Vanhalla was closer to a fortified jewel store or treasury rather than a smithy of hardworking runesmiths. The entrance was more guarded than the city gates themselves—two maxed out swordsmen of the second elevation with two-runed swords examined every entry. Even the richest-looking aristocrats weren't allowed in without a questioning. The store itself was built into the back wall at the very back of the city. Vivi felt like she was staring at a dwarven dungeon.

The further she'd climbed the city, the richer the streets became. This trend continued all the way to the top, where the streets themselves were adorned with red carpets so clean that Vivi's brand new boots already felt too cheap.

Her outfit had worked so far. Nobody kicked Vivi out or asked what she was planning, though Haglan refused to step into the richest districts at the top. Vivi had to move alone. She received glances from passersby, of course. Not hostile glances like in Zand. Aristocrats didn't look at Vivi's weapon to gauge her strength; they studied her outfit and appearance.

Such a pain… Vivi thought. Seven hundred ether on clothes, and I still barely fit in.

Annoyances aside, she was here now. Vanhalla, the best runesmithing store in all the legendary runesmithing city of the underground. Vivi approached the doors.

A bulky butler in a sophisticated suit welcomed Vivi. He asked Vivi about her business, to which she responded that she was scouting runeswords for her brother. The butler patted her down to make certain she brought no weapons. With everything confirmed, the butler bowed slightly.

Hesitantly, Vivi stepped in.

Vanhalla, to Vivi's surprise, did not shine like Threads and Reveries. Vanhalla's walls were the color of the yellow-y mountains, and the floor was sturdy more than it was beautiful. The room itself had the atmosphere of a mountainous dungeon. A far more fitting interior for a runesmithing store.

A golden chandelier with diamond candles shone with ether, fully illuminating every gallery with perfect clarity. The room was filled with more runes than Vivi had ever seen at once. Swords, maces, arrows, bows, plate armor, anything that could be enhanced with ether and runes was on showcase. Most items on display were swords, of course. Lesser one-runed swords were openly displayed, but anything with two or more runes was protected behind thick glass.

Vivi stepped deeper. To the side was an alcove for test swings. A tube-like machine shot out gushes of ether and rocks, while a fancy swordsman was in stance, testing a sword and cutting down the projectiles.

Everything in the store was, of course, outside-carved. Intimidating veins lined each weapon with pretty patterns and reflective conductive paste. In the middle of the room was a stone with an adamantite blade poking out. Its runes were idly filled with ether, lighting the sword like a glowstick of beautiful adamantite. Misty ether oozed out of it to the surroundings.

Customers were either warriors or aristocrats that looked like lords. Vivi moved out of the way and lowered her head as a particularly wealthy-looking Knight with golden epaulets passed. Nobody wore dresses. In fact, Vivi was the only girl in the store.

She must have looked baffled and lost, as someone approached her and said, "Searching for something, Miss?"

Vivi turned around to see a tall horned man leaning against the wall with a friendly smile. Vivi blinked, trying to guess his intentions. The man wore a white uniform with a cloak. Rich, but relatively ordinary compared to others. He didn't seem to work here.

Something about him felt dangerous. His posture was flawless. The way he stood was scary. From his step alone, Vivi knew he was a good swordsman.

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"I'm just looking," Vivi said.

"You looked a lot like my sister," the man said with another charming smile. "I thought I'd come by and say hi. Although, you'd never find her in Vanhalla. I'm Lucas. May I look with you, Miss…?" He paused, as if asking for a name.

"Um, Vivi," she said.

Gods, Lucius, Vivi thought, we need to get rid of this outfit! People want to talk to me now!

"This is a problem indeed," Lucius said. "I forgot that good outfits attract this sort of attention… But it's possible that he's trying to trick you. My old wielder tried to trick women a lot. He got them excited and then he never spoke to them again."

Yes… He must be tricking me. I won't fall for it.

"Vivi," Lucas was saying. He faced the sword galleries and his eyes turned more serious. "You're searching for a sword for yourself, I presume? You look like a greatsword type of girl to me."

Vivi blinked in surprise. "What makes you say that?"

"Your boots, the way you stand, your presence. The dress looks fantastic, but it looks like a disguise. You stand like you're ready to unsheath a sword and fight me."

Lucius's eyes suddenly turned sharp. "Vivi, this man is dangerous."

And he's right!

"Let me guess," Lucas continued. He wore a funny grin as he examined Vivi. "You fight primarily monsters, rarely duels. When you do duel, you win with brute force. You wield a greatsword that's far too large for someone your size. In turn, your style relies on power more than technique. You're ruthless and reckless. Am I close?"

He's a freak! Vivi thought. Her spirit was right; this man was dangerous. And a genius. Everything he said was right.

"Well," Vivi said. "I do think greatswords are cool."

Would we win if we fought? Vivi asked.

"If you abuse void ether to its absolute maximum, perhaps we could surprise him," Lucius said. "In a fair battle… Not a chance."

"What do you think of this sword?" Lucas asked. He picked a dark mithril broadsword from the open gallery and handed it to Vivi. It was a single-runed one with a strength rune. Vivi glanced at the price tag. This one cost eight thousand ether. She picked up the blade, examining it closely.

"The veins are optimally spread," Vivi said. "The paste is applied well, and only to the deepest parts of the carvings. That helps avoid leaks. As for the runes, they're proficient. It's not a bad sword. But…" Abyss Destroyer would snap it in half. "I wouldn't pay eight thousand ether for it."

Lucas's eyebrows were a little higher, eyes curious. "You're surprisingly knowledgeable."

"I know a thing or two," Vivi said. "My Grandpa was a runesmith."

"Clearly a good one."

"He always wanted to visit," Vivi said. "I'm here to live his dream."

"You've come to the right place," Lucas said. "The Vanhammers are always reliable. Anything you buy will be of top-notch quality. As long as a sword fits your hand and the runes are what you want, you can trust it to be a good sword. If you like that broadsword, you can order a three-runed variant to be made."

"The weight distribution is good," Vivi said. "But it has a slight flaw. The blacksmith should have made the base sword thicker to better complement the strength runes. This sword looks like it's made for a lighter runes, but swiftness wouldn't be optimal either, as it's already light to swing. The sword is crafted proficiently, but it's not well designed."

And the sword should be inside-carved as well, but you won't know what I'm talking about.

Lucas was taken aback. He glanced at the sword again. "Hell, you might be right. How did you spot that?"

Vivi shrugged and placed the sword down. "That one is clearly just a commercial sword. Where are the actual good swords?"

"Outside the budget, most likely," Lucas said. "The masterpieces are upstairs."

At the back of the store, hidden behind tall galleries, was a staircase with golden railings. Another guardsman was stationed before them. He studied Vivi as she entered, but Lucas's smile helped them get upstairs without being questioned.

The second level opened up like a King's throne room. The ceiling was high, and the walls were grand. Huge great runes had been carved into the wall itself as decorations. There were fewer swords on display—only five on each side of the large hall as if this were a museum. Each sword was displayed in coffin-like protective vitrines. The glass of each vitrine was covered in outside-carved veins, protected with ether.

"Everything on the first floor is carved by apprentices," Lucas said. "The second level is reserved for the Vanhammers themselves. That right there is probably the best sword money can buy."

Lucas referred to a sword displayed at the end of a red and golden carpet. The four-runed violet greatsword was easily the most complicated showcase of outside-carving ingenuity Vivi had ever seen.

"The Mauve Crown, crafted by Piaro Vanhammer," Lucas said. "Arguably the best runesmith currently alive."

That's it, Vivi thought. My competition.

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