Chapter 5: Magical New World

49/Autumn/1666/ Azure Retreat, Room 348, Washroom

Lucas stood before the mirror, his gaze fixed on the stranger looking back at him. The man's features were long and gaunt, with a pair of piercing blue-green eyes that seemed to hold a hint of confusion. While there was a faint familiarity in the face staring back at him, the differences were undeniable. The man reflected could have passed as a distant relative, yet his appearance was undeniably unfamiliar. Most notably, he stood significantly shorter than Lucas remembered himself to be. This contrast hadn't been apparent in yesterday's interactions, likely due to the generally shorter stature of the people during this era. It wasn't until now, standing alone with his reflection, that Lucas realized the extent of the change. His current body stood at around 188cm (6 ft 2in), quite tall by the standards of the time but a considerable drop from his original height of 209cm (~6ft 10in). He had always considered himself to be slightly too tall, it was almost impossible to find clothes in his size, and airplane seating was much worse than any Jigsaw-style torture device.

Despite the massive change in stature, Lucas found it odd that his coordination remained unaffected. It was as though his muscle memory had seamlessly adapted to the new dimensions. But it wasn't just the height that had changed; the proportions of his body were entirely different. The man in the mirror had an oddly shaped figure, with thin limbs disproportionate to his soft flabby torso. Lucas wasn't a bodybuilder by any means, but he had always maintained a decent amount of muscle mass through regular gym visits. However, this new body seemed devoid of any muscle definition, as if the man had never engaged in physical activity in his entire life.

However, Solomon seemed to possess a knack for fashion that allowed him to hide his less-than-flattering physique in plain sight. It wasn't until Lucas took a morning bath that he was confronted with the reality of his new flesh prison. At first, there was a moment of disappointment as he surveyed the unfamiliar contours and proportions, but soon, he found himself looking at the brighter side of things. After all, while his body may have changed, at least his face remained relatively handsome. And with a year of dedication to a good diet and exercise regimen, Lucas was confident that he could sculpt his physique into something reasonably adequate.

[I don't know if I'll ever get used to this,] Lucas thought to himself as he turned away from the mirror. Dressed in the same clothes he wore yesterday, he decided to adopt a more low-profile look and left his bow and quiver in the hotel room. Stepping out onto the streets, Lucas made the conscious decision to wander today, aiming to gain a deeper understanding of the place he now called home.

The architecture of the buildings bore a resemblance to the older parts of London, albeit the streets and alleyways appeared even less orderly. While the larger arterial streets maintained some semblance of order, the rest consisted of labyrinthine cracks and crevices that seemed to twist and turn in every direction, some so narrow that only small children could navigate through them. Despite the lack of urban planning, the buildings themselves were a sight to behold. The use of masonry was notably uniform, with a hard dark beige stone serving as the primary material for most buildings, with a marble-like ocher red stone employed to add contrast and highlight the arches and corners. Lucas noticed that most of the buildings were made from stone and the buildings not primarily constructed from stone tended to be clustered together. These structures featured bright whitewashed walls, accented with dark stained square timbers forming the corners and crossing patterns on sections of the façade typically incorporating the windows; the style reminded Lucas of German fachwerk.

Lucas spent some time exploring the local shops and drinking establishments, immersing himself in the bustling atmosphere of the city. The people of the city were very unlike what Lucas had been accustomed to, every single person he met had engaged him in extensively long, detailed, and pleasant conversation. It wasn't long until Lucas pieced together a rough understanding of the city where he found himself. He was in Blackport, one of the largest cities in the country of Galden boasting a population numbering in the high hundreds of thousands. Situated in a coastal area at the end of a large peninsula the city was notable for its advanced technological development and wealth. The peninsula Emerald Shores was primarily composed of fertile river valleys, which, combined with extensive commercial fishing, ensured a steady food supply. In fact, food was so abundant in Blackport that the city exported a significant portion of its produce, to nearby cities and countries. Economically, Blackport thrived on trade, leveraging its strategic location at the tip of the peninsula and sprawling harbor to facilitate extensive maritime commerce.

Walking out of a tailor Lucas was on the verge of concluding his brief adventure and was contemplating grabbing a quick lunch when he stumbled upon a rather peculiar sight. Nestled at the corner of a quiet street, he spotted a square tent with a soft, plush quilt spread out in front of it. Seated there was an older gentleman, his handsome face that possessed a timeless quality, and a full mane of salt and pepper hair made it nearly impossible to discern his true age. He was clad in comfortable, loose-fitting attire, resembling a blend of Tibetan monk robes and a wizard cosplay. Lucas had encountered his fair share of street peddlers, but none quite like this. What intrigued him further was the absence of any visible merchandise upon the conspicuously empty quilt.

Intrigued, he approached "Open for business?"

A single eye cracked open lethargically, assessing Lucas with measured scrutiny. Then, as if awoken from a slumber, the second eye joined its counterpart, and the gentleman sprang to life, displaying agility unusual for a man of his age. He circled Lucas scrutinizing him as if examining some exotic creature.

After his meticulous scrutiny, the elder settled back onto his plush blanket, his voice resonating with a tinge of curiosity. " Name's Malachi and yes, I am open for business. But my currency is novelty. Present me with something truly unique—something I have not seen or heard before—and I shall bestow upon you a reward worthy of its rarity."

[This is definitely very weird right?] But not even close to the weirdest thing he has experienced in the past 24 hours Lucas decided to play along with the man's unique method of exchange.

Lucas cleared his throat. "Sure sounds fun. Will a story do?"

After a soft nod from the merchant Lucas continued "Well, there was the fable from my hometown that I'm fairly confident you've never heard before and it goes something like this. In a forest nestled in the heart of a lush countryside, there lived a cunning, small, furry, creature with a coat the same color as a sunset and a large fluffy tail called a fox. One scorching summer day, as the sun beat down mercilessly upon the land, the fox happened upon a bountiful vine heavy with succulent berries. Eagerly, he leaped and reached, his mouth watering at the thought of the sweet, juicy fruit dangling just out of reach. But try as he might, the fox found the grapes unattainable, they almost seemed to be mocking him from their lofty perch. Undeterred by the initial failure, the fox made several more attempts, each more fervent than the last. Yet, no matter how hard he tried, the berries remained beyond his grasp. Frustrated and exhausted, the fox finally slumped to the ground, panting heavily as he gazed up at the tantalizing berries. With a dejected sigh, he muttered to himself, 'They're probably sour anyway' and proceeded to walk away."

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

With a thoughtful nod, Malachi acknowledged Lucas's offering. "Hmm, while I've encountered stories with similar morals, this one is truly unfamiliar to me. I particularly appreciate the addition of the new little monster; I believe it could become quite popular among the younger audience. Let's see what I have left."

With a rustle of fabric, the merchant disappeared into his tent. Within, a symphony ensued shuffling objects, ripping fabric, the cries of unknown creatures, and the shatter of glass. After a moment, he emerged, bearing an array of unique trinkets, which he arranged in a deliberate sequence before Lucas.

"You may choose only one, so choose wisely."

The first item, positioned at the far left, gleamed with the luster of polished brass, a hammer its shape reminiscent of a judge's gavel. Next in line stood a stunning ornate ceramic pitcher, its crimson glaze shimmering in the sunlight. A seemingly ordinary pebble occupied the center of the lineup, its unassuming appearance belying any potential significance. Adjacent to it sat a wood spindle wound with brilliant white silk twine. Finally, a small opaque black bottle capped off the selection, its contents unknown.

Lucas surveyed the assortment of items before him, while he lacked a comprehensive understanding of this world's economy, he harbored a suspicion that the value of these items spanned a wide spectrum. Yet, Lucas considered himself no stranger to the trope of eccentric merchants, peddling seemingly insignificant trinkets that later unveiled themselves as powerful relics. Following this logic, his gaze settled upon the unassuming pebble, seemingly the most modest of the lot.

Before finalizing his decision, Lucas hesitated, "Could you—?"

"No." the Malachi interjected curtly

A puzzled furrow creased Lucas's brow. "Wha—?"

"No." came the abrupt reply once more.

"Is this-?"

"Yes."

Lucas paused, mulling over the merchant's most recent response. The answer to the question that had yet to slip from his lips — "Is this some sort of test?"— sparked some uncertainty. Lucas was unsure if the merchant's replies were genuinely predicting his queries, or was he simply fucking with him. The evident delight the man took in Lucas's confusion only added to his predicament.

Deciding that engaging in further conversation with Malachi would likely yield more frustration than answers. Lucas redirected his focus to closely examining the array of items before him. Just as his hand hovered over the opaque black bottle, the merchant interjected once more.

"Some of the items I sell are not exactly 'safe' to touch,"

Lucas paused, "Are any of these items 'not safe' to touch?"

Malachi merely shrugged, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "What do you think?"

Lucas narrowed his eyes for a brief moment before scanning his surroundings. Spotting what he needed, he made his way over to a small tree nestled in a patch of green, an attempt to bring a touch of nature into the urban sprawl. With deft hands, he snapped off a y-shaped branch and with his dagger he swiftly pruned away the smaller twigs and leaves, fashioning a makeshift tool resembling a child's slingshot with an elongated handle.

Equipped with his improvised instrument, Lucas meticulously manipulated each item, subjecting them to an in-depth inspection. As he examined the ceramic pitcher, he noted its weightiness, suggesting it was filled to the brink with some sort of fluid. Similarly, the opaque bottle seemed to contain something, as it emitted a faint jingling sound, indicating the presence of small hard objects within. The pebble and spindle of twine, however, revealed nothing out of the ordinary under his scrutiny. The most intriguing discovery came with the brass hammer. With each touch, its head emitted a resounding ring, far louder than should have been possible.

As the resounding ring of the hammer echoed in Lucas's ears, a pertinent question stirred within him: [Does magic exist?] Despite having been resurrected thrice already, Lucas had never truly had time to contemplate the magical implications of such an event.

[But what would the existence of magic even mean? How does it operate, in this world—or any world, for that matter? Were there spells to be learned, wielded by practitioners of arcane knowledge? Or perhaps it was bestowed upon mortals by divine beings, akin to priests wielding miracles in some religious traditions.] Lucas's mind went through the myriad portrayals of magic he had encountered in the fictional tales of his world: from the epic fantasy realms of "Lord of the Bling'' to the wizarding world of "Mary Potter." He also considered the possibility of magic taking a different form, perhaps manifesting as an aura or energy similar to that in "Pursuer X Pursuer." [Or what if it is overtly malicious and originated with some monstrous unknown entities straight out of one of H.P. Loathecraft's works.]

----RINGg ~RIngg ~rINGGGG ~RINNGG " Had enough fun with the hammer?"

The sudden sound of Malachi's voice jolted out of his contemplation, reminding him of the passage of time. He suddenly realized, to his surprise, that he had been absentmindedly ringing the hammer throughout his contemplation. Shaking off the distraction, he was about to ask a question until he remembered Malachi's previous style of response and decided better of it.

Instead focusing on the task at hand, only one item stood out as truly anomalous, though its utility seemed limited. While a hammer that produced loud ringing noises might prove handy in certain situations, Lucas weighed the potential benefits against the gamble of choosing the unknown.

Ultimately, Lucas opted to take a chance.

With resolve, he grabbed the small black opaque bottle, declaring, "I've made my selection."

A soft smile graced Malachi's lips as he haphazardly flung the remaining items behind him into the tent. The thunderous CLANG of the hammer reverberated through the air, causing the windows of the nearby building to quiver, cracking slightly under the force of the sound. With a nod, Malachi closed his eyes, signifying the end of their transaction.

Lucas blinked, and in an instant, Malachi and his array of peculiar possessions vanished into thin air. At the sound of approaching people and unable to make an account for the incredibly loud noise he swiftly made his own retreat, darting through the streets and alleyways with the franticness of a squirrel evading a relentless hound. It was only after putting a considerable distance between himself and the scene that Lucas finally allowed himself a moment to catch his breath. With a cautious glance around to ensure he was truly alone, he turned his attention to the small black opaque bottle he had chosen as his prize.