The more they walked, the more the evidence of war was pronounced, with all the rubble, the half-destroyed homes, and the tombstones all over the place.
"We're here!" Mrs Ham said as they stood in front of a shop. It was a blacksmith's shop. Vincent was excited to enter one of the very important aspects from his novels.
"I really can't wait to see Grandpa," Aimee said as they opened the door, though Vincent could still feel the daggers in her gaze on him.
Inside was just as Vincent had always imagined it to be. Rows and rows of armour and weapons of different kinds, the stench of oil and sweat in the air. He could feel the heat coming from the door at the back of the shop.
"Grandad!! Come on out!" Aimee shouted even before Mrs Ham could announce their arrival.
"Is that Aimee's voice I hear?" came the thick voice behind the door, and the short man whose voice matched his build stepped out, with each of his muscles refined to be double Vincent's size.
He was shirtless with sweat dripping all over his body. He dropped the hammer in his hands as he closed the door behind him, and for a moment Vincent wondered how the man was still alive, because just for the short time the door was opened, he could almost feel his flesh peeling off.
"Oh Aimee, how are you? I'm so glad you're here, but you should have told me you were coming," he said as Aimee rushed to hug him.
"I'm sorry, it's just that we are not even staying for long—"
"You're not staying long? You know that's not possible. At the very least you're spending the night here."
"Okay dad, I've heard you," she concluded with a giggle.
"So what brought you here? Because I know you wouldn't just want to visit this old man."
"Oh yes..." She stood up now, since she had to kneel to hug the man, an image that made it hard for Vincent to hold his laughter. "This is Vincent. I want to get armour for him."
"Oh... you've finally gotten a male friend. This is the first time you're introducing any friend of yours to me," he said as he stretched his hand for a shake. "I like him already. Since he was able to be in your good books, you have my blessings already. What's your name, young man?"
"It's Vincent, sir. It's a pleasure meeting you. Aimee has said a lot about you."
"See, I like him already," the man replied with a laugh as he patted Vincent on the back, though it felt like being hit by a hammer. "Well go ahead and pick whatever you want. They're all free! For you at least. I and your lady need to have a little chat."
"Oh Grandpa, not you too!" Aimee said.
Vincent quickly left them to their vices to explore the shop, as their words — "Your mother came by last week. She is truly worried about you. She feared you would have died during the war..." — faded into the background.
He hoped he would see a sword or armour that would call out to him like they used to in novels, but after walking for a while, nothing stood out. An idea struck his mind.
Maybe if I go to the old ones, I'll see one there. You know, like how the old rusty ones are actually the strongest.
But as he was making his way towards the shelf at the back where the old-looking and rusty armour and weapons sat, his hand hit one of the breastplates in place.
Shit!
But the noise of metal hitting the ground never came. Looking down, it was as if the breastplate was floating right before it hit the floor.
"Be careful next time, okay?" Mrs Ham said, who was standing by the door, apparently using her Wind magic to stop the plate from hitting the floor.
[New Magic Detected
Do you want to copy the magic Wind?]
Vincent could not hide his smile as he screamed yes in his mind.
"Okay ma. Thank you."
[New Magic Wind Acquired]
[Quest Update
Acquire Your First Magic Or Technique Completed
+2 stat points awarded]
He was about to continue his journey when the eye pain came again. This time it was not as bad as usual, and with it came a headache. But this time, he realized new information was pouring into his mind.
He saw how to use the new magic through what seemed like Mrs Ham herself performing it.
So upon copying, I get to see how the person used it throughout their life? Cool!!
But it was a pity that Mrs Ham did not really use the magic much in her life, as all he saw was blowing air to fire and stopping things from falling. He did not get enough experience from her, but he smiled nevertheless.
He could already see himself using the magic in a number of different ways.