"You actually have a living armor?" Silver Oracle asked, shocked.
"Living armor?"
"It's not an official term that is recognized in the game however it's what players have come to call them." Silver Oracle stated before continuing.
"Living armors are those that have gained a small amount of sentience and sometimes react to things their owners do."
John thought for a moment before saying.
"That makes sense, after I named Phanta, the amour suddenly got the skill 'Veil'."
"Exactly, that is something that has been shown to happen with living armors in the past though it is still very rare that it happens."
"I have never heard of anyone getting living armor so early in the game before though, living armor grown with their owners.
"They grow with their owners? You mean like in level and rank?" John asked.
"Yes and no, even though you have to do certain tasks to upgrade them, those tasks are linked to your class. For example, one of the tasks to upgrade Phanta was to learn a wild morph skill."
"Also, as the armor goes up in rank, they gain new skills or abilities that you don't normally find on other armor like with your 'Veil skill', these skills and abilities are normally connected to the class of the owner and they also seem to have an almost intuitive ability to know what you need most at the time of the rank up."
"I would not be surprised if Phanta gains a new skill or ability after it ranks up."
"Let's find you the best armor and weapon for your level first before we get an extra five Phanta, if what I have heard is true then an effect will take place when Phanta rank's up and we don't want that being witnessed."
John nodded in agreement before Silver Oracle began to show John exactly how to search for what he needed on the auction terminal.
Since John was only level five and there is not much difference in terms of stats at that level it did not take them long to find some gear for him.
[Footman's Leather Tunic]
[Rank: Uncommon (Green)]
[Leather]
[Chest]
[DEF: 5]
[SPI: 1]
[Requires Level: 5]
[Rough Leather Gloves]
[Rank: Common (White)]
[Leather]
[Hands]
[DEF: 3]
[Requires Level: 5]
[Ratty Leather Belt]
[Rank: Common (White)]
[Leather]
[Waist]
[DEF: 2]
[Requires Level: 5]
[Leather Breeches]
[Rank: Uncommon (Green)]
[Leather]
[Legs]
[DEF: 4]
[STR: 1]
[Requires Level: 5]
[Rough Leather Boots]
[Rank: Common (White)]
[Leather]
[Feet]
[DEF: 3]
[Requires Level: 5]
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
"Ok next up weapon, any preference on what you like to use most?" Silver Oracle asked.
"I'm not really fussed but if I had to choose, I would go Polearms." John answered.
"Unfortunately, Polearms don't become available until level twenty from loot or crafting."
"Hmm whatever gives me the best intellect and M ATP boost then since I am more a caster in my normal form and my intellect stat gets reapplied when I Wild Morph."
"Ok let's see."
[Apprentice Staff]
[Rank: Uncommon (Green)]
[Staff]
[M ATP: 20]
[INT: 1]
[Requires Level: 5]
"Wow, that's a crazy attack power boost." John said surprised.
"That's because more armor slots open up when you leave the starter village and you're not even using all of them yet since you're still only level five."
"Ok five more random Uncommon Green items for Phanta and that should do it, potions don't get better till at least level ten."
"Head over to one of the collection points and pick up the gear, in total it came to about six gold."
"Is that it?" John asked.
"Listen Mr money bags, not everyone has a guild paying them two percent of their income each day."
"No, some of us are richer." John said shooting Silver Oracle a withering look before he went to pick up the gear making her laugh.
After a few minutes of queuing up it was John's turn and as he gave his name and paid the gold he owed, the items were placed on the counter before him where he quickly equipped them before heading back to Silver Oracle.
[Money: 9,488 Gold 13 Silver 4 Copper >> 9,482 Gold 7 Silver 4 Copper]
"Alright, that looks better, not so shabby." Silver Oracle said, giving him a once over.
"It seems I keep taking you shopping."
"Are you after another necklace?" John asked in a joke.
"How about a different piece of jewelry?" Silver Oracle replied with a smirk before saying.
"Let's go find a quiet place to upgrade Phanta.
As they were leaving the auction house, they found a small group of people waiting out front that made Silver Oracle frown.
"Oracle how are you, if you wanted to visit the auction house to buy something why did you not ask me as I would buy you anything you know that" said a remarkably handsome elf at the front of the group in shining silver armor.
"Thank you for the offer, Natures Guardian but you know I can't accept gifts easily with my position." Silver Oracle replied in a professionally calm tone of voice John had never heard her use before.
"Of course, of course." Natures Guardian replied without even looking at John, it was as if he was not there at all as he continued speaking to Silver Oracle.
"My friends and I were just about to head off and challenge the newly discovered dungeon, would you be interested in joining us?"
"I'm afraid I will have to pass since I promised to show my friend around Thamethalas."
Natures Guardian finally gave John a quick glance before turning back to Silver Oracle.
"Isn't that a waste of your time, I mean he is only level five so he must have only just arrived in Thamethalas surely."
"That would be correct but I'm sure you would agree that my time is for me to decide how I spend it."
"Of course, forgive my rudeness towards you, well if you're sure I can't persuade you to join us then I will be on my way, but I look forward to seeing you at the banquet in a few days." With that Natures Guardian and his group left without even looking at John again.
Silver Oracle sighed before saying.
"Sorry about that."
"You have nothing to apologize for, most people I have met in my life have treated me in a similar way, so it does not really bother me, I am just surprised that there are elves like that."
"Why are you surprised? All races have their nice and not so nice groups."
"Well, when you hear about how amazing the elves are for what they did in the past in bringing the five races' together and forming the Genesis Article, your race is made out to be the perfect individuals."
Silver Oracle looked at John before bursting out in laughter, something that attracted the crowd's attention including Natures Guardian who was not far away causing him to frown.
Silver Oracles' laughter was like songbird music as literally everyone stopped to appreciate it.
"Don't think too highly of us, every race has unsavory sides including us and you just witnessed one of them, now come on let's go upgrade Phanta." She said after calming down before leading John towards an ally.
***
Over at Natures Guardian his eyes watched Silver Oracle go before he gnashed his teeth slightly turning to one of his groups and saying.
"Send a few people to take care of that Vincarna, teach him to stay away from what is mine."
"Understood boss." The group member said as they headed off to the dungeon.
***
[Silver Oracle has cast an isolation barrier around you, anyone trying to look or hear anything from inside the barrier won't be able to]
[Because of the level difference between you and Silver Oracle you won't be able to communicate with anyone outside the barrier unless you leave the barrier.]
After finding a secluded ally where no one was around Silver Oracle cast an isolation barrier around them that seemed to stop all sight and sound from entering or leaving it.
After which John opened his gear interface and selected Phanta before Choosing the upgrade option.
[Are you sure you wish to merge the five Uncommon (Green) items to item Phanta?]
[*WARNING* Selected items will permanently disappear.]
[Yes] [No]
"Yes"
[Please select the five Uncommon (Green) items from your inventory.]
John selected the five they had just got from the auction house.
[Rank up requirements update:]
[Merge 5 Uncommon (Green) Chest Pieces with the Druid's Mantle 5/5]
[Item Phanta can now be upgrade too Uncommon (Green)]
[Proceed with upgrade?]
[Yes] [No]
"Yes"
After confirming Phanta detached itself from John and floated in front of him.
Phanta started to glow green as some of the rugged edges it had started to fix themselves and look neater.
The brown color that made up most of it seemed to gain a slight green hue to it and the green edgings started turning slightly silvery.
The broach in the center started to clean itself up with a hint of gold.
The whole process went on for about five minutes before Phanta floated back towards John and re-attached to his shoulders and notifications appeared before John.