They weaved through the throng of buyers shifting between stalls. It was a strange sight for someone like Cal, who had never seen how the Dockside Bazaar operated before.
Opening an impromptu bazaar on the rather narrow boardwalk seemed like an ill-thought-out and ill-advised move, but it somehow worked.
There were far too many stalls for the number of people that were available to browse through the wares, but the perfect amount of cramped space made it seem far busier than it was when shoulders were brushed often.
He wondered who designed it: the sellers who saw an increased sense of urgency with the layout or the Initiates he saw in discrete corners, occupying places that had views of the entire bazaar.
Every sale, every discussion, and anything of importance would all be within the Initiates’ observation.
I wonder if these merchants know. They scurry about, looking for a good deal, but anything that is deemed too valuable is likely claimed by the guild.
“Oh, Seris!” A portly man stopped his haggling when he saw her. “Back to window shop again? One of these days, I’ll convince you to join me—an Initiate!?”
This was the first time a townsperson bothered to address him verbally.
“You must be new!” The man abandoned his negotiation and held out a meaty hand. “I’m Nismus! I see our Seris—“
“Sorry, Nismus! We’re busy right now!” Seris interrupted the man in the middle of his sentence— surprisingly rude as she tried to pull Cal away.
He had to hold himself back from snapping at her in anger. He never liked the feeling of being pushed or pulled anywhere—metaphorically or literally.
Seris might actually consider me a friend. This is likely her usual behavior if her interactions with Orrin are anything to go by.
“Nismus, is it?” Cal easily stopped Seris from moving him, making her look like a kid throwing a tantrum. “Seris is unfortunately right about us being in a rush. I look forward to speaking with you later.”
Nismus was flustered enough that he could only stutter out partial words before Cal walked away.
“I don’t like Nismus. You should avoid him.”
I need to have a word with Seris later.
“There,” Seris said in a low voice. “Looks like there are more people at his stand this time. He’s known for setting high prices. Most of the regulars don’t bother checking anymore.”
“There are infrequent buyers here? I’m guessing visiting sailors?”
“That’s most of them. Some are people from the town who want to try their luck once in a while.” Seris stared at her target stall in confusion. “All of these are regulars.”
“Let’s not stop now,” Cal wanted to find out what this treasure was purely to satisfy his curiosity.
After seeing the setup and the Initiates in ideally situated positions, he didn’t have any hope of it being suitable for a person who activated their interface.
There was a large, considerable, near-unimaginable gap between what a mortal would call a treasure and what people like Cal would consider a treasure.
The instances that Seris mentioned of the vanished townspeople must be rare cases. The ones that slipped through the cracks. Initiates are not perfect—I know that all too well.
“Wait,” Seris hissed. “If you go there now, it’ll be too obvious.”
Cal looked around, noticing the numerous eyes locked onto them. It wasn’t the regular buyers—he wouldn’t care about that—but the Initiates who were tracking them.
Too late for any subtlety.
“Don’t worry about that,” Cal stepped up to the stall.
The moment the prospective buyers saw him unambiguously choose the stall they were perusing, they scattered like the wind and pretended they were never interested in the first place.
“An Initiate,” the stall seller greeted, almost with resignation. “It’s my pleasure to be of service.”
“I heard that you have a few interesting items,” Cal turned to smile at Seris. “Which ones were you talking about?”
Seris gaped at him in shock.
Maybe it wasn’t smart of me to go into this without explaining. I generally do things by myself so it’s rare for me to have a need to instruct others.
“… I like this one. It’s pretty,” Seris eventually pointed at a… stick.
I wish she picked something more believable, but it will have to do.
“Ah, the bone of a withered dragon. I will give you my best price,” the stall seller paused dramatically. “Just one guildmark.”
Cal heard Seris wheeze in shock beside him.
A guildmark is enough for a mortal to live in luxury for a decade. Even I only have three guildmarks saved up, and I was given special attention from the guild that barely let me spend. Other Trainees and Initiates spend as fast as they receive.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
This means the guild is directly involved in buying up things of interest from these sellers. And this one is taking advantage of it.
“Bone of a withered dragon?” Cal was impressed at the straight face the seller had. He was sure this was quite literally just a stick with minor modifications. “I’m not doubting you, but you’ll have to give me more than just your word that this is what you claim. Especially for the price you are asking.”
“I—” the seller hesitated. “I would be happy to, but an Apprentice might need to be present. This involves another guild.”
Apprentices considered me an afterthought even when I was an Initiate as a [Mage]. Other Initiates were treated as invisible. This seller knows the hierarchy and interpersonal relationships of the guild. He knows Initiates are forbidden to delve into anything originating from another guild. He knows it will stop all the questioning immediately.
… Who is this man?
“Fascinating,” Cal murmured, for different reasons than the seller and Seris likely assumed. “I didn’t get your name. I’m Cal, and you are?”
“Benan, Initiate Cal.”
“Hm,” he glanced at Seris—who still hadn’t got over hearing the asking price. “What else did you like in Benan’s stall?”
She didn’t let her continued shock stop her from playing her role. “There were some others, but I don’t see them here. Maybe they were sold?”
Cal gave Benan a questioning look.
“I might still have the ones that caught your eye,” Benan bent down to rummage in the hidden space below his stall. “I’ve seen you look around the bazaar before, girl. Seems Initiate Cal takes your word seriously.”
“Oh, that’s not it at all,” Cal refuted immediately. Benan’s rummaging stilled. “I wanted to get Seris something as a gift. I never thought that her likes would be so expensive. I hope the others are more affordable… or I will have to walk away empty-handed.”
“Ah, a gift!” Benan exclaimed. “Then the bone of a withered dragon would be a terrible choice for her. I thought it was for you.”
“An understandable assumption,” Cal nodded sagely as Benan placed covered trays on the stall—on top of the stick that was apparently worth one guildmark.
“I rotate what I have on display every few hours,” Benan uncovered the trays as he spoke. “I have been wanting to get a larger stall, but I haven’t got my approvals yet. Maybe you can help, Initiate Cal.”
“I’m far too new to help with anything like that,” Cal dismissed the request. “Ask me again in a few years—”
“That one. I like the rock thing,” Seris interrupted.
“Oh! An excellent taste as always,” Benin praised with a broad smile. “While it isn’t as impressive as your last pick, I feel this one is perfect for you. From the gem mines of the Federation Territory, it made the long journey across the sea—”
Cal tuned out Benan’s voice as the world around him faded—blurry and dim. He had seen this before.
This… rock was in the hands of the Guildmaster in my previous life. He boasted about how it would change the Celestial Order and take them to the peak in the Union Territory.
A few days later, the guild was destroyed.
“—me. Cal?” Seris shook his arm.
He gave her a strained smile. “What was that?”
“I don’t really want this. I’d feel too guilty if you spend so much on me.”
“I wouldn’t say ‘too much’ is the right way to put it, girl,” Benan sounded insulted. "Two gold for this gem is a deal. Admittedly, it doesn’t have many proven effects, but as I said, it is rumored to bring you good luck. It is a worthy gamble, in my opinion.”
“Has it brought you good luck?” Seris pushed, to Cal’s amusement.
Benan shook his head regretfully. “Impossible for me to tell. I own so many artifacts that any effects are usually diminished to the extreme.”
“Seris, is there anything else that caught your eye?” Cal asked.
“… I like this too,” she said, pointing at a thin, gold pendant necklace with a row of multi-colored sparkling princess-cut sapphires.
She really does like this one. It isn’t a show.
Benan gently unhooked the necklace from its spot and displayed the gemstone pendant in his hands, highlighting how it shimmered under the sunlight. “Ah, this one, I can say with certainty of its benefit. I do not know the origin, but this came into my hands after I bought out another seller. The pendant has three gems, and it will give the wearer three chances to live by blocking three attacks.”
“Useful,” Cal agreed. “And you have this confirmed?”
Benan nodded. “Indeed. I had this checked by a master appraiser. It can handle any attack from an Initiate. Even one on the cusp of being an Apprentice.”
Cal hummed in thought as he glanced at the items of interest.
I should walk away… but what if that rock was why the guild was attacked? It’s a slim possibility. Still, I might be able to prevent needless deaths by taking this for myself and hiding it. Or it might bring me disaster earlier than expected.
“What’s the cost of the necklace?” Cal asked to buy himself more time to think.
Even if I do buy it, the Initiates watching might take it from me to hand off to the higher-ups. Unless there is a tradition of looking away to allow for some occasional personal benefit. It was common in the core guild, which could extend here too.
“I can give this to you for one gold,” Benan looked pained at asking that price. Cal was sure it was an act—still, it was a good one.
No, I have to give it a try. If it’s taken from me, so be it. At least I didn’t blind myself to a possible reason the guild was attacked.
“I’ll give you seven gold for all three,” Cal said abruptly.
Benan was shocked still at the unexpected offer—so was Seris—but he quickly got over it to counter. “That’s impossible. The lowest I can go is one guildmark for all of them. It’s a good deal. I’m giving you the gem and the necklace for free. All you have to pay is for the withered bone of a dragon.”
It would be a good deal if this bone was real and not just a stick. And Benan changed the name of it, too. It’s now a withered bone of a dragon. Not bone of a withered dragon. If I didn’t want to hide my intentions of what I wanted to buy, I wouldn’t be making this offer in the first place.
“You’ll have to do better, Benan. I can’t afford to spend that much.”
“… Look, this is the lowest I can go,” Benan said with reluctance. “Nine gold. My absolute lowest price.”
“That’s only one gold less than before. Meet me in the middle. Eight gold and I’ll buy it. Any more, and I will have to walk away.” Cal held out his hand to seal the deal.
Benan stared at his offered hand before letting out a long sigh. "You drive a hard bargain, Initiate Cal. But you have it."
They exchanged smiles as they shook on it. Cal knew they were both thinking the same thing. What a sucker.
Benan couldn’t have been faster in packing what was bought. The rock, necklace, and the stick were carefully tucked into separate packages and wrapped up before they were handed over.
Cal pulled out a shimmering purple coin—a guildmark—and gave it to Benan.
“Good doing business with you, Initiate Cal,” Benan smiled as he gave him two gold coins as change.
“Likewise,” Cal nodded. He pocketed the coins and turned to Seris. “I’ll hold onto these and hand it over in time.”
Seris blinked at him cluelessly but still nodded in agreement.
That should be vague enough to take the focus off Seris. I don’t want anyone to target her if they are interested in what I bought.
“I’ll be here for a few more days, so come back anytime!” Benan called out as they left the stall’s area.
Cal waved at him in acknowledgment and eyed Vaela's group ahead. Vaela stared directly at him and beckoned with her hand.
Looks like I can’t delay further.
“Seris, go back to Orrin’s. I’ll meet you there.”
She hadn’t missed Vaela’s actions either, so she nodded quickly before scurrying off. He made sure she left the bazaar without interruption before walking toward the other Initiates.