Hell's Glitch (initial draft)

I_K 1.8 Translator and Weapons Aficionado

Chapter 8

"Will you do it?" the merchant finally asked after fully explaining his request and my reward.

"I have one other request."

"You will have what you desire once you've completed your task."

"I'll need something to help me complete my task. The map. Can you have it completed by the time I come back?"

"I told you—"

My upheld palm drew his attention, silencing him.

"I don't care how you do it, but I need that map. You'll have time to prepare it while I go north."

He silently nodded.

"Good," I said as I walked towards the exit. The merchant stopped me before I left.

"If you need to rest, there is a Soul Beacon in the back of the cave."

I briefly stopped at it to recharge my Soul Fire before leaving. I still had to go further south to find the associate of the blacksmith. I ran through the forest, now excited to get back to the north to face the female pyromancer. If I needed more strength, it would come in the form of a weapon upgrade from the smith. Perhaps he'd offer me another deal once I returned his associate.

After a few minutes of running, I stood in front of a strange sight that left me speechless. In front of me was the most beautifully crafted suit of armor that I'd ever laid eyes upon. It was a deep silver that caught the moon's pale blue light and bounced it all over the forest in a magnificent way. It looked transient, ghostly, and was strangely enough, worn by a bear. Yes, you heard me right, a goddamn bear. I approached the creature expecting a fight, but the bear just sat on its rump looking downright depressed.

"Are you an associate of the blacksmith in the north?" I asked.

Without lifting his eyes from the ground, he said, "I was his apprentice until a short while ago." Yes, the bear could talk and I wasn't one to question it.

"He has enlisted me to return you to his camp."

He looked at me for the first time, with an urgency that concerned me.

"What did he request exactly? How did he say it?"

I sighed and asked, "You want the truth?"

"Of course."

"He specifically said," I cleared my throat before doing my best impression of the pompous smith. My version ended up somewhere between Sean Connery and Christopher Lee, rest their brilliant souls. "'I just want to make sure that the armor I crafted for him doesn't end up rusting in a hole somewhere.'"

I'm not sure why, but that seemed to cheer the bear up. His eyes watered up as he smiled, or at least I think that's what he was doing. A bear's "smile" was more unsettling than anything else.

"My master Barrington does care about me."

"You got that from me saying in his own words that he was concerned for his armor with no mention of you?"

He laughed, growled really.

"This armor cannot rust. The master ensured it was so."

"I see. Well, I'm to return both of you to Barrington, his request. Will you accompany me back to his camp?"

"Of course. Though I am curious, has he forgiven me or apologized at all?"

Sensing a thorn in this simple quest, I thought of a way to keep things going on a smooth course.