The bell chimed lightly as the heavy wooden door swung open, revealing a group of four enchanting women entering the alchemist's shop. Harlan’s eyes, accustomed to the dim light and swirling mists of potion-making, were drawn to the vibrant blonde hair of a blue-skinned elemental girl. Her gaze sparkled as if she knew the store like the back of her hand. The next woman, a blonde-haired elf with a graceful demeanor and an air of confidence, made his heart race with a single glance. The third girl who walked in was also quite pretty, but compared to the first two, she seemed rather dull. Of course, that was to be expected with the first two being Arcanists. Harlan looked up at the third woman's ears and could see she was married anyway.
'Damn shame,' he thought to himself as his own lonely nights saddened him. At least he still had his stories of heroines to keep him company on the coldest of days.
The buzz he mentally heard informed him that four people had entered his shop. Harlan couldn't see the fourth woman as who entered, but seeing the first two were fireballs was enough for him to have tonight not be so lonely. Tiers made any woman or man beautiful, but he suspected these two women were highly attractive before power enhanced and molded their beauty. But as the girls spread out, his gaze swept over the shop in case the fourth woman was also a banger.
She also had the striking beauty of an arcanist. But that's why it was such a shame that she bore a resemblance to the very creatures he had spent his life despising. It was possible she might be a demonspawn. But the fact that she had the look of power to her made it more likely that she had sold her soul. Her blue skin, horns, and tail made her easy to identify as such. Her eyes glowed blue, and while she may have looked excited to be in the shop, he knew they held a darkness that set her apart from the others. Sure, she was attractive, but it was obviously a ploy from the demons to trap the souls of good men like himself.
Harlan couldn't shake the feeling of revulsion that crept over him; the fact that someone was so vile as to sell their soul was disgusting. As he watched her move through his shop, a sense of unease filled him, urging him to be wary of her charms. He watched her for a moment, and she was surprisingly well-behaved. That's when it clicked. She must be a bound demon!
He spoke up to the first two girls who were the ones with enough power to bind a demon. No need to talk to the servant when the master was present. "Welcome to my shop. If you need anything, please let me know. Also, I noticed that your demon wasn't on a leash yet still seems excellently behaved. Do you have her magically bound? Is she your servant, or yours?"
He turned his gaze towards the demon and squinted at her. “I see you eyeing those expensive potions, demon. Be certain to not touch them unless your master allows it. We wouldn’t want you tainting the valuable liquids inside.”
He gave an accusing look at the demon who started to show her true colors when she scowled and began to sneer at him. It was understandable she would get angry at the mention of her bindings, nobody wanted to live under another’s thumb. And while it might be considered rude in polite society, he didn't care in his own shop. As the soulless one started to speak up, the prettiest blonde girl turned to her and held up a hand to shush her. Harlan nodded with approval and commended the woman.
"Good to see your control over her is so strong," he said. "I was always told by my father, 'Better a demon bound to your will than a blade to its throat, but never forget, a leash does not outlast a grave.'"
The elf adept stepped forward and beckoned the demon while simultaneously narrowing her eyes at Harlan. Her voice took on a steely edge. "Is this how you treat potential customers? Because I expected more professionalism from someone in your position." With one hand behind her back, she held a silver shard out to Elena. She reached forward and grabbed it, her actions unseen by the alchemist.
Harlan shifted uncomfortably, clearly taken aback by her words and assertiveness. "Now look here. You're the one that's parading this tainted-"
The elf cut him off, her tone unwavering. "Elena here is not only a friend but a valued member of the community. She was the one who stopped the Golthorr attack in town. Single-handedly. Without being asked to and without being rewarded for it. And when she comes here to spend her good coin, you insult her?"
He looked over from the blonde girl to the demon. As if to accentuate the point, the blue demon held up her hand, a shining silver shard in it. Harlan paled a bit. The elf continued, "Apologies, shopkeep. I was not aware a shop as empty as this one was so prestigious it could afford to throw away business from paying customers. Word travels fast in this city, and I'm certain others would loathe to hear that their business was no longer viable simply because the shopkeep was too busy."
Harlan paled even more as the few customers in the store started to take notice. One of the other customers even walked over to the demon and shook her arm in thanks. "Thank you, miss. My cousin lived near that alley," he said as he looked at Harlan through slightly squinted eyes. The demon looked almost embarrassed but shook his hand anyway. The man pulled her in for a hug while thanking her, which she awkwardly returned. He called out to his friend, and the two promptly left.
‘Well, shit’ Harlan thought. ‘This is going to bite me in the ass’ He knew the situation was getting away from him, and he needed to salvage what he could before this lousy elf drove away all of his meager customers. He stammered a bit but tried to regain his composure.
"Miss, I... I can assure you, it was a misunderstanding. Please let me make it up to you. I had no idea such a prestigious young woman was gracing my shop." He turned towards the demon as the bile in his stomach caressed the back of his throat. "Miss, it's only fair I offer you a…” he swallowed audibly as he continued. “Discount on your purchase, as a gesture of my gratitude for your good deeds for the city."
The elf raised an eyebrow, walked over towards his counter, and placed an elbow on it. She let the moment stretch on, the silence growing heavier and heavier. Eventually, she looked over her shoulder at the blue-skinned half-demon. "Well, Elena, I'm certain that this shopkeep will have excellent prices considering his..." she looked back at Harlan, daring him to object, "substantial discount." He nodded with faux enthusiasm, not seeing a need to correct her.
The elf continued, "To show his understanding and respect to those who sacrificed so much for the heart and soul of the community."
Harlan spoke up, eager to salvage what he could of his business. After all, coin was coin. "Of course! Of course. All of my discounts are substantial discounts. They're so substantial, I never thought to mention it, because discounts are always substantial.” she said as he nervously chuckled. “Uh, Please!” he motioned to the shop at large. “Please feel free to browse, and I'll personally ensure you receive the best service!"
The elf turned to the demon, giving her a reassuring smile. "I mean, I have heard that..." She turned her head back to Harlan. He looked at the demon for a moment and then back at the elf but kept quiet. She rolled her hand at him and he looked at her confused as to what to say. She whispered to him in a volume that definitely carried. "Your name?"
"Oh, uh, Harlan. Harlan Grimwood," he replied, using his shop name.
The elf continued, "I have heard that Harlan here was an excellent alchemist. You would do well here." The blue-skinned girl curtsied. It looked like a foreign motion on her. She then walked over and held out her hand to John. "Pleasure to meet ya! My name's Elena. And I was told before coming here by my good friend Lehara that you have lots of excellent reagents. I gotta say I'm really looking forward to learning how to be an alchemist."
Harlan took her arm, a little bewildered, but then noticed the other two girls again, the recent interaction having put them out of his mind. They were expertly moving throughout the store grabbing various ingredients, bottles, kettles, several mortar and pestles, and many other ingredients.
The other blue-skinned girl walked over to the counter with a cauldron filled with stuff and put it down. The married one also walked over, carrying four or five racks of bottles. In total, the blue half-demon wannabe alchemist was still planning on buying almost all of a Gleam's worth of stuff, so maybe today wouldn't be so bad after all. Sure, the stuff she was buying would be at a... substantial discount, but still. So when the group brought the rest of the materials forward, he was pleasantly happy.
His happiness was immediately tempered by the look the girls gave him when they put down three shards on the table. Harlan looked up at the girls and started to speak.
The girl that the demon called Lehara looked over at him and just stared, daring him to argue over the price. He was about to speak up anyway for the kings road robbery when he felt her aura slowly start pressing into his own. He wasn’t quite adept at reading auras. But her aura was easy to read. And even if it wasn’t her face was. She was not happy and was hoping he’d give her a reason to pick a fight. ‘You know what? If selling this stuff at a 10% markup is the price of getting rid of them, that’s a fair price.’ With some luck, he thought to himself he’d sell the product, and they’d never darken his shop again. If he never saw them again, it'd be too soon.
"Now Elena, Lila says this is good stuff.” Lehara directed her comments at the demon, but she just stared at Harlan. “I would suggest that you come here for more materials in the future. Hells, make good enough stuff and maybe our good friend Harlan here will be happy to split the profits with you. I'm sure that if you're able to learn to be a good apprentice, Harlan will be more than happy to sell you stuff at five percent over cost."
Harlan sighed.
As Elena left the store with the girls, she felt ecstatic. "Lele, that was amazing! How did you know that would work?" she exclaimed. Lehara simply put her arm around her friend and gave her a side hug. "I didn't. Besides, that's what friends do for each other. Plus, taking him down a peg or two was fun!"
The next two stores they visited weren't as exciting. Elena picked up some odds and ends at the Golden Glider general store and a local map at the cartographers' guild. To her surprise, it wasn't a guild at all. Although she did find out something interesting: she had to hold onto a map for a good 30 seconds before she was considered to have it for her map feature. Once she did, and her map updated, she didn't need to keep the map in her inventory for it to work. Being able to see a local map that revealed itself while she walked was incredibly useful. But when she got to the cartographer, she was suddenly able to see the whole city and a significant portion of it outside of the city. Unlike the crude map she was given by the enforcers her first night in town, these maps were highly detailed. As such, her system map became very detailed.
Lehara wandered over to Elena in the shop while she was intently focusing on a globe, her hand on it. She half-whispered under her breath, "Bright eyes, what are you doing?" Without looking away, Elena responded, "I'm trying to update my map." She could hear Lehara huff out a breath and felt her roll her eyes. "Oh, this is just so not fair," she also whispered, but walked off shortly thereafter. Unfortunately, as much as Elena tried holding onto the globe, it didn't give her a world map.
After 30 minutes, they left the shop, Lila with a brand new rolled-up artistic map in her storage. Lehara looked at her, "You know that was overpriced, right?" "Yes, but it was quite pretty," Lila replied.
They made their way to the smithy where they ran into the boys just outside of it. Marcus waved them over and immediately started talking with Elena about what weapon she wanted to fight with and what fighting style she wanted to start with. Elena looked up at him. "Good afternoon Marcus. It's been a great day, how have you been?" Marcus looked a bit flustered mixed with some embarrassment, as Thomas and Rowan snickered. Elena could tell he was really excited to talk about fighting and weapons, and chivalry had gone out the window. That didn't mean that she couldn't tease him about it though. "Oh yes, Miss Elena. I trust you had a good day and Lele didn't wear you out too much?" Elena's eye twitched slightly.
Elena hooked a thumb back at Lehara. "Oh, I can keep going. Although I think she might be getting worn out." Lele, not missing a beat, looked over at Elena and gave a devious smile. "Oh, it's true. I'm just so exhausted after all that dress shopping. Bright eyes here was absolutely dying to show you men what dresses she picked out and was hopeful she could do a fashion show. Weren't you?" Elena felt her face flush with a mix of embarrassment and frustration. The last thing she wanted was to parade around in those ridiculous outfits in front of everyone. "Weren't you?" Lehara's voice echoed in her head, and she forced a tight smile. She tried to change the subject.
"So, Marcus. You were asking about weapons and fighting?"
Marcus told Elena about the training they'd have to start as early as tomorrow and how her vacation time was coming to an end. They would go over blade styles, practice sparring, physical exercises, and a bunch of other stuff. He also said that Elena would have to practice on her own after she was done with classes for the day, and still find time to practice magic with Lila. Oh, and in case she was given a light day of work, she shouldn't worry because she would also need to put some time in with Rowan and Thomas, who from what Elena gathered just wanted to make her life a living hell... Yay.
Elena mentally mapped out her new schedule: physical training two hours before the sun rose, classes from an hour past dawn to sometime in the afternoon, a brief lunch before mana classes with Lila, dinner, and then the most aggressive game of hide and seek she'd ever play. This time with 1000% more arrows. Oh, and Lele wanted her to socialize with other students too. She was already starting to feel exhausted and the schedule hadn't even started yet.
As soon as they walked into the smithy, the heat washed over them. Marcus immediately started running from rack to rack, looking at different weapons, shields, and armor. Occasionally he'd run over and hand something to Elena. Eventually, Elena stopped standing in the middle of the store and started following Marcus around, feeling like a lost puppy.
The smithy was a hive of activity, the air thick with the scent of burning coal and the rhythmic clang of hammer against anvil. Elena found the room well-lit by a series of lamps that cast dancing shadows upon the walls, their flickering light reflecting off the polished metal surfaces of various weapons and armor. Several folks were inspecting various pieces throughout the store. Elena was mostly fascinated by the lamps on the wall. She looked up at one and saw a crystal of some sort inside the lampshade, giving off a warm glow.
Rows upon rows of gleaming weapons lined the walls, each one displaying unique craftsmanship and attention to detail. Sharp, well-balanced longswords with intricate etchings adorned one section, while another showcased an assortment of heavy, well-maintained axes and warhammers. They all looked sharp and deadly to Elena.
In the center of the room stood a massive forge, its coals burning a bright, mesmerizing red. The smith, a burly, muscular man, worked tirelessly, his skilled hands deftly shaping the molten metal into a variety of different weapons and pieces of armor. Elena watched in awe, feeling both impressed and a little intimidated by the display of strength and skill.
Elena watched as Marcus examined each blade with the precision and care of a seasoned warrior, discussing the purpose and advantages of each weapon in detail. Meanwhile, Elena's mind drifted back to the TTRPGs she used to play on Earth, where everything boiled down to stats and dice rolls. Marcus walked past a halberd, dismissing it out of hand for Elena's stature.
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"Oh man, that halberd would be great for a d10 roll," Elena said, half to herself, before continuing, "And that greatsword? I can really see why that's a solid 2d6 damage, perfect for my old character who was a fighter. I remember---"
Marcus turned to her, eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "What are you talking about? D10? D6? Are these... some kind of codes?"
Elena shrugged. "Oh, it's just... back on Earth, we had stats for weapons like these. Like, you'd roll a die to determine how much damage you'd deal. My Orc fighter Grumak Ironfist used to wield a greatsword because of the consistent high damage output. I'd love charging in for the extra +2 and then ignore 3 points of armor from piercing strike. And when I was finally able to deflect arrows with the blade, I was such a badass."
Marcus stared at Elena for a moment, clearly baffled by the explanation. Then, with a shake of his head, he said, "Elena, weapons aren't about rolling dice. It's not a game here. Each blade has a specific use, a purpose honed through years of experience and training. This halberd," Marcus picked up the weapon, "isn't just about how much damage it does. It's designed for reach and piercing through armor. The greatsword? Sure, it hits hard, but it's also about controlling space, overpowering your opponent, and delivering powerful, sweeping strikes."
He held up a shorter blade. "And this? It's for close combat, quick strikes, and maneuverability. The weight, balance, and design all come into play. It's not about the damage number; it's about how you use it in a real fight."
Elena nodded, feeling a bit out of her depth. "Right... yeah, that makes a lot more sense."
Marcus gave her a small, almost pitying smile. "Just remember, Elena, out here, it's not a game. Your life might depend on how well you understand these weapons."
Elena saw a cool-looking sword and pointed at it excitedly. It appeared to be glowing slightly, and wisps of condensation flowed around it. The blade itself was a good foot wide and probably 6 feet long. As Elena tentatively reached out for it, she could feel the air drop a good degree or two near it. She went to grab it, but Marcus gently slapped her hand. "No bright eyes. That one is not for you."
"Can't I see? How do I know if I don't try?" Elena asked. In her head, she envisioned herself wielding the sword that was as wide as her head. Visions of herself flipping through a battlefield, while standing on robots floating above a field of lava came to mind, as demons died in droves from a single swing of the blade. She pictured herself bringing the sword down and an explosion happened, herself slowly walking away from it. Marcus snapped his fingers in front of Elena's face, apparently having tried once before to get her attention.
Marcus motioned to the blade. "Like I said, see how it feels. If you can even lift and use it, we will buy it." Elena looked super excited to take Marcus up on his offer but soon noticed the smug look on his face. She squinted her eyes as she could tell Marcus didn't believe Elena could even lift it. Thirty seconds later, the smug smile on Marcus's face never faltered.
Elena could barely lift it off of the stand. It felt like it weighed a ton. Sure, it might be deadly when she finally hit someone with it. But unless they were willing to stand around a minute for her to lift it over her head, she couldn't see herself using it much. Which was a shame, because Elena imagined the look of terror on people's faces seeing a blue tiefling girl with a sword as wide and longer than she is running around would be amazing. And terrifying.
While she was touching it, Elena tried identifying it.
Information Name: Mercurial Greatsword Rarity: Uncommon Minimum tier: Adept Description: Enchanted greatsword with a liquid mercury core in the center Enchantments: Frost Note: Bind to learn more
Marcus laughed as Elena gave up her feeble attempts to wield the massive weapon. He patted Elena on the back as she grumpily crossed her arms over her chest. "Don't worry little one. There are far better weapons for you." Elena squinted at him. Marcus laughed again. "See, this is why we like you. You are tiny. But Fierce!"
They went from weapon to weapon with Marcus commenting on each. "I could easily see you wielding this. Good spear to open up, and then a sword as backup if they got too close," Marcus said, pointing to one set. At another weapon, he explained, "This axe would be good if you wanted to get in and deliver power at the expense of speed." Moving on, he advised, "From what little I've seen, you are not well suited for this fighting style. You do not have the endurance yet to handle this, and these blades are made for an adept." And at yet another, Marcus cautioned, "I could teach you the best way to wield two swords, but unless you plan on getting wounded quite a lot, I would suggest against it."
As they browsed through the various items on display, Elena's eyes were drawn to a pair of sleek, unassuming blades tucked away in a far corner. They were not as ornate as some of the other weapons in the store, but there was something uniquely appealing about their simplicity. The blades were finely honed to a razor-sharp edge, their hilts wrapped in supple leather for a firm, secure grip. The metal of the blade was a cool-looking black that seemed to blend in well with the shadows. Both sides seemed sharp, but one side had a curve to it, making Elena think that was the sharper edge. The blade was about 40 centimeters long, and when she touched the edge of the blade, she almost drew blood.
Intrigued by these blades, Elena decided to identify them.
Information Name: Moonshadow Rarity: Uncommon Minimum tier: Initiate Description: Black bladed daggers Enchantments: Dark Note: Bind to learn more
Marcus, having noticed Elena's interest in the daggers, approached and said, "Those are fine looking blades, my friend." He took them off the shelf and balanced them on a finger. "Lightweight too. Very well-balanced, and deadly in the right hands. I'm surprised one like yourself was able to pick them out. This is a good beginner blade." He held them out and the smith took them and inspected the work. He looked at them and then handed them back to Marcus. Elena noticed the smith's ear was pierced in the same weird fashion that Agatha had. She filed that away to ask about later.
Elena's attention was immediately brought back when she heard the smith speak. His voice was surprisingly high-pitched and at the same time gruff. It pierced through the air, easily being heard above the clanging metal. Elena felt like this man had been a smoker for 50 years and had just breathed in pure helium before speaking.
"Ah yes, this was made for a local baron. You can tell by the stamp. Unfortunately, he died before he could pick up the blades. They are mostly paid for, so I could let them go for 18 clips," the smith said. As he spoke, Elena frowned to keep herself from snickering. But she knew that every word the smith said was wearing down her ability to not laugh.
Marcus looked at Elena and raised an eyebrow. "I think this would be a good fit for you. Sharp, but small enough if you cut yourself it wouldn't be too bad. And these are made for initiates."
Elena snickered. She felt her body straining against her as it tried to let out the laugh she so desperately wanted to let free. The difference between the two voices was too much to hold in. She turned away from the smith and looked at Marcus who just stared back. She closed her eyes and breathed in and out slowly.
When she regained her composure a few seconds later, she reached into an empty bag on her belt. She pulled 14 clips out of her inventory and put them in the bag. She rummaged around to make it sound like she was reaching for her coins. She pulled out 10 coins and held them up to the smith. "I can afford 10 clips, but I can only go up to 14 before I'm broke," Elena said.
The smith looked at Elena and said, "I'm sorry, but I cannot. I cannot go lower than 16." Marcus looked over and said, "We'll take it for 16."
The last stop of the day was definitely the most interesting. As they entered the quaint little leather working shop, a bell rang out alerting the owner to new customers. The sound of a hammer slamming against a table, accompanied by the soothing scent of freshly tanned leather greeted Elena. Rows of bags, scabbards, buckets, folded pieces that looked like wallets, and dozens of pieces of armor were liberally sprinkled throughout the shop. But as Elena looked about, her eyes were drawn to a tall, lean figure who stood behind a large, wooden workbench, his hands skillfully working on a piece of leather armor.
Elena was most intrigued, however, by the leather worker. The tiefling looked up at them entering and greeted them with a warm, welcoming smile. He looked almost shocked to see another of his kind. His skin was a deep rich crimson, giving him a far more demonic appearance. His features were sharp and well-defined, with high cheekbones and a strong jawline. His yellow eyes, glowing like molten gold, seemed to pierce through the dim light of the workshop. His horns curved gracefully from his forehead, arching backward in a smooth, elegant sweep that added to his imposing stature. His hair, dark as night, was pulled back into a tight, practical braid keeping it out of his face as he worked.
He wore a sturdy leather apron over his simple yet well-made clothing, the apron bearing the marks of countless hours of labor. He brushed his hands against the apron and walked over to them. "Greetings, travelers! And welcome sister! Welcome all of you to my humble abode," he said, his voice smooth and melodic, like a skilled bard singing a tale of old. "I am Thar'zul, a master leatherworker. How may I assist you today?"
Rowan looked over at the armor and pointed a thumb towards Elena. "She needs to be outfitted." Thar'zul's eyes lit up with excitement and passion. "Ah, leather armor! Truly a fine choice. No better armor for those who want mobility and comfort!" Thar'zul looked Elena up and down and mused, his fingers tracing patterns on anearby piece of leather as he spoke. "Come this way!"
He led Elena into the back of the shop and a smaller boy came out to stand at the counter. Once Elena was back near his work desk, Thar'zul had her stand on a wooden platform in front of a tri-fold full body mirror. As Elena stood there, Thar'zul started brushing off her dress and blouse of wrinkles. He looked at Elena and smiled. "Sister, it's good to see a friendly face. It has been many days since another of us has been here." He looked genuinely happy to see Elena. "For a fellow tiefling, I'll make the most exquisite armor you've had the pleasure to touch!"
Thar'zul took out a measuring tape and began taking measurements. Elena felt a bit uncomfortable as the leatherworker moved around her, taking various measurements. The process was thorough and professional, if a bit invasive for Elena's comfort. Within a few minutes, Thar'zul had recorded all the necessary measurements, including Elena's height, waist, chest, and even tail length and width.
Throughout the process, Elena remained silent, observing Thar'zul's craftsmanship and efficiency. She couldn't help but feel a mix of curiosity about the armor she'd receive and slight discomfort at the close contact required for the measurements. Still, she appreciated the leatherworker's skill and enthusiasm for his craft.
Thar'zul annotated everything on a tablet of some sort, and when Elena tried to look, he just held it closer to his chest. Elena hoped she could answer some questions. "Sorry to ask, but I haven't really been measured for anything. Do you mind telling me what my measurements are in case I get asked in the future?"
Thar'zul looked down at the tablet and started rattling off numbers. "Head size of 57, Neck 34, Shoulder 41, Bust 92, Waist 60, Hips 94, Inseam of 80, tail 107 centimeters." Elena looked at him, trying to figure out what any of that meant, and Thar'zul wrote it on a piece of paper for her.
Elena looked down at her body and then back up at the mirror. She could tell from the dress she was wearing now that she had an hourglass figure, something that wasn't evident in the original dress she wore. But what those numbers meant, she had no idea. First off, she was American, so centimeters didn't translate super well in her brain. But second, and probably most relevant to herself, she wouldn't be able to tell how that translated into bras or the like.
Which led Elena to a scary thought. She wasn't wearing the bra she bought earlier. Her hands instantly went up to her bosom and she covered up. Thar'zul looked at her with a raised eyebrow. Elena looked in the mirror again and realized you couldn't see her nipples. With a relieved sigh, she realized the blouse she was wearing must have a built-in bra.
Elena looked at Thar'zul slightly embarrassed, and Thar'zul looked up and away as if there was a very important spot on the ceiling that demanded his immediate attention.
Thar'zul's enthusiasm for his craft was infectious, and before Elena knew it, she found herself caught up in Thar'zul's vision for the new armor. As the two of them discussed the details and design of the armor, after 15 minutes, the leather worker leaned in closer, his golden eyes glinting with an eager anticipation.
"Normally, I'll make armor for folks and I do a good job. But we're the same, you and I. And for me, normal just won't do," Thar'zul confided with a conspiratorial wink, his voice carrying a mischievous lilt. Since they were standing shoulder to shoulder, he bumped into Elena's in camaraderie. "And so, I shall ensure that your armor bears subtle, yet unmistakable, homages to our shared heritage."
Elena looked at him and a thought came to mind. She opened her mouth, the idea forming in her mind.
Thar'zul looked over at Elena and spoke up. "Sister, you look as if you have an idea."
Elena looked at him. "Wait, why do you say that?"
"Because I've seen that look in the mirror. Come. Spit it out."
"I was just thinking. I have the head of a monster that recently attacked the town. Part of me was wondering if it could be used or incorporated into the armor," Elena explained. Thar'zul's head nodded and he sounded excited. "Oh yes, well as long as you have the skin or head... wait. Are you speaking of the Golthorr? Was that you?"
Elena nodded and took out the head of the beast. It landed on the floor of the shop with a wet thud. Thar'zul's eyes grew wide and gleamed at the prospect. And then his eyes turned hungry. He looked up at Elena and a sly smile spread on his face. "If you let me skin and keep it, I'll make your armor better than you could expect."
Elena shrugged. Not like she had any use for it herself. "Knock yourself out," she said. Thar'zul looked confused. "I would rather not, but I will gladly use this." He started taking measurements and noted it on his tablet. "I cannot guarantee there is enough to make this armor entirely out of its scales, but I will do what I can." He looked down at the tablet and then up at Elena. "Now there is the small issue of cost."
Elena reached into her bag and started pulling out a shard but Thar'zul pushed her hand back.
"No, please. If it is ok with you, I'd rather that you and I work something out," Thar'zul looked at Elena almost excitedly. Elena raised an eyebrow, unsure of what he meant. "Here is what I propose. I make this armor. I will make this one of the best pieces I can. I will consider the head payment, but if people ask you about your gear, you point them in my direction. And if you have other pieces in such wonderful condition as this one, that you give me the option to buy them from you first when possible."
Elena looked a bit shocked and was about to agree, but Thar'zul quickly sped up as if Elena was about to turn him down. "I understand that you might be hesitant or there may be animals you get far away from here, but I promise a good deal on the skins, and will be more than happy to outfit you and your group with other armor should the need arise. I'll even throw in a good deal for your friends if you wish."
Elena thought for a moment and held out a hand. Thar'zul grabbed her forearm and they shook.
As she left Thar'zul's shop, a weird feeling of butterflies filled her stomach. She was almost giddy at the idea of getting a brand new set of armor. She'd already gotten a cool new weapon and lots of alchemical supplies. She couldn't help but look forward to the day when she would don the stunning, tiefling-inspired leather armor that Thar'zul would craft for her.
They got back to the tavern, all of them except for Elena had a delicious dinner. And when Elena retired to her room for the night, she heard a knock. She got up, threw on a bathrobe that Gareth had left in the room for her, and when she opened the door, she saw a small basket.
It was in Lila's exquisite handwriting. She looked at the items, including the open box, and immediately pulled the whole basket into her inventory in embarrassment. Once out of view of everyone, she looked at the note:
Dearest Elena,
I hope this note finds you well. I must confess, the contents of this basket were not entirely my idea. Lele and Agatha insisted that these items were essential for a young woman's... personal education. While I found their suggestion rather forward, they assured me it was common practice among friends.
I do apologize if this causes any discomfort. Please know that my intentions are pure, and I only wish to support you in your journey of self-discovery and magical growth.
Should you have any questions or concerns, I am always here to lend an ear or offer guidance. And if you need guidance, I'm certain that many of us will be more than adequate to render assistance.
With warmest regards, Lila Clementine
P.S. The book on magical theory is my contribution. I hope you find it as enlightening as I did.
Elena once again looked at the contents of the basket while in her inventory and saw 3 new boxes of stuff. A bottle of lotion, the book Lily mentioned titled Enchanted Essence, and a small box labeled 'Joyful Jiggler.'
Elena closed the door, her face as red as her bed sheets. "God dammit"