I woke up early to the gentle glow of the rising sun, and the screaming of children in the nave. Outside the window, the village was alive and busy with the sounds of hammering. People were out and about, hauling lumber and nailing planks to board up their homes. Dark Night was due at the setting of the sun.

First thing first, I went to the bowyer and returned the bow that he lent me. I hated debts and owing favors. Turns out, he was under the impression that I was to keep it. I returned it anyway because I had decided to go the wands route instead. Carrying a bow just in case was much too cumbersome. In response, he offered to sell any wands I brought to his shop, but said he couldn’t promise that anyone would buy them. I thought that was fair as I was a newbie wandcrafter afterall.

Out on the street, the villagers acted friendlier than before, smiling and waving. I felt self conscious about my recent ‘upgrade’ that left bony protrusions jutting out like cancerous growths. I was certain someone would make a comment or stare. Nobody did, but maybe they were just too polite.

I stopped by the smithy where Karl was busy making nails by the hundreds. He treated me like a normal person, one of their own, a fellow villager. I had decided on using two wands, so a shield was out. Besides, for better or worse, I now had stronger bones to protect me.

Karl brought out the chestplate, except it came with a backplate and leather straps connecting the two. “As it seems you'll be hanging about for the night, I went ahead and threw in the backplate for ya.”

“Oh wow, thank you. How much do I owe you for it?”

I had 125 silver to my name, and sixteen minor power crystals. I needed to keep some of them to make more wands, and most importantly, to replace used up power crystals.

He shrugged. “Another twenty silver should about cover the costs.”

I had no problem paying the additional cost, and was very happy with the result. The backplate was just as basic as the chestplate, but the steel was thick and sturdy. Most importantly, the fit was just right with notches on the straps to give me room. It was exactly what I’d need for when [Measured Savagery] was active.

I asked Karl where I could get some amethysts, and he suggested that I should check with the seamstress. That was because she also dabbled in crafting jewelry on the side. Before leaving, he took measurements of my head for a helmet, and I paid fifty silver to get him started on making it. I also purchased more copper wiring.

As I was heading to the seamstress, the shoemaker saw me on the street and waved me into his shop. He had a surprise for me, a pair of sandals. They looked more like moccasins but with a more open top. I had to wash my feet before putting them on. At first he was hesitant to take my money, but I persuaded him to accept three minor power crystals as payment.

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At the seamstress, she was surprised that I was interested in amethysts until I explained that I needed the gems to make wands. She showed me her stash of semi-precious gems. Topaz, citrine, aquamarines, peridot and a few amethysts. Delighted to find a fellow gem enthusiast, she generously gave me two amethysts without charge.

Her collection was also perfect to try and figure out which gem paired with Petrified wood. I quickly cobbled together a power crystal to the petrified chunk, but unfortunately, none of the gems seemed to fit the bill. Each time, the crafted wand wouldn’t work, and neither would I receive a details screen for it. Maybe the schematic required additional materials, or perhaps petrified wood needed a more exquisite gem? Not something I was likely to find in this village, but maybe at Kittrell.

Gregor was right. This secret schematic was a puzzle that I wouldn’t solve any time soon. I would need to gather a much greater collection of wand components to experiment first.

Last stop was the leatherworker. The first item I needed was a belt. The new pants were at times a bit loose. Plus, it would allow me to hang a sheath for my knife and a loop for the hatchet for easy access. It was quicker than fumbling around in the backpack. For a total price of forty silver, (I insisted on paying for the backpack that he gave to me before) the leatherworker hooked me up with plenty and more. After a bit of carving to get narrower handles on the Steggon Ivory tusks, he showed me how to wrap the handles with leather using deerskin of proper thickness.

“It’ll take another few days to cure and dry the bear pelt before it can be used,” he told me.

Back on the street, Darya caught up to me. “Just so ya know, we got us a major issue. It’s worse than we thought. We've got about a week of food left, so as of today, it's ration time.”

If they were having problems with food, I was going to have a problem with that too. Personally, I liked eating.

“Well, let’s get through tonight, and see in the morning?”

“Yeah, if we survive. Come on, there’s someone you need to meet.”

***

By the banks of the lake, Luther secluded himself away from the bustle of the abbey. This special occasion required utmost care without a hint of distraction. From his pocket he withdrew a hastily wrapped nugget, and ever so delicately, he uncrumpled the paper to reveal a precious delicacy inside. He picked it out and beheld the rich, velvety brown treasure between his fingers. A sweet fragrance enveloped the air full of promise of a delectable experience.

Such a rare delicacy often came the route of the Syndicate leader, Steven. Parents in the village would at times reward their children. From them, whether through theft or bargain, Steven would procure a small amount. Today, in the first of the many years that Luther has been at the orphanage, chunks were simply handed out to every child without expectation of payment in return.

He engulfed it greedily. For that moment, he closed his eyes and let himself feel. Strong emotions overtook him, surged forth like an avalanche, a volcano erupting. He felt happy, he felt hopeful, he felt closer to his ever unfulfilled dream. If only he could stretch out this moment to eternity.