Chrysalis

Given the bustling streets and crowded storefronts, it was sometimes difficult for the two ants to move freely down Silver street. It was only thanks to the presence of their guide that they were able to travel freely and not be attacked by the many monster hunters searching for weapons and armour.

Eventually, they managed to make their way into a store and start poking around.

“What do you think?” Cobalt asked as she ran her eyes over the merchandise.

“I can tell that the materials used are rare. The mana running through the metal is very dense, and flowing smoothly, but there doesn’t seem to be anything super impressive about it?”

“Hmmm. These swords match your description. They’re extremely well made, and of good quality metals, but we’ve seen such things elsewhere. Perhaps we were expecting too much?”

[What are you thinking about, you two?]

They explained their thoughts to Irisod, and she examined the blades herself before shrugging.

[I’m hardly an expert. Let me grab a store clerk.]

[Are they a smith?]

[Perhaps?]

[If they aren’t a smith, I don’t really want to talk to them,] Smithant said flatly.

[I’ll ask.]

As it turned out, all of the staff were proficient to some degree in the smithing arts, which satisfied the fussy ant’s requirements. She asked Irisod to explain to them the best qualities of the store’s work, and he quickly caught on to what they were getting at.

and long lasting arms and armour. There was a fair bit

clerk stepped forward and began pointing to various parts of the swords and

embedded and folded into the metal, and all the enchanting is done on a separate layer, then encased. This helps keep the mana channels from being damaged, even under heavy use. They’ll

again. “Why didn’t I think of that? And it makes sense that they feel like such straightforward implements, anything too complex wouldn’t fit in the internal layer, which would compromise

performance,” Cobalt agreed. “These are

They turned to Irisod.

two spears and two full sets of armour. What would be

tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the

mage rolled her

complex question that isn’t easy for me to answer! I don’t shop here much, I don’t know what the going rates are for just about

pay

the mage exhaled a little in

to the store representative and began to speak rapidly while the two ants stood perfectly still, watching the exchange. After five full minutes, she again spoke to

the price is still prohibitively expensive. To know if this is indeed the market rate, you are going to have to do something

that?] Cobalt

declared, eyes gleaming brightly. [We go to the competitors of this store and work out what their bottom price is. If it’s cheaper, we come back and use that number to knock down the price here.

Both ants slumped.

like such a pain,] Smithant

other forges anyway, right?]

don’t want to backtrack endlessly haggling just so we don’t end up paying more than we should. It’s

yes, but

is much more valuable than

had just committed heresy. The smith glared

buy

not that I don’t agree with you, it’s just that some things are simply not said