These lands were still confusing to her, different kinds of people, places, things, creatures and just about everything else. Coming from a more strict land far too the East, even further than Parvpora, the liberation that these lands enjoyed was… exciting. Finding mercenary work had been a difficult at first as Common was not her first language, but with some persistence and help she managed to get a few smaller jobs. That got her foot in the door and allowed her to save enough for extra clothing, and some much needed work on her weapons, and some left over. That meant now she was working on making nearly a pure profit, more so if a client provided a meal during the working time, she was clear that much more.

The ronin had started out in Adeluna, moved North-East to Vilpamolan, from there further North to Laeto, through Vada through the desert and finally in Sularia. The jobs between had netted her a nice bit of cash and since the whole trip had been just over a month, she decided it was time to treat herself. In a city of nearly all women Kawabata felt comfortable as she conversed with some of the locals in her somewhat broken Common, eventually figuring out that there were indeed a few places here like she was looking for.

Making her way through the city Kawabata came to the Yellow District, specifically a brothel she had been told would meet her needs.

That was how, a few hours ago, she had secured herself a private room with a bath in it and two working females, she was splurging, yes, but Kawabata figured she deserved it by now. While she did enjoy the company of a male now and then, in this kind of setting she was happier with another woman, or two, instead. The evening had started out with Kawabata watching the two put on a small show for her first before joining them. Next came a bath for each of them. Kawabata was first, with warm water in the bath the two working females, both of them elves, took their time cleaning her, before they drained the bath and refilled it for one of the elves to take her being cleaned, and then same for the last.

After mutual toweling off to dry it was back to the bed for the rest of the night.

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The next morning Kawabata was feeling perfectly refreshed, and, as they had been asked to do, both elven women had stayed with her the whole night. A few shared pleasantries later and some light touches and both elven women took their leave, allowing the ronin some time alone with her thoughts.

As if reading her mind, there was a knock on the door and one of the elven ladies had come back, she had Kawabata’s clothing freshly cleaned for her. Kawabata tipped her with a little extra silver and a quick kiss, for the extra service rendered. Getting herself dressed the ronin headed back out into the city by mid-morning, a couple hours before noon and she’d be hungry by then, but, for now, a vender was selling fresh brewed coffee which she got a mug of.

Wondering the streets as more people came out for the morning, Kawabata headed over to the White District. Dressed in simple clothing and of average height the ronin somewhat stood out in this city. Long black hair tied back in a tail kept her vision clear, while the large heart tattoo on her chest with an even larger snake wrapping around it was clearly visible. Well, part of the snake was visible, as the elves the night before had found out, the snake tattoo was much larger than it appeared on her chest. Her arms had what looked like claw marks tattooed on them, however, in the marks were flowers of multiple colours. At her side was a beautiful sheath containing an even more beautiful sapphire katana, a wakizashi sat on her other hip in its own sheath.

Kawabata was curious to see what the smiths in this district had to offer, but she wanted to watch some of the fighting first. Finding a place to lean against the fence, the ronin watched the current fighters start to duke it out. That fight was entertaining to watch and the next match was between two swordsmen. It was as these two fought that Kawabata considered giving it a go herself. Winning here in front of a crowd might get her some extra attention for a new job if there was anyone around watching looking to hire her services.

It had been a good choice to settle down in Arri. Baltil had too much competition among weaponsmiths due to its reputation while Sularia had a more temperate with the same access to alchemical materials. Being male meant he was a rarity on Sularia's streets however the city was very reasonable in how people were treated. Raizel's primary focus was to refine and home his skills while scouting for potential customers. Weapons and armor enhanced with alchemy were custom-designed, so it wasn't as if he could forge items in advance like a standard smithy. Watching sparring matches in the White District was a regular part of his routine, as where he currently lived was close by. If there were fresh recruits today he'd join, but his combat skill wasn't on par with a well trained fighter or a seasoned elite. 

His copper hair hung loosely just past his shoulders with a slight uneven edge, having trimmed it himself a month ago. His eyes looked over the crowd present, noting a few faces that weren't locals. There was another reason he had for watching these matches–it was a direct way for him to see what weapons which fighters favored and how they used them in combat. If he wanted to sell them a new piece of weaponry, then he needed to convince them that it was worth the price to replace what they currently had. Sentimental attachments aside, he could try to see if they'd be willing to buy armor and other equipment. 

Members of the White Court already had their arrangements to supply their armory, and he wasn't equipped to handle many orders at once. His best bet would be to focus on others, like the dark-haired woman who looked like she came from Ataiyo. The styling of the sheathed sword by her side matched the regional design, however Raizel wasn't able to guess anything else by just looking. If he couldn't compete in forging standard weaponry, then specializing in crafting exotic ones might be the niche he was looking for. 

Turning his attention to the bout, Raizel began analyzing the two swordsmen. Tracking their movements, angles of attack, and stances, he created a mental profile on how each of them fought. Each fighter's height, weight, and body structure told him more on how to make the ideal weapon that would enhance their capabilities and complement their personal combat styles. A weapon was more than just a tool, it was an extension of oneself. It wasn't enough to just have something that got the job done. Compared to the cheers of the spectators, the young man was quiet as he followed the match fully absorbed in thought.

The two swordsmen fought well against each other, they had clearly fought against each other many times, as they were smiling, having fun with this fight. It was a fast paced fight that lasted a good few minutes until one of them gained an advantage and pressed it, sweeping the blade from his friend’s hands to end the fight. The crowd cheered as the winner retrieved the other’s blade from the ground and handed it back over before clasping his shoulder, yes, that had been a friendly bought indeed.

As the next match was getting started, Kawabata decided she wanted in on this. She found the operator of the arena and signed up, paying a small entry fee and getting what rules there were told to her. No killing, no dismembering, that was about it really, nearly everything else could be healed easily with magic from the clerics on standby. Winning conditions were determined by the fighters if they wished. The ronin decided against using her sapphire katana and instead checked it in with the area staff for safe keeping before summoning her Ataiyan katana instead. It was crafted for drawing strikes, as it stored power in the scabbard, having both swords gave her options, as well having access to a naginata, but she did not bring that out at this time.

After the fight between the current combatants was over, it was Kawabata’s turn to step into the arena. She could hear some muttering among the locals as she was a newcomer so they were curious about her, she could hear a few mentions of tattoo work and that brought a small grin to her face. Her opponent stepped into the ring, a tall elf woman carrying a gorgeous rapier of shimmering metal in her delicate hand. ”Do you have a win condition in mind?’/ She asked simply.

”First to draw blood from the abdomen?” Kawabata suggested.

The elf grinned. ”Daring, I like it, newcomer. First blood from the abdomen it is.” She said aloud so others could hear what the condition was, which quickly spread through the crowd. The last two had been win by disarming, this was blood now, so the crowd was interested to see who would win; the known local, or the unknown outsider.

The announcer called for them to get ready so Kawabata did just that by getting into a ready stance; her legs wide for support, left hand holding the scabbard while her right was on the hilt ready to draw. She inhaled deeply as she waited for the signal to begin…

Everyone's focus was on the new set of challengers. Raizel paid close attention to the way Kawabata postured herself and how the opposing duelist took her stance. A katana against a rapier–an unorthodox match-up but an excellent opportunity to compare two different weapons. Rapiers were built for high precision and designed for the emphasis on the tip. A katana was made for slashing, cutting, sweeping movements. The tip could stab but overall the weapon would make contact with more surface area on the body. Deeper cuts were to be expected. This match would pit swiftness against power. The stakes were higher than the last round, but that would mean he would be able to observe them in conditions closer to real combat. 

Raizel had never been a natural when it came to fighting. It wasn't because he was a pacifist, but because he didn't have the innate talent. Physically he wasn't any better than a human, so he had to rely on the capability of his tools and quick thinking. In some cases even humans surpassed him in more ways than one. Once the signal for the fight was given, all eyes were on the incoming first strikes. The flurry of the rapier and the explosive initial drawing of the katana from its scabbard showed how the weapon's balance contributed to its wielder. The powerful strikes of the katana required upper-body strength and a stable core, while the legs acted to counterbalance and maintain movement. It was a very offense-oriented style, best used for first strikes to gain overwhelming momentum. The rapier allowed one to switch between offense and defense as the situation allowed, but movements had to be calculated. As the majority of the damage was dealt using the sharpened tip, the duelist had to keep an eye for openings and move before their opponent closed the distance. 

Raizel noted he would have to see some examples of similar weapons to better grasp how to craft them if he was intending to specialize in this way. Different weapons required different forging techniques too, to add on to the alchemical infusions. He was counting on two possibilities for this fight: the duelist scoring a blow due to a gap in the swordswoman's strikes, or the swordswoman creating an opening for herself by throwing off the duelist's rhythm to bypass a potential block with the rapier.

The ref shouted start and the ring of steel on steel echoed half a second later as the rapier was brought forward to intercept the fast draw strike from the katana. In a heartbeat both women had read the others’ intentions and were ready for it, and both grinned to each other in the moment their blades were crossed. Kawabata shifted her weight and pushed the elf woman back and brought her katana down in a horizontal arc, which the elf danced back from before lunging forward. She was trying to take advantage of the recovery time Kawaba would need to bring her sword back around to block the rapier, however the ronin brought her empty left hand up. The fight stopped again for a moment as the point of the rapier had stopped in Kawabata’s open palm, it had cut in half an inch and then looked as though it had hit something solid if the slight bend in the blade was any indication.

The ronin grinned as the elf looked puzzled but then barely got out of the way as the katana in Kawaba’s right hand came back to slice. A missed again and the elf’s rapier was removed from Kawabata’s hand, leaving a trickle of blood that she could ignore. ”Neat trick.”

”Comes in handy.” The fight continued, they may have differing weapons and styles, but it was easy to each of them knew their chosen weapon well and how to counter the others’ weapon in turn.

To them an unknown amount of time passed, for everyone else, it was maybe ten minutes or so and both women had been giving their all that whole time. Both were heaving for breath and they had their collection of cuts and scrapes on their arms or legs, the results of allowing an un-blockable attack hit in a place that would not end the bout. Any time the elf managed to get a jab in at Kawabata her rapier never made it more than half an inch into her skin before hitting something hard, even on the muscles on her legs.

Both combatants looked like they wanted this done with as they came at each other with everything they had left. The elf read Kawabata’s movements as the ronin made them and came in on Kawabata’s open side, however, as the katana moved it was released from her grasp. The elf took but a fraction a second to see where the blade was going before she realized her mistake. With mutual grunts they collided against each other, panting and the crowd was quiet for a moment as they tried to figure out what had happened.

The elf went to back away from Kawabata but the ronin twisted her left hand hard as disarmed the elf woman. ”What…?! She breathed and then flinched a bit of pain caught up to the adrenalin in her body. She looked down to see an inch long cut in her stomach oozing blood and she looked to Kawabata.

In the ronin’s left hand was her katana’s scabbard, with the elf’s rapier sticking out of it, while, in her right hand she held her wakizashi with a little blood on it. Kawabata had made her movements carefully to make the elf act as she wanted her to before distracting her with the unexpected move of releasing her katana in sight. That gave Kawabata the opening she needed to use her empty scabbard to catch the rapier, without damaging it, and left her now free right hand to draw the smaller blade from her belt.

After a moment the elf collected her thoughts and actually smiled. ”Well fought, stranger.”

”You as well, very enjoyable.” Kawabata replied as the crowd reacted, some cheered some were not as happy. She held the scabbard out for the elf to retrieve her rapier from before retrieving her katana from where it had landed on the ground next to her. Done for now, Kawabata exited the arena and found a place to sit getting a drink of water as she did from a vendor.

That had been exhilarating!

He didn't regret choosing to focus on this fight. The higher stakes did increase the variation in attacks and counters the two women threw at each other, more than just steel hitting steel. The pace was quicker with both more on edge with the unorthodox and outright daring moves each used to find the right moment of opportunity. Now they weren't avoiding blows, but twisting and turning trying to throw each other off. There was blood but the match wouldn't end until one landed in the right spot. The fight went on, turning into a battle of wills. The first to make a mistake would be the first to lose. As Raizel watched, he noticed something unusual in how the duelist was acting. Though the rapier was designed for quick punctures and sharp cuts, at times it seemed as if she was met by some sort of unseen resistance. 

He wondered if they were using magic alongside their weapons, since he didn't distinctly recall if that was allowed or not. Regardless, it wasn't giving the elf a distinct disadvantage. By now only those who were here to appreciate the finer points of combat remained attentive, but soon both combatants decided it was time to end the game. The two rushed at each other and collided, separating quickly after. Everyone now had their eyes on them, wondering if it was a feint or if it was finally over. Unfortunately he wasn't able to see the details from his place in the crowd, but Raizel did see the elf duelist's look of surprise and a mark of bright red on her abdomen, meaning she had lost. She then removed her rapier from the swordswoman's scabbard, and it was then that he noticed the latter's little 'trick'. Clever, very clever. So she actually had multiple weapons on her, choosing to create the impression that the katana was her focus. As the crowd dispersed and the two went their separate ways he was quick to make his way over to Kawabata before anyone else caught her attention.

"That was a good play you made back there." The young man with copper brown hair and eyes said, waving to her casually. "Interested in having repairs or adding something to what you already have? Never know when you might need an extra edge in a fight outside of a match. My name's Raizel, I'm an artificer. And you?" Breaking the ice wasn't his thing, but he'd need to get used to it if he wanted to get more exposure for business. 

When the young voice spoke up Kawabata turned to face the young man who had approached her and was speaking. He first complimented her fight before offering repairs or additions to the weapons she had. ”Kawabata.” She replied simply first as she finished her drink. ”It was an exhilarating bout, that elf nearly had me a few times.”

As for her weapons she drew the Ataiyan katana and set it on the table she was next to. She then reached out an empty hand and in a blink another katana appeared, a Sapphire one in its scabbard that she set along side her other katana. She then reached out again and a tall Arriese Naginata shimmered in her grasp, this she leaned against instead of setting aside. ”What could you propose you could with these?” She thought a moment. ”If it’s in your abilities, what I could use is a way to send these somewhere when I’m not using them. I believe I have seen other store larger objects in small boxes and bags before, that would be useful.”

Before Raizel could reply another figured stepped up to them, it was the elf woman from the fight. She had gotten the cut healed, but her shirt was still ripped and stained. Without a word but with a grin she held a drink out to Kawabata, who took it and smelled it, mead, interesting. Clanking their glasses together the ronin and elf down the glasses in one go each. A polite nod in thanks from the ronin as the elf took the glass back, but, as she did, she slipped a paper into Kawabata’s hand. Raising a brow she opened it, away from the young man’s sight, to inspect it, and a grin appeared on her face again. It was a note, to meet the elf that night at a tavern in town, she had a room, interesting.

Placing the paper into her pocket to see the tavern name handy, she looked back to her current conversation. ”So, would that be something you can make?”

He knew he didn't have much of a reputation yet, so Raizel was surprised when Kawabata considered his offer. As she laid out a variety of various weapons she had, he took a good look at them to see what he'd be working with. "Seems like someone already covered the typical concerns for these weapons." He said, running his fingers over the runes. The more enchantments an object had the more complicated it was to work with if you wanted to add additional ones. Sometimes different enchantments would clash with each other leading to magical instability or nullification at best. "I don't think there's much I can do here, unless there's an additional minor effect you want to add." All of them appeared to have a notable level of runic enchantment already inbued into them, but her request made him pause. 

"That might be a bit out of my depth. Arcane summoning and dismissal aren't difficult on their own, however once you add spatial magic things get much more complex–especially storing objects inside things physically smaller than them. What I can do though is create a holding place for these weapons which will reside at a physical location with an arcane anchor. This will allow the weapons to be physically removed from the holding area when called and will return them once they are dismissed." This was his best alternative. Not only would it avoid possible interference with the weapons' current enchantments, but it performed the same function. "If you're alright with this, I can forge a pair of personalized seals. One will act as the anchor, while the other will have to be worn on your person if you want to use this function. Once activated, they should work with anything you register as yours."

If she declined, then that was that. She'd have to find someone with more experience and resources to make the enchanted storage box she wanted, or find a person who was selling one. Owning one cost a pretty penny unless you had the right connections. He had been lucky enough to receive such a box as a gift from his half-sister before he left Parvpora.