Our group was about to start towards the busy section of Larell when the fightmaster stopped and turned to face us. "Hold up. "We need to talk about this situation." Telovir said.
"I had hoped to get some shopping done first, but I agree," I replied.
"We cannot trust Liana. There's a chance everything she said is the truth, but I doubt it," Tel added.
"It's much more likely she's trying to salvage the situation. She knew we'd escape and devised an elaborate story to save her own skin. Is there any truth to what she said about her uncle?" I asked.
"Yes. He was much more involved in the past. Roughly a decade ago, he handed the reins to Liana. I don't know anything more than that, and I haven't seen the man since," Tel responded.
I ran my hand over my face and let out an exasperated sigh. This was a complicated situation. "Would either of them send someone after us if we ran for it?" I questioned.
"They might, but there's no guarantee. I have no idea how connected the family is outside of this city. I'm not sure what the right choice is," he lamented.
"We win the games and put this gods-forsaken mess behind us. Move somewhere where we can never worry about anyone with the name Bainmourth ever again," Cass declared.
"That's an option, but what if we return to find fifty guards waiting for us? What if Liana somehow cripples us before the next fight so that we die, and it never raises any suspicion?" Leo interjected.
Both had a point. We didn't know how much trust we could put in Liana's words. Nearly everything she said justified her actions, but my thoughts lingered on what Hector had told me - That she is a calculating woman. She'd been in control for at least a decade and would no doubt have various contingencies in place for all manner of scenarios. Even the layout of the arena proved her competence. The fake exit that was lightly guarded actually led to the barracks—hidden passageways behind illusory walls. There could be dozens of areas we didn't even know about.
"We have to decide what plan is the least awful. Do we run for it? Use Liana's money to get us far away from here and risk assassination? Do we trust she'll hold up her end of the bargain and let us go as long we finish the last two fights? How far can we actually get with this money?" I queried.
"You'd be able to get far from the city with that much coin and have some left for lodging and food. I think the next closest city is Relinda. It'd be slow going, though. We'd have to pay for passage on a caravan. There's no portal hub here," Leo answered.
"So that's option one, we book a caravan to Relinda and get the hell out of here. As for option two, stay and fight? Well, I'd rather we be fully equipped with the best gear we can get before we step foot in that arena again. Whether Liana is telling the truth or not. How much equipment would this buy each of us?" I quizzed.
"You'll be able to completely outfit yourselves with uncommon quality gear. As long as you don't spend too much on one single item," Telovir added.
We all paused and considered the pros and cons of each choice. Heading back to the arena didn't mean having to trust Liana, but it would put us back where she wanted us. Running was the obviously safer decision in the short term, but did we want a life spent looking over our shoulders?
"I vote we stay and finish this," Cass finally declared.
"Me too," Leo chimed in.
"I hate to say it, but I agree. We need to see this through if we ever want true freedom," I added.
"That settles it then, We'll find some gear, spend a night or two at an Inn, and get back to the arena to train," Telovir said.
"You don't have to do this with us, Tel. You can leave, and none of us would blame you for it," I told him. He waved me away as if I was talking nonsense.
"I'm in this until the end," he declared.
"Alright, so where do we go from here?" I asked.
"First, let's find a nice Tavern for a hot meal and some strong drinks," Tel stated.
Cass and Leo perked up at the mention of booze. It had been a long while since I had a beer myself. We walked for about a kilometer and ended up in a moderately busy Inn called The Hungry Hare. Leo rented a room, and we cleaned up before heading downstairs to eat. I stopped in my tracks when I saw myself in the washroom mirror. I hadn't seen my reflection since arriving here, and I barely recognized the visage staring back at me. My dark brown hair was noticeably lighter from my time in the sun. My normally well-trimmed beard was long and unruly. I stepped back and noticed I had changed physically too. I was always well-built but had a slight gut and some extra fat here and there. Now, my arms and shoulders were lean and muscled. The gut was no longer there, and although I didn't have washboard abs, it was a noticeable improvement. My legs were always muscular but were now seriously shredded. My slightly tan skin was now much darker, taking on an almost olive complexion.
"Stop playing with yourself, and let's get some beer!" Cass yelled through the door.
We sat at a table where no one could overhear us. The conversation moved to less serious topics and, with the aid of some ale, even some light-hearted banter. Eventually, we got up, left the tavern with full bellies, and felt a bit better.
We followed Telovir to what he said was the trade district, and once we were certain no one was following, I spoke truthfully for the first time since stepping through that portal.
"How long do you think we have until she figures it out?" I asked.
"It depends on what exactly the cloaks and rings she gave us do. If they're just magically enhanced to let her know we're still in a certain area, we'll have a day or two at the most. If they're capable of active tracking or even listening in, I'd say a few hours. There's only so long she'll think we're sitting idly in a pub," Leo said.
We had stashed the cloaks and the rings Liana had given us in our rented room. Our conversation earlier was purely for her benefit if she had been listening in or, more likely, placed a spy in the area we were portaled to. We had no intention of returning to the arena under any circumstances. Telovir had warned me the day I told him of my initial plan that Liana would say anything to keep me there. Cass, Leo, and I had already discussed what we'd do if we escaped, and they played their roles perfectly. I was incredibly proud of how genuine everyone seemed while they went along with the ruse.
"So, what city are we really going to?" I asked as I turned to Leo.
"Relinda actually is the closest, but we should head for Fayne. The desert gives way to forest about halfway there, and there's plenty for us to do." Leo declared.
Hopefully, Liana was listening earlier, and whoever she or her uncle did send would go to Relinda first. Every second spent looking for us in the wrong places would be a massive advantage in our favor.
"Let's get our gear sorted and get the fuck out of here as quickly as we can. Where should we start?" I questioned.
"I'd say an armorer and bladesmith for you and Cass, a runeweaver's shop for Leo, and then we find transport," Tel stated.
"Hey, wait! What about Teos?" Cass said with a concerned expression.
"He's out hunting in the desert at the moment. I'll call him back to us once we secure a way to Fayne," I answered and Cass let out a sigh of relief.
We eventually made our way to one of the inner-city main streets. It was absolutely astounding. Larell had been built around an oasis in the desert. At the center of the city was a lake surrounded by lush greenery. This would explain why water was abundant in a desert town. There were workers collecting water and magical devices storing it. A beach in the distance had families and children playing and swimming in the crystal clear water. Fishing boats were scattered around the lake. I had a strong urge to run and dive into the inviting water. It was a sweltering day today, and the idea of a cool, refreshing swim was hard to resist. Unfortunately, Telovir prodded us forward, away from the lake and down a cobblestone street.
"This is the street containing most of the shops you'll want to visit," he said as we continued.
We approached a smithy not long after. A wooden sign displaying an anvil and hammer hung over the door with the words 'Deck's Arms and Armor'. I entered and immediately spotted a dwarf hammering away at a chunk of glowing steel on an anvil. The heat here was stifling, and the forge blazed so hot I thought it might burn me even from the door.
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He wore goggles with dark black lenses, heavy leather gloves, and a thick leather apron over a long sleeve shirt and trousers. He must be suffering in this heat. His dark hair and beard were tied in neat braids.
"Be right with ye, lad!" he shouted over the ringing of the hammer strikes.
I took the time to look around his shop. There was so much to take in. Armor that made my previous bronze stuff look shoddy in comparison. An entire wall was dedicated to shields in all shapes and sizes. There was a small selection of weapons, but I got the impression that the smith focused more on armor than arms, despite the sign. The blacksmith placed his now elongated ingot back into the blazing forge and approached me, raising his goggles.
"Hey there! Declan's the name, but everyone calls me Deck! What are ye looking for today?" he said gleefully as he stuck out his hand for me to shake. His arms and hands were caked in black soot, but I shook it anyway.
"I'm in need of some new armor, Deck, and possibly a shield too. My lady friend would also like to inspect some of your work," I told him.
Cass walked up to us and then punched me in the gut. I doubled over in pain.
"Call me 'lady friend' again, and I won't pull the punch!" she growled. Deck laughed way too hard at the interaction. I just groaned and tried not to vomit.
"Well, let's see. What grade of armor are ye lookin' for?" he asked me.
"Heavy, or Extra Heavy if you have any," I replied, still wincing in pain.
His eyes widened at my request, then he looked me up and down. "Extra Heavy, eh? I may have a few pieces," he said as he walked over to the armor wall. He pulled down a matching breastplate, a pair of spaulders, and a belt with tassets hanging from it. They were a deep blue, almost black, with bright silver scrollwork accenting each item. The spaulders were carved to resemble a snarling bear, with the teeth and eyes accented in the silver scrollwork. I ran my hand along each piece and examined it:
[Breastplate of the Moonstalker]
Uncommon Extra Heavy Armor - Chest
175 Armor
+15 Strength
+15 Vigor
+15 Endurance
-25 Dexterity (Negated)
[Spaulders of the Moonstalker]
Uncommon Extra Heavy Armor - Shoulders
100 Armor
+10 Strength
+20 Vigor
-15 Dexterity (Negated)
[Waistguard of the Moonstalker]
Uncommon Extra Heavy Armor - Waist
60 Armor
+10 Endurance
+10 Vigor
-10 Dexterity (Negated)
"These are perfect! How much?" I exclaimed.
"I could let the set go for... say, 3 gold," he said with a grin.
"Hold up! One gold each for uncommon gear? Even if it is Extra Heavy armor, the set is maybe worth 1 gold and 30 silver. Not to mention many people can't even use the armor." Tel rebuked the smith.
"Aye, aye, don't get yer knickers in a twist. Can't blame a dwarf fer tryin'. 1 gold, 40 silver is the best I can do for the lot," Deck replied.
"Deal!" I shouted as I handed him the coins. He snatched the coins and inspected them, then held out his hand. I shook it vigorously, then touched each piece and added it to my Cache. I immediately equipped all three. The weight was substantially more than what I was used to, but my mobility remained the same as it had been in the bronze armor.
I wandered over to the wall and began inspecting dozens of shields. A few stood out, but nothing screamed to me just yet. I approached the final few and noticed one in particular. The aegis was jet black yet reflective at the same time. It had terrific golden art inlaid that formed a border around the shield and displayed a magnificent triangle made of runes in the center. It was a kite shield, but the shape was far from standard. I touched it almost in reverence and inspected it:
[Ebonsteel Runeshield]
Rare Shield
450 Armor
+15 Strength
+15 Vigor
+10 Endurance
+5 Regeneration
It had vicious serrations on the lower third and ended in a noticeable sharpened point. It would be perfect for edge-first attacks, acting like an impromptu serrated axe. I picked up the shield, ran my right hand through the loops, and grasped the handle. The coils tightened against my skin magically, not enough to hurt, but just enough to make the shield truly secure to my arm. The portion above the serrations was unsharpened. The top of the shield curved downwards slightly in the middle so as not to block my vision when raised. A little over halfway up was a notch on either side of the shield. Curious, I equipped my spear and took a fighting stance. Its use was straightforward. I could jab my weapon from behind the safety of this shield. It wouldn't be as powerful as an actual thrust attack, but it would certainly work to pressure an enemy. I stored the spear back into my Cache and wandered towards the dwarf. I went to remove the shield, and the loops slackened automatically.
"That is such a neat feature," I said appreciatively as I set the shield down on the counter the shopkeeper was standing behind.
"How much for this? No tricks, no bullshit," I said.
He looked at the shield, then back to me.
"2 Gold," he answered.
I glanced at Telovir, who nodded. I told the dwarf to keep the shield there and that I wanted to look for a few more items.
Cass was perusing some medium leather armor and light chainmail. Leo just had a bored look on his face, like the one I used to get as a kid when grocery shopping with my parents. I laughed out loud when I thought of it that way.
I picked up some common steel greaves, chainmail leggings, a simple helmet, and some comfortable leather boots. I also grabbed a pair of leather pants that looked expertly crafted. They weren't enchanted or anything. I was just looking to replace my tattered linen ones. I placed it all with the shield and looked at Deck.
"What do I owe you?"
"2 gold, 20 silver," was his response. I handed over the coins and added everything to my Warlord's Cache. I equipped the boots and pants immediately. Deck thought that was the coolest thing ever until he realized I'd be the perfect thief. He ordered me to keep my hands on the counter until we left. We all laughed at his expense, but I could see where he was coming from.
Cass finished picking out her gear and only ended up spending 65 silver. She still had most of her equipment from the arena and only added a few minor upgrades to her kit.
We followed the Fightmaster to a strange-looking building with a floating magical sign that said 'Eren's Runeporium.' I shared a look with Cass, who smiled at me, then shrugged and followed Leo inside. Various magical lamps in shades of violet and blue lighted the interior of the building. It gave me the vibe of one of those edgy stores in shopping malls where everyone used to shop for novelty tees. Instead of funny t-shirts, though, it was full of magnificent robes and leather armor. There were wands, staves, daggers, swords, and maces, all inscribed with runes glowing in the magical light. Seeing the robes reminded me that I had looted that absurd purple one from Hector earlier. I summoned it from the Cache and inspected it:
[Taskmaster's Robes]
Rare Light Armor - Chest
25 Armor
+25 Intelligence
+15 Regeneration
+10% Mana
+15% Spell Damage and Healing
Equip: Control and slow effects cast by the wearer last 30% longer.
I told Leo about it, and he seemed excited until he saw how outlandish the garment was. The owner chimed in as we argued whether fashion or function was more important.
"Hey there! I'm Eren. So that you know, we also buy used goods here," she exclaimed in a high-pitched melodic voice.
Eren was a small gnome with green hair that nearly reached the floor. She was shorter than a dwarf, but only by a few inches. She wore a magnificent silver robe with glowing blue runes etched into every seam.
"How much would this fetch?" I asked her as I shot Leo a disappointed look.
"I could give you 3 Gold to buy it or 4 Gold in store credit," she said merrily.
I decided to let Leo pick out his equipment before I chose whether to sell the robes or trade them for store credit. I followed him around and explained each piece of gear he was interested in with my examination skill. He ended up with quite a potent set of equipment.
[Robes of the Naturalist]
Uncommon Light Armor - Chest
20 Armor
+23 Intelligence
+15 Vigor
+12 Regeneration
+50 Mana
+20% Spell Healing
Equip: Lightning and Wind Spells deal 10% more damage.
[Spiritbinder's Staff]
Uncommon Weapon - Staff
35 Attack
+40 Intelligence
+20 Regeneration
+50 Mana
+15% Spell Damage and Healing
[Windsong Cloak]
Uncommon Cloak
10 Armor
+15 Intelligence
+10 Vigor
+10 Regeneration
+10% Spell Healing and Damage
The total came to 2 Gold, 50 Silver. So I traded Hector's robes for 4 Gold and bought myself some potions and a backup weapon with the extra. It was a long, curved dagger with a blade made of mirror-polished steel. The knife had gold runes inlaid down the entire length. The handle was made of dark wood with streaks of blue throughout it. The guard and pommel seemed to be made of polished bronze or brass.
[Magefang]
Rare Weapon - Dagger
+135 Attack
+20 Intelligence
+20 Vigor
+20 Regeneration
Equip: Grants the ability to purge all beneficial magic from an enemy. Cost: 25 Mana. Cooldown: 8 Hours.
I equipped my new blade, which appeared on my hip in the leather sheath it came with.
"Next stop, a bladesmith!" Cass said eagerly as we said our goodbyes to Eren. We walked another quarter kilometer or so before we approached another blacksmith. This one had a metal sign that just said 'Bladesmith' on it, but Telovir seemed to believe it was one of the best choices for weapons around. We entered, and a large man wearing nothing but shorts, leather gloves, and an apron greeted us.
"Hey, there!" greeted the proprietor as we entered. He was actively working on a large axe head as he spoke. "Name's Juren. You hear to browse my ready-made wares or looking for a consignment?"
"Just looking, thanks!" I replied.
I wandered over to a section on the wall with various spears and polearms. I tested many, but I preferred the shorter-length versions. The long spears and polearms were too unwieldy for only one hand. I found a few but decided I was fine keeping my Stonestag Lord's Pincer for now.
Cass had picked out a savage-looking one-handed axe. It was a bearded axe with a spike on the typically blunt side. The wooden haft was etched with pitch-black runes. I walked over and inspected it for her.
[Ashrune Reaver]
Rare Weapon - One-Handed Axe
+150 Attack
+25 Strength
+15 Vigor
+5 Dexterity
+5 Regeneration
"A one-handed axe, Cass? Tired of swinging the two massive swords?" I asked her.
"No, it's awesome, but sometimes having two large weapons, one can get in the way of the other, so I figured I'd wield a shorter weapon in my off-hand. More versatile that way," she replied matter-of-factly.
I nodded, and we went to pay Juren for the axe.
"2 Gold, please!" he replied enthusiastically.
"I'll give you 1 Gold, 70 Silver. Final offer," Cass said menacingly.
To my surprise, Juren agreed, and they exchanged the money. We left the smithy and went off to secure transportation to Fayne. I was getting excited now, we were almost in the clear. Hopefully, by this time tomorrow, we'd be halfway to the new city.