Noon onsets to swallow the land, Ashalain and her companions finally reach Ravalind. Stopping by the gate, Garrick then questions some of the guards and people nearby.
"So how did it go, Garrick? Any information regarding that thief?" Baron implores.
"Seems that thief is even more cunning than I thought, or just a coincidence."
"How so?" Baron says, crossing his arms.
"The guard told me that a man in strange clothing, who calls himself a merchant, wanted to make contact with the guild for the recovery of his wares that were taken by some creatures."
"So how is that cunning?" Baron stern at him
"Then tell me Baron, how does a strange man, younger than you, able to cross the guard. When you even failed to convince the guard at Starhim?" Garrick retorts.
"Okay, you got me there, so is there something more that you've gathered?" Baron averted his eyes from Garrick.
"The guard also told me that he had an important letter to deliver it at the guild." Garrick sigh, easing the tension.
"So that's it, we just have to go to the guild and see this man?" Baron exclaimed in eagerness.
"Maybe so, but something is off as if he's trying to confuse us. Baron, you go to the Guild and find if that man is really in there. Mishel and I will talk with the people. And I suggest we should keep this trouble in private." Garrick said.
Seeing Ashalain griping his fist and clenching her teeth out of resentment.
"Ashalain don't lose your composure, try to go to every shop, that's the last thing I ask for you." Garrick implies.
Perceiving Ashalain in distress, Mishel holds her hand. "Don't worry Ashalain we'll get that thief and your sword I swear."
Relieved by her words, Ashalain finally regains some of her appearance. "I understand we should make this as fast as possible." Ashalain softly spoke.
Ambling through the town he wasn't familiar with, Natalak treads deeper into the city. And while he was stepping every block, Natalak conversed with the locals for information regarding this place and their shop. He also tries not to talk with many people, giving different names and giving a false persona. A merchant, a scholar, an adventurer.
Satisfied with his fantasist, he went to visit one of the cloth shops that was told to him by an elderly man. The moment he opens the door.
"What can I do for you today, a young man in strange fashion?" Greetings from the shopkeeper, an elderly woman.
"Just need some clothes for my size and not too shabby. Just a simple piece of clothing." Natalak respond.
Equally, he looks around the place, seeing the different varieties of clothes that are displayed. Some of them are thick and adorned with jewels and other decorations.
"Must be from the high-class people." Natalak thought.
Buying noble apparel is a stupid thing to do, so he searches for some relevant clothing, a simple one. And just a couple of swaying his eyeballs, Natalak found what he was looking for. Separated, stocks of commoners' apparel were neatly piled.
"I'll just try this one," Natalak spoke, rubbing its fabric.
Through the changing room, he checks out the bag and the sword, which he stole from the paladin.
A majestic double-edged sword, and from its guard is a golden flame running down to the tip of the blade. But the most interesting thing about the sword are the gemstones carved along the surface of the blade, five on one side and five on the other.
Stuffing it back into his bag. "Well, a loot is a loot it's her fault that this was stolen." Natalak said, with an anxious feeling, the moment he slowly sacks back to his magic bag.
Hastily changing his clothes
"You seem to be in a hurry for a quick change of garments."
"By the way, do you have some spare of shrouds or a cloak?" Natalak ask the senile shopkeeper.
Giving no reply, she went by the back door, leaving him worried, but then again, the greed and desire of thievery begin to tingle his hand.
"Should I grab and run? Asshole, I best not be making a dick move not while I'm new to this world and how it runs."
Natalak paused, looking at the peculiar things placed on the table, as he fought his desire from taking over.
It didn't take long for the shopkeeper to bring the different types of cloaks. There were many to be exact, from small to long size and some are etched with marvelous design.
"Take your time." She says, gently placing the items on the desk.
"Hmm... I'll be taking this simple one."
"That would be ten coppers." The storekeeper said.
"Oof, this place sure isn't cheap, but nice making business with you." Natalak said after wearing the cloak.
"And thank you too young man." She smiles, a very nostalgic smile from a hard-working old person, or is it.
Outside the shop, hunger starts to rumble his stomach, but he had to prioritize first some equipment before buying a meal. Remembering the letter that Garry entrusted to him he went around looking for a heading.
Somehow his legs guide him to noble area, manors and mansion lay waste from the place. He came across an orchidarium where few or no people lingers. By his perspective it's a good place to hide courtship things.
That's when he heard a beautiful humming voice, turning around, Natalak source were the basis of the sound. By his eyes was stunning lady who's resting, humming at the fountain beside the garden. Yet her appearance seems to resemble the paladin.
"Should I try to ask her, if she can point me to the direction of that place?"
Natalak stops his movement and ponders a word of greetings.
"Sorry to interrupt you madam, but can you show me the way to a famous blacksmith in this town?" Natalak interrupts.
She pauses, surprised as she hides the hand that prepares magical offenses. Measuring his appearance, sensing any threat from Natalak.
"That's alright. Are you perhaps new to this place?" tilting her head for a closer inspection.
"Yes, I'm a traveler and I would like to deliver this letter to some person." Natalak softly spoke as he reveals the letter.
"Ale and Hammer." Ponders the lady upon looking at the address.
"Ah, you might be looking for a blacksmith shop called Hammer and Ale." The lady mention.
"Hammer and Ale?"
"Yes, that's one of the famous blacksmiths in this area. Known mostly from its connection with the adventurers' guild." Replied the lady as she diminishes her spell.
"Ah, is it okay to ask where that place is located?"
"Follow this path until you see a lamp pole—" Pointing the direction of the shop. "Then take the right-side road. Once you see a tall building just go straight to it, there you'll see a signboard showing a hammer and an ale. You can also ask the folks for direction."
"I see, I thank you then."
Yet somehow, he can't get his mind that the lady paladin he met at the inn seems to mirror her.
"I see..." Natalak says following her direction.
"By the way, your humming suites the place. It gives me tranquility." Natalak blurted before sauntering away.
The lady nods. "Thank you—" A solitary word as if someone acknowledge her presence as a human.
"Dang my legs are tired; ugh I need another ale." Natalak mumbles with a mix of fatigue as he paved the cobble pathway.
Standing up she then raised her voice.
"It's nice meeting you, I too hope we might meet again."
"Hmm... I think so too." Natalak respond raising his hand
Following the lady's advice, Natalak finally stand facing the front door of the shop. Consequently, after opening the door shouting and yelling starts to engulf the shop.
"Father how many times did I told you, don't always put the tools at every corner of the shop. Geez… and don't drink while working got it!" A voice of a child said.
The front door rang and as he enters the shop… "Did I come in a bad timing?" Natalak usher.
Knowing his presence both greets Natalak simultaneously. "Welcome, what can we do for you today sir."
"Um… I'm looking for a man name Barry."
Both exchange look. "Well, you got the right man, I'm Barry the blacksmith."
Without delay Natalak quickly bring out the letter from his bag.
"Ah, so you're the man… I had a letter for you."
Once Barry received the envelop, his daughter starts jumping aiming to grab the paper.
"Let me see! Let me see! Is that from Uncle Garry!"
Persistently annoyed, Barry gave the letter and ask Natalak what he need.
"Sorry for my daughter's commotion" The blacksmith said after relinquishing the envelop.
"It's okay that's normal for kids."
"Indeed, so what do you need?"
"I just need some equipment." Natalak said looking around the shop and seeing the different varieties of armor and swords.
As his eyes wondering through the shop, he was astounded not by the items that the shop offers but by the craftsmanship of the maker. The flamboyant plate males, the different weapons of different materials hang like clothes for customers to choose.
There Natalak notice one strange armor behind Barry. Closer inspection, the design hooks Natalak already.
An armor that mostly consists of leather, and some chain mail layer beneath the leather but the design is different and badass. By looking at it, a scarf is wrapped around the shoulder, and the chest is covered by thick Iron or steel. Its right shoulder was padded in steal. The lower waist of the armor is belted in different many types, and a waist cloak that makes it more stylish.
"Say mister, what is that thing behind you." Natalak points at the armor.
"This, it's an armor that I design years ago. If I not mistaken, I created this armor five years ago."
"Why did anybody buy that armor?" Replied the traveler.
"Oh, this is just an armor of fashion. It doesn't have any enchantment it may be good for shielding you from daggers and simple weapons. I was bored that day, which led me to creating this armor."
"Say Barry how much is that armor."
"About, fifty-five copper."
"Are there anyways that I can lower the prize? I'm a bit low on coin."
"Well, there's only one way." Barry smile. "You can buy one of its sets and the price might be lowered. Dare say young man, you're not an adventurer, are you?"
"No sir, but I might be going that direction." Natalak lies, a juicy lie.
"Ah— have any trainings or combat experience?"
"Yes, I do have some." The traveler again follows another invention.
"How about forty-five coppers, if you buy it's other set." The blacksmith then reveals two gauntlets.
Uneven in design the left offers a striking feature, a claw gauntlet to be precise. The materials made were dark and somewhat pure in iron. Say, a person can tell the claw gauntlet was heavy to wear. On the right side was a leather gauntlet, which is opposite to the claw-gauntlet. It was light to the touch and more flexible to the hand.
Before Natalak could garb the armor, the belt straps were first loosen enabling the person to wear the armor without complications. Sad to say, the armor was unfit to his body. The claw gauntlet— heavy and hard for the arms to make a swing.
Disappointed, Barry's daughter came holding a gem stone glowing in emerald. And a scroll that reeks powerful spell.
Observing in silence, the lass tore open the scroll letting runes and ancient words burst through the scroll. Shocking to the eyes, the strings of ancient letters and runes cradles through the girl's arms. Then Natalak saw the scroll burn instantly once the spell was released. It was there he witness how the girl easily shatters the gem stone.
Stone to what transpire, the glowing emerald didn't shatter like glass rather it was melted into a green mist. Comes another, from the girl's left hand a whirling mist of air slowly expand.
Clamp like magnets, the two energies from different hand merge into one. Which the strings of words and runes absorbed the ball of energy, transitioning from simple white letters to glowing green.
"Stand still mister." The girl said.
"I-warah." Whisper the girls before the strings of letters quickly transfer at Natalak's armor.
Once the threads of symbol wraps around the armor. There it begins to merge, and once merge the armor begins to shrink until it meets the required size. The claw gauntlet shifts from heavy to featherlight in weight. The only aftermath was the hissing sound of steam-like smoke coming out from the armor.
"Yay, another successful enchantment!" The girl jumps passionately.
"Enchantment?!"