Entering the inn, Norbert placed his pile of clothes on the table, looking at the collection he now had. Wondering where he would put it all, he sorted it into piles of type. Taking what he would need next time, he put one set in his backpack. The rest he took with him, heading up to Martitia's room.
Knocking on the door, not hearing anyone inside opening the door, he slipped in and headed to his chest. Opening it up, Norbert saw it was the same as he left it. Reaching inside for the coins, Norbert smiled, seeing several gold coins inside and placed some from Arzatech inside, happy with his little investment growing. As he closed the lid, the gold coin in hand and his clothes in the appropriate spot, he made his way back out of the inn, flicking the gold coin into the air.
Sitting there, Nancy asked, "Thought you were going to the casino for the gold?"
Flicking the coin back up and catching it again, responding, "Had an extra couple change. So heading off there now." he said as Obsius flew from outside, landing on his shoulder. Turning to the bird, asking, "Want to get something to eat?" receiving a chirp in response, Norbert closed the door to the inn, heading back towards the armour shop.
Inside, Nancy shook her head as she stared at the fire. "Just gets a gold coin like it's normal."
***
He entered the shop, and the bell rang again, and he felt the heat hit him; the inside was dark except for the furnace in the back. Closing the door, he flicked the coin to Nancy's Aunt. Landing on the table next to her, head still down as she continued her engraving. Norbert noticed it was the same piece as before. Looking at it, Norbert couldn't see the work she had made in the time it took him to get back to the shop.
"How long will it take to get ready?" Norbert asked the Aunt, hoping it would be quick.
Finishing her tool, she placed it down, moving the glass out of her face, moving her eyes to the coin sitting on the desk. Palming it into her hand, she opened the second drawer, placing it in the pile; he heard other coins jingling together as the door closed.
"Thank you for bringing it so quickly. Will be done in two days." She said.
Norbert just nodded. "Oh, I was wondering if there could be a helmet option as well, so I can wear the black mask when I want to, but if I know I'm getting hit, my entire head would be protected. And then have it so it won't disturb my hearing and fit properly?" Norbert asked.
"Can do, but it will cost you." The Aunt replied.
Norbert nodded, taking a second gold coin and placing it on the desk with his index finger. A thud echoed throughout the room. "Will this be enough …" he asked, letting the coin go.
"Beckia, and that will be enough. But I will need to get some more measurements before you leave." She said.
"Will it still take two days or longer?" Norbert asked.
Beckia standing up, shook her head. "Will still be only two days. Now bend down your way too tall."
Norbert just nodded as he went down, already excited about what it would look like in two days.
***
Everyone else is coming down into the inn's central area. Norbert twitched his leg excitedly, not waiting for the day to come. To have his mask and be able to walk around with it. He thought about how much it cost him and hoped it would be strong enough. As the others came, Norbert stayed in front of the fire; people came up to talk to him, but Norbert dismissed them. His mind was elsewhere.
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Norbert waited as the time continued to tick forward on the second day since meeting with Beckia. As it became mid-day and others were returning for lunch, Norbert stood up, unable to wait any longer, smiling at the first thing he would do with it.
Leaving the inn, Norbert headed for the armourer, not waiting to see if Obsius was following him.
As the bell announced his arrival again in the shop, Norbert saw that Beckia wasn't working on something. Papers were on her desk. She ruffled through them. He opened the door and made his way through the shop to the desk in the middle. Beckia looked up as she leaned to the side and opened the third drawer in her desk.
Taking two pieces, she placed them on the table. Norbert looked upon his prize, happy for its cost now that he could finally see it. Sitting on the desk was two pieces of a helmet. The front piece had eye slits, and the black metal seemed to absorb all light. The indents to shape the face were not shown, just a single clear piece of metal it looked like.
The other piece, the back of the helmet, was not black like the front but of cold steel. He was seeing the lines of how it worked to be created into one piece that would meld to his head. Smiling at it, he reached forward, gliding his hand over the pieces.
Cool to the touch, he couldn't stop the grin on his face. Norbert picked up the two pieces and saw them sit flush with the desk, with no strap or connecting piece. Looking inside, Norbert saw the engravings within, intricate circles within circles along the black mask. The back side had fewer symbols and runes, bigger and overlapping in sections.
"May I?" Norbert asked.
Beckia motioned with her hands that its fine as Norbert picked up the black mask. Feeling the surprising heft to it for its thickness, he wondered what dense material it was made of. At that point, not caring, he placed it on his face, feeling it hold itself against his skin, the metal not cool at all to his face, surprised by the fact.
They fit snugly as he breathed in and out deeply. He filled his lungs as he opened his eyes and looked around the room. Before, he would have lost his peripheral vision; it was unhindered. Looking to the side, he felt it with his eyes; seeing his fingers stop hitting the mask, Norbert could see through it.
He wondered how it was possible; he had not seen something like this before. As he shook his head, dismissing the thought—as he shook, the mask didn't t move, feeling nothing was nothing there.
Looking around the shop, Norbert saw Beckia holding up a mirror. Nodding and saying his thanks, he looked at himself and saw the red around his eyes and down his jawline, breathing in and out with his breath. As he held his breath, it stopped the light. The more he breathed out, the brighter it shone.
Marvelling at it, he picked the other piece up. Tossing it between his hands before placing it on the back of his head. Hearing a click and feeling a snap as the two pieces of metal came together. Feeling that none of his hair was somehow getting caught, Norbert looked at himself.
The silver and black contrast, with the red showing he thought about the previous gear he bought, being entirely black and seeing that he would need to add the following colour elements of white streaks and red to it so he matched correctly. Angling his head to look at the seem between the two pieces, surprised that no hair stuck out from the seam. The closer he examined he realised he couldn't see or feel a seam between the two pieces of metal, feeling like a single piece. The only way he knew that it wasn't due to the colour different of the metal and how it was in two pieces only moments ago.
Now shaking his head around, it didn't move at all. Raising his fist, he smashed it against the helmet, feeling the impact as it moved around his head, distributing the force. Taking his sword out, he raised it in front of himself, looking square at the blade. As hard as he could, he swung the blade at himself. Feeling it jolt in his hands as a clang ran throughout the store.
Stopping, Norbert sheathed the sword, removing the mask, happy that no scratch was on the metal. Smiling at it, he placed the helmet back on his head, happy with it. "Thanks for the work Beckia. Will come back here again," Norbert said as he waved, the bell ringing again.
As he strode into the street, still having enough time to reach his next destination, he strolled around the city.
***
With the sun setting for a day, Norbert looked up at the glass building, and people were rushing by him again, wondering if they would remember the mask from the last time; this one looked slightly different as he walked up the steps. Having his last gold coin in his purse, Norbert wanted to add more to his collection, thinking he would start with silvers.
As he stepped through the doors, showing his sword tied, the two security guards instantly walked towards him. "Huh," he said, chuckling to himself. "Guess they didn't forget from last time."