Okay, I was asked for POV of Diavora, well and few other folks, but in the end I decided to change the very concept a little – I mean, I would simply get too bored rewriting the same thing over and over again just from different perspective so… Meh, ya all ll see

Edited by: KenChi死

Within the Pink Ether, as in every renowned facility, there was a staff only section where the girls could relax right after work. It contained private rooms, a bathhouse, canteen and many more places. The… “workers”… of this facility were gathering there for small gossips, complain about their clients and so on.

In this very place, young pale skinned girl was sipping her herbal drink. She was considering taking a break till the end of the day. She didn’t have to wait long before a few friends of hers joined her by the table

“Hey Dia! You are taking your time sweety! Normally you would be off for another client, aren’t you afraid that we will fish the best one for ourselves?” “Hello Mitri…” she smiled weakly “… no, I think I am fine for the rest of the day.” “But… if I am not mistaken you had only one toda…” Sparkle of understanding flashed through the eyes of those gathered “…WHAT WAS HE LIKE!?”

And chaos break lose.

“Which one? Skilled or generous? Those are the only cases that could force our beloved Dia to stop working!” “…a…actually… both, I guess…” “… okay girl, take it easy, and tell us how big the tip was!”

Very undiplomatic question. Very indeed. But they were friends and there were no such things like taboos here.

“Ten…” “Ain’t that much… tsh…” “…silvers…” “WHA!? That’s… that’s…” She started using her finger to calculate “… you could live for about three months with that!” “This is why I am considering an even bigger break than just for today… I haven’t seen my family in quite some time.” “… ah, I’m sorry. For a moment I forget about your situation.”

The redhead girl named Mitri lowered her head in apology.

“It’s fine! It really is…” “… but that’s really a coin… and you said that he was good in bed? That’s rare.” “You know, I am actually thinking that this was his first time…” the girl chuckled a little “… if you could see how shy he was in the beginning… he was avoiding looking me in the eyes. I thought that he might be yet another boy that got it hard in life and simply needed relief… I have to admit, I underestimated him. I used almost everything I had from the start, and then he simply bested me, outran my endurance.”

The mood around got better right away. The girls start joking one more time.

“Well, whatever. Sad that you had to deal with some kind of freak…” “What do you mean?” “Tipping while bringing you over the edge? We know what it means…” “He… wasn’t ugly, if you would ask me…” “NO! STOP RIGHT ERE’! We are whores, sunshine. Good-looking, good in bed and tipping, one of those usually denies the others. We don’t get such customers!” “I haven’t said he was handsome! But he definitely wasn’t ugly. You know, his whole torso was covered ins scars. Nasty one, his hands were bit scratchy, like someone who wielded weapons and tools most of their life, he had barely any fat, and his muscles were… I found no word but weird. Almost non-human. But his face wasn’t lacking anything, maybe even a little cute? Eyes, where not filled with desire, they had a small sparkle of nostalgia and showed… intellect? I guess…” “… and he entered the brothel on a fiery steed, basked in the glory of angels as the prince of an entire nation to pick you in his arms… We know, we know…”

The joke that every hooker used to say to each another. Always warming hearts a little. As Dia wanted to answer with a joke of her own, the Madam Godanm entered the room. Everyone within the room raised and performed a polite curtsy.

“Welcome Madam” All of them greeted with one voice. “It’s ok, it’s ok loves.. Where are you… Ah! Here you are! Dia!” “Y…yes!”

The girl straightened fully.

“Ah, Dia, my sweetest flower! Let me give you a hug!”

It was something astonishing. Madam was polite, of course, but she showed such straightforward acts of friendliness very rarely. Very rarely hear means never. Ever.

“D..Did I do something, madam?” “Of course! You see, the client you got was a bit special, and by pleasing him, just like you did, you have gathered for us someone who may become pretty powerful in the future… actually, we have a talk as soon as he left… it went greatly…” “So he is a bloody prince in the end…”

Mitri said while her head was still lowered. She was a cheerful girl and simply couldn’t let the possibility to say yet another joke pass through her. She said those words quietly, but madam heard them.

“Far better, sun shine, far better. I talked with HIM, he is considered the next Shadow.”

The smile vanished from the faces of all the giggling girls. The owner of brothel once again turned her head to Diavora

“Take rest, young one. Even a week if you would need it. Also… I will talk with the right person about your case… Will see what can be done…”

No introductions were needed. I sat opposite to the somewhat drunk dwarf.

Hello Fional, I can see that your beard is still intact”

If I was doomed, let’s get doomed with dignity.

“Now, brat, threaten to burn my beard one more time and I will shove my axe in your ass!... I done it only cuz I owe a favor to young Blackwood… I have come here several times actually, yet somehow you were never here. They told me that you were on a mission, then came back and not even a week has passed since you moved to another one. I even started thinking that you were avoiding me on purpose…” “I wasn’t informed that you came here… did you left a note with the reception? Otherwise they wouldn’t inform me.” “…” “Aha. So, once again. How can I help you this time?” “You ain’t helping me brat! I am helping you… while paying my debt. Never mind… here, take a look at those.”

He pulled from below the table a extremely big book, its condition was poor, scratched cover, I could see pages being pulled out from it, here and there stained with wine and beer.

Yet as he opened it and began turning pages. He was a craftmaster and this was his book in which he wrote all his recipes, models way of crafting. People would kill for it…

“ere’ it iz..” He hiccupped “ Lizten, I was azked to made something for you… And even as you are unworthy azzhole, that simply does not deserve to wear anything but that shit you got on yourself… well, I am not going to dishonor my art by creating equipment worth its wearer. I made a few concept sketches. Take a look… I wanted to spare you with mah boyz to see your moves… but as you were not HERE…. I used the time I made sketches of EVERY possible model… Heavy armors – Full plates, chained, hybrids with leather parts in different variations… Focusing on protection, focusing on mobility, for juggernauts, acrobats… Just pick what suits you the most.”

I have been looking at the sketches. Those were… masterpieces. Details are insane, even if I would have this skill in drawing, making each of those sketches would take me more than a day, and here are dozens and dozens of them. From one that covers you completely from head till toes… not for me, even if I would be able to move in it, shifting would be completely impossible… Yet, while some war would start, I would not fancy meeting someone wearing it on a battlefield…

Let’s look for something more elastic.

I quickly skipped through the part focused on heavy armors. Now I have been looking on leather armors. With a hood, bandana and small coat. Behind the coat, all over the wearer backs there were dozens of pockets and sheaths for short blades and throw-weapons.

“Masterpiece…” I whispered quietly while looking at it. Fional heard that, he proudly puffed his chest.

Every rouge would kill to get something like that.

I like it. Looked durable, there was some more descriptions on the side about materials… while remembering the page of it I keep turning page after page.

Every single one of them was great – perfect for a user of different arts. I still wanted the universal leather armor for Rogues. Up until the moment I looked at last page. And I froze

“Hm? Ah, this… No, give it back! It’s not finished! And I made too many mistakes here, you see, even in if theory creating it is possible… no one would use it, I mean… it looks nice, surly has great… … specifications… but there is no living person that could truly use its full potential, so…” “I want it” “Just as I thought, we will get you that rogu… say what?”

I raised the book and poked at very last sketch

“it’s perfect. Every single armor you showed me could be proudly wore by kings. But this one? I doubt a Goddess is worthy…” “That’s right. It’s the most perfect, but at the same time is the worst of all that you saw. It greatly protects from everything, but from nothing perfectly. You will require quite the muscles to wear it, but it is very flexible so it won’t restrict your movements… But here again, if you would be that strong, you won’t be flexible enough to move completely freely and utilize all possibilities … if you would be focused on flexibility, you won’t be strong enough to wear it… The armor is perfect, but… there is no one perfect in the same way to wear it. Pick something different.” “What material did you wanted to use? I see it’s mostly leather…” “Cut it off! I won’t make it!... but I wanted to use gryphon leather soaked in acid. It would swell, got heavier and thus became much less vulnerable for all kind of cuts and thrust of pointy or edgy weapons. Yet, because it would swell, it could absorb lots of smashing attacks. Because it is leather, it is elastic… but you know… those bastards are heavy. And as it would swell… even heavier. It may be even worse than some heavy armors… on the other hand, tanned leather wouldn’t be even touched by acids… and extremely easy to clean… such a bonus feature.” “… Fio…” “Call me like that and I will beat your ass.” “I want it.” “No” “Yes” “No” “Yes” “No” “Yes” “No” “No” “Yes.” “If you say so…” “Wait what… GOD DAMN IT..!” Thank you Bugs Bunny for your lessons “… don’t make fun ow me kid! It ain’t working that way!” “Why not?!” “Told ya. You won’t be even able to wear it right now.” “You are saying it as if you have it prepared already.” “… I don’t! of course I don’t!” “Then why should I be able to carry something that doesn’t even exists!? How long would it take you to make it?” “Hm? First I would have to gather materials, then the leather has to be tanned PERFECTLY, then it has to soak another time… don’t you even dare mention it! It’s the secret of m art!… Everything? Month easily! Maybe month and a half… but then again, I am not going to…” “What if I would be able to lift it in a month?” “… you are kidding right?” “Try me…” I smiled. In the end I did research about other races. Dwarves hate to be insulted, threatened… and they love to gamble. Even without a prize. Just to prove themselves right. “Ah, I want to see your face in this month… Listen Flor… I would love to sit and feast with you, but I had really lots of work… so all I can do is this… “I raised my head to one of waitress and yelled thorough the inn “…Their drinks are on me!...”

And after that looking back at Dwarves

“Just don’t make me penniless… listen… I have shown you disrespect the first time we met. Now I know how skilled and respectable you are, even if you are a prick and an asshole, you are a true virtuoso of your profession. I know that you can make perfect armor… and all I can do is ask for trust. Please, trust in me, maybe I am not really an intimidating warrior, but I have been in more than a few battles. And I won not only because I tend to be underestimated. For now… farewell.”

As I was walking away I managed to hear him whispering to himself

“Fucking brat… so cocky… so full of himself… Such an annoying bastard… Fuck! I will do it.”

I could do nothing more, but smile.