Running errands is something Gino has done a multitude of times for the Vultures. Granted, most of those errands involved going to places and stealing something. Now though? Now he needs to spend money to buy an item and deliver it. Specifically a rapier.

He knows what a rapier is on account of growing up in Gladius. The problem though is that it’s not a popular weapon by [Gladiators], thus finding one is difficult. A smithy could make one for a price, and a weapons dealer could procure one- but actually having one on hand is unlikely. Instead, Gino rushes to a man known for having nearly everything on hand.

“Orman!” Gino rushes inside the man's store. I need a rapier!

Orman immediately grimaces at his presence. “Get the fuck out of my sight.”

“It’s important!”

“Yea? So is seeing Julias smile- which I doubt I’ll ever see again no thanks to you.”

“Please! It’s an emergency. I have coin!”

“Yeah, but no sister!” He counters, not even deigning to look at the kid.

“Orman, I’m trying to make it right. I’ve joined the [Gladiator] tournament and I plan to win enough to buy her freedom.”

This time Orman looks at Gino with a glare. “And what? You want to learn to fight with a rapier? You think training with a stabbing stick is going to let you win against hardened fighters?”

“I-I I’m going to win, Orman. I swear I’m going to set her free.”

“Or die trying.” Orman snarls.

“Yeah,” Gino looks Orman in the eyes. “Or die trying.”

Orman shakes his head.

Gino sighs. “Fine. Just tell me if there's anyone else I can buy a rapier from.”

“Shut up, kid.”

“Look, I nee-”

“Shut up and wait.”

Orman leaves into a backroom and places a dusty, embroidered rapier on the counter. “Take it and don’t fucking return unless its with Julia.”

“How much.”

“Just take it!” Orman pushes the weapon into his hands. “You either get her back or you die, you got it!”

Gino feels the cold steel of the weapon in his hand for a moment. He matches eyes with Orman, and then slowly nods.

“I’ll have her back.”

He turns and rushes out of the store. Orman watches him leave with a sad smile on his face. Internally, the old man hopes that the kid at the very least survives.

____________________________________________________________

Just before the fight is about to begin, Gino arrives with the weapon in hand. He immediately notices the tall blonde woman as she turns to enter the arena. “Stop! I need to give you something.”

The woman halts her steps and turns towards him, as does a Phytonid, Gemma, and a masked [Mage].

“Quasi wants me to give you this.” He extends the rapier to the woman.

The woman frowns and blinks. She grabs the weapon and frowns. She retrieves a handkerchief from a pocket and wipes the dust off. She does a practice lounge, and then nods. “This is well made.” She comments.

“Good runes too.” The Gemma points at what seemed like engravings to Gino are actually runes.

The woman fingers the runes. Then she looks at Gino. “I thank you for this delivery.”

“Oh, uh.” Gino kneels down and pulls out his own dagger. He used to have a runed one, but that was taken away once he was captured. “He also said to give you this- though I need it back after.”

The woman accepts the dagger and flicks it across her hand. “Good weight. Not a stiletto, but the guard will serve well as one. Have you anything else?”

Gino shakes his head. “No. That’s all he told me to give you.”

“Good.” She turns around and starts walking into the arena.

While she does, Gino rushes away to rejoin Quasi at the vantage for a better view.

____________________________________________________________________

By the time he arrives, the duel is about to begin.

“Looks like you delivered it to Irmgard on time. Good job,” Quasi says with a grin.

“Thank you. Umm,” Gino glances about, “Where is the other guy?”

“Cillian? He went to check the bets. Apparently everyone is betting on that Gorbichon guy to win.”

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Gino tilts over the railing to look at the impending fight. “The Lions gang tend to win more often than not. He’s also against women, who are weaker than men.”

Quasi chuckles. “If they want to underestimate her, go ahead.”

“You think she’ll win?” Gino asks.

“Just watch. The fight’s beginning.”

Gino watches Irmgard take a stance with a rapier extended and dagger at the ready. Gorbichon does something similar where he has both axes armed alongside a lower stance. He’d seen the stance before in [Barbarians]. They are aggressive, fast, and are good at overwhelming foes.

The sound of a bell dings to start the fight. Gorbichon rushes towards Irmgard, but the woman waits. As he gets close, she stabs forward while stepping back. He tries to parry the weapon to the side, but it’s already being pulled back. She straps again with such speed that Gorbichon tries to lean to the side. The blade misses, only for it to retract and attack again. He parries again, but the Rapier is fast and efficient, recovering immediately to attack again. Gorbichon is, to his surprise, forced back while the woman pushes forward with stabs. Her distance is kept outside his own but inside her longer weapon.

While the battle continues, her dagger has yet to move. Everything is done by footwork and single-hand stabs.

Realizing that he’s losing. Gorbichon rolls away and then pounces forward. One axe parries the rapier, the other goes for the kill.

It is here where the dagger moves, latching onto the second axe and tilting and twisting it around. At the same time, she hops in the same direction of the swipe and takes the opportunity to stab his thigh. Before he can react, she hops away and creates the distance again- only to re engage her assault. With the injury to his this, his footing slows and dodging grows more and more difficult. Her stabs start to find flesh- first light, but they soon grow deeper as his movement slows from the loss of blood. Eventually, he trips and Irmgards rapier stops at his throat, signaling her win.

“YYYEAAAHHHHHH-,” Gino screams and then sputters as he finds himself to be the only one. He glances about at the audience, only to find them glaring at him. “What?”

Cillian chuckles next to Gino, frightening the young man. He’d not heard the short man return with how engrossed he was in the fight. “Everyone expected Irmgard to lose. They put money on him winning and now they lost a good helping of coin.”

When Gino looks at the audience again, he can feel a great deal of enmity from their gazes.

Quasi hops aboard Gino’s shoulder. “Lets go congratulate the winner. Cillian, collect the winnings and put it on Boriss.”

“Will do.”

Leaving Cillian, Gino makes his way to where Quasi’s crew is located. Now, without the rush of trying to get the rapier to the woman, he can now truly appreciate the diversity and uniqueness of Quasi’s crew. He’s got a Gemma, a Phytonid that looks like she could be an Insectoid, a masked [Mage], and the tall blond human woman who looks like she should instead be the [Captain]. On top of that, he’s already met Boriss- who took out someone twice his level. And finally Cillian, a short plump man that just put a massive target on his back with his gambling.

“Irmgard, a bit slow for my preference, but good fight nonetheless.” Quasi says with a grin.

The woman turns to the Cat. “I prefer to avoid needless risks to expedite combat.”

“I don’t take risks!” Quasi exclaims.

Every member of Quasi’s crew looks at the cat, seemingly thinking the same thing.

“They’re tactically sound plans that just so happen to be risky,” He says nervously. “Anyway, how's the Rapier?”

With her handkerchief, she wipes the weapon down slowly and with utmost respect. “Exceptional, though not required. The cutlass alone would have been adequate enough to beat my opponent.”

“But riskier.” Quasi adds with a grin.

“Correct.” She assuages.

“Where’d you get it?” Emma asks. “The Runes are quite potent.”

“Runes?” Quasi asks. He focuses on the rapier for a moment.

Name

Rapier of Stabbing

Rarity

Exceptional - 8 Runes.

* 1(1-Durability)

* 1(1-lightweight)

* 1(6-Greater Piercing)

Description

This Rapier is +30% more durable, +30% lighter in weight, and has +300% Penetration.

Sustain

0.20% Mana regeneration per minute.

“Oh damn. That’s nice. Very nice, actually.” Quasi says, then frowns as he looks at Gino. “Where the hell did you get the rapier from and how much did it cost?”

Gino looks down. “I was given it for free to practice with.”

“I see. Do you want it back for the tournament?” Quasi asks.

Gino shakes his head. “I can’t use it for the tournament and after looking at how Irmgard fights, I don’t think I have the time to learn before tomorrow. I do want my dagger back, though.”

Irmgard reaches into her coat and retrieves the dagger. She hands it to the kid, who quickly sheathes it into a sheathe hidden in his leg.

Just then, Cillian returns with a grin on his face. “[Captain], the bet has been set for the first round- though Boriss is going to need to take out at least five combatants otherwise we will actually lose money.”

“Five? Lose? What are you talking about? Doesn’t he have to win all the rounds?” Quasi asks.

“The first round of the tournament is a free for all to reduce the number of fighters to a more manageable level.” Gino explains.

Quasi blinks. “Oh. That makes sense. How many fighters for the first round? Actually, describe the first round and all its rules. I was under the impression these were going to be one versus ones.”

Gino nods. “The first round is generally two-hundred fighters enter and only fifty leave. No armor and weapons are allowed to be taken with you except for whatever you find on the battlefield. After the first five minutes, water will be introduced into the arena from the outside to force the arena to become smaller. If your body touches the water, you are immediately disqualified. Once fifty fighters are left, a horn will sound and those remaining will be allowed into round two.”

Quasi nods slowly. “Simple enough, though I need to go warn Boriss and tell him he needs to take out at least five of the other fighters.“

The cat hops off Gino’s shoulder and then lands on the Phytonid. “Aight. If we’re done here, let's head out. Gino, stay safe and thanks for being a good mount. It was fun and I wish you luck in the tournament and I hope you buy your sister's freedom. If the Flamingos give you a hard time, find me at my ship, the Timbergrove. I’ll make sure they comply with their promises.”

Just as the group begins to head out, Gino remembers the weight on his hip. For a moment, he debates about staying silent about it, but immediately decides against it. Quasi opened a way for him to save his sister. Going against that just doesn't feel right.”

“Quasi, wait,” He calls. He reaches for the pouch at his hip. “I need to gi-”

“Keep it.” Quasi interrupts Gino. “And thanks for the rapier.” The cat grins, waves a paw, and then the group leaves.

Gino glances at the bag filled with hundreds of trist for a moment. He then glances once more at the backs of Quasi and his crew before rushing off to make bets with his newfound wealth.