Paragon of Mana

True to his word, Cliff took him to Tallos Foundry, one of the most prestigious emporiums for weapons and artefacts, after they returned from hunting.

But when it came to buying him a wand, though, he didn’t get him one with a powerful spell like Fire Blast or Wind Blade. The one he received was just as expensive, priced at eighty iron crowns, though it could only manipulate the earth beneath his feet. It was fascinating, nonetheless. Ember was already content with it when his father bought him something even more expensive: a protective amulet like Rain’s, but this one was in the form of a bronze bracelet.

By channelling a small amount of mana into it, Ember could create a powerful shield similar to his sister's amulet. It cost ten times the price of the wand, but after the ordeal with the bandits, his father did not hesitate to pay up.

Perhaps they could have got it cheaper, but his father didn’t haggle at all.

Finally, when they came to the matter of the construct, it proved to be a dead end, as the Foundry did not take repair work if the item didn’t come from their own stores. They would have to find an independent Manasmith if they wanted to repair it. Moreover, they needed to be proficient in construct crafting, which almost made the search as difficult as finding a needle in a haystack.

“Honestly, fixing it would likely cost more than its worth,” the wizened shopkeeper had said. “Why not buy a newer one, with more functions?”

Ember didn’t want that, as he had already grown quite attached to the spider. Cliff promised to find him someone who could repair it anew. Even if he couldn’t find one, Ember was satisfied with the promise alone. How could the man manage to be so compassionate? Ember would never know.

Then one particular morning, after Ember had just finished his meditation, Cliff handed him a wooden training cane.

He looked up at him in inquiry. The impish grin Rain was shooting towards him was answer enough.