Berserker: A LitRPG Urban Fantasy Adventure (Apocosmos Book 1) by Dimitrios Gkirgkiris (phonics readers .txt) 📕

“I really like your content.”

“Thank you,” he replied with a smile.

“Wait till you see what I’ll craft after I upgrade my class,” Martina added. “Which reminds me… Maestro, a bottle of cedar magma whiskey.”

She turned to face Rory and produced a bottle that looked like it was shifting colors between bright red, orange, and burgundy. She gave the bottle to the dwarf and he accepted it with a nod and a smile. It wasn’t until Hansi produced the second gift that I realized this was the formal greeting when dealing with dwarfs. Rory had made sure to school me on it after my complete ignorance at our first meeting.

The first part was three gifts. No more, no less. The second part was exchanging personal questions, though not too personal. This seemed to me like a terrible way to start a conversation, but who was I to judge dwarven customs? Finally, you had to offer knowledge and accept knowledge.

“Our second gift to you, good dwarf,” the man said, and produced what looked like a large yellow wheel. “Cheese made of Domhain bison milk.”

“Ye know just what to get, ye two,” he said and placed both whiskey and cheese into his inventory.

Before they brought out the third and last of their gifts, I tried to discreetly scan them.

Name : Martina Nerdforge

Race : Human/Elf

Class : Crafter

Level : 19

Name : Hansi Nerdforge

Race : Silver Elf

Class : Lotus Knight

Level : 23

So they both use the name Nerdforge in the Apocosmos too.

I wasn’t surprised by Martina’s half-elf lineage, especially since I’d found out that Leo was a half-elf as well, but I had never met a silver elf before. At least, not to my knowledge, but of course I didn’t have any idea what they looked like.

Martina had obviously not upgraded her class yet, but it looked like Hansi had already completed his level 20 class change quest. I wondered what a lotus knight was, but didn’t want to interrupt them.

“And for our third gift, something to carve your enemies or cut your leathers with.” Martina took her turn and presented a dagger with a short shiny purple blade and a beautiful ornate handle that looked like a twisting serpent.

Name : Lotus Monastery Ceremonial Knife

Type : Dagger

Rarity : E Grade

Physical Attack : 19

Magic Attack : 16

Special Ability : -

Attack Speed : Fast

Durability : 220/220

Weight : 600st.

Description : The handle of this dagger is made of silver sanctified by the Order of the Lotus. The members of the order have infused the blade with their mana, making this weapon especially effective against enemies of the silver elves.

I had never before stumbled upon this particular dagger in the Dark Energy Marketplace and judging by Rory’s reaction, it must have been a great gift.

“Thank ye, lass. I appreciate yer gifts,” Rory said and proceeded to the second part of their meeting ceremony. “Now, how have ye two been handling the fact that yer paths are diverging? With Hansi having become an elven knight and you, Martina, a soon-to-be arcane smith?”

“We’ve been focusing a lot on our personal development,” Martina replied formally and smoothly, “but also try to spend time with each other, doing projects we both enjoy.”

“How do you deal with living in this realm and crafting here?” Hansi asked now. “It must be very different from Domhain.”

“Aye, it is. But money is the same everywhere, so I do what everyone does. The best I can with what I got.”

Both guests nodded at the dwarf’s remark and I felt the need to nod as well. I was about to announce that I’d take my leave when the dwarf talked again.

“I recently read that a whole clan of huldrekall has moved to this realm, to the country of Mexico. Their like haven’t been on this side of the ocean for centuries.”

“That’s something we didn’t know,” Hansi replied in exactly the same words Rory had advised me that one who receives new knowledge should. “And we have heard that there have been some troubles in the lower echelons of the Greek pantheon. Apparently, a minor artifact was stolen from the estate of a demigod.”

“That’s something I didn’t know,” the dwarf replied back, with a wide smile now drawn on his face. “It’s always a pleasure to do this with ye.”

“It’s our pleasure too, Maestro,” Martina retorted.

“Hansi, lad, are ye staying for a drink?” the dwarf asked.

“No, there’s some business I need to attend to just outside of New York. I’m actually a bit late.”

“Thank ye for stopping by then,” the dwarf said and shook his hand.

The man smiled at him, kissed his partner, and stepped back.

“Let me join you,” I said. “I’m going downstairs too.”

“I’m actually going up. A ride is waiting for me,” he said and pointed his finger upward. “It was nice meeting you, Alex.”

A ride? From the rooftop? I was sure this building had no heliport, but I didn’t want to let my ignorance show.

“It was nice meeting you too,” I said just before he left the apartment.

“Alright, lad,” Rory said and pushed his key into the wall, opening the door that led to his extra-dimensional workshop. “I’ll see ye later then. Be careful out there.”

“I will,” I said and put Louie on his leash. “And good luck, Martina.”

“Thank you,” the woman said and smiled as she followed Rory into his workshop. “It was nice meeting you.”

“Likewise,” I said and opened the door to exit the apartment.

I walked down the stairs still a bit dumbfounded that the two of them were members of the Apocosmos. It didn’t take too long for my mood to become sour again though, and I put up my guard as we neared the block’s entrance.

Leo was already waiting for us under the shade of the only tree on the sidewalk. That was quite strange, since I always arrived at least ten minutes early to all my appointments—not that I had many anymore, but still.

“Your leg looks better, man,” he said and opened his arms