Tale of the Outcast Warrior: Hunting, building, and a STILL Lonely Elf.

DAYS UNTIL WAVE: 62

Tyler opened his eyes to see a wooden ceiling above him, and the sight threw him for a loop. Then his mind started working, and he remembered where he was. HE smiled as he sat up, and saw that kaori and Malico were still asleep. He stroked Malico's soft fur on her neck. Loving how her skin and her fur both worked to make her beautiful. I get to wake up next to every weeb's wet dream in the morning. He then looked over and saw kaori was on her back, with her golden hair strewn out under her. He smiled at the sight. I also get to wake up next to MY wet dream every morning too. He leaned over and kissed her awake, and she smiled as she did.

"Good morning Tyler"

Tyler smiled as he stroked her face.

"Good morning Kaori. I love you."

She gasped a little, before smiling.

"I love you too."

She smiled as they got out of bed and stood by the window together looking at the morning town. HE had his arm around her and she had her head on his shoulder.

"Almost like we're an old married couple."

"Only without the old or the married."

She smiled as he moved behind her and wrapped his arms around her middle. She smiled as she leaned back into his hug.

"I like this."

He kissed her hair.

"I love you."

She smiled again as she felt his warmth in her body. Then Tyler sighed softly.

"Come on. Let's get ready for the day."

She sighed and they dressed in silence before sneaking out of the room. The couple then took a seat at the same table as Mia served them coffee. Tyler chuckled.

"Nice change of pace to not have to make breakfast for everyone."

kaori chuckled as Tyler laid the map out again.

"Still not happy?"

He hugged her.

"Not until we've passed it."

She watched as he sipped his drink and looked over the route again.

"So. What's the plan for today?"

Tyler was looking over the town map.

"we need to unload our sales goods. Afterwards, go buy some Certificates and Licenses."

kaori looked at the map.

"Any in particular you want?"

"for skills, some detection ones that take advantage of my broken Perception skill. I'd also like to add a mass healing spell. Like how I added it to WaterBurst."

"I'd like to add a few sword skills."

"Try for ones that take advantage of your speed and agility."

The pretty blonde smiled as she hugged him. Then they heard a small yawn, they looked and saw Sera walking down the stairs with a slightly more awake Melly.

"Morning girls."

He got a mere hmph as the still not fully awake pair sat at the table. Tyler put the map away as they two girls drank their cups of morning joe. The group were joined shortly after by Wulf and Lillia and they had breakfast together. Tyler looked to the elf.

"You getting your bow fixed?"

He nodded.

"yeah. I was planning to do it first so I don't fergit."

"Okay. The plan for today is more unload and reload. At some point, I'd like to visit the local guild and get a sit rep on a bad hunch I have."

Wulf looked at him.

"That is?"

"I think they summoned another wave of Warriors while the first still yet lives."

Wulf and the rest of the table besides kaori were stunned. The Elf recovered first.

"If that's true, then they've broken a cardinal rule of the waves."

"Punishment?"

"That waves will be just that much stronger. Like TWICE as strong! Why do you think this?"

Tyler sighed as Kaori explained.

"His sister's name is Felicia, she's a year younger then him and was NOT in the room with us when we were summoned. Yet, Elirch's description of the lady that got him was identical to his sister."

Wulf just sighed.

"Okay. We need to answer that question."

All nodded as Melly headed into the kitchen for work. After Tyler gave Mia another gold, the group headed out. First order was to empty the loot bags. Lillia led the way this time, as she'd been there before when she got lost. The building in question was a tall, brown building that reminded Tyler of a treasure chest. The party walked inside to a waterfall of arguing, bickering and a cacophony of people trying to haggle that extra copper out from under the buyer. Tyler walked to the first desk he saw. The Gnome behind it greeted them.

"Greetings adventurers. Welcome to Raylik Creature exchange. I am Grilock. Do you have loot to sell?"

Tyler smiled.

"I have Wyvern, Lisk, and other animal parts to sell."

At the names of the high level creatures, Grilock got excited.

"Do you have a permit sir?"

Tyler passed him the document. HE looked it over before handing it back.

"Very good sir. What materials are you looking to sell?"

"Claws, teeth, the Wyvern's poison glands, and I have yet to decide on the Lisk scales. Some pelts, and that will do it."

The Gnome looked at him.

"May I ask why you're holding onto the scales?"

"Not sure if I can get a smithy to make something out of them."

"I see. In that regard, my personal choice would be to hold them until you get an answer one way or another."

"I appreciate that. Hearing the words made it easy."

"Will you be selling the meat?"

"No. That's ours."

The Gnome sighed.

"A shame that. I can't really blame you. A good Wyvern steak is rare."

Tyler chuckled, well aware of the taste. The Gnome led them to a large room with scales for weight. Then Tyler and his friends emptied their pouches out and the Gnome looked over their haul.

"This is most impressive. Especially for such young Adventurers. Okay. I can give you 159 gold, 76 silver, and 89 copper. Does that sound fair?"

Tyler looked to Wulf. The elven ambassador chuckled.

"That's actually a rather good deal."

Tyler smiled.

"Looks like we have a deal, Sir."

The Gnome was relieved.

"A party with an eye for a good deal when they see it. That's refreshing."

They got their coins, and Tyler smiled.

"If we can't find a smith that can work Lisk scales, what could we get for them?"

The Gnome thought for a moment.

"In all honesty it depends on the scale. But, going off the material you've brought me, maybe 50 gold?"

"Thanks."

Tyler smiled as he added the amount to his pouch. The group headed to a smithy near Wulf's go to archery shop. Tyler went inside the smithy as Wulf the archery shop. The girls spilt between the two men. Kaori and Malico with Tyler, Sera and Lillia with Wulf. Tyler walked to the counter where a short man with a long beard, a barrel chest, stocky arms and legs, and a twinkle in his eyes as he saw the young adventurers enter his shop.

"Och, welcome to me shop lad and Lasses. I be Tolic Rockbreaker. What can I do ya fer?"

Tyler knew a dwarven smith when he saw one.

"I'm looking for a smith that can make something decent out of Lisk scales."

Tolic burst out laughing at this boy's words. Tyler smiled as he let the dwarf get his mirth under control as the ladies browsed the arms and armor. Tolic was chuckling as he replied.

"Been many a year since I seen a lad that understood the value of a good Lisk scale. How many ya got laddee?"

"The full beast's hide."

The dwarf looked at him.

"The full hide ya say? May I ask how ya came by such a treasure?"

He smiled.

"Me and the girls killed it ourselves."

Tolic was silent a moment. Then he looked at Tyler with a set of glowing eyes.

"Ah, Warriors. I see now. M'boy, I'm afraid I'd need to see the proof of your kill. Bring up your HUD a moment."

Tyler brought it up, and the dwarf had him scroll to a Bestiary tab. Tyler chuckled.

"Of course there's a bestiary."

Tyler then scrolled to the Lisk file, and sure enough, his party had a greater drakolisk as a confirmed kill, and even listed Tyler as the one that struck the final blow. Tolic chuckled again as he retook his spot behind the counter.

"Me apologies fer the mistrust."

"I get it, Tolic. No harm done. Just a bit of good old fashioned bragging."

Tolic cracked up again.

"Ya got fire lad, a rare thing these days. Now, the scales. May I see one?"

Tyler placed one the size of a small buckler on the counter, and the dwarf looked at it with his glowing eyes again. This time Tyler was curious.

"Pardon, Tolic, but is that a skill your using?"

The dwarf smiled.

"Sharp lad. Tis called Appraisal. A smithing skill that uses Perception to determine an items worth, uses, and potential uses."

"I see. A most useful skill in the field. Do you sell it?"

Tolic smiled.

"I do lad. My Certificates are near that blonde beauty. The perquisites for it are a minimum 20 Perception."

"Wow, kinda scared to see what will happen when my perception level hits it."

Tolic was now suspicious.

"Laddee?"

Tyler pulled his HUD back up and showed him the number. Tolic had to hold the counter when he was the triple digit level. He then sighed sadly.

"All the ways that can get like that are not pleasant."

Tyler shrugged.

"No biggee. So, Tolic, what can you do with Lisk scales?"

The dwarf smiled.

"I can make quite a few things with this single scale alone. Swords, shields, various armours. What did you have in mind?"

Tyler thought for a moment as he looked at kaori and Malico. Then he thought of Wulf, Sera, and Lillia. He smiled.

"How strong is the mail vests made of these?"

Tolic smiled brightly.

"A hidden vest underneath clothing. A very wise move. A lisk vest is nearly as hard as Magicite. Since these are high quality scales, I can easily make them hard enough to stop a giant's spear on a headlong charge with yourself pinned against a rock."

"Nasty image. Okay. I need two vests made to fit a pair of my companions."

Tolic looked at the two girls behind him.

"I take it not those two?"

"No, since they move so friggin fast, good luck landing a shot. The two I mean should be in any minute."

The door opened and Sera and Lillia came walking in with bored expressions.

"See? Called it."

Tolic knew the two girls, and looked right at Tyler.

"Okay, lad. For the sake of my sleep, why are the princesses in your party?"

"me and my friends are bringing them to see Tatiana the elf queen."

Tolic could find no lie in the boy's eyes. HE sighed then.

"A small group moving fast."

"Nearly impossible to keep up with."

"Okay, lad. I'll outfit the girls. Anything special to keep in mind?"

Tyler looked at the two girls as they chatted with Kaori by the Certificates.

"Well, easy to move in, and strong. Stronger the better."

Tolic nodded approvingly.

"I trust payment is not an issue?"

"Upfront or on completion?"

Tolic chuckled.

"Again a wise lad. I prefer upfront, as then I at least get my money."

"That's fair. You said you can make swords too."

Tolic looked at the broadsword and short sword hilts over his shoulders.

"I did. Something in particular you're looking for?"

"Another short sword to complement this one."

Tyler pulled Oblivion out and laid it on the counter. Tolic knew the blade, and the one who had forged it.

"I know you now. Tyler. The Warrior murderer who killed ol Gru. I see that grouch Burlock reworked Gruven's sword for you."

"And made kaori's sword as well."

Tolic sighed.

"If Burlock did this for you, then you're not at fault for the killing. Very well. A matching blade you say?"

"Indeed."

"Okay. I'd need another scale."

Tyler placed a similar sized scale on the counter, and Tolic chuckled yet again.

"I see quality matters."

"Since I'm putting the lives of my friends into that thing, yeah it is."

"You're a very wise lad. What would you like me to do with the left over scale?"

"Can you make decent arrows out of scale?"

"They can pierce a stone wall to half their length at a 100 meters."

"Then I'd ask you to do that. Plus a set of light swords for the girls. Do you make bows as well?"

The dwarf huffed.

"I may be a dwarf, but I know how to make a damned bow!"

"Sorry if I offended you. I'm still learning this world."

That brought a twinkle to the dwarf's eye.

"A lad with manners? You are a rare specimen indeed. Okay, so a pair of fitted vests, a set of three swords, a bow. And the leftover material goes into arrows."

"Make an extra bow as well. Just to set them up right."

"Very well. I'd need about four more scales this size."

Tyler pulled out the required scales and added two more. Tolic nodded approvingly.

"Quality it is then."

Tyler smiled.

"Okay. How long will all this take?"

"A full day's work."

"That quick?"

Tolic grinned.

"I AM a dwarf at a forge!"

"And there ain't none better for it. Alright, what's the grand total?"

"Let me see. A set of quality vests, swords, bows, and you said the Certificate right?"

"I did. Hey, kaori, Malico, see anything interesting?"

Kaori came over with a pair of Certificates.

"Look here."

Tyler took the small pieces of paper.

"Okay, we got Prospect and Mine? Prospect lets you see if a rock has any ore you can take, and Mine uses strength to tear it free. Damn Shadow, good calls."

She glowed as Tyler placed the papers on the counter, as Malico came over with another set of Certificates.

"I think we can use these a lot."

Tyler took them.

"Hmm, Field Forging? Uses the Strength, Agility and Perception to craft simple metalwork over a campfire. Boosts smithing, and is used for arrow heads. Okay, Field Smelting. Uses Magic, Strength, and crafting to extract ore from rock over a fire to form a pure bar. Nice to see ya got brains and boobs kittycat."

Tyler added them as Kaori and Malico both hugged him. Tyler added a full complement of appraisals to the pile. Tolic did some number crunching then.

"All told. 300 gold, 54 silver, and 1 copper."

Tyler placed 301 and gold coins on the counter.

"I hate math."

Tolic smiled.

"I see you found it's trove. Sharp lad."

"Dragonkin and shiny stuff go hand in hand. Yer an idiot if ya fergit that basic tenet of adventuring."

"Good lad! Okay, I should have it all ready by noon tomorrow."

"Coolio. Do you need anything else?"

"Nothing more then the ladies' measurements, but I'll have my wife get them for me."

Sera and Lillia smiled with relief at that one. Tyler had Malico go with them to get measured, while Tyler, and kaori headed to the archery shop. Tyler had added Appraisal, Prospect, Mine, Field Smelting, and Field Smithing to his arsenal, as Kaori got an appraisal. Tyler had Kaori's hand as they walked inside the Archery shop to see Wulf looking down an arrow shaft. Tyler smiled as he walked over to the elf.

"hey, Wulf. Got something ya can use."

The elf looked up as Tyler handed him the certificate. The elf smiled as he saw his plan.

"Uses Perception to see an item's worth? A very shrewd call."

"All of us got that one. How's your bow?"

He chuckled.

"Sylvina tore me a new one for cracking it again. But she'll be able to fix it."

Tyler chuckled.

"Good. Can't have an elf without a bow."

"Prick."

Tyler spotted the Certificates and went to look for ones that use Perception. Kaori was looking at a bow hanging on a peg. Tyler flipped until he found LongSight. He smiled as he pulled it out, then back to flipping.

"Hey Wulfy! Got her bow here!"

A lady's voce was heard from the back of the shop. Tyler looked over to see another elf with blonde hair, purple eyes, near yellow skin, very sharply pointed ears, a large rack and evident calluses on her hands as she placed Wulf's bow on the counter. Tyler looked at Wulf, as the elf walked to collect his bow.

"Don't you even think about it you sonuvabitch."

Tyler chuckled as he went back to flipping.

"Hey, Tyler, look here."

Tyler looked over to see kaori hefting a large black bow with spikes on the ribs and a white string. The blonde was trying to pull the string and couldn't even budge it.

"I can't even make it move."

Tyler left the Certificates to take the bow. The lady elf behind the counter chuckled.

"There's a shop challenge on that thing if yer interested."

Tyler looked at her.

"What's the challenge?"

"If you can fully draw that thing, then you can walk out of here with any single item I have in stock."

Tyler smiled as Wulf shook his head.

"Should not have said that Sylvina."

Tyler lifted the bow, and drew the string right back to his ear, held it for thirty seconds, and let it ease back down. Tyler smiled as he looked at the now shocked elf.

"That was kinda odd. Soon as I got passed the halfway mark, it felt like something broke, and the draw was suddenly mush easier."

Kaori took it, and found that she could draw the bow as well.

"Your right! It feels…broken, for a lack of a better way to put it."

Sylvina sighed.

"That's a Demonic Bow. Only way to draw it is to completely force it. If you can draw it fully like that, you shattered it's resistance, and can now be used by anyone that can draw a recurve."

"It strong?"

"It's on par with a Crystalline bow of the elven royalty."

Tyler smiled.

"It's will won't reforge itself will it?"

The elf smiled.

"Sharp lad. No. Once broken, it is broken."

"I'll take this. Kaori needed an upgrade anyway."

The blonde smiled as she hugged him.

"Thanks!"

Sylvina sighed.

"I stepped in that one. Okay, kid, anything else in here caught yer eye?"

Tyler went back to the Certificate box.

"I got a skill I'd like to add to my crew, but that's all I've found thus far."

Wulf then spoke.

"Tyler, show her your bow."

"Can she be trusted with it?"

Wulf chuckled.

"She's an elf. She'll honor our word."

"Well, alright."

The shop keeper was curious as Tyler uncovered his bow and pulled it out for inspection. Soon as she saw it she gasped.

"Crystal Death? Lady Eilisef's enchanted bow? Where'd you find that!"

"In the trove of a lisk myself, kaori and my cat friend Malico killed."

Sylvina just looked at him.

"You've wielded this?"

"Plenty of times. Kinda fun."

Wulf sighed.

"I've seen him use it in combat with my own eyes."

The now flabbergasted elven lady looked at Tyler.

"May I?"

"Sure."

Tyler handed her the weapon, and when she went to draw it, it wouldn't budge. Sylvina then lit her eyes up with a skill and Tyler noted her eyes were a different color then Tolic's Appraisal. She then handed it to Tyler.

"It would seem that Crystal Death has chosen a new master."

"Can I do something about that name? Like please?"

Sylvina laughed.

"Of course. What will you call it?"

Tyler thought about it as he looked his bow over. Then he smiled.

"Senkestu."

Kaori smirked.

"In our world, Senkestu means Fresh Blood."

Sylvina smiled, then the bow flashed in Tyler's hand. Then it lit up with a light before going dark. The bow had transformed from a elegant, pale pink glass finish. Whereas it had once been a 4 foot thing with limbs of glass, it was now a white bow with bits of blue shot through it. The grip had spikes over it, and the limbs were more robust. Tyler tilted his head at his new bow.

"Odd. Thing feels lighter for some odd freakin reason."

Wulf and Sylvina knelt. Like full blown bent the knee before Tyler and his new bow. Tyler sighed.

"Okay you two, what's the deal with this bow?"

Wulf lowered his gaze as he explained.

"The legends say that whosoever wields the bow of Lady Eilisef is set to lead our people in a great war for the very air we breathe. Now, YOU wield the bow. Tyler, YOU are the prophesized hero that will save my people."

Tyler and Kaori groaned.

"Not this trope now too!"

"Gods dammit, I am NOT a chosen one!"

Tyler slung the bow on his back.

"Wulf, seriously? Do you REALLY think I'm a hero?"

That got a snort as Wulf rose.

"That's…a very fair point."

"Yeah. I ain't no hero to no one except Kaori. I think we've had this discussion."

Wulf rubbed his head ruefully.

"We have indeed. I guess the bow just got bored."

"Honestly? I kinda got that feeling when I first picked it up. Like it had been really bored just sitting there collecting dust."

Sylvina was still kneeling, and Tyler sighed.

"Sylvina, right? You can get off your knees now."

The elf rose.

"How may I serve you my lord?"

Tyler sighed.

"Okay, I'll say this once. I am NOT a hero. NOR am I some 'chosen' hero of legend. Sylvina, yeah, the legends a false positive."

Wulf sighed again.

"Sylvina, I've traveled with Tyler for a bit. Man's an asshole. Watch, we'll see Tatiana, she'll ask him to lead her people, and he'll laugh in her face. Like hard."

She looked at Wulf in horror.

"He'll just turn his back on us when we need his help?"

Wulf looked at her.

"There is only ONE person in this shop he'll go out of his way to help right now Sylvina. And it's that blonde goddess over there. If this building were to collapse right this second, and you, myself, and her were trapped underneath the wreckage, he'd save her. And we'd be crushed to death as while he doted on her to make sure she wasn't hurt. If we were in the wilds, and she were injured and couldn't run, and we had to run from a hungry dragon, he'd cut us down to feed the beast as he carried her to safety. He does NOT care about anyone else other then that blonde, his cat friend, and maybe Sera. But that's pushing it. In his words, THEY are his only concern, and the blonde his number 1 priority, rest of us can rot for all he cares."

Tyler and Kaori were nodding sagely in agreement with Wulf's speech.

"Fighting the waves is bad enough."

"Why should I have to babysit the world?"

Sylvina was shaking, from horror that her people's hope lay with this man that was all too willing to turn his back on his duty, from the fact Wulf, her fellow elf, had sided with him in his choice, and by the fact there was nothing she could do about it. Tyler smiled as he saw the feelings in her eyes.

"Goes to show what happens when you put too much faith in a chosen hero."

The door opened, and in came Malico, Sera and Lillia. Tyler smiled as Sera came in for a hug.

"Hey there squirt. You done?"

Sera smiled.

"Yup! I got taller and bigger!"

"Good for you."

The small princess was smiling as he patted her head as Malico spoke up.

"Tolic wants a word with you about your sword."

"Sure. I found all I needed here anyway."

Tyler placed the Longsight Certificates on the counter.

"I'll take these."

Sylvina sighed in abject defeat as she rung him up.

"50 silver."

Tyler gave her the coins and headed to Tolic's shop. Leaving Wulf and the girls to keep looking around. Tyler walked in to find the Dwarf looking at a design for his sword. Tyler smiled as he approached.

"Hey, heard you needed me?"

Tolic chuckled.

"Yer forgot to tell me the blades Name."

"I KNEW I forgot something! That will be names Oathkeeper."

Tolic smiled widely.

"A fine name. So. You wield Oblivion itself, and keep your Oaths with an iron fist."

"A fine sentiment. Now, I'd like your help in naming my other blade."

Tyler drew the Magicite sword and Tolic gasped.

"Fenrir!"

Tyler looked at him as he held the blade.

"Huh?"

Tolic looked at the stunned boy.

"That is King Vernillionia's legendary Magicite Sword Fenrir! It's said to be able to sever a dragon's head in a single stroke!"

Tyler looked at it, and sighed.

"Gods dammit. I should've known this was his."

Tolic looked at him.

"Boy, where'd you get that blade?"

"Can you keep a secret Tolic?"

The dwarf cut a palm and Tyler did as well, they clasped in a blood oath. Tyler then explained.

"I found this in that Lisk's trove. Along, with this."

Tyler lifted his shirt to show his Mythril vest. The dwarf was awestruck at the mythical armour.

"Mythril. By the gods. I've seen living Mythril. What else did you find?"

"A skeleton with a crown, a ring and a scroll. We took all three. The scroll was a last will and testament of the dead king passing everything he owned, and his rule, to whosoever finds his body. We'd need the crown and ring to make it legit, but we got em."

Tolic got over his shock.

"Okay, let me ask you what your plan is for those."

"Well, for the moment, nothing. More leverage with the court if push comes to shove. Worse case Scenario? I got a friend we can give these to and set up as the new king at will."

Tolic was amazed at this lad's mind. A lad of a mere fifteen years has slain a drakolisk near single handedly, wields a fallen kings blade, wears Mythril, and even has a plan to both overthrow the king with a replacement ready in the rafters. A truly scary boy. Tolic sighed.

"I will see this Oath kept by my honor as a dwarf."

"As will I. What about my blade?"

The dwarf chuckled.

"I'm curious what the other name is."

"Gliepnir."

Tolic looked at him.

"The Horse Death itself rides on. A most fitting name, since Fenrir is such a fallen name now."

"A shame that."

"A crying shame."

The dwarven smith placed a hand on the Magicite's sword blade, and the name Gliepnir was branded into it. The scabbard got the same treatment. Tyler smiled as he hefted the blade, only for it to glow.

"Seriously? Again?"

He sighed as the blade went from a mere straight broadsword, to a more nasty shape. It was the same 5 feet in length, with serrations on the upper end, a forked tip like a flame, and a wave-like ripple in the blade. Tyler grasped the handle, and it flared with his twin paths. Just as it always did. Tolic was amazed.

"Boy, that blade has accepted a new master. Congratulations, you wield the sword of a king."

"And all I want is to be a mere adventurer."

Tolic chuckled as he rolled up his design.

"I'll get to work on your order."

"I'll go bother my friends some more."

Tyler left the shop and returned to Sylvina's. Tyler walked in to see Wulf in a clear argument with Sylvina, with kaori poking through the Certificates, with Sera and Lillia looking at bows. Malico was looking at a new bow herself. Tyler came up behind her and tapped her shoulder and nodded to Kaori. The trio had a quick meeting.

"What's wrong?"

"Tolic knew my Magicite's name right off the bat. Three guesses what."

kaori's went wide.

"You mean?"

"Yep. The King knows what we found. What we have."

Malico sighed.

"What do we do?"

"For now? Nothing. I have an idea on a worst case scenario. And, kaori? It involves Kazuma."

She smiled.

"I get it, and understand."

Malico's tail was twitching.

"Did he agree to keep it secret?"

"Tolic swore a blood oath."

The catgirl smiled.

"Okay. A dwarven Bloodoath is more precious to them then life itself."

Tyler sighed.

"I got my blade renamed to Gliepnir, and look what happened."

He drew the blade out a bit, and the evident change shocked them.

"That's a complete rework."

"Like the bow."

"His bow changed too?"

"Here."

He showed her, and she sighed as well.

"I see these are chosen weapons. Only able to be wielded by the on s they so choose."

"I HATE this chosen hero crap."

"As do I."

Tyler rubbed his eyes.

"Well, long as word don't get out before we're ready, we should be fine."

The heads nodded and they went back to it. Tyler saw Sera looking at a Certificate.

"Whatchya find squirt?"

She passed him the paper.

"I think I can use this."

"Oh?"

Tyler looked at it.

"Unseen Shadow? Lessee, Relies on stealth, agility, and speed to make the user a less appealing target for enemies. In battle, a user is seen as a nonthreat, and the skill draws from the Magic stat as well."

Tyler looked at her.

"Damn, Sera. Nice find. This fits you really well."

She glowed as Tyler bought her the skill for ten copper. Sera added it to her own HUD and was smiling happily at having something to help with. Wulf and Sylvina had given up on their argument, and had gone back to their tasks. Tyler and his crew left Sylvina's shop to go visit a magic shop and left the elven lady saddened. Wulf had flat out told her that Tyler was NOT a hero PERIOD. Now, the elf was just sad.

"May the gods have mercy on us all."

Tyler and his crew found the magic shop without issue and headed inside. Tyler spotted a wall of white spells and went straight for it, Kaori red, Malico green, as Wulf and the princesses more seeing what caught their eyes. Tyler was flipping through Licenses when he heard a voice call out to him.

"What a surprise, Sirrah!"

Tyler looked to see the same lady he'd got the thief for. The lady was smiling widely from behind the counter, and Tyler noted she wore a red robe with a red tipped staff behind her. The Warrior smiled at her in greeting.

"Morning miss. No thieves yet I trust?"

She laughed.

"Not yet. Well, maybe a thief of virtue, but not sure."

Tyler laughed as Kaori looked over his way at their conversation.

"Wow, did not see that coming. Thief of Virtue? Can't be called a thief if tis freely given."

"Oh my, a bold man. How terrifying for us ladies."

"Eh, only the pretty ones."

That made the lady snort as kaori Sighed.

"You done hitting on her?"

"See? She's a pretty one!"

Kaori smiled as the lady got the hint,

"Indeed she is."

Tyler remembered the other reason for a magic shop trip.

"Miss, do you buy licenses?"

The woman smiled widely.

"I do indeed. What have you got?"

Tyler, Malico, and Kaori came over and removed all the Licenses they did not want or need or could use. The lady was a little taken aback by the how three inch tall pile on her counter.

"Pray tell, where'd you get all these, young ones?"

"Bandits, idiots, and more idiots. Waaay too many idiots."

The lady then looked at Tyler's face, and sighed.

"I know your face, lad. Just answer this."

"Okay."

"Did YOU start these fights?"

"The bandits? Yes. Everyone else? No."

She found no lie in his eyes. She sighed again.

"Very well. I can give you 4 gold for the pile."

"Hmmm, my plan was to trade Licenses. Can we do that?"

The lady got a twinkle in her eye.

"A sharp man? Scary. You can indeed. Most mages never sell a License outright, not unless they can't trade for a better one."

"Well, ladies. Break!"

His crew went to it with the quiet efficiency that comes from knowing exactly what they wanted. Tyler had found a spellbook with a Blue Grey mix, and was flipping through it looking at the Licenses.

"Okay, Iron Smash. A sword booster, useful. Hmm, WaterShot? Nice! I'll take=ouch!"

He dropped the book like he had just been burned, because he had been. His crew were on alert then, and weapons were drawn and the lady now found herself held at arrow point by an elven range as Malico looked to the indicated page. She groaned.

"We got one. Wailing Truth. Forces the target to reveal every single secret of their soul, and in the process, every secret revealed slices into the target like a blade until they die from the sheer agony."

Tyler now faced the lady.

"Add it to the pile Malico. You."

Tyler stood in front of the now pale lady.

"You WILL answer my questions. All of us are faster on the draw then you are with a spell, and my elf friend there literally CAN'T miss at this range."

Tyler was glaring at the lady with his full force.

"Where did you get that book?"

She gulped, sensing they had found something in it she had not known of.

"I got that one from a shipment from Yalik."

"Did you flip through it yourself?"

"No. I do not have the time to flip through them all."

"Did you get any other books, Licenses, anything else from Yalik?"

"I did."

"Where are they?"

She pointed out a few more books, a set of scrolls, a few staffs and a few single Licenses. Kaori got to searching as Malico placed the banned spell on the counter. The lady's brown eyes went as wide as saucers and her face white as a sheet. Tyler sighed and sheathed his blade.

"Yer clean. Can't fake a whiteout like that on sight."

Malico added the evil spell to her pouch as the shop owner looked at Tyler, and Wulf lowered his bow.

"Please, I had no idea that thing was in there!"

"I know you didn't. Like I said. You can't fake that kind of reaction. Me and my party are taking that. Any issues?"

The lady was trembling.

"My name is Roxy, and none."

"Tyler, got two more rivers, a Mind, Misery and another truth."

Tyler groaned.

"Add them to the pile, Kaori. I think we may have found a main supply route."

"On it."

Tyler looked at Roxy.

"Is this the only shop in town?"

"There's three."

"Sera! Lillia! We're seeing Seline. Yalik Magic deliveries need to be searched by a white path."

"Right."

"Seliy!"

Tyler then looked back at Roxy.

"We'll look around a bit, now. You are NOT to tell A SOUL a word of this. Clear?"

Roxy gulped again.

"Crystal sir."

Tyler picked up the book he'd been flipping through, when Kaori came over with a staff.

"I think this is hollow, but I'm not exactly sure."

Tyler passed her the book, took the staff, and knocked a knuckle along it from top to bottom. HE heard a distinct thunk near the thicker end then the solid dink he'd been hearing.

"Yup. Nice catch Shadow."

Kaori beamed as Tyler twisted the top of the staff, and opened it to reveal a long black wand. Curious, he poked it.

"Holy sonuvabitch!"

He got burned very badly, like he needed to cast a healing spell bad. Malico came over and they dumped the thing on the floor. Her and Wulf backed away from the length of metal.

"That's a Black Wand of Misery. It inflicts pain to whoever it is waved at like a puppet on a string."

Kaori went back to the other staffs, as Malico added it to her pouch with all the nerves of a raw recruit given his first live hand grenade. Tyler groaned.

"If you were NOT looking for that wand, you wouldn't have found it."

Wulf looked at him.

"You mean?"

"Made to Order."

"By the gods."

"Got another one."

They found two more such wands, and that was it for Tyler.

"Okay, no. Just no."

He looked at a now on the verge of fainting Roxy.

"We'll do our shopping later. Everyone. The Spear."

The group left to go take care of the new mess as Roxy just looked at the shop she'd built with her own two hands, that was her pride and joy, and cried as she realized she'd been used.