Chapter 77: New Gear

Collin’s shield was cracked along the rim, the metal dented in three places.

Mira’s satchel—frayed straps, worn leather, a broken clasp. A healer’s bag was meant to be a magic bag that could hold as many potions and healing items as possible. This one was worn and barely held a few things.

Maynard’s bow—a simple hunting bow, was broken in more ways than one. Beside it, a short sword. Plain steel that looked functional but in all the ways that mattered, unremarkable.

Clarisse carried nothing.

And Emeric’s own equipment. The Shadowfang Daggers. The Cloak of the Unseen. The Ring of Regeneration.

He had second thoughts about showing Bjorn a dagger from the system. He was more attentive than most. Especially when it came to weapons.

Bjorn picked up the daggers. Turned them over and ran his thumb along the edge.

"These are good steel. Where’d you get them?"

"A shop."

"Must have been some shop." He set them down and picked up the cloak, feeling the fabric between his fingers. "Shadow-thread. Expensive. Muffles movement."

He moved to the shield, tapped it with his knuckles and frowned.

"This is your problem." He looked at Collin. "You’re a tank, right? Front line?"

Collin nodded.

"Then why the hell are you carrying a shield that can’t take a hit?" Bjorn shook his head. "This thing’s been repaired three times. Badly. The metal’s stressed. One more solid impact and it’s going to shatter."

Collin’s jaw tightened. "It’s all I could afford."

"I see." Bjorn’s voice was softer now. "That’s why I’m going to fix it."

He moved to Mira.

Her satchel was next. He opened it. Looked inside. Frowned at the haphazard arrangement of herbs and bandages.

"You’re a healer. You need proper storage. Something that protects your supplies. Something that keeps them dry." He looked at her. "What’s your affinity?"

"Water."

"Good. I can work with that." He set the satchel down. "I’ll make you something better. A magic bag with leather treated with a water-resistant compound. Pockets for organization. A clasp that won’t break."

Mira blinked. "You can do that?"

"I’m a Unique class blacksmith." Bjorn’s voice was flat. "I can do a lot of things."

He moved to Maynard.

He stared at the bow for a few seconds as if refraining from touching it. He picked it up and tested the string.

"What’s your range?"

"Fifty yards. Maybe sixty on a good day."

"That’s pathetic." Bjorn set the bow down. Then he picked up the short sword. Turned it over. "You use both?"

"Yes. Bow for range and sword for close quarters."

Bjorn nodded slowly. "The bow’s the problem. The string’s frayed. The limbs are warped. You’ve been babying it."

Maynard’s jaw tightened. "It’s fragile. It was my father’s."

"Sentimental value doesn’t keep you alive." Bjorn set the bow down. "What element?"

"Fire."

"Fire." Bjorn’s eyebrows rose. "You’re a fire archer. And you’ve been holding back."

Maynard looked away. "The bow can’t handle it. If I channel fire through it, it’ll burn."

"Then I’ll make you one that can." Bjorn picked up the short sword. "Composite. Recurve. Heat-resistant. You’ll be able to channel fire through the arrows without burning the string." He set the sword down. "The blade’s decent. I’ll sharpen it. Rebalance it. But it’s not the priority."

Maynard stared at him. "You can do that?"

"Anything’s possible if you know what you’re doing."

He moved to Clarisse.

She stood apart from the others, her arms crossed as she watched them.

Bjorn looked at her, then at the empty space where her gear should have been.

"What about you?"

"What about me?"

"What do you use? Weapon? Armor?"

Clarisse smiled, enjoying the confusion.

"Nothing you can forge."

Bjorn frowned. "Everyone uses something."

"I don’t." She tilted her head. "My magic doesn’t require tools. It doesn’t require elements. It just... is."

Bjorn stared at her.

"What does that mean?"

"It means I don’t need anything." She paused. "But thank you for asking."

Bjorn looked at Emeric. Emeric shrugged.

Bjorn muttered something under his breath and turned away.

"Fine. Whatever. Your loss."

Finally, he turned to Emeric.

"Your daggers are good. I can improve them. Sharper edge. Better balance. Maybe add a little something extra." He paused. "What about the cloak?"

"It’s fine."

"It’s not." Bjorn reached for the fabric. "Shadow-thread is rare. But this weave is loose. It’s not reaching its full potential. I can tighten it. Make it lighter. Make it quieter."

Emeric nodded.

"And the ring." Bjorn looked at the Ring of Regeneration. "That’s an artifact. Not something I can make. But I can enhance the band. Make it more durable. Less likely to break."

Bjorn stepped back.

"Here’s what I’m thinking. Shield first. Rebalance it. Reinforce the rim. Add a layer of mana-treated steel. You’ll be able to take a hit from a C-rank beast without it shattering."

Collin nodded.

"You already know what I’ll do for the healer."

Mira smiled. "That would be helpful."

"And you, the archer." He looked at Maynard. "You’ll be able to use your fire without burning it. And I’ll make you new arrows. Fire-enchanted. They’ll hit harder and fly farther."

Maynard stared at him. "That’s... incredible."

"Don’t get excited yet." Bjorn looked at Clarisse. "And you. I don’t know what you do. But if you ever figure it out, come back. I’ll make you something."

Clarisse smiled, saying nothing.

"That should be all of you."

He crossed his arms.

"It’ll take time. A few days. Maybe a week. Depends on how much you want to pay."

Emeric reached into his coat. Pulled out the pouch of gold Collin had given him.

"How much?"

Bjorn looked at the pouch, then at Emeric.

"You’re serious about this."

"Yes."

Bjorn was quiet for a moment.

"Very well then. It will be on my conscience if I don’t get you all right before you go into another rift."

He picked up his hammer.

"Come back tomorrow." He said looking at Emeric. " I’ll need to work with all of you individually and time to find the materials. This is a tall order."