With quivering lips, the girl almost had a tear in her eyes. She stared at the shiny stone, inducing pity in others.

“Please, mister merchant sir. Sell me this soothing-life-um. But I only have three crystals. Is this enough?”

The merchant was just about to haggle when he looked into the girl’s terrified eyes. No words came out of his throat.

Eventually the man sighed guiltily.

“You know what, I can give out this stone for two crystals.”

This will be the first time I don’t make a profit. But in the end my I can’t bear to trick a little girl.

The blond girl nodded hastily as she pulled out two small force crystals from a pouch in her dress. She handed it to the merchant.

“Here, mister merchant sir. This is all I have. Can I have the soothing-life-ium, please?”

The merchant was somewhat confused for a second, but he still took the crystals. Immediately after, two tiny hands grabbed he shiny stone. The girl looked left and right before she happily skipped away in a certain direction.

Meanwhile, Tepo had already gone ahead. He only heard parts of the conversation. Suddenly he saw the joyful girl skipping in his direction.

Out of curiosity the warrior glanced at the bright stone in the girl’s hand. Suddenly he frowned. He took a deeper look.

I’m not wrong. This is just a modified sort of illumination stone! Those aren’t even worth a single force crystal! If I saw it right the girl definitely paid crystals! What a blackhearted merchant!

Anger rose in Tepo’s mind. Children always had a soft spot in his heart. He couldn’t stand a child being exploited like this. Since he was already not weak in Floating Rain City, Tepo decided to act.

The blond girl skipped along the road. Suddenly a kind looking young man blocked her path. She blinked her innocent eyes.

“Child, my name is Tepo. I couldn’t help but see you buying something from that merchant over there, right?”

“Yes. Look big brother. This is soothing-life-ium. If will protect Baranoa from being kidnapped by evil spirits!”

A vein almost popped on Tepo’s forehead.

Good, good. What a merchant. Deceiving little girls for a few crystals!

Tepo let out a long sigh.

“Baranoa… can I call you this…?”

Seeing the girl nod, Tepo continued:

“I’m afraid that merchant tricked you. This is not soothing-life-ium. It’s just a somewhat exotic illumination stone.”

Suddenly the blond girl looked uncertain. She gazed between Tepo and the bright stone in her hand. Her lips quivered.

“This… big brother you can’t just lie to me just because I’m young. Do you… have any proof?”

“Of course. Look I will just inject a bit of force and this stone will light up.”

As he explained, Tepo reached out with his hand. Baranoa didn’t evade, letting the older man touch the stone in her hands.

Suddenly a shining light appeared on the street. The passers-bye watched in confusion. A moment later a child’s cry could be heard. Tears ran down the young girl’s cheeks.

“Oh no. Oh no. It happened… again. Booho. I wasted all my money. Now … mommy will scold me again.”

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Tepo felt awkward as he noticed multiple suspicious gazes. He quickly tried to console Baranoa.

“Calm down. Don’t cry. Nothing is lost, ok? Come. Let’s follow big brother here and we will get your money back, alright?”

Suddenly the young girl bawled even louder.

“No no no. Don’t go, big… brother. Mommy said that all merchants here are dangerous. Not even… not even the mayor dares to scold them.”

Tepo was confused. Was this true? Were merchants in Floating Rain City this influential?

But suddenly the young man had to think about his own mother. The gentle woman was still living well despite the mayor’s interference. Maybe this wasn’t an exception but the rule?

Behind her tear-stained eyes Baranoa glanced at Tepo. As she saw the older man hesitate, she bravely spoke up.

“Big brother, it’s… it’s ok. I will g…go home and… confess. Mommy always said… being honest is the most… important!”

Tepo sighed as he watched the girl bravely suppressing her tears. She stuck out her chest and was about to leave. The warrior’s heart immediately melted.

“Wait. Let’s do this. Just tell big brother how much you paid, ok? I will give you the crystals so you can tell your mother you got the stone as a gift.”

Suddenly a disbelieving look appeared on Baranoa’s face before it turned into a bright smile.

“You… would do this for me? Really?”

“Of course.”

“Wow! You’re the best big bother ever!”

Her mood turning by 180 degrees, Baranoa looked at Tepo with sparkling eyes as she clung to the young man’s sleeves.

“You’re great! Thank you!”

“Ahh, don’t worry. Come on, tell me how much you paid, alright?”

“Yes. Yes. I lost ten force crystals.”

Tepo hid one hand behind his back as he balled his fists. He cursed the greedy merchant a thousand times. Who would scam a little girl out of ten force crystals?!

Despite the anger in his heart Tepo smiled kindly. Ten tiny white crystals appeared in his palm.

“Here, that’s for you.”

The young girls clapped in excitement, her braids swaying left and right.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you. I will never forget you, big brother!”

As she happily exclaimed, Baranoa grabbed the crystals form Tepo’s hand one by one and stuffed them into her pouch.

“I can’t thank you enough big brother. But I have to go home, or mommy will scold me. I hope you visit us sometime! Goodbye! Goobyyee!”

With those words the young girls skipped and vanished among the crowd.

A short while later a man appeared behind her out of nowhere. He shook his head as he followed the young girl with a wry smile on his face.

Tepo was left standing on the road. He let out a long sigh, lamenting how heartless this world was.

But after the girl disappeared from the young man’s vision, he somehow felt as if something was off.

He thought about it for a second as his eyes glanced back at the merchant some distance away. He turned around and approached the stand.

“Hey.”

Immediately a bright smile welcomed Tepo.

“Ahh, what a valiant young man. Are you here to search for your next spell? I just got a new delivery from the treasure storms zone. Young warrior, why don’t you take…”

“Save it. Let me ask you a question. Did you just scam a little girl?”

Suddenly the mood turned tense. The merchant stared at Tepo angrily.

“Young man! Even though you might be a warrior you can’t come here and besmirch an honest merchant’s reputation! I sold an unknown material and didn’t even make any profit!”

“How much did you demand?!”

“I sold it for two crystals! Let me tell you, that’s basically a loss on my end!”

Suddenly the corner of Tepo’s eye twitched.

Two crystals?! The merchant doesn’t seem to be lying. So… have I just gotten scammed by a little girl?!

Tepo was incredulous. What a joke.

Feeling awkward in his heart, the young man did his best to get out of the embarrassing situation. He put on a displeased expression.

“Two crystals for an illumination stone?! What a cutthroat business! Hmpf!”

Leaving this comment behind Tepo rapidly turned around and vanished into the crowd. Only the uncertainty merchant was left standing blinking his eyes.

The young man didn’t know what to feel. He followed the road, replaying the conversation in his mind.

In the end he sighed. Even now he wasn’t able to get angry at Baranoa. He could only blame himself.

Ten force crystals shouldn’t be underestimated. Tepo didn’t have many crystals left. Only after he found someone who could process the big chunk of force crystals he brought out of the dungeon, could he be called rich.

But for now, the young man could only keep this loss at the back of his mind. He would much rather look forward to seeing his mother again.

Soon Tepo reached the familiar part of the town. This area still belonged to the commercial center but gradually the street got less crowded. Well maintained stores began to line the path left and right.

This was a part of the district catering towards all sorts of talented craftsmen. Artificers, alchemists, or specialized armor- or weapon- makers put their wares on display in their own stores.

Even the warriors in this part of the city were obviously from better backgrounds. They wore finely crafted equipment, as Tepo even recognized some from the Treasure Storms Inn.

A smile formed on the young man’s face as he quickened his steps. His mother’s store was just around another corner.

Suddenly Tepo’s eyes lit up. Homely feelings welled up in his chest as his gaze fell on a luxurious store.

Dark wooden beams framed big windows which drew one’s attention on the fine pills on display. Even on this street the store stood out slightly, its wares of the best quality.