Just a bit of gearing up before trials of Lute Village. Onwards!

"So lad, what's our plan this time around?" Bargram had asked once we settled in the dining hall, the cacophony of noise and debauchery having lessened since our arrival… Wyndia having been received by the patrons surprisingly well despite her initial fears.

As the child was soon coddled and spoiled by the many patrons, Eyra especially, I had made my way to a bare wall as I retrieved my yet uneaten fish and began 'scrolling' through my many acquired Nails.

"Our first order of business is to return to Lute Village as soon as possible, yet I fear calling upon Gaelion to retrieve us," I stated as my eyes fell upon the Red Dragon Hourglass Sword. Devouring my fish in its entirety, I summoned the hourglass hilted blade.

[Red Dragon Hourglass Sword Rank: 1/10

Damage: 10

Active: Warp to any known point]

"Ya get that one from the Hourglass, laddie?" Eyra asked as she walked towards me, Wyndia in her arms, "That one have fancy magic as well?"

She had set Wyndia down as the child moved to sit next to me, her head leaning upon my shoulder, "I believe it may be a form of transportation," I explained as I reached out to pet Wyndia's head, the child pushing themselves closer into me in response, "Regardless, we must first tend to the necessities of our group. Armor, clothing, dried foods… it will be quite a busy day."

"Don't you worry about food," The handmaiden said with a sure smile, "Some of us got together and started hunting for game. We've hopefully caught and dried enough to last you the month."

"Thank you, your assistance means much to our cause."

"Same to you, Bug Hero…" Eyra smiled sadly before reaching down and scratching at Wyndia's ear, the child humming as her ear twitched, "Same to you…"

"Ah, I'll be missing home soon," Bargram whispered wistfully as Eyra presented her hand, the two soon embraced before swaying slowly together, "This old fool is off to fight demons and monsters again…"

"Aye, I'll be waiting all alone soon," The handmaiden whispered in reply, "This old hag praying for her wayward fool's safety every night…"

They love each other deeply… Love. Was this what my father and mother shared? Was what they held, love?

"Mister Hollow? Are you okay?" Wyndia asked as she rubbed my mask, "You feel sad."

"Sadness is not something a Vessel can feel," I replied easily. Yes. Vessels do not feel, this was the lie I told myself.

"Come, Earhart awaits."

"Sure did take your sweet time in swinging by, Bug Hero," Earhart commented with a wide smile, "Shield Boy actually swung by not too long ago. He looks a lot better than the last time I saw him."

"Noafumi has reclaimed a happiness he seems to have lost," I replied as I urged Wyndia forward, "Earhart, would you be willing to arm another child for battle?"

Wyndia shivered under his gaze as Bargram and Fera began to remove their armor and weapons, the blacksmith understanding the situation well.

"Alright, I can fit her with some leather, but come back once she's grown so I can get her into something stronger," He replied as he began to inspect the armor and weaponry owned by my companions, "In fact, you should make visiting me a regular occurrence. The only thing here that's still holding up is that weird Nail…" Sighing, he motioned for Wyndia to follow, the girl looking to me before looking back to the blacksmith.

"It… won't hurt?" She asked in fear.

"No, Earhart is a kind man. I would trust him with my life should I need to."

Finding my words satisfactory, Wyndia reinforced her resolve and nodded as she followed.

"Demi-human or not…" Bargram whispered, "Don't exactly feel comfortable taking a child to fight."

River chirped loudly yet proudly as if saying Wyndia would be fine, "Regardless, this way, Gaelion's child shall be safe whilst growing into a fine warrior."

"What about you, lass?" Bargram asked of partner mine, "How do you feel about taking her with us?"

Tell Bargram…

"She says that as a Demi-human, she should grow the faster she gains levels," I explained calmly, "As it took only a week for Fera to reach level twenty three from her starting point of eight, it will not be long until our 'child' is of an adult stature."

"Wait, the lass started at eight!?" He shouted in surprise, "What's her level now?"

Thirty eight.

"Thirty eight," I repeated, my avian chirping happily as if in cheer.

"Thirty eight!" He shouted in surprise, "Then the lass is close to the threshold…" The giant soon whispered, "Church won't let her past that threshold, not unless you force em…"

"Threshold?" Level forty is the highest level anyone can reach. Afterwards, if anyone wishes to exceed this, they would require use of the Hourglass, "Are there other Hourglasses we could utilize?" I asked of the giant.

Before he could reply, Earhart had returned with Wyndia, the girl now sporting a studded and tanned leather vest, shorts, knee guards, metal reinforced boots, and studded leather gloves. She held a coiled whip close to her as if to hide.

"Um… Mister Hollow? Is this okay?" She asked worriedly as I nodded.

"How long until our equipment is repaired?" Earhart hummed in thought as he reviewed the armor upon his counter before grunting.

"Won't take long, but I got a question, Bug Hero," He said as he stared me down, "You didn't really fight the wave like that, did you?" His gaze was stern, his voice like a parent chastising a child.

"I'm afraid I do not understand your concern."

"Look at you! All you're wearing is a cloak!" He shouted as he held out an open hand, gesturing to the cloak in question, "You're practically naked!"

"My safety is not your concern," I replied, adamant in my position until River began to peck at my head angrily as Fera took my arm. I am sorry, my Master, but even River agrees that it is time you invested in armor.

Truly? I do not require such limiting items… Unfortunately, neither member of my party accepted my decisions, Bargram's hand upon my back pushing me forward, Wyndia taking my free arm, and River cheering them all as she jumped from her perch atop my head.

Before I knew it, Earhart had me bare before him as he measured my form, "You're thin," He commented, "Thinner than most… you don't have feet, and you're limbs are so awkwardly positioned… this will be a challenge."

He brought out several ores, completed and incomplete chest plates, grieves, gauntlets… he examined and appraised before deciding upon a half completed breastplate, seven clumps of silver ore, two clumps of something he called 'mythril', and a set each of silver arm guards and grieves along with four tanned leather pelts.

"Can't explain it…" He whispered to himself, "But I don't think I've ever felt this scared and excited over a set of armor…" Huffing, the blacksmith quickly threw himself into his work, cutting and parting leather, heating and warping metal and ore… he worked surrounded only by the sounds of hammer falls, rising ash, and hissing steam. His work had been an art form in and of itself as he took care in reshaping and reinforcing metal and hide.

As he completed his work, he gave a sigh of relief as he wiped the sweat from his brow.

My Master, does all go well? The armor has been completed.

"I really don't know what to say, Bug Hero," Earhart muttered as he looked upon the armor, "No one, and I mean no one will be able to wear this armor but you… now try it on and take a look at it in front of the mirror," He pointed a thumb over his shoulder, a large vertical mirror hanging along a wall opposite to his work area.

The armor set as a whole had been light, rounded, and made to lock and unlock with clasps of metal and leather belts. The chest plate was compact and smooth, leaving everything below my plexus bare. The arm guards had been made to my exact measurements, the slim casts hugging my arms tightly. The elongated greaves were much the same, yet had the added benefit of covering the entirety of my leg below my knee. Truly, if anyone else had attempted to wear my armor, they would find no purchase.

As I held my cloak in my hands, I stared at my reflection as the mirrored visage brought a memory to mind. For a moment… for but a brief fleeting moment… I was not in Earhart's shop. No, I was home, within the White Palace. Father staring up at me, sadness in his eyes… pride in my own…

The image was gone, I had been back in Earhart's shop, a longing building within me.

My Master…

"What do I owe you?" I asked as I donned my cloak once more.

"We'll work all that out once I fix everyone's armor," Earhart replied as he waved me out, following me only to retrieve Fera's and Bargram's armors.

"Mister Hollow!" Wyndia cheered as River chirped happily atop her head, "You look amazing!"

"Truly?"

"Aye lad," Bargram replied as he placed a hand on my shoulder and eyed me critically, "Might be that crown atop your head, but you look just like a king."

"A… king? What foolish words…" I looked away, eyes landing upon Fera's smiling face.

My Master, embarrassed? To think I'd see the day. A Vessel is above such things, partner mine…

With nothing left to do but wait patiently, we meandered along the rows of weapons and armors. Curiousity taking hold of me, I began to take hold of several blades, allowing the Legendary Sword to 'copy' the many swords.

[Hook Sword Unlocked]

[Rapier Unlocked]

[Sword Breaker Unlocked]

[Katana Unlocked]

[Zweihander Unlocked]

[Cleaver Unlocked]

[Heavy Greatsword Unlocked]

"Hey, hey!" I heard Earhart shout as he returned with our party's equipment, "Ya copy it! Ya buy it!"

"Of course, it would only be fair," Rolling his eyes, the Blacksmith urged us all closer as he returned Bargram's armor pieces and spiked gauntlets and had given Fera a new set of armor.

"Big guy, I reinforced your gear with some stronger, but heavier metals," Earhart explained, "Miss, I had to overhaul your gear, scrapping the thing entirely. You still get your fancy Slave Crest imprinted on it though."

Fees gave a nod as she equipped her brand new armor, the black crest was made much more apparent imprinted upon the shining steel of this new set.

"Ah, nice and heavy," Bargram commented as he flexed his hands and waved his arms to and fro.

"Alright, alright…" Earhart sighed as he brought out a parchment, "Let's take everything into account… leather gear for the kid, silver armor for our Hero, titanium alloy tune up for the big guy, fresh new steel armor for the young miss… and seven swords of varying degrees of rarity and cost…"

"Oi, laddie, ya didn't steal anything you shouldn't have, did you?" Bargram asked with worry and disappointment.

"Each piece is exactly where they are meant to be," I replied easily.

"But ya still copied my work," The Blacksmith argued as he crossed his arms and huffed, "Now I'm not mad, your group did save a town afterall and helped stop the wave… but I am gonna need compensation for the gear."

"Of course," I stated as I reviewed my inventory, "No cost is too great."

"Good, cause this is gonna take-" He became deathly quiet as I placed a stack of ten gilded scorpions upon his counter, "A lot of gold… That… that is a lot of gold."

"You may keep the 'change'."