"What are you so bouncy about?"
Stivi asked with annoyance as we dragged our tired bodies towards the Village.
Usually, I was a zombie on my feet after finishing the training but today I had a bounce in my steps and excitement written all over my face.
"He He He! You will know the reason soon enough." I said with a mysterious smile, further fueling Stivi's annoyance.
"I don't have the time to spend fooling around with you."
Stivi declared with hands thrown in the air as we stood on the crossroads of the Village. To our right was the Blacksmith's shop and the left lane led to the Village Chief's tent where our newly recruited trainees would be gathering soon.
Stivi obviously wanted to get started with the day but she was also curious to know what had made me so lively.
I still did not answer but dragged her by hand into the Blacksmith's tent.
"Master Buka! I am here. Is my gear ready?"
I called out for the owner even before the flaps of the tent were fully parted.
"Coming!" A curt voice replied from behind the tent and we could hear shuffling noises as we waited for Buka to show himself.
Stivi looked bewildered by my actions. Suddenly, a thought struck her and realization dawned on her.
"Did you give the materials from Red Fleece Ram to Buka?"
Stivi asked in an urgent whisper. My wide smile was all the answer she needed.
It did not help her irritation subside.
"Samar, how could you be so foolish? The best Buka's shop has to offer is a White-Wood Grade equipment. What can he offer you in exchange for precious Black-Stone Grade materials?"
Stivi exploded into one of her infamous tirades.
"If we exchanged those materials with Elf Representative Karn, we could've gotten at least five pieces of Black-Stone Grade Equip…ment"
Her rant only came to a stop when Blacksmith Buka emerged from his backyard with a dummy dressed in the newly made Ram Shroud Set. The beautiful three piece set with red and black designs had caught her eye.
"That dark glow… like shadows are moving around it… Is that what I think it is?" Stivi asked, turning towards me, unable to believe what was right in front of her eyes.
"Yep. It is the glow of Black-Stone grade equipment and that is the Ram Shroud Set." I announced proudly.
"Amazing!" Stivi was mesmerized by the beauty of the Set which became even more obvious after Blacksmith Buka placed it on the counter.
The intricate red and black designs were subdued but were embroidered with surprising care. The matching patterns on the three pieces formed a strange harmony. It was as if they borrowed the power of surroundings to elevate the grade of the equipment itself.
No matter how beautiful an equipment was, what mattered to a player the most were its stats. I quickly inspected each of the three pieces and checked their description windows.
—
Ram Shroud Gloves
Grade Black-Stone
Equip Requirements: Lv 5
Defense: 2
Fire Resistance: +3
Attack Speed: +3%
~ Ram Shroud Set (1/3)
—
Ram Shroud Leather Armor
Grade: Black-Stone
Equip Requirements: Lv 5
Defense: 5
Health Points: +15
Vigor: +1
~ Ram Shroud Set (1/3)
—
Ram Shroud Boots
Grade: Black-Stone
Equip Requirements: Lv 5
Defense: 3
Movement Speed: +10%
Agility: +1
~ Ram Shroud Set (1/3)
—
"Damn you lucky bastard! I am so freaking jealous of you right now!"
Stivi exclaimed as soon as the item descriptions popped up before us. I could not be bothered to respond as I was also in a state of shock. The stats were just that much better than what I had imagined!
10 whole points in defense! Addition of these alone put my defense on par with any mainstream tanker's!
HP had always been the sore spot for most of the ranged DPS players. It was even more important for a clumsy player like me. Although I had earned extra Vigor points and more than made up for the 15 points I permanently lost to use the Barbarik's arrows, I still wanted more.
Thus, the Leather Armor which single handedly added 15 points to my meager 137 HP was like charcoal sent during a snowstorm. It also added 1 point in Vigor which translated to another 10 points in HP and about 0.5 points in Defense.
Compared to these benefits, the 1 point in Agility provided by the Boots was simply a cherry on top.
The Set also provided a comprehensive boost to my speed with 3% increase in Attack Speed from Gloves and 10% increase in Movement Speed from Boots.
It meant I could complete a 10 Km run at least 2 minutes faster in the game. This would be really helpful when I finally challenge the Obstacle Course set by Trainer Basak.
"Quickly put on the equipment. Let me check the Set effect!"
Stivi urged after she finished marveling at the incredible stat boosts provided by the equipment. The three pieces on their own were outstanding but their combination would not be called a set if there was no Set effect.
I indulged her and put on the Set equipment. The Gloves, the Leather Armor and the Foots flashed with red for a second and the glow quickly vanished as if it was merely a trick of light.
The only proof of it actually happening were the changes to the description of the Equipment items. An additional row of same words describing the Set Effects had appeared under each of the individual equipment.
—
Ram Shroud Leather Armor
Grade: Black-Stone
Equip Requirements: Lv 5
Defense: 5
Health Points: +15
Vigor: +1
~ Ram Shroud Set (3/3)
Set Effect Activated: 1
~ Flame Ward: Reduces incoming Fire Damage by 20% and increases Magic Defense by 10% for 3 minutes. This Set effect can be activated every 30 minutes.
—
"Cool! Now you can work as a Magic Damage Tanker with this Set effect activated." Stivi commented jokingly but I felt shivers run down my spine.
Tankers took the hardest beatings and were the most likely ones to die in any battle and I was a fan of neither.
I was a mere archer but considering the resentment she was currently holding against me, Stivi just might use me as a Magic Defense Shield in our upcoming journey through the Elven Forests.
No! That wouldn't do. I couldn't let Stivi's anger stew for any longer.
Initially, I planned to give her the War Boots made from Ebony Horn after she had secured the R1 spot for me. Considering the current situation, I had to change my plans.
"My Set is great and all but that is not why I brought you here. I also have a gift for you."
My gentle words made Stivi narrow her eyes with suspicion.
"Why are you suddenly being so nice to me? What did you do?" Seeing me ignore her, she pushed my arm into her twin prides with eyes glinting with mischief.
"Did you fall for my charm, Samar?" She asked with a saucy smirk, accentuating her curves. Enjoying the feeling for a second, I replied to her question with a snort, freeing my arm from her grasp.
"Dream on!" I retorted to her teasing and turned to Blacksmith Buka.
"Master Buka, are the boots made from the Ebony Horn also ready?"
The Blacksmith, who had been silently watching our amazed interactions with pride and amusement, finally broke his silence.
"Payment first." Blacksmith Buka demanded in a non negotiable tone.
I begrudgingly took out the remaining Ebony Horn that was in my inventory and placed it on the counter. The middle aged blacksmith swiped it into his inventory so fast that I did not even get a chance to object.
Buka then bent down and rummaged under the counter for a few seconds. When he emerged, he had in his hands a pair of beautiful black boots.
They had a slightly dull ebony color but shined with a glow characteristic to Black-Stone Equipment. The elegant yet practical design of the boots screamed that they were made for war.
I looked at Stivi for her reaction and noticed that she had already scooped the boots up in her arms with shining eyes. Knowing her taste for years, I was certain she had fallen in love with just the aesthetics of the boots and had not even checked their stats yet.
"This is a small apology for all the trouble you are facing because of my request. I hope you will still get me the R1 position."
I whispered in Stivi's ears with a smile. She turned towards me with a wide grin and said, "You are forgiven," cleverly avoiding the subject of my R1 position.
Really! Soft approach never works on this girl. I snatched the shoes from her arms and announced, "You will get them when I get the R1 position."
Stivi frowned and made a grab for the shoes but I quickly put them in my inventory. She pouted but that did not faze me in the slightest.
"Fine! I have set up a meeting with an R4. He wants to meet you when we reach the Elven Forest. Now give me the Boots!"
Stivi declared with desperation and equal amounts of irritation. Her frown only turned upside down when the Boots were finally back in her arms.
I shook my head at her obsession. "It's not as if they are going anywhere. At least check their stats, woman!"
Stivi glared at me for the perceived insult but shared the Stat window with me.
—--
Ebony War Boots
Grade: Black-Stone
Equip Requirements: Lv 5
Defense: 4
Strength: +2
Health Points: +10
—--
"Nice!"
I said with an appreciative tone. Stivi replied with a smug grin and changed into the Boots.
I was indeed feeling a little envy as none of my individual Set pieces had as good of stats as these Ebony War Boots. However, I was the ultimate winner as my Set was much better than an individual piece of equipment and Stivi knew it.
Nevertheless, this was not a competition. I was truly happy that my gift turned out to be this awesome and had wiped away any resentment Stivi had towards me.
Then I complimented Stivi some more to massage her bruised ego.
"Those newbie Trainees will be worshiping the ground you walk with these Boots."
"Of course, who am I? I am the RedQueen. Those noobs should be groveling at my feet." Stivi said jokingly, with a tinge of pride.
"Then let's go meet them, my lady?" I asked, extending my arm.
"Let's go good sir," Stivi replied with a teasing smile while intertwining her arm through mine.
And we set off.