"Is that part of the reason that Bards are the butt of so many jokes?" I ask, genuinely curious as to this person's opinion.
"Naturally. Cowardly adventurers always make for a great story." is her reply.
Cowardly. Did the System read my heart and see me as cowardly? I hope not, that is something that I don't want to know about myself. I want to hear how I am brave, not how much of a coward!
"Clearly not all Bards are cowards. It's just that other Bards will sing about those that shame them. Naturally." Jake comments, adding his thoughts.
I sigh in relief. Rona laughs good naturedly. "There are cowards in all Classes. It doesn't say anything about you."
I laugh with them, feeling relieved. I am glad that this isn't saying anything bad about me.
"I believe you said that you are wanting to look at daggers and throwing stars?" she asks, curious.
"I want to be able to be of some help for between buffs, I guess?" I say. I am not fully aware of what the Bard Class does to be honest. "Or just in case I get separated from my party and need to defend myself for some reason. I don't think I can fight off monsters with songs alone." I say a bit uncertainly.
"You are right about that, though I don't think that you want to jump in when others are fighting. You might just get in the way." the saleswoman say. I look to Jake and Rona and they nod. Fair enough, leave the fighting to the fighters. I don't want to be a reason for friendly fire, even if I don't use fire.
'Because I don't think I'm that funny.' I admit.
'Okay, I get the message. Please stop screaming in my head." I think strongly at System.
"Alright, are you looking for a particular weapon?" the saleswoman asks me.
"No." I state simply.
"Do you mind if I help you choose?" she asks.
"By all means." I say.
"Permission to touch you?" she asks.
"Umm, granted?" I say, confused as to why she would need to.
As soon as I give my consent the saleswoman comes over to me and starts looking me over. She has me extend my arms, flex, bend over, kick and other things that feel meaningless to me. She touches my arms, legs, stomach. Is she checking what kind of muscles I have? In our adventurer classes we were made to maintain good fitness.
"Alright. I have an understanding of your muscle strengths, your reach, and whether you might be better with kicks than hands. I see your posture as well, which give me some good information about you. I have some ideas." she tells me.
She walks me over to the wall of knives and has me hold a couple, testing the weight and balance of it. She has me test swing and stab a few knives, also showing me the correct way to hold them, and the strongest stances to use for offense and self-defense.
After testing out multiple daggers we found one for each hand. In my right hand is an ivory daggers and in my left is a silver dagger. Having silver on me would be good for fighting off the undead. You can never have too much silver. Iron is also good I suppose, but most people don't make weapons of pure iron.
Feeling good about my decisions so far I allow myself to be lead up to a glass display case.
"I recommend these for your hand size and class. Bards can often have good dexterity. That tends to go along with entertainment and performance based Classes." the Saleswoman says pulling out some blue and silver throwing stars. "Would you like to test them out?" she asks me. I nod my head and she leads me into a back room full of dummies and targets.
I look around and try to figure out how I am supposed to use these. Don't you normally get a basic skills when you purchase and use new weapons and equipment?
"Status" I say out loud, trying to see if there would be any information there that could calm my nerves.
I skim through what I am already familiar with and go to Skills.
SKILLS
Understanding of music: Basic
Lute skills: Basic
Energizing song (0/100)
Song of Minor Healing (0/100)
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Song of Minor Speed (0/100)
Throwing Stars: Basic
Beginner's Accuracy (0/100)
Dual Blades: Basic
Basic Backstab (0/100)
Cut (0/100)
'Okay great, those look like some good basic skills. I think that these are the ones that everyone starts out with, so that is comforting. I was worried that they might have some Bard Class twist to them.' I think to System. It is nice sharing my very basic thoughts with someone.
'Oh okay. So I am just not to that point yet.' I think back. 'That makes sense.'
Giving a mental nod I start with the throwing stars. I touch Glimmer on the back on my neck to make sure that he was secure. He nuzzles my hand. Is that for good luck? To let me know that he has a good grip? Or is he just being adorable. I think I am going to go with a mixture of all of the above.
I take a deep breath and throw. Bam, bam, bam! They hit the targets with a satisfying thud. I like the way that sounds and feels. It is thrilling. I grab the stars back and throw them all one more time. Yup, that feels right. Now to test the daggers. I hand the stars and my lute over to Rona and Jake and slide the dual blades into my hands.
'I have skills called cat and backstab, so maybe I can come at them from those angles.' I think.
'You have features? Does the System have these features for everyone?' I ask him.
'You are the best System by far then'. I say, praising him.
Taking the advice of System I run around the room stabbing the dummies, trying to jump behind them. I manage a little bit, but I don't have a dual wielder Class. That's fine. I like the way that they feel in my hands and I believe that I can get good enough to protect myself.
"Do you want to test out the lute?" Rona asks, a small smile playing over her lips.
"You want me to sing? Here? Not warmed up?" I asked, slightly incredulous.
"You won't have time to warm up while in a dungeon, or being attacked on the road." she says, shrugging her shoulders.
"Okay, okay." I say. I close my eyes, and strum my fingers over the chords.
"Energizing song." I whisper to myself, triggering my skill.
"Look at the life all around us.
Filled with fire, energy and life!
I sing to fill all heart with joy!
I sing to bring more light!"
'These lyrics are so dumb.' I think to System. 'Are all of my songs going to be this incredibly dumb until I increase my skills?' I ask System.
I strum a bit, just letting music fill the air. At least I have a good voice?
"Fill everyone with energy! Fill them all up with good cheer!
Let Jake have much pew-pew,
and Rona some luck
and everyone else. Umm, just be energized?"
I sing, letting my voice drop off with pure embarrassment. I strum a bit more before I lower my lute.
"Well then, I would like to purchase all of these items." I say to the saleswoman before anyone can reply. I see Rona, Jake and Cookie all laughing. I shoot them a look and say, "I never said I was a good Bard." this only serves to make them laugh all the harder.
I see the Saleswoman snicker, but in a good natured way I think? She leads me up to a counter and rings up my purchases.
"That will be 50 gold pieces." she says. I nod and hand over the coin. I have no desire to haggle. It seems she notices this and smile. She hands over two well oiled sheathes alongside the daggers, a water proof case for my lute, and grinding stone and some oils.
"To take care of your items." she says.
I thank her and make my way out of the store, holding my head up high instead of letting it hang in shame. I'm a beginner, so of course I am not going to be very good.
"I feel more energized." Rona tells me, nudging me and laughing.
I look over at Jake and see him having his lightning ping and dance between his fingers. It seems that the bolts are a bit larger and are moving faster. His eyes go wide and he looks over at me with a big goofy grin.
"Well, I guess my stupid song worked then." I say, and give a nod of what I hope looks like satisfaction.
"Yes. I am excited to see what you can do on the battlefield!" Jake says.
"Excellent, with my luck boost." Rona says before snorting, "Let's try to get you some deals on some clothes."
I allow Rona to once again lead the way. We come to a brightly colored shop with the symbol of a shirt outside of it.
"Well, this does look like a place to buy clothes." I say. Rona nods.
"This is my favorite place to shop. What all do you need?" Rona asks me.
"Everything." I respond, rather quickly.
"Let's get started." Jake says, appearing to want to be part of the conversation.
Me and Rona smile over at him and we all enter the shop.
A myriad of colors and types of clothes hit my eyes. I look around in wonder. "It's bigger on the inside." says words that lipt out of my mouth. I couldn't help but say them.
"Of course it is. Did you see how small the town looks? We had to get creative with building a home here that people would enjoy living in. Now then, do you know all of your clothing sizes?" Rona asks. I am about to respond yes when I realize that I don't.
"Actually, I don't." I say, biting my lip in embarrassment.
"No worries. You are pretty so the tailors and clothes sellers are going to love taking your measurements. Do you know what kind of clothes you are looking for?" she asks me.
"Clothes that are easy to move around and maneuver in." I tell her.
"Very good. Well, I know something you need to have to start off with." she says, leading me over to some bags.
"These are spatial bags, in other words they can hold a ton of stuff. It's larger on the inside and you won't feel any of the weight. You just have to think about what you are wanting that you have put in the bag already of course, and you will be able to pull it out."
"I've heard about these!" I say, excitedly rushing over. "Aren't these rare and expensive?"
"Maybe at one point in time." Jake says, sounding rather knowledgeable on the matter. "But adventurers were dying in mass. They realized the ones that were living are the ones that had these bags. The quality is diminished on the cheaper ones, making it easier for people to afford one."
"The quality is diminished?" I ask, feeling confused.
"It just can't hold as much as other bags." he responds casually.
I nod and walk over, examining them. I don't know much of a difference so I let myself be drawn to one. It isn't the least or most expensive. It is the cheaper end of the middle. It is a purple bag with silver and blue embossing. I can't take my eyes off of it. I must have it. I look at the cost. 25 gold for this alone? I suppose this is an essential.
"Would you like to buy this before you do your shopping?" a man says, walking over to me.
"Yes please." I say. We exchange gold and he gives me the bag.
"Alright, now that you bought that, let's get you some clothes. You put the clothes into the bag to carry around the store. You then empty the bag onto a large table in the back. They tally up the amount of items and their quality and that is when you pay." Rona explains to me.
"Thanks. This is all so new to me." I say.
"Well let's go start with underclothes. I like to start from the inside out when shopping for clothes. I see Jake blush a bit but he doesn't wander off. Maybe he needs clothes as well. Either that or he is a little bit of a pervert. I find that I am fine either way.
I let Rona lead me to the underclothes section of the store.
"Hello dears, can I help you with anything?" A Saleswoman asks. "My name is Dorris by the way." she says. She is a larger woman, maybe the younger side of middle aged, with short black and grey hair.
"Lyra needs some help. She doesn't know her clothing sizes." Rona says, pushing me a little bit forward.
"Ohhh it's going to be fun measuring and dressing you up!" she says, voice full of cheer and merriment. I allow myself to be lead away into a small room.
Dorris whips out a measuring tape. "Strip down to your panties and bra please." she says, sounding like a complete professional.
I follow her directions and she quickly measures me all over. Neck, inner legs, outer legs, arms, chest, hips, shoulder, and such. I don't catch everything she measured. I did laugh a little when she was measuring my sides and feet.
"Very good. I can see what will work best. You are an adventurer right?" she asks me. I nod.
"Class?" she asks me.
"Bard."
"Tunics, blouses and leggings it is. I'll find some cute belts as well." she says. "Now stay here. I am going to bring some clothes for you to try on." she tells me.
I nod, and feel uncomfortable standing there in my underclothes. She returns quickly and has me trying on many clothes, testing the look and fit. She asks my opinions and I shake my head no to many, and nod yes to very few. It seems that I am preferential to tunics and leggings. They are cute! Many are solid colors, but some have simple designs.
"Okay, go ahead and get dressed." she says, looking at my feet. "And next we need to get you some sturdy adventuring boots. But I suppose that might be better to get at the light armor shop."
Well it sounds like I know my next destination.