Dawn- An Age Of Darkness

The smith didn't say anything past that but he looked at me with quite the wonder. He looked at my wounds too. As he left he looked at her. "Give him good equipment."

"I was just about to," she replied.

What the hell is going on here? Who is the owner? Can someone explain this to me?

Unfortunately, no one did and the man went straight back into the smithy.

"Groag, bring the latest two sets of armor and those two gloves and boots over there," the woman shouted.

"Righty."

A guy in the back answered. I couldn't tell what was going around me anymore. The place was too damn crowded. People were really busy buying and selling stuff. But even so, it was a lively place. There wasn't any chaos. I kind of liked it.

"Try these on over there." The armors had arrived. She pointed me to the dressing room.

I picked them up and these things were very heavy.

How the heck do people wear stuff like this?

Given my shitty condition, it was hard for me to carry them let alone wear them. But I was feeling much better than morning.

It couldn't have been that medicine, could it? Nah….

Once inside the room, I weighed the armor. The first one was heavy plate armor. It was shiny and looked stylish.

I don't think I could wear this even to save my life.

I still tried it and failed miserably at the art of moving around.

The next one was light armor. It was much lighter than the heavy one, obviously. But it was still heavier than the leather armor I bought back in Moire. It was probably sturdier too.

I wore the light armor and it actually fitted really well. The gloves and boots were a good fit too. The woman knew her stuff.

I could finally move around in armor, albeit light armor. It was a dream of my dreams. I know it didn't make sense but I always wanted to dress up like this. But the armors were too heavy to try. Maybe my body had grown stronger after all the pounding it went through in the last three months. Or maybe this light armor just was too light.

I came out. I looked like a prince if I do say so myself, which was a lie by the way.

The armor was black in color, along with crimson hues here and there, and didn't have a shine. It was more like a beefed-up version of the leather armor. Maybe it was made from sturdier fabric or something? It did make some clangs though.

"Wow, you really look the part now," she said.

I was dumbfounded. This shop messed with all of my senses. "What do you mean?"

"I mean you look like a grand adventurer!"

Yup, this world is definitely obsessed with that word.

"You're not wrong I suppose. But I wouldn't call myself good let alone grand." I wasn't rebuking her. In fact, I might have been a little prone to flattery every once in a while.

"You must have very high standards then. It's not often my husband suggests something like that to a random stranger," she said. She giggled to herself. "That really was a great sword."

She was quite close to me. My face was burning up.

"You're MARRIED!?" But I had something else on my mind.

Her cheeks turned pink when I screamed. The people in the shop stopped their work to stare at me for a moment and then went back to their day.

What the hell do you mean you're married! Well, I suppose leaving a beauty alone would be a shame to the whole world…. BUT!

"Don't look so disappointed boy. I was just a little lucky and early. Ha ha ha!" The husband came back like it was no big deal. He was the smith and now I could tell that he must have had a very happy life along with that body of his. If I wasn't jealous before (Which I totally was), I was now. I most definitely was.

"I wouldn't call that a little lucky. Anyway, how much do I owe you? And how long will the sword take?" I tried to run away from reality by focusing on my goals.

His brown beard was illuminated with a solid grin. "The sword will take a full day; it should be done before afternoon tomorrow. I'm still amazed you found something as grand as this one. In all my life I've never seen another sword like this. I'd love to know how you got it along with some ale but I can't stop working now. What do you say we hit the inn's bar at night?"

At least he knows his stuff.

He seemed nice enough, so I thought I'd indulge him a little. "I don't drink, but I'll be at the inn tonight. We could chat there I suppose."

I was jealous of him but I admired the way he showed interest in me and my sword in particular. But that made me realize yet again, how many pirates lost their lives… on that endeavor.

"It's a shame but I suppose you need to stay sober on the road after all. My lady will take care of the billing. See ya at night," he said.

It sounded a little weird coming from a man. But I just smiled and waved.

He left and I felt a dagger cleaving through my heart. It wasn't like I had fallen for this woman or anything but I didn't know how to describe the feeling. I wasn't denying it though.

"You owe me eight silvers. And since you already bargained before even seeing the goods, you don't have the right to bargain anymore." She twirled her hair and said that looking straight into my eyes, giving me a sweet smile.

I didn't bargain though. I couldn't say anything.

Don't say that with that face! I won't be able to talk back….

And I couldn't either. She had me right where she wanted.

Well, I already set my targets anyway. "Alright, alright…"

It was a win for both of us. "Don't be sad, I'm not making all that much profit here you know…" She was a businesswoman; there was no doubt about it.

You're still making a profit, huh!

I wasn't sad because of the money or because she was married. I was sad because all of a sudden I remembered my times back with the pirates. It was short but fun.

I paid her and was about to leave. "I didn't catch your name."

"I am Calor. And the big guy in there is Dileans."

Big guy? Don't tell me he's….

"Nice to meet you. I'm Daarc."

"Nice to meet you too. But that's an unusual name."

"I get that a lot." A lot, lot.

After goodbyes, I went outside the store.

Time really flies when one's having fun, huh?

I wasn't having fun though.. It was more like torture for me.