“What do you think they will do?” Franco asked.

  They were walking around the inside of the village walls and had been for the last hour. It was their way to get some exercise while not getting Innosaa mad at them as well as getting in Frazier’s team building time.

  “They will buy it but I think we will have to settle for less,” Maph said as he walked hand in hand with Frazier.

  “Suzerain Valiant valued it at 80,000 gold. That would wipe out Cid’s gains but I think it would be a huge powerup for him” Frazier said as they walked.

  It was well into the afternoon on this sunny day, almost two full days after that exciting night for Cid and his team. The Harekin had stopped by twice over these days to look at the dagger and test it out. It seemed he really wanted it.

  “It does suit him well” Oaken said as he tried to read and memorize his new spell as they walked.

  “Have you two found any armor worth buying?” Frazier asked.

  “Yeah we both found things we like. One of the new merchants has a full set of Legion Segmentata armor that together is low gold rating and would suit me well. I am trying to get Oaken to buy a Abigail Mage Duster like that one that girl was wearing but he wants to buy more spells and hopes his dad gives him some hand-me-down armor.” Franco said as he went to push Oaken who he was walking next to.

  Without looking Oaken used his big left hand to swat the push away.

  “You have that Grimnoir already, Oaken don't get too greedy. Get the armor” Maph said.

  “He's right,” Frazier said.

  “We will see, I just don’t know how I feel that Franco is pushing me to dress like his new crush. It makes me very concerned" Oaken said as he peeked over his book to check Franco’s face.

  Maph and Frazier laughed but Franco just scoffed.

  “You wish. Your to hairy by half for my liking”

  Ah, thus why he wants you to cover up Oaken” Frazier said.

  Franco’s face grew red at that one and the group chuckled at his embarrassment.

  The village was busy with over 800 people here now with half being adventurers but the other half being workers of different Guilds. Many of the workers provided services for adventures but as many worked for the expedition directly. There was even a Mage guild set up now that you could send messages through.

  Maph looked around as they walked and waited for when they were relatively alone to ask Franco a question.

  “What have you figured out about your blade”

  Franco just sighed as he checked to make sure no one else was near their team. “Oaken and I have been trying to figure it out but Innosaa is really keeping an eye on us and not letting me train but so far it seems the base attributes of the sword are that it improves my weapon skill. My Saber skill feels stronger or better when I wield it. I feel like I'm a noticeably better swordsman with it.”

  “It does look like a step up which I have not seen before. A weapon improving a previous skill so much” Oaken added.

  “After that I know it's tougher and sharper than any other blade I have had before. I need to practice this but with Cleaving Strike I think I could cut through a non-enchanted weapon but that's just a guess at this point. I think it has some kind of Magic Piecing like your sword Maph but I’m less sure about that.”

  Oaken chimed in when Franco paused. “I am almost positive it does but I think the best part of it is that it's a focus for free casting. The few times Franco has let me test that it feels like it's much easier to Free Cast.”

  “Well as soon as I know a spell I can test that out” Franco said trying to poke Oaken again but the Kimber just swatted his finger aside.

  “And its Training Features that Zif explained?” Frazier asked.

  “Those are clear to me and from the little write up Zif gave me about the saber. Two of the five training abilities are activated. Perfect Perry and Mana Battery. I don't know how this wont affect my leveling. So many things from a Relic weapon and it wont slow my leveling? How is that possible” Franco said.

  “Maybe that's its based Enhancement and what really makes it a training blade.” Maph said.

  Oaken trilled. “Oh good idea Maph, I like that. It could be its base feature and unlocking more abilities could just be a secondary feature of that. It would be easy to look over with the unlocking abilities.

  “Franco parry this” Frazier said as she stepped clear of Maph and quickly drew her new short sword and stepped into a lung for a telegraphed strike at Franco’s legs.

  Franco stepped clear of the group and while drawing the Jade saber in one fluid motion activated Perfect Perry as soon as his hand was on the hilt. His saber cleared its sheathed and with a blindingly fast movement battered aside Frazier's sword leaving her open for devastating riposte but he stopped himself from making the attack.

  “Do you know how often you can use it?” Maph asked as he looked on.

  “No idea really, I can do it again immediately but then it takes minutes before I can again but if I just wait another thirty seconds I could use it twice more so I don't think it has normal Charges like most Abilities."

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  Like the common Dodge ability that gained more charges the higher level you were. Faust the Longhorn of the Free Horde had been able to use Dodge at least nine times by their count which would have put him near level 30 just based on that alone. With how much gear can change your personal power level it was always hard to tell what level an old well geared opponent was.

  “And Mana Well” Frazier asked.

  “We only tested it once but it doubled his time using his Flame Spray wand but the Level Up would have helped with that also” Oaken said excitedly

  “And you are still going to allow him to learn a spell from your reward?” Maph asked.

  “I won't say no to the gold and having Franco learn and be able to Free Cast a spell in combat would greatly improve our combat power”

  “I know I have gained two levels since the fight with that Greater Undead Bone Giant but with this saber I feel like I could handle one on my own pretty easily now.”

  “Same for me,” Frazier said, tapping her new gauntlet.

  “Just give me three months and I will be there with you three” Oaken said as he shook his head seemingly trying to read his Grimoire harder.

  “With four spells that you can Free Cast even if we all level again twice more you will be the strongest out of all of us Oaken” Maph said as he patted the Kimber on the back.

  “That's what what they say. As long as I get offered Wizard or a Wizard class I will be happy” Oaken replied but then seemed uncomfortable so pointed back at Maph.

  “Have you found anything else about your armor”

  “I have,” Maph said with a big smile on his face.

  “What?” Franco asked excitedly.

  “Well one new one which is good and a clarification of one which is amazing. So it does have an Impact Absorption enchantment but with Suzerain Valiant I figured out with some testing that the same enchantment has an Impact Reflection part to it. Not fully like you would expect but Suzerain Valiant was amazed by it as it seems that it reduces impacts by nearly 60% and it partly does that by reflecting back about a third of the attack back at the person. He had one of his assistants hit me with a wooden pole and it went flying from his loose grip as he was so surprised by it.”

  “That sounds incredible. Wait, how does that work with arrows or other projectiles.” Franco said.

  “I get the absorption protection but the reflection doesn't seem to work for any sort of range attack.” Maph answered.

  “And the fifth enchantment” Oaken prodded as they turned a corner passing by the mountainside and heading west along the inner wall.

  “It's the best one yet” Frazier said with a smile but a sound of jealousy in her voice.

  “Its a minor weather cloak that even seems to keep small bugs off” Maph said with a shrug.

  “It covers most of his body. So unless it's a downpour he will stay dry and mosquito free” Frazier said, rolling her eyes at his tone.

  “Ha, no wonder elves of the old always looked so good or so the old stories go” Oaken said.

  Frazier laughed and elbowed Maph. “See he gets it”

  “It is very nice to have,” Maph said in a consoling tone.

  After another lap they headed back to their room. With the wealth that Wrath of Pele had brought in, the opening of the real dungeon and with Master Helmric’s planned talk with Zif today a lot of pressure was off their team. Franco was hoping that they could get back into the dungeon a lot sooner than three weeks and one of the things that would help do that is new armor for them and for Oaken and him to learn some new spells.

  They found Cid with the rest of the Wrath of Pele there in the big front room of the office with a large bag next to the table they were sitting at.

  “Good afternoon” Cid said, getting up and shaking all their hands.

  He was always moving it seemed.

  “It's good to see you all,” Frazier said, taking the lead.

  “As it is you. As I’m sure you suspect but we are here to talk gold and ancient artifacts" Jax said with a smile as he invited them to sit.

  Both teams were in their comfortable wear and Jax wore a colorful dark red wrap with detailed geometric patterns in gold. With a long sleeve grey cotton pull over that tucked into the wrap that looked like it was held up by his adventurers belt.

  Franco wanted to dive in but let Frazier take the lead as she had indicated she wanted to. They were not on bad terms but there was still something there over both their actions and Sarah’s death.

  After a few minutes of exchanging pleasantries Cid couldn't wait any longer and jumped into the conversion of the team Captains.

  “I want to buy the dagger”

  Frazier smiled at him and nodded.

  “We have a good offer that we think is fair. We have seen and heard that you are looking for armor.” Cid said after Jax sighed and sat back waving him on.

  “We are,” Frazier said, a little concerned that so many knew of their actions.

  “Well you have seen me and this old Sea cucumber wearing this” Cid said as he pulled out a set of the blue chitin armor that they had all seen him wear before.

  “Well this is our extra set of Sea Dreamer armor and it has a solid Gold rating. We even got Suzerain Valiant to do an inspection on it here” Cid said as he pulled some papers from the large bag that was clearly not empty still and pushed them over to Frazier who glanced at them before she pushed it over to Franco.

  “So what's your offer?” Frazier said as Franco skimmed the report.

  “We give you one set of armor that is adjustable enough that it should fit Franco no problems and 50,000 gold. The armor is valued by Suzerain Valiant at 25,000 gold and is great as we have used it in multiple fights. “

  As Franco read he saw that it was highly praised by Suzerain Valiant. Light, tough and insanely magically resistant. He would still need to wear chain or leather underneath it to protect the many joint spots but it was just what he was looking for. It was even good for Oaken.

  “Valiant priced the dagger at 80,000 that's a large discount” Frazier said.

  “You can't find better light armor than this and it's here. One hour with an armorer and it will be fitted and ready to use. That's what you save” Cid said.

  Frazer looked to Franco but he just asked Cid as he handed Oaken the papers.

  “Do you have a second set”

  Cid looked to Jax who nodded and waved for him to get on with the show. So Cid pulled out another set of the same armor. This one seemed a bit more used. The leather straps looked newer and the Chitan armor was just a tad bit more worn in places.

  “This was the armor of our fourth member and held up under that onslaught but nothing was protecting her face. Ummm, we would do both and 20,000 gold.”

  They sat there for a minute as Oaken read Suzerain Valiant’s report before he looked up and nodded to his team.

  “It would be very good for me if it fits”

  Cid smiled and pulled out another piece of paper with a quote from one of the new armors saying that they could fit the armor to a Kimber in a week for 65 gold.

  Frazier looked at Maph who just shrugged, meaning he didn't care and then she looked at Franco who just smiled.

  “What's 10,000 gold between friends?” he said as he stood up and put the dagger on the table.

  Cid hopped to his feet in delight.

  “A lot” mumbled one of the expedition workers in the room.