Dozens of countries sent someone to Azuria in the last month to participate in a conference called by the king of Azuria. A somewhat festive atmosphere permeated the town with people from all around the world going there for their various reasons.

As the kings, queens, chancellors, diplomats, etc… were having their talks, merchants were doing the same, except that they were not united by a possible common enemy.

“25, not a coin more!” Cassandra shouted at the dwarf in front of her.

“70! This isn’t a toy!” The dwarf shouted back.

“Doesn’t matter. You never sold that piece of scrap because nobody can handle it. I know who can and she won’t use it. 26, the extra coin is so that you never talk to me again.”

“You little rat! That is a sword forged by the princess of Majaria herself! 70 gold is a steal!”

“Nobody cares if a rich girl did or didn’t forge the sword. You yourself said that nobody so far was able to control the sword. I know someone who absolutely will be able to and the sword is at least cool looking. Can be used as decoration.”

“I am not going to sell this national treasure entrusted to me just so a random person can use it!”

“Then why are you parading that thing around like that? Fuck this. Romeo, who was the other guy that was going to talk to me?” Cassandra asked her bodyguard. He quickly pointed to a muscular drink with a group of merchants a few tables away.

“Wait, I will do it for 60.” The Dwarf merchant said but at that point Cassandra had already left the table.

“Mind if I sit here, gentlemen?” Cassandra asked the group near the man she wanted to talk with.

“If ain’t the soul merchant herself.” One of the merchants said.

“Only if you are selling cheap.” Cassandra said.

“So, dwarf girl, Cassandra I believe. I heard you are looking for weapons. I have a good collection, made some myself even.” The muscular man said.

“Yes. They need to either be extremely powerful or a work of art.”

“Well, let’s go to my cart and see if my wares are up to your standards.”

“I am more interested if your prices are up to my standards.” Everyone at the table laughed as they left and began to walk toward the area where said cart was parked.

A few areas in the city were transformed into open markets, with lots of foreign merchants bringing their wares to sell.

“Here is my beauties. My cart, my forge and my wife.” The muscular man said as he pointed to his cart. It was a giant iron cart with 6 wheels, covered in weapons and armor that the man’s wife was selling.

“Sup girl! Looking for something?” The also muscular woman asked.

“The best sword you have or the most beautiful or cool.”

“Mind me asking why?”

“Birthday present to someone extremely powerful. But don’t think you can scam me. I know if something is worth its price!”

Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

“My love here doesn’t like when I do that so don’t worry.” The woman said, pointing to her husband.

“Well, she knows where some stuff is but I have something special. Give me a minute so I can go get it.” The muscular man said as both him and his wife began to look around their stock. It was already night so things were slower.

“If you are looking for powerful stuff we have these.” The woman said as she put 4 swords on a table in front of Cassandra.

“What can you tell me about them?” Cassandra asked.

“First one, basic as hell long sword, only sword my husband didn’t forge of this batch. Guy who sold it to us was an enchanter and made it so that the sword was always sharp.”

“Kind of a basic enchantment, ain’t it?”

“The thing is that it is way too good to be normal. If you take it out of the scabbard you can cut yourself by just touching the blade.”

“And the other ones?”

“Can’t say they are beautiful or anything, they look even worse than the first one, but they have some nice powers. The first one gives you mana if you kill a monster with it. My husband had to win a drinking contest to have the sword enchanted. The second can hit things without bodies. Ghosts, spirits, the kind. It is also made out of spirit silver so you will never need to polish it. The last one is an evil bitch.”

“What do you mean?”

“Bastard who enchanted the sword made it so the sword would get stronger over time but only if the one using it was good enough. The problem is that we never found anyone that the sword accepted for more than an hour that would actually buy the damn thing.”

“How strong are we talking about?”

“As strong as it can get as a sword. Saw a sword master part the sea by just swinging the thing but I can’t cut bread with it if I wanted to.”

“Looks like I am here just in time. Ladies, feast your eyes.” The muscular man said as he dropped, figuratively, a buster sword into the table.

“How do you have that?” Romeo, the bodyguard, asked in surprise.

“Cousin of mine was a knight in the order. The sword survived and just a few days ago I finally managed to restore it with the help of a smith here in the town.”

“Master, buy that sword for me and I will work for you for the rest of my life.” The man said with a fervor that Cassandra never heard from the man. He barely talked at all.

“What is so special about this sword? It’s big, it is beautiful and looks powerful, but is it really worth all that?” The sword looked to be made out of gold and diamonds. The hilt was made of gold with something that looked like a diamond in the pommel. From the guard a giant blade continued for 1,75 meters. Said blade looked like a mix of gold and diamonds and was extremely sharp for something so fat and big. In total the weapon was just a little over 2 meters tall.

“That is a blade given to Crusaders. Those crazy people that go around making sure that the religious nuts around the world don’t go crazy. It’s easier to count the amount of stuff those things can’t deal with than what they can.”

“...Can you even use it? Just because you are a little bigger than it doesn’t mean you will be able to. If it is going to make you less effective I also won’t even think about giving it to you.”

“Don’t worry, I may use normal blades around town but it is only because I can’t really walk around with my actual weapons.”

“Alright…So, how much for the big shiny thing?”

“10 platinum.” The muscular man said.

“Does this sword have any other power besides being able to cut almost anything?”

“It reflects a lot of common magic, serves as a powerful staff and you can seal things inside it.” The muscular man listed.

“...Alright. But If I ever found out that this thing is not up to par I will hunt you down. And you Romeo, I own you now. If you lose this thing it will be your problem so protect what you sold your soul for with as much might as you protect me.”

“No worries master. Food and a roof will be more than enough now that I have this.” Romeo said as he grabbed the blade. Power immediately began to flow into him but he stopped it. He was working at the moment and he could play later.

“Here is your money. Do you have any other blades like that?”

“I have ornamental things that are not enchanted.”

“Those will have to do.”

After several more minutes of Cassandra looking at their stock, she bought a sword that had various mystical creatures embedded on the blade. It was completely ineffective as a weapon but it was beautiful enough.