Blessed Blacksmith

We arrived at the weapons shop when I suddenly realized I didn't know what I wanted. I had used the forester's axe on the boar, but that had been a weapon out of desperation. I didn't see myself wielding an axe permanently.

We entered the shop and looked at the various weapons, but I still had no idea what would work best for me.

"Francis," I started. "What weapon do you recommend for me? I've never bought or used a weapon, other than the forester's axe and I don't think that counts."

Francis stared at me for a moment.

"Hmm. With all the excitement surrounding you, I never realized this is a first for you. Have you truly never used a weapon?" He said.

I shook my head in response, as the young shopkeeper walked up to us.

"Good day my fine sirs, is there anything I can help you with? Ah, Sir Francis, how is the guard?" the shopkeeper said.

"Good day to you Brayden. The guard is quite well. The Vice Captain sends his regards to your father, and the amazing blade he made for him." Francis said.

"The Vice Captain gets his weapons here?" I asked.

"Oh, yes! My father is the finest smith in the country. Also, since he is blessed, his weapons are used by almost all the adventurers in the country. He's the only smith capable of making weapons suited to their needs." Brayden proclaimed proudly.

"That truly is incredible. This is my first time purchasing a weapon and I'm not sure what suits me. Do you have any recommendations?" I asked.

"Well, my father has always said experience is the best teacher." The shopkeeper said after mulling for a bit. "How about picking up each one and getting a feel for them?"

I did as the shopkeeper suggested and tried all the weapons. They all had a different feel but with my higher strength, the extra weight of the larger weapons felt sturdier.

"Well sir. You are quite strong to be able to hold those weapons with such ease." The shopkeeper commented as I was swinging around a giant battle axe.

"It appears strength is one of his focuses. But to be able to move with such precision also indicates a higher agility. Along with the fact he hasn't tired out or broken any bones while wielding the weapons for so long, shows a higher endurance as well." A voice said.

We all turned to the back of the shop to find a large man watching us. He was tall and bulky, muscles visible through his clothing. He looked middle aged and had a fierce complexion.

"Father! Did you bring more weapons?" Brayden said, rushing to greet the man.

The man gave a curt nod to his son and turned his attention back to us.

"Good day to you Sir Phaistos!" Francis said with a salute.

"I'm not nobility or a member of the military, Francis. As I always say, you can cut out that crap." the blacksmith said, walking over to us. "Can I see your stats?" the blacksmith asked me.

"Sir Phaistos is the best blacksmith in the world. If anyone can find you a weapon that will suit you, it will be him. I suggest you listen to his advice, Sir John." Francis said.

I nodded and handed over the parchment to the blacksmith which read.

Strength – 20

Endurance – 20

Agility – 19

Willpower – 20

These stats don't reflect my recent upgrades but that's okay. I don't want them to know I can increase my stats.

"Hmm. 79. So it really is true. That's really something else. These stats are balanced as all can be." Sir Phaistos thought out loud.

"Did you know of my stats beforehand?" I asked.

"Hmm?" He said looking back at me. "Oh, yes, the guild master came to my workshop earlier. He said that a blessed with miraculous stats might be visiting my shop soon and asked me to be on the lookout. Now I understand why he said miraculous."

Wait till you see what my stats are now. Actually, I guess you never will.

"Do you have any recommendations then?" I asked, trying to get back to our purpose.

The blacksmith looked at me in thought for a while.

"I do not believe that I have made a weapon suitable for all your stats." He finally answered.

"Sir Phaistos, surely you cannot mean that." Francis exclaimed, but the blacksmith merely shook his head.

"I'm not a mage. I cannot make weapons that will allow you to use your magical abilities. In addition, the magical weapons mages can make are not suitable for combat with your other stats. You can't go around swinging a wooden staff like it's a battle axe after all." He said.

"How are mage weapons made?" I asked, to which he shrugged.

"No idea. Like I said, I'm not a mage."

"Can he just use a weapon suited for all his other stats and use his magic separately?" Brayden suggested.

"That is a possibility, but not ideal." The blacksmith said. "How much money do you have?"

"Uh…" was my response.

"I have a weapon, a weapon I have been studying for a long time. This weapon comes from the elves." The blacksmith said, causing Francis and Braylen to gasp in shock.

"You have a weapon from the elves! That could be a national treasure!" Francis said excitedly.

"You cannot mean to give it to him. You love that thing!" Braylen said in disbelief.

"Um, why are elven weapons so important?" I asked, causing everyone to turn to me in disbelief.

"An elven weapon. ELVEN!" Braylen said.

Yeah, saying the word louder doesn't mean it'll make more sense. I just looked at them in confusion.

"Let me explain." Francis said. "Elven weapons are said to be extremely powerful. They are said to be very powerful physically and magically. They are made by the elves, who live in the center of the Magic Forest, and are extremely hard to get to."

"Even if you make it to the elves, the likelihood of them giving you a weapon is practically nonexistent. In addition, the elves themselves are very powerful. They are certainly much stronger than humans, so the chances you can rob one, zero."

"Can we not trade with the elves for their weapons?" I asked.

"No. Some adventurers have contacted the elves and no matter what they do, they will not trade with them. It appears the elves hold their weapons in high regard as well. They have told the adventurers that elven weapons can only be made for one and one alone. To get one, you must provide materials to an elven blacksmith in their kingdom, and they will make you one if they find you deserving." The blacksmith said.

"I'm assuming that not many people have been found deserving." I said.

"No, no one has made it to the kingdom. At least no one who has come back here." The blacksmith answered.

"The monsters are stronger the deeper into the forest you go." Brayden added.

"So then how did you get one?" I asked the blacksmith.

"An adventurer took it from a dead elf."

Francis looked at the blacksmith in shock. "And you bought it from them?!"

The blacksmith grunted. "They couldn't use the weapon and were in desperate need of a new one. I told them I'd supply them with whatever weapons they needed for the rest of their life or until the cost of the weapon was covered."

"How's that working out for them?" I asked.

"They died shortly after from a monster." He said and everyone else winced.