Chapter 9 The Blades of Flame and Frost
As I walked through the bustling streets of Altheria, I kept my guard up. The town might seem peaceful on the surface, but I'd learned better than to trust appearances-especially in a place crawling with adventurers, mercenaries, and the occasional thief looking for an easy mark.
My eyes scanned the cobblestone path ahead until something caught my attention: a modest but well-built blacksmith shop tucked between a potion vendor and an old bakery. A wooden sign swung above the entrance, etched with a hammer striking an anvil. The faint clinking of metal rang out from within.
I muttered under my breath, "Hmm... come to think of it, this sword of mine's not going to last much longer. I need something more durable-something I can rely on in a real fight."
With that thought, I pushed open the heavy door.
A wave of heat and the sharp scent of metal and oil greeted me.
Inside, the walls were lined with all kinds of weapons and armor-blades of every shape, shields of various designs, even spears and axes hung on racks like trophies.
It would've been an impressive display to anyone else, but as my skill activated, glowing icons began to appear over each item:
[Low Quality]
[Low Quality]
[Cracked Steel - Unstable]
I frowned. Flashy, but worthless in real battle.
Then a gruff voice called out, "Looking for a weapon, kid?"
I turned quickly and saw a short, broad-shouldered man step out from behind the counter. He was old, his beard gray and bristled, his face lined with age-but his arms were thick with muscle, and he had the unmistakable look of someone who knew his craft.
A notification popped up in my vision:
[Race Identified: Dwarf]
A dwarf, huh? That explains the build.
"Yes," I replied. "I'm looking for a well-balanced sword. Something sharp, but durable too."
Before the dwarf could respond, the door swung open behind me and another man walked in. He wore extravagant armor-clearly custom-made-but I could already tell he was more concerned with style than substance.
"Hey, old man," the guy barked. "I need a sword. A sword that'll defeat every monster I come across."
I rolled my eyes and muttered in my mind, Is this guy serious?
The dwarf didn't miss a beat. "Sure thing," he said, walking over to one of the nearby stands. He picked up a sword with a golden hilt, the blade polished to a mirror shine, and handed it over. "This here's my finest sword. Worth about fifty gold coins."
I narrowed my eyes and used my skill again.
[Weapon Grade: Low - Ornamental Quality]
Just as I suspected. It looked good, but the materials were poor and the balance was all wrong. A real adventurer would notice that immediately.
But the guy didn't even hesitate. He grabbed the sword with a grin, eyes gleaming with excitement. "Finally! A blade worthy of a future legend!" He tossed the coins on the counter and strutted out like he'd just bought a legendary relic.
Once the door shut behind him, I turned back to the dwarf. "That wasn't your finest work, was it?"
He glanced at me and gave a knowing smirk. "You've got a good eye, kid. No, that was far from my best."
I folded my arms. "You okay with scamming adventurers like that?"
He chuckled, stroking his beard. "Kid, most of these types wouldn't know a real sword if it cut 'em in half. They want something that looks powerful, something flashy they can wave around to feel important. Let them waste their gold."
I couldn't help but grin. "Yeah, I get it. Some people just want to be the center of attention."
"Exactly!" the old dwarf laughed. "Finally, someone who gets it. So, you here to actually buy a real sword?"
"Yeah," I said. "But not those shiny paperweights."
He let out a hearty laugh and gestured for me to follow. "Come on, then. Let me show you the good stuff."
We passed through a heavy iron door at the back of the shop and stepped into a smaller, much more secure-looking room. The moment I entered, my skill lit up with new notifications:
[Weapon Grade: C]
[Weapon Grade: B]
[Weapon Grade: A]
These were the real deals. You could feel it in the air-every blade in here radiated strength and craftsmanship. Some had faint magical auras, others glowed with subtle enchantments. They weren't flashy, but they were deadly.
The dwarf spread his arms. "These are my true masterpieces. C to A grade, no junk. You're welcome to look around and see what suits you."
I raised an eyebrow. "You sure you want me picking through your best work?"
He smirked. "If you can see the quality of what I make, you're no ordinary adventurer."
He had a point.
I walked slowly along the rows, studying each weapon carefully. Then two blades caught my eye-swords displayed side by side on a wooden rack. My skill highlighted them immediately:
[Flare Sword - Grade: A - Fire Attribute]
[Glacier Sword - Grade: A - Ice Attribute]
One had a deep crimson blade with subtle flame patterns etched into the metal. The other shimmered a cold blue, the steel almost frosted over.
The dwarf saw me staring. "Ah, you've got taste. Interested?"
"Yeah," I said. "Very."
He walked over, standing beside me with pride in his eyes. "Those two are elemental blades. The Flare Sword is imbued with fire magic-it sears with every strike. The Glacier Sword, well, it freezes whatever it touches. Nasty combo."
I grinned. "Funny thing is... I can use both fire and ice magic."
The old dwarf looked at me, impressed. "Seriously? Well then, how about you test them out yourself?"
I blinked. "You're letting me try them?"
"Sure. Go ahead."
I didn't hesitate. I reached out and took the Flare Sword in my right hand, the Glacier Sword in my left. Immediately, I poured a bit of my magic into each one. The response was instant.
Flames danced along the edge of the Flare Sword, while a frost formed along the Glacier Sword's blade. I gave them a few test swings-balanced, powerful, and responsive to my mana. These were no ordinary weapons.
The dwarf crossed his arms, clearly watching my every move. "Well?"
"They're incredible," I said. "How much?"
He scratched his beard. "Hmm... both together? I'd say they're worth about 300 gold coins."
My eyes widened. "Three hundred!?"
"If you can't afford 'em, kid, I can hold onto them for-"
"No need," I cut in. "I'll take them."
He paused, surprised by my confidence. "You've got that kind of coin?"
I nodded. I've got more than enough. Between the 10,000 gold I took from the goblin king dungeon and the 120 from selling the other materials, I had over 10,120 gold coins to my name. These swords were a small investment.
You managed to defeat a Goblin King?" the old man said, his voice laced with shock and disbelief.
"Really now..." the dwarf chuckled. "You're getting more interesting by the minute, kid."
"Not just anyone says something that crazy so casually," the old man said, eyeing me carefully. "Now I'm certain-I can trust you with those two swords."
We walked back to the front of the shop. He carefully sheath both swords and place at the desk.
"Take care of these blades," he said. "They're more than just weapons-they're part of you now."
I nodded, opening my item box and sliding them inside. "Yeah. Got it."
I paid the 300 gold coins, and with a final nod of thanks, I stepped out into the sunlit street, feeling the weight of new power at my side.