*-POV switches
"Have a nice day young man!"
I turn my head and nod in gratitude as I leave the bookstore. Since they were on the way I decided to drop by a few stores to buy basically everything else I needed for the expedition. All that's left is going to the blacksmith to pick up my orders, and craft what's needed. Another look at the map and review what monsters and terrain I'll be facing on the expedition won't hurt either. By the time I finished my musing, I found myself facing the blacksmith's shop.
It was nothing flashy but not rundown either, an average-looking brick house with a chimney to let the smoke out. I'm met with a massive blast of heat upon entering, immediately causing sweat to form on my body. I take off my coat and backpack, placing them on the conveniently placed coat rack across from me. Talia was busy hammering at a piece of work, so she didn't notice. I note where the coat rack is, on the other side of the room making it impossible for other customers to try to nab it and run.
Smart
After wiping the sweat off my forehead, I take a seat in front of her. With my jacket off I'm in a short sleeve, my toned and scarred arms on full display.
*" Not only does the kid have wicked muscles, but he also has enough scars to rival a war veteran at such a young age, who the fuck did Fricn sponsor?" I think to myself as I stop hammering the sword I was working on, satisfied with it as I put it in a bucket of water to temper and cool off.
After the sizzling sound of heated metal and cold water subsided, I greet my new customer.
"Your Ceaser right? The kid Fricn decided to sponsor?" I ask, not able to hide the mixture of curiosity and admiration in my voice.
Caesar only nods in response, his eyes and body language unreadable. After maybe 30 seconds of silence, he pipes up. "Got the orders I asked for?"
Silent type huh?
"Yeah I got em, there in the back so lemme grab them" I respond, taking my gloves off as I stand up my barely adult breasts heaving up and down at the motion. Ceaser's eyes follow the movements but nothing more, turning his view to his pockets as he fishes out a pipe. He walks over to the open window a few paces away and leans out, taking a inhale as smoke drifts from the pipe.
Get it together Talia! Not only are you at least 2 years older than him, but you also have work to do!
With those words I snap myself out of it and head to the back of the shop, grabbing mail and the abnormal handbow he requested.
*Nice tits I acknowledged silently before reaching into my pockets, grabbing the pipe Fricn gave me, and heading towards the open window, giving it a tap causing it to magically set itself aflame. I take a deep inhale as I watch people walking across the street or in and out of shops. I blink my eyes and see and everything changes. I see countless visions of me wreaking havoc on the people in front of me; beating, murdering… raping. I blink my eyes once more and everything is back to normal, back to people walking normally, getting food from available vendors, laughing, enjoying their lives.
So exhausting
I'm suddenly reminded of Charlotte's words.
"You're so nice, and humble!"
"Your… You're like a saint!"
Her words cause me to chuckle silently to myself, me? ME? Would you really say that if you knew me Charlotte? Would you still kiss my cheek and run away blushing if you knew I had thoughts, even urges if hurting you?
"Remember Judas, having bad thoughts don't define you as a bad person, acting on them however is a different story."
One of the numerous scars on my wrist reminds me of his teachings as the tightness in my chest and my ever racing heart race subside.
"If only society thought the same as you dad" I whisper as I'm brought back to the present. Exhaling whatever smoke I inhaled, I gently tap the pipe upside down on the window, letting the ashes fall as I put it back into my pants.
"Judas! I got the goods," Talia's sweet but simultaneously hardened voice calls out to me. I turn around and face Talia, placing a medium-sized crate on a table in front of us. I walk to the table and she takes the lid off, revealing the chain mail I ordered. I curiously note how the rings of intertwined metal have a serrated inside, which I ask the meaning for.
"If you get stabbed by a very thin blade like a rapier for example, by twisting your body you can get the blade cut in the serrated section of the rings, bending or even breaking the weapon. It's my own design and you're the lucky soul to have the first prototype of it, so when you ever come back with another order, let me know how it holds up ah?" She explains, brightening up at my ecstatic nods of approval. Internally I'm interested in what she said,
When not if huh? Let's see how satisfied I am with your work, I'll maybe even recommend you to Tredor, but let's not get ahead of ourselves.
After putting the chain to the side she shows me my new weapon, the double-barreled handbow. A creation of my design, the handbow can shoot both arrows at once or one at a time and takes smaller, modified arrows that more resemble darts than actual arrows. Gripping it in my hand I inspect it carefully, my respect for Talia growing more and more. "She definitely knows how to not only follow a blueprint but add her own creativity without fucking up the design completely, she definitely has a shot at the academy for sure." I think to myself. The craftsmanship of the weapon is more than fantastic, plus the arrows and quiver I asked for are just as fantastic.
"How about the special arrows I asked for?"
"Oh, there included don't worry. I'll be honest I had a lot of fun with those, such an inquisitive yet gruesome weapon indeed. Having them timed was something I had a lot of trouble doing, but once they are embedded into a target, they will set off roughly 3-5 seconds after."
"Perfect" I reply approvingly, "You can take credit for the designs, as long I get a cut and as long as you donate a percentage of your profits to slumie schools, orphanages, blah blah." I finish, her face a mixture of shock which then turns into something along with newfound respect. She lends her arm out for a handshake.
"Deal!"
"Fantastic, I can't wait to use your works next time," I say goodbye as I put my coat back on, putting my handbow on its holster on my waist and my arrows in their quiver. I'm about to open the door and depart when she opens her mouth.
"I wish you luck… partner"
All I do is wave goodbye as I leave the forge, getting ready to head back home when I notice a group of men forcing themselves on a young woman in a back alley.
"This is the perfect chance to try out my new toys!" I think feverishly as I silently walk towards the men.
Handbow- Handheld crossbow