"That was actually so very embarrassing. I've known Rull for a long time and I've been to Trand many times before so I should've known it was his brother but I've just never been to the armorer before, mages don't need armor, why would I go there?" Reta frantically ranted after they'd hastily departed the shop.

"I don't know what the big deal is, he didn't seem bothered by you not knowing." Tommy chimed in once there was a break in Reta's ranting.

"Oh wow, lucky you Tommy, not feeling embarrassed so easily. Not everyone is born the same way you know?" Reta snapped at Tommy, who backed off a little.

"He might be a bit blunt but he's right, you know. You shouldn't feel bad or embarrassed for not knowing who he was, having never met the man." Cooper bravely waded into the waters of a stressed Reta.

"I know, I know. Just, give me a bit to process it. Sorry for snapping at you Tommy."

"You did remind me of one of those snappy shelled fuckers for a bit there." Tommy blurted out.

Reta stopped walking and Tommy looked at Reta with fear in his eyes. Until Reta burst into laughter.

"You mean a turtle?" Reta asked, having dealt with her laughing fit.

"Yeah, what did I say?"

"I guess you did say that." Reta admitted.

"So, where are we headed next?" Cooper asked.

"Well, the quest posting did say that supplies would be provided but I would assume that means stuff like food and water, not miscellaneous equipment useful for general adventuring, so first we're headed to a tailor I know."

After passing what seemed to be the entirety of the merchant's row and a tailor's shop, Cooper broke the silence. "So where exactly is this tailor of yours? We passed what looked like a tailor just now."

"She's closer to the gate to the castle, she mostly does custom orders for the nobility and such so she doesn't need a place out here."

"Fancy." Tommy and Cooper said in unison, Reta chuckling at them.

After more walking, they arrived at the castle gates and took a left and followed the path alongside the castle wall to a small wooden building, which Reta entered after briefly stopping before the door.

"I swear I didn't have any pickups today, I didn't forget anything did I?" A soft voice from a room in the back said, barely audible enough to hear. "So, what ca- Reta!" The small figure almost flew at Reta, hugging her tight.

"Lets not break or dislocate anything this time, shall we Anne?" Reta barely managed to get out.

"But it's been so long! You really should visit more often, I wouldn't have to hug you for all the missed days, risking all sorts of injury." The figure, Anne, responded, letting Reta out of the hug.

"I'll keep that in mind, but you do know that I'm part of a group now and I just go where they go, right?"

"Yes yes, but you could just tell that grumpy old man to visit Trand more often."

Reta opened her mouth to say something but stopped before she did. "I was going to say that he's not that old, but I forget he just doesn't look old, he's got to be pushing a hundred."

"Darren told me he's over a hundred and fifty." Tommy interjected before Anne could respond, both the women stared at Tommy.

"A hundred and fifty?! What sort of monster is this man?" Anne almost yelled.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"He fought in the last two major wars." Tommy said almost smugly.

Reta slapped the top of Tommy's head. "Idiot. If he fought in the last two wars, he'd be closer to two hundred!"

"He was there and didn't correct Darren, so I assumed it was true." Tommy shrugged.

"He was there. And he didn't correct you." Reta and Anne stared at Tommy in awe.

"Two hundred does seem a bit high." Cooper said nonchalantly.

Reta and Anne turned towards Cooper. "A bit high?! That's insane!" Anne got closer to yelling.

"He's new so I assume he doesn't know. Cooper, do you know how to increase your natural lifespan?" Reta asked with a polar opposite tone to Anne's yelling.

"No. I kind of assumed he was just born like that?"

"Well, that's not a bad assumptions, some people just live longer than others, but every two or three levels you gain, you increase your natural lifespan by a year or so. It's not that accurate, but that seems to be the average, found by studies." Reta dutifully explained.

"But what's the normal lifespan not influenced by levels then? For a human that is, I'll assume it's different for other races."

"Seems to be around seventy from what we know, and yes, you are correct about it being different for other races. Elves, dwarves and lizardkin are the longest living, in that order, though elves win by a landslide."

"Okay, that does make the Captain's, I assume its the Captain you're talking about anyways, age rather impressive. But that would mean he'd be over level hundred, two hundred even, isn't that impossible?" Cooper asked with a seemingly uncaring attitude that Anne didn't take too kindly to.

"I don't think you grasp the situation here, if he's around two hundred years old, he's likely the same level, or gods forbid, stronger than any rulers, leaders or the like!"

"Well yes, that's kind of my point. I don't know how high the levels go and if there are other ways to increase one's lifespan, that I only just know found out that you can actually increase."

Before Anne could say anything, Reta started. "There are some ways to increase one's lifespan outside of just levels. Rare relics or artifacts, some skills, though those are very rare and purging dungeons grants a boon that could increase your lifespan as well, though that is entirely speculation as nobody wants to talk about their rare and unique things, understandably so."

"He could also be half-elf. Or dwarf. Or lizard." Tommy suggested.

"He doesn't look half anything." Anne muttered in thought.

"I think we're getting sidetracked. Anne, we came here for some bags, satchels, that sort of thing. Adventuring mostly." Reta said, stopping the speculation about the Captain's age.

"Right, I assume they're for these two, you didn't break yours yet?" Anne pointed at Tommy and Cooper.

"Yes, a large backpack for both then the rest you three can talk about."

"I've got this dark grey one and this green one for available larger backpacks, that okay?"

"I'll take the dark grey one." Tommy immediately claimed the grey backpack.

"I suppose that leaves me with this one, which is fine, I think I like it more anyway." Cooper took the other backpack.

"Right, you got any ideas of what you might want?" Anne asked, hands on hips.

"Do you happen to have any shirts that might fit me? I got this one a bit damaged by a troll." Cooper grabbed the side of his shirt, pulling it forward and revealing some gashes and torn fabric from where the troll had sideswiped him.

"Ah. I think so." Anne took a look at Cooper and measured him with her eyes. "Yes, most likely, I'll be back in a bit." She hastily entered the back, coming back out after a few moments with a couple of shirts hanging on her arm. "Right, will this one do? I've got a couple more colours if the dark green isn't something you like, but they're functionally the same."

"Yes, actually I think the dark green will go nicely with the armor I'm getting tomorrow."

"Ah, a man with a sense of fashion." Anne joked. "You can try it on now, if you'd like."

"Sure." Cooper grabbed the offered shirt, pulled off his own torn shirt and slid into the dark green one. "I think it fits nicely, a little loose around the waist but that's not exactly a problem." Cooper stopped looking at his new shirt and saw a shocked Anne and an amused Tommy. "What?"

"I don't think the lady expected you to take your shirt off right there and then." Tommy said laughing.

"I did have a dressing room over there..." She pointed to the side, towards a door, next to Reta who was browsing different silks and bolts of cloth.

"Ah well, you live and you learn." Cooper shrugged.

"Right... Anything else you might need?" Anne quickly changed the subject.

"Uhh, yes. I'd like a belt with an amount of small pouches on it, maybe bigger ones on the sides?" Cooper motioned around his waist and emphasizing the sides.

"Same." Tommy said from the back.

"I only have the one and it's not fully intact, I'll have to do some repairs. I should be able to make another, though."

"How long will that take?" Reta turned around.

"Later today for the repair and tomorrow for the fresh one, if I start working immediately."

"That's fine. How much do you want for all this?" Reta untied the bag of money on her side.

"15 gold normally, but since you're a friend, we can do 10."

"Since you're a friend, we can do 20." Reta said, turning Anne's words against her.

Anne laughed. "You drive a hard bargain."