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 sternly stared 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 to the guild." Garrick sighs, 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 out 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 gripping 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 to many people, using different names and presenting 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 older 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 on display. 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 is 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 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 began 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, from small to large, and some were etched with marvellous designs.
"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 older adult, or is it?
Outside the shop, hunger starts to rumble in his stomach, but he has to prioritise buying 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 a noble area; manors and mansions lie waste in the place. He came across an orchidarium where few or no people linger. From his perspective, it's a good place to hide courtship things.
That's when he heard a beautiful humming voice; turning around, he found Natalak's source to be the basis of the sound. By his side was a stunning lady who was 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 in the direction of that place?"
Natalak stops his movement and ponders a greeting.
"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 offences—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 traveller, and I would like to deliver this letter to someone," Natalak spoke softly as he revealed 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 mentioned.
"Hammer and Ale?"
"Yes, that's one of the famous blacksmiths in this area. Known mostly for 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 in the direction of the shop. "Then take the right-side road. Once you see a tall building, go straight to it, and there you'll see a signboard showing a hammer and an ale. You can also ask the folks for directions."
"I see, I thank you then."
Yet somehow, he can't get his mind around the fact that the lady paladin he met at the inn seems to mirror her.
"I see..." Natalak said, following her direction.
"By the way, your humming suits the place. It gives me tranquillity." Natalak blurted before sauntering away.
The lady nods. "Thank you—" A solitary word as if someone acknowledged her presence as a human.
"Dang, my legs are tired; ugh, I need another ale," Natalak mumbles with a mix of fatigue as he paves 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 responds, raising his hand
Following the lady's advice, Natalak finally stood facing the shop's front door. Consequently, after opening the door, shouting and yelling start to engulf the shop.
"Father, how many times have 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 entered the shop… "Did I come at a bad time?" Natalak usher.
Knowing his presence, Natalak is simultaneously greeted. "Welcome, what can we do for you today, sir?"
"Um… I'm looking for a man named Barry."
Both exchanges look. "Well, you got the right man, I'm Barry the blacksmith."
Without delay, Natalak quickly took the letter out of his bag.
"Ah, so you're the man… I had a letter for you."
Once Barry received the envelope, his daughter started jumping, aiming to grab the paper.
"Let me see! Let me see! Is that from Uncle Garry!"
Persistently annoyed, Barry handed the letter to Natalak and asked what he needed.
"Sorry for my daughter's commotion," the blacksmith said after relinquishing the envelope.
"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 armour and swords.
As his eyes wandered through the shop, he was astounded not by the items it offered but by the maker's craftsmanship. The flamboyant plate males, with different weapons of various materials, hang like clothes for customers to choose from.
There, Natalak noticed a strange piece of armour behind Barry. Closer inspection, the design hooks Natalak already.
An armour that mostly consists of leather, with a layer of chain mail beneath the leather, but the design is different and badass. Looking at it, a scarf is wrapped around the shoulder, and the chest is covered with thick Iron or steel. Its right shoulder was padded in steel. The lower waist of the armour is belted in various ways, and a waist cloak makes it more stylish.
"Say, mister, what is that thing behind you?" Natalak points at the armour.
"This is an armour that I designed years ago. If I'm not mistaken, I created this armour five years ago."
"Why did anybody buy that armour?" Replied the traveller.
"Oh, this is just an armour of fashion. It doesn't have any enchantment, but it may be good for shielding you from daggers and simple weapons. I was bored that day, which led me to create this armour."
"Say, Barry, how much is that armour?"
"About fifty-five copper."
"Are there any ways that I can lower the price? I'm a bit low on coin."
"Well, there's only one way." Barry smiles. "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 training or combat experience?"
"Yes, I do have some." The traveller again follows another invention.
"How about forty-five coppers, if you buy the 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 armour, the belt straps were loosened, enabling the person to wear the armour without complications. Sad to say, the armour was unfit for his body—the claw gauntlet— heavy and hard for the arms to make a swing.
Disappointed, Barry's daughter came, holding a glowing emerald. And a scroll that reeks of a powerful spell.
Observing in silence, the lass tore open the scroll, letting runes and ancient words burst through. Shocking to the eyes, the strings of ancient letters and runes cradle through the girl's arms. Then Natalak saw the scroll burn instantly once the spell was released. It was there that he witnessed how the girl easily shattered the gemstone.
Stunned by what transpired, the glowing emerald didn't shatter like glass; rather, it melted into a green mist. Comes another; from the girl's left hand, a whirling mist of air slowly expands.
Clamp-like magnets, the two energies from different hands merge into one. As the strings of words and runes absorbed the ball of energy, they transitioned from simple white letters to glowing green.
"Stand still, mister." The girl said.
"I-warah." Whisper to the girls before the strings of letters quickly transfer to Natalak's armour.
Once the symbol's threads wrap around the armour, it begins to merge, and once merged, the armour begins to shrink until it reaches the required size—the claw gauntlet shifts from heavy to featherlight. The only aftermath was the hissing sound of steam-like smoke coming out from the armour.
"Yay, another successful enchantment!" The girl jumps passionately.
"Enchantment?!" Natalak's eyes broaden.