Reborn With a Magic System

"If this continues, we may just have to recruit you into the Order," the Justiciar told Damion as he escorted him and Arica out of the Order's office.

"I prefer the freedom of being just an ordinary adventurer," Damion answered.

Joining an Order might give him a steady paycheck and an easy path to increasing his power, but it came with a set of shackles too. Damion was not keen on joining any organization that had the power to decide for him. Sure, the Justiciar Order was responsible for law enforcement over adventurers, but Damion wanted to see the whole of Nerotath, being part of an Order, or even a guild would limit his options.

"These are yours to sell," the Justiciar said presenting Damion and Arica each with a box of gear. Damion recognized some of it as items from the men Damion and Arica had killed on their mission.

"We get the gear of dead men to sell?" Damion questioned. After killing Barnes, he had not received that man's gear to sell, so getting this now, felt a little odd.

"Correct," the Justiciar said. "Since you returned the bodies for identification of individuals suspected of banditry, once their guilt is established, you are entitled to the possessions they had on them."

"What about that guy Barnes, from the trade escort mission?" Damion asked quickly.

"His body was turned in by Mr. Hoyt."

"Oh, so it is who turns in the body, not who killed the bandit."

"Correct. Anyone can claim to have killed anyone, for any reason. When a person turns in a body for suspected crimes, we investigate. In your case, since you had a living prisoner, it was easy to establish that his group was engaged in criminal activity and thus you are entitled to their gear."

"Thanks for the clarification," Damion said taking a box while Arica took the other, but quickly stored it in her personal storage space. "I'll try not to make this a routine occurrence."

"If you did, we would investigate why you have so many encounters with criminals."

With that the Justiciar turned and left, leaving both Damion and Arica shaking their heads at the Justiciar who did not get Damion's joke.

"Do you mind," Damion said hoisting his box a little higher. "I don't want to carry this all across town."

"Sure, no problem," Arica pulled Damion's box into her personal storage space before asking. "Do you know where we can sell these things?"

"I know a good shop. The owner is a friend of my teacher. Let's return the ground car and then head to the Adventurer Association to complete the mission. Then we can go to Leland's. I'm sure he'll give us fair prices and while we're there I can upgrade my kit."

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A short time later, Damion had 5 more silver in his account and the pair was heading into Leland's Artifacts to sell their spoils.

"Back so soon Damion?" Leland said when Damion entered the store.

"Yes, we had a run in with bandits and we have some items we'd like to sell," Damion said while Arica pulled the two boxes of gear from her storage onto Leland's counter.

Leland's eyes flashed in recognition when he saw Arica produce the boxes, but he looked to Damion when he spoke.

"Going on missions with a young spatial mage, you are making friends fast lad."

"I just took the mission she posted is all," Damion said hoping Leland and Arica did not get the wrong ideas about each other.

"Well, let's see what you've got," Leland said as he began going through the boxes.

"Two normal swords and two E Rank swords. Four E Rank armors with the Falks Guild emblem on them and a few other bobbles. Not really anything exciting, hardly comparable to what I normally deal in. I'll give you ten silvers for each box."

"Twenty," Arica said before Damion could speak.

"Now lass, in order to sell any of this I have to rework it. And as a fellow mage I'm sure you are aware of what that entails."

"Twenty." Arica said firmly.

"Fine, Twenty silvers for each box," Leland acquiesced. "You've got a good one here lad. Don't let her get away."

"You were going to lowball me?" Damion asked after Leland agreed to Arica's price. "I thought you were friends with Ms. Teft."

"Friends are friends, business is business. Besides, I wasn't lying when I said it takes a lot of work to rework these artifacts into something more useful. If the Falks Guild is still around in a week I might be able to make more just reselling it to them."

Damion handed his card to Leland and accepted his twenty silvers. In just a short time, Damion had gone from nearly penniless, to having 25 silvers. It took a bit of effort, but he managed to contain his joy and restrain himself from immediately spending it all.

"Can I get a 25-meter length of rope and whatever tent you think is best for 10 silvers," Damion requested.

"Sure, sure. Happy to oblige," Leland said as he trotted off to retrieve Damion's purchase.

Arica in the meantime, had begun to wander the store looking at the different armors and weapons on display. She was evidently quite impressed with the quality of the work and when he returned to the counter, Arica posed a question to him.

"Mr. Leland, why is someone with your talent here in Saung and not a White Zone?"

"Oh, we all have our reasons lass. Besides, I'm only a B Rank mage, I can't compete with those big stores that employ A Rank artificers. Here in Saung though, I'm a big deal. Keep all the best guilds supplied and nobody wants to compete with me."

"There is only one shop in Rubrum that can match your quality," Arica told him.

"But that one shop will no doubt cause me troubles if I tried opening my store there. Don't try to rope me in lass. I am quite happy here. You'll understand if you open your own shop one day.

"Here, Damion, take your order. Thelma told me you bought the cheapest rations the other day. When you go back to her shop and get better ones, also get a bottle of medicine to make passing those dreadful things easier."

Damion looked at Leland and did not know quite what to think. Did this man, who tried to swindle him a little bit ago, just advise him to buy a laxative. Before Damion could question Leland, the man took Damion's hand, which was still holding his payment card, and pressed it against the register to complete the sale.

"Now go on, I'm sure your mother is worried. Go home and eat a home cooked meal."

With Leland shooing them out, Damion and Arica left the store and stood awkwardly in the street. Neither one quite knowing how to say goodbye. Damion, with rope in one hand a tent in the other, put his things down to stuff it all in his backpack and was about to speak when Arica beat him to it.

"I'm going to be in town for a few more days," Arica said quickly. "I was thinking of trying out one of the dungeons here in town. But I need to put together a team, would you be willing?"