Tinker

The sun was setting in the horizon, colouring the sky a range of orange colours like fire burning in the clouds. Many still wondering the streets looking for last minute bargains. Miners and adventurers coming back from an expedition in the mountains.

Back at the Inn.

"Phew", Ace sighed wiping the sweat from his brows. In front of him was a backpack filled to the brim. Beside it was a rectangular bag the size of an arm. Audaxia was sitting beside him not knowing what to do as she looks at the bags and him repeatedly.

"Here", Ace passes the rectangular bag to her. "This will be for you. In case there is an emergency, I have prepared some items for you", he spoke to Audaxia who was surprised when she took it. The bag was filled with fire stones, first aid kit, a short knife and a bottle of pills and vials of green liquids. "The pills are only when you need it most, so be careful with it. I won't always be there to protect you", he reminded her.

"Thank you Master, I don't know what else to say", Audaxia replied looking lost for a moment. "It's okay, just wear it wherever you go. I've already customized it where you can put it around your waist. You can sling if you want to", Ace replied while placing his bag to the side.

Wearing the adventurer set, he passed another set that he had gotten from the clothing store to her. It was similar to his, which was just a long sleeve white shirt with padded leather on the chest and back. Pants with sewn knee pads and trekking boots. Both of them looked identical except one had blue hair and eyes with tanned rough looking skin while the other was green with fair smooth skin.

As they walked along the torch lit streets Audaxia looks at him for awhile before she spoke "Master, why did you name me Audaxia? You said you would explain to me later".

"You reminded me of a spider in an encyclopedia I found. It has strong jumping power and it has the ability to communicate visually which was similar to your ability. Its scientific name was the Phiddipus Audax. The word Audax means daring or audacious which suits you if you remember last night", Ace teased noticing how she was blushing beside him.

"But then I noticed your leg strength is strong considering during the evaluation, you jumped higher than that 5 meter boulder thus confirming the name", he continued while his eyes look up remembering yesterday. Audaxia was slowly absorbing the information as she followed beside him.

Suddenly, she was stopped when Ace grabbed her shoulder and noticed they had reached the Smithy already. The wall had already been patched up surprisingly. Knocking on the door, they were greeted by Raygard who looked exhausted. His hair was disheveled with sweat covering his body. "Oh it's you guys, come in. My brother is finishing up soon so just wait at the garden. I still need to clean up this mess you guys did this morning", Raygard groaned as he began packing up the tools he had used and the leftover broken weapons.

The garden was lit with oil lamps hanging in the trees and the stars twinkled in the night sky. The moonlight shone on the rocks and boulders causing the whole place extremely beautiful.

*Creak!* the door of the forge opened slowly as a large man came out in purple robes. A large package was being carried in his hand as he walked slowly to them. As he got closer, they realised his hair was wet and he was wearing slippers when he stood near them. "Here you go. Try it on", his deep voice said slowly, passing the package to Audaxia.

"Guess you managed to have a bath before meeting us here", Ace teased as he looks at Audaxia opening the package. "I have to, since we will be going back to my place for your weapon. I don't want to stink up the place. I may seem untidy here but back home I keep everything organized", he replied while sitting on a rock beside them.

Audaxia slowly took out the items from the package analysing them. An olive coloured skin fitting long sleeve armour with metal like skin were implanted throughout the chest, back, shoulders and elbows. Black bracers overlapping the forearms were also implanted.

Gloves with hard leather on the back with metal plates lined from the knuckles and sticking out from the mid fingers. Black leggings had long pockets at the side of the thighs for knives or arrows and the same metal skin covering the knees.

The boots had a small horn at the front looking like a talon from an eagle. A zipper at the heel to the opening made it easier to wear it.

"Wear it, I need to assess the suit for future developments", Edgard spoke to her as he brought out a bottle of tea. Ace nodded to her when she looked towards him for affirmation. Slowly she brought them to the back of a boulder to wear it. "Seems like you've put in alot of work on this, what's the price?", Ace asked as he looked at the boulder. "10 gold pieces", Edgard replied nonchalantly as he too looked towards the boulder.

"Sigh, might as well rob me then", Ace sighed turning to Edgard. "Don't be such a scrooge. I know you took alot from that job you did in Mistral City. If we weren't fellow disciples I would have priced you 15 already", Edgard retorted at him. "Alright alright alright, there", Ace passed a bag to him jingling along the way.

Just as Edgard kept the money in his robes, Audaxia walked out of the shadow of the boulder. The suit fitted nicely, complimenting the curves along her body. Her tied up ponytail swayed in the breeze making her alluring yet giving off dangerous vibes. 'Amazing', Ace thought to himself causing her to blush turning her eyes away.

"You got yourself a nice servant indeed", Edgard complimented as he fumbles in his bag searching for something. A Visor was pulled out from his bag. The visor ran across the face to the ears while a rubber like band continued across the back of the head. Both sides had knobs behind the ears making them look like little horns.

"These were made by a Master Tinker, basically a specialist in small gadgets and equipment accessories. I can't do it with these hands. I'll introduce him to you", Edgard said beckoning towards the store. A man in plain white clothes with black shorts and slippers walked out from the shadows of the door. His hair neatly parted at the side with wide glasses resting on it. He stops just in front of them bowing his head and smiling towards them, "Yo!", he lift his hand up.

"RAYGARD?!"