The sun had barely risen when Torrack set out, his mind buzzing with questions. The events of the previous day had left him eager to learn more about the mysterious powers hidden within certain items—like his gloves. The idea that these artifacts existed in the world, each with unique abilities, was both thrilling and perplexing. He needed answers, and he knew exactly where to start: the library.
Ravenreach's library was a grand structure, its tall spires reaching towards the sky, its ancient stone walls etched with the wisdom of generations. As Torrack stepped inside, the scent of old parchment and leather-bound books enveloped him, a comforting reminder of countless stories waiting to be uncovered.
He spent hours wandering the rows of shelves, pulling out dusty tomes and scrolls. The library was a treasure trove of knowledge, but most of what he found was old—stories of legendary heroes who wore enchanted armor, wielded magical weapons, or possessed items with mystical powers. However, these were tales from centuries past, myths and legends that seemed more like fairy tales than anything rooted in reality.
One passage caught his eye: "In the days of old, knights and warriors adorned themselves with armor not just of steel, but of magic. Each piece was a work of art, imbued with the essence of the world's natural elements. These armors were said to grant their wearers the strength of a thousand men, the speed of the wind, or the resilience of the earth. But as the years passed, such knowledge was lost to time, buried beneath the sands of history."
The words resonated with Torrack. Could it be that the knowledge of creating such powerful items had been forgotten, lost in the annals of history? And if so, could it be rediscovered?
He continued his search, determined to find something more concrete. Eventually, he stumbled upon a mention of the kingdom's largest library, located in the city of Crystalkeep. According to the text, Crystalkeep's library housed an extensive collection of rare and ancient texts, including those on the subject of magical artifacts and enchanted armor.
"Crystalkeep," Torrack muttered to himself, a plan beginning to form in his mind. If he was going to uncover the secrets of these items, that's where he needed to go. But first, there were more immediate concerns to address.
Later that day, Torrack found Kaelith sitting by the fountain in the town square, her small frame hunched over as she fed scraps of bread to a cluster of birds that had gathered around her. She looked up as he approached, her green eyes brightening with a cautious hope.
"Torrack," she said softly, "did you find anything?"
"A bit," he replied, sitting down beside her. "But nothing concrete. Most of what I found were old stories. It seems like the knowledge of creating magical armor has been lost for a long time."
Kaelith nodded, her expression thoughtful. Torrack took a deep breath, sensing that now was the time to address something that had been weighing on his mind.
"Kaelith," he began, his voice gentle, "I want to help you. But to do that, I need to know more about you. I need to know what you've been through."
Kaelith hesitated, her gaze dropping to her hands. Torrack waited patiently, giving her the time she needed to find her words.
"I've been alone for a long time," she finally admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "My parents… they were killed when a beast attacked our village. I was only three. After that, I had to fend for myself. I wandered from place to place, doing whatever I could to survive. Stealing, mostly. I didn't want to, but there wasn't any other way."
Torrack listened quietly, his heart aching for the young girl who had endured so much. Kaelith continued, her words coming out in a rush as if she had been holding them in for too long.
"When I came to this city, I thought things would be different. I thought I could find someone to train me, to help me become a real mage. But it was hard, and I… I got caught up with the wrong people. Those men, the ones you saw yesterday… they forced me to work for them. If I didn't, they would hurt me. I didn't know what else to do."
Torrack placed a hand on her shoulder, offering her a reassuring squeeze. "You don't have to go through this alone anymore, Kaelith. I'm here now, and I want to help you. If you're willing, we can travel together. I don't know if I can train you, but maybe we can find someone who can. In the meantime, you can join me as an adventurer. We'll work together, earn some money, and figure out our next steps."
Kaelith looked up at him, her eyes shimmering with a mix of hope and uncertainty. "You mean it? You'd let me join you?"
"Of course," Torrack said with a smile. "We'll look out for each other. How does that sound?"
A small, tentative smile tugged at Kaelith's lips. "It sounds… good. Thank you, Torrack."
With Kaelith now by his side, Torrack decided to seek out a smith or armorer who might have more information about magical armor. They walked through the winding streets of Ravenreach, eventually finding a reputable blacksmith shop known for crafting high-quality weapons and armor.
The blacksmith, a burly man with arms as thick as tree trunks, greeted them with a nod as they entered. "What can I do for you?" he asked, his voice gruff but not unkind.
"I'm looking for information," Torrack said, getting straight to the point. "I've heard stories about armor with magical abilities. Do you know anything about that? Is it possible to imbue armor with magic?"
The blacksmith raised an eyebrow, wiping his hands on a sooty rag. "You're talking about enchantments. It's not common, but it's not impossible, either. Most armorers don't bother with it, though. It's expensive, time-consuming, and requires the skills of both a master smith and a powerful mage. You'd need specific materials, too, ones that are hard to come by."
Torrack leaned in, intrigued. "What kind of materials?"
The blacksmith shrugged. "Depends on the enchantment. You'd need things like mithril, dragon scales, or other rare elements. And as I said, you'd need a mage who knows what they're doing. It's not something you'll find in your average shop. Most enchanted items you hear about these days are old, relics from a time when that kind of craftsmanship was more common."
"So, it's possible," Torrack mused, "but not easy to come by."
"Aye," the blacksmith confirmed. "If you're serious about finding enchanted armor, you'd best look in places where ancient items might still be found—ruins, old battlefields, or maybe that big library in Crystalkeep I've heard about. They say it's got all kinds of records on the old ways."
Torrack nodded, filing the information away. Crystalkeep seemed to be coming up more and more, solidifying his resolve to go there eventually. But for now, he had more immediate concerns.
Before they left, Torrack's gaze fell on a section of armor designed for young adventurers. The pieces were simple yet well-crafted, made of light leather reinforced with small metal plates for added protection. He considered Kaelith's slight build and her current skills, which seemed to rely more on agility and her natural connection with nature than brute strength.
He turned to the blacksmith. "I'd like to buy a piece of armor for my companion here," he said, gesturing to Kaelith. "Something light, that won't restrict her movement, but will still offer some protection."
The blacksmith nodded and guided them to a rack of armors. "This here is a good choice," he said, pulling down a thin leather cuirass with metal inserts. "It's not too heavy, but it'll keep her safe in a scuffle. And it won't slow her down."
Torrack inspected the piece, running his fingers over the smooth leather. It wasn't anything extravagant, but it was sturdy and well-made. He could see it being a good fit for Kaelith, at least until they knew more about what kind of fighter she would become.
"I'll take it," Torrack said, handing over the required coins.
Kaelith looked up at him, surprised. "You don't have to—"
"I want to," Torrack interrupted gently. "Consider it a part of your new start."
Kaelith accepted the armor with a shy smile, clearly touched by the gesture. "Thank you, Torrack. I'll make sure to use it well."
As they left the blacksmith's shop, Kaelith carrying her new armor, Torrack felt a sense of satisfaction. He didn't have all the answers yet, but he was making progress—both in his quest for knowledge and in helping Kaelith find her place in the world.