Before me sat the remains of what was once my home. Within these ashes most likely was also the remains of my grandparents. Gazing blankly into the blacked specs, I couldn't find it in myself to cry. I had done that for the past two days.
"Esther, is there anything you want to search for?" One of the guards asked.
I shook my head slowly before turning away. I walked up to Bergen while he gazed towards the barren land sadly.
"No." I replied. "The only thing left for me here is ashes and regrets."
I was escorted back into town with Bergen and his squad parting ways with me after I reached Ryt's shop. The old blacksmith looked like he would crash at any moment. His shop had managed to avoid much of the flames. It seemed that not all of the west side had been burned.
"You asked me to meet with you before I decided to leave?"
He stared ahead blankly before blinking. I guess he had been out of it. Realizing I was here, he rushed to his work desk before coming back to the counter with two small objects and a large object. They were all wrapped in cloth, but I could tell just from the shape what they were.
"There's no way…" I said, confusion lacing my tone.
He replied with a smirk but I could tell that there was very little energy behind that. Had he been up all night making this for me?
"If you're gonna head out into the world, you need to be prepared." His raspy voice forced out.
I unwrapped each item carefully before gasping. They were the most beautiful weapons I had ever seen. A pair of long daggers, baselards, that had the type of grip usually seen on a sword. The majority of both blades were silver in color with a small section of the other side having black. The end of the blade looked sharp enough to cut into a bear's hide.
The second item, a scepter, looked unique in its design. It was pure black intersecting chains that spiralled outward before stopping symmetrically while staying apart from each other. There was a strange crystal in the lower section while the upper section, the one with the opening, seemed to brim with energy.
"I see you noticed that scepter isn't normal." Ryt said while extending the scepter towards me. "Use your latent energy."
I listened, channeling my Ikas into the weapon. I was given a shock when the crystal lit up before energy manifested in between the chains. It took the shape of a blade you would usually find on a spear. It explained why the scepter was as long as a sword.
"It doubles as a spear and a bow!" He exclaimed. "I named it for you: Dasziel."
I tried out the name silently, mouthing the pronunciation as I inspected the scepter.
"Another thing."
I looked up from my inspection. The old blacksmith seemed proud of himself, so whatever he said next would probably amaze me.
"This weapon here is one of a kind. It ties itself to your soul." Ryt said.
I couldn't stop myself from shaking in excitement. That was something only really wealthy nobles and soldiers could afford. And he had done that for my weapon, free of charge. These were gifts I would cherish with my life. I smiled before hopping over the counter to give Ryt a hug.
"Hey! Hey! Calm down, Rosalynn got you way better gifts than me." He said while turning away to hide his embarrassment.
I laughed as he came from around the counter and began to push me out of the shop. I was going to miss moments like this.
"Get on, go meet Rosalynn. She's at the seamstress' shop."
I watched him shut the door before making my way towards the next destination. Rosalynn had met with some people that would help me with my journey apparently. One of those people was apparently the seamstress. I found that strange.
I stood before the entrance to the seamstress' shop nervously. I had never really perused any of the services here so I wasn't sure what I would be asked to do. I realized I was panicking over nothing.
Taking a deep breath, I entered the shop.
I was immediately bombarded with a hug.
"Esther!" Rosalynn's voice came from above me.
She had my head buried into her chest while shaking me around as if I was her long lost lover. It was embarrassing since I could hear people from deeper within the shop laughing and giggling.
"Let me go, damnit!" I shouted as I felt my face heat up
I struggled to release myself from her grasp before she finally relented. She backed away from me while keeping a hand on my head, a soft smile on her face. I felt my face getting warmer, so I tried to steer the conversation back in the right direction.
"Ryt told me you wanted me to come here." I said.
She nodes before moving out of the way allowing me to see a room filled with customers. While others did their browsing, a mature looking woman approached us.
She had the brightest green hair I'd ever seen that contrasted her blood red eyes. Her clothes were only a dress and a work apron with what seemed to be a sewing kit in the pockets. That most eye catching feature would be her rabbit ears though.
'An Unuan?'
I didn't focus on that too much, though. I waved politely while watching as she approached with a set of folded clothes.
"Here try this on!" The seamstress exclaimed excitedly.
The clothes were shoved into my arms before I was pushed by an excited Rosalynn into one of the changing rooms. I sighed tiredly before looking in the mirror at my current clothing. It was an old set of clothes that Caine could no longer fit. He gave it to me after he had been discharged by the healers.
I took off my old clothes and threw them onto the door before glancing at the new clothes I was given. I shrugged my shoulders before quickly putting them on.
"Huh?" I said. "Not bad."
It was a black sweater with a long sleeve that went all the way down my forearm on the left side while the other sleeve went halfway up my right arm. A compression belt fit comfortably around my waist with a chain connecting from the front of the belt to the back. My pants were long and fit perfectly, going all the way down to my ankles. I had a pair of long gloves that went all the way up to my forearm, stopping near the elbow, with only three fingers covered while my ring finger and pinky were exposed.
And to top it all off, I was given a hooded cloak with a golden button to clasp it closed.
"So, how do I look?" I asked while stepping out of the dressing room. "I like it-"
I was cut off by squeals before being surrounded by Rosalynn and a few of the female patrons. Rosalynn looked like a proud mother, although the nun was smirking at how most of the female patrons seemed to be advertising their daughters.
"Young man, my daughter looks to be about your age!"
"My Cicily is looking to get married!"
"I have two nieces who don't mind sharing!"
I used Rosalyn as a human shield while she shooed them away. That last lady was crazy, who in the world tries to convince someone to date two people? I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked up to see Rosalynn smiling down at me proudly.
"These clothes are special, I won't ruin the surprise, just know they are." She said while the Unuan seamstress behind her puffed her chest in pride.
I could feel myself smile as a sad feeling overtook me. I would miss this. I gave the one person who I had left a hug. This was a woman who had stood in as a second mother for me when my own parents abandoned me. It felt like I was leaving home and it wasn't even my departure time yet.
"Promise me one thing, Esther." Rosalynn demanded. "Stay safe out there."
I didn't want to make a promise that I knew would be impossible to keep. The world itself was dangerous, especially with the profession I was planning to enter. But I did the one thing I was good at: lying to reassure others.
"I promise." I lied.
"Good."
I can tell she doesn't believe me but she lets the subject be. A glow from the crystal within her church pendant, a silver shield with a golden sword sheathed within, signaled that it was time for one of the meetings usually held by the Church of Dame. Giving me a soft smile, she walked away.
'Now, I need to get funds…'
I knew where I could find them but it depended on how much was in the bank. I used to check up on the savings account I had but I stopped looking at the balance once it hit thirty thousand Nokt.
I left the seamstress' shop and made my way to the bank, anticipation filling my heart.