Chapter 34: Verranuva's Artifacts

Chapter 34: Verranuva's Artifacts

Whoa.

After experiencing the opulence of Cygnars Herblore Emporium, Verranuvas Artifacts wasnt at all what he was expecting. Pushing through a heavy metal door that had the shops crest welded onto it a card gauntlet crossed with a wooden staff his first impression had been an odd one. The store itself was well-lit and neatly kempt, but the first incongruence with his expectations was well, the surface area of the shop was incredibly small, about the size of a one bedroom apartment back on Earth.

The second surprise was when the six-foot-five titan of a man hovering over him met his gaze, in his right hand a long, curved blade that he was delicately polishing with an oil brush. Tom wasnt sure how sword maintenance was done in Artezia, but that was the last thing on his mind at that moment. Clad in leather armour, a wide serrated scar ran down his right shoulder that did not look like the work of a human. If that wasnt intimidating enough, his right eye was obfuscated with a black eyepatch that further added to the stifling aura blanketing the room. Shopkeeper?

This man was a killer.

What do you want, noble brat? A lazy sounding voice shattered the reverie Tom had trapped himself within, startling him. It was not quite the gravelly, drill instructor bark hed expected, but at the same time it carried a surprising amount of irreverence.

Tom had wondered why there were no customers crowding out before Verranuvas Artifacts, only to be confronted by the reason the moment he stepped into the store the owner, Verranuva, was absolutely terrifying. If he hadnt experienced the suppression of a higher level before in his encounter with Raulh and Cygnar, the odds were quite high that he would have instinctively fled the store. The difference here was that Verranuva seemed to want to actively impose his presence on the world and suppress him, while Raulh and Cygnar seemed to be doing it unconsciously. Visit no(v)eLb(i)n.com for the best novel reading experience

Toms mind worked rapidly as he considered his next move. If he tried to use Maya on this man, without a doubt he would trap himself in the state of Zhan. Not only did the man seem absurdly powerful, but Tom didnt like the calm, composed gaze that had met his own. If his cover was exposed.

I want ten of those, Tom pointed to a wooden rack, where ten flowing, unmarked robes in different colours were hooked on. The words basic combat robes were etched onto the rack, the robes themselves seemingly stitched out of a light-weight and flexible linen.

Huh? What do you want those cheap robes for? Verranuva asked, a flicker of interest audible in his otherwise nonchalant tone.

Polished obsidian scales adorned the gauntlets vambrace, casting a dark lustre upon the surrounding atmosphere that caused a burst of uneasiness to well up in Toms heart. Nonetheless, the arcane power it contained was enough to beckon his heart; the heart of anyone who sought power. The gloved portion of the gauntlet, if it could even be called that, resembled a beasts claw, with long, razor sharp tines jutting out that seemed sharper than his own [Nether Blade].

Tom had never really seen such a versatile weapon not only could it use the power of all the cards in his possession, but if his guess was accurate, it could also double up as a close-quarters melee weapon..

His eyes flashed with desire as Verranuva placed the gauntlet upon the table.

Tom blinked in shock.

The robust-looking wooden table began to buckle under the weight of the gauntlet, the very same gauntlet Verranuva had hoisted casually with a single arm.

Dont try to lift it, he warned as he reached for his sword and seated himself, seemingly wanting to resume his maintenance duties.

Alright, Tom offered a nod, his hands reaching for the card gauntlet with the reverence of a sword enthusiast reaching for an ancient relic.

The moment his hands made contact with the artifact though, Tom inwardly grinned.

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