Chapter 14: Better Gear

There was the option to browse the store physically or to scroll through the entire catalog through a pop-up screen.

The majority of people who came into the establishment would use this, as to save unnecessary time.

In a thoughtful silence, Leek took a look at the vast selection offered, choosing to do so with his eyes.

Clubs, javelins, handaxes, crossbows, rapiers, flails, glaves, scimitars, whips, darts, throwing stars, katanas... and more.

These were all displayed neatly in their appropriate sections.

A variety of individuals were engraved with a shimmering deep gold. They had clear emphasis, as the highest quality weapons were placed near them, such as a museum with their historical figures.

Certain items were placed behind the protection of a glass case, while anything of mid-lower quality was left out in the open. To be touched by any hands.

When you looked close enough at the sealed items they had a clear engraving etched into their designs. When interacted with a small textbox would appear and give the creator's name.

Through all the strong and brittle nothing piqued Leek's interest. He browsed with no urgency, simply looking through everything and evaluating their practical use.

-Leek: His hands coddled a fair rapier, "This might be too much choice..." Putting down the blade he placed it back into its hanging sheath.

"Would You Like Any Help, I See You're Not Too Fond Of Anything?!" The shop worker who had greeted him came over to the man, who stood in it longer than the average person.

"If You Don't Mind My Input, I Would Recommend At The Least A Set Of Throwables."

As she spoke Leek paid decent attention, yet he still didn't fall too much for her smooth words. Taking into account that the worker may be compensated through commission, thus wanting to upsell him.

With help from the woman Leek had been able to narrow down his options to weapons he'd likely do the best with.

Blunt weapons were an easy afterthought, his 'Cut Throat' skill would not be utilized to its actual potential with them, as they lack the prominent ability to cut.

Far-Long range ones wouldn't benefit his 'Coldening Feeling' skill, since he'd be out of range to gather the proper aggro he would want.

No doubt he was going to take advantage of Elixirs and Potions, as he did with the vitality elixirs he had consumed in the encounter with the Wandering Angora.

-Leek: "I already have some decent sustain, so I'd be pretty tanky with healing items." He went from a mild whisper to projected questioning, "Speaking of buffs; How would I go about learning spells?"

When it came to mind he realized that he had yet to encounter any overt magic usage, of which he did not go out of his way to look for.

-Jylinia: "Oh. I've never been asked that question... I'd suppose you could go and join a church, whose principals you align with. You could also devote yourself to an individual god, not going through a church, though the chance of catching their eye is slimmer than none. Or you could spend the required funds to have access to scrolls, and learn from them."

The very general answer wasn't what he was expecting. In the original Fallen Arc, you would have to become a warlock or abuse single-use spells, if you didn't choose a spell caster at character selection.

-Leek: "Well, thanks for the information..." Her response was far more general than he'd have expected.

He would just use the wiki as a reference as he wanted to use it to properly incorporate magic into his character.

After much more discussion he had settled on a weapon to try, with the forethought of being able to simply switch if he found them less than useful.

-Jylinia: "If that is all I can put all the items together for you!" Before getting a response she went about collecting every item of Leek's interest, the top of her head bobbing as she did so.

Players, and even NPCs, would stand just outside the establishment, or in the case of overcrowding they would come in but stand directly beside the door. This left the two alone, together.

Only once was their long conversation interrupted by an outside person. A single question is what was asked, regarding a pricing situation, to which a single answer satiated the asker.

A few sets of potions, scrolls, and a large quantity of consumable throwables were collected by the dozen, being dropped into a single bag.

-Jylinia: She returned to face Leek with his intended purchases. "Everything is in here, and accounted for!" Her chest being pushed out as some sign of pride.

She held out the bag by its yellow drawstrings, presenting them to Leek.

-Leek: "That was quick. Thank you, for the help." He reached out to take the bag and its contents but stopped before doing so. "My bad, I almost forgot payment..."

Quickly he reached into his inventory and pulled out an unfamiliar item. It was the one given to him by Zenrael as gratitude for their discussion.

Taking notice of the item Jylinia, whose face was already fairly animated, nearly jumped from surprise.

-Jylinia: "Oh my, I did not know! I would not have caused you so much trouble..." Halfway through she had gone into a bow, now presenting the bag in the palms of her hands. "Please forgive me!"

The reaction got nothing more than a slight eyebrow raise and a slight squint, from Leek. He used context to assume this had to do with the voucher given to him.

It was a black card, trimmed through its center with a gold-like metal. It had nothing written on it and was as it seemed at first sight.

But as it was an item in a game you could pull up the description programmed to it.

[Financial recommendation of, The Honourable Alhedir Zenrael Faeriaght, first male heir to the Faeriaght Barony]

-Leek: "I don't know how far up a Baron is, but maybe I should have flashed this before. Could have grabbed a couple more items?..." The man he met was a person of royalty.

Before he went to think these thoughts, he motioned for Jylinia to raise her head from its bow.

-Jylinia: Her hands were still being held out towards Leek, who had yet to take the bag from her hands. "Please accept my wares!"

'If the title of Duke is the highest or at least one of the highest, then below that would be a Count.... Or mayb-'

-Leek: "My bad, I was thinking of somethi- it's not important, never mind." The bag came into his possession finally, as he accepted it. Jylinia could now put her arms at ease.

-Jylinia: "If you're looking for better gear, with proper preparation, we can gather a high-class blacksmith from the Smithing Guild at your request!" She did not bow anymore, but still clearly displayed her submission through her body language.

An abrupt change in her actions was still throwing Leek off, he had never been given a pedestal to stand over another.

He did not find anything wrong in it, as he did not force it. Rather it had been given, with context to his character and personality.

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Status Page: Leek (15)

[ Skill Points: 3 ]

HP 16 (+2)

SPD 8 (+2)

VIT 9 (+0)

TEQ 3 (+3)

EVN 5 (+4)

SSK 2

[ LUCK: 7 ](+5)

Inventory: Dagger(Useless), Shield (Useless), Clothing (Used), Shoes (Useless), (1)Elixir: Vitality/Basic, Coin Pouch: 97, (6)Angora Tails: Rotten, (7)Angora Tails: Fresh

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+Inventory: (1)Drawstring Bag: Basic, (9)Shuriken, (16)Kunai, Gauntlet Pair(Pristine), (6)Potion: Speed/Normal, (3)Elixir: Health/Normal, (3)Elixir: Mana/Higher, (4)Potion: Health/Higher, (6)Scroll: Transcribe/Superior, Glaive(Pristine)

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-Leek: "Hmmm." The amount of clutter he felt when looking at his inventory was a bit too much. "I have a dagger and buckler shield, at least what's left of them, can I sell them to you for anything?"

Leek took the two deformed hunks of metal, one in either hand, and presented them to Jylinia. They had little life left in them, as they had been driven to the extent of their usability.

-Jylinia: She took a step closer to identify if he had not grabbed the incorrect items by accident. "I have not seen this kind of craftsmanship before, do you know its origin? If not, I can get it looked at for you."

-Leek: He spoke in response. "Could you do that then? And I had bought it a while back, so I have no idea where it came from." He handed the two things to Jylinia, who promptly put them away.

With nothing else to discuss, Leek bid farewell to Jylinia. He enjoyed the time they spent with one another.

Through his ignorance he gained a few nuggets of knowledge from the woman. He saw no waste in their interaction.

*Bing* a chime rang again, doing so just before he could log out. 'You Have Become Fairly Acquainted With Jyllinia, The Emporium Owner!'

-Leek: As he pressed the button, removing him from the digital world, a mild smile showed on his face. "I sure am gaining some new friends..."