“Fix this? This?! I’m a smith, not a damn miracle worker!”

A day passed after the horde battle. The entire town was wrought with activity as usual. Since the horde battle was so intense yesterday, they poured in all their efforts to ensure the next battle will be easier, and making it better for the soldiers fighting.

The ones who didn’t had much focus in combat instead worked on the day to day matters, making sure that the town was working as it should and keeping it alive.

The otherworlders greeted the lords and decided to head out to get Mikella’s weapons fixed. They left Clara and Ana with Vivian to take care of them, but made Zeke promise that since Mikella will be heading out that he will play with her. Zeke did so immediately, still under ‘heavy supervision’ by her to make sure he doesn’t commit anymore dingus activities.

The town was small, but it was wide enough to take a while to get from place to place. While the roads were cobblestone, there were hints of grass and dirt, mostly around the residential areas. The town was separated into different districts–one for the residents, the other for the mercantile businesses, and even a smaller one for the necessities. That’s where the two were heading.

Mikella and Zeke headed out for the only blacksmith in the city. Adam, the blacksmith, was a trusted friend of the lords, and Val’s personal caretaker for her weapons. While Adam may be scroungy, he will give a discount for the two as not only they were referred by the lords, but also as the ones who took charge in the horde battle and helped the town survive.

When they finally got to the blacksmith, Mikella gave her sword to him to inspect the damage. He took one look at it and turned borderline astonished.

Even Zeke recoiled in shock to find the sword utterly broken beyond measure. The form was still there, but blood practically replaced the initial color. Crimson was botched and splattered everywhere and the blade was nicked in all sorts of places. The fact that she could kill anything at all no matter how good of a weapon it was proved just how durable it was and how strong Mikella is.

But in the end, having a working tool at full capacity was better than a rusty stick. And apparently, that’s what the sword is; a rusty, blunted, and dirty stick.

Mikella grimaced, finally seeing the sword’s state close up for the first time. Even after using it this whole time, she was so busy trying to survive that she didn’t pay attention. Or rather, she didn’t want to pay attention to how bad the sword was turning out to be.

“Damn, woman! I can see the dents your fingers made on the hilt!” Adam said, looking almost horrified.

He was a larger than life man with dark brown skin, dark hair flowing from his nose and chin. He was a dwarf–or at least that’s what the lords said, but Mikella can’t tell. The dude wasn’t just wide–he was huge. It was clear that he was at least shorter than Zeke, who stood at around 6 feet high, but compared to him, he looks like a stick while he looks like a fully grown tree.

She knew in this fantasy type world with magic and monsters, there would also be different races. After all, that’s why she had the Human race on her status screen. Apparently there were differences between the races when it came to stats, but it didn’t really matter to her.

But to see a true-blooded dwarf really put into her mind that she was truly in another world. And that same dwarf is outright pissed at her.

He stared at the sword, checking it over and over, making sure to check every nook and cranny of it. He kept spouting out words that made Mikella more embarrassed and ashamed.

“Hey, come on, I tried my hardest…” Mikella said, but even she knew how futile it was as she tried to hunch her head between her shoulders like a turtle.

“We’ve been through a lot,” Zeke said, trying his hardest to defend her. “Do you think you can fix it?”

“Mmh…” The smith hadn’t responded to Zeke’s question. He was still staring at the sword as if it held the secrets of the universe deep within the blade. “This was a good sword, no doubt. I don’t think I will be able to repair it with the tools I have. This also doesn’t have any decent enchantments or arrays. If someone were to actually power this thing up, this can deal some serious damage.”

Adam turned to Mikella, noticing her not as a young woman, but a warrior who have felled monsters with no issues.

“I have an Enchanter friend that can do some improvements. It’s a little pricey, but knowing how you just love this weapon to bits, I think having the guy put in the enchantment for some extra durability might be good for you. In exchange, you can have one of my swords that I’ve been holding up for a while. It should keep you at bay before the sword is fixed and returned. What do you say?”

Mikella’s eyes glistened. Now that sounded like a good deal, but the extra cost made her pause. “How much would it be?”

“Hol’ up, let me explain a bit,” Adam said, instantly catching their attention as he explained. “First off, normal repairs are usually dependent on the quality of the weapon. As a Blacksmith, I got a skill that helps me figure out the quality easier. So I can say that this is some good stuff right here…” The smith stared at the poor sword, then at the one responsible.

Mikella instantly grimaced as she knew exactly what the smith was thinking. Why is it that she felt so embarrassed despite having a very good reason for overusing it?

“So, from lowest to highest, it would cost around 5 silvers to one gold,” The smith continued. “You can get that much by hunting the monsters and looting them. You guys got your reward from the horde, right?”

The two nodded, recalling how they received their rewards the day after the horde. It was a feature placed by Cloud and Val using a special artifact that was given to them as lords to the town. With that artifact, he could implement an interface that rewards others for their contributions to the town.

It was fair, and while it doesn’t completely mess with the System, it would help everyone gets a fair share according to what the system deemed. Much like how one gained experience to level up and empower their skills, the system would point out their contributions in the battle that affected the town.

Mikella silently opened up a notification regarding that reward, still stunned at the amount.

> You have aided in Eve Glade’s defense from the horde.

>

> For your contributions, you have received the following:

>

> 3 Gold

>

> 5 Silver

It took a moment, but it was apparent that the coins were separated as so; Copper coins were valued as one American dollar, with Silver coins being 10 dollars worth. Gold, the most valuable one of the coins, was worth 100 dollars. This meant that, according to Zeke’s old world job salary, his yearly income would be around 384 gold. That’s basically 2 silver per hour.

So, according to Mikella’s reward, for defending the town for about half a day, she gained a total of 350 US dollars. Quite a gain.

As for Zeke… well, it was natural that his contribution was higher, giving him a whopping 5 gold and 10 silver, or 6 gold in total.

She wasn’t even bitter about that. The man did break an arm and a leg defending the town with his barriers.

As for the coins, they just suddenly appeared into their storage bags. For folks without the storage bags, they just appear right in front of them. She wondered whether the system itself is the one that brings the coins to life, but apparently the lords explained that the system just takes the coins from the lords’ cache for the town. This way, there would be no sudden new coins that would just drop into the economy, disturbing the natural money flow of the world.

She didn't’ really much care about that, but she was at least glad that she would be compensated fairly. Who else would be more fair and just than the system that governs the entire world?

Including their reward, they already have a good amount of coins from their tower survival. Though naturally some compensation would be given to the lords for staying at their home, so the otherworlders naturally donated the remainder of the Attribute Fruits to them.

They knew how valuable they were, but it was clear that everyone would need Attribute Fruits to get stronger, and Mikella didn’t really mind that much. As long as Clara has a safe home, it was enough for her.

“Now,” Adam continued, taking Mikella off her thoughts. “I would put this weapon up for 8 silver, but I’ll make it 7 for your service to the town,” The smith said. Instantly, both Zeke and Mikella narrowed their eyes at him, getting him to notice. “Hey, I gotta make money too. Take it or leave it.”

A measly silver wasn’t nearly enough of a discount, but they gave in and let the smith keep talking.

“Now for the enchantments…” Adam scratched his full beared as he thought deeply. “For the durability increase, that’s around 5 silver. But if you want to add in some more, like a sharpness increase to deal overall damage, or a magical enchantment to get those annoying spirit type monsters, that’s a gold coin on top of that.”

Mikella almost winced at that. The durability increase alone along with the repair would take a good chunk of her own rewards. But another enchantment would double that amount.

The twenty gold and fifty silvers they got from the tower would be put into their ‘savings’, or at least that’s how they would refer it. Even Cloud and Val agreed that keeping a hefty amount of gold is important, as no matter how strong someone is in levels and skills, money still talks in this world.

That’s why she was hoping to use the reward from the horde battle to pay for the equipment, but it was too much. No matter how much she wants a good weapon, she can’t stake all her money on that one.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

But Zeke surprised her as he suddenly spoke up.

“Is it okay if I pay for her?” Zeke added.

“Sure, as long as you pay up,” The smith nodded, clearly not going to turn down cash.

“Zeke, hold up.”

Mikella pulled Zeke aside, giving the Smith an apologetic nod. The smith didn’t answer, but instead waved them off. He knew that sometimes these sorts of things needed to be conversed first. She was thankful that the smith wasn’t the sort to be annoying for money.

She turned back to Zeke, who in turn actually looked like he was upset.

“What’s up?” He asked. “It’s better for you to get a good sword.”

“Well, yeah, but I don’t wanna use up all of our cash,” Mikella said. “And also, I don’t want you to spend so much on me!”

“You don’t want me to?” Zeke asked, this time a worried look showed up. She got irked seeing that face.

He assumed that despite spending every day together in this new world, he wasn’t close enough to spend money on her. She could tell thanks to hanging around with this guy for so long whose body language speaks for itself.

“Ugh, not like that,” She scoffed. “Of course I wouldn’t mind if you pay for me. That’s not what I meant. I just don’t want you to spend it all on me. If it’s for Clara, that’s fine, but this is something… more of a vanity, I guess. I can earn my own weapon just fine. It’s unfair to ask you to pay for it when it’s only going to me.”

“But isn’t that the point?” Zeke asked, stumping Mikella. “If you get a better sword, you get stronger, right?”

“Well… yeah?” Mikella asked instead of actually answering.

“Then obviously if you get stronger, we both benefit,” Zeke said, slowing his words on purpose while using his fingers to motion between the two of them. “You get stronger, you get more levels, then I get more levels. You get what I’m throwing at you?”

“Okay, I get it, but you don’t have to act like a smartass,” Mikella replied sharply, crossing her arms.

“Then don’t act like a dumbass!”

That really surprised Mikella, leaving her wide-eyed. That was the first time Zeke yelled back like that. Not that she was offended–she was just shocked he had the guts to do that. Zeke noticed it and cleared his throat, his cheeks burning from the shout.

“Mikella, we both know how dangerous the world is. Having a good weapon is essential. I’m not planning on starving myself, but with the two of us together, we got over forty gold to spend. Paying off a weapon and maybe some armor wouldn’t be so bad for you. I can’t go with you for your training, so I’ll feel better knowing that I can contribute in a way to help you get stronger.”

“Zeke…” Mikella softened her stare.

“Look, I know that I might be overexaggerating the danger,” Zeke noticed her stare, darting his eyes away again. “But… we only got one life to live. It’s still the real world, so there’s no extra lives or a respawn for us. One death and we’re gone. So… I’d just feel better if I can just help with this stuff.”

Once again, Mikella had no words to say. Everything he said was true, but she still felt that he was doing too much. She can’t help but think that he values her life way more than his own.

She can’t understand why he put her on such a high pedestal. It’s one thing for Clara, but not for her. There was nothing she did that seemed so impressive otherwise. But then, how can she say no?

“Hah… alright,” Mikella relented. “But can you at least buy something for yourself? I feel weird if you only spend it on me…”

She would always feel weird if someone paid for her, whether it’d be a meal at a restaurant or even buying a weapon in a medieval blacksmith store. It just felt like she was being a leech.

Zeke actually snorted. “What, you think I’m gonna miss a chance to find something for myself? Girl, please…”

Zeke joked, waving off the last comment. But he noticed Mikella just frowned at him.

“Please… don’t ever say it like that again.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Zeke said, stiff as a board.

After the two finished speaking, they returned to the patient blacksmith, showing off a smile at the two.

“You two lovebirds done? Did the wifey punished the hubby enough?” The smith joked, easily knowing about the two’s marital status. It didn’t take a genius to think of them as such anyways.

“Oh, yes,” Mikella joked along, though her tone was less then enthused. “I had to convince my husband not to spend like a dingus. But yes, I’ll accept it. For the repair, the durability increase, and… is it possible to make the weapon lighter than sharper?”

She asked, figuring that if Zeke was going to pay for it, then she might as well go for some more.

“Sure, but the cost will increase to another 5 silver. It’s a damn hard trick to pull off,” Adam explained, giving off a smirk at her. Mikella nodded as she responded.

“Deal.”

With that, the two paid the smith the money for an improved weapon. Then, as he returned to the back of the store with Mikella’s broken up sword in tow, he returned back a few minutes later with another sword.

Unlike her last one, this sword was slightly smaller, almost suited to one hand rather than the longsword she was using. However, Mikella could tell in an instant that this sword isn’t so lackluster.

The blade was thinner but it had a yellow coloring to it, bright like a lemon. The sword was simple, a diamond-shaped blade on the top with small spikes peeking out from the base at its sides. It was simple at a glance, but there was a feeling Mikella couldn’t quite catch. If she could just use one word, it would be ‘impressive’.

Sword of Lightning (Uncommon)

A sword crafted with the mote of lightning essence as its center. Some say it was created by mages to replicate the storm that would come for their enemies.

Enchantments:

Lesser Lightning

Lesser Sharpness

“Ooh,” Mikella cooed at the sword. This was the first time she has ever been so enthralled by a weapon.

“This looks impressive,” Zeke uttered, turning to the smith. “You’re just gonna let her borrow that? Is that really okay?”

Mikella was stunned to forget about that. Of course this looked valuable, at least to their eyes, but the smith shook his head.

“Don’t worry your pretty little heads over it,” The smith shrugged. “The rarity tells it all. Sure, it’s impressive, but it’s just one of the many things equipment like this can give you. Honestly, it wouldn’t be good even if it had Greater Lightning and Greater Sharpness. Uncommon equipment are a dime a dozen, and sometimes having it enchanted with a certain aspect can reduce its cost to all kinds of adventurers. Some might not take kindly to sudden lightning up their asses when dealing with magic that might, uhh… interfere with that.”

The two nodded in understanding. Considering what Zeke told her about magic–it’s a fickle bitch that can blow up in your face if you’re not careful.

Still…

“So, this Lesser Lightning stuff–Does that mean I can cast lightning magic?” She asked, hope in her eyes.

“No,” Adam crushed her hope completely. “It just means when you stab shit with it, it blasts lightning up their asses.”

“...Oh, okay.”

She can totally work with that, she thought with a vicious smile on her face as she gladly took the sword.

“Thank you,” Mikella smiled. “I’ll make sure to take care of it.”

“I doubt that,” The smith coldly said, dampening Mikella’s good vibe. “Instead, I want you to bring it back every few days for fixing. It looked like your sword hadn’t been fixed up in years, even if you say you only got it recently. It’s annoying, but the more damage done to the sword, the more costly the repairs will be. Or rather, I’ll make it costly, cuz’ I sure as hell don’t wanna deal with this sorry mess again.”

The smith was utterly relentless in bringing down Mikella’s mood, but she can’t help but agree. In the end, he’s the one who has to deal with it.

“By the way boy,” The smith turned to Zeke now, surprising him. “I noticed you ain’t got any tools to cast your magic.”

“Huh?” Zeke tilted his head. “Do I… need them?”

“As much as any warrior needs something sharp to kill things, yeah!” Adam threw his hands up into the air in disbelief. “A tool, a focus, whatever the fuck it is, you need it! I’m actually pretty damn shocked that you managed to defend the town without anything on hand. But I bet it was a real pain in the ass, huh?”

Zeke tilted his head, his lips pursed into a grimace. He told her about the constant headaches and migranes he suffered while casting his barrier and refilling his mana with potions. It sounded like hellish torture and if he tried to take a break once, people would’ve died.

“But aren’t staves and stuff expensive?” Mikella asked. “Like, more than weapons?”

“You’re precisely right,” Adam nodded. “Magic tools like staves and such are pretty expensive to make and difficult to use. Mana ain’t something to fiddle with unless you know what you’re doing, after all. But they’re still pretty important to have around, so every store that calls itself a store worth selling battle gear should have staves on hand.”

“Oh, so you got one?” She asked.

“Hell no, I’m broke,” Adam said simply.

“Then why the fuck did you say anything about it!?”

Mikella practically screamed at the man, causing Zeke to panic and try to calm her down while Adam just guffawed like mad.

“Haha, just cuz’ I don’t got any staves don’t mean I can’t get them. I know a friend of mine, and he’s about to send me some shipments with the gear we’ll need. I can get him to add something else into the mix that might work well for you. So wha’d you say? You want in on it?”

After calming down, Mikella realized the idea. Turning to Zeke, she nodded. “I think it’s a good plan. Get a staff that helps with the mana cost for the barrier.”

That, and whatever else Zeke needed for his magic. However, she noticed Zeke pursing his lips in deep thought again. After another moment, he answered with a bit of hesitation.

“You said there’s all kinds of tools, not just staves… is it okay if I can just get something I can wear?” Zeke gestured with his hands, flexing his fingers. “I just don’t want to hold something like a staff all the time. It’d just feel cumbersome. That and any spellbook or something else. I want my hands to be free in case I need to do something.”

Hearing that, Mikella realized that it was possible he needed to have his hands free in case he needed to help Clara out. That was how they did things back in the tower, and it looked like the feeling stuck with him since then.

The smith nodded, understanding his plight. “No worries. Though that depends on what my friend got. He ain’t exactly swimming with magical gear, y’know. What sort of effects you’re looking for? I’m betting something to do with mana conservation, but I also mean what kind of improvements you’re looking for.”

“Improvements…” Zeke took a moment. Then he nodded to himself. “Something that helps my barrier get stronger, or my healing skill to be better. Anything to help with those skills.”

“So support related enhancements, huh?” Adam nodded again. “Good plan. Though I gotta warn you–compared to any other improvements, those specific ones might be hard to find. I hate to say it, but not everyone has a mind to do support when they can just improve their own damage as a mage.”

“I understand,” Zeke agreed. “So if those aren’t available, then just anything that helps with restoring or conserving my mana is fine.”

“Alright,” Adam said, picking out an actual pen from his beard of all places and writing down on a piece of paper he pulled from under his counter. “So any wearable gear that gives support improvements and mana conservation. I’ll be adding that in to the order that’s coming. But I’m gonna have to ask for payment. About a gold coin would do for this one.

Zeke winced, but understood as he agreed. “Mikella, is it okay? I’ll be using my own money for this.”

“It’s fine,” Mikella waved it off. “Oh, but I’ll pay half. It’s only fair after all.”

Mikella smiled deviously, to which Zeke could only grimace and nod in understanding. She just can’t help but want to mess with him at times like this. She knew she shouldn’t, but she just does.

“Alright, alright, just leave me out of this and get a room,” The smith said, waving at the two. I’ll send you a message when I’m done with everything.”

The two agreed as they exchanged a total of 2 gold and 4 silver, one for repairing and enhancing durability for her original sword, and for the possible gear Zeke would be able to get.

After all of this, she was… happy. She didn’t think she would feel good to get something so useful no matter how far she was from her element in the store. The smith wasn’t bad to talk to either, so the two silently agreed to visit the store often, as discovering more about equipment was about to become a hobby for them.