“Some nice stuff in here, Broekslang was sitting on a money pile. Though, it does seem that I can’t see the full info. Anything worth mentioning Lucy?” said Wardi excited at the prospects of free goods.

  “Ostendo!” Lucy called out. Various symbols emerged from her hands and the items in the cart glowed one by one as the art took effect. “It’s full of class specific things mainly, though but maybe we can get permissions to sell or trade what’s not good for us?” She said to Wardi, who at this point had noticed an usual looking box at the bottom of the pile. It was exceptionally long, the type that could hold a claymore in length and intricate wooden etchings seemed to be carved into it: Alberto, Tomas, Jerry.

  “Ah I see you have found one of the lords most valuable antiques, it is ancient for a weapon, he said it’s been passed down through his family for hundreds of years, it came from …République Fran?aise?” he tried to say with an interesting accent. Lucy saw Wardi’s face, his mouth open and eyes were so wide, it took him several seconds to compose himself.

  “That’s incredible, it’s hundreds of years old! The republic transitioned to a monarchy in 1525 when Joan-Marie Von led an uprising against the corrupt government and the people demanded she became the queen.” “Amazing…if I remember the story properly…” Wardi began speaking but I had to stop him “Do you need to talk so much my heads pounding mate” I interjected.

  “Oi you, less of that cheekiness!” but I quickly responded to his verbal jab “Her name was Marie-Joan ya wet flannel, at least get the facts right before you give me an earful.” I retorted at him. “…Oh yeah, well anyway, this must have been the famous sword shared among three musketeers that fought and died alongside her” he finished speaking with.

  Must have been a logistical nightmare when fighting, having to pass it around, how did they manage to fight with one sword between three people I thought to myself whilst accidentally laughing aloud.

  “Bb-but why share it between three!? That doesn’t make any sense !? you, Terrahuumes had some strange ways of thinking in your world.” Said Lucy her brain dissolving the longer she had to hear about the story.

  “Just different times, can’t imagine a sword like that came cheap, probably had some sort of arrangement in place ready to sell it on if one was left standing after the fighting” said Wardi blankly.

  Wardi opened the box gently, as whatever lay inside, the utmost care and respect should be given for such a timeless piece. The box creaked open and there lay, a rotten velvet lining that covered the hilt…of what was once a sword. Only a small of bit shaft remained. “Are you kidding me!” shouted Wardi, he and I, we had a case of the giggles and that descended into physically exhausting wheezing from how hard we laughed.

  “What’s so funny?” Lucy said getting annoyed at us. Horace walked over and burst out laughing yet somehow and managed to say to Lucy “Lucy YOU GOT to see it!” she walked over and was more fixated by the rotten velvet that contained within at first eventually not before eventually managing to pry her eyes from the rot, to the sight of the broken rapier. She snorted and the words “Oh my, have you read the description Wardi?

  “It says ‘Defeat eight worthy opponents to unlock the rapiers true potential – side effect: the victories will only count if the sword is used to defeat the opponent. What’s so bad about it?” he asked Lucy.

  “Not that one, the other side effect!” she shouted and giggled. “I don’t see anything else, why? What can you see is it bad?” he said with a concerned tone. “It says:

  *Hidden effect – This sword forces the user to shout 'I have a cocktail sausage' when it senses a worthy opponent. The higher the worthiness of the opponent, the greater the shout*

  Once again, both me and Horace felt the uncontrollable laughter and the lung pain that comes with it. Surprisingly, Lucy also joined us for a moment, Wardi however had a face like thunder. “Who makes this stuff!?" Wardi furiously shouted and continued dragging Horace into his explosiveness.

  “Horace has something worthwhile with no weird effects, meanwhile num-nuts over here, has to risk getting a swift vaporisation if I happen to be near something or someone, I REALLY DON’T WANT TO BE NEAR for a probably NOT SO GREAT REWARD” he shouted whilst slamming the box and its contents to the floor.

  “That’s not the right attitude man, just think how great it will be to finally a have normal sausage instead of a cocktail one” I said causing Horace to snort. And I quickly ran off before Wardi took the chance to pelt me with something. I could tell Lucy’s innocence made that joke go over her head and Horace just refused to comment about it.

  “Anyway!” I shouted as I ran off “You don't have to use it mate, and maybe you won't ever have to use it when faced with a ranker. Most of the rankers we come across have been super high up and take no notice of us at all and they aren’t usually anywhere near where we head to. There’s a good chance you can clear the request just fighting the odd nasty or two between now and whenever ya know?” My words echoed through the largely opened to the element hallway. “GET TEH FAYCK” was all Wardi could be bothered to shout at me.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  I headed towards Rhua’s location and noticed Silana had begun making her way to the armoury as well. Calling out to her she turned and waved and headed with her towards it. As we got close, we could hear Rhua and Hans talking.

  "Seems I don't have to think too hard on what the suit of armour I should pick from, none of these I can wear except that one, the Fabled Hussars Gilatinum Full Plate. I'm afraid of it though, I'm not sure if it’s worth taking this Hans” said Rhua cautiously.

  “Oh? I’m afraid I cannot see what it says milady, is there an issue with the set? Hans squawked aloud. “Sorry old habits die hard milady” he apologised after his birdlike noises flew out.

  Rhua nodded in acknowledgement of the apology. She then told him the issue:

  *This armour cannot be freely used; a cooldown of 24 hours must pass before it can be removed or equipped again.

  Marks the owner with the permanent effect ‘I’ve got something you don’t have,’ those easily tempted by all things shiny…and ridiculously expensive… may attempt to fight you for it.

  Decreases all damage received by 40%.

  Movement speeds increased by 50%.

  If sold or destroyed this effect is removed*

  “As long I have it, I'll suffer. I don't think it's worth the hassle. I know I may be at the forefront for everything but it scares me to think I could end up facing a continuous barrage of bull every day, how will I have time to rest if not in a safety zone for example, out in the wilds especially I'd be fair game; everyone in the party would be" her expression spoke volumes, a sombre yet sad face, the weight of a world was on her shoulders, Hans thought to himself.

  I stood their shaking my head, even now her self-esteem is still not reflective of how our situations have played out, I thought to myself. Silana wandered over to Rhua, yet she didn't flinch. Again, the hallmark of someone that’s lived to tell a tale or few, unflinching and stubborn grit through practice. "Don't matter who fights you, you not alone, your friends they be there, next to you" she said cheekily with a big grin on her face.

  Rhua was surprised at first but the smile she made shifted her heaviness away. “Thanks, Silana” she said ruffling her hair and bringing in Silana for a hug. “That feels nice” she giggled to herself. “I’ll make a chevalier out of you yet little missy you better be ready” Rhua shouted yeah! And Silana copied her shouting trying to match the volume.

  “I’m heading back to the others, let me fill you in on Wardi’s new found destiny in life” I said to her, she caught me a treat when my rump steak was beaten by her solleret “Stop being a wind up merchant!” she said to me, “ok, but I’m still telling you” I replied.

  “I hear you have a problem with a small shaft?” cackled Rhua to Wardi. Wardi facing his problem head on, whipped el stubbo-chubbo out and waved it at Rhua “HA-HA-HA, oh look someone not worthy, SHAME!” Before putting it back in the makeshift sheathe. “I just couldn’t help myself!” Rhua said still giggling, Silana smiled but she didn’t really get the joke. Both me and Horace, we just couldn’t contain ourselves however, and even Wardi’s face cracked eventually shaking his head and smirking. It took the maturity of a certain small party member to bring us all back to the room and push forward.

  “While you immature oafs were laughing and avoiding the tasks at hand, I already spoke with Broekslang and he said absolutely, what we see fit with the cart items, so I took the initiative of analysing what could be useful and put it into individual bags for you all and sold what wasn’t useful AND I already gathered a half an XL barrels worth of the sap from the markets, YOU’RE WELCOME” she said annoyed at us.

  “Ahh Lucy, - I was going to send some of the cart items to Fijetta through the porter box” Wardi moaned aloud, “OH NO!” replied Lucy, the waterworks began, and Lucy apologised quivering as she said it “I’m sorry I forgot all about the porter box! I’ll get it all back I promise” she sobbed aloud. “Don’t worry about it, I’ll come with you I don’t want them to swindle you for more than what they offered. As they walked away, it was finally starting to dawn on me that the entranceway, where all of this went to the gutter, used to be here. The grandness no longer stood, only remnants of walls, dusty marbled pillars and the beautiful chandelier that once dangled above was in pieces around our feet, being replaced by a moggy grey sky.

  If I close my eyes, I remember everything up until and after I met that thing, as if the memories have been blocked or taken maybe? yet I’m also remembering The Obelisk Eight…. Reaching into my bag, I summoned one of obelisks at random. The one that appeared had the slightest tinge of pale blue and the liquid inside appeared to be swirling slowly and mesmerising. I realised when I rotated the obelisk it had the mark of water on it or rather some sort of variation of it.

  Seven droplets of water spread out like a smile as I’ve always seen it but then two hands either side of it were present, the left side held closed in a fist with the ring and middle fingers palm side facing up and out, the right side an open hand but the back of the hand was facing out. Can’t say I’ve ever seen an art user form their hands like that when casting something water related water or any other art for that matter. I thought, though let’s be real at this point, does it seem like I pay attention to the back line…nope! I’ll have to ask Larry or Lucy about someone that knows about the history of art.

  Speaking of Lucy, I almost forgot that she bagged up some stuff for me. Bless her, she even left a note on the outside of the bag for information:

  *Emp’s hairpin –+5% Strength, glows blue when a snob head appears further increasing strength +30%*

  *Squitos daggers – Drain foes, dagger REDACTED +5% attack damage*

  *King of the dominions ring – All damage received -10% Not wearable by heavily armoured classes*

  Those daggers can replace the ones I had; I’ll give them a try next time something fleshy picks a fight. Combined with the ring and a super bonus from the hairpin, the off chance a snob head picks a fight they’re probably getting demolished Z-Z-ZINGERONI! I thought and lastly, 150000 HFC’s, marvellous; that will last me a while.