He looked out into the crowd and saw almost no one, and for a second he thought it must have been in his head, or maybe a call for someone else that was already answered. What he did see though was that it was getting late. A lot of the other tables looked like they were winding down as far fewer people were out inspecting the goods, and it seemed like as good a time as any to finish up for the day.

“Should we start heading back?” He asked both Thera and Falk, only to hear another quiet yell.

“Or you could help the customer in front of you asshole!”

This time he was sure he was hearing right, only he still didn’t see anyone. Casting Thera a quick look first, he leaned across the table and directed his gaze downward, seeing a hand-sized crab with a red crystal shell, immediately recognising it as a ruby crab, a race that had been hunted in the past like the dryads had for the fact that they’d actually grow the precious gem from their body.

“Oh man, I’m so sorry about that,” He was quick to say. He knew that there were a handful of exceptionally small races on the world, but since they had to deal with the uncomfortable risk that was the careless feet of others they typically kept to themselves. Still, that was no excuse for ignoring a potential customer, even if he was out of things to sell at the moment.

“Ah whatever, give me a lift up would ya? Having to yell like this sucks,” He called again, leaving Ben to sympathize with his situation as he went around and placed him on the empty table before him. “Much better.”

“So what can I do for you mister…”

“It’s Greed, and I’m looking to have something specially made. I couldn’t help but notice your table was empty and there’s only the three of you. Can I take it you’re pretty good?”

“It’s actually just Ben, and he is,” Thera said hesitantly as she tried to remember just what about the crab before her felt familiar as Falk nodded in agreement.

“Even better, if he can help me at least,” The crab said happily. “I’m looking to have something a little special made, an item that could help my music carry a lot farther than it currently can, think that’s something you could make?”

His first instinct was to ask how he’d been able to see the table at all from down there, but pushed the question aside to avoid being rude. Thinking it over briefly, he decided it wouldn’t be too hard. He’d need some more details of course, if it would be for an instrument or singing, as well as how loud it would need to be, but he was sure he could do it with an air enchantment. Before he could say as much though, Thera yelled out.

“Wait, you’re not the soundsmith Greed, are you?” She asked, disgust thick in her voice and getting a chuckle from the crab in return.

“The one and only.”

“Um, should I know who this guy is?” He asked her as she slid her chair away from him.

“Ugh, he’s a pretty well known musician. He’d be a lot more liked if he wasn’t disgusting though. Anyone that knows about him also knows about his lifestyle, as well as just how many, well… illegitimate children he has. I heard he used to try to have one in any town he went to.”

“Hey, enough of that,” He yelled in his defense. “I’ll admit, I had my youthful indiscretions, and I mean, anti-life rings are just so uncomfortable, am I right? But that’s in the past, you couldn’t pay me to touch a woman nowadays, you would believe the sort of trouble that’s gotten me into. Besides, at least mention my better parts. You didn’t even bring up my soundsmith skill or blessing magic.”

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

“That’s because you're more known for your degeneracy than anything else,” Thera told him bluntly, but Ben couldn’t help but pick up on just what skills he’d said. He might not know anything about the soundsmith one, but blessing magic on the other hand…

“Do you mean proper blessing magic or low-blessing magic?” He asked in a voice filled with excitement.

“Proper, obviously. You know how much trouble I’d get in if I was lying about that? That’s false advertising!”

“In that case, did you awaken it from low blessing magic?”

“I wish, would have been a mile easier than having to train up both light and life magic. Of course, doing it that way keeps the healing properties stronger, so it’s not too bad.”

Ben was salivating as he would whenever he felt a new and interesting skill had appeared before him. Blessing magic had properties of both a combined magic and a specialized one, taking the buffs that could be gained from both light and life magic, as well as some of their healing effects, while weakening their other aspects like lights use for illusions or purification. Since it was an awakened skill then there was nothing he could do with it for now, but he was determined to do whatever it took to awaken his skills to let him use other awakened ones, and if he did then it would be handy to have a good rapport with Greed now to take advantage of later.

“Well, I’ll need to get a few more details from you to be sure, but I should be able to make you something,” He said agreeably. “For now, how loud do you need it and what will it be for? Singing, an instrument maybe?”

“Singing and these,” Greed said, clicking his claws and getting a variety of different tones as he did, pulling them together into an unfortunately quiet song considering how nice it sounded. “And as for the volume, well as loud as you can make it. I’ll tell you, you giants are so freaking hard to satisfy, you know that? If a group of you could just keep from muttering or coughing or making whatever noises you make over me, this wouldn’t be such a problem.”

Ben was already trying to put ideas together for how to construct something like that. He was sure he could manage it for singing at least, a funnel with a good air enchantment could do the job well enough, but the claws were a different matter. Not that he didn’t think it could be done, it was just beyond his expectations and would need a little bit of testing to get perfect.

“Alright, and in that case what’s your budget like?”

He was already planning on cutting the crab a good deal. He didn’t really mind if he didn’t take into account the value his enchantments added since they only took time, not materials, but as the subject of money came up Greed started to fidget.

“Ah, well you know how it is, youthful indiscretions and whatnot. I’m a little short on funds. What do you say legs? I’ll give you and your lady a decent private show after and we call it square?”

“How many people have you tried that line on before coming to us?” Thera immediately asked.

“One or two, but they’re missing out on the opportunity of a lifetime, not many people get their own private event from the spectacular Greed! Think of the intrinsic value! A memory you can take with you to the grave! Come on legs, isn’t that worth it?”

Ben couldn’t help but pull a face as he scratched at his chin, thinking the proposal over. He didn’t really care about a performance, but then again he did want access to that skill later on. They were both just taking advantage of each other here and even if Ben wasn’t able to get a copy of the skill in the end, it wasn’t like it would be a huge loss for him. Given Greed’s size, he would need to make something the crab could move comfortably himself, meaning it would be small, and he could just not bother using any higher-quality materials. Sure, it might not get as loud as it could have, but it would be a fun enough side project as he worked on his main one.

“Alright, but I don’t want it now, it might even be in a few years. Is there any way I can contact you when I want to claim my payment if that’s how you want to do it?”

“I’ll scribble down an address for you to reach me at. So you’ll do it?”

“Sure, sounds like it could be fun,” He said, seeing the happiness in the small crab’s movements as he agreed. “I’m not sure how fast it will be, this contest is my priority at the moment, but if you meet here with me again tomorrow we can go over what I come up with, I should have a better idea on how to make you it by then.”

“Excellent, you won’t regret this legs! Whenever you want it I’ll give you a show that will knock you on your ass!”

…Well, it won’t hurt if I put a bit of effort into making him something.