Chapter 127: Crystal Dump
Arriving at the student market again, Erin walked around the stalls for the forger she usually went to, only to not find her.
"Who are you looking for?" Layla asked.
Not responding, Erin was trying to recall how to find this one person. Then she remembered that there was something Asahi mentioned once, as well as a name listed on her delivery box.
There was another person she worked with.
’What was his name? Ashley? Eslex? Aleakes? Asa...hi? Did both of their names really start with an A?’ Erin contemplated.
Shaking her head, Erin kept her ears perked, until she heard a pair of voices speaking on the other side of the hall.
"Thanks for manning the shop today," A boy said.
"Just let me have a time where I get to forge, Alex," Asahi’s voice replied, "I haven’t picked up a hammer in a week."
"It’s been two days, and you picked up that hammer for me this morning," The boy, now named Alex, corrected.
Asahi loudly sighed, then Erin heard some items get shuffled around, as well as a "Hey!" from Alex.
Once Asahi came into view, she was carrying a few stacks of boxes, and dropped them off at an empty stall. As she was unpacking, Layla was wondering what was so important for Erin to drop by here.
"Is that the person you wanted me to meet?" Layla asked.
"No, but I need something to be made," Erin replied.
Once she was done, Erin walked up to the girl manning the stand, and she perked up.
"Oh would you look at that, my most loyal customer," Asahi sarcastically remarked with a smirk, then she frowned, "You’re also my only loyal customer."
"Hey! I bought something from you the other day!" Layla brought up.
"Huh, really?" Asahi stated, then took a good look at Layla’s face, "Hmm... I think I have? Say, were you the one who got the bow from me?"
Taking off the bow from her back, Layla held it in front of Asahi, and she snapped her fingers like a light bulb went off in her brain.
"Ah, that’s right! You’re the starlingshot girl! I’d never forget making that beauty," Asahi gushed.
’Can she only recognize people from their beast gear? No wonder she’s friends with Erin,’ Layla thought.
"Can you make some armor with this?" Erin said before dropping the bag of wingedlizard crystals on the stand, and a singular burningsnake crystal.
"Holy damn, I didn’t think I’d see this many crystals so soon!" Asahi exclaimed, then took out a magnifying glass to look at one of the wingedlizard crystals.
"Hmm... Yeah, I think I could try to make something. What kind of armor?" Asahi replied.
"There should be enough crystals for a full body armor piece, correct?" Erin began, "I want something that would cover my entire body, face included, and allow for freedom of movement."
Asahi dropped the crystal into the bag, and leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms.
"I’ve heard this before. So you want me to do tailor forging, right?" Asahi concluded.
"Cloth would give me full flexibility," Erin replied.
Asahi sighed, "I hate to say this to my only loyal customer, but I can’t do tailoring."
Suddenly, Erin frowned, "This is forging. You’re a forger. Can’t you just make beast clothes?"
Asahi rolled her eyes, "Well, here’s the thing. Me and my partner are both blacksmith forgers, we work with a hammer, and hit it on metal. What you’re asking is for us to hammer cloth."
Erin just stared at Asahi with a blank face.
"Right— They don’t teach you this—" Asahi muttered, before clearing her throat and speaking in a voice commonly used for children, "Yes, I’m a forger, and the meaning of forgery in this day and age means working with beast crystals to make beast gear. However, there are different kinds of forgery. Me and my partner are of the blacksmith kind, but there are also tailor forgers, and they are much rarer than blacksmith forgers are. Just imagine how difficult embedding powerful crystals into cloth is, and you’ll see why."
"If you still struggle to see the difference, then just think of it as different kinds of swords. Yes, a rapier and a broad sword are both swords, but I can imagine using them would require different sword techniques, and a rapier user would not be used to fighting with a broad sword," Asahi finished.
"I get it," Erin spat out.
"Thank you," Asahi replied, then placed her head to rest on her hand, "You don’t know how many times I’ve explained the difference between the two only for people to not understand."
Seeing as Asahi wasn’t able to do anything with the wingedlizard crystals, Erin picked it up, leaving only the burningsnake crystal.
"So, do you still want me to make a weapon with this one?" Asahi asked, pointing at it, "You do have to remember that I can’t make weapons with only one crystal."
"If I can ask, what about an arrow?" Layla interjected, "Or an accessory item. I used up all my beast arrows from the expedition, so I’m stuck with my regular ones."
Then, Layla turned towards Erin, and added, "If that’s fine with you."
Erin thought this was the best idea to use with the burningsnake crystal, plus, it would allow for Layla to better protect herself if she had a good arsenal at her disposal.
"Of course."
Asahi put her hand on her chin, and thought about it, "It is only one crystal, so I might not be able to make a whole arrow, but there might just be enough for an archer ring."
Erin nodded, and held her hand out, "Deal."
With the purchase done, there wasn’t much else for the two girls to do in the student market place. They did try to see if there was a tailoring forger around, but just like Asahi said, they were rare.
’I was hoping to get new armor made before I visited him, but its going to need to wait,’ Erin thought.
"What are you planning with those wingedlizard crystals?" Layla couldn’t help but ask. She seemed very adamant about getting something made with them.
"I have to get stronger, and I can only do that if I surpass my weaknesses," Erin replied.
"Oh I see," Layla said, then she thought about it for 2 more seconds, and couldn’t link how getting basic tier clothing was so important to ’surpassing her weaknesses.’
"Wait a second, but why clothing specifically? I get beast clothing is nicer to wear, but how will that help with you getting stronger? Aside from being more armored," Layla pointed out.
"You’ll see," Erin said, and left it at that.
Leaving the market place, the two of them made their way to the boy’s dorm building.
