Bai Shi’s training was not going very well.
Even though Bai Shi had relentlessly practiced the battle art, forcing his body to memorize the flow of magic for unleashing the frost storm, the result was pathetic without the Zamor Curved Sword.
Erlisa couldn't possibly give Bai Shi her curved sword to use a battle art during combat.
This meant that the frost storm would definitely be unusable in the upcoming battle.
However, Bai Shi wasn't discouraged. The frost storm was just the icing on the cake for him, not that important.
The next morning, at the crack of dawn, Bai Shi was already fully dressed and had arrived at the Roundtable Hold, led by Melina.
Bai Shi was still wearing his Godrick soldier's gear, plus an Exile Soldier's Hood to cover his face.
He didn't attract the attention of other Tarnished, which was good.
The crisp sound of hammering echoed through the empty hallway. It seemed old Hewg was already up and working.
Bai Shi walked quickly towards Smithing Master Hewg's smithing room.As soon as he reached the entrance, the scorching heat of the forge rushed to meet him.
Bai Shi entered the room, and Hewg looked up at him.
"You're the one who was here before?"
Bai Shi nodded.
"Yes, I commissioned the repair of the Banished Knight armor and the Zamor armor before."
Hearing Bai Shi's voice, Hewg had a flash of recognition.
"Oh, I remember this voice. It is you."
"There are a lot of people in the Roundtable, and some folks wear similar outfits. It always makes me worry I'll deliver the wrong equipment."
"Especially those like you who like to keep their faces covered."
Hewg's hands never stopped moving. He was currently forging a straight sword.
"Your repaired gear is over there. Third and fourth from the wall. Just lift the cloth and take it."
Bai Shi looked towards the corner of Hewg's room, where there was a row of armor stands.
Most of them held some very ordinary-looking armor.
A small number were empty, with nothing on them.
A few of the stands were special, covered with cloth, making it impossible to see what armor was underneath.
It seemed to be a measure to protect the privacy of certain clients, as this armor could be considered special.
Bai Shi didn't rush to get the armor. Instead, he first spoke to Hewg.
"Thank you. How much for the repairs?"
"500 for one, 300 for the other. Just put the runes in the basket next to the stand."
Bai Shi looked over and saw a small basket, which already contained some fragmented runes.
He took out a few runes from his small pouch, placed them in the basket, and only then walked over to pick up the armor.
Bai Shi lifted a corner of the cloth. Underneath was his Banished Knight armor.
The original crack had been filled in. Without a close look, one could hardly see any traces of the repair.
Hewg's craftsmanship was truly impeccable.
Bai Shi meticulously examined the armor from top to bottom, an itch in his heart making him want to put it on immediately.
Hewg, hearing no sound of Bai Shi taking the armor and leaving, knew exactly what was on his mind.
Seeing one's armor repaired and wanting to wear it right away—Hewg knew these warriors all too well.
"If you want to put it on now, you can close the door. What happens in this room stays in this room."
"I can guarantee you that."
Although Bai Shi was eager to wear it, he still declined Hewg's kind offer.
This was Sir Gideon Ofnir's territory, after all. If Gideon couldn't keep tabs on everything in the Roundtable Hold, he wouldn't be the All-Knowing.
Bai Shi wrapped the armor in the cloth and bid Hewg farewell.
Bai Shi first went to a Site of Grace in the Roundtable Hold and changed his gear.
Whatever abilities Gideon possessed, he couldn't possibly know what happened within the space of a Grace.
Putting on the long-missed Banished Knight set, Bai Shi's mood lifted.
Melina came close to Bai Shi, reaching out to touch the armor's ribs.
This spot had once been cut straight through by Erlisa's great scythe, but now it was repaired, with almost no trace of the damage.
Bai Shi knocked on the armor with his knuckles. The gauntlet and cuirass collided, producing a crisp sound.
Although Bai Shi didn't know much about armor repair, it didn't sound like a shoddy job that was only fixed on the surface.
Bai Shi was very satisfied. With his armor, his combat effectiveness was back at its peak.
He wouldn't need to worry as much about less threatening attacks.
When facing very powerful attacks, it could also absorb a lot of the damage.
"Is there anything else to do? If not, should we head back?" Melina asked Bai Shi.
Melina remembered Bai Shi telling her they only needed to pick up the armor this time.
If there was nothing else to do, they should return to Castle Morne soon to prepare for the assault on Godrick.
Bai Shi thought for a moment. Melina's words had reminded him.
The last time he came to the Roundtable Hold, he had planned to buy some items, but he had been summoned by the Two Fingers and forgot.
"Wait for me a little longer. I'm going to see if there are any useful items."
Melina nodded and sat on the Roundtable to wait for Bai Shi's return.
---
Bai Shi headed straight for the Roundtable's trading area, intending to see if there were any items he might be able to use.
However, Bai Shi was stopped once again.
This time, it was Ensha, Gideon's man.
Ensha's armor was extremely bizarre. Withered, yellowed human bones and gold were forged into one; it was as if he were wearing the bones of his own kind.
The skeletal helmet, in particular, with its sparse, withered hair, was very unsettling to look at.
Ensha came before Bai Shi and said nothing.
He simply lowered his head, turned to the side, and raised a hand in a gesture of invitation.
Bai Shi followed Ensha's extended hand and saw a large, tightly closed door.
As for who would be inside, it was obvious: Ensha's master, Sir Gideon Ofnir.
Bai Shi was unsure of Sir Gideon Ofnir's motive for seeking him out and hesitated whether he should go in and meet him.
As far as he knew, he had never exposed anything in the Roundtable Hold, not even his appearance.
But Gideon had taken the initiative to find him. Why? Did he know the Two Fingers had sought him out?
Were even the movements of the Two Fingers under Gideon's surveillance?
Had he set an ambush, ready to give the signal to have him killed?
This world's Roundtable Hold also had a rule against fighting, but unlike in the game, you weren't unable to even draw your sword.
Here, fighting would result in severe punishment and expulsion.
But Gideon himself was the leader of the Roundtable Hold. Who could expel him?
On second thought, it didn't seem right. Gideon wasn't that simple.
Bai Shi felt that he should meet Gideon and see what he wanted.
Besides, he had no reason to be afraid of them.
With Fengling Yueying in hand, even if they arranged a full-service assassination à la the Night of the Black Knives, Bai Shi wouldn't be scared.
So, under Ensha's guidance, Bai Shi arrived before Gideon's room.
As Ensha pushed open the door, Sir Gideon Ofnir, the leader of the Roundtable Hold, appeared before Bai Shi for the first time.