Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Murphy
Mia and I separated to save time as we began preparing for the things I needed to stock up on. She went to the Medicals Shop to pick up a couple health crystals, antidote crystals and other medicinals I might need to start off with for training. She told me to walk around the market, filled with blacksmiths and shopkeepers who sold weapons and artillery. Not being completely familiar with the area, I went through a bunch of streets and alleys until I reached a place that was extremely crowded and packed. I was lost. I looked around trying to find my way back to the main streets, but the crazy amount of people shopping in this alleyway was ridiculous. I decided to just walk into a random shop until it cleared up a bit - whenever that might happen. As I stepped into the store, I was fortunate enough to enter an empty room. However, not even the shopkeeper was in sight. I did notice though, that it was an artillery store. I began to look around, simply gawking at the sight of the magnificent weapons. "Hello, welcome to my shop" a man called out. He entered from a passageway behind the desk, what I assumed to be the storage room of some sort, and greeted me the moment he saw me. "Oh, you're not from here are you?" He replied. "Yeah, is it the jacket that gave it away?" I asked. "Actually, I know most of the people who live in Central. Your face is new to me. But now that you mention it, your style of clothes are rather... Unique. I've never seen that type of material before." The shopkeeper was a light-skinned male, around his 20s. He was definitely young and muscular. I took off my jacket and handed it to him. His eyes widened in surprise. "You can check it out, or try it on, if you'd like" I pleasantly offered. "You're a generous man. You're definitely different compared to most of the visitors I have." He complimented. "Thank you for being so nice, some would actually try to charge me, the shopkeeper, just to take a look at their weapons! Ha! would you believe it?" "Might as well charge them for walking in your store to call it even," I joked. He had a good laugh and I joined in. We seemed to get along well. After taking a look at my jacket, he handed it back to me. "I like your character! After my years of being a target and a blacksmith, I've never met a man who strikes such great conversations." He complimented again. "I'm Murphy, it's really nice to meet you." He held out his hand for a handshake, and I shook it firmly as I replied, "I'm Gabriel, it's a pleasure to meet you too."





We sat on a table together, continuing to talk about how he grew up in Central but would occasionally travel & train against animals and 'monsters' that would be useful materials for his store. Murphy had a fully shaved head which I would joke about and tell him that it brought good fortune. He told me that his parents got him into blacksmithing, but he still enjoyed living the double life of a common and a target. Murphy was an Axe-man of the Knight Class. He showed me his large two-handed axe and I was compelled by the size of the thing. I gave him props for being so interesting and lively to be around, and Murphy loved the whole action of "propping" someone instead of handshaking or high-fiving. It was a fun conversation with Murphy, who considered me as his friend. I too felt the same way. "So, what really brings you here today Gabe?" He asked. "Really? Truth be told, I'm lost. I just got Initiated this morning and I was supposed to find a weaponry store, but I got mixed up in the busy streets." "Hahaha! What a story. Well, you got lost at the right place." Murphy told me. "Do you have any idea of what path you plan on pursuing?" "Not at all actually..." I murmured. "That's fine! If there isn't a path you want to take, there's always the other approach: training with what comfortably and naturally suits you." Murphy explained. He went back to his desk and reached for a couple items that were under it. He handed me a few things. "Here, a basic wand, a long-sword and a bow. Oh! Here's a pack of arrows as well." Murphy laid them out on the table. "Take all of these and practice with them. The best thing about not choosing your path is that you can simply train and work on your skills with every weapon. Whatever you're naturally more skilled at will determine your class. By training all the time, your Identity Card will update itself and put you in a class based on your skillset, talent and capabilities." "Wow, I think I'll do exactly that then." I answered. "Thank you so much Murphy, I do appreciate it. How much will all this be?" "Well for you, it'll just be 100 gold coins for the entire set." He said. "Alright, that's perf--" just then, I realized I didn't pick up any money from Mia. Nor did I even have gold coins to begin with. "--ect." "Did you forget your coins?" Murphy asked me. "No it's not that, it's just--" "Finally! I found you!" Yelled Mia as she walked into the entrance. "I was looking for you everywhere, but I have to say... You sure did pick a very good shopkeeper." Murphy turned to look at Mia, then turned to look back at me. Then looked back at Mia and then back to me. And again, he repeated once more. His face was in shock. Suddenly, he put his arm around my neck and shouted frantically, "you're friends with Mia?! She's... She's royalty!" Just then, he released the grip around my neck and pointed at the highly recognized girl. "M-Mia! Nice to see you again after such a long time! Are you actually visiting the Palace with Gabe?! What is your relationship to this man?" She blushed and laughed it off, but giggled as she walked towards me. I too was kind of put on the spot because I didn't know exactly how to describe the type of relationship I had with her. It just hit me now that I was friends with one of the most popular people on Fiefa. The moment Mia stood beside me, she put one arm around my shoulders and behind my neck and used her other hand to squeeze my check. Then she gave the biggest smile & with pure joy she said: "HE'S MY ANGEL!" She laughed & teased me as I simply played it off. "I didn't think you'd actually say it to people," I said embarrassingly. Mia had the cutest expressions on her face though; I knew she enjoyed calling me her guardian angel and what not, so I allowed her. Only because I loved seeing her so happy. Murphy, on the other hand, looked jealous. But at the same time, he was also happy. "It makes me smile to see the chemistry between you two." He smiled. "Murphy used to work privately for the Rias Family." Mia explained. "He's an expert at making custom-made weapons! It's a good thing you ran into him Gabe. He's a good friend of mine as well as to the Rias Family." "It's true," Murphy then continued. "After I made enough sufficient funds working for the Rias Family to open up my own store I thought to myself, why not do it back in the place where I grew up in? So I moved back to Town Central Palace. I was able to get a great location for my business as well; it's always usually busy in this area. However, only true targets looking for great weapons come to my store. Many of my guests are referred here while other new visitors complain about the price I charge. They think it's better to buy some place cheap, not understanding that they're paying for the finest quality weapons you could ever find." "I feel even more thankful for your offer of 100 gold coins for all of these then," I told him as I picked up each item, getting accustomed to the feel. "You're a special person, Gabe. I mean it when I say it." He told me, also grabbing the attention of Mia. "Your personality, your character, not to mention your taste in friends; I wouldn't be surprised if you one day did something significant. I can just... Picture it." "I'm trying to find out about something significant," I then stated. "Let's hope that either way, you're right."

I could feel Mia's gaze, from the corner of my eye. As Mia paid in full, Murphy began to pack all the weapons in a custom buckle that was supposed to go around my hip with another strap that crossed from my back shoulder once I tried it on. As I watched him assemble it from behind the desk, zoned out at the work that Murphy was doing, I suddenly felt a hand reach out to hold mine. I moved my eyes without turning my head, noticing Mia fill the spaces between my fingers with hers. I didn't reply, nor respond. I simply kept my composure, bringing back my eyes to watch Murphy, but tightening my grip on her hand to signal my acceptance and appreciation for her action. Under the small amount of time I've gotten to know her, I feel as if something stronger than friendship began to blossom. The closeness that we shared was undeniable, and the respect we had for each other was evident. Whatever would happen next, would be okay with me. All that I could think about as we stood side by side, gazing at Murphy's skill, was that I was the luckiest man in the world, having Mia as my friend - this close.

All I wanted to do now was to learn and learn fast; not to just take care of myself, but to be strong enough to protect Mia. All that I cared about was our friendship; as long as I breathed on Fiefa, on Cloud 9, I wanted to show just how much I valued it. Just how much it meant to me. It's been a long time since I ever considered having someone close to me. Every single one of them, I lost. The past is the past, but it still hurts. It still aches whenever the thought of it comes up. This time, I won't allow the past to repeat itself. This time I'll do everything it takes to keep both of us by each other's side, and I will let no sword nor arrow nor spell separate us.

We continued to hold hands, showing the strong bond of friendship that we shared. We kept holding on, but this time... We had not intention of letting go. To me, that was all that mattered.