Chương 6: The Mask and the Iron

The weight of the pouch with ten silver coins was lighter than Ren expected. However, the strategic value of that metal was immense. Selene walked a step ahead of him through the dirt streets of Oakhaven, her arms still crossed as she let out a soft huff. The commoners' gazes shifted away from the sparks stubbornly jumping from the tip of her staff. Her mana was unstable, leaking raw through her stress."Ten silvers," she murmured without looking back.

"That was everything I had for this week's inn. If you're scamming me, newbie, I swear I'll reduce your ashes to a molecular level."Ren smiled. A light, charismatic, and completely fake expression. The perfect social mask."Consider it a high-risk investment with guaranteed returns, my dear mage," Ren replied, his voice calm and confident.

"In a few hours, those ten silvers will turn into thirty. And you won't have to sleep on the guild's bench." Money obtained: Success, Ren thought. Mage's pride: Manipulated. Now, the basic equipment. They stopped in front of a small blacksmith's workshop at the edge of town. The air smelled strongly of coal and sweat. Ren ignored the shiny armor and ornate longswords displayed in the front window—bait meant to attract rookie adventurers and fools who relied too much on luck.

He went straight to the back of the shop, where the second-hand and wrought-iron weapons were kept. He picked a short sword made of common iron. It had a heavy blade and a worn leather hilt, but the balance was acceptable for his size. He paid three silver coins. Seven left. He spent two more on clean bandages, a whetstone, and a small, blunt throwing dagger that the blacksmith was about to discard. Selene looked at the short sword with undisguised contempt."

Are you going to face the forest monsters with that rusty piece of metal? Even my weakest spell condenses more energy than that."" Exactly," Ren said, testing the blade's weight in the air with short, precise movements.

"You are the raw damage. I am the distraction. If I were using a giant, flashy sword, the creatures would focus on me immediately. A short sword keeps me light, fast, and discreet. While they look at my iron, they won't see your fire coming."Selene blinked, processing the cold logic of the argument. She looked away, annoyed at her inability to counter him."Whatever. Let's just go to the forest.""Not yet." Ren sheathed the sword into the simple scabbard at his waist.

"The sun sets in four hours. Entering their territory blind and unprepared is suicide. We go tomorrow morning. Today, I train my body." The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.