It was after I had said goodbye to Estell and her mother that I found myself at an impasse. I had no weapon and no way to repair it.
And my pride would not allow me to simply buy another one but I had neither the materials or place to make a new one.
I frowned before looking into my pocket. Maybe if I contacted Nia she might have a solution. I could promise her a taste of my abilities.
Make a tailor made sword, shield, weapon, anything that she wanted. I found myself fiddling with her contact card.
"Fuck it" I say lowly before pressing the button. It rang for several moments before picking up.
"Yes?" Nia asked, sounding very unamused at my sudden call.
"I'll cut to the chase, my sword broke and I need to make a new one. If you can get me the facilities and some basic materials I'll be very grateful."
She hummed for a moment, her hand on her chin as she looked to me.
"I can get that for you…" She paused for a moment, most likely for dramatic effect. Nia seemed to like that. Being dramatic that is.
"If you can do something for me, think of it as a small favor."
"I can't accept if I don't know what this 'favor' is."
"Oh, nothing more than a simple request. You see one of my lovely… juniors… yes, juniors, is taking her tutorial soon and I'd like her to have something well made that will help her take on a suitable difficulty."
I nod, "In that case I'll accept, but don't expect me to make anything for her if she's too rude or not to my liking personality wise."
"I'll make sure to remind her of that, if that is all I have a room set up for you. Just head straight and turn left twice and you'll find the inn I'm talking about."
I didn't question how she knew where I was and how she was able to book a room that fast and instead hurried towards the place.
It wasn't far, maybe a couple minutes before I stood in front of the doors.
"Faol's Nest" I mouthed out loud before opening the door.
A bored looking man sat at the counter. His head completely bald and holding some sort of device.
I walked up and cleared my throat, the bald man looking up and pointing to the sign.
It said nothing more than that a room was a hundred points a night. A steep price seeing as the food around here was so much cheaper. And even the weapons I had seen around here were as cheap as fifty points for something around mass produced quality.
I cleared my throat again and drew the attention of the clerk again.
He looked visibly annoyed.
"What can I do for you… dear guest" he almost grit it out with how much hate was in it.
"Now sent me, told me there was a room waiting for me."
"Oh, Nia" his tone changed almost immediately, the most subservient expression I had seen crossing his face.
"Yes she did say someone would be coming, here" He handed me a key and directed me to the room.
I opened the door and was surprised by the luxury. It was like a penthouse in its features and almost as big as that too.
Even though the room had to be as large as the whole building. It was like it was created with some sort of space expansion or something.
Some part of me desperately wanted to find out how this worked and how I could apply it to a weapon or utility item but the exhaustion won out.
It had been so long since I had slept on an actual bed. Not to mention one as luxurious as this one.
I plopped down face first on the pillow and almost moaned in pleasure at the sensation. It was soo comfortable.
I actually felt myself falling asleep almost immediately with the comfort. I barely even had the thought to throw my shoes off before I fell asleep.
…
It was late afternoon that I found myself sitting in a chair, a burning forge behind me. I was waiting for the junior of Nia. She seemed to be important seeing as Nia had actually asked for help for her.
I hadn't quite found a hold of Nia's personality but from what I had found she seemed entirely self serving. Like everything should be used for her benefit. Even my recruitment was only for my inherent skill in blacksmithing.
"Are you Mihr" A voice echoed through the blazing heat of the forge.
I looked up and saw something that I hadn't expected. She was blonde and had this prim and proper appearance, like some sort of knight or something.
She was respectful and even did this sort of bow like she was Japanese.
"Ah… No need to bow, but yeah I am Mihr. I was told that I would be forging you a weapon was there any preference any features that you would like."
"Oh… um- I just researched a bit and usually the people with your type of name prefer to be greeted like that, a sort of tradition and I only did so because I thought it would be rude not to." She picked herself up and found her way to the chair opposite of me.
"And for the weapon," She scratched her cheek and smiled nervously, "I actually wanted a normal shortsword about 20 inches or so, enough for me to stab through if I get close."
I nod and start visualizing it, trying to find the right sword for her.
"Ok, can I have you demonstrate your form?"
"Oh, yes if you don't mind me using the room here."
I shook my head, it wasn't even my place so why would I mind.
She took that as it was and stood from her seat and unsheathed the sword at her waist.