Classes can form around any specialization or niche. With the correct number of Skills associated with a particular thing, an entirely new Class might form. For example, a young person who develops [Deep Breathing], [Fast Swimmer], and [Deft Hands] who does nothing save for weaving baskets underwater might indeed form the [Underwater Basket Weaver] Class. Such a case is extreme, but it has happened before.

We have, of course, interviewed him. A Level 36 [Underwater Basket Weaver]. The benefits of such a crafting Class were indeed quite odd. Firstly, and perhaps most obviously, his baskets were waterproof. He was very much a commercial man. His baskets had any number of functions to do with water, from trapping fish, to cultivating small ecosystems in what he called aquariums. 

I bought one.

- The Origins of Classes and Specializations, The Untethered Tomes

They didn't end up getting a ride down, they'd opted to walk.

They were in a small side street leading into a large plaza. A gathering of buildings that spanned a long slope up and down the mountain. Tall buildings at the bottom rose to level with the short ones higher up, bridges connected them and they were strangely sturdy in the wind. It looked like a design flaw but they were unmoving, even packed as they were with people crossing them. Jayke recalled the [Builder] and [Architect] Classes and wondered if he was witnessing a Skill in real-time.

The bird-like people Oz had called the Ava came in a variety of appearances. They were the most numerous here. Some like Bezial had feathers lining their face, talons for feet, and nothing more. Some had beaks like the attendant. Others had a full down of feathers, walking 'naked' in the streets. Jayke hadn't spotted a pair of wings though, everyone had arms.

Short evergreen grass came out in tufts from the cobblestone walkways. The sound of an anvil rang across the plaza. Windchimes - a popular effect in Nubilum - caught the breeze, wooden signs knocking against shop entrances. Open stalls were filled with people peeking in at the wares. Money traded hands, coins moved between palms.

"What did you two need?" Oz asked.

"Equipment. I lost my [Gnarled Rootstaff] and sword. I need some armor too." Jayke answered.

Ercur was looking around. "I don't know yet." She smiled.

Oz sighed. "I myself need some things repaired. My robes are fraying."

Because they were all in the market for basic supplies they hit the general store first. A wooden sign hung from a shop called General Supplies. A bland to name to be sure, but exactly what they were looking for. Jayke had learned that there were a number of non-specialty shops like this one. These general stores would give directions to more specialized crafters and shops if need be. Jayke had stopped at a different one last time.

The door announced their arrival.

"Welcome!" An ava man called from a counter. "Be right here if you have any questions."

Jayke blinked. A collection of items and equipment littered the place in barrels, shelves, counters, and nets. A barrel of swords was in one corner. A crate that seemed to be full of rope. A shelf of potions. A few aisles of miscellaneous things. Shovels, torches, rations. There was a lot more space than what it seemed like from outside.

"Big place for a small shop," Jayke said in surprise.

"My pride and joy. [Expanded Shop]." The ava said. "Makes keeping things in stock much easier."

Oz beelined for something and Ercur wandered around. Jayke copied the latter, glancing around at mundane equipment.

Arrows, backpacks, slings. Nothing was priced and everything was strewn about, no real order to anything other than vague categories.

He wandered over to the swords and plucked some from the barrel. They looked rather plain. Some of them were dull. That turned Jayke off to the idea of buying one from this shop.

There was a small number of other patrons in the shop and he noticed that most tended towards the 'survival' items. Jayke inspected the rations, pulling one from a pile of neatly wrapped and strung up rectangles. The wrapping was a leaf and it was tied together whatever was inside with a thin string.

He tested the weight of the block and held it up to his nose. Someone chuckled nearby. Oz was looking at him amused. "Smell good?"

Ercur peeked over the shelf and chimed in after glancing at his hands. "Elven travel rations." Then she went back to her perusals. She was looking at waterskins.

"You don't smell your food, Oz?" Jayke rose an eyebrow. Oz laughed picking something from the shelf nearby.

Then the shopkeeper appeared. "Well, I can certainly smell a customer." He said smoothly. The ava man was feathered only around his face and arms. He did in fact have a nose. "Your friend was correct. Traditional elven travel rations. From today, they'll last three months if kept wrapped."

"That's a long shelf life," Jayke commented. "How much for one of them?"

"Fifteen copper each." The ava replied, rearranging things nearby.

"Fifteen?" He regarded the blocky ration, then vaguely recalled some pricing examples that Rksu had given him. "Why so expensive?" He asked pointedly. If a silver coin was a week at an inn then that was like paying for a night. Although he did understand that the value of things may very well be skewed in his new reality.

The shopkeeper hesitated. "Elven rations are more filling than regular rations. Nutritionally, they're capable of filling someone's stomach for a day." He explained. "Ten copper."

Jayke looked at him. He didn't seem like he was lying. "Four each."

"Four? Maybe I'd agree if these were regular rations. Seven." He shot back.

"I'll buy a handful if we can agree on five copper per." Jayke offered.

The shopkeeper counted something on his fingers. "Sure. How many is a handful?"

"Twenty-five coppers worth. For a rainy day." Jayke said. "Do you have change?"

"Of course."

Jayke pocketed the five rations and gave him a silver. The ava returned seventy-five copper coins. They were heavy in his pocket, but his cargo pants were more than up for it.

He wandered off and looked at the potions. They were all labeled neatly. Clearly, the liquids were highly refined. Staring at them with his [Lesser Data Sense] conveyed a concentrated purity. They had regenerative properties that Jayke recognized from the heal berries. They were nothing in comparison though.

Aside from those, there were many he didn't recognize.

Only a handful, separated from the rest, were Items.

Item: [Healing Tincture] (Common)

A medicinal potion containing the healing extracts of low-magical herbs. The tincture is capable of repairing superficial wounds and aches with enough time.

Item: [Hydration Potion] (Uncommon)

Nothing more than water imbued with concentrated natural water-essences. It can bring a dehydrated soul back from the brink of dust. Drinking the potion replenishes the body's natural reserves for water, bringing a cooling sensation with it.

The others were a similarly functioning [Food Potion] which Jayke found amusing and various other analogs of the [Healing Tincture]. Aside from the [Food Potion] and [Hydration Potion], everything was Common. There was a good stock of each of the Uncommon potions and Jayke supposed they did seem somewhat on par with the effects of the [Potion of Desert Blurr].

But before he committed to buying more than he could carry, he did think of something he wanted.

Some kind of overcoat or cloak. He'd seen people around with them. Preferably, one with pockets. Jayke liked pockets. He set about trying to find something that fit the description. A quick glance around the store and he found the place wasn't selling any clothes or armor that weren't second-hand.

He came away with elven rations and two healing potions. Not enough to weigh him down. Jayke was down to twelve gold fifty silver. Ercur hadn't bought anything and Oz's purchases looked similar to Jayke's but his rations weren't elven.

"What's so good about those?" Ercur looked over Oz's shoulder.

"Yeah, you went straight for them," Jayke added, looking at the rations Oz collected once he gave the shopkeeper his money. They were circular rather than rectangular as Jayke's were.

"I always go for them. Simple meat and veggies. Not really enhanced by themselves but you can tell the packagers source the food from [Farmers] with decent Skills." Oz tucked them into a fold in his robe.

"Hmm, maybe I'll try them next time I'm on the move," Ercur said.

Oz's clothes needed repairs. That was the main reason he was out so their next stop was a place called Perfect Fit. There was a steady stream of people moving about the street in which it was positioned. They'd gotten directions from the previous shopkeeper, who also happened to be a [Shopkeeper]. The owner of the place he'd directed them to was both a [Shopkeeper] and a [Tailor]. One of the shops dedicated to more niche goods and wares.

Clothes, in this case.

They walked through the open door to find a sunny interior. Materials and fabric completely overtook the back wall. High windows circulated what would've otherwise been a musty shop. Jayke was pleasantly surprised when it matched its outward dimensions. The entire place was full of clothes. Racks full of hats. Different apparel hanging from the ceiling. Various coat racks with shirts, pants, and other textiles draped over them. Mannequins were dressed in full outfits. Where part of the shop was haphazard, the other end had everything neatly folded into cubbies.

The shopkeeper was an ava with grey feathers on her arms. Her hands were wrinkly but perfectly stable as she helped another customer. She gave the three a short smile and wave as they entered.

Jayke and Ercur wandered through the maze of apparel. Oz approached the owner as she finished helping the other customer, asking her about [Mend Clothes]. He lifted his robe to indicate the fraying state of it. After some haggling, the old ava put a steady hand on Oz's clothes and they came away pristine.

Jayke marveled at the Skill in action. Frayed threads on Oz's robe just twisted and reknitted themselves, trying back into the cloth seamlessly. Dirt, dust, and grime seemed to just fly off his clothes. Jayke sniffed himself, realizing he sorely needed a shower once everything was over. He had tried his best cleaning himself in the waterfall but that only took him so far.

Meanwhile, Ercur was walking around with a floppy hat. A comically high, tilting piece of headwear. "How's it look Jayke? Stylish right?" Green strands poked from under the hat and onto her forehead. He blinked at her sudden green eye contact.

"Maybe try one less floppy." Jayke chuckled, after a pause.

A small smile crept up her face. "Probably a good idea." She said. "Watch this."

"Find anything Jayke?" Oz approached.

"Nothing yet. Ercur's hat was in the way."

"Hat? Ercur, please don't tell me mmph-"

Ercur turned and the hat swung around as floppy hats did, hitting Oz in the face with a soft whump. "Hey, Oz. Get your clothes repaired?" She said innocently, hat flopping atop her head.

Oz rubbed at his face and glared at her. "Yes, I did." He ripped the hat off her head and threw it back on the rack.

Jayke tried to suppress his laughter and ended up just turning around to look for a cloak. He could feel Oz's glare and Ercur's giggling. The latter turned into full-blown laughter. Jayke followed suit.

After some subsequent quiet chuckling, they calmed down.

"What were you looking for again?" Ercur asked him.

Jayke inched away slightly, now acutely aware of how he smelled. "Something I can wear over regular clothes and armor. A cloak or overcoat with a lot of pockets."

There were a lot of Common Items mixed into the apparel. For clothing, enhanced durability, being waterproof, and slight cooling effects made the cut. He found the cloaks. They were all good quality, but it was apparent that most of them were meant for protection against the elements than for any carrying capacity. There weren't many coats in stock and the ones that were happened to be a little too thick for Jayke's liking.

"Try asking the [Shopkeeper] directly. It's not a Class for nothing." Oz suggested.

"Oz, I think I'm going to buy that hat." Ercur poked him.

He looked at her warningly.

Jayke did as Oz suggested and asked the older ava. She had turned from her work the moment Jayke had approached. She'd been stitching something.

"A cloak?" The older birdwoman's deft hands worked the cloth to perfect repair.

"Just some kind of outerwear, preferably with a lot of pockets. Something like my pants. I've got a lot of stuff to hold." Jayke was already feeling off-balance from all the stuff in his pockets. His pants were slowly succumbing to gravity. "And a new belt."

She looked at his pants and shirt. "Good make, if a little ruined." The ava made a series of noises that were soft to the ear. It was reminiscent of soft cooing. "I have more valuable apparel tucked away. What kind of quality were you looking for?"

"What do you have?"

"Some of my high-quality fabric wares are kept out of reach. I have a number of cloaks I can alter for your need. Jackets and overcoats as well. I can sew in extra pockets without a problem. Size isn't an issue, here at Perfect Fit, everything fits." She smiled gently, some genuine enjoyment in using the last line.

Jayke laughed lightly. "Show me what you have."

The ava finished her stitching and disappeared into a back room. For some reason, Ercur and Oz were now trying on various hats.

Jayke directed his attention back to the shopkeeper as she returned. She had some neatly folded clothes and gently laid them out. "Items?" Jayke was surprised at the selection.

"Some of my better works." She nodded. "Best not to keep them on the shop floor. Discourages any [Thieves] from visiting."

Of course, people could make Items. Terk had done so, after all. Just as an [Alchemist] could make System-recognized potions, any other profession could feasibly do the same with their own respective product. Jayke had been slightly caught off-guard.

Item: [Traveler's Cloak] (Uncommon)

A cloak suited for traveling. It is a high-quality make crafted with obvious care. The strands of breath wool that intertwine the burgundy plant fibers present themselves in silver streaks down the cloak. The combination of materials lends the fabric to increased durability and the wearer with deeper breaths.

"Deeper breaths?" It didn't seem impactful enough for an Uncommon. At least, from what Jayke had gathered in his limited experience.

"Would you care to try it on?" The shopkeeper asked.

Jayke obliged, trying one of the three cloaks. He threw it over his shoulders and clasped it around his neck. The moment he did so was immediately struck with the quality of air. His chest was taking deeper lungfuls than it had any right to. He regarded himself in shock, he felt like he could do a lot more on a single breath.

"Deeper breaths can be replaced with increased stamina. It's easier for you younger folk to understand it that way." She smiled gently. Then she opened the cloak at Jayke's chest, pointing to various points on the inside and measuring the dimensions of his torso. "If you like this one I can put pockets, here, here, here, and here. Any weights there shouldn't encumber you too much."

"Let me try the other ones before I decide." Jayke unclasped the cloak and the ava lady folded it neatly. "How much would this one go for?"

"Around one gold, maybe less. I can give you a more concrete answer once you've decided." She answered. "I'll be about if you need me." Then she moved off to attend to another green-haired customer who looked to be perusing various hats.

The other cloaks were Uncommon as well. They were both based around the wind. All of them were created with something called breath wool which sounded like it came from a flying sheep. The silver streaks in each cloak made Jayke picture a cloud. One of them gently harnessed the breeze at one's back, if there was one. The other circulated air under the cloak itself. Both had increased durability as well.

Three different effects. They'd all been made by her and that meant a [Tailor] was capable of drawing out certain effects from worthwhile materials. It was very intriguing. He wondered what someone would do with the [Fire Feather] or all those other monster parts he sold. He wondered if this counted as some kind of magic like enchanting that he'd heard of, or if this was strictly based upon skill and Skills.

Eventually, he settled on the [Traveler's Cloak] which seemed the most mundane of the three but felt the most impactful to Jayke. He looked around and found the shopkeeper already moving towards him.

"Decided already?"

Jayke looked at her in surprise. "How'd you know?"

"I'd be able to tell if there was customer ready to spend money if I was in the backroom facing a wall." She cooed and smiled. "You're no different."

"I'd like this one then."

Jayke wondered if that sense was akin to his ability to memorize magical programs. Was that the subtle effect of a [Shopkeeper's] levels? Or perhaps it was a [Customer Sense] or something similar. [Sense] Skills were apparently not only common but Common, according to his readings.

Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

He'd been using his own [Lesser Data Sense] constantly on the clothes and the shop. It was still a constant hurdle of interpreting the data. It was the reason his code magic was so difficult to use. Of course, he could sense the data of things, but to actually understand what everything meant was another story. Narrowing down the data members of his protective magic was only possible due to his ability to conduct a controlled experiment. 

Even mundane things like clothes were a mystery. The most he could understand were traces of magic. The data signatures that indicated a magical property had a distinct feel. The breath wool had been giving off a low-magical ping on par with the healing potions he had picked up, except the breath wool seemed more permanent.

"Shall I quote you then?"

"Please do."

"[Best Sale]." The moment she spoke Jayke felt something in the air. She cocked her head and looked at Jayke, in a single gaze somehow taking his best offer from his mouth. "A gold and one silver." She hummed, disappointed. "Hm, stingy."

Jayke blinked, realizing that was the highest he'd go on this purchase. A gold was equivalent to a full set of mundane armor or a hundred weeks at an inn. The latter equivalency was slightly off though, Jayke found that inns and other mundane services were relatively cheap. He attributed that to the largeness of the world, travelers and the need to house them might actually be a thriving business. The most expensive purchases were actually equipment and specialized services like the Transporter's Guild. He could understand that, a good piece of equipment could save your life and last throughout it if taken care of.

Jayke found it hard to argue the purchase. Any higher and he wouldn't have been happy but he was content with that price. It matched what he knew and the shopkeeper had estimated thereabouts earlier. Still, that didn't mean there was nothing left to negotiate.

"Pockets included," Jayke haggled tactfully. "Oh, and the belt. Something with pockets too."

"Hmm, the belt shouldn't be a problem. I have many utility belts on hand. If for nothing fancy you can consider it complimentary for such a large purchase." She accepted the money as Jayke gave her exact change. Then she gestured to the Item in his hands. "Put the cloak on."

Jayke followed her direction, finding his breaths deepen. She had some white chalky marker and regarded how the cloak sat on Jayke. Before she did anything, "[Perfect Fit]." The cloak shortened slightly and fell more comfortably on his shoulders. "Looks like it was already a good fit for you." She didn't even question whether the fit was good.

It was. He lifted the cloak and regarded the adjusted length. Then the ava began to make white marks on the insides of the cloak. "How many pockets?"

"As many as you're willing. I'd like them for potions, rations, trinkets, small weapons. Everything under the sun." Jayke preferred to have a lot of his things ready on his person.

She paused. "That's quite the request." She said contemplatively. "I have time for some dedicated work. Tack on another fifty silver and I'll use some special material for the request." She said. "It'll be a strange cloak but the material I'll use will be worth the cost, especially if you're looking to carry so much."

Jayke thought about it for a moment and took his measure of the ava lady. The old feathered lady didn't seem the type to lie. And he did want something high-quality. The fact that he had money to spare was what pushed him over the edge. "That sounds wonderful." Jayke deposited the coins into her hand. "I'm assuming it won't be done in just a few minutes. How long will it take?"

"Come by at sundown and it will be done. I've remembered your face." She smiled. Jayke had almost forgotten about that. "You can choose any belt off the rack. Thank you for your business."

"Thank you too." Jayke watched her fold the cloaks and take them away.

Jayke found an assortment of belts. He managed to find one that was something like a modern tool belt, only the pockets conformed more comfortably to the body. It was different in the sense that it had many more dedicated pockets around the entire loop, all of different shapes and sizes. He spotted a few that looked to be for small potions or vials, a strap for a knife, and other such features. Most of them were a mystery to him but he'd find uses for them.

He eventually spotted Ercur and Oz. They'd been trying on an assortment of different accessories. The latter had been forced.

Oz wrestled off a very feminine scarf he seemed to just realize was wrapped around his neck. "Why are you so good at that?" He said pointedly.

"[Nimble Fingers], Oz." Ercur laughed. "[Gambler], remember?"

They looked to Jayke as he approached with an amused expression. "You guys ready?"

They found themselves in the crowd again, making their way to the nearest [Armorer] and [Weaponsmith]. The man was the one whose anvil strikes rained across the entire plaza. An attached [Leatherworker] poured his goods into a shared shopping floor which was run by a portly lizardman - Jayke didn't know the actual name of the species.

"Iron and Leather." Oz read the sign. Then he looked down at the goods.

Ercur laughed. "At least we know what they sell."

They moved into the open-spaced area they sold all their wares from.

Jayke sympathized with the terrible naming sense. Suddenly remembering the fact he'd named a spell 'orb turret' simply because their function mimicked his defense turrets from the facility. He cringed as he moved through a barrel of swords.

He wasn't too intent on getting a high-quality sword or Item. He just wanted something functional. His strength should lie in distance but a sword might be often necessary for areas like under that myconid village.

He settled for a sharp sword that felt good in his hands. He gave it a cursory inspection, finding the edge lethal and without nicks. Further than that, well, he was no expert on swords. They all looked the same to him. He traded in his other belt and scabbard, knowing that the former barely did its job and the latter didn't fit his new weapon.

The new scabbard he got was discounted by the trade-in. He slid the sword into the scabbard and attached it to his new belt, tightening the strings around his waist. He placed his two recent potion purchases into the belt's slots.

"Eleven gold and seventy-five silver left." He said to himself.

"Still can't believe you managed to get that much value from the Dungeon," Ercur said behind him. He and Oz had both shared their escapades in their Dungeons at her prodding. Ercur had been an extremely attentive listener. "You're both practically rich." She puffed.

"I offered to pay you back for the inn," Jayke said. "Besides, you were raking in a giant pile of coins the moment I saw you."

She grinned. "Still."

Jayke perused some of the lighter leather armor. Again, he wasn't in the market for something too costly. A full set of regular iron armor went for a gold. Items usually went for much more. It was why the [Traveler's Cloak] had costed the same. And it was the same reason that the [Cave Scale Armor] sold for three gold even while providing coverage for only the chest. Rarity factored into the cost.

Luckily for Jayke, the armor he was interested in covered his torso and arms and only went for thirty silver. He didn't mind leaving his legs exposed if it meant access to his pockets. Apparently, the requests for custom-ordered equipment were filled to the brim so there went his wish for leather pants with pockets and straps. Anything he put in now wouldn't be done in less than two weeks. And there was no guarantee he'd even be around.

He took the armor to the shopkeeper and purchased it easily. Unlike the previous shops, this place had price tags. It seemed prudent considering the component pieces and identical products of each set of armor. Even the weapons were produced en masse so standardizing their price was easier for everyone.

He strapped the armor and found his shirt did an amazing job of preventing chafing around his torso. He tested his protective magic as a thin veil. He could envelop himself right under the armor, or if he concentrated he could do the armor itself. The former was easier but subjected the armor to damage first, the latter was harder to accomplish but saved his armor any damage it didn't need to withstand.

He nodded, having found everything he needed to. The last stop was for a magical focus. In that, he was willing to splurge a little. Ercur had actually bought a small dagger. Oz didn't purchase anything, but like Jayke he might've been more interested in their next stop.

Arcane Star was a decently sized shop. Unlike some others, it had two entrances and the wares weren't immediately on display. A wizened individual with grey hair and a long beard was reading a book by the counter. The book was floating. The man had elegant features despite the obvious rigors of time. His skin was a patchwork of dull colors where it wasn't wrinkled.

He looked up. "Welcome, welcome. Arcane Star is home to a great number of magical goods. Look around!" He said with more liveliness than Jayke anticipated.

Ercur shot past him immediately.

Jayke approached the man he realized was of the same race as Hucobb. A man with patchwork colored skin. Only this old man had duller colors. "Do you have any magical foci?" Jayke asked him.

"It's a magical shop isn't it?" He said lightly. The older man shifted and his beard moved out of the way long enough for Jayke to spot a golden brooch.

Oz blinked. "You're a Coterie member?"

He looked up. "Was a [Magical Shopkeeper] before all that. My specialties were well received. I can sense some magic in you two. Aspiring members, perhaps?" He looked them up and down. "And walking around without a focus? Not even a simple wand? You two must be making things harder on yourselves on purpose." Then he suddenly looked at Oz's wrist. The bracelet from the [They're in the Roots!] Quest adorned his hand. Then he looked to Jayke. "Well, one of you is."

"Just lost mine recently," Jayke suddenly felt the man's presence.

The entire shop had filled with a magical presence. A few items on the shelves glowed or otherwise reacted. "What kind of magic you do?" He asked pointedly.

Ercur was looking around in awe. Oz, like Jayke, was sensing the mana that charged the area. "Shields and barriers," Jayke responded quickly.

The older man put an elbow on the counter as he thought about something. The looks that crossed his face were in tune with a clattering of objects somewhere else in the shop. Then something zoomed across the shop and into his hand. 

Jayke jumped slightly, whirling his head around to see who had thrown it.

"Calm down boy, it's my magic." He told him immediately. 

"What the? How'd you do that?"

Oz looked equally dumbfounded.

"[Magical Shopkeeper], remember?" The man said tiredly. In a way much more fitting his age.

Jayke looked at what was in the man's hand. It looked like a glove. A black glove lined with green streaks that traced muscles, joints, and bones on the would-be wearer. "What is it?" He asked.

"I've got better quality items in stock. But as a defensive mage, this one is probably the one you want."

Item: [Mageglove] (Unusual)

A magical focus crafted from magical synthetics and the veins of a spellbeast. The black glove lines the hand with spellbeast veins, tapping into the magical properties of the spellbeast and slightly amplifying spells that pass through their channels. Unlike other foci, the [Mageglove] can channel spells rapidly and convey its effects in succession reliably. It is a magical instrument suited for quick casting.

Jayke read stronger and faster shields. The veins of a spellbeast sounded like an exotic material. Whatever manner of creature it was in life was obviously conducive to magical spells. The [Mageglove] sounded perfect for him with every word he read off the screen.

His [Gnarled Rootstaff] had allowed greater control and reduced mana loss during spellcasting and spellforming. This focus seemed to amplify spell effects. But this one was more specifically suited for his style of casting. Quick and strong shields.

"That looks perfect for you." Oz echoed his thoughts. 

"How much?" Jayke asked, prepared to-

"Six gold." The shopkeeper said immediately and without hesitation.

"S-six gold?" Jayke gaped, halfway into his pocket. "Make it three and I'll at least consider it."

The [Mageglove] shot away, zooming off into some corner of the shop. Jayke stared after it.

"Unusual Rarity, spellbeast veins, magical item, a rare type of magical focus, and it's perfect for you." The shopkeeper said plainly. "Six gold is its price. Undebatable."

Jayke's eye twitched. "That's half my savings..."

"Then you probably don't want to buy it then." The shopkeeper grinned through his beard. Jayke managed to hate the man just then.

He was at eleven gold forty-five silver. If he bought it, his new total would be five gold forty-five silver after. Was that enough money to sit on comfortably? There could be a variety of situations where he'd need money. But six gold for a single item...

Oz carefully showed himself out of the conversation.

Was Jayke just being stingy? Maybe. He could tell the shopkeeper wasn't going to budge and already knew Jayke's decision once the [Mageglove] had appeared to him. He shelled out the money reluctantly. The [Mageglove] would be a permanent fixture in his equipment. It might even prove to save his life. The value of stronger and faster shields was the tipping point. Rksu was right, permanent Items had much more associated value. Jayke couldn't even argue the point. The benefits from the [Mageglove] fit his style too perfectly.

The old man smiled and the [Mageglove] shot towards Jayke's hand. The old man left Jayke alone with his new purchase. He slipped on the glove and found it fit like a second skin. He felt strangely more aware of the mana residing around his hand. Then he tested his magic, aiming to create an invisible one in front of him.

What came out instead was slightly visible. It had been amplified to bare opacity. Jayke pressed against it, finding it a little stronger than he'd thought. He smiled realizing that he was able to form the shield much faster than normal. It was a worthy purchase. The small benefits it provided from multiple instances would start to rack up immediately.

He tested the same experiment while holding his scabbarded sword in the focus and found the results similar. He grinned, realizing the benefit might've been much more than he had thought. His previous staff had taken a hand to use. This one was on his hand.

Oz wanted to stay longer so they did, though Jayke stayed away from the shopkeeper out of spite.

"Worth it?" Oz looked over his shoulder and back to Jayke. He was looking at a display of small gems.

"I hope so," Jayke said sincerely. "It feels good though." He flexed his hand.

"I wonder what Level he is." Oz shot a glance towards the bearded man. "He had full control of his entire shop. Did you feel that? The mana?"

"Yeah, his Class sounds rare too. The bastard knew exactly how to gut my coin purse. He must be pretty high level." 

Oz was looking at what were apparently magical crystals. They were useful for breeding slimes and inciting certain mutations, evidently. He was looking for something attuned to the wind or sky. The blue man had been somewhat inspired by the wisavs to create a flying slime. Jayke couldn't really speculate on the possibility of such things. He'd just witnessed a man with a shop that was bigger on the inside, a woman who could fix clothes to perfection with a single touch, and a man who could summon things from any point in his shop.

He shook his head and looked at the products that Oz had been observing - the magical crystals.

The concentrated magics were all neatly labeled and rested on soft pillows. Jayke immediately inspected them all with his [Lesser Data Sense] finally having a perfect set of prime examples. The fire crystal matched his understanding of the element from campfires and the [Fire Feather]. Apart from that, there were other basic elements. Wind, which Oz had taken, earth, and water. There were also more exotic crystals. Light and dark crystals among them. According to Tuuli those two were often wildly debated as to whether they belonged in the same category as the previous four - the elemental magics.

What caught his eye were the more atypical crystals. A fungal crystal that emitted a yellow-green shine. Jayke inspected it closely mentally recording every example as he came to them. There was an ice and magma crystal, each one contained in special containers. Their signatures were altered versions of water in the case of ice, and fire and earth in the case of magma. A lot of pillows were empty of whatever gems had been occupying them so Jayke knew he was missing out on a lot of prime examples. Especially in the case of the more specific crystals.

But then Jayke came across a plain-looking crystal that seemed to push at his hand as he reached for it. The same way that the other crystals had small effects. Its label read 'force crystal' and Jayke was immediately scanning it. The raw concentrated magic of force was easy to pick up on. He was already acquainted with it. His [Lesser Data Sense], however, now had only the one property to focus on. In just a few seconds, he'd boosted his understanding of the 'element' greatly. 

He recorded the crystal in vivid mental detail. He could already recollect the data from memory. It was a great reference for picking out what was considered the domain of 'force' within his protective spells. It was a fantastic find and he was glad that he found it. He placed the crystal back on its pillow, intent to revisit the data later and experiment.

Ercur was bent over looking at small papers. She caught Jayke's presence as he approached. "What are those?" He asked.

"Portable spells. Little effects stored in mana charged paper." She said. "Great for a getaway." Jayke couldn't tell whether that was a joke. She was pretty focused leafing through them.

Jayke picked a few. "Pocket ray, dust cloud, small shield." They were indeed small effects. Jayke stared at the sheaves of paper and could already begin to pick out particular magics within them. They looked to be effective little tools. Certainly not powerful, but quite versatile. Their names sounded less like spells and more like quick succinct descriptions. Jayke would've considered buying some if his pockets didn't feel so ripped off and light.

Ercur found what she was looking for. A spell called blinding flash. Jayke held off his judgment.

Then they were all on their way back to Perfect Fit. The sun was shining orange through the clouds. Even in the crowded plaza and shuffling through bodies the sky was open to viewing. The sun was setting and Jayke was happy to find that even the locals weren't immune to view.

Oz glanced at Jayke as the latter slowed in the middle of the crowd. Jayke caught himself, remembering their destination and the pockets he was promised. They found the entrance to Perfect Fit and slipped through the open door. Orange rays of sunlight filtered through open windows, lighting up the whole shop.

"There you are!" The old ava lady called excitedly. "Your cloak is ready and you'll be quite surprised! It's a shame I didn't charge you more and you had already paid for it." She mumbled.

As all three approached she placed the cloak on the counter and opened it to show its interior. Pockets galore. Jayke spotted an assortment of inner pockets that could carry anything he'd want. From a dedicated knife slot, just like on his belt, to some potion holding pockets. There were other large pockets. It was all symmetrical as if the lady had an eye for balance.

"Woah, she went for it." Ercur stated behind Jayke.

Oz looked at it too. "How much did you pay for this?"

Item: [Traveler's Many-Pocketed Cloak] (Unusual)

A cloak well-suited for traveling. It is a high-quality make crafted with obvious care. The strands of breath wool that intertwine the burgundy plant fibers present themselves in silver streaks down the cloak. Various pockets within the cloak are lined with dimensional spider silk. The combination of materials lends the fabric to increased durability, the wearer with deeper breaths, and the pockets with a larger volume.

Jayke blinked at the cloak. He threw it over shoulders, clasped the stylized hook in the front, and took a deep breath. His lungs filled the oxygen and he felt invigorated.

His hand reached into a pocket and found the small pocket which should've been no deeper than his knuckle extended past the wrist. He blinked.

"That right there is a right piece of clothing, boy." She smiled. "Treat it well. And just an estimate so you're aware. Something like that might go for eight to ten gold. Storage Items always do. You got it at a steal, but that's business. I didn't come away with nothing either, I was able to focus completely and ended up leveling." She grinned. "It's been nearly a year since the last time I did."

Jayke situated all his items and felt more balanced and secured. He cut a dashing figure. A burgundy cloak covered leather armor, concealing the majority of a sword and scabbard. Steaks of silver ran through the cloak and Jayke adjusted the perfectly sized thing on his shoulders. A black glove outlining muscles, joints, and bones with green spellbeast veins worked through his plethora of pockets, checking the depth of each. Every single one was deeper than it should be.

"It's perfect. Thank you." Jayke said in awe. He wasn't about to complain. He was already down half his savings. He couldn't have afforded this prior to its modification. Jayke did note that Items could apparently be upgraded by people just as his [Gnarled Rootstaff] had been upgraded by the System.

He took one last look at himself in a nearby mirror.

First, his belt. There was nothing more to ask of it. His belt had a number of attachments for holding various things. Jayke had moved his potions there, finding it more prudent for access. A small secure pouch existed on the belt. Jayke couldn't puzzle out its previous function but now it held a pair of heal berries. He had a sword of decent make, sharp and durable which hung from an attached scabbard.

Secondly, on his hand. A black glove. His [Mageglove] and new magical focus. It was lined with the veins of a spellbeast, coloring parts of the glove with green. It allowed him to amplify his shields and aided in their faster casting.

Third, his cloak. A burgundy cloak that was streaked with silver. It was durable and could withstand much wear. The breath wool that caused the silver streaks also allowed him to breathe deeper, gathering more oxygen with every breath. Through that, he felt he could do more, increasing his stamina. Within its interior, a myriad a pockets more diverse than his belt. Each pocket was deeper than it should've been. He placed the entirety of his savings into one of them and buttoned it closed. His [Sand Rabbit's Foot] was placed in another and five elven rations went into another separate pocket. Any other miscellaneous items, like his waterskin or translation orb, also found their places.

Then finally, he smelled himself and his nose crumpled. Oz looked at him amused.

"Thank you, miss. I love it. Do you know where the nearest baths are?" Jayke asked her with a rueful smile. 

She gave them directions with a funny look in good humor.  

"Ooh. A bath sounds nice." Ercur said. "Are we all going?" She asked.

Oz chimed in. "Well, my shopping is done and the rest of my day I hadn't planned to do anything in particular. Washing off the Dungeon might be prudent."

"Then it's settled let's go!" Ercur announced.

----------------------------------------

Oz sputtered. "Three gold each!?" 

The well-groomed ava man smiled apologetically. "We offer a variety of services. [Purifying Waters] and [Restorative Waters] across the whole onsen mean a deep cleaning hard to get anywhere else. The [Calm Atmosphere] coupled with the sky is like none other." The ava man explained. "Especially at sunset." He elaborated, pointedly recognizing the time of day.

Oz opened his mouth. It looked like a bath here was out of the question. That was too big a chunk of Jayke's money. Oz went limp and-

"Here you go. Nine gold." Ercur smiled. Jayke and Oz's jaws all but hit the floor.

The man caught the money easily. "Separate or mixed baths?"

"Mixed," Ercur said before anyone could say anything. The place was a communal bath like it had been in The Marketplace Between.

"The mixed baths are to your right. There's a sign outside any vacant bath, choose one and flip it over. Our [Bathhouse Attendants] will fetch any clothes or items you strip yourself of, clean them, and return them. As you can probably sense we are a [Trustworthy Establishment] your items or Items of value are safer here than on yourself."

Jayke did indeed have an innate sense that he could leave his Items in their care. It was the strangest confirmation of a feeling he had ever had. His logical mind warred with this surefire emotion. His emotions seemed to display as the man assured him further.

"We do not examine Items for the sake of propriety. Many from the Adventurer's Guild and Practioner's Coterie frequent this establishment, we have seen many valuables come through here. We are unfazed and offer the best services. Your gold is worth the price."

The mention of gold returned his attention to Ercur.

"Perfect." Ercur grinned. "Come on boys." Then she sashayed off. A cruel reminder that she had asked for mixed baths.

Oz was looking at her too until he shrugged. "Half-dryads don't care too much for nudity. I personally don't care too much either." He informed Jayke.

"I guess I don't either then."

They ran to catch up as Ercur peeked in through the available onsens. The woman had just tossed away nine gold like that. Jayke looked at her, unable to fully avoid her figure, but asked a more burning question. "Ercur...are... are you rich?"

She turned around. "This one looks good!" Then she gave Jayke and Oz's questioning glances a terribly confused expression. "Guys, didn't I tell you I'm the best [Gambler] this side... well, whatever side of the Uncharted we were before? Do you think that means I'm poor? You need money to win money."

She disappeared through the hanging curtains. Oz paused, looked at Jayke, then shrugged, flipped the sign, and followed her. Jayke also paused at her statement. Was Ercur... actually someone amazing? He followed them inside.

The entire open-air room was open to the sky. The mist and heat from the onsen weren't even affected by the wind. They were overlooking clouds. A pool of calm water surrounded by rocks bade them forward. Orange rays of sunset cut through the steam and lit up the pool in bright orange.

Jayke was the last to remove his clothing.

True to his word, Oz was oddly unaffected by the whole nudity scene. Jayke learned the man was fully blue. No hints to his race forthcoming. Observing his other companion, Jayke thought that Ercur's nude body rather matched the clouds. He realized neither of them was shy to look at him either. Oz with scientific scrutiny. Ercur with a simple curiosity. Slightly conscious, he made to join them.

Dipping himself into the heated pool, he smiled. The view was amazing, the company was wonderful, and he felt the waters wash away the dirt, grime, and bug blood away.

"Wonderful." Oz smiled.

Ercur agreed. "This is what I call a view."

This close to the sky, the clouds were visibly moving. The sun shone through the thinner ones, exposing itself once the misty forms roiled away. It was a small light show. The most natural hues of sunlight all on display just for them.

For a moment, Jayke found himself truly relaxed.