Qing's Quest book 2, Chapter 16: Smell Test

Qing snapped the dagger out of the air, pinched between thumb and index finger.

Item: [Venom’s Whisper, Level 13, Rare]

Crafted from the toxins of a South Sea Serpent, this dagger glimmers a lethal green hue. Etched with ancient runes, it promises agony and demise. When stuck, it secrets a poison that courses through its victims, breaking their flesh from the inside. The handle, made from serpent bone, provides a steady grip.

Attack Power: 250

+15-30 poison damage over 5 seconds.

(Dagger, one-handed weapon)

“What the hell are you thinking?” he said, snapping at Morgana. “It’s a literal poison dagger! Why would you throw it at me?”

She shrugged. “Didn’t scratch you now, did I?”

“No, but you could have!”

Knut stalked over and poked her shoulder. “And you just told everyone here that we can identify items.”

“Was that supposed to be a secret?” Morgana said.

“Yeah? We could have made a fortune,” Knut said, glancing around. From the looks the merchants gave them, Morgana’s comments hadn’t gone unnoticed.

“Well, is it poisoned or not?” Morgana asked.

Knut looked at Qing and arched an eyebrow. He rolled his eyes and moved the dagger to his right hand. Knut nodded, but continued staring at him.

“What else am I supposed to do?” he asked. “That’s all there is to this thing.”

While the duo moved to finish the purchase Qing walked along the tables, browsing.

What can help us free Jenny and Cleo, and defeat Rufus? Has he gotten stronger since we fought?

He trailed a hand across a green leather armour.

My breastplate is powerful, as is my belt. Maybe I can find something that gives me a new spell…

“Hold this for a moment,” Knut said and handed him an amulet that looked like a black and shriveled heart.

Item: [Demon’s Bane Brooch, Level 16, Epic]

Forged from the heart of a vanquished shadow demon, it thrums with a dark energy. Encased in black metal that absorbs light, runes glowing faintly red covers it. Wearers of this brooch find their strikes against demonic foes strengthened, granting them a significant advantage in battle against spawns of hell.

+20% damage to demons.

(Amulet)

Qing grinned.

Wow! This is the type of items we need. What was the sign for Epic again?

He shifted the item to his right hand and crinkling his nose, lifted it up and smelled it.

“Is something the matter, my brother?” the merchant said, clasping his hands and waggling his bushy eyebrows. “This amulet is said to bring good luck for travelling through hot places, like the desert, where shade is hard to find. You rarely get a chance to buy yourself peace of heart.” He smiled and leaned forward to trace a finger across the black metal.

If I’d had this when defending Shadowgrove… How many lives could have been saved? Even just doing twenty percent more damage to Vileheart would have been fantastic. But I can’t wear it for three levels.

“Sixteen links in the chain, isn’t there?” Qing said, using the code to let Knut know he couldn’t use the item for another three levels.

“Sixteen links?” the man said with a confused look. “I don’t know if it matters, but there are over twenty.”

“You are right,” Qing said.

This is dumb.

“How much is he asking for the amulet?”

Knut told him.

“Pay him what he asks,” Qing said, and reached for the amulet.

“No!” Knut looked shocked and held his hands up placatingly. “Give me a moment with my friend.”

“What?” Qing asked as Knut dragged him away. “Believe me. That amulet is worth a hundred times what he asks.”

“I don’t give a shit if it’s worth it or not,” Knut said. “We can’t just pay the asking price!”

“But it’s an excellent price. It’ll barely make a dent in our funds. He doesn’t know what he has at all.”

“That doesn’t matter,” Knut said, hissing.

“Why not?”

“Why—Is this your first time—” Knut slapped his forehead. “Of course it is.” He took a deep breath. “Look. In Zylphadia, commerce is an art. One that is as much about the negotiations as it is the final price. If we agree to the first price, we either disrespect him, he disrespects us, or he has been scammed. Any of which is a bad way to make a friend.”

“I don’t care,” Qing said. “Let’s just get the things we need and get going.”

A shadow fell across Knut’s face. “I understand you don’t care,” he poked Qing with an index finger, pushing himself back a step. “But trading is an art form, one that is worth doing right. And I do care. I care because it’s the fastest way to get the items we need, to stay under the radar, and because the world is tiny as fuck. Start screwing people over and you’ll find yourself backed into a corner faster than you can shit on a stick. Now stop working against me and start helping. You got that?”

Qing could feel his hands ball into fists, but he stopped it.

This is such a waste of time. We could just take what we needed and go. But then we’d turn more of the city against us. What if we were forced to flee before saving Cleo? Then what?

“Fine,” Qing said, “but hurry. The longer we spend shopping, the closer your world is to oblivion and the death of everyone you love.”

Knut rolled his eyes. “As if I could forget. Now come and play your part.”

Qing followed Knut back to the now glaring merchant.

“It seems my friend misheard you. We will gladly pay one-third,” Knut said.

The merchant sputtered. “One-third? That’s—you want me to cut my own hand off? No offense to Jorik. Be reasonable.”

“It’s a pretty amulet and might serve as a fitting gift for a vain lover,” Qing said. “But I doubt its protection against the sun.”

“It is magical, I promise, on my mother-in-law’s health!”

Knut chuckled. “Trying to get rid of two problems at the same time?”

The merchant spat on the floor. “I need at least three-quarters of the starting price.”

“For three-quarters, I can find a mage and make a better amulet myself,” Knut said.

“Half.”

“Two-fifths.”

“My own mother will turn in her grave and curse my name if I let it go for anything less than half,” the merchant said, and it looked as if his eyes grew misty.

“Then half it is,” Knut said. “Your face reminds me of your mother, and I’d happily pay extra to make sure she stays in the ground.”

The merchant chuckled and waggled a finger at Knut. “You are a bad man! While the price is fair, I feel like a camel who has been visited by my second cousin Raisuli.”

Knut laughed as he handed over the money. Amulet in hand, he offered it to Qing, who shook his head and said, “For now, you wear it. It shall strengthen your—” Knut’s glare shut him up, and he weakly finished, “chances with the ladies.”

Next up, they bought a ring, increasing Knut’s magical resistances.

Item: [Elemental Band, Level 15, Rare]

Crafted from the pure magical essence, the ring constantly shifts its appearance, cycling through the elemental energies. Tiny symbols representing each element encircle the band, and it enhances the wearer’s protection against all forms of elemental attacks.

+5 to all resistances.

(Ring)

“What about this, and this, and this?” Knut asked as they cycled through items, but they were all common or uncommon, with a few magic items in between. But then Knut handed him a dagger that gleamed blue, as if containing LED lighting.

Item: [The Mana Reaper’s Dagger, Level 17, Epic]

Made for a court elementalist of Kaeloria, it was passed down from spellcaster to spellcaster. Forever the sidearm, never the star of the fight, it nevertheless has saved its users’ lives a dozen times over. Inscribed with ancient runes, the user absorbs mana from defeated enemies.

Attack Power: 200

+5 mana per kill.

(Dagger, One Handed)

Qing shifted it to his right hand and smelled it. There was a charge to it, like that of a battery, and he felt a certain pull on it. The merchant stared.

This would have an enormous impact on my staying power for prolonged fights. Once I hit level seventeen.

“I think it’s time you insulted this man’s mother,” Qing said to Knut with a smile.

“Oh, for crying out loud…” Knut said.

How to incorporate seventeen into the conversation?

“I’ve only seen seventeen such daggers before in my life,” Qing said, feeling smug.

The merchant’s smile faded. “They assured me it was unique.”

Qing shook his head. “Unique?” He shook his head in disgust, handed the dagger to Knut, and walked off.

That should show him.

Not long after, Knut shuffled up next to him and discreetly slipped him the dagger. “I thought you didn’t know how to haggle.”

“You mean the old fade-away? Learned that one from my grandma,” Qing said. “She’s a master negotiator. Haggles for half a dollar on a thousand-dollar purchase.” He smiled and looked up at the sky.

I love you, grandma. If you’re watching, I hope I make you proud.

Then Morgana rushed over. “I need your help,” she said.

Qing turned, looking in every direction, but could spot no threat.

“You need to buy me a pair of boots.”

“Boots!?” Qing said.

“What’s wrong with the pair you have?” Knut asked.

“Just come look,” Morgana said, grabbing them both by the arm and pulling them towards the furthest booth. Behind stood a mountain of a man dressed in skin-tight silk clothing that showed off every bulging muscle.

“Welcome.”

Qing was taken aback, wondering if it could be an enchantment. The man’s voice was that of a ten-year-old boy singing in a Catholic choir.

“Show them the boots,” Morgana said, and the man reached down, and before straightening, looked around as if to check that nobody else was watching, then placed two knee-high boots on top of the table.

Morgana sighed in pleasure, as if it was the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen. They were shiny, as if made from wet silk, but so black that Qing squinted, trying to see if there were any stars within.

“Aren’t they gorgeous?” Morgana said, sighing as she ran a finger up one. There wasn’t a sound from them.

Let’s see what we’ve got.

Qing picked them up.

Item: [Boots of the Twilight Strider, Level 30, Epic]

Crafted from the ethereal silk of the twilight moth, known for its ability to thrive in both darkness and light, it pulls in light and sound. With dampened footsteps, these boots help the wearer weave through the world with grace and strike with precision.

+25 Defence

+10 Dexterity

Silenced footsteps while walking

(Boots)

He barely stopped himself from giving a whistle.

Level thirty? The stats aren’t much, but that status effect… Would be fantastic for sneaking Morgana into places.

He moved them to his right hand and, with a sigh, lifted them to his nose.

“What are you doing?” Morgana said, eyes wide.

“You don’t want smelly boots, do you?”

“What? No, I guess not... Do they smell?”

“No,” Qing said. “They’re fine,” and he handed them to Knut and walked away, cheeks blushing.

This is a really stupid system.

He muttered to himself as he stalked along the tables, barely glancing at the items. They should have gone already. As soon as Taj came back, they’d go, no matter what the others said. At this moment, Cleo could be—

Something glinted out of the corner of his eye, drawing him up short.