Kaelem had been surprised by the sudden knock at his door; he quickly stood up and went to investigate. He hadn’t been expecting anyone today. He opened the door to find Olrik and Annara standing there, both smiling warmly at him. Olrik leaned against the door frame, his arms crossed, while Annara stood next to him with a twinkle of excitement in her eyes.
“Good afternoon!” Olrik greeted him, his voice boisterous and full of life after having rested. “Hope you’re ready for a little adventure, we’ve got something for you.”
“What are you talking about?” Kaelem asked, confused as he stepped aside to let them in. Noticing a small pouch that Olrik had in his hand.
“It’s payday, your cut of the job.” Olrik said, shaking the pouch to make the coins inside jingle. “Your first reward as a mercenary!”
Kaelem’s eyes widened as he took the pouch, feeling the weight of the coins. “Wow, thanks - honestly I wasn’t expecting anything-”
“Of course you were!” Annara interrupted him, bubbling with enthusiasm. “You’ve earned it, which means it’s time to get you out of those rags!”
“And to find you a weapon of your own.” Olrik butted in, noting that until now Kaelem hadn’t been carrying a weapon with him.
Kaelem’s face revealed his fluster. “I don’t know about that, I have everything I need-”
“Utter nonsense!” Olrik exclaimed, slapping him on the shoulder. “The world will turn to ruin, if the apprentice of the Ice King continues to walk around like a beggar.” He gestured at Kaelem’s outfit, a simple white cotton shirt and suspenders holding up his trousers. “You need something to reflect your status as a wizard in training and a silver rank mercenary!”
“Come on, let us take you shopping.” Annara said, practically begging as she clapped her hands together. “I know just the place for some new clothes and Olrik can help you pick out a weapon.”
Before Kaelem could protest any further, Olrik grabbed his arm and led him towards the door. “We’re wasting daylight, let’s go!”
The trio made their way through the busy streets of Lordstone, merchant stalls littered with a variety of wares as they called out to potential buyers. Colorful banners flitting overhead and the scent of freshly baked bread filled the air from a nearby bakery.
Annara led them to a quiet little shop, adorned with colorful fabrics hanging in the window. “This is the place!” she announced, Annara had been walking with an excited bounce in her step. “This is where we took Vex to get her new robes.”
Kaelem hesitated at the entrance. “Are we sure I need new clothes? My scarf is nice…”
Olrik rolled his eyes and pushed him towards the doorway. “Yes, but you can’t just wear a scarf and expect to look like a proper adventurer.”
“Trust the process, Kae!” Annara said, linking arms with him and walking into the shop. “You’re going to look amazing, promise!”
Inside, the shopkeeper was a kind elderly woman, with bright eyes and a welcoming smile. “Hello dears, looking for anything special today?”
The shopkeeper took a moment to examine them, settling on Kaelem as if to say he stood out against the other two. Annara nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, my friend here is in desperate need of some new clothes”
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Kaelem felt out of place, shifting his weight from foot to foot as he avoided eye contact, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment. The elderly shopkeeper approached him, her hands clasped in front of her. “What are we looking for my dear? Something elegant, or more practical?”
Kaelem looked at Annara for an answer, but she had already started scanning the racks. “Um.. I don’t know, practical I guess?”
“Excellent, let’s have a look then shall we?” she said, leading him to a section of robes and tunics. After browsing through them, Annara came around the corner with a striking green robe that sparkled in the light.
“What do you think of this Kae?” she asked, her eyes still glistening with excitement. “Perfect for a wizard in training!”
Kaelem gave the robe a once over before shaking his head, “That’s definitely more you than it is me.” he said with some conviction. If he was going to upgrade his wardrobe, bright green wasn’t his first choice.
“What about this dear?” the shopkeeper said, noting that Annara had shown him a robe. The shopkeeper had gone for something a bit more muted, a smart yet casual cerulean blue robe. There was no glitz or glamor, it was simple yet faceted in the way the robe was layered in certain sections.
Kaelem took the robe in his hands, the fabric soft to the touch. It was lightweight and layered at the shoulders and beneath the waistline. “It’s… nice,” he said.
“Try it on then!” Annara urged, pushing him towards the changing room. After a moment’s hesitation he stepped inside and slipped it on. The robe felt different - empowering; he felt like a real wizard. He stepped out to face his friends, both grinning with approval.
“Look at you!” Olrik exclaimed with a broad smile. “You look the part now!”
Kaelem felt his cheeks flushing from the attention. “Thanks,” he responded sheepishly.
“Now you just need a weapon!” Olrik declared, clapping Kaelem’s back. “Let’s go find your new best friend.”
The three of them left the shop after some minor size alterations, Kaelem paying for the robe with a small fraction of his earnings from the goblin mine. He felt somewhat lighter and more comfortable, the robe billowing gently in the breeze.
They made their way to what Olrik called his favorite shop, a sturdy looking building with an assortment of blades and bows in the window. Smoke billowing above it from the back where the forge undoubtedly was.
Once inside they were hit by the heat from the forge at the back of the building, the smell of metal filling their lungs and the sound of a hammer clanking away. A burly man wearing an apron with a beard that rivaled Olrik’s was busy poshing a sword. He looked up as they entered, an expression of annoyance shifting suddenly as he saw Olrik.
“Well, well. Look what the cat dragged in.” he said, wiping his hands on his apron as he smirked.
Olrik pointed at his beard before replying, “Is that another gray hair you’ve got there brother?”
The two of them let out a thunderous laugh, if there was any doubt before, it was clear as day now. The two of them were siblings.
After some brief catching up, Olrik sought his brother’s advice. “We’re here to find our newbie his first weapon. He’s just started his journey as a mage, so we want to make sure he’s prepared for anything.”
“Right then.” he replied, assessing Kaelem curiously. “What are we after? A staff? A dagger?”
Kaelem felt a wave of uncertainty, he was unfamiliar with weapons. “I’ve never really used a weapon before…”
Olrik grinned, nudging him. “Everyone’s gotta start somewhere lad, how about a staff? Can’t go wrong with a staff.”
Kaelem nodded hesitantly, the blacksmith led them to a display of staves. Each unique in their craftsmanship, some tailored to specific elements with flames engraved into them, others had swirls like water.
“Let's have a look…” he said, running his hand over different staves. Kaelem wasn’t sure what his criteria was, but Olrik’s brother appeared to be looking for something in particular.
“Here it is,” he said, pulling out an usual staff that had been tucked away out of sight. “Perfect for a beginner, but it’s got a bite to it as well, so nobody will know while you’re keeping yourself safe.”
The staff he chose was certainly unique. The body of the staff was made with a strong dark wood, wrapped in a black fabric that made it comfortable to wield. However at the top of the staff sat a jagged blade, that smoothed out into a point. Where the blade and the body of the staff met, there was an empty socket for some kind of focusing element.
Kaelem felt a strange warmth emanating from it, the connection set a thrill through his body. “I’ll take it,” he said dreamily, in awe as he continued to examine the wood and the blade.
“Great choice!” the blacksmith grinned, he took the staff and wrapped it in cloth of Kaelem. “That’ll be 50 silver pieces.”
Kaelem fished the coins out of his pouch, feeling a mixture of excitement and disbelief. He had just spent more money than he had owned in a lifetime, this was his life now.
With the staff tucked securely under his arm and the robe draping comfortably, they said their goodbyes and headed to the shop door. Feeling as though he had shed the remnants of his old life, Kaelem was ready for whatever was next.
“Oh, and if you find it needs adjusting or you need help with the socket. A friend of Olrik’s is a friend of Branor’s.” Branor said, waving them off cheerfully.
“Thanks guys, you were right. I really did need this.” Kaelem said gratefully, glancing at Annara and Olrik who both grinned back at him.
“Anytime lad!” Olrik boomed. “Now, let’s go celebrate your new look with a pint!”
Olrik led the group off to grab some refreshments from his local watering hole. Where they could drink and grab something to eat. Kaelem followed the pair, a new found sense of determination in his stride.