Chapter Nine

"Argh" Silvari groans for the seventh time today while watching Maple from the roof tops.

"She doesn't even have any money." She mutters. "Yet she's visited every shop in the entire Eyns district. It's been hours already." She hisses, her red hair gaining a slight glow that travels down the red accents of her dark brown leather armor, adorned with intricate water-patterned trim. The armor is worn and weathered, with a few subtle scorch-marks. A flowing black cloak with a hood up frames her face, casting a shadow over her features as she watches Maple with a look of frustration.

She watches as Maple is kicked out of yet another shop, this one selling potions. "The others are probably upset by now. Should I just ask her?" She doesn't get the chance though as Maple pumps her fist to the air and dashes into another shop.

A bell chimes as Maple opens the door on walking in. She notices the dark decor of the weapons store. That's right. After a long day of wandering, Maple finally decided to visit a weapons store. Looking around, she can see weapons of varying sizes and colors. There's a display case with twelve particularly stunning swords, each of them glowing a different color. Their glow shedding some much needed light on the store. The store looked rather neat for it's horror theme lighting. A few more shelves displayed armors as well as shields.

"Hello?" She calls out.

"Coming." A female voice rings from the back of the store.

"Wow." Maple whispers as she runs her fingers down the sharp edge of a beautiful bronze dagger. "I wonder what Sally would think of this, it's so pretty." She smiled before leaving it behind and walking to the display case.

As she makes her way to the display case, the light from the twelve swords dim slowly.

"Whoa, that's so cool." Maple says amused as she stops just three feet away from the swords.

She walks back a step, and the light from the swords grow just a bit stronger. She walks forward one step, and the lights dim yet again.

Maple giggles as she walks back two steps. This time the light glow more visibly.

A step forward, and the lights dim.

A step back, and the light grows stronger.

Another two step forward and the light dim even more.

One more step forward, and the light starts flickering on and off.

A step back, and the light is glowing again.

"Hahaha" Maple giggles, enjoying herself.

"That's." A voice snaps Maple from her fun activity. "Not something you see everyday." A tall woman wearing a black leather apron over a white shirt and pants, with a pair of goggles perched on her forehead and a hammer slung over her shoulder. Her short, dark hair is tied back in a ponytail, and a smudge of soot on her cheekbone gives her a rugged, industrious look. A small, intricate silver pendant in the shape of a hammer hangs around her neck, gleaming in the fading light of the swords. Her eyes, a deep, piercing brown, narrow slightly as she watches Maple with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. 'Welcome to my store, kid,' she says, her voice firm but friendly. 'I'm Gin, the blacksmith. And you are...?'"

Maple's eyes light up as she turns to face Gin, a wide grin still plastered on her face. "I'm Maple! Nice to meet you, Gin! Your store is amazing! I've never seen anything like it!" She exclaims, her gaze darting around the room once more. "And these swords! They're so beautiful! Do they... um... do they do something special?" Gin chuckles, a small smile playing on her lips. "Ah, you've discovered the showpieces of my collection. Yes, they're enchanted. Each one has a unique ability, and they're quite... temperamental, as you've noticed." She eyes Maple with interest. "But I think you might be the first person I've met who's managed to get them to react like that." Gin's eyes sparkle with curiosity as she approaches Maple, her hands tucked into the pockets of her apron. "Tell me, Maple, what makes you so attuned to magic? You're not a mage yourself, are you? Not with those armor on. You look way to young and tiny to be anything but a mage." She asks, her voice laced with a hint of intrigue. Maple's grin falters for a moment, and she looks around the store nervously before leaning in closer to Lyra. "Uh, no... I'm not a mage. I'm a great shielder." She replies, her voice barely above a whisper. Gin tilts her head as a hint of curiosity creeps unto her face. "Great shielder? Not guardian? Hmm, a different branch of the shield bearer class." Gin's eyes narrow slightly, but her expression remains friendly. "I see. Well, in any case, I think we can find something that suits your... unique talents. Follow me!" She says, gesturing for Maple to follow her towards the back of the store. As they walk, the swords in the display case flicker back to life, casting a warm glow over the room once more.

Gin leads Maple through a doorway, revealing a cozy workshop filled with the glow of hot forges and the sound of hammering on metal. The air is thick with the smell of sweat, metal, and smoke. Maple's eyes widen as she takes in the rows of workbenches, the shelves stacked with raw materials, and the various projects in progress. Gin gestures to a nearby bench, where a sword blade lies half-finished. "I'm working on this commission for a local knight. But I think I might have something that suits you better." She rummages through a nearby chest, pulling out a small, intricately carved wooden box. "This was left here by a traveling merchant. It's said to contain a... unique weapon, one that chooses its wielder rather than the other way around." Gin's eyes sparkle with mischief. "Want to take a look?"

Maple's eyes light up with excitement as she reaches for the box, her fingers tracing the intricate carvings on its surface. Gin hands it over, and Maple carefully opens the lid, revealing a soft, pulsing glow within. As she peers into the box, a small, delicate dagger materializes in the light, its blade shimmering with an ethereal energy. Maple gasps in wonder, feeling an inexplicable pull to the weapon. "Wow... it's beautiful!" she breathes, her hand reaching out to touch the hilt. Gin smiles, her eyes gleaming with interest. "I think it's chosen you, Maple. That dagger's been waiting for someone with the right requirements, whatever that is, and I think you might be the one."

Maple grabs the hilt and pulls the dagger, it's crystaline form reflecting light from the forges around. She suddenly drops the dagger however. "I don't have any money... hehehe" she chuckles nervously.

"Oh? Hmmn" Gin closes the chest and faces Maple with a knowing smile. "I see," She says, her voice filled with approval. "That dagger might just be the perfect complement to your abilities." She pauses, studying Maple's face. "But tell me, Maple, what drives you to wield a shield? Is it a sense of duty, a need to protect others, or something deeper?" Gin's gaze is piercing, as if seeking to understand the very heart of Maple's motivations.

Caught off guard by Gin's question Maple gives a wry smile. "Uhm... Nothing like that really. I just didn't want to get hurt so I might have put all of my stat points into defense hehehe."

Gin corks a brow. "Stat points? You mean you focused only on defense because you didn't want to get hurt. That's why you chose the shield?" Gin asks with amusement.

"Yes? I don't like pain very much." Maple answers, trailing off at the end of the sentence.

...

...

"Hahahahahaha." Gin erupts into a boisterous laughter, echoing through the entire store, startling a few of her apprentices.

Maple looks at the ground pouting with steam rising from her head.

Gin finally calms down as she brings the chest back up."That's unique alright. Maple... you intrigue me." She opens it and hands the dagger to Maple. "To be honest, I'm not entirely sure what its abilities are. The merchant who sold it to me was tight-lipped about its properties, but he hinted that it was special." Gin's smile grows wider. Maple's eyes widen with excitement as she takes the dagger from the box, feeling a strange tingling sensation in her fingers. The weapon feels heavier than it looks, and the intricate carvings on its hilt seem to shift and dance in the light. She turns it over in her hand, studying it from every angle, but there's no visible clue as to its abilities or purpose.

Gin watches her with a keen eye, her expression thoughtful. "You know what I do know?" she asks, her voice low and mysterious. "There's power within it, waiting to be unleashed."

Maple nods, her heart racing with anticipation. "What do I do?" she asks, her voice barely above a whisper.

Gin smiles, her eyes glinting with mischief. "That's for you to figure out, Maple. But I have a feeling that you'll discover its secrets soon enough."

"Thanks but I can't just take this. I'll find a way to pay you." Maple begs.

"Nah, don't worry kid. If you wanna help, just bring your gear here when it needs fixing." Gin smiles as she walks back to the deeper end of her store.

"Alright, I have an awesome dagger now. I should probably go find the others." Maple heads outside only to watch the sun start to set.

"Ehhh? When did it get so late? Ah ah ah. Why didn't Chrome send me a message." Maple starts running in a random direction. "Ehhh? Twenty nine messages!!! I'm sorryyyy!!!"

Unknown to Maple, she had left her stalker sleeping up on the roof.