AFTER EXCHANGING THEIR COLOSSENE currency to arcanii, Arcanas Kingdom's currency, Raijin, Brunnhilde, and Siegfried split from Daisuke, Riku, and Jack. The value was not that different, so they still have a few thousands of arcanii to spend.
As they walked around the market, Raijin smelled a familiar fragrance. “Of course! The Arcanas Kingdom is known for its chuckleberry vineyards! They are the main producers of chuckleberry wine!”
“Okaaaay. And what’s that got to do with finding food for our travel?” asked Siegfried.
“In Arcanas Kingdom, chuckleberry wine is always partnered with cheese made with the milk of curly-horned Arcanas cattle and salt-cured pork from furry Arcanas hog.”
Raijin followed the fragrance, followed by Brunnhilde and Siegfried, and soon, they reached a street filled with cheese products and preserved meats. Siegfried can’t help but admire Raijin’s sense of smell.
“And voila! Cheese and preserved meat on your left, chuckleberry wines on your right.”
“Umm, hey, Raijin. Could we also buy a barrel of wine? Those wine really smells good,” asked Siegfried.
“Hmmm…I don’t know. Besides, how are we even going to carry those barrels?”
“We can use Geri and Freki,” suggested Brunnhilde who seems to be eager as well to taste the wine.
“Okay, but let’s buy our provisions first before we buy a barrel of wine.”
They went to the stalls where they bought a lot of cheese that could go with their bread and preserved meats that Raijin could cook together with other ingredients that they could find.
“Do we still have enough money?” asked Siegfried.
“We’ve bought quite a lot that could last for a week. The food here sure is cheap. I think we have enough for the wine and still have a change as Riku asked as,” said Brunnhilde.
“Well, I guess buying one barrel of wine wouldn’t hurt,” said Raijin.
“YES!” Siegfried yelled, much to the surprise of the people around.
* * * * *
Daisuke, Jack, and Riku, meanwhile, were on the other side of the kingdom, searching for the famous Fairy Dust bakery, a century-old bakery known for their fairy dust-infused bread and pastries.
They asked people around for direction and finally reached a brick house that indeed smelled like a bakery. The brick house has a magical sign with the bakery’s name on it.
“Well, let’s go inside and buy some bread.” Said Riku.
Inside, they noticed several small, glowing things floating around.
“Woah, so many fairies!” Daisuke said in amazement.
“And look, that’s a lot of puppets,” Riku noticed the string puppets that were displayed in the store.
“Welcome to the Fairy Dust!” said one of the employees. The employee saw Riku looking at the puppets. “Are you interested in puppets?
“Oh, uh, no, not really. I find them amusing though.”
“Hahaha! You should come here every weekend. Our store manager does a performance with those puppets to attract customers.”
“Why are there so many fairies here?” asked Jack.
The employees giggled. The one that looked like the store manager stepped in. “You’re foreigners, I guess. Those fairies actually work here.”
“Whaaaat? No way. Whaaaat?” said Daisuke.
“Working fairies? How cool is that?” Riku added.
“Why would fairies need to work?” asked Jack.
“In exchange for their service, we give them these,” the manager showed the trio a rock that looked like a diamond.
“Is that a glaizerock?” asked Daisuke?
“You know your rocks.” The store manager smiled.
“I read about them. Fairies love those rocks because they have the same essence as their homeland. It doesn't do anything to us, but it reacts with the fairies, that's why the rocks also shimmer when fairies are close to it.”
“Arcanas Kingdom is filled with these glaizerocks. It is said that thousands of years ago, the kingdom accepted many fairies as "refugees" when their homeland was destroyed. The kingdom also took many glaizerocks from what's left of their homeland so they would still feel at home,” said the store manager.
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“I never knew about that story.”
“Really? Well, their homeland was destroyed because the fairies were hunted down for their magic and healing properties. But a previous mage king declared the ban on hunting the fairies, letting the fairies live freely here alongside us. Here, hold this.”
The manager handed over to Daisuke the glaizerock. Soon, the fairies went to Daisuke and cluttered on the rock. The fairies glowed in different colors, all bright and lovely.
“I think they like you,” said the store manager. “I’m Alicia, by the way. The manager of Fairy Dust bakery. I work here on behalf of the original owner, Madam Ventro Lynne.”
“Nice to meet you! I’m Daisuke. This is Jack and Riku. We’re elves from Maria Island. We’re here to buy some Fairy Dust bread and pastries.”
“I see. Well, why don’t you guys take a seat, and I’ll give you some sample of our Fairy Dust biscuits.”
The group sat down and enjoyed a plate of biscuits and cookies. Just like Daisuke’s book said, they were extraordinary.
“If you don’t mind us asking, what are the ingredients of these biscuits?” asked Jack.
“That would be the eponymous ‘fairy dust’,” said one of the employees.
“We leave the dough overnight to ferment with glaizerocks on top and the fairies "sleep" on them. By morning, the dough will be covered with the "fairy dust". But to be more precise, those are just the solidified "fairy essence",” said Alicia.
Daisuke, Riku, and Jack bought other bread that the group might like.
“Here are your pastries. And please do spread the word about them. We could really use some word of mouth.”
“Will do. And thanks for the free samples. They’re very delicious,” said Daisuke smilingly.
As Riku went to the door and opened it, a man bumped into him accidentally.
“Oh, I’m so sorry, miss. The door suddenly opened,” the man helped Riku stand up. “Are you hurt?”
“It’s fine. Don’t worry.”
The group left the bakery and walked towards the central plaza.
As they walked away from the bakery, Daisuke spoke to Jack and Riku. “Did you guys feel that?”
“I did” Riku replied.
“Me too,” Jack confirmed.
“We don’t know if it’s really him though,” said Daisuke.
Jack stopped walking. “You two go ahead and regroup with the rest. I’ll try to tail him and verify.”
“Okay. But be careful. We don’t know what they're capable of,” Riku agreed.
“Wait, how are we going to know where you are?” asked Daisuke.
“Oh, you'll know how to find me,” Jack smiled as he went back to spy the man Riku bumped into.
* * * * *
Raijin’s team was the first to reach the central plaza. Brunnhilde still has mana to spare which he got from Riku a day ago, so she managed to summon Geri and Freki. They saw the large tent that was being assembled for the grand show in two days.
“Hey Siegfried, the show is still in two days,” said Raijin. “I think you forgot to mention the date?”
“Well, at least we can see some of the performers doing some acts to entice the people to watch on the big day,” said Brunnhilde.
As they watched some of the performers who were performing to entertain the people around and encourage them to watch their grand show, Siegfried noticed something. He then looked around and saw something familiar; the circus’s logo, the color of the huge tent, the exotic animals, and the fragrant smell of lavender.
Siegfried and Brunnhilde exchanged excited looks. “It’s them!”
Raijin looked at the two. “Them? Who’s them?”
“Cirque du Magique. They have been in Drasgard a year ago. They really are great entertainers,” said Siegfried.
“We even met this woman who was sweet as a lavender. She’s very timid but sweet and she gave us these lavender flowers. They're so intoxicating though,” Brunnhilde added.
“Raijin!” someone shouted.
Raijin looked around and saw two mages running towards them.”
“Hey guys, it’s the ice chick and the fiery cool dude.”
“Raijin! That’s rude,” Brunnhilde scolded.
“Yeah, they remembered your name, but you didn’t remember theirs? Shame. Shame,” Siegfried said as he shook his head.
Mirana and Leon finally reached the trio.
“Sorry to bother you.” Leon then looked around. “W-Where are Daisuke and Riku? And Jack?”
“Oh. Ah, they’ll be here shortly. They were just buying some fairy dust bread so we could have some food on our journey.”
“Okay. Umm, look, we have a favor to ask them. Do you mind if we stay here with you guys until they arrive?” asked Mirana.
“No. Not at all,” said Raijin.
The five of them then watched the performers as they waited for Daisuke’s team while Sully, Geri, and Freki frolicked on the plaza.
* * * * *
Lanaya entered the Arcane Fountain Castle, escorted by two lance-wielding mages. She then knelt and bowed after the Mage King.
“I hope you’ve got good news for me, dear Lanaya,” said the mage king as he sipped wine from his goblet.
“Your highness, I hope you haven't been drinking too much chuckleberry wine. We don't want you to have an unexpected hangover before your departure to the Aeternas Kingdom.”
The king finished his goblet of wine. An attendant was going to pour another but the king dismissed it, fearing that he might be scolded badly by Lanaya. The king then cleared his throat. “The Griffin Riders reported that they are seeing scouts from nearby kingdoms. If they confirm this blunder of your sister, not even the United Alliance can stop them from invading us.”
“Worry not, Your Highness. A protective barrier spell has been cast all over the kingdom. The Sapphire Fragment will not leave Arcanas.”
“More reason for the enemy scouts to believe that we are tightening our defenses, don't you think”
“Your Highness, do not worry about them. If those scouts illegally enter our territory, our mages are out there, ready to strike. Those scouts better be smart enough not to make such a mistake.”
“Shouldn’t your mages help Mirana and her mages in finding the fragment?”
“I have trust in Mirana, Your Highness. She’s determined more than ever. I am sure that she’ll find that fragment. Also, Prince Leon has been lending his assistance. There’s no reason to mobilize all mages especially that we still have to defend four fragments.”
The mage king stood from his throne and walked towards Lanaya. Six lance-wielding mages walked closer to the mage king as he got closer to Lanaya.
“Lanaya, as the future queen of Arcanas, I hope that you are making the right and wisest decisions. You and Leon will be the next foundation of the Arcanas. A king can only be great with a wise and powerful queen.”
Lanaya stood up. “And I will not fail, Your Highness. And I’m sure my sister will not as well.”