Capítulo 8: More People?
"And I'm back from the dead!" Fotas said with a little hop as he respawned outside the Healer's Hut
"Dam, that instructor! I just walked back from the respawn point only to get killed again."
As Fotas was still fuming about how he got killed again out of nowhere, the sound of footsteps slowly approached him.
"Welcome back!" a familiar voice said.
Looking towards the sound of the voice, he saw little Abby standing in front of him waving.
Quickly collecting himself, he remembered that before he died, the man told him to seak out the smithy to get money to provide for training.
'I should head towards the smithy since it is implied that the smithy always needs help. While I'm there, I could also ask for some equipment and take some quest that could give me some new gear. There could also be some quest for getting materials to make new equipment. If I ask correctly then maybe instead of gathering new materials to make new equipment I could ask if they could upgrade my gear. This would make it so I can gather less and get more out of it.'
While thinking about what his next plan would be Abby just stood there and glanced at Fotas weirdly. Thinking of something, Abby moved towards Fotas and stretched herself so she could reach his head. patting his head, she keeps repeating 'did he hit his head when he touched the ground.' Noticing that someone was touching him, he awoke from his slumber and looked at Little Abby who was trying to make sure he was ok. Laughing to himself, he rubbed her head.
"Hahaha, I'm fine, don't worry about me. Can you take me towards the smithy, I need to go there due to instructor Ingrid."
"Okay! Let's go to Master Felix. Master Felix is the blacksmith by the way." Little Abby started pulling Fotas towards the right back towards the Mayor's home. "Oh also take some of these ores, they should help you get better equipment from Master Felix."
[You Favorability with Little Abby has increased.]
[+ 100 Favorability for Little Abby]
[Favorability (Little Abby): 1,100/5,000 (Caring)]
[Due to your relationship with Little Abby she has decided to help you with your quest a the Smithies]
[You gained Iron Ore (5)]
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[Iron Ore]
A basic ore that can be turned into gear with the help of a blacksmith. Basic entry level ore can only make basic entry level equipment.
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After talking with Abby for a little bit, the duo arrived at the Smithy. The sound of metal clashing rang throughout the smithy. Looking through the archway, Fotas noticed an old man hammering away on an anvil.
The old man has winter-white hair. His eyes are blood-frecked, and a goatee rested on his chin. His face is timeworn and wrinkled. Two of his fingers are crooked from an old injury of some sorts. Although the old man seemed fragile, he was everything but that. A fiery look of determination never left his face while he was hammering away. The tempo and power that he put into each stride were stable and consistent. It was as though he was a well-oiled machine whose sole purpose was to strike away at the metal.
"Master Felix! I brought the newcomer of the town over." Little Abby shouted over the sound of the metals clashing.
Pulling the metal away from the hammer, the old man dipped the Flaming piece into the water bucket and pulled it out again. The old man took one more look at the metal piece; the look of disapproval could be seen on his face. Sighing one last time he dropped the metal piece on the table and stood up. Sweat could be visibly seen dripping off of him. The amount of sweat that cascaded of him was enough to fill a small pond.
Standing up now, Fotas could see the old man a bit better. The most noticeable thing about the old man other than his crooked fingers was his scars. Scars were etched all around his body, and there wasn't a spot on his body that wasn't touched by at least one injury.
"Oh, new blood at Winterhorn. You can call me Felix." As abruptly as the horse voice came, it disappeared.
After saying what he had to tell the old blacksmith turned around and pulled a new ore out to work on. Soon the sound of hammering started to echo throughout the smithy again.
As Abby was about to go and talk again to get Felix's attention, but Fotas stopped her. Seeing that Felix wasn't much of a talker, Fotas initiated the conversation and asked about his work, the weapons and armor in his shop, instead of merely waiting for Felix to say his part in the introduction.
Sure enough, after talking for a while offered to give me some low-level armor he has. Fotas accepted it readily since the stats were much better than his first armor that he got from the Mayor. Fotas tried to offer his help for more giveaways from Felix. Remembering that he got some Iron ores from Abby, Fotas proceeded to ask Felix if there was a need for some Iron ore.
He said that indeed he needed five low-level Iron ores. Instead of trudging to the village's mines, Fotas immediately gave him the Iron ore that Abby gave him. Impressed with Fotas's speed, the blacksmith offered him a discount for his first purchase. After hearing that Fotas eyes sparkled. Various ideas started to form inside his mind. After a few minutes, Fotas declined the offer to get newer armor for free due to him already getting armor from the Felix. He refused the blacksmiths offer of free armor, in hopes that it would increase the discount and help the blacksmith would offer him later, and went out of Felix's workshop.
After taking a few more small gathering quest from Felix, Fotas went around with Little Abby to collect the items. The items around the outskirts of the village so Fotas didn't have to fight the little monsters just yet. With Abby taking Fotas around, he found everything in a jiffy.
Walking back to Felix's workshop to get the rewards for doing all the menial task Fotas got some bronze coins out of it. He then proceeded to haggle for a better shield from the blacksmith.
"Please, Master Felix. I would be extremely grateful for your help," Fotas started to plead from the blacksmith. "Could you please perhaps give me a shield instead of the armor. Adding to the discount you promised me. Perhaps with these bronze coins that I got, I could be able to buy one."
"My, my, youngling. I have a business to run, you know," the blacksmith said. "I'm giving away some of my armor, free since most armors are made of little to no metal. Theirs mostly made up of leather and some iron clippings. But asking for a shield is a bit…"
"Even the cheapest ones," Fotas quickly interrupted. "You did say I get a discount on my first purchase. I promise I'll help you with anything you want to in exchange for a very generous discount. Besides all I have is a wooden buckler, any metal shield would help me survive outside the village longer."
"Well. I'm not sure about this. But I did say you get a discount," Felix said. He rubbed his hair, a habit of his when he was going to give in.
Seeing the blacksmith rub his hair, Fotas smiled internally.
'Ah, he's giving in to my demand. Good thing Little Abby told me about his habits earlier when we were walking around collecting items.'
"These are bronze coins, just bronze coins, youngling. Don't expect anything high-quality," The blacksmith said.
"Just any shield that you make will do," Fotas said. "I'll even do more quests for you."
"I could give you some nice leather armor instead of what you're wearing. Are you sure you want a shield instead?" Felix asked one last time before handing the shield over
"Yes, Master Felix. I'll even throw in the rest of my Bronze coins. I know they're not much. And I'll work for you. I'm sure you would have some need of me, the promising new blood of Winterhorn."
"Fine," the blacksmith finally relented. "Also I know you're only calling me Master Felix to suck up to me, call me Felix. Stop adding the word master before my name."
"Yes, yes, Felix. Thank you for the shield." A big grin appeared on Fotas's face. He stood there with both arms outstretched waiting eagerly for his new shield.
The blacksmith turned around and fetched a wooden shield with thick straps of metal on the front. The shield reinforced with leather lining that kept the planks of wood tightly bound. And metal piercings coated its outer ring.
"You do know that your Bronze coins won't be able to buy this one even with a generous discount. But, if you find me some materials that I need, you get this free." Felix then handed Fotas the shield.
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[New Quest]
Gather materials for Felix the Blacksmith in exchange for the shield that he gave you. The more 'Extra' materials you gain will trigger a chance for Master Blacksmith Felix to upgrade your shield.
[Success]: Gather- Icicle Rabbit Pelt (5), Frost Snow Ore (5), Iron Ore (5), Wood (5)
[Failure]: Unable to finish the mission in the allotted time.
[Rewards]: Permanent acquisition of [Reinforced Iron Shield], ???
[Penalty]: Loses [Reinfored Iron Shield]
[Time for completion]: 3 Days
[Accept]: <YES>
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[Reinforced Iron Shield]
[Rarity]: Normal
[Defense]: <15>
[Durability]: <35/35>
[Description]: A shield made personally by Master Blacksmith Felix, holds a hidden power?
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Looking at the notifications that popped up in front of him, Fotas's smile got even more extensive. A burst of creepy laughter was close to escaping his lips too.
'My gamble was right! Looking around inside his shop earlier, all the shields that I saw were way better than my shield. Just getting anyone of them would've increased my tankiness by 2 fold. And with defense 15 that is practically 3 times the amount of my last shield!"
Fotas quickly thanked him and left the blacksmith's workshop happily. He held the shield in his left hand, the short spear hung on his back, and the Leather vest coved his protruding belly, even though all it seemed to do was emphasized more on it than take it away.
' I now equipped myself with the best equipment I can get for now. Now that I got a better shield, it would be easier to test my theory.'
The reason why Fotas wanted the shield was because of Masteries. Masteries had something to do with your mastery in something. Due to him being able to get a skill from fighting with the Rabbit he wanted to see if he could also get masteries fighting too. If he could get shield mastery, he wondered if it would actually help him know how to use the shield better, or if it would only just give him more stats for the specific weapon.
'Test, test, test. The more I learn about this game earlier on the faster I would be able to climb through the rankings. Testing is an investment.'
As Fotas was still dreaming about his speed climb on the rankings, Abby pulled at his sleeves to get his attention.
"Hey, why did you leave the Blacksmith you didn't ask Master Felix for the location of the items?" Abby had a question mark on her face.
"Huh? I thought you know where all the materials are, why would I have to ask him?"
Abby started to massage her head, looking again at Fotas she sighed and resigned herself to her fate.
"Did you see any Iron ores and Frost Snow ores when we were walking around to get the other materials that Master Felix needed?" Little Abby rolled her eyes at him.
Thinking back, Fotas realized that of all the gather quest most if not all of them were herb-based gathering quests. There were no Ore Mines around at all. Still confused about one thing he asked Abby about the Iron ores that she has given him.
"Oh those, they were given to me by my dad. He said that I should give it to you, but I forgot to hand it out to you when I was giving out the Snow Weeds. Hehehe" Laughing loudly she started to run back to the smithy.
With no other lead, Fotas headed back towards the smithy too. Seeing the duo approach him, Master Felix stopped his work again and waited for them to start talking.
"I forgot to ask earlier due to my excitement, but where are the Iron Ores and Frost Snow Ores located at?" Fotas lightly laughed.
"Oh those, they lie inside the Ore Mines up the mountains. That reminds me I asked some new blood that came by earlier to go up the mountains too to get some more ore for me." The blacksmith scratched his beard.
"Wait there are other people like me that came by earlier?" The blacksmith's statement shook him to his core. He didn't think anyone other than him would go towards a random small town in the middle of nowhere. It was also cold in snow areas, and without cold resistants, it would hinder their gameplay.
"Yea, a brother and sister pair was here earlier. I think they are at the Item Shop right now to ready themselves for the journey towards the mountains." Scratching his beard again an Idea suddenly came to Felix's mind, "Why don't you go with them; I think it would be easier if all three of you guys helped each other out. It would also be much safer."
'That's not a bad idea. Since I'm by myself its always better to have more teammates to work together with, plus with my full defensive stats, I need a damage dealer to help carry the load. If at least one of them is a damage dealer, then this would help me out a lot in the long run. Also, since everyone is isolated right now if I can put a group together, I can still be in the top 100. I would also have a strong group of allies for the future. This is a win-win situation. Now how will I present myself in front of them?'
As Fotas was brooding over the situation at hand, he looked around and finally landed his eyes on Little Abby.
'Right, there's Abby! This would be a great way to connect with the other players. She would also serve as living proof!'
Smiling gently, Fotas reached his hand out and rested it on Little Abby's head. Slowly patting her head, he edged her towards the door.
"Abby there's something I need you to do for me. If it works Ill treat you to some food later." A slight smile rested on his face.
"Really! I want candy, by me some candy later if I help you."
"Of course, I will buy you candy later if you help me with this." He answered assuringly.
Seeing the duo walk away from the smithy Felix was sure he could see some horns sticking out of Fotas's head. Shaking his head to get the image out of his mind, he turned around and continued to hammer away at the anvil.
PENSAMENTOS DOS CRIADORES 
deevi
deevi Hello, I am here again — this time I want to announce due to one of my readers. I honestly forgot to type this out so I will be doing this now. Since after I resorted my problems and finalized everything I am starting college right now. Seeing that I have my schedule and everything down now, I am confidently able to say that I will be posting 1/CH every 3 days, or 2/CH every week. If there is time then maybe I will post more then 1 Chapter every 3 days, but for sure there will be a chapter every 3 days or 2 every week. Thank you for sticking through with the story even though I update extremely slow. If you like the story, then please comment, leave a review, and Vote. Maybe in the future, I can say that I will do mass release if I get over a certain rank, but for now, I want to see where I can get with this. Thank you again for your support.
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