Having read another few chapters on manipulating magical energy back in the library, Rugal though it would not hurt him to finally put his arcane knowledge to a practical test. Had he been a student at the Academy, he could have used one of the training facilities back there. For now, however, all he had was the great outdoors. The weather that day was nothing that most people would have described as a nice one, with the sky coloured ugly gray. Still it was no discouragement for Rugal, who went off to the market. He wanted to buy himself some supplies before setting off.

As usual, his strange outfit easily distinguished the young man from the crowd, as he walked from stall to stall, eyeing the available merchandise carefully. There was one particular item which had drawn his attention - a canteen carved out of what seemed to be hardwood. It looked really solid and as such, Rugal figured that it would make for a fine replacement for a waterskin that ripped up on him a few days ago. Having discussed the price with the stallkeeper, the young man reached for his coin pouch and went on to count the ten silver pieces the vendor wanted for the canteen…

Xavier impatiently ducked underneath a barrel being offloaded by the air-ship's crew. She was desperate to get off of the transport, she was extremely suspicious of anything that was not a horse or cart. The market town that met her eyes was much more pleasant than what she had been expecting. Albeit the day was gloomy at best, but she enjoyed the prospect of an on coming storm. Her hair blew wildly in the strong wind and she fought it away to sling her backpack onto her shoulder. 
She knew for sure this time that she had truly left nothing behind, as she had on her sea voyage between her homeland and Canelux. 

The docking yard opened up into the towns central market and she easy slipped into the assorted crowd of colourful beings. The bell hanging from her ear chimed as she made her way up the stairs to the middle-most portion, where she knew there to be a stall of magical items.                                                                                                                                    She had yet to conjure the funds to replace her lost arcane spell-book, but she examined the selection of hand-painted tarot decks with awe. Her hand floated above each deck for a few moments at a time, her eyes shut, focusing on a pack that would call out to her.
At last she settled upon a pack that looked much similar to the one she had lost to water damage on the coast of Vilpamolan. She opened her eyes and handed the vendor the coins without hesitation before slipping the deck into an empty deer-skin pouch in her bag.

She continued to browse, letting herself merge with the busy crowds. Her eyes observing and scrutinising indiscriminately. A trait well engraved with her desire to shift-forms.

Satisfied with his purchase, Rugal was ready to depart through the city gates. On his way there, he passes a sizable stall, where many different magical supplies were sold. Although Rugal himself had no interest in these, opting to enhance his capabilities solely by physical and mental training instead, this time he chose to stick around, curious with different methods different people employ. And as for the different people, there was a vast variety of them browsing the wares. There were mages clad in robes one would expect them to wear - mostly the young apprentices, without much of a clue what to look for, but the more experienced ones could also be seen, dropping by and quickly finding what they need, eventually asking for eventual substitutes, before departing to tend to their further business. Many of the apprentices Rugal could recognise as students of the fabled Mage Academy.

There were also the more ordinary folk, looking to buy magical devices which would aid them in their daily lives. And then, a person fitting neither of the two descriptions caught Rugal's eye. A leather-clad, tall Elven woman of fair complexion examining stacks of tarot cards that were on display. The way she examined them suggested that she had a good share of her own magical knowledge - something the young man felt he would not be able to tell, judging from her attire. Yet another valuable lesson on how looks can deceive.

Having returned to examining the merchandise put on display, he found an item he found very interesting - a leather glove, plated with what seemed to be odd-coloured wood and a reddish-coloured metal. Copper, perhaps? Interestingly, there were no runes carved into either of its plates, which led Rugal to assume that it does not have power of its own, but amplifies that of its user's. He reached out for the glove, intent on examining it further, but as he did, he felt a strong push against his side, nearly knocking him into the Elven woman. He turned to the side from which he was pushed, only to see a row of other annoyed-looking folk, looking in the same direction he did. Apparently they were all shoved aside by a passing, pig-faced giant of a man, making way for a fancy-dressed noble he was presumably escorting. As soon as the two had passed, the shoved people turned to each other, either apologising to the ones they were shoved into, or expressing their anger over what had happened. Rugal, being an apologetic one, was quick to turn to the Elf and voice his regrets towards her.

Xavier turned to address the apologetic Human. In all honesty she had not even noticed the domino effect that had rippled through the store's patrons. She was used to pushing and shoving and general heavy-handedness. 
"It's truly no trouble, my love. If I got upset over every time I got knocked about a little I would not pursue the life I do." She stated politely with a small injection of cheerfulness. A little bump could not spoil her pleasure of finding a good replacement for her tarot cards. Her attention then moved to watch the nobleman who had so brutishly passed. She watched him with all the intensity of a hunter as she retrieved her smoking pipe from her rucksack. 
She lit the remaining tobacco and puffed contentedly as she slung her bag back over her shoulders.
"I do not suppose you know who that pompous creature was just then?" Her speech was directed at the human, although she was not particularly aware that she was talking out loud.

The giant thug continued to part the crowds of market-goers for his master. He most certainly had his job cut out for him, the way the lord brandished his bloated gold purse with hands cast in jewels. He was asking to be robbed, and with her keen eyes she saw many lurking in the shadows ready to take that chance.                                                           She however, thought better of taking on a guard of such a stature, especially while her trans-formative abilities were still exhausted from all the travelling. 
That reminded her, she needed to find a smithy to sharpen her twin daggers. She exhaled another large cloud of smoke as her eyes scanned the permanent shop-fronts for such a blacksmith. 

Rugal found himself relieved that the Elf's reaction was in no way hostile. Then she went on to say something that suggested that she led what seemed to be an interesting life. And the young man was happy to voice his thoughts:

- "Seems the life you lead is far from boring, then. Cannot say that I am not envious of it, for I have yet to practice before braving the challenges this world has to offer…" - Rugal paused, seeing the woman shifting her attention to the nobleman and his towering guard while she produced a smoking pipe and lit the tobacco that had remained inside. He took an opportunity to sneak a cough when he joined to turn around and watch the two as well. Just who did the nobleman think he was, trotting around like he owns the place, just because he is able to hire some mean muscle? Then the young man heard the Elven woman asking him whether he knew who the two are.

- "Got not as much as an idea, madam" - he went on to answer, as he turned towards her - "But it is a strange sight, if you ask me. I had not yet seen a noble being accompanied by a lone guard."

Rugal had mixed feelings about the woman. While she seemed to be rather friendly, she also seemed and acted like the type who draws more trouble than needed. However, he was willing to let that slip, for if his suspicions about her are right, then she surely had plenty of experience gained from various adventures, and some of her knowledge might be of great help in kick-starting his career one day. And so, having taken notice of her appearing to be searching for something, he asked what was it she searched for, all willing to lend the stranger a hand.

She could guess the mixed opinions that were swirling around in the human's mind, but she could not say no to a friendly helping-hand.
"I'm looking for a blacksmith, as it happens. I need some blades sharpening and I may as well have them in the shop while I spend this afternoon catching my bearings. I've only just landed, you see." She responded honestly, her eyes still searching independently. 
She had already made some observations of her own. The human seemed quite green, she assumed still a member or a recently graduated member of the country's esteemed educational system. He looked like he was now searching for his own path to make. 

"Now that I think about it, I didn't catch your name. I'm Xavier, but for ease everyone just calls me Kit." She introduced herself, courteously as she tapped the excess embers of her pipe out onto a nearby stone wall. She was planning on getting directions from him and then moving on, her business was not something people new to the trade could ever be comfortable with.

- "A pleasure to meet you, Kit" - Rugal said in answer to the woman's introduction - "I am Rugal. In all honesty, I myself have not been around here for long, either, but still, I think I can help. I remember seeing a blacksmith having his shoppe on the other side, so perhaps I could accompany you here?"

The young man was secretly relieved that Kit had put out the incandescent bits of tobacco off her pipe before setting off. As she did, Rugal asked:

- "If you'll excuse my curiosity, may I ask what brought you here to Iria? As for myself, I seek to develop my knowledge of the arcane arts, which would help my future career. Geared up as you are, I presume you have been following this path for a while, which is all good news to me! See, I could use some pointers from someone with knowledge of the subject before I move on."

He looked expectantly at the woman, hoping that she will not choose to cut their acquaintanceship when she will finally find the blacksmith.

"The pleasure is mine, Rugal" She smiled as she put her pipe away. She had no problems indulging in answering a few questions.
It appeared that she was correct in her assumption of his lack of experience, but perked up when he mentioned that his school of magic was Arcane in nature. 

"Not at all, I've come to Iria for some new adventures. I'd seen everyone and everything of interest back in the homeland, and I though it about time to have a change of scenery. As to my being 'geared up', that is testament to my taste of adventure. Meaning that it is not for every one." She paused briefly in gesture for him to lead the way to the blacksmith's.
The clouds above looked a lot heavier than they had previously and she reckoned that she heard the rumble of thunder in the distance.

"Yes I've been travelling for many, many years. More than I'd like to disclose actually" She laughed quietly to herself, "What sort of knowledge would you be looking to acquire? If it is indeed magic then I must admit that my dabbling in the Arcane is very specific. However, I have much worldly knowledge if that is what you are after?" She had no problem with sharing insider knowledge. She had wished that people had been so fourth-coming with their wisdom when she was just a little sapling.                             The market seemed to begin to thin in places. Particularly the perishable stalls, where everyone had already gathered what they needed for the day. A stall of fine fabrics was quickly squirrelling away their goods, weary of the oncoming storm. By now the rain was falling somewhere not too far off, it was not visible to any standing in the market, but Kit could smell the damp earth carried in on the strong wind. 
In preparation she also began surveying the surroundings for a tavern to take refuge in, while the sky had it's tantrum. 

Rugal gestured the woman to follow, in answer to her own gesture. The two went on to move through the Market Square, in which the crowds of people proceeded to thin out in response to the rainfall growing more and more intense. The young man led Kit along the side of the Square, where there was the least traffic.Having faced yet another row of similarly looking stone buildings, Rugal paused for a brief moment in hesitation, before he finally turned and went towards the source of all the blacksmithy noises that he - and most likely Kit, as well - could hear all too well.

- "I am fully aware of that" - the young man said in response to Kit's remark on the specific, perhaps exclusive nature of adventuring - "Still, with some further preparation, I am confident that I will be all capable of braving the world's many secrets."

Rugal quietly wondered whether he still has to wait, now that he met an experienced adventurer. Perhaps in addition to wordly knowledge, he could gain some of the practical one, too? He thought better of asking about that, however, figuring that the woman must be weary, having recently arrived from another continent and all. However, the man was willing to engage in a conversation, and having listened to her and her offer of sharing her knowledge, he gleefully agreed.

- "I would be most pleased. All I have had at my disposal so far were beastiaries, chronicles and encyclopedia - of which none beat a chatter with someone who had been there and there and know their way around, I presume - let alone having a chance to find oneself in the heat of action. As for the magic arts, I am already satisfied with my progress. Still, I do realise that I have room for improvement, and I expect the lecturers at the City's Academy to aid me with that. This, however, costs money, which at the current moment I lack. I am not letting that stop me, though, and I seek to take every opportunity in my reach to be finally able to afford that."

Just as Rugal finished speaking, he and Kat found themselves below a large, anvil-shaped, wooden sign suspended from a weathered metal bar protruding from the building's wall. This seemed to be the place.

The blacksmith's sign swung with an unforgiving creaking in the high wind, heat rushed from the open doors and out of the dark. The only light to be seen being the vibrant oranges of the forge inside.
"Well, I supposed we all start somewhere, and money is the cruel price for education in these lands." She digested his enthusiasm as they passed over the threshold of the workshop. "Tomes of knowledge can only take you so far, you'll find a out a lot more by learning the basics and then working the rest out on your own, believe me." The clanging of hammer and fired steel interrupted her train of though, and she greeted the blacksmith warmly. She knew the in's and out's of being a patron of a blacksmith and although the price and skill varied wherever she went, she had worked out the conversational side to a short and concise art. The blacksmith assured her that her dear blades would be well sharpened, cleaned and polished before collection and she left the shop with one less task to worry about.

"Thank you for your help" She politely thanked Rugal. "It is only fair that I return the favour. Let me buy you a drink while the storm moves overhead and you can ask me any specific questions that are within my knowledge to answer?"