[Chapter 60. Unhappy Faces]

  Searanox looked at the shop and opened the Accessory option, his brow furrowing with weary resignation as he mentally clicked through the interface that felt increasingly restrictive with each category. The list appeared before him—three items, each more underwhelming than the last. Their descriptions seemed to mock his dwindling resources. He ran his fingers through his hair, frustration mounting as he scanned the meager offerings. Wondering if this system was designed to systematically bleed him dry while providing nothing of value.

  His eyes did a double take as they caught the description of the necklace, his breath catching in his throat. A flicker of disbelief crossed his features before he could mask it with his usual indifference. He couldn't hide his surprise, a rare crack in his carefully constructed facade.

  The necklace materialized in a shimmer of blue light, the delicate silver chain catching the dim violet illumination of the room as it appeared and before it could even begin to fall. Searanox already had his hand clasped around it, his fingers closing with almost desperate speed.

  The metal felt unexpectedly cool against his skin, a stark contrast to the warmth of his palm.

  He thought while putting the necklace into his pocket. Then he opened Consumables and Materials.

  A small box of wood, its surface marked with faint scratches and a rectangular stone with leather strips. Rough and gray with fine abrasive particles clinging to its edges, fell onto the pile of stuff with a soft thud that seemed to absorb the dim violet light of the room. The repair kit looked flimsy, the leather strips thin and poorly stitched. As if they would tear at the first sign of stress. The whetstone was equally disappointing, its surface uneven and its weight light.

  "That would be all. The rest you can loot yourself or earn from me." At the last part, his gaze fell on Sarah. His eyes narrowing slightly as he took in her trembling form, her wide terrified eyes darting between him and the pile of pathetic gear at his feet. The weight of his stare seemed to press down on her, making her shrink further into the sofa. Her knuckles white where she clutched Lana's arm, the fabric of her sleeve twisted in her desperate grip.

  The four women stared at the pile, their faces a canvas of despair, disbelief and simmering resentment that seemed to thicken the air in the small room.

  Vanessa scoffed, the sound sharp and ugly as she kicked at the simple leather leggings with the pointed toe of her heeled boot. "You expect us to fight in this? It's barely better than rags. We'll be killed before we take ten steps into that dungeon, and that's if we're lucky."

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  Carmen stepped forward, already dissecting the situation with cold precision. She picked up the simple shield, testing its disappointing weight. Her fingers running along the crude metal reinforcement that looked like an afterthought.

  "It's inadequate." she stated flatly, her voice devoid of emotion as she assessed the pitiful craftsmanship. "But it's better than nothing. For now."

  Her gaze met Searanox's, a silent challenge in her dark eyes that promised future retaliation. Searanox ignored their complaints, his attention already shifting to the next phase of their brutal education as if their reactions were merely a formality he was obligated to endure.

  "Get changed." he commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument. The words hanging in the air like a death sentence.

  "Training begins now. I don't care where you do it, but make sure you do it right. If Carmen has nothing to heal at the end of the day, I will join your next session." He turned and walked toward the door, his back ramrod straight. Not sparing them another glance as his boots made soft rhythmic sounds on the polished stone floor, the sound fading as he disappeared down the dimly lit corridor.

  Vanessa was fuming, her hands clenched into tight fists at her sides. Her knuckles white. "He can't do that." she seethed, the words a venomous whisper that seemed to poison the very air she breathed. "Who does he think he is? Some kind of king?"

  Carmen had already begun to sort through the equipment, her movements methodical as if she were preparing for a board meeting rather than a life-or-death struggle. "He is our captor. Our… guild leader." She held up the shortsword, examining its dull edge with a critical eye. Her expression unreadable as she assessed its flaws.

  "And he holds all the power." She looked up at Vanessa, her dark eyes calm despite the storm raging around them. "Complaining is a waste of energy. We need to learn how to use these… things before he decides our training isn't adequate and joins us himself."

  Lana stared at the pile of gear, her body trembling so violently that the simple tunic in her hands seemed to vibrate with her. "I… I can't." she whispered, the words barely audible. A fragile sound that was almost swallowed by the room's oppressive silence. "I can't do this."

  Sarah picked up the simple leggings, her fingers tracing the crude metal plates woven into the leather. "Well, it's better than nothing." she said, a forced smile twisting her lips. "At least it covers more than my old outfit."

  The women began to change, their movements slow and reluctant. The sound of rustling fabric and clicking metal filling the silence. As each piece made contact, the leather and cotton shifted. Molding seamlessly to their unique forms with an unsettling ease.

  Vanessa cursed under her breath, the simple armor adjusting to her athletic frame. The metal plates settling perfectly against her curves as if tailor-made. Carmen donned her gear, her focused gaze unwavering as the material conformed to her slender build. Lana's trembling hands fumbled with the straps, which cinched automatically to her slight frame with surprising ease. The motion unnerving. Sarah with a resigned sigh, pulled on the tunic. Watching in muted disbelief as the fabric hugged her figure.

  Searanox stood in the hallway, his back against the cool stone wall. He could hear their muffled voices, the sounds of their struggle filtering through the closed door. A soft cacophony of resentment and fear. He closed his eyes, focusing on the slow steady regeneration of his Tech-points. The faint blue glow of his Status a familiar comfort.

  The women emerged from the room, transformed. Vanessa stood tall, her fiery red hair a vivid splash of color against the dull gray of the simple armor. Her green eyes blazed with a defiant spark, the crude gear doing little to diminish her commanding presence. The metal plates catching the dim violet light with a dull sheen.

  Carmen looked almost scholarly in her new attire, the simple staff in her hands giving her an air of quiet authority. The smooth wood seems familiar in her grip.

  Lana however, was a picture of misery. The simple shield felt impossibly heavy in her hands, her face pale and etched with fear. Her knuckles white where she clutched the spear's shaft.

  Sarah on the other hand, seemed to find a strange sort of confidence in her new gear. The simple daggers a comfortable weight in her hands, her fingers wrapping around the hilts with a familiar ease.

  "They look like magical armor. I would like to know if they possess a protective enchantment or something similar. I would be very grateful if you could answer this question for me after you have completed your training." Searanox said to Carmen as he turned and walked down the corridor toward the Grand Atrium, his boots making soft rhythmic sounds on the polished stone floor.

  Carmen's expression remained unreadable, but a flicker of something—curiosity perhaps—passed through her dark eyes. She gave a curt nod, her grip tightening on the wooden staff.