Realm Wars

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"Affinity?" Ryu asked as he and Ferris went out of the palace to explore the town.

Ferris nodded. "My demon's affinity is demonic, death (rot), shadows while my human form's affinity is water. Though I could summon my demon power in my human form, it's limited since this little body couldn't handle it."

Ferris counted in one hand as she enumerated the elements, "The basics are fire, water, earth, and air. The rare ones are lighting, ice, light, and divine. Healers are most precious cause they're the only ones who could use light and divine magic."

"Ha. . ." Ryu looked left and right. "What about. .. me?" he asked, but his focus was on the people who passed. The ladies were wearing gowns and frilly dresses while the men were in vests and complete coats.

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"I don't know since you couldn't manipulate mana."

Ryu pulled Ferris along until they reached the town proper, and Ryu's eyes shone when he saw the tiled roofs and concrete walls forming gigantic buildings. The alleys and roads were wide, made out of cobble walks flunked by shops and buildings on each side.

Ryu ran in the direction of a restaurant and plastered his palms against its floor-to-ceiling glass. His nose flared, and he inhaled all the aroma he could.

"We can't go in there without Cecily. For now, let's go in the bazaar," said Ferris and dragged Ryu by his hand.

"Oh! What's that?!" Ryu pointed at the stalls lining the plaza. There were so many kiosks and merchant wagons. There were people haggling, chatting, arguing. Some were showing their items, and some were checking the stalls.

"That's a bazaar. You can find all sorts of things––!"

Instead of dragging Ryu, Ferris was swept once more at his curiosity.

The first stop that Ryu check were the food stalls. He grabbed a lump of delicious meat impaled on a steak. Its aroma was a combination of spices and herbs, and its juices were dripping on the twig. Ryu gobbled it all, and he gasped when the meat melted in his mouth.

"It's called a skewer. It's a combination of meat of wild beasts marinated in spices and herbs," Ferris said as she paid for Ryu's food.

The people in the Kingdom were used to servants like them roaming around. And since they were not allowed inside shops and buildings without their masters, they were usually congregated in the bazaar.

Ryu slurped the tasty oils in his mouth as he watched Goblins carrying barrels towards an ale shop. There were even Dwarves that reached half his waist with square jaws full of beard who was forging nearby. Some Elves were selling items not far, and a girl with fairy wings was selling herbs and potions near from where they stood.

An older woman with a hippo face with long flappy ears decorated with dangling earing was grinding dust from deferent stones. A young lad with a face of a lizard and a crocodile body was standing near a stall selling sprites in a jar. Gnome, Fairies, little Trolls, and Pixies trapped in a faked forest inside a bottle.

There were different races, and something was tugging in Ryu's heart. If only the world could be this way –– without those seals on their skin.

Devoid of thoughts, Ryu skimmed his fake seal on his forehead. It was the only thing connecting those foreign races to him.

"Come on. Let's go in the weapon and armor stalls," Ferris said and led Ryu towards the shop with a dwarf forging at the back.

A bulky man greeted them, full of muscles and beard. He looked like a dwarf with his big flat nose and square face, but much taller. He was human for sure from the way he spoke and how he raised a brow at Ryu and Ferris.

"You want something?"

"Do you have gauntlets?" Ferris asked and looked at the weapons and armors on the stall. It couldn't be compared with the quality in the shops, but Ferris just wanted to know if Ryu could held weapons.

"Wait a minute." The man gave them a flat look before he went into the stall. He then came back and brought with him two pairs of gauntlets. "This is the only available we have."

(Leather Gauntlet)

(Heavy Gauntlet)

Ferris inspected the gauntlets while Ryu was busily poking around the stall.

"Leave him," Ferris said at the bulky man when he glared at Ryu, "I'll pay whatever he breaks."

The man shut his mouth and grinned. "Does your master knew you're here?"

Did he imply that they stole the money? Ferris ignored the man and showed Ryu the heavy gauntlet. "Try this one."

When Ryu wore the gauntlet, all he felt was. .. itchy. "I don't like it."

Ferris sighed. "I thought so. It doesn't have special properties too."

The man frowned. "It's top quality adamantine ore. It's sturdy and could break even boulder with a single punch."

Ryu could already break boulder with his bare hands.

"Never mind. Let's go to the apothecary stalls next." Ferris returned the gauntlet and pulled Ryu away.

"I guess the stall here only sells low-level weapons and armors," Ferris mumbled and bit her thumb. "Like I thought. If you want the best, you had to find the materials yourself and have a skilled blacksmith do it."

"I can fight. .. without it," Ryu said. "It'll just. .. gets in the way."

Ferris rolled her eyes. "You're immune to all mana attacks, yes. And that makes you strong. But also, you can't manipulate mana, and that makes you weak. It would be best if you had a weapon imbued with elemental properties. If you're facing another undead, what will happen to you then?"

Ryu didn't think of that and poked Ferris's head. "There are.. . weapons like that?"

Ferris nodded. "Yeah. Some weapons are imbued with elements that you could use. Even without mana, this weapon could burn your enemies like those imbued with fire. But sadly, rare weapons like that are either sold in shops at ten gold bars. Or you have to find the materials yourself and have a skilled blacksmith forge it for you."

"I. .. see." Ryu scratched his nose. There were still so many things that he didn't know. He curled his fingers inside his palms. Maybe a weapon was not a bad idea.

"Hi! Welcome!"

Ryu and Ferris's next stop was the Apothecary led by a servant girl with fairy wings. She was half-human and half-sprite from the looks of it.

"Please, chose whatever you fancy. We have all sorts of herbs and potions available as well as spell and skill scrolls!"

Ryu tilted his head. "Spell and Skill scrolls?"