Brisa tied on the equipment as best she could. The maul was the hardest piece to place. She had never even thought of carrying a maul around before today. This maul, her maul was almost twice the size of a normal one. Swordsmen she saw in videos usually held swords on their waist so she tried strapping it there. It was wrong, the weight of the maul hung off of her belt threatening to fall off or pull down her pants if she ever needed to run.
That is, if she could run. The plated boots and gauntlets were made of compressed metal. They were even heavier than they looked. She turned to see herself in the mirror. Her legs got a workout from that simple action. Her arms also got a workout from putting on her equipment. Perhaps it was a mistake to put the gauntlets on first.
Brisa checked herself in the mirror. Even she knew she looked pretty bad, little worse than average. Catlin said that most adventurers dressed like this. How could they?
The chest piece was loose. The pants didn’t fit well with her chest piece. The tying straps didn’t reach each other but that could be normal, possibly. How is any of this supposed to protect me from anything? The mask was especially ghastly and hard to see through. Ragged but finished, she checked herself one last time in the mirror.
She stepped out of the dressing room to the sound of Catlin’s giggles. Catlin tried to hold back but once she started laughing she just couldn’t stop. “So,” Brisa said seriously. She had convinced herself that her reflection could be acceptable. Catlin’s response told her the honest truth. “Wrong then,” she asked after a pause.
At this, Catlin lost control of herself doubling over in laughter. For a brief moment, the sight of Catlin laughing truly scared her. Brisa couldn’t place why she was so scared; it had nothing to do with her armor. It was very confusing. She giggled slightly. Part of her wanted to laugh along with Catlin. Another part was frozen in place and knew that running was pointless. How could such a kind, generous, and helpful person be so frightening, especially when she’s laughing with a friend?
Catlin saw Brisa’s horrified look. Looking a little startled as well, she quickly calmed down and spoke again, “If you don’t mind.” Catlin paused before approaching Brisa.
Brisa’s doubt’s quickly vanished. She stood before the mirror allowing the experienced warrior to assist her. Within a few minutes, Catlin had retied Brisa’s armor. Most of her mistakes were simple ones. Catlin taught as she fixed Brisa’s gear.
“When am I going to meet your friends,” Brisa asked changing the subject. The paralyzing fear was gone. Still, she couldn’t ignore the fact that it was there. Why was it there? She gave up trying to remember. Catlin could not possibly be dangerous.
Catlin had no problem lifting the maul from Brisa’s left holster and onto the mount Brisa never saw on her back. “We’ll be in West Drop in a few hours. I think we have enough time for one more meal before we land.”
“So, I’ll meet you in the food court later.”
“Sure,” Catlin said signaling she was done by stepping away.
Brisa looked herself over in the mirror. She still looked ridiculous. However, she also looked ready to fight. She could walk easier though it still took a great deal of effort.
“Okay, out of the gear,” Catlin ordered, “I see some changes I need to make.”
“Like what?”
“I’ll surprise you.” Catlin was smiling deviously again, “You’ll love it.”
“Okay?” Brisa said walking back into the changing room.
Getting out of the armor was a lot easier. Her hands moved much faster without the gauntlets. In a few minutes, she was in her reporter’s uniform again, minus the bowtie. It was burned too much to tie again. She left it in the fitting room to be thrown away by the shuttle staff.
“See you in about an hour,” Catlin said as she walked off with Brisa’s equipment in a shopping cart.
Brisa smiled as Catlin walked away. Things were looking up.