Chapter 62: Jian

Just as Magnus had warned, the blade was a little strange. It had a thick spine. It’s edge curved into a hook near its tip and didn’t look particularly practical.

It was clearly intended as a shield breaker or snatcher, but that wasn’t the kind of weapon Zayn had figured himself fighting with.

Thinking back to his past fights, Zayn considered himself more of a hit-and-run speed specialist, if anything.

However...

The moment his fingers curled around the brown leather hilt and he lifted the long blade, it felt perfectly natural. As corny as it sounded, it was like an extension of his limb.

It was perfectly weighted for him.

Unable to hide his awe, Zayn muttered:

"Wow..."

Magnus burst into laughter before declaring:

"It seems I was right. Ye’re holding that thing perfectly. Though, of course I was right; I’m never wrong when it comes to blades! Bahaha!"

Zayn’s lips lifted into a slight smirk. Between Magnus’s cheer and his interactions with Jade, he’d momentarily escaped the feedback loop of regret and despair.

After swinging the blade lightly through the open air, Zayn said:

"I’ll take it."

Magnus leaned against the glass counter, raising an eyebrow:

"Oh hoh. Not gonna try anything else?"

Zayn spun the blade around and extended the hilt toward him:

"What... you don’t trust your own judgment?"

Magnus grinned:

"On about that again? Haha, yer an amusing one, Zayn. Alright..."

With that, he stepped away and disappeared into a back room, leaving Zayn with Jade.

Zayn turned to her and signed:

«I buy it.»

Jade, who’d been curiously watching the exchange, tilted her head before replying:

«That weird thing?»

Zayn nodded:

«Yes. I like it. I’d suggest you trust his judgment too.»

Jade paused, her hands hovering over her chest.

«Okay. If you say so.»

Although that was what she conveyed, her lasting stare made her doubts about Magnus’s judgment obvious.

Also...

’I’m surprised he just walked away.’

While some aspects of Adsagsona seemed modern, there was definitely no CCTV. It would have been easy to grab one of the countless weapons strewn about and flee.

Zayn didn’t want to ruin their budding business relationship, but others might not have cared as much.

But...

’I doubt this man has overlooked such a thing.’

A minute later, Magnus returned with a strange sheath shaped almost like a pea pod, complete with a belt.

Unlike a typical sheath, it used latches to hold the blade in place, which would make it difficult to draw quickly. If Zayn was going somewhere that made combat inevitable, it would be better to carry the blade unsheathed. Within town, however, that shouldn’t be a problem.

Magnus placed the sheathed blade on the counter and said:

"Alrighty, Zayn... Because ye have me favor and I agreed to discount ye, I’ll sell it fer nine silver."

Zayn handed over the nine silver coins without complaint.

"That works for me."

Magnus’s eyebrows rose:

"Oh, hoh. Not tryna haggle? I like ye even more."

That could have meant he liked how easily he could scam Zayn, but...

Zayn gestured toward the weapon:

"I’m not the most knowledgeable about weapons or the currency exchange yet, but I can tell this weapon is worth nearly everything I have, let alone nine coins."

’Coins I was merely gifted.’

Magnus gave him a crooked smile:

"I wouldn’t go admittin such a thing to a businessman such as I, friend. If I didn’t like ye, I might feel inclined to upcharge ye upon hearin that."

Zayn chuckled.

"I’d still pay."

Magnus held out the sheathed weapon with a teasing glint in his eyes:

"Oh-hoh, don’t tempt me. You’d do best to take it while you can."

Zayn accepted the weapon, officially claiming it as his. The instant the transaction was completed, he instinctively felt the system assess the blade and guide his mind to the conclusion that on the item ranking; it would be labeled UC (Uncommon).

Not exactly exquisite, but it was likely the best weapon he could possess at the moment aside from a Contracted one.

Speaking of Contracts...

’I wonder which being I should try to impress.’

His knowledge was limited, but he could vaguely recall that the Contracted beings followed a hierarchy. He could also faintly remember a few that stood at the top of that ladder. Though he knew not how to go about impressing them.

Once his business with Zayn was complete, Magnus turned to Jade and revealed another weapon he’d carried out with Zayn’s falx.

Zayn instantly recognized the design.

Holding the weapon up for Jade to see, Magnus began his spiel for Zayn to translate:

"It’s fairly light, good for rapid attacks and thrusting. While she’s gettin used to the sword, this would be a perfect fit. It’s called a jian."

’How... how in the world does he have swords from Earth?!’

Zayn didn’t know much about the falx, but he certainly recognized the jian.

Its design might have been a coincidence, but how could he explain the name?

Before translating anything for Jade, Zayn asked:

"Why is it called that?"

Magnus studied him for a moment, seemingly unsurprised by the question:

"Oh? It seems you recognized this one. Yes, both of these blades are designs from Earth. Your home world."

Zayn’s eyes widened. Before he could press him for answers, however, Magnus added:

"I’m afraid that’s all I’m allowed to say."

’Allowed... to say?’

The strange revelation only left Zayn with more questions.

Yesterday, Magnus had spoken as if he knew they’d be summoned here. Now, he knew about Earthen weaponry. Even the architecture and amenities Zayn had encountered seemed suspiciously familiar. Were they all Earthen-inspired as well?

And what about his Celtic/Scottish-like dialect? Was that a coincidence?

’What the hell is this place...?’

Sadly, Magnus clearly wasn’t going to reveal anything more.

Setting his questions aside, Zayn focused on helping Jade through the transaction. Eventually, they settled on a price of five silver, which Zayn translated as three while slipping in two of his own.

It was his way of making up for not contributing to the guild fee.

He just hoped Jade wouldn’t find out and feel indebted to him.

Thankfully, although deceiving her felt a little wrong, he was able to simply ask Magnus to help conceal what he’d done.

With that settled, Zayn turned his attention to the question he’d been waiting to ask.

’Disasters. I need to know if he knows anything.’

Anything...