With Brand New Toys

“HYAAAH!” Xana cried, unleashing a torrent of wind from the tip of her dagger.

Her spell crashed against my barrier, with no hope of breaching it… though Xana didn’t intend to in the first place. The force of the wind was such that it knocked me up into the air, barrier and all.

As I flew off, Xana summoned her bow with telekinesis and immediately shot at me with an empowered magic arrow. The enchantment bestowed upon it by Cerys was potent on its own, but Xana compounded her magic as well, amplifying its power.

My barrier cracked, barely able to stop the blast of raw elemental energy. Xana, however, didn’t let up. Before I could fortify my defenses, she jumped after me, daggers at the ready, her body wreathed in an aura of mana.

With one strike, she dug into my crumbling barrier and shattered it, and like a bolt of lightning, she chained a second stab straight to my stomach.

Her attack didn’t connect, however.

I parried it with my wooden sword, and counterattacked with a spell of my own. A blast of water shot toward Xana, but before she was hit, she vanished into thin air.

By reflex, I teleported too, a dagger swinging right where my neck had been a split second earlier. I landed at ground level, taking aim at Xana in the air. A barrage of firebolts shot from my hand, but Xana blocked them with a barrier of her own, before she shot forward and engaged me in melee again.

Her power level is downright ludicrous. Compared to the fight she had with Amelia earlier, the difference is like night and day. Try as I may to overpower her, she’s blending spell and blade like a master.

In the end, our trade of blows drew to a stalemate, each side unable to break the other without taking a serious safety risk.

“That’s enough,” Cerys called, before either of us got overexcited.

I exchanged glances with Xana, drenched in sweat, chest heaving, but with a radiant smile beaming on her face as she turned to me.

“It’s incredible,” said Amelia, having witnessed the whole fight. She had returned shortly after leaving, and agreed to help Cerys supervise my spar with Xana. The results, well… they speak for themselves.

“The contract worked as intended,” I said, satisfied with the results. “The benefits go both ways. I could feel your swordplay skill, and Cerys’ arcane mastery.”

“Oi, what about me?” Xana asked, looking anxious.

“I felt your reflexes, too,” I replied. “I couldn’t have blocked the strike after you broke my barrier without them.”

“Hehe,” Xana grinned.

“We’re lucky Lady Aesarith didn’t deny us,” Amelia said with a sigh.

“No kidding,” I replied, thankful for the Goddess’ leniency.

When we forged the bestowal contract, its terms weren’t one-sided. The wording went along the lines of “We shall offer our strength and our gifts to him, in exchange for his magic power.”

In other words, Amelia and the girls bestowed upon me their abilities, and I gave them access to mine. Now, I can wield Amelia’s martial arts, Xana’s archery and stealth, and Cerys’ spellcasting expertise.

“Just keep the limitations in mind,” Cerys noted. “The bestowal spell only works as long as the bestower is conscious. If one of us is knocked out, or killed, you’ll lose access to the abilities of the person in question.”

“Right,” I replied, a bit disturbed by the latter comment. “Well, I guess it’s a good incentive to protect you even more.”

“It’s the other way around, John,” Amelia argued. “We’re your guards. You have the power of the Fell Dragon, and as the only people in the know, it’s our responsibility to keep you safe.”

“So says you, but if shit hits the fan, I’m standing in front,” I replied. “You said it yourself, I have the power of the Fell Dragon, and I’ll use it to protect the ones I love.”

“Hyaah,” Xana cried bashfully, holding her hands against her flushed cheeks.

“If that’s what you wish for, then your safety is paramount,” Amelia insisted. “Were you to fall to the hands of our enemies, it would spell doom for the whole realm.”

“Yeah, and the realm is meaningless to me if you’re not in it,” I replied.

“Don’t be irresponsible, John!” Amelia chastised me.

“Just fight side by side, you guys,” Cerys said plainly, Xana giggling next to her.

“Fine,” Amelia conceded, giving up with a sigh. “We’ll share the frontline.”

“Yus,” I cheered, clenching my fist.

“But you’ll need proper equipment,” she added. “We’re not sparing any expense on your gear. Are we clear, Cerys?” she continued, turning to her friend.

“No complaints from me,” Cerys replied, showing her hands in surrender.

“She’s a copper pincher,” Xana whispered to my ear.

“No. I’m a prudent spender,” Cerys defended herself. “And on that note, let us discuss the best choice of gear for John. There are plenty of options, and I mean to figure out the very best of them.”

“By Maladriel, please don’t…” Xana begged, reaching out to the elf.

After that, what followed was a brainstorming session with Cerys, stretching for several hours to make the ideal shopping list. By the time she was done, my brain felt like it had endured a second sparring match.

* * *

“WELCOME TO GILLIAN’S SMITHY!” a cute clerk greeted, before pausing as she took a proper look at us. “Oh my,” she said. “Thorns, what happened?”

“Cerys went at it again,” Xana groaned, slumping her shoulders.

“Did she?” the clerk replied. “You must have plenty of items to buy, then?”

I could almost see the dollar signs in her eyes.

“Just a set of armor,” Cerys replied, smiling cheerfully unlike her friend.

“Gotcha!” said the clerk. “I’ll find Master Gillian, but… Cerys, you got a new pet?”

The girl was staring at me in wonder, riding on Cerys in my raven form. She can’t use magic, by the looks of it, so she’s unable to see the aura of mana I’m exuding.

“He’s my familiar,” Cerys explained. And it’s true this time, too!

“Really?” the clerk asked, before scratching under my neck. “He’s cute!”

Heck yeah! Good eyes, kid.

“He likes me better, though,” Xana pouted, taking me from Cerys’ shoulder and into her arms. Her chest is soft, but…

“Ka-kaw! Ka-kaw!” I cried.

She’s crushing me.

“Fufufu,” the clerk laughed. “Let me find Master Gillian.”

And off she went to the back.

Thankfully, Cerys rescued me from Xana, and I perched safely on her shoulder.

In any case, this shop is stacked! The walls are covered with weapons and shields on display, sorted by type and sizes. There are lines of mannequins clad in various types of armor, too, and weapon racks holding the stuff that couldn’t fit on the walls.

Every piece is masterfully crafted and polished, speaking volumes about the craftsman’s skill. The girls mentioned the smith is a dwarf, and boy he lives up to the stereotype. Probably looks the part, too.

“Greetings, Thorns,” came a voice as coarse as gravel. Lo and behold, the dwarf is built like a solid wall of muscle and chest hair, and a beard fit for the gods. I called it.

“Hello, Gillian,” Amelia greeted him. “It’s been a while.”

“That it has,” he replied. “Helluva bird you’ve got,” he added, looking at me.

“He’s my familiar,” Cerys explained again. “I found him in the Forbidden Forest.”

“Ah, no surprise there,” Gillian said. “That place is as dangerous as they come. Back in the day, a party I was working with almost got wiped out. We were looking for an exotic material, some rare piece of magic amber. Ran into a demon, and it was almost the end of us. By Maladriel’s grace, Lightbringer showed up in the nick of time. Silvano himself saved my hide.”

“That’s the Forbidden Forest, alright,” Xana replied, recalling her own brush with death a few days ago. “That said, Gillian, I didn’t know you knew Silvano!”

“He’s a regular,” boasted the dwarf, a smile showing under his mustache.

Even a hero of the realm shops here?

I’ll be damned. The girls really didn’t hold back.

“So, what can I get you?” Gillian asked, turning to Amelia.

“I’d like a set of enchanted brigandine armor, with partial plate,” Amelia replied. “Also, a full chain suit. Top and pants.”

“You’ll want padding with that. Custom order, right?” asked the smith.

“No,” said Amelia. “Ready-made. Do you have any in stock?”

“I do,” the dwarf answered. “But you’ve never bought ready-made before, except for chain vests. Why the change of heart?”

“It’s for a friend,” Amelia replied.

“Is he your boyfriend?” the clerk asked with excitement.

“Cynthia,” the dwarf called her, slightly raising his voice.

“Just a friend,” Amelia insisted, blushing lightly.

“For now...” Xana added, prompting Cynthia to dreamily cover her mouth.

After Amelia smacked the cat, the smith prepared our order without delay.

* * *

“COME AGAIN!” said Cynthia, waving us goodbye with Gillian by her side.

We stored our order inside Amelia’s bag of holding, so despite having just bought thirty or forty kilograms of armor, we’re traveling light.

“I’m sure you’ll like it,” said Xana as we walked away from the shop. “Brigandine armor is nice and flexible. I thought about buying some myself, but it’s a bit heavy for me, so I settled for leather and a chain shirt.”

“We’ll need to adjust it,” I replied telepathically. “The measurements came from Amelia, so they’ll be a bit off. Especially around the waist and shoulders.”

“That’s what the enchantment is for,” Cerys replied. “Magic armor can change shape. It’s to a limited degree, but plenty enough for a few sizes. I’ll imbue it with a summoning spell, too. You should be able to polymorph without being nude anymore.”

“Wait, really!?” I exclaimed. “Cerys, you’re a goddess!”

I hopped with excitement, delighted by the news.

However —

“Shush,” Amelia signaled to stop, her voice a soft whisper. “We’ve got company.”

Further down the road, a lone man walked toward us.

His build was broad, his gait confident and tempered, despite his hair having gone gray from old age. He had little in the way of magic emanating from him, but a gut feeling told me there was much, much more to this man than he would let on.

He wore a suit of brigandine armor and chainmail, similar to what I just bought, beneath an elegant leather surcoat richly embroidered with courtly decorations. On his chest, he bore the heraldry of a beautiful, great tree.

Whoever this guy was, he had to be a big shot, and he was headed our way. Xana didn’t seem to mind, but Amelia and Cerys were unnervingly tense.

“The Thorns,” he greeted amicably, with the air of an old friend. “I heard a rumor that your latest expedition had gone ill. I’m relieved to see you’re all safe.”

“By Faydan’s grace, we are,” replied Amelia, bowing courteously before the mysterious man. I had no clue about his identity, until she mentioned his name…

“It’s good to see you again, Lord Silvano.”

And just like that, I found myself face to face with the hero of the realm. A living legend stood before me, and there I was, perched naked on Cerys’ shoulder.