Gearing Up

Kael stepped out of The Raven's Gate Company, still trying to process the whirlwind of events that had unfolded. Meeting Torvyn, the grumpy dwarf, had been an experience in itself. He had never even heard of dwarfs before, let alone imagined meeting one. As they walked through the bustling streets of Feysreach, he couldn't shake the feeling of amazement.

"That was… different," Kael muttered, glancing sideways at Elowen, who walked with her usual confidence.

Elowen chuckled softly.

"You'll get used to it. Dwarfs are just the tip of the iceberg in the Tower."

Kael raised an eyebrow.

"What do you mean?"

"The Tower is home to many different races. Some more common, others more obscure," she explained, her tone taking on that of a patient teacher.

"You've seen humans, of course. Then there are elves, who are similar to humans but longer-lived and… well, they like to think they're wiser, though not always the case. Dwarfs, you've met. They're short, strong, and their craftsmanship is usually unmatched. But then, you have the rarer ones—like the Lyr'eth, who are beastfolk, or the Drakkar, who are descended from dragons."

Kael's mind spun at the idea of beastfolk and dragon descendants.

"Wait… dragons? Like actual dragons?"

Elowen smirked.

"More or less. The Drakkar have draconic blood in them. They're powerful, physically imposing, and often possess some of the traits of their dragon ancestors—scales, claws, and sometimes even breath attacks."

Kael blinked, trying to imagine what that would even look like.

"How many races are there?"

"No one really knows. The Tower is a place of endless mysteries. You'll find all kinds of beings if you travel enough," Elowen said with a shrug.

"But here, in the main domains, you'll mostly see humans, elves, and dwarfs. The others are more of a rare occurrence."

Kael was still struggling to wrap his mind around the idea of all these different races coexisting in the same world. It was one thing to try and imagine such beings, but seeing them in person… that was another thing entirely. His thoughts wandered to the different possibilities, imagining meeting a Drakkar in the flesh or a Lyr'eth prowling through the streets of a city.

"Do they all get along?" Kael asked, half-serious, half-joking.

Elowen smirked.

"Depends on the day. Some races have long histories with one another—sometimes peaceful, sometimes… less so. But most know that in the Tower, it's survival that matters. You can't afford to be too picky about your allies."

Kael nodded, processing her words. The Tower felt like a world that didn't follow the rules he thought he knew, and he was still trying to figure out how he fit into it. He let out a sigh, thinking about how much more he had to learn.

Elowen must have sensed his thoughts because she suddenly clapped a hand on his shoulder.

"Enough of the heavy stuff for now. We've got a few things to do before you're ready for the road."

"Like what?" Kael asked, looking up at her.

"Like getting you properly geared up for survival," she replied with a grin.

"No offense, but you wouldn't last five minutes without the right tools. Let's go."

*****

She led him through the streets toward a survival gear shop tucked away in one of Feysreach's many side alleys. The sign above the door was simple: 'Talon's Gear.' Inside, shelves were stacked high with all manner of items—and more tools than Kael knew existed.

Elowen moved through the store with ease, clearly familiar with the setup. She grabbed a sturdy-looking backpack and began tossing in various items: a lantern, rope, a first-aid kit, a sleeping bag, some dried food and several other essentials.

"You're going to need these," she explained as she handed the backpack to Kael.

"Lantern for the dark, rope for… well, anything, and the first-aid kit is self-explanatory. Pretty much the same can be said for the rest. Trust me, you'll need it."

Kael took the backpack, feeling the weight of it. He wasn't sure how to use half the stuff inside, but he trusted Elowen knew what she was doing.

"Thanks," he muttered, feeling genuinely appreciative.

"For all of this."

Elowen waved him off.

"Don't thank me yet. You're just lucky I'm not heartless enough to send you off into the wild without some basic gear. I'd feel bad if you got yourself killed on the first day."

Kael smirked.

"That's comforting."

Once they had gathered the essentials, Elowen led him to another shop. Kael's eyes widened as he realized they were heading toward the very potion shop he had eyed earlier, wondering whether it was a scam or not.

As if reading his mind, Elowen chuckled.

"Potions, right? Yeah, a lot of them are scams—geared toward gullible challengers who don't know any better. But," she added with a raised finger, "some of these potions are crucial for survival."

Inside, the air smelled strongly of herbs and various brews. Shelves were lined with potions of all shapes and colors, each labeled with names Kael didn't recognize. The shopkeeper, a wiry man with a thin mustache, nodded at them as they entered but didn't say much.

Elowen guided Kael to a particular section and pointed at a few potions.

"These are the ones you want to pay attention to. First, a regenerative potion—it'll speed up your natural healing, but it's not a miracle cure. Just don't expect to regrow limbs or anything like that."

Kael blinked.

"Good to know."

"Then you've got your anti-venom. This one works for most low-level poisons you might encounter in Grey Areas. It's not perfect, but it could save your life in a pinch."

Kael nodded, absorbing the information.

"And lastly, the essence potion." Elowen held up a small vial filled with a glowing blue liquid.

"This will restore a portion of your essence, but it comes with a heavy price. Thirty minutes after you take it, you'll feel lethargic and exhausted. Only use it when you're desperate."

Kael stared at the potions in wonder, realizing how much he still had to learn about this world.

"This is… a lot."

Elowen grinned.

"It's a start."

Once they had purchased the potions and added them to Kael's backpack, they began heading back toward The Rusty Lantern. As they walked, Kael couldn't help but feel a growing sense of gratitude toward Elowen. She didn't have to do any of this for him, yet here she was, making sure he was as prepared as possible for the road ahead.

"Thanks," Kael said again, more earnestly this time.

Elowen glanced at him and raised an eyebrow.

"What, for the potions?"

"For everything," Kael replied.

"You didn't have to help me like this."

Elowen's expression softened slightly, though she tried to hide it behind a smirk.

"I'm not doing this for free, you know. Consider it an investment."

Kael chuckled.

"Still… I appreciate it."

By the time they reached The Rusty Lantern, the sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the streets. The warmth of the inn greeted them as they stepped inside, the familiar smell of food wafting from the kitchen.

Maria waved at them from behind the bar.

"Back already? Got everything you need?"

Elowen nodded.

"Yeah, we're set. Just one last meal before he heads out tomorrow."

Maria smiled warmly.

"I've got just the thing. Sit tight."

As they settled at a table, Kael felt a sense of calm wash over him. Despite all the uncertainty ahead, he was as prepared as he could be, and for the first time in a while, he felt like he was ready for whatever the Tower threw at him.