I woke up the next day and I went through my routine of training and then headed to my room. I took my n-life out of my backpack and slipping it on my head immersed myself in the virtual reality.
I appeared lying down in a bed in the room I’d rented for myself in one of the towns inns. Matt was in the room across the hall. I sat up and swiped my menu open. Matt wasn’t online. Perfect. That meant I had time to do some shopping.
I left the inn and headed into the town. I soon found what I was looking for. A blacksmith shop with a sign outside that read: Custom weapons! You describe it we make it!
I opened the door and stepped inside. Inside the shop was a combination forge and shop. Hanging on the walls were various pieces of armor and weapons.
A burly man in a leather apron was standing over an anvil swinging a hammer at a red hot piece of metal. As I watched the metal shifted shape into a dagger.
The blacksmith looked up and saw me. “I’ll help you in just a second,” he called over as he immersed the still glowing dagger into a vat of water.
“What can I help you with?” He asked as he walked over to me.
“I’m looking for a couple of weapons,” I said. “A hidden blade and a custom sword.”
“I’m an Assassin’s Creed fan,” Said the blacksmith. “So I have a couple hidden blades that I made for fun. And what’s the weapon you’re looking for?”
I described the weapon I wanted and the blacksmith immediately began making it. After five minutes it was done and he held it out to me.
I inspected the weapon the blacksmith had made for me. A sixteen-inch handle two sections of which was wrapped in leather with a sturdy but narrow blade extending from each end of the handle.
I placed my hands on the leather wrapped sections and held the blades so that they were parallel with the horizon. One of my hands was wrapped around the handle palm up. The other palm down. I spun the weapon slowly in a pattern. A half spin on one side leading into the completion of the spin in front of me and then into a half spin on the other side. I did this a few times. Gaining a feel for the heft of the weapon. Then I transitioned into a series of slashes, jabs, and defensive strikes.
"I like it," I said to the blacksmith.
"That'll be thirty gold coins," said the blacksmith. "And another twenty for the hidden blade."
I nodded and payed him. Picking up my hidden blade from where the blacksmith had put it on his counter.
I slipped the hidden blade onto my left arm and tensed my forearm. Instantly the blade shot forward. Ending a few inches past my fist. I relaxed my arm and the blade retracted. I grinned to myself. Now I felt like an actual assassin.
"I guess there's nothing else you'll want."
"Nothing," I said as I paid him and then strapping the hidden blade more securely to my wrist put my swordstaff in my inventory and walked out the of the shop.
I headed back to the inn where I'd left matt. Stopping only once to spend some of my silver coins on some new clothes for him.
I reached the inn and headed to the room matt had rented for himself after we'd left the doctors.
I found him sitting shirtless in a chair sipping a mug of ale.
"Ah," he said. "You're back, Tim."
"Yep," I said as I tossed him the clothes I'd bought for him.
Matt rose and threw the red tunic with gold trim on. Then clinched a brown leather belt around it and a cloak over his shoulders.
"I see you procured some new toys," he said. Nodding at my wrist
I set my spear down in a corner and sat down on one of the two beds in the room. "That's not all I got," I said as I tensed my arm.
Matt looked at the blade extended under my left hand. "Well at least you're keeping in line with your trade." He said. "But why get a wrist blade when you're best with pole weapons?"
"That's not all I got," I said as I swiped my inventory open.
I selected my swordstaff and it appeared in my hand. Light from the windows glinted off the two blades.
"Impressive," said matt. "I've never seen anything like it."
"It's a custom weapon," I said. "Based off one I made in the real world. It's also one of the weapons I'm best with. But I'm gonna keep it in reserve."
Matt nodded. "Your ace in the hole, as I were."
I nodded and returned the weapon to my inventory. Then I stood up. "I'm going to look for some work. We're low on funds as is."
Matt nodded again. "You do that. I'll look for more members to join our party."
"Good hunting to each of us," I said.
"Good hunting,” replied matt.
ns 15.158.61.20da2
