Calming my emotions, I took a deep breath and walked into the weapon shop and was greeted with a calm and serene atmosphere unlike what I was expecting.
I studied the surroundings for a little while and took a good look at the weapons put on display.
"You like what you see boy?" A deep hoarse voice sounded from my back.
Turning around, a man who looked like he was in his early forties looked at me with a grin on his face as he chewed on a small piece of wood,"The name's Kurt, a pleasure to meet ya". Extending his large hands filled with calluses, he introduced himself expecting me to do the same.
"Clark". Shaking his rough hands, I replied with a smile.
"So what brings you to the Steel fang armory, Clark?". Walking towards a nearby seat, Kurt asked.
"A weapon, for a battle mage more precisely". I answered as I took a seat opposite him.
"Hmm..battle mage, huh, you guys are pretty rare, so weapons made to suit you guys aren't as abundant". Kurt answered as he drummed his fingers on the table in deep contemplation.
'Are battle mages that rare?'. I couldn't help but question my decision as I watched Kurt's facial expressions.
Suddenly he snapped his fingers with a wide grin on his face.
"But, I've got a few weapons you could try out, my last apprentice was a battle mage before the academy took him away....tsk smooth talking bastards".
With an annoyed expression,he stood up and walked to the back of the shop and opened a steel door.
"Take a look". Entering the door with a proud smile on his face, he ushered me in.
"Woah....these are amazing". Entering the room, strange looking weapons and conventional ones that I was familiar with were hung on the white walls and they emanated a golden hue as the sunlight from the ceiling hit them.
"Hehe, these are the cream of the crop weapons, you can't find them anywhere else in Belvedan". Placing his hands on his waist, Kurt walked towards the exit, "Take your pick, I've got other things to do so I won't stay longer."
With a nod, he walked out of the room and said "Pay for the weapons at the counter!, I'll give ya a discount!".
"Thank you!". I shouted at the fading figure.
'Okay, how do I go about this, do I just wait for one to react to me or....'. Looking at the weapons, I was a little confused.
'If only Laura was here' . A fleeting thought passed my mind and the pain that I'd been trying to ignore shot up by a few levels.
"Fuck..... system". Ignoring the pain, I Activated the system and looked at a polished obsidian staff etched with runes.
*********
Name: Rune staff
Rank : Steel bound
Class: Battle mage
Properties: •Capable of amplifying spells or firing concentrated bolts of raw mana.
•Hidden blade in the base for close combat surprises.
Remark: Where's Laura?
*********
"Hm? Steel bound?, what is that?". Ignoring the remark, I focused my attention on the ranking for the weapon.
********
[Ding!]
[System information bank is now activated!]
[Host can now access hidden pieces of information with a fee]
[Free trial in use!]
[1 out of (5) trials used]
[Downloading data from database, standby]
**********
As if my words were a trigger, my system went off with a lot of notifications, 'A fee?, like Miras?'. I asked myself as I looked through the other weapons.
'Chakrams, gauntlets, battle axe...oooh even a scythe!'. I managed to identify some of the weapons hung on the wall as I walked around.
*******
[Weapon rankings.ath is fully downloaded]
[Displaying information]
[Weapons are ranked according to the level of the black smith and materials used to make them].
[There are 12 ranks for the weapons]
[Rusted]
[Iron born]
[Steel bound]
[Mythril–touched]
[Enchanted]
[Soul–forged]
[Rune–scribed]
[Ethereal]
[Blood–bound]
[Divine–Class]
[Void bane]
[Primal relic]
**************
Swinging the scythe back and forth, I studied the system information closely, "The highest ranked weapon here is [enchanted] but I don't even know what to call it". I mumbled to myself as I looked at a weirdly shaped longsword with cracks all over it.
"Meh whatever, it's not like I'm some main character that'll pick up some busted up weapon and it'll be some ancient relic".
Activating my status on the scythe that drew my attention, I was pleasantly surprised.
********
Name: Aether scythe
Rank: Mythril–touched
Class: Battle mage
Properties: •Long, blackened haft topped with a crescent blade of condensed mana.
•Each swing can cleave both physical and spiritual forms.
•Depending on mana capacity, it can create a shockwave that decimates any living being within a 2 meter radius (increases alongside host's mana capacity)
•The blade can extend into pure intangible light for extra reach.
•Can be transformed into a longsword for close combat.
[Warning!]
Mana usage is past that of the host's capacity!
Remark: Good choice!
**********
"Yup, I definitely made a good choice". Nodding to myself, I examined the scythe once more before walking out of the room with a small smile on my face.
Coming out of the room, I bumped into Kurt as he was lifing a few things.
"What the– Oi kiddo it's you". Placing the metal gear on the ground, Kurt placed his hands on his chin as he examined the weapon in my hand.
"Sorry, about that". I bowed slightly as I brought out the scythe so he could get a good glimpse of it, "I chose this one".
"Hmm, bwahahaha good choice kiddo, you've got a good eye!". Laughing out loud, Kurt crossed his muscular arms over my shoulder and walked me to the payment counter.
"Lily, how much does this cost?". Placing his hands on the counter, he talked to a purple headed woman.
Her eyebrows raised in surprise as she noticed the way I was being treated but it was for a brief moment before she flipped through a dark book and answered with a professional voice, "This costs 17 Valen plus taxes".
"Holy shit". I mumbled as I heard the price, 'Well, the properties are great after all'.
"Alright, give it to him for 10 Valen, I'll handle the rest". With a proud smile, Kurt foot part of my bill.
"Very well". With a curt nod, Lily gave me a fitted metal cap that was etched with runes.
Paying for the weapon, I and Kurt walked to a concealed table and I finally asked him the question that'd been bugging me, "Thank you for the assistance you've given me, Mr Kurt, but I must ask, why are you helping me this much?".
I just couldn't understand, we just met a few minutes ago and he was treating me like I was his old friend.
Staring into my eyes for a while, Kurt sighed and answered, "You don't know do you?"
"Know what?". I asked confusedly.
"Your worth as a battle mage". He answered with a solemn voice.
"A warrior that can fight not only as a swordsman but as a mage is highly sought after anywhere, I'm surprised the academy hasn't abducted you yet". Kurt explained as he studied me with a narrowed eyes.
'Battle mages are that rare?, but I just picked it on the system without much thought though.'
'Either way, this works for me, I just have to train really hard, do my best in the tournament and figure it out from there'.
After a while of conversing with Kurt and getting his contact information, I unfurled the map and asked a few questions here and there about the mana beast situation and the locations I could find them.
"This should be the place". I stood in front of a large forest and noticed that the mana surrounding this place was quite erratic.
"Huu..." Calming my rapidly beating heart, I entered the forest and brought out my scythe from my back.
"Badass". I mumbled as I looked at the ominously glowing scythe.
"Let's see what you can do, Zangestu". Naming my scythe, I activated my [masseuse] skill and eased my mind.
"I sure hope I don't die here".
*Khieeeeekkk* *Uwoooooo*
A loud screech came from above me as I looked up and saw a large bat–like creature with numerous blood red eyes coming flying towards me with it's talons elongated.
"I'm gonna die!!!!".
Running as fast as I could, I entered a small hole and swung my scythe at the confused bird.
*Boom* *Khwaak*
A small explosion sounded as I swung the scythe and at the same time, I felt a large amount of energy leaving my body.
********
[DING!]
[New mission!]
[Kill 15 wyverns]
[1/15]
Reward: –5 weeks from the rate of improvement and new skills
Penalty: None
*********
"Fuck, of course it's gonna be a mission". I mumbled as I lay on the ground and tired to catch my breath.
********
[Ding!]
[Due to the hosts impromptu actions, the system will undergo a minor update]
[All skills except for the [masseuse] skill will be unavailable for use]
[Time: 3:00]
Remark: Good luck and don't die!
**********
"Fuuuuuuuckkkkk!!!!!!"