The Fangclaw Inheritance: The Eye of Half Blood

VI

VI

“Do you really want to visit a blacksmith shop?” Annabella and Serastios strolled around the streets of Yangston, their weapons conspicuous around the visitors. The men and women, even the sailors whispered amongst themselves about how dangerous the three of them seemed. Roktu heard their whispers due to her strong sense of hearing, but she chose to ignore them.

“Three of my arrows were slashed in half by that Tengonese Vampire,” Roktu said merrily. “I thought I should reload my provisions before we head to Adlet Island. Plus, do you think you can stand a chance with one sword?”

The two of them looked at their swords and thought they were enough, but despite their expertise with one weapon, the Vampires were more powerful the closer they got to the Island. Iaosos must have a powerful bodyguard to have someone as powerful as the man they encountered. Annabella admired the Tengonese’s grace with a dual sword, the fast stroke of his sword equivalent to two arms used during Kung Fu. If I could master dual sword, maybe my opponent could be overwhelmed, she thought to herself. Serastios also fancied the art of dual weaponry, seeing it as a quicker way to bring an end to his opponent.

 Annabella was impressed at how clean the city was, but it was shorter than Noldon, making it easy to navigate through. She could already memorize the way from Yangston Station to the Weapon Shop Roktu spoke of. Majority of the weapons were made of Silver, Iron, and Steel, which was prudent in making the weapons for the Supernatural creatures. To average humans, it was bizarre to find a weapon shop at this modern age, so she thought, “Why would there be a weapon shop in the middle of a modernizing nation?”

The buildings, now that Annabella noticed, were made of red brick, using concrete to stick them to each other. They seemed more professional and more modernized, but she could recall a few brick buildings in Noldon. This made it seem like some depository city, but the income was the cause of the opulent outlook. The streets were still mainly soil, but it was refined, compared to the streets of Noldon, where dust evaporated when a coach’s wheel ran through it. The biggest building in the city was the City Hall, which was made of white walls, the same as the Queen’s Palace. However, compared to Harlington Palace, the City Wall was medium-sized. The columns still connected to the roofs, making it like a twin brother of Harlington. The verandah was far to the right of the Hall, similar to the Hugsworth Mansion.  Annabella decided to pay a visit to the City Hall once her business in Adlet Island was done, as Roktu pleaded for the two of them to hasten.

More buildings were crowded together once they passed the City Hall, but the streets became narrower, Roktu walking into a thin alleyway. Annabella hoped there weren’t anymore surprising ambushes in a dark alley. Roktu had stopped, her eyes reading the sign, “Nel’s Weapon Shop”. Annabella observed the walls weren’t red brick like the others, rather it looked ancient but sturdy and strong. The structural design made it seem like it was existent since the Medieval Ages. Roktu opened a wooden door, and walked in, Annabella and Serastios mouths were opened at the Medieval like nostalgia, the weapons suspended on walls and some on opened wooden boxes. Swords from the entire world were shown: Katana from Tengoku, Niuweidao from Xingshi, small daggers, rapiers, broadswords, staves, and even bows and arrows from Eurora.

Annabella examined all the rapiers on display, Serastios on the broadsword, while Roktu perused through small daggers that may be of use to her. She also needed to buy three more arrows and probably some more for the journey.

“Aren’t you all awfully young to be checking out weapons?” A ruffled voice shot from the second floor.

Annabella, Roktu, and Serastios jolted at the sudden voice, the weapons they possessed clattering on the floor. An elderly man with streaky white hair, and a wrinkled face walked as though he still had centuries in him. He wore a long-sleeved white shirt with green overalls, his golden eyes as beautiful as gold. His hands were forsure withered, but they were covered with his leather black gloves. How could an ancient man like him still be strong? Shouldn’t he have passed his shop to an apprentice by now? Annabella felt there was something wrong with this man, as if he wasn’t human at all. The clerk exchanged stares from Annabella to Roktu and finally Serastios, before keeping his glance at Annabella, closing his eyes, and shaking his head.