“How was the lesson?” Luna accepted the heavy book with a grunt.
“I learned a lot… by the way, are you able to cast magic without any enchanted tools?” He asked, noticing she wasn’t wearing any rings.
“Yes, I’m a natural.” She flicked her soft silk like hair back in mock condescension, all the while grinning warmly at him. “Did she give you a lecture on how Healing is an endurance exercise as well?”
“Yes, among other things. I never really questioned why ointments were used before all this.”
“Mm, you have to be especially careful about consuming the life force to heal injuries on the elderly, it can often lead to other complications.” She returned the book to her room and came back out with a cape. Clasping it around her shoulders, she started walking towards the stairs, “Did you get your advance? It’s a bit windy today, but let’s go to the pawn store to buy your items.”
***
Exill was like a kid in a toy store while looking around at all the enchanted items. There were swords, armour, jewellery, anything he could possibly need!
Luna smiled at his uncontained excitement and wandered over to the wand section. She had brought him to one of the few pawn stores in Inner City. Adventurers, Mercs, even Nobles would occasionally be pressed for funds and collateralise their most valuable items in exchange for a loan.
Exill had advanced 1,000 Denars from his paycheck, for a total of 1.5k at hand. He circuited the shop floor, shortlisting the most promising items that [Appraise] revealed. They were:
Item Price Enchantment Vampiric Spear 1400 VIT Absorb Wizard Ring 1200 EXP Plus, Magic Plus Training Bracelet 500 EXP Plus Copper Necklace 500 EXP Plus Copper Earring 400 EXP Plus
The [Wizard Ring] was the most attractive of them all. He lacked the Magic required to cast [Heal] and this could help overcome that.
‘If only I could borrow 1,000 more Denars…’ In any other instance, he would have purchased the [Wizard Ring] without a second thought. Except there was only a 2% chance he could unlock magic with the item, and its intricate design made the ring difficult to clean and disinfect. It would need to be removed during treatment and surgery, which defeated the purpose of obtaining it in the first place.
‘I’ve never tried to equipping two enchantments of the same kind like EXP Plus… perhaps I am being optimistic that Magic Plus will also stack.’ There was good reason to be hopeful because it increased his chances of obtaining magic from 2% to 100%. Pursing his lips, he examined the other rings on offer.
Item Price Enchantment Training Ring 500 EXP Plus Lucky Ring 500 Luck Plus Magic Ring 700 Magic Plus Scholar’s Ring 700 Intelligence Plus Shielded Ring 900 Magic Resist Plus
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
Strangely enough, there were no accessories that offered boosts to strength, speed, vitality or even damage resistance – which were arguably more valuable to someone who engaged in close quarters combat. Approaching the Clerk who was protected behind iron grills, he posed the following question: “Excuse me, but do you not have any accessories that increase strength, speed, vitality or damage resistance?”
The Clerk glanced up from the steel breastplate he was burnishing with a woollen cloth, and replied in an offhanded manner, “There’s no accessories that carry those enchantments, and even if there were, you won’t find ‘em here.”
“Why? You seem to carry rings that have every enhancements except for those.”
“I’m no Enchanter so I can’t explain why.” The Clerk sighed, then continued on when it appeared Exill wouldn’t take that for an answer, “I heard some enchantments take a lot of surface area to scribe, so maybe that’s why they aren’t available on rings, necklaces and the like.”
“I see…” It was like his dreams of being overpowered was abruptly doused with cold water. In a small corner of his mind, he had dreamt of equipping ten Strength enhancing rings, with maybe a few Speed enhancing ones thrown on his toes as well. At one point, he hadn’t ruled out the possibility of belly and nipple piercings as well – if it could guarantee his survival in the Labyrinth.
“I will take the bracelet, necklace, and earrings displayed over there.” Exill reluctantly pointed to the items and purchased them. His total EXP multiplier would be x16 factoring in his well-worn boots… x64 if he refused to throw out the ratty enchanted apron and gloves.
‘I’ll stash the Blacksmith’s training gear and use them in the Labyrinth’ he thought to himself.
Luna was oblivious to the fashion terror she had unleashed.
***
Back at the Clinic, Savta and Luna vaunted over Exill, dressed in a clean shirt, brown slacks, and white apron – he looked like the model healer.
“Do you have to wear this earring and necklace, child?” Old Savta tutted while inspecting the cheap copper trinkets. Luna nodded in agreement with her grandmother, she didn’t like them either. It didn’t help that Exill refused to justify what their enchantments were, nor why they had been so expensive.
“Ahem… yes, it is necessary.” He replied, refusing to elaborate further. If they discovered he had spent 1400 Denars on training items, they would likely think him mad. As it was, he would prefer to be judged lacking fashion sense. The two women continued to circle Exill, discussing the length of his hem and how much he was likely to further grow. A polite knocking on the door rang out to them.
“Luna, be a dear and bring the patient in.” Luna stepped out in the main hallway to find a flushed young woman with brown curls near the entryway.
“How can I help you?” the elf maiden asked politely.
“Is the Witchdoctor in? I’m afraid I am injured and in need of his treatment.” The woman played with her curls, obviously on edge. Luna looked her up and down. Apart from the flushed face and a slight stain on her curvaceous breeches, she looked perfectly fine.
“I could show you to Master Savta, she is without a patient at the moment.”
“No!” The woman exclaimed, fanning her face as she blushed harder, “I am hurt, and only the Will-blessed Witchdoctor can heal me!”
No one in the Clinic knew at the time, but Exill’s proclamation had spread fast throughout the lower levels of commoner society. His apprenticeship to Savta, and the fact that he had been blessed by the Will - just like the stories of old – made him one of the most eligible bachelors of Ark. Anyone who married him would be guaranteed status and a stable source of income.
Luna gave the suspicious woman a considerable side-eye but guided her to the surgery room. She returned to Nana and said, “There is a strange woman in the room next door, she looks otherwise unhurt but insists only the Witchdoctor can heal her.”
Exill was only too pleased to end the pageant and smiled while entering the surgery room. Luna stood around the open doorway, prepared to call for help if the patient started acting crazy.
‘My second patient! I must leave a good impression, a model healer!’ Exill sat on the stool facing the patient, his emerald eyes serious as he inspected her. First, he pressed a hand against her flushed forehead, checking her temperature for infection. The lady, who couldn’t be much older than him flinched under his cool touch and blushed even harder. Her coquettish eyelashes would have been cute if her face wasn’t so red.
“Where are you hurt my lady?” he asked while measuring her pulse.
She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out, she instead pointed to her knee where there was a slight stain. Exill paused for a moment, he didn’t know what to do. The breeches clung tight to the curves of her leg and wouldn’t roll up, likewise, he couldn’t imagine peeling the clothes from the waist down. He hesitated briefly before grabbing a pair of shears and made a cut all the way to the knee.
“Kyaah!” The woman peeked through her fingers, unable to face the handsome healer who was passionately ripping her clothes apart. Her heart threatened to burst! The Witchdoctor uncovered the knee and held her leg firm as she continued to squirm under his fierce touch.
‘It’s just a graze…’ Exill stared at the scrape on her knee and understanding dawned when everything clicked together. The first impulse was to kick her out, but something made him stay his hand.
‘If I’m right… I may be able to profit off this for just a little more work.’ He moved his hands to her thigh and held her leg steady as he carefully wiped the scrape clean, attentively dabbing poultice on it and covered it in a bandage. He put on his most winning smile and helped her to her feet.
“Please be careful next time my lady. It was a pleasure to treat you and may the Will assist you in a quick recovery.” He then turned to Luna, who was staring at him with dark, hooded eyes, as if she couldn’t recognise the person who stood in front of her. Exill motioned her to process the payment and swiftly walked away.