Alpha Instinct

"It's just nerves," Leo told himself, trying to shake off the unsettling feeling of being watched. Paranoia from the mission, from almost dying yesterday.

"Right…It's all in my head." He forced himself to focus on the tasks ahead.

He went back to the Guild House to ask for some information about classes for fighting with two swords.

He had an idea, a desperate hope, that maybe there was a way to compensate for his abysmal stats.

"I think I need a specific teacher, since dual wielding is the style that I want." Leo thought.

After talking to the clerks for a long time, Leo went home feeling bummed.

There was no one in Gothia who could teach him how to fight with two swords.

It was an old-fashioned style, and everyone thought using two daggers was better. "Typical," he muttered under his breath.

The next day, Leo went back to the armorer to pick up his new armor.

Upon entering the shop, the silence was intermittently interrupted by the clang of a hammer on metal. Forging sparks lit up the walls in the dimly lit environment. The air smelled like smoke and hot metal.

Leo observed the armorer at work. In Leonard's mind, it seemed to create melodies with each hammer blow.

"Incredible, isn't it?" a gruff voice startled Leo.

Leo turned around to see the master armorer standing beside him. Ashton, a giant of a man, stood there, his arms crossed, a hint of a smile on his usually stern face.

"Yeah, he is..." Leo replied, impressed. "The rhythm is surreal, almost hypnotic."

"Liam is a genius blacksmith, a special kid," Ashton said with a proud smile. "He's also really dedicated, and he's a Neumond."

Leo's eyes widened in surprise. "A Neumond?" he asked, his voice filled with a mixture of awe and curiosity.

"Yes," Ashton confirmed. "But he's not satisfied with just creation. Lately, he's been wanting to try destruction too. He wants to go on adventures," he said, shaking his head with a sigh.

Leo nodded.

He remembered when he wanted to use his powers to help people in ways other than fighting.

He saw that same desire in Liam but didn't understand why Liam wanted to risk his life on adventures.

Support and crafting Neumonds were highly respected, although there were few of them.

Just then, Liam approached them with a big smile on his face, carrying the finished armor.

"Here's your armor, Mr....?" Liam faltered; he didn't know how to address Leonard.

"It's Leonard, but you can call me Leo," he said as he took the armor. It was heavier than he expected, but it felt solid and well-made.

Leo checked out the armor.

It was really well made, with black metal details. He was impressed with the quality.

At first, he was a bit unsure because it wasn't the master craftsman who made it, but Liam had done an awesome job.

He ran his hand over the smooth leather, the intricate metalwork a testament to the young blacksmith's skill.

Leo went to a corner of the room and put on the new armor. It fit perfectly, molding to his body like a second skin, both protective and surprisingly comfortable.

"Thanks, Liam. It's excellent," Leo said as he came back to the counter, moving his arms, testing the flexibility of the armor.

"It's just my job," Liam said, but he couldn't quite hide the pride in his voice.

"You're very talented. Is that your Neumond ability?" Leo asked, unable to resist the question.

Ashton coughed loudly from across the shop. "It's considered a bit rude to pry into a Neumond's abilities, especially on first acquaintance, Mr. Leonard," he said, his voice firm.

"Sorry, sir," Leo said, abashed.

Liam laughed.

"No problem, don't worry about Ashton." Liam scratched his head and said, "It's not that I don't want to tell you, but my ability is kind of hard to explain."

Liam's ability was indeed complex. He possessed superhuman intuition, allowing him to see the exact critical point of the work he was doing, making the final result close to perfect.

This wasn't limited to armor and weapons but applied to any manual labor.

Leo just shrugged, sensing Liam's disappointment. But Liam wasn't satisfied. He really wanted to be an Equalizer.

"Mr. Leonard, can you tell me what it's like to be an Equalizer?" Liam asked, his eyes wide with a mixture of hope and longing.

"It's not all glory, like it seems..." Leo said, his voice dropping, the memory of the Golden Green Plains still fresh in his mind. "A few days ago, I almost died on my first mission."

"Even so, it must be exciting!" Liam said. "Can I go on a mission with you?" he blurted out, then immediately flushed, realizing how presumptuous he sounded.

Leo hesitated. He didn't want to be responsible for a newbie when he was still a newbie himself. "Besides," he thought, "the mission to Besen is personal."

"Why haven't you gone on a mission before?" Leo asked, curious despite his reservations.

"My combat stats are very low. I've never had time for physical training. I train with my hammer and forge every day," he said sadly, his shoulders slumping.

Leo thought, "He has no idea how weak I actually am. If he knew my stats, he wouldn't be asking." A wry smile touched his lips. "Maybe I'm crazy for even considering this."

Trying to change the subject, Leo said, "First, tell me about the armor enhancements. I'll think about letting you come with me."

"Okay!" Liam said excitedly.

He went to the counter and picked up a large magnifying glass attached to a magic device that looked like a printer.

He asked Leo if he had a soul stone with him. Leo said he didn't; he had only been on one mission and hadn't had time to collect any spoils.

From the back of the shop, Ashton tossed a small soul stone with his thumb, and Liam caught it. "Yes! Thanks, master!" he said.

Liam put the stone in the machine and asked Leonard to take off his glove.

He placed the glove under the magnifying glass, pulled a small lever, and some magic runes appeared on the device.

Then, a small piece of paper came out after a few seconds.

"Here's the info on your armor," Liam said with a proud grin, already expecting that Leonard would be impressed and invite him on an adventure.

However, Leo was confused. His brow furrowed, and he gazed at the paper, trying to make sense of the unfamiliar terms and strange symbols.