We quickly retreated as Almira's irritation simmered. Who could blame her for being furious? Waking up from unconsciousness to find yourself sipping on something as repulsive as the Small MP potion is a rough wake-up call, to say the least. The taste alone would jolt anyone back to reality.
"Who on earth thought it was a good idea to make me gulp down this awful stuff?! Ugh! It's like a one-way ticket to barf city," Almira exclaimed, snatching the water bottle from the table and guzzling its contents.
Lina was rendered speechless, while I remained composed. Truth be told, I was no stranger to Almira's occasional outbursts; they were practically part of the package deal when you hung out with her.
Almira shot us a fiery look as she set the water bottle back on the table with a resounding thud. Her gaze shifted to the half-empty bottle of Small MP potion clutched in my hand, and with a stern glare, she began advancing in my direction.
"Hey, hold on a sec. I've got the whole story, so let's keep it chill. No need to go all worked up on me."
"Alright, spill the beans, and make it quick, or I might have to show you a lesson for pushing stuff on me."
Luckily, Almira's starting to mellow out a bit. If she were still fuming, she'd probably just deck me without hearing me out.
"Alright, here's the deal..."
Then I started retelling what happened so far. Almira nodded multiple times while trying to understand what I just said.
"Hmm... Is that right? My memory's a bit foggy, but I can vaguely recall what you're saying. So I suppose that's how it all went down. But seriously, the MP potion? That stuff tastes like garbage, and I don't remember running out of mana to the point of collapsing," Almira mused, glancing out the window.
"Well, it's pretty much the go-to wake-up call. It not only perks you up but also jolts your consciousness back, and since you were out cold and nothing else seemed to work, I figured it was worth a shot," I explained, casually stashing the potion bottle.
"Yeah, I can totally picture you doing that. And given that the MP potion did the trick, I can't really be mad at you. You were just making sure I was okay, so I won't be calling the guards or anyone just yet," Almira conceded with a hint of a smile.
"But seriously, why were you passed out on the floor if it wasn't mana exhaustion?" Lina chimed in.
"Oh, that was just plain old exhaustion. I've been working my tail off. Anyway, what brings you two here? And how on earth did you even know this place was a blacksmith shop? The sign's missing, and I don't have weapons on display," Almira inquired, suddenly intrigued by our presence. "While I do have a few regulars who know their way around here, it's mostly the folks who've frequented my forge during my blacksmithing days. You, on the other hand, seem like a bit of a surprise guest. I haven't seen you before. What brings you here?" Almira inquired her tone a mix of curiosity and suspicion.
"Well, a previous customer of mine suggested I check out a discreet blacksmith tucked away in the Capital's corner. He raved about the stuff he bought from you, and said he might swing by for more if he had the time," I replied, although I'll admit it was a bit of a white lie. I hadn't exactly done a ton of business here, so I couldn't have known about this place unless I'd glimpsed it in another timeline.
Almira eyed me skeptically, attempting to gauge the honesty in my words. "Ah, a returning customer, I see. Can't say I'm surprised. Many folks tend to exaggerate the quality of my work, even when it's closer to junk than art. Anyway, no need to kick you out. You're all potential customers, and money's money, right?"
With that casual response, the quest was officially in the bag.
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[Collapsed Blacksmith] quest completed!
Reward: Free One-time service or one-time purchase by Almira the Blacksmith.
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"Alright, considering this is your first time here, and as a token of gratitude for your help, I've got something special for you both. It's a one-time deal, either a free service or a free purchase – your call. You can pick my brain for advice on what to create, or simply snag something from the shop without spending a dime. Keep in mind, though, you can't have both. If you opt for the freebie purchase, the one-time service offer goes out the window, and vice versa.
I pondered for a moment and quickly realized that the shop's weapons and armor weren't exactly top-notch. I knew Almira well, having been her apprentice, and her standards were sky-high. The stuff on display here might pass as decent in regular shops, but they paled in comparison to her true craftsmanship. So, I figured a free service was the way to go.
Oh, yeah, I still had that old armor stashed away somewhere. It wasn't my dream piece, but for the time being, it offered some solid defense. Plus, why not take advantage of the opportunity when it's on the house?
"Hey, how about giving this armor a makeover? Can we scrub off that pesky negative stat?"
I handed her the Rock Armor, raising an eyebrow.
"Sure thing, but to spruce up this armor, I'll need some materials. Right now, I'm running low on the stuff I need to work my magic. Mind doing a little scavenger hunt for me? It's not a big deal, just a handful of items, and they're not too hard to come by. You guys can handle it. Plus, I'll sweeten the pot for you to help out. It's a win-win, what do you think?"
"Alright, but what's on the shopping list?" I inquired.
"I've got a task for you – go out there and bag some Rock Devils. We need around 30 pieces of that precious Melting Coal they carry. Why, you ask? Well, we've got some dull armor that could use a makeover. It's not a long journey; they're just a stone's throw away from the Capital, down to the southeast. These critters roam the area, so spotting them won't be a problem. Plus, they're generous with their Melting Coal drops, so you won't have to go on a killing spree. Here, I will be generous enough to put up the mission for you to accept."
As Almira pulled up her own status panel, a quest materialized right before my eyes. Even NPCs know how to utilize their stat panels. I do wonder if their stat panels work the same as the player's stat panels.
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[Fetch me some Melting Coal]
Type: Normal Quest
Info: So, you fancy yourself some shiny Rock Armor, huh? Well, you're in luck! Just scrounge up 30 Melting Coals for me, and I'll whip up that armor for you. And because I'm feeling extra generous today (or maybe just a bit crazy), I'll sweeten the deal.
Progress:
Melting Coal Collected: 0/30
Difficulty: Normal
Reward: Battle Maid Armor II, 100 copper coins, and 1000 Exp points
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"Battle Maid Armor? Isn't this just an upgraded version of Lina's current gear? I was actually thinking of requesting an upgrade for her armor through a different service. Little did I know that simply embarking on this quest would grant us a complimentary armor enhancement as part of the reward. Nonetheless, it's all part of the job, and considering Almira's exceptional smithing skills, I'm confident this is a valuable bonus, even if the monetary and experience rewards leave much to be desired. Lina's new armor will undoubtedly be a significant improvement over her current set.
With a nod of agreement, I accepted the quest Almira had offered, and a sly grin crept across her face as she witnessed my decision. She casually lit her cigarette and retreated into her forge, hammer resting casually on her shoulder.
"Now, go and retrieve it before I change my mind, young one," Almira gruffly commanded, turning her back to us as she vanished into the depths of her forging chamber.