Eira’s eyes glittered as she inspected the exquisite craftsmanship and the finely carved runes along the handle. Then, her heart sank. Her eyes found the price tag: a staggering 50,000,000 Peri.

  “Fi… fi… fi… fifty million…?” she stammered, her voice a hollow whisper.

  “Where are your more affordable models?” Dain asked the attendant, noticing Eira’s shock.

  “May I know your budget? It would help me make a recommendation.”

  “About 5,000 Peri,” Dain declared.

  Eira took a deep breath, pulling herself together. “I need a versatile beginner’s rod.”

  The attendant nodded and went directly to a specific shelf, retrieving a simple, unadorned wooden rod. It was a basic construction, made of a common magic-conductive wood with simple runes inscribed to help focus mana. There was no embedded stone to amplify power, but it would make spellcasting more efficient and stable.

  As the attendant began explaining the specifications, Eira tuned him out, her focus entirely on the feel of the rod in her hands. It was balanced, comfortable, and hummed faintly with potential.

  “Is that okay with you, Eira?” Dain called.

  “Hm? Ah, yes. This will do,” Eira answered, offering a genuine, if smaller, smile.

  “Well then, we’ll take this,” Dain said.

  “By the way, where are the swords located? Specifically, the big ones.”

  “The greatsword section is on the first floor. Let me guide you.”

  They were led back downstairs and introduced to a new attendant, a burly, well-built man assigned to the warrior’s section. The first floor was a cavernous space dedicated to swords, shields, and full suits of armor. Dain scanned the inventory as they walked, his trained eye critiquing the offerings. Many pieces were overly ornate, designed for show rather than function, with gilded details that only drove up the price without improving protection. Others were so bulky that they would hinder mobility. He saw a few decent sets, but their prices were still far beyond his reach.

  When they reached the greatsword section, the attendant handed him the cheapest model, a 140-centimeter blade that was long but disappointingly thin.

  “It’s too light,” Dain said, hefting it with one hand. “Do you have a thicker one?”

  The attendant quickly swapped it for a heftier weapon. Dain lifted it, pointing the blade upward effortlessly to inspect its balance. “This will do.”

  The attendant’s eyes widened slightly. “Such strength…” he murmured, impressed.

  “How much?” Dain asked.

  “150,000 Peri.”

  Dain’s strength seemed to leave him as he carefully handed the sword back. “Is there a cheaper version of this?”

  “This is the cheapest for its size and quality,” the man explained apologetically.

  “The cheapest..?” Dain repeated the word, looking as though he’d been physically slapped.

  “With our budget, we could only get a sword smaller than your current one,” Eira said softly.

  “That’s right,” Dain mumbled, his spirit visibly wilting.

  Leaning in conspiratorially, the attendant lowered his voice. “If you want, you could visit a blacksmith directly. You can get a better price for a custom piece. We’re not supposed to recommend other shops, so please don’t tell anyone.”

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  “Understood,” Dain whispered back. “Where can we find this blacksmith?”

  After receiving discreet directions and paying for Eira’s rod, they left the glamorous armory behind.

  “I can’t believe swords are that expensive,” Dain said solemnly as they stepped back onto the bustling street.

  “It’s the materials, I think,” Eira explained, adopting a lecturing tone. “Most ores come from outside the kingdom, from places teeming with monsters. Extraction is a challenge, transportation to the city is costly, and then there’s the forging itself…” She finished, looking quite proud of her analysis.

  “Eldryn, is that you?” Dain sighed, suspicious.

  “Hehe!” Eira smirked. “Brother taught me a lot.”

  “I’m surprised you actually listened to that kind of thing. I thought you were only interested in magic and adventuring.”

  Eira just smiled.

  “Anyway, the blacksmith should be in this area,” Dain said, turning onto a long, noisy street. The air rang with the sounds of industry: the clang of hammers on anvils and the roar of furnaces. Workshops lined both sides, their open fronts revealing smiths hard at work. This was the city’s crafting center.

  “Whooaa!” Eira gasped, amazed by the raw, energetic atmosphere.

  “Well, this is the Artisan’s Ward,” Dain said. “This is where the craftsmen, armorers, and weaponsmiths have their workshops.”

  “But why did we go to the armory shop instead of coming directly here?” Eira asked.

  “Well…” Dain responded sheepishly.

  “Most of the shops here are contracted with big clans and armory shops,” an old, raspy voice echoed from behind them. They turned to see a craftsman wearing a stained leather apron. “Only a few sell and accept orders directly from walk-in customers.”

  “Ah, hello,” Eira greeted.

  “Are you looking for a weaponsmith?” the old man asked.

  “Yeah, we’re looking for Daypan,” Dain answered.

  “Daypan?” The old man’s face scrunched in confusion, as if wondering Why him? “Well, his workshop is over there,” he said, pointing to a modest-looking forge further down the street. Without another word, the man turned and shuffled back into his own workshop.

  “Thank you!” Dain called after him.

  Eira and Dain stepped into Daypan’s workshop, a stark contrast to the gleaming armory. The air was thick with the scent of coal, hot metal, and oil. Tools lay in organized chaos, and the walls were lined with half-finished projects. A massive man, whose towering height and muscular frame spoke of a life at the forge, was hunched over a book at a small, cluttered desk. He had a surprisingly calm and gentle face for his size. Hearing them enter, he quickly closed the book and looked up.

  “Welcome.”

  “Are you Daypan, by any chance?” Eira asked.

  “Yes, I am Daypan,” he replied, his voice a low rumble. “Why are you looking for me?”

  “Someone recommended you,” Dain explained. “We’re looking for a greatsword, but our budget is… limited.”

  “You are in the wrong shop,” Daypan said, his voice dropping with disappointment.

  “Whoa, are you studying rune inscriptions?” Eira asked, her eyes catching the title of the book he’d been reading.

  Daypan flushed and hurried over, snatching the book away and tucking it under his arm. “It is none of your business.”

  “It’s quite rare for a smith to read books,” Dain teased, casually inspecting a rack of finished blades.

  “I can’t help you with your need. Please go away!” Daypan said, flustered, making a shooing motion.

  “You’re trying to make a magic sword,” Eira stated, her eyes lighting up with understanding. “Aren’t you?”

  “Yeah,” Daypan confirmed, his defensiveness returning. “So what?”

  “If you’re having a hard time with runes, I can help you study,” Eira offered.

  Daypan fell silent, a war between pride and desire playing out on his face.

  “Trying to learn rune inscription from that book will only confuse you,” Eira added gently.

  “Why?”

  “I can tell that book isn’t good learning material. It’s poorly written and skips over fundamental concepts,” Eira stated, her tone one of academic disappointment.

  “Really?” Daypan looked down at the book in his hands as if it had betrayed him. He hid it behind his back. “You know rune inscriptions, huh?”

  “I know the theory, but I don’t have any practical experience using them,” Eira admitted shyly.

  “Huhhh?” Daypan sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping.

  “That’s why I want to help you with your study! I want to try it, too. Hehe,” Eira said, a plan forming. “I can lend you some proper learning materials.” She was clearly trying to win him over.

  “Really?” Daypan’s demeanor shifted instantly, his eyes brightening as he took the bait.

  “I can bring them to you next time,” Eira promised.