The late afternoon after Arthur's successful demonstration of Innate Shaping, the snow stopped, giving way to a biting, clear cold. Arthur and Caleb returned to the greenhouse with Ellis and Tom, eager to finish the detail work while the weather held. Jacob and Sera, in their enchanted clothes, headed back toward Ruvka village.
Sera walked beside him, the newly enchanted thatch shawl wrapped tightly around her shoulders. She was humming a soft, focusing tune that kept Jacob's concentration sharp. May insisted that she take a sack of grains and vegetables with her, so her grandmother would have something good to eat during the winter weather.
"I still can't believe Father figured that out so fast," Jacob said as they walked. "He was locked into the rigid rules for twenty years, and one conversation about intent changed everything. After he was able to imprint an enchantment on that piece of leather, the mana around him was a bit chaotic. That, and the look on his face, I think he gained a new skill from it. I just can't tell since you system holders are not able to talk about it around us."
"Your magic is infectious, Jacob," Sera replied quietly, ignoring the bit about the system. "But it requires courage. He had to trust a feeling over a blueprint. And this sword requires even more courage, both from you to sell it, and from the one who buys it."
They entered the central square of Ruvka, and Jacob immediately noticed the change. The square was usually reserved for slow market days and the occasional peddler.
Today, several temporary stalls were set up, specializing in sturdy leather armor, polished steel weaponry, and alchemical potions, among other goods an adventurer might need in a dungeon. Merchants from Thornhold that would normally cater to the adventurers there. The air buzzed with energy, conversation, and the metallic clink of coins.
"Adventurers," Jacob murmured. Ruvka was close to the edge of the Sinclair Kingdom's unsettled frontier, but this concentration of gear and high-level activity was something he wouldn't expect even in Thornhold's common areas. This sight was all thanks to the nearby gate that recently opened.
The adventurers were mostly young, heavily armed, and currently haggling over prices. This was his opportunity. A typical pawnbroker wouldn't know the value of the Aegis, but a group heading into the new gate would.
Jacob and Sera approached a group standing near a weapon stall. There were three of them with a stout, broad-shouldered man in heavy plate armor, a lean woman with a large bow slung over her back, and a thoughtful-looking man with a scholar's robe and staff.
"Excuse me," Jacob said, nodding to the armored man. "My name is Jacob Hemlock. I believe I have an item that might interest your group."
The armored man, who had the air of a party leader, eyed Jacob and Sera dismissively. "We buy from guilds, kid, not farmers."
Jacob ignored the insult and unwrapped the sword, laying it on a nearby barrel. "It's called the Earthshaper's Aegis. It contains an E-rank Earth core and a triple-layered enchantment. Take a swing and give it a test."
The armored man, whose nameplate read 'Garrick', scoffed but accepted the challenge. He lifted the sword, which felt surprisingly light, and swung it hard at the base of the wooden barrel.
The moment of impact was spectacular. The blade struck the thick oak barrel, and instead of a wood-breaking crack, there was a deafening thoom as the Gravity Shear effect activated. The oak exploded into splinters, cut through by the immense, temporary density of the blade. Garrick staggered, surprised by the unnatural recoil of the mass.
Before Garrick could speak, the robed scholar, named Theron, stepped forward. He placed a hand near the sword, his face lighting up with genuine awe as his eyes glowed slightly from the activation of a skill.
"No visible runes, but the mana signature is running three simultaneous computations," Theron breathed. "A continuous kinetic dampening field, an active mass-manipulation layer, and a geomantic absorption loop. This isn't just powerful, Garrick. It's nearly impossible. It can't be shattered, and it reduces physical impact on the user."
Garrick, now convinced, stared at the weapon. "A tank's sword. Perfect for holding the line. I was just thinking that I could use an upgrade for the C-rank dungeons we were planning on hitting at the end of the month . . ."
The bargaining began in earnest. Garrick wanted to pay with standard currency, but Jacob knew the gold alone undervalued the technical mastery.
"We don't need pure gold," Jacob stated, glancing at the scholar. "We need specific materials for a new project. We want to trade the sword for some high-grade components."
They negotiated a final, fair price that satisfied the specialized nature of the Aegis:
120 Gold Coins
15 E-rank Earth Cores
5 D-rank Water Cores
The trade was finalized with a handshake. Jacob, now flush with cash and supplies, felt the weight of responsibility lift, replaced by a surge of ambition. Coupled with the influx from his last weapon that Carlos purchased, he had plenty of money for any future needs the farm would have.
"Thank you for the transaction, Hemlock," Garrick said, hefting his new sword. "We will put this Aegis to good use."
"I know you will," Jacob replied with a satisfactory smile.
As the sun began to dip, casting long shadows across the square, Sera turned to Jacob. She looked both relieved and slightly melancholic.
"My grandmother lives near the old mill district, Jacob," she said softly. "I should check on her. I haven't been home since the weather turned. I think a nice soup with some of these vegetables your mother gave me would warm her heart."
"Of course, Sera," Jacob agreed. He knew this was a necessary and natural break. He had the money and the materials. His mind was racing ahead to the Void Stone.
They parted ways in the fading light. Jacob, his purse full and his satchel loaded with a fortune in monster cores, headed back toward the Hemlock farm, ready to face another rigorous test of his new magical philosophy.