“Hop aboard!” Said Hywel, tapping the luxurious and comfortable carriage’s seat twice as if saying she should sit there. On the small open space left on it, the seat was big enough to comfortably sit three persons of Artanis stature, but thanks to the man large fat body. He occupied two thirds of it. The space left was just enough so that she could sit without being squashed by the man’s thighs that are nearly the same size as her hip.

“So young lady, may I ask why, you wish to visit the Merchant guild?” He asked curious about the elf’s motive to visit such place, this was asked so not long after the carriage started moving. Their hoofs, made a loud sound as they hit the hard rock floor. The four horses in front of the carriage dragged the insane amount of weight. Of both, the solid iron cart, and the man’s large body.

“To become a Merchant.” Artanis answered in simple and honest way, but somehow it caused the man laugh like a hyena once again. Had she suddenly discovered her unknown, incredible comedy skills? On the other hand, perhaps unknown to her she had some somewhat weird, funny accent. She dismissed both possibilities, deciding that the man simply had some sort of mental illness.

“And why would you, want to do that?.” He asked surprised, that her answer was far different for the answer he expected. To his knowledge most travelers preferred combat oriented jobs, filled with mystery and adventure. Another reason was that elven merchants were rare. Moreover, that an elven traveler, such as her. Would leave her people to become a merchant were unheard of. Most of them ended becoming magic oriented combat or support classes, or crafters and artists such as sculptors and bards. Their inclination to magic and arts normally took them into such paths, and elves often valued living trees more than buckets of gold.

“Recently, I became a clerk at a certain store. And I wanted to learn how to do a better job at It.” Was how she answered, the obese merchant’s question. She was expecting that he once again would, burst in laughter, because of her serious, honest answer. However, for some reason, he did not.

“I heard worse reasons before, young lady. However, you should aim higher. Becoming the owner of your own store would be a good start. A good merchant must have more ambition, after all *laughs*.” Said the man was he attentively observed the Road. He might have a weird laugh, but at least he was not a bad carriage conductor.

“Owning a shop?” She mumbled, thinking about the man’s word. Frankly, the only reason she wanted to be a merchant, was that being a clerk provided a good opportunity for her to raise their exclusive skills. Moreover, skills such as haggling would be useful no matter what she decides to do in the future. As with them, she could get possible large discounts from any NPC. Should she try to negotiate. Being able to buy food, drinks, equipment, potions, and even houses at a discounted price was quite useful.

“Yes, your own store. There is nothing wrong, in aiming high, young lady. While is true that Money cannot buy dreams, it can help us make then into reality. Moreover, if not because o f our greed and ambition, where would we be? Living inside caves and rolling around the mud!” Said the man, confidently. Artanis agreed with him, if not for greed we would not desire a warmer, better place to live, or for better tasting food. After all, we would already be satisfied we had anything to eat. No matter how dreadful it taste could be. Science would have not become as advanced as it was today. Making the existence of this game as well of the man beside, her impossible. Artists would not strive for perfection, being satisfied with putting sticks into the mud or slapping their bellies to make sounds, caring not for rhythm or rhyme. Greed was a sin in most religions, but it also were one of the fuels needed by the train of progress.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

After that, for the rest of the trip no one said anything else, aside from eventual comments about the weather. The trip to the gate was much shorter, that if she had walked, thanks to the amazingly strong horses, which seemed unaffected by the weight behind them. Arriving at the gate in a record time, she slightly regretted that she had not walked, for as tiring it was, perhaps she would once again be rewarded with a small increase, in her stats. Perhaps it would even create a new one instead.

“Here we are.” He said having stopped the carriage a few meters, before the city’s gate. Instead, of going to the gate, he had parked his carriage in front of one of the four garden’s gates. Each direction had its separated entrance, and the one they were at currently were the eastern one.

“Thank you for the ride.” Said Artanis, as she got off the carriage’s seat. However, before she could go into the garden, the merchant started talking.

“Wait a minute, young lady.” He said leaving the carriage’s seat and standing before Artanis. Taking a pen and a small notebook, he started writing something in it as she waited in silence.

“Ask for Aramis the guild’s elder. Tell them, you must deliver it into his hands and his hands only, and that a man called Hywel wrote it. They will know who I am, so they will let you met him.” He said, folding the paper many times, when he finished the paper had become a small square block. He then handed to her, soon after he had done so; he took of a ring from his pocket. One that was identical to the ring at his index finger. The small gold ring had a medium sized golden yellow gem etched into it.

“That ring will be very useful for you, try not to lose it. Please consider it a gift for working so hard and not complaining about it.” Was his explanation for the expensive looking gift he had given her, having said that, he once again climbed into the carriage’s seat and waved his hand at her, leaving towards the city’s gate direction.

“It’s such a pretty ring.” She said to herself, as she closely inspected it, a transparent window suddenly appearing.

Mysterious Gold RingType:RingDurability:25 / 25Defense:1A golden ring with a golden translucent gem, cut in such a way that it glows brightly, as light pass through it. This expensive looking ring, also has mysterious characters engraved into it, their meaning, though, is unknown to you.Effects:

Cannot be dropped during death.

Cannot be held without its owner permission.

Bound to Artanis.

Further effects hidden by the lack of proper identification skills.

“I should get it identified soon.” She mumbled, although she could not identify it, she somehow felt it were a good item. She could, of course wear it as it was, but had decided not to do so.

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