Elara walked behind Esme. The warrior's broad shoulders were tense, and her stride was brisk, as if she couldn't wait to put some distance between herself and the barn. A twinge of guilt crept over her as she reflected on their negotiation. Ignatius seemed too willing to agree to her every request. It hardly could be called a negotiation at all. She knew that Esme was not happy with the deal they had struck, and she worried that the warrior's bad mood might fester into something more serious. As they made their way down the road, her mind raced with thoughts of the upcoming dungeon expedition. She knew that she would have to rely on Esme and the others for her safety, and she couldn't afford to let any bad feelings linger between them.

She quickened her pace, catching up to Esme. "Hey," she said, her voice tentative. "I just wanted to say thank you for agreeing to help me. I know it's not an ideal situation, but I really appreciate it."

Esme emitted a grunt, her gaze steady on the road ahead. "No need to thank me," she replied, her tone rough. "We're all in this together now. It's in my best interest to ensure you're adequately equipped."

Elara nodded, relieved by her words. She found the warrior was not one for long speeches or heartfelt conversations, but her simple acknowledgment was enough to put her mind at ease for now. As they approached the house where they had met the woman preparing their meals, she could hear the sound of voices and the clinking of metal coming from inside. She glanced at Esme, wondering what they would find when they entered.

Esme pushed open the door, and she followed her inside. The room was small and cramped, with a low ceiling and a large fireplace dominating one wall. Several women and one man were gathered around a table, their hands busy with various tasks. Some were chopping vegetables, while others were stirring pots of bubbling stew. The woman they had met earlier looked up as they entered, her eyes widening in surprise. "Ah, you're back," she said, wiping her hands on her apron. "I didn't expect to see you so soon."

Esme stepped forward, still holding the pelt and tusk. "We want to trade these with one set of leather armor and a dagger sheath," she said, her voice firm. "Can you point us in the right direction?"

The woman paused for a moment, considering Esme's request. Before she could respond, the lone man in the room spoke up. "Two houses down the road lives one of the hunters," he said, his voice gruff but helpful. "He'd be able to assist you with that."

Esme nodded, a brief smile of gratitude flickering across her face. "Thank you," she said, turning to leave with Elara in tow.

As they stepped outside, the woman called after them, "Breakfast will be brought to you in a few minutes!"

Esme raised her hand in acknowledgment, not bothering to look back as she strode down the road. Elara hurried to keep pace with the warrior, her mind buzzing with thoughts of the upcoming expedition and the preparations they needed to make. She glanced at the houses they passed, wondering which one belonged to the hunter the man had mentioned. It didn't take long to find out. As they approached the second house down the road, she noticed a tanning rack and other hunting equipment scattered in the back. A man stood among the clutter, his hands busy crafting what looks like arrow shafts.

Esme marched up to him, the boar pelt and tusk held out in front of her. "We're looking to trade these for some leather armor and a dagger sheath," she said, her tone businesslike. "Can you help us out?"

The hunter looked up from his work, his eyes appraising the items Esme held. He nodded slowly, a thoughtful expression on his face. "I reckon I could," he said, setting down the arrow shaft he'd been working on. "Let's take a closer look."

Elara watched as the hunter inspected the pelt and tusk, his fingers running over the rough surface of the boar's hide. She couldn't help but feel a twinge of excitement at the prospect of having her own set of armor.

As the hunter and Esme began to negotiate, Elara let her gaze wander around the backyard, taking in the various tools and equipment scattered about. She wondered what kind of adventures the hunter had been on, and if he had ever faced the dangers of a dungeon before.

Elara watched as Esme negotiated with the hunter, her curiosity getting the better of her. She focused her gaze on the man, activating her Inspect skill to determine his level.

Rogue [Level: ??]

The result disappointed her. She had hoped to gauge the strength of the local populace, but the hunter's level remained a mystery. Elara considered asking Esme about it, wondering if it was considered rude to inquire about someone's level. She hesitated, not wanting to offend or draw unwanted attention to herself. As she pondered her options, Esme pointed in her direction, still deep in conversation with the hunter. The man nodded and approached Elara, his eyes assessing her from head to toe.

"Come with me," he said, his voice gruff but not unkind. "I have a spare set of armor that was meant for my son. It might be a bit big on you, but I can make some alterations to ensure a better fit."

Elara followed the hunter into his workshop, her heart racing with anticipation. The prospect of having her own set of armor was thrilling, even if it wasn't a perfect fit. She watched as the man rummaged through a chest, pulling out a set of leather armor that looked well-crafted in her untrained eyes and sturdy.

He held the armor up to her frame, his brow furrowed in concentration. "It'll need some adjustments," he muttered, more to himself than to her. "But it should serve you well enough."

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She nodded, grateful for the hunter's generosity. She stood still as he made some alterations, his hands working deftly. As he worked, her mind wandered to the upcoming dungeon expedition. She knew that having proper armor would be important to her and increase her survivability.

The man spoke, his voice firm as he addressed Esme. "I can finish the alterations in two days."

Esme's brow furrowed, her impatience clear. "That's too long. We need it done by tomorrow morning."

The hunter gave Esme a pointed look, his stance unwavering. "I still have other responsibilities to look after. The pelt and tusk are very nice materials, but they must be prepared before anything can be done with them. Even so, they would not cover the cost of the armor and the adjustments that need to be made."

A smirk played on Esme's lips as she replied, "If money would solve the problems, then name your price."

The man met her gaze, his expression serious. "Thirty silver."

Esme scoffed, her eyes widening at the steep price. "That's far too much. I'll give you ten silver."

Now it was the hunter's turn to scoff, his voice tinged with indignation. "Are you trying to insult me and my work? I'll take twenty-seven silver coins."

Esme laughed, shaking her head. "Seventeen silver."

The haggling continued, with each party standing their ground. Elara watched the exchange, her mind trying to wrap around the value of a silver coin. She had no frame of reference for the currency, but based on the heated negotiation, it sounded expensive.

As the bargaining went on, she couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. She wondered if Esme would be willing to pay the price the hunter was asking, or if they would have to find another solution. The hunter's workshop felt cramped and stuffy, the air heavy with the scent of leather and sweat. Elara shifted uncomfortably, the weight of the armor pressing against her skin. She longed to be outside, to feel the fresh air on her face and to put some distance between herself and the tense negotiation. She watched as Esme and the hunter finally reached an agreement, settling on a price of twenty-five silver coins to add for the armor and adjustments. Despite the successful negotiation, Esme's expression remained unsatisfied as she handed over half of the payment.

The hunter turned his attention to Elara, gesturing towards her dagger. "May I see the blade? I need to ensure the sheath fits properly."

Elara hesitated for a moment before holding out her dagger, watching as the hunter examined it with a critical eye. He nodded to himself, then rummaged through a nearby shelf, returning with three different dagger sheaths. He carefully compared each sheath to her dagger, eventually settling on a simple dark brown leather sheath. She is satisfied with that. It wasn't a perfect match, the sheath being slightly too large, but it would suffice for now. With the transaction complete and the promise to return the following morning for the finished armor, Elara and Esme made their way out of the hunter's workshop. As they stepped into the fresh air, she glanced at Esme, curiosity getting the better of her.

"Was the price fair?" she asked, her voice tentative. "It seemed like a lot of money."

To her surprise, Esme grinned, her mood transformed from just moments ago. "That was a great deal," she said, her tone light and satisfied. "In villages like this, far from major trading hubs, prices are often quite low."

She continued, "The pelt and tusk would have fetched a fine price in a larger city, but I'm glad we don't have to lug them around with us now."

Elara nodded, absorbing this new information. She marveled at her knowledge of trade and negotiation, realizing just how much she had to learn about this world and its workings.

She held the new sheath in her right hand, contemplating the best place to position it on her belt. As she pondered, Esme seemed to sense her thoughts and approached her, taking the sheath from her hand. With a gentle tug on her belt, Esme pulled her closer.

Surprised by the sudden closeness, she allowed herself to be guided by the warrior. Esme's voice was calm and reassuring as she spoke, "There are a few places I would recommend for your sheath."

Esme placed the sheath against different positions on her belt, demonstrating how she would be able to access her dagger in each location. At first, Elara felt a rush of heat to her cheeks, flustered by the proximity to Esme. However, as the warrior began to explain the advantages and disadvantages of each placement, she found herself focusing intently on her words, the initial awkwardness fading away.

"Placing the sheath at the small of your back is a classic position," Esme explained, her fingers deftly maneuvering the sheath. "It allows for easy access with your hand and a quick draw. But keep in mind, it might not be the most comfortable when you're sitting or leaning against something."

Elara nodded, considering the implications of the placement. She imagined herself in various situations, trying to determine if the small of her back would be the most practical choice.

Esme then moved the sheath to Elara's dominant-hand side. "Attaching the sheath here, on your right side, since you're right-handed, allows for a swift and natural draw. It's convenient and doesn't interfere much with your movement."

As Esme spoke, Elara practiced reaching for the sheath, familiarizing herself with the motion. She appreciated the warrior's expertise and the way she broke down the advantages of each placement.

Esme's hand lingered on her belt for a moment, her fingers deftly adjusting the placement of the sheath. "There are a few more interesting placements for a dagger," she said, her voice low and conspiratorial. "But for you, I think one of these two will suffice."

Elara nodded, her mind made up. "I want it to be at my side," she said, her voice firm.

Esme nodded in agreement, her hands already moving to unfasten her belt. She removed the satchel that hung at her waist, setting it aside so she could properly attach the sheath. Elara watched, a hint of confusion in her eyes. She could have easily done this herself - it wasn't exactly rocket science. But she remained silent, allowing her to work. The warrior's hands were sure and steady as she secured the sheath to Elara's belt, her focus unwavering. Once the sheath was in place, Esme reached for the satchel, carefully reattaching it to Elara's belt. Her fingers brushed against Elara's hip as she worked, the contact brief but noticeable.

Elara shifted slightly, unsure of what to make of the interaction. She knew Esme was just trying to be helpful, but there was something about the way she took charge, unprompted and unasked, that left her feeling a bit unsettled. Still, she didn't say anything. She let Esme finish her work, watching as the warrior stepped back to admire her handiwork.

"There," Esme said, a hint of satisfaction in her voice. "That should do nicely."

Elara looked down at the sheath, her hand resting on the hilt of her dagger. It felt strange to have it so readily accessible, but she knew it was a necessary precaution. She glanced up at Esme, a small smile on her face. "Thank you," she said, her voice sincere. Esme nodded, her own smile brief but genuine. "You're welcome," she replied, before turning and walking in the direction of the barn.