"Kid. What's Coppervein to you?" Rosr asked, his eyebrows lowered.
"It's my home." David's mind was racing. Though he had decided to stay here in Coppervein, thoughts of home would always be at the back of his mind.
"Hmm, right. You guys mine some of the finest copper ore around."
Rosr looked carefully at David, taking in the worried expression, and how he was nervously shifting his feet.
"I got this from a peddler just yesterday."
Rosr picked up a sheet, then perched a pair of tiny spectacles on his nose, and squinted down at the report.
Rosr gestured for David to sit down on one of the many chairs scattered around the desk.
"There was a demon attack, apparently your Chief was killed. So the production has been delayed."
Rosr gently patted David on the shoulder, and noticed the horrified expression on his face.
"Kid, it's not as bad as it sounds, from this report, and my conversation with the peddler, your home is just fine. Only the Chief was killed, and some residents are still missing."
"Chief Art." David murmured, remembering the tiny yet commanding presence. Tears almost came to his eyes, but it was as if his body had run out of grief.
Even though David's face made the expression of grief, his eyes remained totally dry.
The dwarf peered at David, then back at the report.
"You wouldn't be one of the missing kids, would you?"
"I might be." David's response was cold, and his eyes narrowed, he was instantly suspicious of the dwarf.
"Relax boy. I ain't going to hurt you."
A gently chuckle came from Rosr, as he shook his head. He had seen David's type many times before. Kids who had come to the city and become overly suspicious after being betrayed.
"You want to send word back to your people? They're searching for all of you missing kids, there's even a reward for news."
"Okay. Let me write a message." David sighed, it was the least he could do. Mrs. Nora needed to know about Cherie.
The dwarf passed David a scrap of paper and a pen.
"You write your message, I'll take a look at these gifts you've brought for me."
David only half heard Rosr's words. He had started thinking furiously, how would he capture everything he needed to relay back home on the tiny piece of paper.
He needed to write a letter that would reassure those back home, but not give up information in case it was intercepted by an enemy, like the demon that had attacked Coppervein.
He sat there frozen for a few moments, until he heard a ding.
[How about this, User?]
The system displayed a short draft in his vision.
'Oh. Perfect.'
David responded, and started to write.
"Hey, who harvested these materials?" Just as David set down the pen, Rosr was walking over to him, a smile on his face.
"I did." David replied.
"Good job, that's some clean handiwork, you really know your Magical Beasts." Rosr gave David a nod of approval.
The dwarf picked up the scrap of paper, and rolled it up, tucking it in a metal tube that David recognized.
Those were the tubes that peddlers often carried with them, handing them to the adults in the settlement as soon as they arrived.
"Since you brought me such amazing materials, I'll be even nicer than I've already been to you."
"I won't charge you for the letter."
Rosr smiled at David's shocked face, the kid hadn't even clicked that the letter would cost him.
"And, I'll give you a discount on anything you buy from my forge. Looking at you, you'll need a new everything."
The dwarf roared with laughter, slapping David on the back, as if he had told the funniest joke in the world.
"Okay. Thanks." David shook his head, and walked over one of the displays on the right side of the building.
"By the way kid! Stick to the things that have a white tag on them, that'll keep you in your budget." The dwarf yelled out, still chuckling to himself.
David couldn't help but smile a little at the dwarf's odd sense of humor.
There was a soft thud as David dropped a pile of equipment in front of Rosr, who raised an eyebrow and whistled.
"You're got an eye for things don't you kid? All you heard was discount so you went and picked up the most expensive stuff?"
"No, I just-"
Rosr waved his hand and cut David off.
"I'm joking kid, relax."
The first thing David had picked was a piece of leather armor, it covered just the torso.
The armor was firm but not inflexible, and it had been made from a scaly Magical Beast, giving it an interesting texture.
From a distance, the surface was a deep black, but on a closer look it was covered in hexagonal scales.
"Armor Komodo leather, great for warding off a blade, but not so much for impacts, just don't take on any blows from a greatsword, and you'll be fine."
Rosr said as he set the armor aside.
Hearing the dwarf, David understood the system's insistence on him getting the armor. The armor would prevent his vitals from being pierced, and he had noticed could regenerate much faster from impacts than blades.
The next thing was a large, heavy cloak, it was woven from a thick grey silk, and the side of it was lined with hidden pockets and straps, which would allow it to carry as much as a rucksack.
A deep hood that would completely cover the wearers face topped everything off.
"This, this is one the finest pieces we have for its price." Rosr picked up the clock, and pulled a knife from his belt.
"Wait!" David called out, as the dwarf stabbed a dagger into the middle of the cloak.
The blade easily pushed through the cloak, but just as quickly as the material separated, the edges melded together.
"Cave Widow silk, won't do much for protection, but its durability is amazing, this cloak'll last generations, so long as you don't drop it in acid, you grand kiddies could be running around in it."
Rosr squinted at the strange pale boy standing in front of him, he had picked two very odd pieces of equipment, he couldn't be regular human, the kid probably had some strange blood in him.
"You going to be doing some sneaking around, boy?" After Rosr had seen the dark colored armor and cloak and then this next piece, the kid had to be looking to begin a career as a thief.
"I'm a scout." Came David's reply.
The final piece of equipment was a a pair of dark brown boots, that were made of an extremely soft leather.
David didn't need Rosr to tell him what beast these came from, these were made from the material that every young scout dreamed of.
The hide of a Breeze Deer, these beasts were not powerful or dangerous, but were some of the most elusive creatures that had been documented.
Their name came from how trying to capture one was like trying to capture the breeze.
"You don't need a new weapon?" Rosr asked, noticing that David hadn't picked one out.
"Actually, I was hoping for some information." David replied, after all the friendliness and care from the dwarf, he was beginning to trust him.