The heat was growing; sweltering and he felt sweat on his back and chest. But that just drove him on, he knew he was headed in the right direction. He heard the hammering next and that alone made him smile the forges sang with metal and the anvils rang like entrance bells.
He walked into the busiest forge and found a burly dwarf as broad as Frae but much greyer in the beard.
“How can I help you son?” the dwarf said, the words had stumped him. nobody called him son, but he was shocked that someone so much shorter than him could say it to him.
“Hi, I am looking to sell some weapons I found.” The dwarf rumbled a response, but Jazmel didn’t hear it inside his muffled beard.
“Show me what you got then!” he said much louder, and Jazmel reached into his ring and pulled out the hobgoblins sabre and the dwarf whistled.
“that was made very well, goblin right?” he whistled, Jazmel handed it over and he took it squinting down the length and perceiving the straight edge. Jazmel confirmed it and he placed it on a bench and looked at Jazmel waiting for the next one. Jazmel pulled out the demonic cleaver and the dwarf hissed.
“I hate cursed items.” He placed it on the bench and then shook his hand as if it had been burnt. Jazmel showed him the unnamed short sword and the dwarf eyed it and after checking the balance he placed it beside the others.
“That everything?” Jazmel nodded; he didn’t have anything else he wanted to currently share.
“I will take the lot for 50 platinum coins and not a penny more!” he grumbled, and Jazmel took it, he didn’t have a good idea of what they would cost but he was simply happy to earn so much. The dwarf gave him a slip and when Jazmel placed it in his ring, the coins appeared immediately. That was new, he thought to himself.
“Now, where can I buy swords?” Jazmel asked, the dwarf eyed Nozarashi and Yoru no Tsubasa at his side and then jerked with his head to a shop front across the way. Jazmel thanked him but he had already turned back to start perusing the weapons he had just bought.
Jazmel crossed the walkway and entered the shopfront, looking to see if he could find a sword good enough for him to continue into the labyrinth for.
He stepped into the shop, and he felt the ambient Mana cooler than outside right next to the forges. He looked at the door and saw that Mana stones had been built into the frame and he could see wards were pooling cold air into the shop.
“The air keeps it cool in here, so customers can stay looking and shopping for longer.” A voice in the back laughed and Jazmel looked up to see an older dwarf sitting in a lounge chair watching him. he was old, his beard wasn’t even grey; it was silvery white, and Jazmel wondered how old he might be.
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“I am looking to buy a sword.” Jazmel asked and the man motioned to the racks.
“Have a look and see what you fancy.” He offered and Jazmel did just that, he looked through the rows and racks. But Jazmel couldn’t see anything that great, one of them was strong but it was tier I and he couldn’t see that it was any greater than Nozarashi Jazmel looked around, his eyes reading the Mana from all the swords that were in the racks. But he saw nothing that he liked.
“Nothing suits you?” the dwarf said, and Jazmel turned to notice he had moved from the lounge chair and approached him.
“All I have hear are Seeker and Ranker tier, I cannot share master tier with you just yet. The system will not allow it.” the wizened dwarf uttered, but then Jazmel felt a little defeated and was worried about moving forward.
He then turned to leave after thanking the dwarf, who coughed and drew Jazmel ’s attention.
“I have one sword that you might be able to work.” Jazmel looked at him and then gestured to show him.
“This sword is temperamental. I do not show it to everyone.” He uttered and pulled from the very personal ring he had on his thumb.
The sword was fierce, that’s the feeling Jazmel got from the sword. the dwarf barked a laugh and watched Jazmel intently.
“You feel that?” he said, and Jazmel wondered what he was feeling.
“They say the roar of a dragon was trapped in the sword and that’s why it’s so strong. Its only tier II but the sword is unruly.” The dwarven owner said and slowly handed the sword over to Jazmel .
The sheath was sky grey, dull, and metallic but when he grabbed hold of it, he could tell it was simple leather, soft but not supple. Jazmel was surprised how calm the sword felt in the sheath. He could feel the strength of the sword, but he wouldn’t know how strong it would be until he drew it.
“Take it and try your mettle.” The dwarf said and Jazmel pulled it free.
He felt the strength of the blade immediately. In his mind the dragon roared; bellowed deeply into his mind and he struggled under its will.
SONG OF THE DRAGON IS BATTLING THE WILL OF THE SWORD OF DRAGON MOVEMENT!
WILLS ARE CLASHING!
Jazmel struggled as this battle occurred in his mind and he winced in pain, the sounds bounced around his mind, and he felt it tearing. Struggling under the pressure he was reeling, and he felt himself fall in the store but not when he tried to grab onto anything.
But Jazmel struggled and then he felt as the song quelled the roaring, the wailing of the dragon.
DING!
YOU HAVE QUELLED THE WILL OF THE SWORD!
THE SPIRIT HAS RESTED ITS QUARREL
…
TIER II SWORD DAISHINKAN THE GREAT MOVING DRAGON HAS BEEN EARNED
…
Jazmel took the sword and before slipping it into his belt, he turned to the dwarf and asked immediately.
“How much?” the dwarf smiled.
“11 platinum coins, the spirit alone is stronger than the tier.” He said and in truth Jazmel agreed with him regarding the strength of the sword. He handed over the coins and putting Nozarashi away and beside Yoru No Tsubasa in his ring, he placed Daishinkan into his belt and after thanking the owner, he made his way back out and headed away from the forges.