Raymond gave Tawny one last kiss before he left her store.
She gave him a playful slap on his behind, giggling as he walked out. He started down the street, intending on visiting the weapon shops, when his vision blurred and went dark.
The next instant he could see the expanse of the universe and heard the consciousness speaking.
"Congratulations. Your act of coitus has earned you the skill 'Appraising Eye'. You can now see the races and overall power levels of sapient beings, as well as the names and overall value of items.
As you increase your proficiency with this skill, it will reveal more detail."
"Incredible." Raymond said inwardly. "It would be nice if these little announcements didn't hijack my vision though."
"Very well." The Voice replied after a pause. "Announcements will be audio only going forward."
When Raymond's vision cleared, he found Samantha waving furiously in face, calling his name, trying to get his attention.
Startled, he stumbled backward, before he realized what was going on.
Samantha tilted her head quizzically. "What's up with you? You were just standing there, not answering me."
Raymond scratched the back of his head and smiled. "Sorry, guess I just zoned out there for a little bit."
"How weird. Are you sure you're, ok? That crazy cat lady didn't do anything to you did she?"
"No no, she was great actually. She gave me a great deal on some custom gear!"
Raymond spun in place to show off his gear and change the subject.
Samantha's eyes widened. "That's a full set! I can feel the magic coming off of it. It's incredible. I told you she's the best, even if she is crazy."
Ray laughed and took Samantha's hand before she could ask any more questions.
"You were absolutely right, Tawny was great. Come on, now you can show me where to get a good weapon."
"Okay." she said cheerfully. "But we have to be quick, our meeting with the King and the head of the Association will be soon."
Raymond nodded. "Lead the way."
Samantha led Raymond to a weapon shop only a few doors down from Tawny's shop.
The front door was emblazoned with the face of a dragon with several different weapons crossed behind it.
Inside Raymond was met with row after row of racked weapons of all kinds.
His eyes fell on polished swords, gleaming spears, razor sharp arrows, and the largest woman he had ever seen.
According to "appraising eye", she was a level 50 Orc, six-foot-six and all muscle.
She had dark green skin and a messy black braid that reached the middle of her wide back.
When the bell above the door alerted her to the new customers, she looked up and immediately vaulted over the sales counter.
She ran to Samantha, scooped her up in a big bear hug, and spun her around.
"Sammie!" she boomed. "It's been too long cutie!"
Raymond couldn't tell if Samantha's face was red because she was embarrassed, or because she couldn't breathe.
Samantha gasped and coughed when the big woman finally put her down.
"Good to see you too, Tanya." she said laughing once she could breathe. "Easy on the ribs next time, ok."
Tanya laughed looking sheepish, her massive chest heaving as she did.
"Sorry, but you know how excited I get when you come around." she said blushing.
Finally, she noticed Raymond.
"Well, you're a big one." her eyebrows raised, surprised to see a human as large as she was.
"Back at ya, I'm Raymond, nice to meet you."
He put out his hand for her to shake and she gripped it firmly, a glint of playfulness in her eye.
She squeezed his hand tight, an impromptu test of strength. Raymond grip back, able to release the pressure on his hand, but not able to exert any of his own.
The stalemate lasted for about two minutes before both parties relented.
"Big and strong, I could use a guy like you around here if you need work." Tanya nodded approvingly.
Raymond chuckled. "Thanks for the offer, but I get the feeling I'm going to be really busy here soon. To be honest, I thought you were going to ask me out."
Tanya let out a loud, hearty laugh.
"Keep dreaming beefcake! No offence, but you're not my type."
Raymond wasn't offended but he was curious.
"Oh really?" he said with a smirk. "Then what is your 'type'?"
"I like girls buddy. The little cute ones."
She shot a wink at Samantha, who blushed and tried to find somewhere else to look.
Now it was Raymond's turn to laugh, shoulders bobbing up and down.
"Looks like we have something in common!" also sending an exaggerated wink at Samantha.
"Stop it you too!" Samantha squealed, face beet red. "Raymond, you're here to buy a weapon, not gang up on me!"
Raymond doubled over in uproarious laughter along with Tanya.
He considered making a lewd comment about him and Tanya ganging up on Samantha but decided not to push his luck.
When the two new friends finally regained their composure, they got back to business.
"So, what kind of weapon ya looking for, big fella?" Tanya asked, wiping a tear from her eye.
Raymond sighed heavily, trying to catch his breath.
"I need something strong and versatile. I need to be able to cast as well as fight."
"For a spell sword huh."
Tanya thought for a moment, arms crossed across her chest. Then she noticed Raymond's gear.
"That leather, its dragonhide ain't it?"
"Yea Tawny just made it for me."
Tanya gave a low whistle. "Yeah, I can tell." She nodded thoughtfully. "I have just the thing."
She jogged behind her sales counter and pulled a bladeless sword hilt off the wall.
"This is from my experimentation days. My master said it was ingenious and beautiful, but I would never find a buyer. It's just been part of the decor ever since."
she explained as she handed it to Raymond.
He turned it over in his hand admiring the craftsmanship.
The hilt was a little less than a foot long and about as big around as the handle of a tennis racket, making it good for both one and two handed grips.
It felt good in his hand. It was made of a dark grey wood that felt hard like metal, but was wrapped in a gold-colored leather, etched with runes, that felt like the gear Raymond was wearing.
There was a red gem shaped like a dragon's head fixed to the pommel, a blue one just like it at the top, and a green gem in the middle on one side.
Raymond used "Appraising Eye".
THE SPELL SWORD OF THE DOUBLE DRAGON
VALUE: PRICELESS
Raymond gave a low whistle.
"I call it the 'Double Dragon', it stores mana and amplifies spells. Iron-wood and dragonhide both hold mana very well. Put 'em together and the effect is exponential. Now press the green gem."
Tanya was shaking with excitement
Raymond pressed the gem, and a long single edged blade slid smoothly out of the mouth of the blue dragon gem and locked in place.
Raymond's mouth slacked open then spread into a wide toothy grin.
"Oh yea, this will do." His voice was nearly a whisper, as he spun the sword in his hand and took a couple test swings.
Tanya smirked and grabbed an apple from her counter. She threw it like a softball at Raymond. "Here!" she yelled.
Without thinking Raymond swung the sword at the apple. It cut clean, with no resistance, and left the two halves spinning on the floor.
Before he could recover Tanya flicked an iron ingot at Raymond. "Now try this!"
This time Raymond only had time to raise the blade before the ingot impacted it. The ingot was sliced clean longways.
Wide eyed, Raymond inspected the blade, looking for any sign of imperfection. There were no scratches, no chips, no dulling, nothing.
Tanya smiled wide when she saw the question in Raymond's eyes. It's made from folded dragon scales.
It's nearly indestructible, and there's nothing it can't cut.
"How much?" the only thing Raymond wanted to know.
Tanya shook her head.
"Friend, it was made from scrap, and it's been hanging on my wall for ten years. Pay me for the materials and it's yours. Five gold."
Raymond dug into the sack of gold that Samnatha gave him earlier.
"It's worth much more than that." He pressed fifteen gold pieces in Tanya's hand. Her eyes nearly bulged out of her head.
"Hold on." She said, she reached behind her counter and pulled out a belt made of simple leather with a hook on one side.
"Here so you can carry it, on the house. It also gives a minor mana regen boost."
Raymond gave her a warm smile as he took the belt and put it on. He grasped Tanya's forearm in a firm handshake.
"If you ever need anything, let me know."
Samantha stepped up and gave Tanya a big hug, then turned towards the door.
"We have to get going," she said, smiling at Raymond.