to go with whatever she tells you.”

“I would appreciate it if you didn’t speak about my mother's breasts, thank you.”

“To this day it still disturbs me that you talk so… adult-like. I really don’t understand it.”

“Feeble minds do have a hard time understanding complex things such as this.”

“Blahhhh, I think you just made my stomach do a summersault and gave me goosebumps at the same time.”

“Whatever, can we go to the swordsmith today?”

“What for?”

“I would like to purchase a new weapon for training.”

“You don’t like the sword I gave you?”

“Well it is just a training weapon, and I don’t particularly like swords.” What she doesn’t know is in my previous life I was well adept at using knives and daggers. Along with that many of the metals here are the same as in my previous life so I know what to get it made out of. For cheap in this life that is.

“Alrighty Mr. Barbellows Smithing, good enough?”

“For how much I have, yes it is.”

“You don’t need to pay for it, it’s already covered.”

“How, I haven…”

“Mr. Thorne told me that the day you want a real weapon, he’ll cover it for you.”

“Why would he?”

“Just shut up and accept the kind gesture you little shit. You know you talk too much like an adult, and you think too much like one.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Great, now you're going and making me feel bad, just get in.”

“If he said he would cover it, does that mean the price doesn’t matter?” A grin crept across her face.

“He never gave specifics on a price so I suppose it should be fine.” As if in response a grin crept across my face. We entered the shop and like any other weapon shop it had rows of swords, spears, axes, maces, shields, and other weapons. I tried to look for what I was wanting however the weapons here were mostly created for adults.

“Well well if it isn’t my favorite killer Mrs. Saliton!”

“Don’t call me that, you know I only kill creatures of the dark.” Creatures of the dark are what they call all the things in the dungeons and badlands. There are a few that are new to me but most seem to be a blend of animals from my world. The most cliche I have learned of is a Liger. We had something like that in a zoo on Earth but this one took the cake on the name.

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“Ahh, I’m so sorry my dear, what is it you have come in for today?”

“Don’t ask me, ask the kiddo.”

“So you are here for your first real weapon?”

“Something like that, I would like two daggers with elven wood handles.”

“Elven wood huh, that isn’t the strongest material I have you know, I also got…”

“That’s fine, it is still in the top ranks of strength and durability. However, what sets it apart is how light it is and easy to maneuver. And on top of that it is one of the three kinds of wood and five weapon materials that can absorb aether constantly without you having to imbue it into it.”

“Mrs. Saliton, what kind of scary creature did you bring me? No child should know all this information at only a mere, what, twelve?”

“I’m currently nine, but I will be ten in a week.”

He looked back and forth between me and her then finally spoke to her. “Is he the son of a demon?”

“No, he is not the son of a demon, he's just overly intelligent for his age.”

“Overly?”

“Yes, we should be enjoying our day right now shopping. We could even go check out cute girls for you.”

“That sounds very unproductive.”

“Yea, maybe he is a demon spawn sorry.”

“No worries I will help demon spawn, elf, dwarf, even orc. I will make sure he is set up perfectly, for the right price of course.” He cackled at that as if he made the joke of a lifetime.

“Alright haha let’s cut to the most important part of this.” I held a blade in my hand and flipped it a few times before setting it back down.

“And what is that payment?” He laughed again. “You know elven wood, though it isn’t the most pricy, it is also not cheap.”

“That’s okay you can put it under Mr. Thorne's tab, per his request,” Ruby spoke for me this time.

“Hm, I see, this is the young genius that Mr. Thorne has told me so much about huh? You know, boy genius, you and your sister are big talks around this city, enough to make some jealous. But anyways, what metal would you like? Pure iron, chromium, Iphlum (I-ful-um), or even mithril.”

I gave a wide smile, in my previous life I would have asked for Tungsten. Even in this world tungsten was one of the strongest metals, but it was normally too expensive for me to purchase. That being said on this Earth, though it was strong it was nowhere near the best. And as I saw it I now had a sponsor for my future endeavors so, I decided to splurge. “I want Dwarven Flamite (A-fla-mite), preferably pure.

Both looked at each other, dumbfounded that a kid asked for this.

“You know boy, that is the most expensive metal, it is created from the scales of a dragon and forged in the fires of a phoenix. It is extremely hard to…”

“I don’t remember asking for details I already knew Mr. Barbellow. I know what it is made out of and how rare it is, that is why I asked you to forge me two daggers with it. Also, I know I am short due to my age so can you please make it for someone within the range of five seven to six feet tall?”

“Why those heights? If you uh don’t mind me asking?”

“My mother is five-seven, and my father is five-eleven, so I figured I will be in between those heights or maybe just above. Worst case scenario if I am not then you’ll get me for more business right?” This made him laugh.

“You make a solid point boy, you have a good knack for business. Would you like to come to work for me instead?”

“Thank you for the offer sir, but no. I plan to be like my sister when I am older. I want to go to the Knight's Academy and fix what is wrong with this country from the inside.”

“Big aspirations for such a small boy.”

“Did you think someone who speaks like me would have small ideas?”

He laughed again, “Ha I suppose not, just promise me one thing. My daughter is your age and will most likely attend the academy I believe you plan on attending. Promise me you will be friends with her.”

“I promise sir.”

“Great! Then I will even give Mr. Thorne a discount for supporting such a wonderful young man!”

“Are you sure it isn’t because he is your sponsor and owns part of your business?” She stood off in the corner chuckling as she felt out one of his swords.

“Well, small differences, who cares. I will have his blades done in the next few weeks I promise.” With that, he made off into the back to begin working.

“Well that’s it for now shall we go?” Ruby made for the door.

“Yea, that’s all I needed.” I proceeded to follow her out of the room. However, on my way out I noticed something. A shimmering object in a case of sorts caught my eye. “Hold on, what’s that.” I made my way to the case, in awe at what I saw.

“That is a necklace made from a Forest Golem, it is used to lower the potency of fire attack magic.”

“I thought most Earth magic is useless against fire though?”

“It is, which is why an enchanted object manipulated to fight against is so useful. It has been enchanted to fight fire magic, however, since it is Earth it can still ward off water spells. Being so as you can guess it can also go against those spells' refined magics.”

“I see. Mr. Barbellow!” I shouted at the top of my lungs. After some clanking and sounds of falling metal, the older man appeared.

“Yes boy, what is it?”

“I would like to purchase this as well right now.” He sold it to me without a second thought. I wish in my previous life they had objects like this for stopping bullets, would have made things go much better.

We left the shop back into the busy streets of Atlantis. “So kiddo, you ready to show me how far your magic has come since we faced off last month?”

“Let's do it.”