The innkeeper stood behind the counter, a grin stretched across his face as if he'd just struck gold—because, technically, he had. I nodded to him as Mara and I made our way out, the creak of the old wooden door marking our departure.
The man's cheerful demeanor made my stomach churn slightly. I wasn't sure exactly how much the room, food, and… extras had cost, but I was beginning to suspect I'd severely overpaid when I tossed that gold coin on the counter in my exhausted state. A single gold coin probably covered several nights' stay, a dozen meals, and maybe even a few romantic encounters with the women that hung around the tavern, and judging by the way the innkeeper was smiling at me, I'd wager he wouldn't mind if I stayed for a month.
I considered asking how much time I had left on my "investment," but thought better of it. Between the bloody rags I'd walked in wearing and the barely functional armor I'd peeled off the corpses of those bandits, I already looked like the kind of person most respectable townsfolk wanted to keep an eye on. The last thing I needed was to give him any reason to reconsider his generosity. Besides, maybe he would keep quiet with all these holy warriors wandering around town. If they were sent to find me, I would need allies, and gold often bought these allies.
Outside, the early morning sunlight hit me like a warm slap. The cobbled streets of Westwood were bustling, merchants setting up their stalls and townsfolk going about their business. The air was filled with the chatter of haggling buyers, the clatter of carts, and the occasional bray of a mule.
Mara walked beside me, practically bouncing with energy. Her new outfit, a bright skirt and cropped shirt, stood out in this backwoods town, and would likey draw attention, but on her, I doubted attention would shift to me. I myself couldn't keep my eyes off of her.. If she noticed the occasional curious glance her way, she didn't care.
"So," she said, looking over at me with a grin, "What's the plan?"
I ran a hand through my hair, feeling the grime from days of combat still clinging to my scalp. "First, we get some gear. Armor, weapons, rations… maybe a health potion or two. Second, I need a bath, I'm filthy."
"Oh! Shopping!" Mara clapped her hands together, clearly more excited about the prospect than I was. "And for the bath, there's a wonderful hot spring nearby, we could stop by thereafter. I myself bathed as soon as I woke up the first day, but there's nothing like some hot water to make you feel human again!"
I followed her lead, though it felt more like she was dragging me along. In truth, I didn't mind. My coin pouch wasn't exactly overflowing, but I had seven gold, a dozen silver, and five copper left—enough to at least improve my current sorry state.
For as small as the town was, the market was thrumming with energy, likely thanks to the proximity to the capital. Mara and I made our way through the winding streets of Westwood. Stalls lined either side of the cobbled path, their owners calling out to customers, somehow each one promised the best goods the town had to offer.
It felt strange to be in such a normal, bustling environment after everything I'd been through. The air was thick with the scents of spices, leather, and freshly baked bread, mingling with the occasional whiff of manure from the livestock pens. Mara was in her element, darting from one stall to another like a kid in a candy store.
"Look at this!" she exclaimed, holding up a small, intricately carved figurine of a cat from one vendor's table. "Isn't it adorable?"
I glanced at the trinket, unimpressed. "It's a cat. Pretty sure they're common."
Mara pouted but set the figurine back down, quickly distracted by the next shiny thing.
We stopped in front of a grizzled leatherworker's stall, where pieces of armor were hung on display. The craftsman himself was a burly man with a weathered face and thick arms, the kind that told me he could probably tear the hide from an animal and rip it into shreds with his bare hands.
"Need something tough but flexible," I said, gesturing to the sorry state of my current armor.
The man grunted, eyeing me up and down. "Lucky you made it this far in that mess. Got some good pieces here, if you've got the coin."
He pulled out a set of reinforced leather armor, the dark material studded with small rivets for added protection. It was functional, no frills. Just what I needed.
"What's it made of?" I inquired, knowing absolutely nothing about the creatures of this world, but curious to learn something.
"Bugbear hide, resistant to magic and about as thick as you can get without sacrificing movement. This stuff will do you well, you have my guarantee" the leatherworker responded with confidence.
"This'll do," I said, and after some light haggling, we settled on a price: one silver coin and my old, battered armor. Not sure what he would do with it, but the man was adept in his craft, and could likely scrap it for something.
"Good choice!" Mara chirped. "Though I think a splash of color wouldn't hurt. Maybe red? Or gold trim?"
I ignored her and tried on the chest piece and chaps. It fit snugly, and I immediately felt a sense of security surround me as I donned the brand-new armor.
"Do you think you could make something from this for me?" I pulled out the Shadowlynx pelt from my previous host, and Mara's jaw dropped as she watched me unveil it.
His eyes widened slightly, but he masked his surprise with a grunt. "That's not something you see every day," he said, leaning closer to inspect it. His rough hands ran over the pelt, testing the texture and strength of the hide. "Shadowlynx, isn't it?"
I nodded. "It is. A predator that could leap between shadows. Tough to kill."
"I'd imagine," he said, his tone carrying a note of respect. "You took this down yourself?"
"Yeah," in a way I wasn't lying, I was the cause of its death, but he didn't need to know the details. "Figured you could make something useful out of it."
The leatherworker examined the pelt more closely, holding it up to the light. "This is quality stuff. The fur's still intact, and the hide's in good condition. Shadowlynx hides are rare—damn rare. Their fur alone fetches a high price, but crafting something out of it? That's where the real value is."
"What can you make?" I asked, leaning against the counter.
He grunted, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Depends on what you're looking for. The fur's light but durable, and it retains some of the beast's natural properties. Could make a cloak that dampens your presence, making it harder for people to spot you. Or armor—lightweight, good for moving fast and staying quiet. If you want something simpler, gloves or boots might give you an edge in stealth and agility."
"Cloak, boots, and gloves sound good to me if there's enough to work with," I said.
He nodded, considering. "Could probably do it, if I run low I'll need to supplement it with my own supply which will cost extra. Even the base gold will cost a fair bit, so I hope you have what it takes to make the purchase," he eyed me warily. This wasn't something a commoner could afford, and he wasn't going to waste time if it didn't pay out. Though even if I couldn't pay, he would likely give me the value of the pelt and sell the armor to some high-level mercenary or noble. Crafting something like this takes time and skill, especially if you want the enchantment to preserve its shadow properties. I'll need 3 gold for the work. If you want just one piece, we can do it for one."
I frowned, glancing at my coin pouch. "Three gold, huh?"
"Look," he said, setting the pelt down carefully. "This isn't some run-of-the-mill rabbit hide. This is a rare lynx skin, through and through. Even a normal Shadow Lynx would pale in comparison to what you brought me. Anything I make out of it will reflect that. If you're strapped for coin, I could take it off your hands for two gold. Someone else will pay a fortune for it, and you won't have to wait."
I shook my head. "Not selling it. This stays with me."
The leatherworker smirked. "Figured you'd say that. All right, then. What'll it be?"
I hesitated, running my fingers over the edge of the pelt. A cloak could be invaluable for staying hidden, especially if it dampened my presence as he said. The gloves and boots, those two could make my movements damn near impossible to detect. With Shadow Dance being my main ability, I had to go for it.
"What's the turnaround on this?" I asked.
"Cloak would take me a day, boots and gloves, another day, maybe two. Three days, if you're not in a rush."
I glanced at Mara, who had wandered over to a nearby stall and was examining a set of scarves with far too much enthusiasm. Three days might be a long time to linger, but the payoff could be worth it.
"Let's go ahead and get working on it. Three days should be fine, I'll just have to convince this lovely lady to stay a little longer. She kind of has her heart set on leaving sooner, but we'll see." I point to Mara who is bouncing with excitement as she pulls out a beautiful scarf that seems to fit her perfectly.
"Ahh, oh boy, you picked 'em good. Tell ya what. Come here on the second day, let's say early afternoon, and I'll have it for you. Should give you plenty of time to head out before nightfall, you should make it to the capital several hours later, that is, if you are heading to the capital?"
"Aye, that I am good sir, this lovely lady is joining the wizard's academy, and may I say, she is quite the talented young mage. I plan to keep her safe the way there, and support her wherever I can," I beam proudly, not entirely untruthful. I want her to make it after all she did for me.
"Yer a good lad boy, you keep her safe and I'll have this for you two days from now." The leatherworker seemed to soften as he watched us. I thanked him and went to lace my arm with hers and walk off, giving the artisan a friendly wave as we moved on to our next destination.
Damn, already down to 3 gold, 12 silver, and 5 copper. I hope I can get what I need with this.
Next, we headed to a blacksmith's shop. The forge was roaring, and the air was thick with the metallic tang of molten iron. The blacksmith, a hulking woman with soot-streaked arms, greeted us with a curt nod.
"Looking to sell this," I said, placing my sword on the counter.
She inspected it, turning the blade over in her hands. "Not bad work, but it's seen better days. Two silver."
"Deal," I said, knowing I wouldn't get much more for it.
Now came the real decision. I scanned the racks of weapons, eyes landing on a pair of twin daggers. They were sleek, with slightly curved blades and leather-wrapped hilts that fit perfectly in my hands when I tested them.
"Quick, quiet, and deadly," the blacksmith said. "They'll serve you well."
I handed over two silver and pocketed the daggers, feeling their weight settle comfortably at my sides.
"Now those are stylish," Mara said, pretending to jab at the air with an imaginary pair of daggers.
I flushed a little at her compliment but tried to play it cool. I led her toward the main street and strived to get the next task done.
3 gold, 10 silver, and 5 copper.
The apothecary was a dimly lit shop with shelves lined from floor to ceiling with bottles of every color imaginable. A faint herbal aroma hung in the air, mixed with something sour I couldn't quite place.
"I need health potions," I said to the shopkeeper, a wiry man with spectacles perched on the edge of his nose.
"How many?" he asked, barely looking up from the book he was reading.
I hesitated, glancing at the prices listed on the wall behind him. One gold per potion. Painful, but necessary. "Two."
The shopkeeper nodded, sliding two small vials of crimson liquid across the counter. "Two health potions, two gold," he said flatly, barely breaking his stride as he scribbled something in his book.
I winced, but I couldn't argue. Health potions were worth their weight in gold, literally. I handed over the coins, watching my pouch grow lighter. "Thanks," I muttered, pocketing the potions carefully.
Mara, meanwhile, was already flitting through the aisles, her eyes lighting up at every colorful bottle or mysterious-looking powder. "This place is amazing!" she exclaimed, grabbing a cobalt-blue vial and holding it up to the light. "What does this do?"
The shopkeeper glanced up briefly. "Mana restoration. One gold per vial."
"Oh, I'll take three!" she said without hesitation, pulling out her own coin pouch.
I blinked. "Three? That's—"
"Necessary," she interrupted, handing over three gold coins without a second thought. She added two health potions to the pile as well, her enthusiasm never waning.
"You're really stocked up, huh?" I said, half-impressed, half-shocked.
She grinned at me, pocketing her purchases. "You never know what's going to happen out there. Better to be prepared."
I eyed the mana potions she'd bought, their blue liquid shimmering faintly in the dim light. My gaze flicked back to the price list, and I hesitated. A single gold coin for a vial that could restore enough mana to save my life. It was tempting, but my funds were dwindling fast.
"Thinking about it?" Mara asked, her hand rubbing my back, her tone teasing as she sidled up beside me.
I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. "Yeah, but… I don't know if I can justify it. Health potions are more important right now."
Mara tilted her head, studying me for a moment. Then, without warning, she placed two gold coins on the counter. "Two more, for the gentleman," she said, trying to hold back her arrogant glee. "Here. Consider it a gift," she said, her grin widening.
I stared at her, caught off guard. "You don't have to do that."
"I know," she said with a shrug. "But you'll need it, I saw what you could do, that Shadow Dance is pretty impressive for a sword slinger. Besides, you're the one throwing yourself into danger, right? Think of it as an investment in my bodyguard."
I rolled my eyes, but a small smile tugged at the corner of my mouth. "Thanks. I'll pay you back."
"No need!" she said cheerfully, skipping off to examine another shelf.
The shopkeeper cleared his throat, clearly unimpressed with the prolonged exchange. "Anything else?"
"No, I think we're good," I said, sliding the mana potions into my pouch alongside the health potions. "Thanks."
As we left the apothecary, I couldn't help but feel lighter, not just because I was rapidly spending my entire life savings, but because Mara seemed to lift me up with every action she took, with every word she spoke. Suddenly I didn't mind so much that she chatted my ear off, I even began to look forward to the next words she spoke. Even when she spent more than I thought she had, her energy made it seem like everything would work out.
I wrapped my arm around her shoulder, feeling my skin against hers, I pulled her closer and tilted my head to brush against hers, her soft silky hair brushing against me. "Let's get on to the next shop, yeah?" I asked, and of course, she responded with her cheery disposition, nearly dragging me to the general store.
1 gold, 10 silver, and 5 copper.
Our final stop was a general goods store, a cluttered space that seemed to stock a little bit of everything. I picked up a coil of rope, flint and steel, a whetstone, and enough rations to last a week. The shopkeeper, a stout man with a friendly demeanor, rang it all up for a modest price of one gold and three silver.
Mara, meanwhile, had discovered a small display of cloaks and was enthusiastically trying to convince me to buy one.
"This one's nice!" she said, holding up a dark green cloak with embroidered vines along the edges.
"Go ahead and buy it, I have my Shadowlynx cloak waiting for me in a couple of days." I said, reminding her of my previous purchase
"But it's functional! And fashionable!"
I shook my head before tossing the shopkeep what I owed them. And with that, I was basically poor again. I mean, from the perspective of a Westwood citizen, I had a fair bit left, but I had spent nearly everything on this shopping spree.
7 silver, and 5 copper.
Mara skipped along beside me, swinging a small pouch of candies she'd somehow acquired. "See? Shopping's fun!"
"Expensive," I muttered, adjusting the straps on my new armor.
She shrugged. "Money comes and goes. Memories are what matter."
I didn't have the energy to argue. For now, we were equipped, rested, and ready—at least as ready as we could be—for whatever came next.