Jeze arrived at Hannah''s tent in the evening. Miss Heng was a much harsher taskmaster than Seb, but the teenager recognized the urgency due to the pending arrival of the Spire. However, Jeze''s hands shook with the exhaustion from creating Channeling tools, and she was not sure if she would be able to do enchanting tonight. Time was running out, and she still needed to get armor and supplies. Ziplocke scurried up her shoulder, and Jeze also remembered that she needed to do craft paste for him and more recovery potions. It was getting dark, and most of the merchants had packed up. Hannah was waiting for Jeze.


    "I''m sorry, I don''t think I can work on armor tonight," the teenager said.


    "That is alright, Luv. You look beat, but I wanted to show you something," Hannah replied.


    Jeze followed the merchant inside where Hannah showed her the armor she had enchanted earlier. The stocky merchant had made some additional final touches by adding some pockets, and she made a matching leather cap. It was now a full suit of armor with body protection, greaves for the legs, and vambraces for the arms.


    "Whaddya think?" Hannah asked.


    Jeze studied the dark-colored armor and reflected on the hours of work she had put into it with enchantments. "It looks amazing."


    "Ooh, yeah? Look here, I had a Rune caster buddy add this," Hannah said, lifting a small flap on the side of the armor that Jeze originally thought was a pocket.


    Metal runes were stitched into the thick padding that faintly glowed. Jeze leaned in closer and realized that the Runes told the wearer if the armor was charged or not.


    "Nifty, right? You can know if the armor has power for the enchantments you put on it," Hannah explained.


    "That''s brilliant!" Jeze exclaimed.


    "Yeah, it was something I thought up. Most adventurers never took the time to learn Runes. Plus, it''s a bloody difficult skill to pick up. I remembered the only way folks would find out if their gear had magic or not was when it failed. That was awful!" Hannah said.


    "I love it! I can picture the look on their faces!" Ziplocke squealed in delight.


    "You are a strange one," Hannah observed with a shake of her head.


    Jeze examined the armor. It was lightweight and expertly crafted to offer good protection against slashes and bludgeon attacks. Hannah had sewn in plates over the vital areas to provide some resistance against piercing weapons such as spears or fangs. Jeze inspected the Rune plats she engraved. They were meshed in perfectly along the waist and sides, and through her Will, she could sense their energy.


    "What are you waiting for? Try it on!" Hannah said.


    Jeze blinked her eyes and shook her head. "I can''t afford this."


    "Oh hell, girl. It''s yours. My gift to you, besides you did the hard part. I just sewed it together from leftover materials," Hannah replied.


    Tears formed in Jeze''s eyes, and she shook her head. "This is too much," she observed.


    "Honey, don''t make this difficult. Besides, think of it as an investment on my part. You will set me up in the Safe Zones where I can make a pretty amount of coin."


    "I''m not sure how safe the zones will be this time. Word has it that the armies have not mobilized as they have in the past. The Spire will be filled with more monsters than usual," Jeze cautioned.


    "Honey, I''m no stranger to danger. I may not have passed the trials, but I have had plenty of experience in the field," Hannah said and motioned to a table.


    Jeze saw a crossbow, a round shield, a heavy gambeson worn from use, and a mace.


    "I prepared my gear, and I''m ready. So try to get Hannah inside and consider that payment for the armor. Now, for bloody sake, please put it on! I did the measurements by eye, and I want to know if it fits!"


    Jeze complied, and in moments, she was in the full set of armor. It felt perfect!


    "See that? Old Hannah knows her stuff."


    "You are an expert!" Jeze exclaimed. The armor felt almost like clothes, and she was confident she could run, climb, and fight without any restrictions.


    "Bah, what does Jeze know about a good fit? The only other armor she wore was a crappy sweat-stained set the Frostsworn gave her," Ziplocke growled.


    "Well, ain''t somebody a Mr. Grumpy pants," Hannah teased, and Jeze laughed.


    Ziplocke scowled and scampered up to Jeze''s shoulder. The shoulder pad did create a good space for him to rest, he admitted to himself with a shrug.


    "What else did you need? Do you have everything? Allow ole Hannah here to help you get ready," the merchant offered.


    Jeze nodded and unshouldered her heavy pack. First, she laid out her weapons. She had one hand axe, one battle axe, and the long knife she got from her fight with the Legionnaires at the outdoor tavern. In addition, she still had her old dagger.


    "I should get another throwing axe," Jeze reflected.


    Hannah crinkled her face and asked, "What for? You are a Rune caster, huh? Can''t you just sling spells at things? Throwing axes are not the best for range. Sure, they are good in a pinch, but they will bounce off most armor or the thick hides of the beasties."


    "I suppose, should I just keep the battle axe then?"


    Hannah snorted, "You are so green! Keep the hand axe as you will want a back up, and by the holies of holies, do you take care of your weapons?"


    Jeze''s hand axe and dagger were starting to look worn. She only kept the weapons wiped down and dry and provided no other maintenance.


    "Honey, tomorrow we are going to do some shopping before all the merchants pack up. You are gonna need some oils and a grindstone to keep your weapons clean and sharp. Like this beauty, whoever gave this to you knew how to maintain it," Hannah said as she held up the battle axe that Carl Jorgenson had given Jeze.


    The teenager was starting to realize she had a lot to learn, and she kept her mouth shut as Hannah rummaged through her pack. The merchanted nodded in approval for the silver vials that Rainbow had given Jeze.


    "These come in handy, especially if you are beset by ghosts," Hannah observed.


    "I know that all too well," Jeze recalled the memory of her ghost attack with a shudder.


    The merchant arched an eyebrow and nodded, "Alright, it looks like you''ve seen some stuff. There is hope for you, yet."


    Hannah emptied the remainder of Jeze''s pack and shook her head, "You are going to need to fold your stuff better. Traveling the Spire is not like traveling through the countryside, where you have the opportunity to hunt and find water. You may go weeks without finding food. You''ll need space for provisions."


    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    The merchant questioned the purpose of the tome and Daverius''s journal as they took up important space.


    "I need them to disarm Rune traps. They help me identify the different patterns," Jeze explained.


    Hannah shrugged and placed them aside. The merchant continued, "You got a good cloak. That can also serve as a comfortable blanket. Where are your tools? Ain''t you a scout?"


    "I need to buy a set," Jeze said and thumped her head. She had forgotten about that. In the training facility she worked with a set of tools they provided to disarm the various practice mechanisms. Could she afford a set? Jeze wondered.


    "Don''t you worry, hon. Hannah here knows some people. First thing tomorrow, we will get you a set that can fit nicely in this pack."


    The merchant showed Jeze how to make use of the straps on the side of the pack to hold back up weapons and her Channeling tools for quick access. Hannah also explained how Jeze will want to keep stuff that she will use often at the top of the pack, like the tomes and tools for disarming traps. After several moments of showing Jeze how to best fold and place things the pack, Hannah stood up with a proud smile.


    "There you have it! A properly packed backpack. Now we just gotta get you the stuff you need and place them in. I trust you know how to do this on your own," Hannah proclaimed with a proud smile.


    Jeze nodded. She could pick up new Runes, learning how to place items in a pack was easy enough for her to figure out. With that the two called it a night and went to sleep. The next morning Hannah took Jeze to visit with a few merchants.


    "I don''t want to take you away from your business," Jeze said.


    "Nonsense! How will I get a spot in the Safe Zone if you get killed, huh? Here we are. This weasel here is Von," Hannah introduced Jeze to a thin man with a pointed, narrow nose.


    Von snorted, "Half of the armor Hannah buys back was the same that she had sold!"


    Hannah and Von glared at each other before they both erupted into laughter and hugged each other.


    "What do I owe this pleasure?" Von asked.


    "This here is an Initiate ranked Scout in need of tools," Hannah said and added, "At a fair price."


    Von grumbled, "All my prices are fair." The thin man searched his inventory and came back with a leather-wrapped tool set that unfolded to show neatly lined tools.


    To Jeze''s eye they looked worn, but well kept. This was a used tool set, she realized. It a sense, it made her sad. She wanted something new, but beggars can''t be choosers, she decided.


    "You have everything you need here," Von stated and began to list the items that were within, "A small hammer, wrenches, lockpicks, a filing tool, some scissors, a dropper with a supply of oil, a magnifying glass, and a mirror."


    Jeze nodded. She was familiar with the tools from her training at the facility. "How much," the teenager asked.


    Von offered a price, and Hannah let loose a string of curses. The two went back and forth and Jeze felt that it was best that she stayed out of it. To the teenager, it reminded her of a duel between two skilled fighters. Instead of a sword and shield, Hannah and Von were equipped with witty barbs and extravagant tales.


    "Come on, Hannah! You know, after last year''s drought, times are hard for me, my wife, and six kids," Von exclaimed.


    "Kids? They are all grown adults!" Hannah exclaimed.


    Von snorted, "Useless good-for-nothings. But I love them, and they still need to be fed," Von returned.


    And so they went until finally they agreed to a price. "Gonna make me go broke," Von grumbled.


    Jeze looked to Hannah, and the stocky merchant nodded. Jeze paid Von, and the thin man smiled warmly, "May these serve you well. Without the Scout, no team can adventure through the Spire. Remember your value."


    Jeze politely smiled and felt that was an odd statement. She figured Von had said it from experience. Typically, everyone celebrates the Strikers and the Leaders of the teams as they were the ones who took down the giant monsters. Jeze didn''t care about that. She was more interested in the adventure itself. The challenge and the thrill of success. Next Hannah took Jeze to get a grindstone, oil and cloth to maintain her weapons.


    "You keep the edges wrapped and oil them after every use," Hannah explained.


    Jeze nodded and folded the new items neatly into her backpack.


    "What else do you need?" Hannah asked.


    "To make my paste!" Ziplocke shrieked in delight. The Goblin danced on Jeze''s shoulder.


    Hannah arched an eyebrow.


    "Yes, and I want to make potions," Jeze added.


    "Ahh, let me introduce you to Flora," Hannah responded.


    Flora was a plump elderly looking woman who operated a stand that smelled of nature. It was lined with dozens of plants in pots. On the shelves were jars filled with crushed herbs and roots that offered various medicinal and arcane functions. Flora spoke gently and was patient. If Jeze had more time, she could probably spend hours with the elderly woman to learn more of the potion making craft.


    "This is the Yelith root. It is good for healing injuries. It grows in the Plains of Liawpia and is harvested by their Spirit Walkers for its connection to the spirit realm. It is for that purpose that the Yelith root is great for healing elixirs," Flora explained.


    "Do you have the Rune patterns to make the potion?" Jeze asked.


    Flora nodded with a soft smile and produced a folded white scroll. Jeze thanked her for it but then discovered that it was not for free. Everything in the gentle old lady''s stall had a price.


    "Don''t let the nice grandmother look fool you. Flora will take all of your coin if you are not careful," Hannah cautioned with a twinkle in her eye.


    Flora nodded gently. In the end, Jeze spent most of her remaining coin in Flora''s shop for the Yelith root, a dozen empty potion jars, and the scroll.


    "Don''t fret about the loss of money. Being able to stay healthy is worth much more," Hannah explained.


    The merchant bid Jeze farewell and returned to her tent, where the teenager met up with Frostsworn.


    "Oh, ho! Look at that armor!" Helga exclaimed.


    "Now you look like a proper Proven," Rolfe added with a pat to Jeze''s shoulder with his large hand. It nearly knocked her over.


    Dunar told the team that they will ease up on the training in order to keep their bodies healthy for when the Wandering Spire arrives. They jogged in full gear around the courtyard and practiced drilling. Most of their time was spent on packing and preparing.


    "Can you make these patterns?" Jeze asked Mikal and showed him the scroll she purchased from Flora.


    The serious, dark-haired Frostsworn studied the markings and nodded. "Yes, I am familiar with them. Just not this pattern. What is it for?"


    "To make healing potions," Jeze answered.


    "You are an alchemist?" Dunar asked.


    "I have some skill," Jeze replied.


    Mikal narrowed his eyes and asked, "Will your potions help us or poison us?"


    Jeze grinned and replied, "I guess we will find out."


    Ziplocke cackled with evil glee.


    "You two get to work on that. Helga and Rolfe go to the market and start buying provisions," Dunar ordered.


    They were able to make a dozen healing potions to fill the jars. Mikal examined them with his Will and nodded in approval.


    "These should work," he commented.


    "Of course they will!" Jeze stated with confidence.


    It was time for her to head over to the Runic Research Division. The Safe Zone Squads were wrapping up the final preparations. Everyone was given a Channeling tool and a scroll on how to repair the Portal Runes as needed. Most of the members, like Jeze, had teams they could work with. Miss Heng asked Jeze to spend the time going over how to properly inspect the Runes before Channeling the final glyphs to activate them. Jeze instructed the group for over an hour, and when she finished, her heart dropped in her chest. Standing beside Miss Heng was Drake. The dark-skinned man had a warm smile on his face. Jeze knew the rage that smile hid.


    "I''m excited to work with you again," Drake said.


    Jeze narrowed her eyes and replied, "We are not working together. I will never work with you."


    Drake''s face had a quizzical expression, and he asked, "You have not heard?"


    “What?” Jeze demanded.


    "The Safe Zone Squads will be embedded with the Legion," the man with the burn scars answered.


    "No!" Jeze cried.


    Miss Heng nodded and replied, "With Seb''s passing and the extensive resources the Empire can provide, it was decided that it would be best that each Safe Zone Squad be assigned to a contingent of Legionnaires."


    Jeze felt a ball of rage build up in her stomach, and her lips quivered. But she checked herself. Orn''s words echoed in her mind, "The wise among us understand that everything we do is connected."


    Jeze utilized the Will she forged within herself through hours of Rune casting to steady her rage. She nodded to Miss Heng and Drake and excused herself without another word. Training with the axe has shown Jeze the importance of timing. Striking at the wrong moment could throw one off balance. This was not the time, but Jeze would wait. As the Berserker had instructed her. Words, like with an axe swing, once said, can not be taken back. The same could be true with actions. Jeze had options, and it would not serve her purpose if she had revealed them now.


    “Very wise. Just like the Darkness aspect, keep your thoughts hidden and your enemies guessing,” Ziplocke whispered into Jeze’s ear.


    The teenager nodded. She was tired of being pushed around and discovered that fighting back didn’t work for her. Instead, Jeze will bide her time and she vowed she will not be forced into things. Not this time and not ever again.