Aevintyr Elds

After their breakfast, the Loki Familia went on to prepare for their expedition with the Hephaestus Familia in the afternoon. 

Almost all of the Loki familia would go on the expedition, save for some who will stay at the Twilight Manor as a skeleton force. 

Bjorn, himself, will also stay since he is a newbie… He also needs to stay at the upper levels to have a much smoother time in acquiring Falna. 

You see, in acquiring Falna, for low level adventurers such as Bjorn, it is better for him to slay monsters alone, than joining the expedition, where he might not even strike or hurt a single monster.

In return for Bjorn staying he was tasked by Finn to guard Loki wherever she may be.

However…. Bjorn declined.

"Captain Finn… I'm sorry but I can't guard Loki…."

Loki heard this and 'cried'.

"Bjorny, do you hate me that much?! Uaaah"

Bjorny?

"No… Goddess… I think you are mistaken… I just want to become stronger faster… in order to protect you much better."

Hearing this, Loki stopped her 'crying' and smiled cooly. She then went towards Bjorn and chopped his head.

"You know, just focus on yourself for now. Worry about that later."

"But Goddess…."

Loki flicked Bjorn's forehead.

"No buts. Bjorny, listen to your Goddess."

Bjorn nodded while massaging his head due to the pain.

After that incident, the Loki familia went on their expedition together with the Hephaestus Familia… 

Back to the surface, Bjorn was sent to gather supplies by Loki, telling him that if he wanted to go to the dungeon, Bjorn must have the necessary supplies like potions, armor, a secondary sword, rations, etc., and that's what he did.

He went towards the markets of Orario in order to gather the said supplies.

Firstly, he went towards the Dian Cecht Familia. 

The Dian Cecht Familia is a medicinal familia that was highly regarded by the Loki Familia. This is where they get almost all of their potions if they wanted to go on an expedition, or just a simple dungeon dive. Their potions are top class, even those of their lowest potions give a rather unnatural healing efficacy.

Once Bjorn went inside their pharmacy, he saw Airmid. Airmid Teasanare is the captain and head doctor of the Dian Cecht Familia. Most of the time, she also serves as their pharmacy's receptionist.

Around Airmid, Bjorn can see numerous medicinal potions behind her. These potions are often those of highest quality, such as what Airmid gave the Loki Familia for their expedition… Bjorn can also see the mouthwatering prices of each of the potions…. 

Damn. 100,000 valis for a single potion of that quality? Seriously? That's…. at least 20 goats the minimum.

Upon seeing a new face coming into her pharmacy, Airmid greeted Bjorn.

"Hello. What can I do for you?"

Freed from his thoughts, Bjorn brushed off the drool in his mouth with his sleeves.

"Um… I am here to buy some of your low quality potions."

Seeing that he is a customer, Airmid gave Bjorn a customer service smile….

"Please come this way."

Airmid led Bjorn towards a shelf beside the counter. There, he can see numerous potions in round glass bottles. The quality of these potions are visually lower than the others since its color is murkier than the rest.

Bjorn can also see the supposed price of these potions… which are priced at 100 valis each.

Bjorn grabbed one and put it closer to his eyes. He observed the viscosity of the liquid and its other qualities.

Airmid saw this and thought that he was also a doctor.

"I may be rude, but… are you also a pharmacist?"

Bjorn, still observing the potions, answered.

"No… it's just… my first time seeing a potion."

Airmid was surprised about this. She had thought that he was already an adventurer since his body characteristics fit them the most but… that's surprising.

"Are you a new adventurer? Then… if you need to have medicinal supplies, please come to our familia. We are probably the best in the market."

"Thanks. How about this, since I am a new adventurer, how about we knock off the price…. say, 50 valis each? Don't worry, I'll buy in bulk, at least a hundred?"

Hearing this, Airmid immediately deadpanned her face. 

"Really…?"

"Please. I am new, I do not know the ins and outs of this city… Please."

Bjorn did his puppy eyes towards Airmid…. and it has quite an effect on her.

Airmid thought about it for a moment before clicking her tongue.

"Tsk! If you raise it up to 70 valis, then we have a deal."

Bjorn immediately presented his hand for a shake.

"Deal!"

Airmid deadpan looked at Bjorn again… She thought that the price was good but…. It seems that it is in Bjorn's range..

"Does it also come into those test tube containers?"

"Yes… Do you like those, instead of the round containers?"

"Yes, please. Please give me 150 of those. Thank you!"

Airmid went towards the back of the shelf. After a few minutes, Airmid went back to the counter. With her are 2 crates of the potions that Bjorn had requested.

Bjorn paid for it and grabbed the crates.

"Before you go, at least tell me your Familia."

Bjorn thought about it for a moment before saying…

"I belong to the Loki Familia."

Airmid immediately cursed.

"Damn it."

"Hahaha! See you again!"

"Please don't come back again."

Bjorn laughed before heading outside.

Afterwards, Bjorn then went on towards the blacksmithing district. There, he saw how lowly his funds are.... 

Weapons of at least intermediate quality are sold in the millions… Weapons of much superior quality than those are not displayed but rather, you need a blacksmith to make it for you… Typically, those are in the tens of millions, even hundreds of millions….

Armor prices are also high…..

Bjorn wisely picked a shop that has a lower volume of shoppers. He knew that the equipment being sold in these shops were cheaper than the rest. Who knows, maybe the one he picked is one of those shops with a hidden master.

Bjorn entered and a bell rang signaling his entrance to the shop.

Bjorn noticed that there were no receptionists, however, he can also hear the sound of a sword being born at the back of the shop.

Bjorn helped himself to observe the swords. He noticed that the swords here are of mediocre quality…. The swords' balance is all over the blade… one blade has its balance at the tip of the blade, while the other has its balance in the middle…

Bjorn then grabbed one of the swords and handled it…. Upon closer look… the swords are really of mediocre quality… The blade of the sword he is handling is even worse… He also noticed that there were microbumps in the blade…. It is invisible to the common eye but… with Bjorn's skill, he can see it.

*Tsk!*

Bjorn clicked his tongue then he heard someone.

"You are at the wrong rack."

Bjorn looked at the voice coming towards the receptionist table. There, he saw a dwarf, full of thick beard and a receding hairline. He also noticed that the dwarf is a god…

He didn't notice that while he was observing the swords in the rack, the sounds of blacksmithing stopped.

Bjorn put down the sword that he was handling and said straight to the dwarf.

"I mean no offense but these swords are absolute trash."

The dwarf smiled widely. He then pointed towards a nearby rack and said.

"Why do you say so?"

"The sword that I was handling earlier was literally full of bumps… Although invisible to the normal eye…. I can see it."

The dwarf still smiling widely said.

"How about you go towards that rack and tell me the quality of the swords."

Bjorn looked towards the rack that the dwarf was pointing at and noticed that it is lesser in quantity.

He then walked towards the rack, grabbing one sword and inspected it.

He noticed that it is a much better sword than the rest… like night and day differences.

"This is much better.:"

Bjorn then looked towards the dwarf and said.

"I will get one of these, but please… don't sell the mediocre swords to anyone again."

The dwarf, still smiling widely, asked Bjorn.

"Why?"

"If the people you had sold those swords didn't know about the defects of those swords then they would most definitely die in the dungeon and it will be your fault. You also don't want blood in your hands right? So please stop selling them."

"Alright. Also, don't worry. I intentionally price it higher so that adventurers don't buy it."

Hearing that, Bjorn was relieved. 

"Thank Goddess. Going back, I want to buy this."

Bjorn presented the sword he was holding to the dwarf who said the price.

"That will be 50,000 valis."

"Damn! Please make it at least 40,000 valis… I'm new to this city hehe."

"No."

Bjorn thought about it for a moment. After a while he said.

"Alright! But please chip in one of those gauntlets over there."

Bjorn pointed towards one of the armor racks.

"Haha, you know how to negotiate huh? Alright, I'll give it to you."

Bjorn was internally relieved. He does not want to pay for a substitute sword for that high of a price… He then grabbed his wallet and paid for the items.

Before leaving the shop, the dwarf introduced himself to Bjorn.

"My name is Eitri, what is yours?"

Bjorn faced the dwarf and said.

"Bjorn Aseldr. I would be coming back to this shop often."

"Please do."

Bjorn left the place. 

Meanwhile, the dwarf, Eitri, went towards the back of his shop.

There, he grabbed a rather large glass ball. He manipulated this ball and pressed something to call someone.

This ball's function is to call someone far away, where the cellphones do not reach.

After a while, the interface on the ball changes, and a dwarf appears. This dwarf's appearance is the same as Eitri.

"Eitri, why did you call?"

"Brother, you know of my project right?"

"Yeah. You want to find someone that has the swordmaster skill like Odin's spear master?"

"Yes, brother, that. Earlier, I found the child. You see, I intentionally made swords with microbumps in it… invisible to the naked eye… Hel, even those with swordsman abilities will not notice it…. But this kid, he noticed it."

"So? Why did you call me Eitri?"

"You see… I want to make another weapon… the likes of Odin's Gungnir.... Brother Brokkr… Will you help me?"

"Of course, Eitri. Wait for me there… Traveling from Solingen to Orario is a bit long."

"I'll wait for you brother Brokkr."

______________________________

After the stint at the blacksmith shop, Bjorn went towards the adventurer's guild to report that he had already joined a familia.

He intended it to be the last stop before he trains in the Manor but… he saw William waiting near the front door of the guild.

"William! What are you doing here?"

William heard Bjorn's voice and waved towards him.

"You brat. Of course, we want to know if you have joined a Familia."

Bjorn smiled and said.

"Of course I had joined. You'll be surprised what familia it is."

"Really?

"Yeah. The Loki Familia."

William was surprised. Joining one of the strongest familia is no easy feat. 

"Nice! So you will stay here right?"

"Sadly… yeah."

"No time for sad faces Bjorn! Come! Let's celebrate your entry in the Loki Familia!"

"Alright. Wait for me for a moment, I need to report it first to the guild."

"Make it fast!"

Bjorn went inside the guild and lined up towards Rose. While he was waiting in the line, he looked around and noticed the TV hanging from above. 

The current program on TV was a news program. There, he saw his familia, going on an expedition. You see, the news reporters of the city were the Hermes Familia. They were tasked to gain and report any news that happens currently, both in the dungeon and the overworld. 

In the dungeon, the Hermes Familia could only report live up until the 18th floor. Any higher than that, the signal will be funky.

After a while of watching the TV. He is now in front of the line.

Rose noticed him and said.

"Hmm? You're back."

"Yes. I also want to report my familia."

Rose softly smiled at Bjorn.

"So… did you enter the Loki Familia?"

"Yes."

"Good. You also need a guide too, right?"

"I want it to be you, Rose-san."

Rose nodded and grabbed her large book. She then wrote Bjorn's name under the Loki Familia. She then said to Bjorn.

"Come here tomorrow, I need to orient you on the DOs and DONTs of the dungeon.

"Thank you."

Afterwards, Bjorn went outside the guild and went to William. They then went on to a nearby low cost bar and drank the night away.

…..

…

.

__________________________

Yow! Sorry I didn't get to post a chapter yesterday…. I was so fucking busy.

I think I have enough chapters to do my usual updates…. From now on, I will post 3-4, or even 5 chapters per week… depending on my busyness haha.

Regardless, stay safe people.

Peace out!