Lucia was watching as Ren and Feru violently tossed strange substances into a cauldron. After some time, they take a ladle and scoop out what looks like a strange rock with a metallic gleam.

  “Rough tungsten steel alloy.” Ren says. “Try again.”

  They return to throwing planks of wood, strange stones and strange plants into the cauldron. They go back into it with a ladle to take out another strange clump of metallic substance.

  “A gold titanium alloy.” Ren says. “Still not a new metal. One more time.”

  The two go back to tossing strange things in the cauldron. After some time, the liquid inside the cauldron begins to glow.

  “Oh! That looks cool.” Lucia says.

  Ren and Feru look at the cauldron.

  “Wait, that’s not supposed to happen.” Feru says.

  “Uh oh.” Ren says.

  A bright flash of light erupts from the cauldron and an explosion rocks the building. The building is still intact, if not a bit soot and ash covered. Thankfully for Ren, she had a ring that creates floating shields, although the only thing they managed to block was just the soot and ash. Lucia and Feru weren’t as fortunate, and were covered in the powder. Amidst the interior of this mess, Feru speaks up.

  “Actually, maybe we should take a break.” Feru says. “As close as we’re getting, I’m starting to run out of materials.”

  “Sure.” Ren says. “I was thinking about trying more monster materials.”

  “I don’t think using exotic monster materials is the way to go.” Feru says.

  “Not exotic monsters. Something more common.” Ren says.

  “Oh!” Feru says.

  Feru thinks for a moment.

  “Sure.” Feru says. “There are some wind drakes that are probably migrating this time of year.”

  “A drake?” Lucia asks. “Is that the same thing as a wyvern?”

  “No.” Ren says. “Drakes are also like wyverns and dragons, but they are a bit smaller and they don’t have forelegs. Only wings and hindlegs. In exchange, they are smaller targets, starkly faster and are generally harder to hit.”

  “Oh, cool.” Lucia says. “How do we do that?”

  “We hunt them.” Ren says.

  “Oh, okay.” Lucia says. “Wait… how do I do that?”

  “We stab them.” Ren says.

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  “Oh.” Lucia nods along before she snaps to attention. “Wait, with what?”

  “I don’t know.” Ren says. “We were getting herbs to sell to get you a weapon.”

  A brief moment passes before Ren continues again.

  “Ready to go buy a weapon?”

  Lucia is swiftly taken to the largest blacksmith workshop in Longcrest City, the capital city of the Irvan Kingdom. Feru needed a break and followed them after paying for the herbs. Inside, there is a massive assortment of weapons. Plenty of them are gleaming with pristine and exotic metals. There are easily plenty of swords, spears, axes and hammers that decorate the walls. There are even exotic weapons like tiger hook swords, rope darts, chakrams and many more. There are enough weapons on display that the main showroom of the workshop is almost mind boggling. The far wall is distant enough that you need to squint your eyes to see it.

  “So pick one you like and we’ll work from there.” Ren says.

  “Ren, there are weapons as far as I can see.” Lucia says. “How am I supposed to choose one?”

  “I don’t know.” Ren says in her dull tone of voice.

  “O- okay.” Lucia sheepishly says. “Well, why did you choose the katana? Were you inspired by samurai stories from the east?”

  “No. I got this after I brought a demon vampire into the sunlight.” Ren says.

  “You-... you did what now?” Lucia says.

  “I got this katana after I tricked a demon vampire into standing in sunlight.” Ren says.

  “W- wow.” Lucia is visibly shaking at Ren’s brief story.

  A passing customer scowls as he overhears Ren.

  “Fucking weeb.”

  Ren seemingly didn’t hear the man, but the various voices in Ren’s head would stab him were Ren not already occupied.

  “Did you do anything with it?” Feru asks.

  “No. I still have it in my extradimensional storage.” Ren says.

  “Can I see it?” Feru asks.

  “Later. We’re looking for cool stuff that Lucia can use.” Ren says.

  “Well, should I get a katana like you?” Lucia asks.

  “Maybe not.” Ren says. “You can always try out a variety. See what you like and what you don’t like.”

  “Okay, but isn’t that expensive?”

  “They do rentals.”

  “What?”

  “They rent weapons and armor out.”

  Ren points to a hanging sign in this grand showroom. On a fine wooden board, there is gold metal that forms lettering. It reads “Rentals” in some ornate script.

  “You can try a different weapon every day.” Ren says. “We can start there and see what you like.”

  Ren grabs Lucia and heads over to what seems to be a rental counter for weapons and armor. Behind the counter is a dwarf woman who visibly looks upset.

  “Hello.” Ren says in her dull tone of voice. “We would like your finest rentals, ma’am.”

  “Aye, fuck off with your rental shit.” the dwarf behind the counter says. “Don’t need any of your shit!”

  “Well, ma’am, we would like to rent your finest…” Ren stopped for a moment. “We would like to see your selection of rentals.”

  “And I told ye’ to buzz off.” the dwarf woman says.

  “What are your swords like this time of year?” Ren asks.

  “DID YOU NOT FUCKING HEAR ME?!?! I TOLD YOU TO FUCK OFF!!!” the dwarf began screaming at Ren.

  “You don’t rent out guns, do you?” Ren asks.

  When screaming is heard, another employee rushes over.

  “I’m terribly sorry miss, she’s new around here. How can I help you?” the other employee shoves the dwarf woman aside and greets Ren and the others with an apologetic smile.

  “Yeah, go help the daft shits.” the dwarf woman cussed at everyone in front of and behind the rental counter. “I got better things to do anyway. That adamantine alloy ain’t going to make itself.”

  “Oh, are you participating in the arms exposition too?” Ren asks.

  “And who are you to ask me?” the dwarf woman scoffs.

  “I’m Ren. I’m helping someone with their expo presentation.” Ren says. “We also thought about the alloy angle, but we thought against it. The production of the alloy would require too many expensive facilities and materials.”

  “You mean you’re too chicken shit to do it.” the dwarf woman snaps. “If you were confident in it at all, you would put your money where your mouth is. I put everything I have into making this alloy a reality.”

  “Maybe for a blacksmith, but we’re using alchemy.” Ren says. “The solution we should search for should stem from alchemy.”

  “Fuck you and your dumbass testubes and beakers!”

  “Actually, we’re using a cauldron.”

  “Fuck that thing too!”

  It is at this moment that the other employee grabs the dwarf woman and tosses her out a window. He then turns to face Ren and the others with his best forced smile.

  “Don’t worry about Mantala. She may be representing us here at the Brinebeard smithy in the upcoming military exhibition, but she still needs to work on her customer skills. She’s just stressed out about her work. Anyway, we have a lovely selection of axes that I highly recommend. Would you like to dual wield axes? We have twins or different ones if you prefer a different axe for each hand.”

  Lucia and Feru’s mouths hang open at the casual toss and conversation. Ren nods along as the man speaks.

  “So Lucia, I suggest two different axes.” Ren says.