CHAPTER 51: [ ITEMS ]

They all walked through Brak’s store as he waved around his thin wand. Items floated, following them as they moved through the cluttered space.

Every step they made needed to be calculated, careful not to break something or just trip.

Weapons were scattered around as if they were safe, some sword tips poking in the short path made between the display stands.

Alexander shook his head behind Brak while sighing.

He glanced back, Fae was still following him.

She struggled to walk on her own—slow, unsure—but still there.

He extended his hand. She looked at it, puzzled—until he gently gestured again.

She grabbed it. Alexander then turned around once more to follow the store owner through his own mess.

More and more items floated around, Alexander unsure what most of them did.

"What are all these?" asked Alexander.

"Bottomless bags, even if some of them take the shape of a basket the idea is the same."

There were five of them floating around, Brak dismissed four of them with the flick of a wand while keeping the smallest one afloat mid-air.

"Are you really being stingy after this speech you’ve given me?" asked Alexander.

The bag that remained looked a lot more like a small pouch, one someone might use for cheap change or small jewelry.

"You should know better! It’s not about the size, but how it functions."

Alexander arched an eyebrow.

Brak then proceeded to grab the rim of the pouch with both hands, and pulled it apart.

Its opening followed his movement with little resistance, the pouch now large enough to be stepped into.

"Impressive," he said.

"Right?" he replied, brightly. "You can’t bring me more stuff without good equipment."

He then let go of the rim, the pouch going back to its previous size as if nothing happened.

"What happens if we go into it?" asked Alexander.

Brak stopped a moment, his finger on his bottom lip while his eyes reached for the ceiling.

"You know, I’ve never tried..." he said.

His eyes then went to Alexander.

"I’m not going in there," he replied, dry.

"Really? Maybe just your head?"

Alexander remained still, unflinching.

"So be it! The magic behind those bags eludes me, who knows how it works with living beings inside them."

Brak tossed the bag to Alexander without looking and kept walking, wand waving lazily in hand.

They had gone through the whole store, lifting and tossing items back into the sea of clutter until they were at the sitting area with the two couches and the short table.

They once again sat down, every floating item falling onto the table.

Alexander let go of Fae’s hand, who seemed to have no interest for new items.

"There are a few essential things for dungeon running, I’ve gathered them all here."

Alexander nodded, his eyes scanning everything on the table.

Brak pointed at the pouch first.

"This is one of the best pouches on the market. Its capacity isn’t limitless, but it’ll feel like it. You’d be able to do a dozen dungeons before emptying it here."

That was impressive.

They could barely hang onto what they had dropped in their first dungeon, this item alone was a game-changer.

Brak then waved the wand around, the pouch lifting up and its rim loosening.

Then, one by one, items started going into the pouch.

"Potions! They’re similar to what I’ve just given you. I’m no alchemist, but they’ll come in useful. Truth is, there’s no replacing a proper healer..."

He knew no healer would ever accompany him, relying on potions would be his only way to survive.

"After potions," continued Brak, "Rope... magical, of course. Then a lighter that doesn’t require fuel; Logs that burn longer; Cans of dried food that I’ve picked up that the grocery store next door..."

The amount of things Brak had in his store was impressive, some of it truly ridiculous.

Despite Alexander’s protests, the cutlery set sailed into the bag anyway.

He filled the bag with survival necessities, and some other things that were mostly for quality of life.

"Now, for the fun stuff," said Brak, letting the pouch fall back onto the table.

Two swords appeared out of the background, making their way toward them while dancing in the air.

They were short and extremely thin—like Japanese-style swords, with a single shining edge.

They looked standard despite their thinner size, the black hilt paired with the metallic blade was something he would most likely find around.

"This is the best you have?" asked Alexander.

Brak clicked his tongue and shook his head with theatrical disappointment.

"You need to stop doubting me."

He then gestured at the swords.

"Those weapons are C-tier. They don’t look extravagant, but they’ll get the job done properly. They won’t break easily, and they shouldn’t ever dull."

The swords then entered black sheaths, slowly floating toward Fae.

She grabbed both of them and inspected them.

"Like them?" asked Alexander.

She nodded, which made him smile.

"Weapons come in all kinds, and while I might have more powerful ones in here they wouldn’t suit her. The best are usually forged, but that would be very costly. I’ll keep an eye out for her, but if you find rare ores you’d do good to bring them to a blacksmith."

"So I’m guessing the reason the Lich’s staff is still here is because you have nothing better?" asked Alexander.

"Indeed. Spellcasters can benefit from staves in various ways. I have some powerful staves that simply wouldn’t work for you."

"What do you mean?"

"There’s quite a few categories. Those I have are the blast type. Think of them as weapons that increase the output of your magic. What you need, however, is a channeler staff—exactly what you’ve dropped."

Alexander grabbed the Lich’s staff. He felt tempted to test it right then and there, but out of consideration for the already cramped space, didn’t.

There weren’t many items remaining, most things already inside the pouch.

Brak smiled.

"The remaining items have magical properties, from stats enhancement to basic quality of life. This ring, however, is called the Nightbringer."

Alexander grabbed the ring Brak was extending toward him.

It was darker than night, seemingly absorbing light as it reached it. A darkness that wasn’t like his own, but a powerful one nonetheless.

"It’ll make darkness your most powerful ally."