Although I said I would prepare for the dungeon, I don't know where to start. I have some money to spend but I don't know where to spend it on. Ugh! This is why noobs shouldn't get this much money at the beginning. Wait, that's right I'm a noob. What do all level 1's need the most? Potions!
I pull up the map with my Kaleidoscope. Being connected to the Internet may be dangerous but it's so damn convenient. After just one search, I manage to find a Fractal shop that sells potions. It's located at the market district South of Central. After washing my face and spraying myself with whatever cologne Barry kept in the bathroom, I head out.
The city is busy as usual. But because of the Kaleidoscope, it's become downright crowded with so much random digital images. I think I might puke again so I choose to put my head down as I travel through the roads and alleys. Eventually, I reach "The Market". This place is enormous and packed with vendors peddling their wares and buyers who are scrambling to get what they need. I used to occasionally go here but I have never seen so people in full MMORPG outfits nor did I see so many strange animals. Is this what I've been missing all this time?!
I follow the route that the map gave me and I arrive at a small, Japanese-style shop on the side of the street. I enter through the paper sliding doors and squint as a sour and irritating smell hits my eyes.
"Welcome!" says the boy who's reclining on the front desk. He's wearing a purple hakama and picking his nose.
*cough* *cough* "What's that smell?!" I complain as I cover my nose with my shirt.
"Oh that? Dad's been working on something at the back and it's been stinking up the place," he replies and jumps down from the desk. "DAAAAAD! You got a customer!"
I hear something shuffle and clang before a tall, muscular figure, crouches through the doorframe. He's bald but his thick, brown beard proudly hangs from his chin which greatly complements his tanned skin.
"Ayo," he greets with his deep, gravelly voice. "Whatchu want?"
I feel myself instinctively shake but I eventually reply. "Uhh, I heard this is the place to buy potions?"
He shifts and takes a case of tubes and glassware from a cupboard. He then presents it to me on the desk.
"Take your pick. We take dollar or gold. No cards."
I scan through the various colored liquids in front of me. There's different tiers of Restoration and Magic potions which I recognize but there are also others that raise question marks for me. Like, what the hell is a Submission Potion? I take a vial of the red Restoration potion and swirl it, appreciating the glint of red in the light.
"Is this real liquid?" I ask.
The storeowner furrows his brows. I flinch but he immediately shows me a soft smile.
"Are you a new player?"
I chuckle nervously. "Yeah... I just started."
After hearing that, he slaps the table and laughs heartily. "Hahaha that's great! More customer for my business. Welcome to the game."
I nod sheepishly and train my eyes on the potions again. Noticing my curious gaze, he takes a flask from another shelf and hands it to me.
"Service," he says. "Try it and you'll understand how it works."
I gingerly take the flask from his hands and take a whiff. It smells sweet, almost like lemon-honey water. I take a sip and am instantly surprised when I taste lemon soda.
+
[Concentration Potion Consumed]
[Sense Temporarily Increases by 2]
+
"We make or use real juice or soda but the flavor is enhanced by the Kaleidoscope," he explains. "Potion ingredients come from Fractal and you need a [Potion Maker] role to pull it off so it's on the expensive side."
My ears perk when he mentions cost. "How much are they?"
He thinks for a bit. "My highest tiers cost around 100 gold or cash. There's more expensive stuff out there and they're worth the prize." He then leans in closer. "There's even a rumor that someone's selling bad drugs lately," he whispers.
"D-drugs?!" I exclaim. "But how can Medacorp let that happen?"
He shrugs. "Medacorp made the world and we can play in it. No one likes a meddling god kid."
I think for a bit. Sher and I discussed this before but the Kaleidoscope really has taken on a lot of real world value. Weapons and even drugs are digitalized which is why it even developed a staggering currency exchange rate.
"So, you buying?" he asks.
"Can you give me low tier Restoration and Magic potions please?" I say as I give him a thousand dollars.
His eyes go wide. "I thought you're new."
"I got lucky," I shrug.
He chuckles and takes the money before moving to the back. As I wait, I notice that the kid has taken a seat on a stool near the entrance of the shop. He seems to be watching something on his hologram.
"What's that you watching?" I ask.
He looks up and beams. "It's so cool! Someone uploaded a video of a boss fight in the junkyard."
My heart leaps. "Oh?" is all I manage to say.
Damn, did someone record it? Is it one of the guys that ran off after Eleanor shouted at them? I crane my neck to check out the video and see Barry's shield getting rammed by the boss' beam over and over as shouts echo throughout the speakers. Was it such a mess? From the angle of the video, it seems that it was one guys who were hiding in the darkness. The kid notices my gaze and pulls the hologram close to his chest.
"Get your own, mister," he hisses at me.
I smile wryly. Before it gets more awkward, the storeowner returns with multiple cases of red and blue liquid.
"Here ya go," he says as the vials clink when he puts them down. "Oh, and since you're new, I recommend the shop next door. It's a weapon and armor shop. Good for beginners."
My eyes light up as I take the vials along with me. I struggle for a bit since they're a little heavy and I don't want to damage them. Noticing my struggle, the storeowner shuffles around under the front desk and produces a brown leather belt along with a black leather case.
"Here, I'll give you a discount. Just 180 dollars for both. Makes potion carrying easier," he says as he fastens the belt over my shoulder and puts the rest of the potions into the case.
"Thank you! I didn't think that carrying potions would be this hard," I say as I look at myself on the reflection of a nearby empty flask.
"Definitely not one of those games I used to play as a kid," he chuckles. "Good luck out there and have fun! Oh, and if you manage to gather Fractal herbs, sell them to me."
I give him a salute as I walk out of the shop. I still have some money left but knowing how expensive armor and weapons are in the games I played, I might blow them all today. I walk towards the direction that the storeowner pointed out and see a medieval style bungalow with a rising pillar of black smoke coming from its chimney. As I enter, I'm greeted with the sound of grinding metal. At the front desk is a well-mannered little girl dressed in a medieval style dress who bows at me slightly.
"Hello there, sir. Welcome to our blacksmith," she greets me with her gentle voice.
"Hello, umm, the storekeeper from the nearby potion shop sent me here. He told me that you sell weapons and armor here," I reply.
"Please wait a moment," she says and hops off from the stool she is standing on. She scurries to the back and returns with a large, stocky lady with glistening sweat.
"Ey there," she says with her deep voice between sharp breaths. "So my husband sent you here huh? You must be new."
"Y-yes I am! He didn't mention you're his wife," I say curiously.
"Ehh well, you didn't ask. That's just how he operates. So, what can I get ya?" she replies nonchalantly.
"I'm entering a dungeon tomorrow and I need some armor and a weapon to protect myself," I reply.
She thinks for a bit before hurrying to the back.
"What's your role?!" she yells.
"Uhh, spellcaster of sorts?" I hesitantly reply.
"Of sorts?" she chuckles. "What kinda weirdass class did you get?"
I chuckle sheepishly as I couldn't reply. Eventually, she returns with some leather armor and a sheathed dagger.
"Can't say my store's where to go for magic types but with these, you'll be protected," she says as she lays them down on the table.
I inspect them for a bit. I'm not a leather worker but even I can tell that these are well-made.
"These are real aren't they?" I gasp.
"Oh? You can tell?" she asks with a hint of pride. "There's a lot of virtual clothes out there but nothing can beat the real deal when it comes to the full role-playing experience."
I would tend to agree. Before I had the Kaleidoscope, I did see some people wearing real armor as they walk around the streets like it's normal. I always thought it was cool. I then turn my attention to the dagger and as I pull it, the glint of iron pops at it reflects the sunlight.
"Ah, this one is virtual," I chuckle. "Makes sense."
She laughs. "Why? You planning to cut someone for real?"
I shake my head. "Nah, I'm just surprised how these things could feel so real even though it's not. I have a friend who controls fire and when she fought, I felt the heat like was real."
"Thank Medacorp's neurological science team for that. Those geniuses managed to emulate all senses except pain directly into the brain when they developed the DLC. The handle's real though so be careful with that."
"Yeah, that's nuts," I reply. "Anyway, I'll take both. How much are they?"
She calculates for a bit before saying, "Thousand dollars for both. Or if you have gold, you can use that too."
I give her the money and she replies to me with a smile.
"Glad doing business with you!"
"Likewise."
As I prepare myself to head out, I see a curious thing in the corner of my eye. I crane my neck and at the back, there seems to be a large doll about 1 meter in height wearing a Victorian era outfit.
I point to it and ask, "What's that there?"
She tracks my gaze and replies, "Ah! Some dude just dumped it at the back. I brought it in 'cause I was scared it would curse me or something. You want me to get it for you?"
"Yes please," I nod.
She follows my request and presents me a broken down doll made out of metal and plastic. It seems to have been made to copy a male child but its plastic face is cracked and bits and pieces of its limbs are missing. I smile. Thank you whoever dumped it here! While you may have seen this as trash, I now receive it as treasure.
"That's weird, why are you smiling?" she looks at me with concern.
"Oh, no, no, it's just, this doll is perfect for my skill!" I reply.
"Oh? Well, in that case take it," she hands it to me brusquely.
"Wait, for real?"
"Yeah! Look kid, I believe that all pieces of creative work has a soul in them. My weapons, my armor, and that doll are all created to serve a purpose. I may have salvaged it but I got no use for it so I think it'll be happier if it's with you."
I give her a deep bow. "Thank you! I'll fix it right up."
She chuckles. "Oh! Wait, a bit," she says as she shuffles below the front desk. Eventually, she gets up and places a box of tools on the desk. "This was from my welding days. You should be able to fix it up with these."
I gasp as I gingerly inspect each tool. They look old and well-used but certainly in good condition.
"Thank you! I'll come back after I finish working on it."
"Hehe, you better. Now go along now, I know you have other stuff to do."
I give her another slight nod and head out of the store with this new companion in my arms.