Ethan enters an old cavern he once used as shelter when Lucian wanted to train his winter survival skills. It is kilometers away from N.E.S.T.'s base, hidden in a dense pine forest devoid of manmade paths. If someone else can use the tunnel he will create between the worlds, he'd rather have them appear away from the base.

Russ swallows the second half of the rabbit he caught before licking his bloodied lips. Instinctively, he lay down at the cave's entrance, watching for anything approaching. With his heightened perception, he may very well have sensed the wolves that inhabit this region.

Summoning the Anchorstone, Ethan moves to the center of the cavern where a depression forms a shallow pit. He looks at the blue crystal and the steel cage that encompasses it. Not seeing any sigil on the steel, he focuses on the crystal and sees Aetherian symbols floating in it. It is as if they were cut into the crystal, forming extensive, three-dimensional arrays.

Anchorstone

Infusing this crystal with Ether will create a teleportation circle that can be used to move to and from a Waystone. Infusing Ether into the teleportation circle will retrieve the Anchorstone. The teleportation circle only makes itself visible in its creator's presence.

'It would be useful to hoard a few more. I could set them up around the worlds; avoid being tracked and checked,' Ethan thinks. He injects Ether into the stone. It levitates out of his hand and floats towards the pit's center. In a flash of vertical blue light, it turns into eccentric circles of Aetherian sigils. They rotate at different speeds, levitating a millimeter above ground.

Curious, Ethan begins to read one of the circles. 'Waystones are hereby defined as points of spatial anchorage to which the user is attu –' He stops as a spark crackles on the circle's surface. 'Sounds like a contract. If I have the time, I should use Kingsreach's academy to learn more about magic.'

'Shadow,' Ethan commands, not wanting the guild to see Russ' new appearance. As the dog vanishes, Ethan steps on the crystal and thinks of Opal City's Waystone. A flash of light takes him, and a second later he hears Aldorian chatters.

Heads turn towards Ethan as the Waystone's guard steps away from his path. The guard's eyes narrow as Ethan descends the steps leading to the stone. He looks up, most likely confused as to why Ethan grew up.

"You have to tell me who your tailor is," Alara says. She takes a sip of coffee from her cup. Ethan's heightened perception tells him it's more pungent than the one he's used to, like a Turkish coffee. She lowers her cup and scans his clothes. He wears a loose, dark-crimson, long-sleeved shirt with laces on the collar. His dark linen pants hide parts of his boots; they are made to look like plain leather but hide all the modern comfort they can.

"It was a gift," Ethan lies. He approaches her counter, shrugging his shoulders. Alara's dress is leagues above his clothes – a blue dress with a corseted bodice whose ample sleeves and silhouette flow with each move. But Ethan can see flaws in the seams, the spots a shade lighter or darker, and the unevenness of the cloth. His larping clothes, made industrially, have none of these flaws. "I don't know where she bought them from."

"Ask her next time, and don't go damaging them; they must cost a fortune," Alara says. She lowers her cup and moves her hand to grab something. She pulls up a letter and holds it towards Ethan. "Here is your correspondence."

"I didn't expect the guild to do that kind of job," Ethan says. He grabs it and inspects the exterior; it is wax-sealed but doesn't bear a crest.

"It happens when someone only knows you by your guild name. Or when the guild itself wants to contact you," Alara explains. She offers a letter opener that Ethan accepts.

'I leave this letter as I depart on a short journey to look for a place to retire in peace. Sylas told me you would ask about his whereabouts; he has been drafted into the guard and sent away to train. Writing where would be illegal. But I can say that it shouldn't take more than two more months for him to come back. Edgar - Hammered Heart Smithy.'

"When was it entrusted to you?" Ethan asks. He moves his jaw, annoyed to have taken the time to print illustrated smithing books.

"A bit over two weeks ago," Alara answers. She tries to glance at the letter, but Ethan closes it down. "Is everything alright?"

"A promising Blacksmith I know got drafted," Ethan answers. He leans on the counter as he thinks about it. 'I should have expected whatever government they have to take interest in his talent. Not telling him to avoid the guard was stupid. But why send him away for training? Did they want to put him out of reach from other parties?'

"I guess this has to do with your last mission," Alara comments. She grabs her stack of mission notices and taps it against her counter to align them. It is noticeably larger than last time. She nods at the mission board. "Is there one that catches your eye?"

"I have business elsewhere," Ethan says. The notices overlap each other on the board. Many are for exterminating small nests on villages' outskirts. He spots Goblins, Kobolds, Stone Mites, varieties of Sporling, spiders, and many more. "It does seem like there is a lot of work."

"Well, winter is coming," Alara begins. "But monsters are even more agitated than usual. I've heard Mages saying something in the Ether woke them up. And we are the least impacted; Kingsreach's guild says they are overwhelmed by vermin. It's a good thing it didn't affect larger beasts."

Asking if someone could transport him to Kingsreach crosses Ethan's mind. But it would create a trail, and he would have to enter their party, revealing his true name. Ethan tosses the letter into the guild's hearth, destroying it.

"Do you have another Anchorstone available?" Ethan asks.

"Not at the moment," Alara answers. "They are quite rare, you know? But if you can pay in advance, I could have one brought here. It might take a while depending on where it comes from."

While Ethan has twice the required amount, he won't lock that money for something he could buy elsewhere. He answers, "That won't be necessary. Have a good day."

"You too," Alara answers as he leaves the building.

Ethan crosses the major street where the adventurer guild stands to enter the alleyways. In need of a new coat and less attention-grabbing clothes, he pushes the door to his Armorer.

"What can I do for you, sir?" Aldwin asks, his back turned as he dresses a mannequin with a breastplate.

"I'm afraid I ruined the last coat you made me; I'm in need of a new one," Ethan says. He summons the remnants of the Shade Drake coat and places them down on the counter.

Aldwin turns around, his eyes narrowing as he's forced to look up. He grabs what's left of the coat, examining the cut sleeves and holes. "Unless you want me to turn it sleeveless, I don't have the material to repair that."

"I was thinking of something new anyway," Ethan begins. He places his hand over the counter and summons the Great Skullgor's bone plates. "These are extremely light, and yet I couldn't pierce through them."

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Aldwin takes one and identifies it, a window appearing before him. "It's great stuff, but I don't have the tools to work it. Unless you have a better weapon than when you killed that beast."

Ethan extends his hand and summons Phantom Reaver. "As a matter of fact, I do."

Aldwin takes the blade from Ethan's hand as he offers it. Its edge cuts through the bone plate when pressed with great force. He says. "I have a few good leathers in the shop; nothing as discrete as before but sturdier. Do you have a budget in mind?"

"What do you have?" Ethan asks. He has a larger budget than before, and he hasn't seen Cole yet, but he won't risk being lied to about the price.

Aldwin guides Ethan to the store's back and unlocks his large wooden chest. He pulls out two rolled-up leathers and one pelt. He unfolds them one at a time, placing them on tables for Ethan to see. They all hold Ether, disturbing the threads that hit them. Aldwin lists, "For …two golds I have that blue Hydra leather. For three, the grey Griffin leather. And for four, the Yeti pelt, this one will do well with the white bones."

"I would need them to be dyed, if possible," Ethan says. He glances around the shop. His budget would allow him far greater material, but going to another shop is a risk. He has to limit the number of people he interacts with. "Anything better?"

"I can ask around, but that will take some time," Aldwin says. "Every time I hear about a great piece, it's snatched by the regent or a noble. Next time you hunt a beast like that Great Skullgor, you should skin it. It will make you extra coins, and you'll have better material to work with that way."

"I'll remember that," Ethan says. He approaches the options and passes his hand on them. His journey might be a long one, and with winter approaching, he should take something warm. "I'd like to use the pelt. Can you dye it black?"

"That won't hold, but I can use the fur as an inside layer and cover it with black cloth," Aldwin proposes. He rolls up the other two options and stashes them away. "I can make a full set like last time with how much I have. Should I plan for a margin? In case you grow even taller."

"Do that for the whole set; one of my abilities can inflate my muscles, and I don't want to tear it," Ethan answers. That purchase dealt with, Ethan realizes he needs to find someone who can tell him how to use the Deathvein crystals. "I'll leave you to it. When can I come retrieve your work?"

"Oh no, you stay here. Not only do I have to take your measurements again, but you are also going to help me sculpt those bone plates. You adventurers need to understand we aren't all as strong as you. Those bone plates are rock solid for my hands," Aldwin says. He retrieves a small box from a workbench and opens it to give Ethan a gimlet. "Take that; I'll show you how they need to be cut and where to dig the holes. And don't go lose that tool; it's worth more than you can imagine."

Sat in the workshop, Phantom Reaver secured to a bench vice, Ethan sculpts small bone scales half a centimeter thick. He drills three holes in each finished piece, two at the top, one at the bottom. While it demands the use of inhuman strength, the small tool he uses doesn't bend or deform against the bones. 'Identification,' Ethan thinks.

Gimlet

A gimlet made of Ether-dense iron.

This tool has been enchanted with [Durability (A)].

'That's the first A-ranked enchantment I see. I wonder how much it costs,' Ethan ponders. He gives the finished piece to Aldwin and moves on to the next one. Thankfully, the Skullgor's bone plates are full and not hollow, allowing them to be cut into smaller chunks.

"Crafting (Armor) leveled up," the system announces.

Aldwin sews the bone scale to a layer of chainmail he attached to the patterned pelt. Ethan hands Aldwin the last piece he needs for the coat; he binds it in place. Attaching a second layer of the pelt, Aldwin forms the final material of layered leather, fur, bone scales, chain mail, fur, and leather. It is thinner than Ethan expected when Aldwin exposed his plan.

The last piece of his pattern finished, Aldwin sews the edges to form the coat. He does so thrice, beginning by binding the chainmail's links together and then sewing both layers of pelt. To finish up, Aldwin uses a black cloth to cover the raw, inner leather that makes the coat's surface. To avoid any ripples, he sews it into multiple places, forming what would look like decorative seams on another piece. He uses a dark silver thread to create highlights and break the monotone black of the coat.

Aldwin steps back, wiping his hands on his apron. It leaves a bit of blood from his fingers, damaged by the strength he needed to pierce the leather. He gestures to the pieces laid out before him, the pants and shirt already done without the layer of mail and scales. "There you go."

Ethan inspects the coat first. Its blackened exterior perfectly attaches to the long, hooded piece. It is heavier than any coat he ever held, but the chainmail, compressed in the fur, doesn't rattle when shaken. He dons it and bends to the sides, checking the flexibility of the scales. Moving his arms, he tries the articulation of the sleeves and finds it flawless. He comments, "This is impressive for only four hours."

"It wouldn't have been the same deal if I had to make the chainmail myself. Good thing I had chunks in stocks," Aldwin says. "Can you try the rest? I'd like to make the last adjustments fast. We don't have much time left."

'What does he mean by that? He said it as if I was expected to know. Did I arrive for a holiday?' Ethan grabs the pants and shirts and moves to a corner.

"Shy?" Aldwin asks.

'No, but I think you would freak out if you saw modern underwear,' Ethan internally retorts. He changes in a flash and moves back into the workshop. "I have a lot of scars I'm not comfortable with."

"Well, I made it to the perfect size," Aldwin felicitates himself. He tugs on the leeway he left on the back, shoulders, arms, and thighs. "Can you use that ability so we can make sure it fits?"

"Not without alerting the neighborhood," Ethan answers. He would have to draw in tremendous amounts of Ether by the common man's standard.

"When you do, make sure to note where it feels tight. I don't have a lot of margins anywhere, but I could still do a few modifications," Aldwin says. He looks up, hearing something Ethan cannot. He opens his status, revealing he's level ten. "I leveled up; it has been some time since the last one."

"What is your new ability?" Ethan asks as he reads backward through the translucent grey window.

Aldwin Rimhold

Lv.10/20 (Armorer) Human

Strength: 14 Charisma: 10

Dexterity: 14 Perception: 15

Constitution: 14 Willpower: 11

Intelligence: 10

Titles

Bone artisan

Iron artisan

Leather artisan

Steel artisan

Abilities

Blueprint (F)

Identification (E)

Patch (E)

"Blueprint. I know it's supposed to help me see the patterns of the things I want to create. But with how bad my Ether manipulation is, abilities aren't really useful," Aldwin says. He sighs. "The plus one in dexterity is good, though."

"Too bad," Ethan comments. No matter how much Aldwin has been useful thus far, Ethan will need a better armorer for future equipment. He gives Aldwin ten gold to pay for the clothes and his discretion. 'Perhaps I can find one in Kingsreach. I'll need every edge I can to confront Caelum.'

A resonating bell pulls Ethan out of the resentment he felt at the inner mention of Caelum. Aldwin looks out his window, hearing the same sound. He grabs a coat and says, "Let's go."

'Where?' Ethan ponders. He digs his hands into his new, fur-lined pockets and follows. Aldwin seems to act as if he was bound to go there, his jaw tensing as he exits and closes his shop.

"I just came back from a long journey. What is happening?" Ethan asks. It may sound weird if it is a recurring event, but he could lie, saying he comes from far away.

"I thought you knew, seeing as you didn't ask earlier," Aldwin says, glancing back. "The prince is making his first appearance since the king's death. The regent mandated everyone to be here, or else you'll get arrested. Honestly, I don't know what the bastard is thinking."

'So, the regent is in charge because the prince must be too young to rule. The streets will be deserted, making me easier to spot. And even if I'll be leaving, I shouldn't get a bad reputation as a… rebel.' Ethan thinks. He sees hundreds of people making their way towards the palace, the same annoyed expression on their faces. "That doesn't seem to make a lot of people… happy."

"You must not be from here," Aldwin begins. "The regent has been strangling us with taxes and laws. And he has been saving on everything he could – the guard, the schools, the hospices, the orphanages, even the cleaning of the streets. People are asking where the money goes if you know what I mean."

'That seems evident indeed,' Ethan thinks. They reach the wide, main boulevard leading to the castle. Guards shove people to the sides, making an endless crowd on each side of the boulevard. Ethan scans the faces; he sees annoyance, anger, and tiredness. The only people who seem happy are the children moving around.

A bell resonates from the palace, and its gates open, revealing a parade of guards. A palanquin moves at the center of their formation. They descend the boulevard with deliberate slowness, the guards marching in unison.

After what seemed like an hour, the parade reaches Ethan's section of the city. Opaque drapes cover the palanquin, masking whoever is inside, making Ethan doubt the purpose of such a display. Through the crowd's forced applause, Ethan hears the sound of a tensioning bow. He triggers predator's sight, certain the crowd isn't focused on him, and scans the building.

He catches figures crouched on balconies and behind windows. Some tense bows while others crank the levers of crossbows. To his right side, he spots huddled groups moving through the crowd. Some hold glass vials that catch the light; others rest their hands on the handles of swords and daggers.

'Great,' Ethan laments. He moves his hands out of his pockets, readying himself to dodge. 'Because I have the time for another terrorist attack this year.'