Chapter 20: The Empress of Ice arrives!
Now that Xolvion had finally said goodbye to the others, it was time for him to go and sell his share of the loot. Thanks to absorbing the knowledge of a trader's daughter, he already knew how much everything was worth and the best place to sell it.
"So that's ten slime crystals, two excellent quality wolf pelts, five wolf fangs, one giant boar tusk and half of its hide... In total, I can offer you 30 silvers," the merchant said as he crossed his arms over his chest.
Xolvion smirked as he took his loot back. "We both know it's worth double that. If you aren't interested in buying it for a fair price, I'll take my business elsewhere," he said, baiting him.
"A-alright, alright!" the merchant shouted as he grabbed the loot, stopping Xolvion from taking it. "I'll give you 60 silvers for the lot."
"Make it 61, for trying to rob me," Xolvion said, giving him a serious look.
"Bloody hell, you drive a hard bargain, mister... You remind me of my daughter in that way," he said, scratching his head.
"You could say I learnt from the best," Xolvion said, smiling at him before he took his money and left. Knowing full well he had already had his daughter, taking her knowledge.
"Now that I have some money, I should get some new gear. After all, these clothes won't last much longer," he said, looking down at the rags he was wearing.
Xolvion wandered through the city until he came to a small yet popular weapons and armour shop. It had been recommended at the adventurers' guild due to its price for new adventures.
"Hello! I'll be with you in a moment!" A feminine voice shouted from the back as Xolvion walked in, ringing the bell that was attached to the door.
Xolvion could see lots of different weapons and armour types on display, deciding to check them out whilst he waited.
"Hello! Sorry to keep you waiting," a pretty woman said suddenly as she barged through the door that led into her workshop.
She was carrying a box of old swords and was dressed in old clothes that fit her well, complete with a blacksmith's apron. She had raven black hair that was tied back, two small strands of hair falling over her face, stuck to the sweat. Her eyes were blue and her eyelashes long.
"Welcome to the Broken Bucket Blacksmiths!" she said, placing the box down and wiping the sweat from her forehead.
Xolvion smiled as he introduced himself. "Nice to meet you, my name is Xolvion."
Xolvion couldn't help but notice she had wiped black soot on her face with her glove, deciding to tell her. "You have a little something on your face," he said, pointing to his cheek.
She took her glove off and wiped her cheek, taking a sword to check it in the reflection. "There, all gone. Anyway, how can I help you?" she said before she twirled the sword and put it back into the box.
Xolvion nodded. "I'm looking for some new gear. Clothing and a weapon."
"Any ideas of what kind of armour you're after?" she asked, taking a closer look at him.
"I was thinking something light yet durable. Something with a lot of breathing room, but that would still protect me if I were to take a hard hit." He said, thinking about it.
"And your weapon of choice?"
"A sword will do," he said after looking at one on the wall.
"Alright, let me just measure you quickly, and we can get to work. What's your price range?"
"I'd say about 50 silvers max," he said with a charming smile.
The woman noticed his handsome face and looked away as she blushed uncontrollably. "O-okay," she said as she took her tape measure out and got to work.
She had Xolvion stand on a large metal plate that took his weight before she used her measuring tape to take his size, writing it all down as she went.
"So is this shop yours?" Xolvion asked, making small talk.
"Yes... But it used to belong to my husband," she said as she finished measuring his chest and arms.
"What happened to him?" Xolvion asked, being curious as he caught the tone in her voice.
"He died," she said as she stopped for a moment, the memories clearly hitting a sore spot.
"I'm sorry," he said, realising he had made her sad.
"It's okay. It was three years ago now. I always told that fool he should eat more slowly. He ended up choking on a piece of steak one day. By the time I found him, it was too late," she said before she asked him to spread his legs a little so she could measure the length of them.
"You must be lonely here all by yourself," he said as she placed her hand on his leg.
She looked up at him for a moment, locking eyes with his before she broke his gaze and focused on her task, finishing his measurements.
"Yes. But I carry on his dream, running this place all by myself, just how he taught me," she said, seeming a little more chipper.
"You are indeed skilled," Xolvion said as he looked at her work once more.
"Thank you. He taught me everything I know. At first, I was never bothered, but I'm glad I paid attention now," she said before her happy smile faded away.
"It's all I have to remember him."
"Just hang on here for me whilst I collect some samples," she then said before she headed into the back again, leaving Xolvion to look around the room at more weapons and armour that hung from the walls.
She soon came back with a large box of different clothing and armour samples before she started placing bits and bobs to the side.
"Alright. Going off your size and what you requested, I have come up with this for you," she said as she placed all of the clothing and gear onto a dummy model so he could see what it looked like.
The outfit consisted of black leather trousers with protective padding at the knees, a dark grey tunic with reinforced shoulders, and a lightweight black leather vest that would provide protection without restricting movement. Dark leather boots and matching gloves completed the ensemble.
"Not too shabby..." Xolvion said, impressed.
"Is that to your liking?" she asked, making sure everything was okay.
"Yes, that's perfect," Xolvion said, happy with the design of it.
It was lightweight padding and armour that would help protect him but also give him mobility, something more heavy armour wouldn't provide him with.
"Okay, and as for a weapon, I think a longsword would fit you best. Something you can use with one hand quite easily, but can also use two hands for if you need," she said as she picked one of the longswords up off the wall.
"Give this one a few swings," she said as she tossed it to him, watching him catch it with surprising skill.
Xolvion drew the sword and examined the blade, giving it a few swings in his hand. "It's light," he said with a smile, liking the feel of it in his hand.
"Yes, I crafted it from a steel ore that had been enchanted with decreased mass. Meaning it's just as strong as a steel longsword, but it's half the weight," she said with a bright smile.
"Impressive," he said as he placed it back into its sheath.
"So all in all that comes to 55 silvers..." She said as she worked the maths out on her till.
Xolvion had enough coin, but he didn't really want to spend it all at once, something that would leave him with only 6 silver coins.
"I didn't get your name," he asked suddenly, taking the female blacksmith off guard.
"My name..." She said, blushing a little as Xolvion looked into her eyes.
"Oh, my name is Eva," she said with a smile.
"Eva, what a lovely name," he said as he smiled at her. "I only have 50 silver coins to offer you, Eva, as I stated at the start."
Eva looked a little confused for a second before she remembered he had told her his budget was 50 silvers. "That's right... Oh my, I'm such an airhead," she said as she bumped herself on the noggin.
"I'm sorry. Let's call it 50 silvers then, as long as you promise to always use me as your blacksmith," she suddenly said, giving him a thumbs up and a wink.
Xolvion smiled and nodded. "That's a deal," he said, looking into her blue eyes.
He was almost tempted to use his charm and take her right here and now. However, for some reason, the story about her dead husband stopped him from doing so, feeling pity for her.
Xolvion put on his gear and bid Eva farewell as he left the shop, knowing if it served him well, he would be back.
"Don't go getting soft on me now, Xolvion," he said to himself as he walked down the street.
Another week soon passed, and Xolvion had spent most of his time completing quests and gaining strength as he seduced more and more women. He felt as if his time here in this city had now drawn to an end, feeling as if he had gained everything there was to achieve here.
Plus, a few of the locals had started to believe he was some sort of vampire who preyed on women, having seen so many enter and exit his room.
He had managed to save a large amount of money now, also increasing his rank in the adventurers' guild to Iron rank, having been promoted from Copper rank to Bronze and now to Iron.
(Adventures guild ranks go as follows: Copper. Bronze. Iron. Steel. Silver. Ruby. Emerald. Gold. Titanium and finally Diamond.)
Xolvion knew it was time to leave this city and move on to the next place, where he could gain even more strength. He had discovered that simply taking girls without power or abilities now barely did anything for him, meaning it was almost for nothing, only the pleasure of it.
"I have to find the Holy Saints and steal their powers. It's the only way I will ever become strong enough to face my brothers and sisters," he said to himself before he finished his food, having settled at an inn for his lunch.
"Hey, did you hear!" someone said from across the bar.
"Yeah, one of the Holy Saints, the Empress of Ice, is coming to the city!" another man shouted.
"Yeah, I heard she's here visiting the duke, trying to teach his daughter how to use ice magic," someone else said.
Xolvion was most interested by their words as he sipped his mug of wine, listening from the shadows.
"If a Holy Saint is coming here, then I guess I should stay for a little while longer until I have stolen her powers," he thought as he swirled his wine around in his mug before drinking it.
The crowds had gathered on the streets, everyone coming to get a glimpse of the Holy Saint, also known as the Empress of Ice.
Xolvion had joined the crowds and waited so he too could get a look at her. After all, he needed to know what she looked like to seduce her.
"Look, there she is!" someone shouted as they pointed her out.
A beautiful woman with cool and sharp features suddenly rode in on a white horse, holding a magical staff, surrounded by the city guard. Her platinum blonde hair flowed like silk in the wind, and her pale blue eyes seemed to freeze the very air around her. She wore elegant robes of white and silver that seemed to shimmer with frost, and ice crystals danced around her staff as she moved.
Xolvion was impressed and watched as she rode away, heading towards the castle in the centre of the city.
"So it's true, she really is going to train the duke's daughter," someone said among the crowd.
"I heard the duke's daughter can use ice magic and is next in line to become one of the Holy Saints," someone else said as they all chatted between themselves.
"Yeah, the duke is having a ball to celebrate his daughter discovering her magical powers for her 18th birthday!" someone said excitedly.
"Don't get too excited, only those of noble rank or wealth will be invited," someone else scoffed.
Xolvion had already figured as much, knowing he would have to find another way into the castle, since an invitation was out of the question.
"Looks like I'm going to need a disguise," he thought to himself.
"I heard his son is still away fighting in the war." Another said, catching Xolvions ears.
The duke's son is awa,y is he? Xolvion thought, knowing he would have to investigate more.