PHOENIX RISING (Book One In The Phoenix Hunter Series)

★CHAPTER 1★

    
   I woke up to the warm rays of sunlight peeking through the windows of my apartment. I stretched and yawned, feeling refreshed after a good night's sleep.

I rolled out of bed and began my morning routine, washing my face and getting dressed in my leather armor. My stomach growled, reminding me to fuel up for the day ahead. I headed to the kitchen to scrounge up some breakfast.

As I ate my meager meal, I tried checking my status again, but just like last time, it still hasn't been activated yet.

I sighed, feeling a bit nervous at first, It was my first hunt, the one that could potentially activate my system and grant me a place in this new world. And also the huge cash out I'll make from monster drops. 

According to hunters, monster drops are much more better than working as a life professional. But not everyone can become a hunter, because you can't choose the skills you have, it is from the system and you also won't know until you awaken it.

Once I finished eating , I picked up a pouch of copper pieces that I dropped  on the table. There are 100 copper pieces inside of it.

I've been saving it up for a sword and armor. Then i walked out. Locking the door behind.

I turned to the direction of the marketplace. The morning sun almost at the highest. The street is already filled with people going about their everyday lives.

Carriages moved here and there, the sound of traffic, the sound of the neighborhood's blacksmith making a hammering sound from his workshop. and also the bakers in the bakery going back and forth, I could see them through the transparent glass doors.

...

After 20 minutes of walking I finally got to the market. I couldn't afford a carriage, well not yet anyways.

Rows and rows of shops lined up the street, with some merchants calling out to customers to buy their goods.

It was a very big market being a central market for the region of the west. Merchandise from the whole region could be found here. Ranging from potions, weapons, armors, foods, crystals of different colours, some glowing stones kept in transparent enchanted boxes, several enchanted equipments, edible monster parts, weird crystals and so much more; it was lively.

But that wasn't where my attention laid. I walked a few more minutes before arriving at a small workshop. I pushed open the door and saw the owner,  he was a blind old man, sitting crossed-legged on a stool, surrounded by an assortment of  swords and blades, looked up at me as if sensing my arrival.

“Hey kid, welcome to old man Willow's” shop. What can I do for you?”

“(Bowing). Greetings, honorable merchant. I am having my first dungeon raid today, and i seek a sword, do you have any worthy ones?”

“(Smiling) Ah, your first hunt, i have just the thing.”

He rummages through his collection for a few minutes before returning with a blade in a black sheath.

“This one perhaps?”

He unsheathes the sword revealing a blade with a glinting body and the hilt is adorned with crystals, probably enchanted ones.

He passed me the blade. Honestly, I'm impressed by it. It feels just like the one I used during my training.

“This is a fine blade. how much is it?” I asked.

He turns to me with a sly smile on his face.

‘What could he be thinking that's making him make such an expression?  He better not try anything funny, else I'll beat his old ass.’ 

I ranted in my head.

his smile turns into a grin.

‘Why do I feel like he heard what I said. I didn't say that out loud, right?’

I shudder at the probability that he could hear my thoughts, I better start singing in my head.

‘hehehehehe, this kid sure is smart, but I'm more advanced than he is, I'm gonna make a fortune out if this.”

Soni hurriedly replied before he changes his mind.’

“For you, I'll say.... 500 Copper pieces.”

Uhn!!!   500 Copper pieces for one sword

This guy is a cheat.  but
compared to other merchants, it'll be higher than that. I push my luck one last time to reduce the price.

“(Hesitates) That's a bit steep for me. I can offer 300.”

“(Chuckles) You drive a hard bargain, I like that.” He paused for a few seconds before continuing.

“Tell you what, I'll give you for 350 copper pieces. Take it or leave it.” He replies in finality.

“(Sighs) Okay. Okay. I'll be buying a leather armor also, and a dagger. And also a boot with speed boost. Yeah. They should be enchanted. How much is it?” I asked in defeat.

“Without enchantments for the armor, it's 90 copper pieces, same price for the dagger.”he continues. “With enchantments it's 250 Copper pieces for the armor, and 200 pieces for the dagger, and 150 pieces for the boots.”

He finished with a big smile on his face, making the wrinkles more visible.

My left eyes twitches,  but I still hand over the money to him, buying the four items; The Enchanted sword, armor, dagger and boot, which costs 950 copper pieces.

“I need a new sword holder this one looks unattractive.” I said to him.

He rolls his eyes already knowing I was trying to get back at him.

He goes into his store to change the holder.

My copper coins are nearly finished with only 50 copper pieces left.

“(Sighs) I'll just use ten copper pieces to buy food for the journey the rest are going into my Pouch.”

I picked up the sword and checked it. Swinging left and right, just as I was thought. After a few tries I picked up the dagger, standing in a defensive position and stabbing illusionary monsters,  earning a few weird stares from passers by.

I scratched my head in embarrassment and strap the dagger onto my waist with the sword in my hand. Then I checked the armor and noticed a slight tingly feeling from it on my finger tip.

I put it on, and I immediately felt energized. Must be the enchantments boosting my stats. If it was activated by now I would have been able to see it.  According to him, the sword added 5 points to each stat. While the leather armor added 2 points to my Strength. The red boots of speed increased my Agility by 2 points also.

Well it's better than going into a dungeon unprepared.

The Old man returns a few moments later with a now darker sword holder I hurriedly walked away from his shop.

He happily waves at me“Come trade with me again back kid! I'll love to buy your excess loots and I will be sure to have more quality equipments for you”

“I am never going back to that store except I have enough coins” I whisper as I walked towards a food shop that had just opened and used 10 copper pieces to buy food.

Happily munching on it as I walked away.

.....
.....