Chapter 63: Spending
James walked all the way behind the canvas tent, stopping where the shadows stretched across the dry ground. His mind reeled back to the moment his fingers had first wrapped around the silver katana.
*I got a skill as soon as I held his sword back then. That was the first time I had any other skill than slash.*
The physical memory of that contact remained clear. The skill had suddenly engraved itself directly into his muscles, instantly becoming second nature. It felt as though he had known the precise execution of the movement for as long as he could remember. Yet, it was his very first time using it, leaving him deeply confused. It felt exactly like gaining and learning a entirely new skill; whenever people gain a skill, they immediately know its name and how to use it. Gaining the ability from Tyler's sword had triggered that exact same undeniable feeling.
*So it's true. There really are skills within the weapons he makes. Experiencing it firsthand felt incredible. It felt like I could do anything with it.*
Tyler arrived a moment later, stepping up to stand directly beside James.
James turned his head to look at him. "Tyler. Do you still have that sword with you?"
"Yeah," Tyler said. His eyes suddenly widened as the realization clicked. He pivoted his entire body toward James, his shoulders squaring. "Hey. You used the sword's skill back there."
"You're right, I did."
"Yeah, so that means that other people can use the skills too." A grin broke across Tyler's face.
"This is awesome," Tyler muttered. He dropped his gaze to the dirt, his mind firing with the endless, highly profitable possibilities of selling these items at a much higher price. When he looked back up, the excitement died down. James was staring blankly into the distance, locked in deep thought.
Tyler's smile vanished. *Right. He just lost the sword to the boss monster.*
A small smile returned to Tyler's face as he opened his empty palm. A sharp, shimmering blue light flared in his hand, and the silver katana materialized into his grasp. Catching the bright reflection in the corner of his eye, James turned his head.
"Can you try to use that skill again?" Tyler asked, extending the hilt slightly. "I want to see if it still works."
James’s eyes narrowed as he tried to find the instinct within himself. He let out a heavy sigh. "I can't."
"Why not?"
"It's because I can't feel it. It's gone. It's not with me anymore."
"Oh," Tyler said, his brow furrowing into a deep frown. *Right. Maybe it's because he wasn't holding the sword just now.*
Tyler looked down at the katana. The polished silver steel gleamed brightly, catching the sharp reflection of the afternoon sun. He tilted his head, a troubling thought surfacing. *Now that I think about it, if James could've used it just now, that would mean that anyone who touches the sword can just use the skill. So what would stop an enemy from taking it from him and using the same skill against him?*
A translucent system panel flashed open directly in front of Tyler's eyes:
[CONGRATULATIONS. USER HAS COMPLETED 2 QUESTS. REWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS ARE STILL BEING CALCULATED. THE PROCESS MAY TAKE LONGER THAN USUAL.]
*I wondered when that would show up,* Tyler thought, watching the text glow. *I was kind of wondering why I didn't get an achievement for killing a boss monster for the first time. Turns out, this thing was still loading.*
He shifted his gaze back to the polished blade. Instantly, another glowing panel materialized right over the surface of the steel:
[THE CRAFTER OF THE ITEM CAN MAKE THEMSELVES OR ANYONE THE PERMANENT USER OF THE SKILL. ANYONE WHO HOLDS THE ITEM OTHER THAN THE PERSON GIVEN PERMISSION CANNOT ACTIVATE THE SKILL WITHIN THAT ITEM.]
*Wait, I can actually control who can use the skill?*
Tyler's broad grin returned as he stared at the blade. James watched his expression shift. "You seem really happy. Did you also take the Crimson Alpha's hide?"
"Um, yeah," Tyler said, snapping his attention back to James. He shook his head quickly. "But that's not the reason. Here," he said, pushing the sword toward him.
"What is it?" James asked, reaching out to take the weapon.
The moment his palm pressed against the hilt, James's breath hitched. The skill slammed back into his consciousness, completely clear and heavy, engraving itself into his very being once again. It felt exactly as it had before, a fundamental command bound to his muscles.
Tyler focused his mind on the weapon. *System, make James the only one who can use the return skill.*
[RESTRICTION TRIGGERED: NO OTHER ENTITY SHALL ACTIVATE THE RETURN SKILL EXCEPT FOR THE HUMAN KNOWN AS JAMES GRONE.]
*It worked,* Tyler thought, blinking in surprise at the glowing confirmation message.
"I'm giving you this sword," Tyler said aloud.
James stared at him, his voice spiking in shock. "What? Why?"
"Well, you broke your sword earlier. And if it wasn't for me taking you to that boss fight, you would still have your sword."
"I appreciate it, but... this is your weapon."
"But I can make many more of those," Tyler interjected, waving off the concern. "Plus, it's the strongest weapon I've ever made. It's the only one that could actually cut through the boss monster. I have full confidence it can withstand your skill."
James looked down at the blade, his eyes tracing the incredibly sharp, flawless edge. The silver metal felt heavy, dense, and remarkably solid in his hand, far more durable than any standard sword Hector had ever provided him.
A genuine smile broke across James's face. "Thank you, Tyler. I really appreciate it."
"No worries," Tyler said, letting out a short, small giggle.
James turned the sword over, inspecting the guard. "But, where is the scabbard?"
Tyler's eyes went wide. "Scabbard? Oh, right."
James tilted his head in confusion. "You didn't make a scabbard?"
"No," Tyler said, reaching up to awkwardly scratch the back of his head. *I forgot to make it because I don't really need them. I forgot other people do.*
Tyler's hand fell loosely to his side, the adrenaline from the previous confrontation finally beginning to fade.
*Wait. I didn't ask for any recipes today, right? System, give me a recipe for the katana's scabbard.*
A glowing system panel materialized instantly in the dim space before his eyes:
ACCESSORY RECIPE (BASIC)
FIXING SCABBARD: WOOD, HEXHORN LEATHER, SMALL STEEL INGOT
Tyler scanned the text, a sudden wave of relief easing the tension in his shoulders.
*Huh, I actually have all of this. Craft Fixing scabbard.*
The light shifted as another notification flashed into view:
[CRAFTING SUCCESSFUL]
*It's becoming faster every time when crafting basic items.*
Unaware of the mental prompts, James looked down at the bare blade in his hands. "I guess I'll just hold on to it for now."
Tyler opened his palm. With a faint shimmer, a scabbard perfectly contoured to match the katana's distinct curve materialized into his grasp, its exterior neatly wrapped in smooth, brown leather.
James blinked, staring at the sudden weight in Tyler's hand. "Oh, so you have it."
"I made it just now."
James's brow furrowed. "Just now?"
"Yeah," Tyler nodded.
He looked down at the newly formed leather sheath. A small, secondary system panel hovered just over the material:
[ACCESSORY EFFECT: WHEN THE WEAPON IS PUT INSIDE THE SCABBARD, 30% OF ITS DURABILITY WILL BE RESTORED. THIS EFFECT ONLY ACTIVATES ONCE EVERY 25 HOURS.]
"Wow!" Tyler breathed out, the unexpected quality of the craft catching him off guard. He extended his hand, passing the scabbard over to James.
James took the brown leather sheath, aligning the tip of the silver blade before sliding the katana smoothly into place until the guard clicked home. "Yeah, it looks pretty good."
"It does, but this scabbard also has an effect."
James looked up from the weapon, his face blank. "Effect?"
"Yeah. If you store your sword inside this scabbard once every 25 hours, it restores the sword's durability by thirty percent."
"Really?" James raised an eyebrow, turning the sheath over to inspect the leather grain. To his eyes, it looked exactly like any other well-crafted, standard scabbard. He shrugged, his shoulders dropping. "That's pretty useful."
*It doesn't sound like he believed me,* Tyler thought.
The heavy, rhythmic thud of iron-shod hooves striking the packed dirt echoed from around the bend. Tyler turned his head toward the sound as a wooden transport wagon rolled into view. Both James and Tyler walked toward the road, carrying their respective shares of the coin pouch, and climbed up onto the wooden boards. As the wagon jolted and swayed along the rough path back toward town, they quietly divided the fifty silver pieces evenly between themselves.
By the time the wagon ground to a halt, they were deep within the town's central marketplace. They jumped down onto the stones, their boots hitting the ground amid a dense, roaring sea of voices. The square was always crowded, but the sheer volume of people gathering today was staggering.
Tyler stopped in his tracks, his eyes widening as he took in the sudden transformation. The thoroughfare had been meticulously swept clean. Fresh paper flyers were pasted neatly along the storefronts, and vibrant, colorful arrangements of woven flowers decorated nearly every window sill and wooden stall.
High above the cobblestones, long ropes were anchored from the roof of one building, stretching directly across the sky to tie into the stone walls of the shops opposite them. Hanging from the lines were rows of triangular flags, each one bearing carefully drawn, concentric golden circles that caught the bright glare of the afternoon sun.
"Whoa, what's going on?" Tyler muttered.
James pushed past him, his steps steady as he navigated through the shifting crowd. "People are getting prepared for the festival, remember?"
Tyler quickens his pace, falling back into step right beside him. "Right. You said it's going to happen tomorrow, right?"
"Yeah," James nodded.
"How is it celebrated?" Tyler asked, glancing around at the hanging gold decorations.
"You know, families gather, people eat, sing, and dance," James explained, his voice projecting over the marketplace din. "The town hosts a massive feast right near the town square."
"Oh, so it's kind of similar to the celebrations in my world," Tyler said, a faint smile touching his face. "Well, except for the last part."
James slowed his pace slightly, looking over at him. "Really? Then what would you do in your world?"
Tyler kept walking beside him through the bustling streets, opening up as he explained the details of the holidays and the traditions of how people normally celebrated them back on Earth.
"Oh, so it's kind of similar to ours," James said. He kept his eyes fixed on the crowded path ahead as they navigated the busy market. "You said it's different in each country?"
"Yeah," Tyler replied. "Most countries had their own holidays and beliefs in my world. It was kind of different for each one of them."
"Huh. Your world really is different from ours."
"It is," Tyler said. He paused, a thought striking him. "Oh, I almost forgot. Do you know where they sell water barrels?"
James glanced over at him. "Water barrels? You need one?"
"Yeah," Tyler said. "I figured I should always have water in my inventory."
"Well, the barrels are sold at a wooden furniture shop we just passed a minute ago."
"So it's not far," Tyler said, stopping in his tracks to look back down the street.
"Yeah, but I'm really tired," James said, his shoulders slumping. "So, I'm gonna keep going, okay?"
"Alright. Well, see ya," Tyler said, turning back around.
"Tyler!" James called out.
"Huh?" Tyler turned his head back.
"You should come by our house tomorrow, so we can celebrate it together."
A genuine smile broke across Tyler's face. "Really? Thank you."
"Make sure to come early so we can leave for the town square."
"I will, thanks."
"Take care," James said, turning to disappear into the thick of the crowd.
Tyler turned back toward the shops, a sudden lightness in his stride as his mood brightened.
He scanned the storefronts, searching the bustling street. *Okay, what would a furniture shop look like around here?* he thought.
He kept walking until he spotted a row of polished wooden chairs and heavy tables displayed out on a raised wooden veranda. He stepped up to the store. Its double doors were thrown wide open, revealing a vast showroom crowded with various tables and distinct chairs, all crafted from smooth, gleaming timber. Some of the premium pieces bore intricate, beautiful patterns carved directly into the wood grain.
The thick floorboards creaked beneath Tyler's boots as he stepped inside. The showroom was quiet, and the front service counter stood entirely empty, though a heavy wooden door directly behind it hung slightly ajar.
"Hello?" Tyler called out.
"Coming!" a deep, resonant voice echoed from the back room. The tone carried a distinctly feminine ring.
A moment later, a woman with short ginger hair and striking brown eyes stepped through the rear doorway. She wore a long-sleeved shirt with the cuffs rolled tightly past her forearms. Tyler approached the counter, immediately catching the faint, heavy scent of fresh timber and sweat, underscored by a sweet, pleasant aroma he couldn't quite identify.
"Hello, how may I help you?" she asked, resting her palms on the polished counter.
"Hi, do you sell wooden barrels?" Tyler asked.
"We do," she answered. "We have small, medium, and large. The extra-large ones are finished for now."
"How much is the large one?"
"It's 2.1 silver."
"2.1," Tyler murmured. "I'd like to purchase three, please."
The woman's brow furrowed, her eyes darting over his tattered appearance. "Three? Please, come right this way."
She waved him through the counter gate, leading him into the spacious back room. Tyler stepped into the workshop, where stacks of freshly coopered barrels lined the far walls. He glanced toward the large, open windows on his left and noticed a row of heavy, large barrels that looked capable of holding seventy liters each. They were already filled to the brim with clear water.
"Do you sell those ones?" Tyler asked, pointing toward them.
The woman followed his gaze to the filled containers. "We use those barrels for our own water," she said, her lips curling into a playful smirk. "But if you want them, I'd sell them to you for 2.5."
Tyler didn't hesitate. He reached into his pocket, pulling out seven silver coins and five copper pieces, and laid them firmly on the wood. "All right, here."
The woman's eyes widened in sheer surprise as she scooped up the coins. Tyler turned away from her and walked over to the water-filled barrels, letting out a quiet sigh.
*How the hell am I going to take all of these outside?* he thought. *I have no choice but to use the skill.*
Behind him, the shopkeeper stared at his back. *Wow, he just bought them without any hesitation,* she thought. *I trailblazed him for a street kid by the looks of these clothes he's wearing. They're all torn and ripped.*
Tyler stopped in front of the first barrel. He rested his palm against the damp wood, looked back over his shoulder at the woman, and said, "Please don't tell anyone."
"What?" she asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.
Instantly, the heavy wooden barrel shimmered with a faint blue light and vanished entirely from the floor. The woman gasped, taking a sharp step back as her heel caught a stray wood shaving. Ignoring her reaction, Tyler moved to the second barrel, touched the rim, and watched it dissipate into thin air. He repeated the motion with the third, leaving the space completely empty.
"Great," he breathed, thoroughly satisfied. He walked past the frozen shopkeeper toward the exit. "Thank you, I'll get going now."
The woman remained rooted to the spot in absolute shock. *What just happened?* she thought.
Stepping out onto the street, Tyler glanced down at his shredded rags. *I need to find a clothing store,* he thought.
He turned his head and noticed the very next shop down the row featured a wide glass window displaying various garments. Inside, rows of clothes were neatly folded on shelves or hung from wooden garment racks.
Tyler stepped through the entrance and greeted the male shopkeeper. He quickly browsed the racks, selecting several everyday garments that matched his build. To his surprise, the shop featured a small changing booth in the corner. Pushing the curtain aside, he stripped out of his rags and changed into the fresh attire. He pulled on black leggings and a clean white and brown tunic that fit perfectly across his shoulders, finishing the look with a pair of sturdy new leather boots.
The entire haul, including the extra sets of clothes he immediately packed into his inventory, cost him three silver pieces. Walking back out into the afternoon sun, the fresh fabric against his skin brought a bright, relaxed smile to his face. He let out a long, relieved sigh, feeling infinitely better as he melted back into the dense market crowd.
As he walked, his gaze drifted up toward the surrounding buildings. *I should probably buy some food too,* he thought. *I need to be prepared for anything.*
A sudden movement in a narrow alleyway between two storefronts caught his eye, causing him to stop dead in his tracks.
Sitting flat on the dirt ground, his back resting heavily against the rough stone wall of the building, was a familiar figure. It was Kai. He still wore the exact same frayed cloak and tattered rags Tyler had first seen him in. He held a small piece of charcoal in his fingers, entirely absorbed in scribbling dense, frantic markings onto a crumpled sheet of paper. His tired, bloodshot red eyes were intensely concentrated on the page, completely oblivious to the bustling market just feet away.
"Kai," Tyler breathed, a sharp pang of guilt twisting tightly in his chest.