Chapter 8 - Silverash

Max returned to where Rayne is, holding a couple of things in his hands.

"Drink this." he said, passing him a small flask of yellow liquid.

"What is it?" Rayne asked as he took the small flask.

"Recovery potion. It can help you replenish your stamina, mana, and also heals your injuries."

"Such a thing. It must have cost you a lot. No. I can't take it."

Rayne hesitated as such potion is surely very expensive. He had already accepted so much from them from all their help, adding the herb used for his medicinal bath, was already too much for him.

"Drink it. You will need it as you have sustained internal injuries for sure. Such injuries will take a long time to heal. Even with the help of the medicinal bath you're soaking in right now, it will not completely heal and may cause side effects if you leave it alone. Consider it as my investment to you. You can pay me in the future when you've became successful."

Persuaded by Max's reasoning, Rayne drank the recovery potion. Instantly, he felt rejuvenated, washing away all the pain in his body. His noticed a boost in his energy and stamina, and his senses and perception strengthened. He could only describe it as if he had experience rebirth.

"How do you feel." Max asked.

"Great. So great that I felt like I was reborn," Rayne answered, his voice with a hint of excitement, amazement and disbelief.

Max seeing the noticeable change in his being. He also felt happy for him and could not help but laugh out loud.

"Good. Good. Good."

Max patted Rayne's shoulder a couple of times before saying, "Finish you bath and get change. I will wait for you outside." He place a towel and spare clothes in a corner before exiting the bathroom.

When the door of the bathroom closed, Rayne got out of the medicinal bath and rinse himself with clean water. It took him as couple minutes more to dry himself with towel and get change, then exiting the small room and arriving at the large training area in the inn's basement.

"Uncle Max, I'm done." Rayne said as he arrived beside Max, who was contemplating as he stared his collection of swords.

"Hmm." Max acknowledged, taking one of the sword hanging in the wall, then handed it to Rayne.

"This is for you. Don't even try to refuse. You'll need this."

Rayne smiled bitterly as he take the sword, feeling its weight. He then proceeded to distance himself a bit from Max and unsheathed it.

[Shing.] The sound of vibration produced by unsheathing the sword had filled the basement.

Rayne took a pause, as he looked at the swords details, admiring its blade. It was a plain looking dual edged short sword with black lining design in the middle. Its total length was about 77 centimeters, with almost 80% of which was the blade's length and the rest was the handle.

[Swish... Swish... Swish...]

The sound of air being cut were produced as Rayne swung the sword with a series of slashing and piercing.

Seeing this, Max continued to speak, "The sword's name is Silverash. It's one of the earliest sword I used when I was just starting as mercenary. Forged from a high quality iron and have a mana circuits, specifically created for a magic swordsman, someone who uses sword as weapon and at the same time, had awaken their dormant mana. What are your thought on the sword."

Rayne stopped from swinging the sword and after a short pause, he said "It feels very natural to me. actually felt comfortable in my hand and the weight was just right.", voicing his impression on the sword.

'Magic Swordsman, huh. That has a very nice ring to it.' He thought to himself as he sheathed his newly acquired sword back to its scabbard.

"You can also choose from the racks for equipment. Just do it in moderation and be sure to not biting off more than you can chew"

"I understand. I just choose something light so it will not hinder me when moving."

"That's more like it. Also, learn this as well." Max handed Rayne a parchment made of some beast hide. "That's a mana technique. When practiced, it can strengthen mana quality, increase mana capacity, and improve mana recovery. But return it to me one you've comprehended it."

Rayne faced Max and bowed deeply for a good minute before sincerely saying, "Thank you very much. I will never forget this debt."

Max just laugh it off as he replied, "Don't worry about it too much. This is my loan to you. Expect me to find you later to collect it in full, with the addition of a very high interest."

Although he said that, Rayne knows that he was only joking. He was just saying all this to make him accept these.

Of course, knowing these, Rayne carved it in his heart and mind the kindness he had receive from him and his family. They had been always there for him when he was at his lowest since arriving in Fantasia until now. He had planned to pay the ten-fold, even hundred-fold, once he became successful in the future.

"Go look for some equipment over there already before I change my mind." Max said, urging him to take action. "Also, its getting late, I don't want to be late for dinner."

"Got it." Rayne said as he made his way and check on the assortment of equipment in the room. He first look for something of his size. Luckily for him, there are a couple. Then, he weigh them, separating those that were re on the lighter side. After doing so, there were only a handful left.

With not much to choose from, Rayne took a chain mail, a pair of bracer, a pair of boots and a black leather long coat with a hood. He wore them on, then tried to move around with it. "How do I look?" he asked Max as he turn around once or twice.

"Hmm. Looks nice. It also fits you well. Will you settle with those?"

"Hahaha. These are the only ones that fits me well. So yes."

Max also laughed with him, knowing that majority of his equipment were a size or two bigger than Rayne.

"I see. Then hurry up and pack them up in a space pouch." Max said, pointing where the space pouch can be found. "Just pour a bit of mana into it to activate, then think of the thinks that you want to store inside. This is a common sense but you can't store living organisms in there."

Rayne swiftly took off the equipment and followed Max's advise.

"You done? Let go. Everyone should be waiting for us. And I'm hungry already." Max added, urging him and already on his way out of the basement.

Rayne hurriedly catch up to Max. After they both got out, Max closed and locked the basement, then they left together.