Adventurers have layers

Beth placed a large wrapped bundle on the counter in front of him. "You said you wanted something to help with your unarmed fighting right? Something you could use in a brawl or grapple?"

Sael nodded his eyes starting to light up with excitement. "Yeah…"

"Well I think I finally managed to figure out how to make enchanted items. It took a while to figure out how to get the armor to do more than just well take a hit." She started unrolling the bundle to reveal what looked like two silver furred sleeves. Only that was all they were just sleeves. He could see a leather harness between them that he figured would hold them over his shoulders and across his chest but no matter how he looked at them they were just two sleeves.

"Er…. So um that's all of it?"

Beth let out an exasperated sigh and rolled her eyes. "Yes that is all. I Told you it wasn't a full set or a chest piece like you asked for."

"But it's just sleeves?" Sael tried to keep his disappointment out of his voice, tried.

"Ugh you are the most ungrateful ass I've ever met. Why don't you have your WIVES make you something then." Beth reached for them and out of habit he snatched them away.

The sleeves were far heavier than he expected and when he looked inside he could see the spines from the demon were placed inside. They were lined up so they would be vertical with his arms and put together tightly in a way that reminded him of some oriental splint mail designs that utilized bamboo. But the most shocking thing was that when he picked it up he was prompted by his system.

[Would you like to attune to Silver Wrath?]

Shocked by the message he quickly said out loud "Yes!" making Beth look at him oddly. He dropped the sleeves on the counter and started to strip off his armor.

"Wait! What are you doing? No getting naked in my workshop!" Beth's face turned crimson.

"I'm just taking my top off so I can try these on."

Beth picked up the heavy sleeves and shoved them at him. "Adventurers have layers! Layers! They were designed to be worn over your armor. See they even have slits made to accommodate the blades on your forearms!" She showed him and her explanation made the slightly oversized sleeves make more sense.

Sliding his arms into the sleeves he was worried that the spines on the inside that reinforced them would make movement hard. But it seemed Beth had left plenty of elbow room and the way they were bound together allowed them more flexibility than he expected. They would make excellent defense against slashing attacks and blunt, he figured anything able to pierce between them wouldn't be hindered by the spines but he'd take it.

Just as she described the blades on his forearm were able to slide through the openings made for them. The hand of the sleeves had loopse for his fingers to fit through and he noticed two small blades that looked alot like Antger scythes on the top of his fist. Sadly when he looked at them he noticed they were too short to do any real damage, at most someone he punched might get a scratch. Beth had to help buckle the straps in the back but when he was done leather straps ran between them across the back of his shoulder and his chest. It pulled them tight against the loops around his fingers and made for a very snug fit that didn't hamper his movements at all.

Flexing, twisting, and taking a few practice punches Sael couldn't help grinning. "Ok, I forgive you for wasting so many materials. This feels great!"

"You think that's good. You attuned to it right?" Beth was practically dancing on the balls of her feet and when he nodded she grinned even bigger. "Great now focus on the blades there on top of your hands."

Sael raised his right arm to look at the blades and tried to focus on them. After a moment something kinda clicked and the blades shot out lengthening to about a foot past his fist. "Oh hell yeah. I guess just call me the Wolverine!"

"Eh more like X 23 but you know… a guy." Sael gave her a surprised look. "What girls can't read comics?" Beth had her hands on her hips giving him her best disgusted look before bursting back into a grin. "Ok now go like this and kinda tense up." She had balled up her fist and placed them in front of her waste and looked like she was straining to flex.

Sael had to stop laughing before he could try which only made her glare at him more. "Ok ok let me give this a go." He made the same pose except when he flexed the sleeves strained to contain the sudden surge of muscle mass that accompanied it. More surprising though were the dozens of smines that suddenly popped out all over the sleeves. When he relaxed his flex in shock they retreated back into the armor to disappear. "Ok there is no way those are the same ones reinforcing the sleeves right?"

"Duh, they're enchanted. If everything had to be made to function based on normal physics we would be making mechanical armor not magical. So… .What ya think?"

"I think they are amazing! You really really outdid yourself. So that kinda makes me feel even shittier about this." Sael held out his hand and from his inventory summoned a bouquet of flowers. "Happy late birthday?" He'd still not found a good present for Beth's now very belated birthday and had only gathered the flowers as a last resort. But putting it off any longer would have made it even more awkward and after getting the new armor piece he wanted to give her something back.

Her mouth was slightly open and her eyes widened slowly as she reached out to take the flowers from him. "Wow they are so pretty. I haven't seen most of these either. Where did you find them?"

"I've been gathering them every time I leave. I got most of them when I left to find the castle." Sael almost said when he had met Nee but even he wasn't that stupid. "I know it really isn't much and nothing compared to what you've done for me. Once we get to Amalor I promise I'll get you something better but for now think of it as a down payment gift."

"So, every time you left here you were looking for flowers for me?"

"Well yeah." Sael sensed danger but wasn't sure what landmine he was stepping on.

"So every time you left…. You were thinking of me?" Sael firmly planted his foot on the landmine.

"Er well just because of your birthday of course." Beth kicked him in the shine but still brought the flowers to her nose to sniff.

"Thank you for the flowers…. You're still a perverted ass though. Now I've got to pack, we're leaving tomorrow right?"

"Wait. What? You're really coming too?"

Beth rolled her eyes, her face still half covered by the flowers. "Of course. I don't want to stay stuck all alone in this little town while the rest of you go off and have fun. Besides I want to see the shops they have in the bigger city."

"Fine fine. But you know we are walking! I hope you can keep up." Sael headed for the door getting ready to leave out.

"You still owe me. I don't work for free!" Beth stated.

"Yeah yeah I'll get you some more materials."

"No, I want something else." Sael swore he heard the click of another landmine under his feet.

"Er…. What do you want."

"When we get to the big city. I want to go on a date." Sael looked back at her with half her face hidden behind the flowers as she watched him intently.

Steeling himself he said. "Beth…"