Frostbound
Chapter 322 - Austin’s Plan

Austin

Frostheim

Austin marveled at the work of art resting in his hands. The leather-wrapped shaft provided a comfortable weight that he had sorely missed in recent times.

He hadn't expected the devastation that came with breaking his weapon. He'd never been one for over-the-top sentiment, but it was a blow to have the weapon he had been using for years break on him.

It had followed him for thousands of miles and now it was just gone.

"You even got the shape right." Austin admired, "Even the weight feels the same even though I have more Strength now."

Vincent, ever the quiet one, looked pleased with the praise, "That's because it's heavier, as I told you it would be. The ratio of weight to Strength should be the same as before though. Getting the Solitite Bronze that dense was a challenge, but I think it turned out well."

One of the first things the Smith had asked before remaking Austin's spear was what his stats were. Austin had initially been guarded, as he'd spent months on the road and seen how secretive people were with such information, but he revealed them all the same.

They were family.

"I'd say," Austin said.

He wasn't a Smith himself, nor a Merchant specializing in appraising, but his Profession did give something to help identify things. An Explorer had to know what he was looking at, after all.

And the spear was a marvel.

[Solitite Bronze Spear - Epic]

"I didn't know you could make Epic gear."

Vincent preened, relatively, considering his outward expression barely changed, "It's my first. Had to buy the tin and copper from Yellowstone as we didn't have anything suitable, but the books were what did the trick. I wouldn't be surprised if your brother Conner is in a similar boat. He's been improving leaps and bounds lately. He even made a Rare Health Potion recently." Vincent said.

"Connor?" Austin couldn't help but ask. He'd been by to check in on his brother less than he should have. Hell, I've spent more time with Anna than I have with him.

Making a note to visit him before he left, Austin turned his attention back to the weapon in his hands. He gave it a cursory swing and practiced a few thrusts to get a feel for it, and it couldn't be described as anything less than perfect.

"Now, you'll have to wait for Chris to get back before it can be engraved, but you should be able to test it out and get a feel for it now." Vincent described, "It's a strong beast, my best, but avoid putting too much strain on it until Chris can get his hands on it. Stressing the metal and micro-fractures will make his job harder."

Austin's inner greed reared its head, "Do you think he can push it to Legendary?" It was outlandish. Wild. Probably not possible, but Austin had to wonder. If:

"No." Vinny shot his fantasies down ruthlessly. "It's on the low end of Epic and even with what Chris has got cooked up, it won't make that large of a jump. Mid-Epic, I'd say. High is possible, but he'd have to do everything right."

Damn, Austin thought, I'd finally have something that could match his hammer.

He sent his mana cascading through the weapon and couldn't help but grin. It wasn't only the exterior that looked good, but the insides did as well. The metal drank up his mana well and there were hardly any places that caused problems.

It would get even smoother after the engraving too.

"You have my thanks, Vinny, it's perfect."

"It's been a fun challenge. This is the third spear I've made for you and every time I get to pull out all the stops." The edges of his lips rose in a small smile.

Austin snorted, "That's because you have me foot the bill."

"I know you can afford it."

Adventuring was a great way to make some coin and Austin probably had the most of it other than Chris. He'd learned quickly how to find things worth selling during his travels.

Being able to visit the occasional Dungeon on his way also helped. He didn't have to wait in any lines when there was no one around for miles. Most of those who lived in cities had to wait their turn for Dungeons.

Surprisingly, or unsurprisingly if you thought about it, monster parts were the most lucrative right now and he came across all that he could ever want.

Now that Jonathan could easily transfer it to the bank attached to his Status, it made carrying it around less worrisome. Merchants in other cities could help him pull it out if ever needed it. The fee would be higher, but it beat carrying it around.

The spear in his hands would already be trouble, but that was something he could deal with. It was worth it for such a pristine weapon.

Austin departed the forge and went to his next stop for the day. The entire time he walked he kept feeling out his new prize.

If there was one thing he had to complain about, it was the fact it was unbalanced. Austin had worked hard on keeping his Fire and Light Laws equal. His attempts to merge them into one Solar Law were still ongoing, but for now, he tried to improve them equally.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

The spear in his hands didn't respond to both his elements the same. It was by design, but it wouldn't be fixed until Chris got around to enchanting it.

When the three of them were first discussing the weapon, Chris mentioned his intention to use Tier 2 Runes this time. It was part of the reason they had to import special metals from Yellowstone. Anything they had available wouldn't be strong enough to hold the better Runes.

Austin had been ecstatic, as that translated to a better spear.

But there was a problem.

Chris wasn't sure he would be able to learn Tier 2 Fire Runes. Or if he did, it wouldn't be anytime soon. He'd just been exploring Frost Runes and was having trouble understanding them, and that was his own element.

He said Fire would likely stay out of the picture for the foreseeable future.

The Tier 2 Radiance Rune would be the best he could do, and even that would be a challenge. There was the thought to make do with Tier 1 Basic Runes, but in the end, they decided on a different path.

The base spear and the materials involved would lean toward Fire while the enchantments would lean toward Light. Combined, they would reach a balance.

Vincent went above and beyond. Austin mused, I hope Chris can balance it out.

The Fire he felt inside the spear was intense. The metals pulled from the Volcano, the Spirit Fire, and even Vincent's own magic all worked together to create a burning flame inside.

He needed some equally strong Light to bring it back to equilibrium.

Austin didn't feel the need to dwell on it long, as he had something else to do. A little urchin in need of persuading and he had just the ticket to do that. It wasn't a coincidence he'd picked up his new spear now, after all.

Even with the news he heard about Lakeshore, life still went on. It wasn't like they attacked the mine and war was about to be declared. Besides, Chris could handle anything they threw at him even without Austin's help.

According to the schedule, it wasn't his day to train his little cousin but with both Hal and Chris gone, she had some gaps that needed to be filled.

Jon picked on one of the days while Austin volunteered for the other. He'd done it on a whim, mostly, as it was only temporary until the two came back, but he had a plan.

He would use this extra day to impress upon her the valor of a spear. The perfect weapon that she should choose.

Abigail mentioned that she'll probably have an Ice affinity of some kind. The least she could do is take after my weapon. Ashley's daughter, Lily, was following in her mother's footsteps to be a Healer and Josh was still too young.

Anna was his only choice. Well, until they start popping out a few more. The Zalenski's weren't one to stop with only one or two. We take the Catholic stereotype and make it our bitch.

I give Abigail a year after Anna gets her Class. She'll see her baby leaving the nest and get the fever.

With Ashley's husband, uhhh, not with them any longer, it was unlikely the newest addition would come from her. Austin didn't see Vincent and Lucy reaching that step any time soon. The only other couple was Uncle Brayden and Rachel. Oh, please! It would be so fun to see Hal with a young sibling.

"What's so funny?"

Austin's charge had arrived at just the right time. "Oh, nothing. Just thinking of something humorous."

Before she could delve into that, she caught sight of the weapon he was holding. "Is that it?" Her large eyes moved up and down the weapon and took in its natural glory.

"Why yes, it is." Austin playfully presented it before her, "The newest masterwork to come out of the smithy. A sleek, powerful design that's been around since... well since man could pick up and sharpen sticks. A history greater than any other weapon."

Anna giggled at his descriptions and held out a hand to grasp it.

Her hand could wrap around the shaft but not comfortably, but that didn't stop her from trying to lift it. One hand quickly became two. A paltry effort using just her arms quickly became setting her stance and using her legs.

Her face turned red from exertion before Austin cut her off and lifted the weapon away from her reach.

"I couldn't lift it either." she mumbled, "I didn't think it would be so heavy,"

Austin had way too much Perception to miss her mutterings, "What do you mean either?"

"Well... you know..." She swayed and her arms rocked innocently, "Chris leaves his hammer in his room sometimes."

Austin got serious, "You didn't touch the ice, did you?"

Anna waved frantically, "No, both Mom and Chris told me not to, but they didn't say anything about the wood."

Austin relaxed upon hearing that part. The ice was dangerous. Especially for one without levels, but the wood was safe. Probably. Right? Eh, not my monkey.

"Of course you couldn't lift it. Even I have trouble with it." Austin laughed. He'd tried to swing it one time... the less said about it the better. Chris had said the hammer had swung him rather than the other way around.

"How much Strength do you have?" Anna asked. A question only a child could ask so innocently.

"More than you." Austin bopped her on the head. "Now enough on that, let's get to practice. I know I'm not Chris, but I'm still a force to be reckoned with."

While his main objective to get her enamored with the spear had shone promise, there was more than one way to leave his mark.

While he ran her through the wringer, he usually posed questions or imparted random knowledge he thought of, but today was different.

"Have you given any thought to your Profession?" Austin asked after painfully telegraphing his intended thrust at her abdomen.

Anna scrambled to dodge. She'd learned quickly the difference between a thrust she could block and one she would have to dodge. Austin varied it to train her to do both, but more importantly, to know the difference of what she could block in the first place.

"Not really. Mom makes me spend the weekends cycling through the options, but none feel right. The smithy is boring and hard, alchemy is too tedious, leatherworking smells bad and my fingers bleed from sowing."

Austin surprised her with a swing to catch her off guard but she was ready for it.

She's learning.

"Building isn't fun, either." She complained before brightening, "Dad's supposed to take me on a business trip soon!"

"Oh, really? Where?"

"He said we're going to the lake! It's further than the Twins and it'll take forever to get there, but I can't wait!"

Harbordeep. Austin hadn't been there himself but it was on his list. The problem was that getting to it was a hassle. It wasn't on the way to anything else. If he visited Flame Falls, he could easily continue on to Empire City or other cities further East.

If he went to Yellowstone, he could do the same but West.

Harbordeep was nestled between the five lakes in such a way that it was extremely isolated. Any path had to detour around the lakes to get anywhere. It was at the very tip of what was once the lower Michigan peninsula.

The tip of the fingers if he had to point at his hand. That custom is stupid, but it works.

"Explorer gives good skills." Austin said, "If you're not called to create or craft, it's a good choice. It has good translation skills. Cartography skills. Tracking. Bushcraft. It has wide applications if that's something you want, but it also has the possibility to specialize. Even specialty divining skills, too."

Not that they've worked too great lately. The last hit I've gotten was Marcus's treasure.

Then again, I haven't been anywhere new recently.

"I'll think about it." the girl said. It was as good as he was going to get.

"Now, I'm going to teach you some new techniques for fighting someone with a shorter reach. It's where a spear excels but only if you can utilize it correctly. If you're good enough, you should be able to beat anyone with a sword or similar shorter weapon."

Austin could feel the call to adventure growing. He'd wanted to stay for Christopher's evolution, but even after a year, he wasn't ready.

He planned to leave as soon as his spear was done. A short trip would see him back in time for the Solstice. Abigail wanted to do something special for it this year.