Chapter 10 – Spending Spree

“So what, just spend everything we can and pretend none of this ever happened?” Titus asked. “Because I’m getting a little tired of having to hide everything from everyone. First it was not telling on that ass Henderson when he tried to kill us, then my Class, then the fireball spell… and now its keeping the God of Balance a secret? I mean where does it all end?”

“It’d be nice for us to have a secret for once,” Petra said with a forced smirk. “I mean it’s all you you you isn’t it? Your secret Class, your secret spell…”

“Henderson tried to kill you too, remember,” Titus said. “So it isn’t all just me.”

“Oh yeah, I should be so happy about that,” Petra replied over enthusiastically.

“I think I’m going to send fifty gold home,” Jordan piped up. He’d been listening to the almost-argument going on, but clearly hadn’t wanted to get involved.

“That’s a lot of gold to send back,” Petra said, turning to Jordan. “You sure you don’t want to upgrade that axe of yours into something better. You know, like maybe a net in case they throw more spiders at you?”

Jordan shuddered and stared at the nearest table for a moment, but ultimately shook his head.

“No, I always promised to send what I could back there for them. They did so much for me and spent more than I’ll be able to repay just on my training. Besides it’s less than half of what I have so I’ll be able to get some cool stuff with the rest I’m sure.”

“OK whatever you say,” Petra replied. “Just if there’s something that’ll give you the edge to live longer, then I’d say sending less home but for a longer amount of time would work out better.”

“How would sending less be better?” Jordan asked.

Petra tsked and shook her head. “Just… do whatever you want, big guy,” she said.

“If you really thought that, maybe you’d use that hood of yours,” Jordan said. “Any advantage would be helpful, wouldn’t it?”

This time Petra snorted and turned away from Jordan. “Why don’t we all just go and see what we can get. Not that it’s going to make much of a difference. Mr glass cannon here will no doubt streak ahead before long. That’s if he isn’t offered some divine trinket that turns him into a God or something right now.”

Titus grinned. “We can only hope and pray.”

“So… plate armour first?” Petra asked, glancing to the closest merchant who appeared to be displaying a host of shining silver and gold plate armour. Then she nodded towards Jordan. “He might see something he really wants and decide not to be such a tight-ass.”

“Hey! I’m not a tight…”

“I know,” Petra replied with a sigh. “It was only a joke.”

Petra lead the three to the first stall, where it was indeed apparent that Jordan was going to be the one who was relieved of as much of his hard earned gold as possible.

The merchant smiled, with his hair slicked back into a tight blond pony-tail, and filtered his wares down for Jordan to peruse.

In the end, and after a fair amount of umming and arring, Jordan walked away having spent eighty-five gold on what was essentially an entire suit of armour. Briefly he explained why he’d spent the extra on it.

“Its got a couple of nice effects as long as I wear it all, boots and all,” the Paladin said. “Otherwise I wouldn’t have bothered. It’s called Steadfast Bearing and it gives me an additional fifteen points of Defence and Magical Defence.”

Petra’s eyes widened at that. “That’s amazing!” she practically cooed. “I’ll be able to beat you with a club all day and you’ll barely feel it!”

Jordan nodded once. “But that isn’t all.” He spoke slowly now as though he wasn’t sure if he should relay the information. “It says it makes my Taunt skill last an additional three seconds…”

“Even better then!” Petra announced. “So why the hell do you look so upset about it?”

“Because it cost me eighty-five gold.”

“Yeah, I know you wanted to send more home, but sometimes you just have to put yourself first.”

“No that’s not what I mean,” Jordan replied.

“He means he thinks it was too cheap,” Titus interrupted, understanding what Jordan was trying to convey.

“Isn’t it?” Jordan said turning quickly to Titus. “I mean it’s full plate, boots and gloves and all! It’s four separate items so if they only cost like twenty gold apiece…”

“Yeah well just be thankful you didn’t get a helmet with it,” Petra said. “Imagine complaining because something’s so cheap.”

“I think he’s wondering if there’s any kind of… advantage in having something for cheap,” Titus said. “Like, maybe it’s a little too good if you get what I mean.”

“Does it mater?” Petra asked, clearly not as worried by any of this as Jordan seemed to be. “Either it was priced just right and there’s no problem, or there was something about it, and if it was put there by you know who then there’s no problem, right?”

That was fair logic. But the only way to really see if this was something divine or not, was for Petra and Titus to see if there was anything they could buy to make their lives any easier.

“So what are you thinking Petra, a new knife? Of a cloak that lets you fly or something?”

“If that’s a thing, I want it,” Petra said. Then both Petra and Titus looked expectantly at Jordan.

“What? I don’t know. I mean we’ve all seen people fly but I don’t think it was an effect by some cloak.”

“Damn,” Petra said, clicking her fingers. “New dagger it is then!”

“Just… make sure it has poison,” Jordan said. “I don’t want us to be going backwards.”

Petra saluted and straightened her back. “Yes sir, Mr team leader sir!” And then the group moved as one to another merchant, who this time stood behind a table filled with some very nasty looking blades.

There was a short back and forth between Petra and the merchant as she had the man whittle down the list of items he had available for her, indeed all the while making sure the ability to poison enemy combatants was at the forefront of the offerings.

Eventually Petra made a shrill squeal as she apparently found exactly what she was looking for.

“That’s it!” She exclaimed. “I know what it is I want! No, need!” Then she said a few hushed words to the merchant and finally turned around to face Jordan and Titus with a huge smile on her face.

“You remember that spider in the last fight?” she asked, unable to control her enthusiasm. Jordan on the other hand didn’t seem to want to talk about it and he paled considerably.

“Well,” she continued without waiting for a response. “Jordan couldn’t reach it because it could climb up the walls and if I couldn’t jump so high then it would’ve all been up to boy wonder here, wouldn’t it?”

“You got a bow? Or a crossbow?” Jordan asked with his own eyes wide now. “That’s going to come in so handy…”

“Nope,” Petra replied. “Though that would’ve worked too. Maybe the next time I get some gold… never mind. No, not a bow, I got throwing knives.”

“Throwing knives?” Jordan asked, frowning. “Doesn’t seem as useful. I mean the range alone? And then with a bow you’d have more ammunition…”

“Shut up,” Petra said. “These ones are better. Because they aren’t just normal throwing knives. These ones do something extra.”

She paused for a moment to allow Jordan and Titus to take in what she was about to say.

“Poison, naturally,” she started. “Plus a ten percent chance to inflict poison onto something that has immunity to poison too.”

“Oh man that’s…” Jordan started.

“Shut up,” Petra ordered. “Five throwing knives, five chances to poison something. And if that isn’t enough? These things return to their little pouch at my waist once they’ve been out of it too long. So Jordan, you can shove your arrows up your…”

“They sound amazing!” Titus replied cutting Petra off. “But did it feel like you were getting them cheap, you know…” his eyes flicked upwards to telegraph his meaning.

“Well they were pretty cheap,” Petra said. “Ten gold for the lot…”

“Ten gold?!” Jordan exclaimed.

“Only joking. If anything they seemed a little expensive at one hundred gold. But definitely worth it, no?”

Both Titus and Jordan nodded slowly.

“See, no funny business and after all that questing, we’ve managed to get something good out of it.” Then she quickly added: “Well we have, no doubt you’re about to get something that makes our new stuff look like crap.”

“I don’t know,” Titus said. “What do I even use, or want? I know I work like a Spellcaster most of the time but I really don’t think some new wand or staff is going to make much of a difference to me. Maybe something that brings down my Mana cost? But even then is that really so useful?”

“Jordan was staring at Titus with his mouth open by the time he’d finished speaking, and Petra had raised an eyebrow.

“Oh how difficult it must be for the poor God’s Champion. You just don’t need anything do you? You have it all…”

“That’s not what I…” Titus started to object, but Petra carried on.

“Why don’t you just give us all your gold and we’ll buy something for ourselves with it?”

“No I didn’t mean that!” Titus raised his voice slightly. “Just… what do you think I should get?”

“A bigger sword,” Petra said immediately. So when I shove that one up your ass you’ll have a spare!”

“Very funny,” Titus huffed. “It really helps my choice.”

“You know she actually has a point,” Jordan piped up.

“What?” Titus asked. “Not you too?”

“No I don’t mean that,” Jordan said, waving his hand. “I mean you aren’t really great with that sword, are you? Maybe you should trade it in for something a little more useful?”

“Like a chocolate teapot?” Petra interjected.

“Just something to think about,” Jordan shrugged.

It made sense. Titus wasn’t a warrior and what self-respecting Spellcaster would carry an actual, normal sword out into battle. Well, not that he was a Spellcaster either, but the idea was still sound.

“Maybe I should get a staff?” Titus said thoughtfully.

“Nah,” Jordan said. “You still want something with a sharp bit just in case you don’t have any Mana left in a fight. That way you can still fight, even if you aren’t the best at it.”

“So what, like a magical spear?” Titus asked. “Is that a thing?”

“Everything’s a thing,” Petra said. “But maybe we should just go over there,” she pointed to a merchant who seemed to specialise in long, two handed items stacked up against the wall such as axes, spears and staffs. Most of which were made of wood. “And ask about something that a Spellcaster might use, but could also be used as an actual weapon on its own. Failing that, maybe just an upgrade to the sword?” Petra said.

Jordan was nodding at that. “I’m sure there’s so many things that would be useful to this one,” he said. “And even when they don’t seem useful, I bet when he gets his mits on them, they turn into the most useful thing in the world!”

“I don’t disagree,” Petra said.

“Listen,” Titus started.

“No time for that,” Petra said, grabbing his arm and pulling him towards the merchant. “We’ve got divine gifts to buy.

Titus let his head hang as he allowed Petra to pull him over to the merchant with the long wooden weapons, and when he finally looked up to meet the man’s eyes he immediately remembered just how much money he had to spend here, and no matter how his friends were joking about it, he was surely going to buy something good with what he had.

“Uh, hi,” Titus said.

“Good day to you my friend!” The merchant announced, spreading his arms wide. “I have something for everyone and everything for someone, so why don’t you tell me what it is you are looking for, young Contestant.”

“I… I’m a Spellcaster,” Titus said. “But I only know the one spell and so far I’ve been using a sword when I have to get into a real fight…”

“And he can’t use it properly,” Jordan added from beside Titus. “So he wants something useful to his Class, but that he can also swing if it gets too messy out there.”

“Ah,” the merchant said, giving a half smile. “Then have you thought about sticking with a sword, but trading up for one with magical properties?”

“Is that a thing?” Titus asked, his mind flooding with new possibilities.

“Everything’s a thing,” Petra repeated her earlier statement.

“It is in a way,” the merchant said, nodding. “Though metals are not the best conduit for increasing the abilities and spells of Spellcasters – this is why most things Spellcasters hold are made of wood.”

“Makes sense,” Petra said. “What about spears then?”

“The metallic tip has a detrimental effect on the capabilities of the wooden portion of the weapon,” the merchant explained. “But it can still work. I must say that such items are very rare though and at the risk of sounding condescending, usually Contestants stick to their own Classes.”

“So it’s a thing, but it’s rare,” Petra summarised. “And you don’t have anything that suits?”

“Yes and no,” the merchant replied. “Truly powerful weapons like you have described exits, and are created by skilled craftsmen and women. But you will never find such things here in the Arena. But what I can do is show you some things that I think you may find useful, given your situation. May I ask what your budget is?”

“One hundred gold,” Titus immediately replied, and the merchant bowed and a moment later Titus found himself staring at a list of items available for him to buy once more.

Staff of Mana Regeneration

Value: 50 gold

Effect: Mana regen rate increased by additional 5 Mana per second

Restriction: Spellcaster Class only

Advanced Spellcasting Staff

Value: 65 gold

Effect: All spells cost -15% Mana

Restriction: Spellcaster Class only

Elemental Staff of Storms

Value: 75 gold

Effect: Casts a small area-of-effect lightning storm every third spell cast

Restriction: Spellcaster Class only

Mystic Halberd of the Magi

Value: 80 gold

Effect: Melee attacks have a 15% chance to cast a minor burning spell on the target

Restriction: Spellcaster or Warrior Classes

Staff of Binding Shadows

Value: 60 gold

Effect: Upon casting any spell, entraps nearby enemies in shadows, reducing their movement speed by 20% for 5 seconds

Restriction: Spellcaster Class only

Spear of the Phoenix

Value: 85 gold

Effect: On a critical hit, unleashes a burst of fire dealing additional damage to the target and nearby enemies

Restriction: Spellcaster or Warrior Classes

Glaive of Ethereal Energy

Value: 70 gold

Effect: Allows the wielder to phase through one physical attack every 60 seconds, avoiding all damage

Restriction: Spellcaster Class only

Titus scrolled over the weapons he was being offered and realised the mistake he’d made in his question to the merchant. It was the same mistake he’d made before: that he was a Spellcaster and that the restrictions wouldn’t matter. But he wasn’t a Spellcaster, he was a Capacitor, and the list he’d been shown was therefore entirely useless to him.

“These are all so great…” Titus said to the merchant. “But these restrictions… is there anything I can buy that we can all use? You know, if I drop it or something and someone else wants to use it?”

The merchant then peered at Titus with a confused expression. And then he smiled.

“Ah these functions are of course possible, my friend. But with a removal of a Class restriction tends to come additional costs, as these kinds of items are typically used by those who have evolved their Class from the norm.  Let me see if I have something suitable for you. Though I must warn you that such an item would boast less power than what you have already seen.”

Titus felt his heart sink a little, but he reminded himself that he couldn’t actually use anything he’d seen so far, no matter how good it looked.

Versatile Oak Staff

Value: 85 gold

Effect: Transforms into a spear or quarterstaff

Effect: Boosts magical attacks by 5%

Effect: +2 Mana per 10 seconds

Restriction: None

Halberd of Harmonic Balance

Value: 95 gold

Effect: Boosts physical attacks by 5%

Effect: Boosts magical attacks by 5%

Effect: All ability cooldown by 10%.

Restriction: None

Elderwood Spear of Unity

Value: 100 gold

Effect: Boosts magical attacks by 5%

Effect: Boosts physical attacks by 10%

Effect: +2 Mana per 10 seconds

Restriction: None

Staff of Elemental Adaptation

Value: 95 gold

Effect: Changes elemental alignment based on user.

Effect: Each element provides a unique buff.

Restriction: None

Yew Longbow Staff

Value: 100 gold

Effect: Functions as a longbow or staff.

Effect: Ranged attacks increase mana regeneration by 1 for 10 seconds.

Effect: Melee mode provides a 10% reduction in Mana cost.

Restriction: None

Bamboo Quarterstaff of Flexibility

Value: 95 gold

Effect: Increases spell speed by 10%.

Effect: +5 Mana per five seconds.

Restriction: None

These things were much more like it, the only problem was now just choosing one item. Immediately Titus discounted the last item primarily because he really didn’t have any issues with his spell speed, though it did make him wonder if some spells had a casting time and that really could make the difference with that one. He also liked the idea of a staff that doubled as a bow, but then thought about having to carry arrows around with him and the whole thing seemed rather convoluted - especially after Jordan had said firing a bow wasn’t that easy either.

Elemental alignment really didn’t seem like it was Titus’ bag, mainly due to the fact that he only had the one spell – his fireball – and not being an actual Spellcaster he had no idea if that was going to be of any use to him in the long term.

In the end, what it all boiled down to as Titus scoured the descriptions over and over, was a choice between the Oak Staff, Halberd, and the Spear. Each of the weapons had their benefits, though the staff was outweighed slightly by the spear, with the latter doing everything the staff did but with the added bonus that it was a spear.

But in the end there was one clear winner. As Titus compared the Halberd and the Spear, he could see that they did most of the same things, though the Halberd reduced ability cooldown – something he didn’t actually need – and the Elderwood Spear of Unity gave him a little boost to his Mana. It wasn’t a lot, but with little to choose from between the two weapons, it just about made the difference.

Plus it had ‘Unity’ in its name, and it made Titus remember that the God of Balance had been quite particular in telling him that working as a team was a very good thing. He couldn’t be sure if this was a coincidence or not, but he made his choice nonetheless. He only wished the spear looked as menacing as the Halberd as he paid the merchant the one hundred gold, leaving him with a measly five left to his name.

Elderwood Spear of Unity

Value: 100 gold

Effect: Boosts physical attacks by 10%

Effect: Boosts magical attacks by 5%

Effect: +2 Mana per 10 seconds

Restriction: None

Titus couldn’t help but smile to himself; because the weapon wasn’t one that was on show and resided within the merchant’s Anywhere Box, it meant that his friends didn’t know what he’d bought for himself.

“So what did you get?” Jordan asked. “I hope you had at least some thought process and didn’t just get the coolest looking thing.”

“Me?” Titus replied in mock hurt. In truth he’d been pretty close to selecting the halberd just because of how awesome they looked, but he’d refrained. Only just, but he’d managed it.

“Don’t be silly,” Petra said. “He probably got a ‘divine spear of the Gods, or something. You know, something made just for him that instantly kills any monster he even looks at.”

Titus grinned and gave Petra a wink.

“You didn’t…”

“Nope,” Titus said. “But now I’m not telling you what I got, you’re just going to have to wait and see.”

“Damn it Petra!” Jordan raised his voice. “Who knows how long we’re going to have to wait to find out what divine gift he got!”

“Really?” Petra said. “You had to go and say it, didn’t you?”

And not a second later, a notification filled Titus’ vision, and he could tell from his friends’ expressions, they’d got the message too.

You must report to the central colosseum in ten minutes.