Chapter 13
"Well? What do you think?" The girl spun slowly in front of Jayce holding her arms out slightly. One of the greatest benefits to gaining access to a new floor was the access to higher tier items and equipment. The healing potions sold by merchants on the second floor would heal more than those sold on the first. Weapons and armor did more damage and provided increased defense respectively. The Moonlit Silver Dirk and Anneal Blade Jemza and Jayce had were not common weapons sold by merchants. As such their stats were still higher than the base weapons sold here in Urbus.
Armor, on the other hand, was something they both hadn't changed from since their first levels. Both wore armor belonging to the Light Leather Equipment category. All armor categories had skills of the same name which when taken and increased would provide greater benefits from the armor worn. Reduced weight, increased protection, and various other perks could be unlocked through the skill line. Jayce had not taken the skill line yet, but assumed Jemza had. Since he had chosen Hiding as his third skill, she must of chosen Light Leather Equipment as hers.
After stumbling across what seemed to be the main merchant section of Urbus, Jemza had wanted to see what was available. Two very long and painful hours later Jayce waited patiently inside a Leatherworker building while she disappeared into a side room. Upgrading his armor wasn't on his mind at the moment, but while waiting he still took some time to look over the different armor available here in Urbus. Within minutes the white haired girl returned and now spun slowly in front of him waiting expectantly.
Prior to entering this establishment Jemza had been very similarly equipped as Jayce. A simple leather breastplate with black breeches and tunic. The only difference between them was Jayce wore a black hooded cloak. Now, however, was a different story. The leather breastplate she wore now had attached epaulettes covering her shoulders. A pair of bracers and knee high boots wrapped around her forearms and legs. Her loose fitting breeches were replaced with tights covered with a black leather skirt.
Thanks to the magic of automatic sizing and fitting of clothing and armor in the game, everything fit her perfectly. Regardless how it may have seemed on the shelf it would resize itself to her frame once equipped. A fact that was far from lost on Jayce right now as his mouth unconsciously hung half open. He was left wondering how someone this beautiful could exist in the real world. The entirety of her outfit, from the fabric to the leather covered her body perfectly without interfering with her curves. Her spin stopped as she faced him placing her hands, which were now covered in fingerless gloves, behind her back.
"Wow…" The word came out more out of instinct rather than any coherent thought. As far as he was concerned he hadn't said anything at all. She smiled slightly brushing her hands against the skirt the fell down to her thighs.
"So, it's good then?" She asked looking down at herself. Jayce continued to stare stupidly unaware of anything happening around him.
"Wow…" She looked back up at him and rolled her eyes. A small laugh escaped her mouth as she reached out and slapped his arm lightly.
"Come on let's see what else this town has to offer." Jemza gave a quick thanks to the leatherworker and walked towards the door.
"Yeah…offer…" Like a mindless automaton Jayce shuffled after her still entranced at the sight of her. They both stepped out of the building into the sunlight while Jemza looked around.
"Hey, those potions you made with the Amberthorn are higher quality than standard potions right? Let's go take a look at the healing potions sold here to compare. For all we know the stuff you make might be the best out there for a few floors." Her words finally broke him out of the Charm effect her new outfit had on him.
"Sure, sounds good." The pair moved further into the marketplace until they came to a stall with an older woman standing behind the table. Laid out on the surface of the table ahead of her were various herbs and plants used in the Mixing skill. Beside those were various potions for players to purchase. A man in a long, dark colored cloak of some sort was looking over the ingredients when they both began looking at the potions nearby.
"How do they compare?" Jemza asked while Jayce reached down tapping on one of the healing potion bottles. A window appeared showing the stats of the potion including the values of how much it would heal and the speed of which it performed. He pulled one of the Enhanced Lvl. 1 Healing Potions free from his belt and set it next to the potion on the table. With another tap the stat window for his potion opened and they both leaned down to compare the numbers. Jemza's face turned towards him with a grin and a nod seeing that his potion was still a bit above what this floor had to offer.
"This is good. At least for this floor and maybe part of the next." He said retrieving his potion and reattaching it to the belt around his waist.
"Do you still have enough ingredients to hold out that long or should we head back down tonight?" Jayce opened the window of his inventory and pressed a button to place it into a mode that allowed Jemza to view. He pointed to the Amberthorn and the quantity displayed next to it.
"Should be good for a while still." He closed the window looking back down at the other materials the vendor had to offer.
"You're skilled in Mixing aren't you?" The man in the long cloak said from beside him. Jayce looked over realizing it wasn't a cloak, but something similar that also wrapped around the front of his body as well. What really took Jayce aback was the man's face. He was very handsome, and his features seemed European in descent.
"Ah, yes I am." The man smiled slightly pointing at the ingredients on the table.
"Same, there aren't many of us who risk slotting a crafting skill. The selection here is probably of no use to you if you can make those potions. Another town or two further on this floor might be better." The man's voice was measured, but smooth. A sense of confidence behind each word he spoke drew Jayce in.
"What do you mean risk?" The man looked past Jayce to Jemza who had asked the question.
"At these low levels we are afforded very few slots for skills. Crafting does nothing to increase your survivability like an armor skill or weapon skill would. It also takes time and money to continue to gain experience in a crafting skill. On the other hand, a couple like yourselves can make up for it as opposed to being solo." Jayce coughed once trying not to choke on his own breath.
"We're not a couple, but what you said makes sense." Jemza answered calmly ignoring her partner's inability to breath.
"My mistake then. Here…take a look." The man pulled one side of his cloak-like garment aside and produced a bottle of liquid. A glint caught Jemza's eye making her eyes widen.
"Hey! That's a Moonlit Silver Dirk right?" He followed her gaze down to the dagger belted to his hip. He then looked to hers seeing the same weapon attached and nodded in understanding.
"A rare weapon which suits us dagger wielders well for some time yes. Congratulations on yours as well. If you upgrade it carefully it should serve you through the next floor I believe." Jemza's eyes sparkled in excitement hearing that her dagger would remain useful.
"What is that?" Jayce asked pointing to the bottle the man held. He tapped it and turned it so the two could look at the window that appeared.
"Greater Lvl. 1 Healing Potion huh?" The white haired girl said aloud. Jayce looked up at the man after staring in awe at the potion for a few seconds.
"That's the next tier rare healing potion after mine isn't it?" The man smiled in response tossing the potion up into the air. After a slight bobble Jayce caught it safely looking at the liquid inside.
"There's a type of kobold back down on the first floor that has a chance to drop the ingredient needed for those. It's a low chance, but since you have that sword on your back and that dagger on your hip I don't think that would bother you." The man motioned towards Jayce and Jemza's weapons as he mentioned them.
"Thanks so much. Nice to meet someone else with the same skill I chose." Jayce held the potion back towards the man, but he waved it away casually.
"Keep it, people like us need to rely on one another. Good luck to you both."
"You too." Jayce answered as the man gave a wave and walked away back towards the central plaza.
"He knew his stuff."
"Must be a beta tester. This floor just opened and he mentioned next towns." Jayce said and the girl beside him nodded.
"Probably. He was quite good looking too, even with the tattoo." Jayce turned towards her raising an eyebrow questioningly. Ignoring the ever so slight pang of jealousy he was more curious about the second part of her sentence.
"Tattoo?" Now it was her turn to stare at him.
"On the side of his face. Not sure how you missed it."
"Oh well, doesn't matter I guess. He looked like a combination of you and I. Daggers, Mixing, and I assume with his cloak thingy Hiding." Jayce said and Jemza laughed, nudging him with her shoulder.
"Cloak thingy? It's called a poncho dummy. Come on, I want my dinner now." He rolled his eyes as she continued to laugh, following her as she walked away.