Now Emrys needed a way to get money for his training, so he decided to sell the intermediate crystals. But first, he needed a disguise. A powerful disguise which would hide his identity completely.
As he scanned the area, he remembered a small shop in a corner of the market which was known for its rare goods and unusual items.
Emrys entered the shop, the bell above the door jingling as he stepped inside.
The shop owner was an old man with a chubby face, he looked up from behind the counter as soon as he noticed the presence of a customer."Welcome, young one! What would you like to buy?"
Emrys' bowed his head respectfully as he greeted the old man.
His gaze then fell on the shelves, they were filled with strange masks, colorful fabrics, and other antique items.
He spotted a simple, yet elegant mask made of black silk. "I'll take that one," he said, pointing to the mask that caught his attention.
The shop owner smiled, "An excellent choice! That will be one golden coin, please."
Emrys hesitated for a moment, he dipped his hands into his pocket and glanced at the huge golden coin.
It was his last golden coin but since he needed the disguise, he handed over the coin, and the shop owner gave him the mask.
With the mask securely in place, Emrys left the shop and headed to the blacksmith shop.
He immediately wore the mask over his face, making sure to cover his silver hair.
People with silver hair weren't common in the village and covering his hair was the biggest disguise ever.
Perhaps in the future, he would consider dying his hair in order to stop getting unnecessary attention from people.
Emrys pushed his thoughts to the back of the mind, having one goal in mind.
He had heard that the blacksmith, a burly man named Grimbold, was also a dealer in rare and valuable items. Emrys hoped to sell the intermediate crystals to him.
As he entered the shop, the smell of hot metal and sweat filled his nostrils.
Grimbold looked up from his work, his eyes narrowing slightly as he took in Emrys' masked form.
"How can I help you?" he asked gruffly.
Emrys reached into his bag and carefully brought out the two intermediate crystals. "I'm looking to sell these," he said, his voice low.
Grimbold's expression changed from curiosity to interest. "Ah, intermediate crystals. Not often do I see those around here. What are you looking for in exchange?"
Emrys hesitated, unsure of the crystals' true value. But he knew he needed to get a good price. Hunters always bragged that Intermediate crystals were worth more than basic crystals and luckily, he had successfully gotten two intermediate crystals. The two crystals could get him a fortune.
"I'm looking for a fair price," he said finally.
Grimbold nodded thoughtfully, his eyes never leaving the crystals. "I can offer you...500 golden coins for the pair."
Emrys' eyes widened as Grimbold offered him 500 golden coins for the pair of intermediate crystals. He had a feeling the crystals were worth much more than that, and he wasn't about to let the blacksmith take advantage of him.
"I'm afraid that's not enough," Emrys said, trying to deepen his voice to sound more like an adult.
Grimbold raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Oh? And what do you think they're worth, hmm?"
Emrys swallowed hard, trying to keep his voice steady. "I know they're worth at least...1,500 golden coins. Maybe more."
Grimbold chuckled, a deep rumbling sound. "You are a wise man… I'll give you that. But I can only offer you 1,000 golden coins. That's my final offer."
Emrys hesitated, unsure if he should accept the offer or hold out for more. But he needed the money, and 1,000 golden coins was a small fortune. He nodded finally. "Alright, deal."
His eyes gleamed with excitement as Grimbold handed him a pouch containing 1,000 golden coins.
He carefully poured the coins into a sack bag, the clinking sound echoing through the blacksmith shop.
With the sack bag over his shoulder, Emrys left the shop after handing the two intermediate crystals, his heart racing with excitement.
But as he walked through the winding streets, he couldn't shake off the feeling of being watched. He glanced around, but saw nothing out of the ordinary.
It was the first time he was holding such a huge amount of money and so the feeling of unease grew with each passing second.
To be safe, Emrys decided to store the golden coins in his inventory, the system space that only he could access.
He focused his mind, and the sack bag slowly disappeared from his shoulder before reappearing in his inventory.
Emrys breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a sense of security. His mother's hospital bills were now covered, and he had enough money to find a trainer to help him improve his skills.
Hours later…He stood outside his house, with 200 golden coins already in his little hand bag. He had retrieved them from his inventory earlier, counting and preparing everything before entering the house.
Letting out a deep breath, Emrys opened the door and stepped inside. Kael looked up from the fireplace, "Ah, Emrys, welcome back. Have you submitted the form for the test?"
Emrys nodded, "Yes, Father. I did."
Kael nodded in satisfaction, expecting nothing less.
Emrys paused for a moment, then held out the 200 golden coins.
Both Kael and Akira's eyes widened in shock, their jaws dropping in unison. "Where...where did you get this?" his father stuttered.
"200 golden coins?!" Akira exclaimed. "Emrys, how did you...?"
Emrys smiled nervously, "I...uh...sold some things. No need to panic hehe"
His adopted parents exchanged disbelieving glances. "What could you have possibly sold to get this much money?" Kael asked, his voice filled with incredulity.
Emrys just shrugged, trying to play it cool. "Just some stuff I didn't need anymore. I have also been saving some money over the past few years. I have no use for the money right now and so I want to give it all to mum."
The room fell silent, his adopted parents still in shock, trying to process the sudden response. Finally, Kael spoke up, "Well...I suppose this will definitely help with your mother's treatment. And your training."
Emrys nodded, feeling a sense of relief. He had expected them to be surprised, but not this much.
Kael looked at him, still in shock. "You know, I think I've arranged something good for you," he said. "An old friend of mine, who's a trainer, has promised to train you for a lower amount."
"Really?" Emrys asked curiously.
Kael nodded. "We caught up in the square a few days ago. He's a good man and I know he'll train you well."
"And how much will he charge?" Emrys asked.
"We agreed on 50 golden coins," Kael said calmly, "That's a good price, especially considering how much money you've made."
Emrys smiled, feeling a little relieved. This seemed like a good opportunity.
"That sounds great, Father. When can I start training?"
Kael couldn't help but smile. He was happy to know that Emrys was just as interested in himself becoming a knight as he was. "I was thinking you could start tomorrow. I'll take you to meet him in the morning."
Emrys nodded eagerly, already looking forward to it. He spent the rest of the day helping his mother with her treatment, using the money he had earned to buy her the best medicine and care.
The next morning, Emrys and Kael set out to meet the trainer. They walked through the streets of the town.
As they turned to a corner, Emrys saw a large stone building with a sign that read "Blackwood Training Hall". His father led him inside, where they were greeted by an old man.
He had heard stories about the legendary trainer, known for his tough methods. As they entered the hall, Emrys was struck by the sheer size of the room.
The high ceiling disappeared into darkness, and the walls were lined with rows of wooden dummies.
Master Blackwood greeted them warmly. "Ah, Emrys! Good to finally meet you, lad! Your father has told me a lot about you. I must say, I'm impressed. You've got the makings of a fine knight."
Emrys grinned respectfully.
Trainer Blackwood led them to a corner of the hall, he gestured for Emrys and Kael to sit, then took a seat behind the desk.
"So, Emrys, do you really wanna become a knight," he said, his eyes piercing. "What makes you think you have what it takes?"
Emrys swallowed hard, trying to gather his thoughts even though he knew his words were partially false. "I...I've always been fascinated by the stories of knights, sir. I want to protect people, to make a difference. And I'm willing to work hard to achieve that."
Trainer Blackwood nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "I like your spirit, lad. But becoming a knight isn't just about wanting it. It takes dedication, discipline, and a willingness to push yourself to the limit. Are you sure you're ready for that?"
Emrys nodded gently. "Yes, sir. I'm ready."
Trainer Blackwood nodded, his expression serious. "Very well, then. Let's get started. We'll begin with the basics… sword fighting, armor training, and combat tactics. But I must warn you, Emrys, my training methods are not for the faint of heart. You'll be pushed to your limits every day."
Emrys nodded, secretly scrutinizing the old man.
He was looking so old and so he wondered if Master Blackwood was indeed a powerful man who was worthy of training a youngster like him.
Kael left soon and Emrys was left with Blackwood in the huge room.
"Let's begin"