The year is 334 RPT*.
The nations of Estica and Ayrilia have solidified their international relationships and started reestablishing trade and trade routes between each other. Ayrilia only put a lackluster amount of effort into their export to Estica due to their main trade partners being on an excursion to the continent of Welkracht and their port-town Sovviz in hopes of exploring alternative resources on the sparsely visited continent.
The country of Hakenburg has tried similar endeavors in recent years and the two embassies have gotten into a heated discussion on trading rights with Welkracht’s inhabitants.
In the beautiful country of Rabakda famous for its once heavily respected forensic science, a new boom for minerals has emerged due to a breakthrough with Etherium Crystals and their ability to restrict or disperse Gaia’s spirits.
The original breakthrough happened in 332 and news only got out after a year or so.
The prices for these crystals has soared while previously thought to be ‘dead’ mines were revitalized with life.
There was a rumored sighting of the humanitarian sage around the scene of discovery, though there seemed to be little credibility to them.
The countries of Leffejim and Sorukonda to the south of Dondonpa have been getting into skirmishes regarding textiles and their distribution between their countries. The discussions have not devolved to the point of military actions being taken though the tension between them continues to rise.
Going into a smaller scale and focusing back on the area around Estican and Ayrilian borders, there have been numerous smaller developments, some of relevance to a bigger picture while others were as irrelevant as a single grain of sand in Gaia’s largest desert.
Due to both countries’ new policies there have been several travelers from both regions being sighted in each other’s place. Numbers ranging from high hundreds to low thousands were sighted over the course of three years of observation.
The overall emotional climate seemed to be at its all-time-high. People in the entertainment business such as street-performers and circuses were reporting drastically alternating fluctuations in their income, which led to a set of its own problems for them.
Changing topics there is the topic of death. The last two winters were especially cold and unfortunately took along with them many poor souls as casualties. Many of them will go unnamed in history.
Among those, who died, there are
Agave Layerstone(26 years old), Amusa Roundelay(2 years old), Lamuso Tailor(52 years old)
and many others.
On another note, going back to a small village in the outskirts of Estica, there is Medalia village.
According to the locals there has been quite a stir in its local specialty, the Insigniae Magnae.
In the demographic of children under the age of 11 a new talent emerged, a fighter, who would go on to win the Insigniae Minimalis of U11 children twice in a row. Then, even after growing out of eligible age for participation he moved up into the next highest bracket designated to aspiring adults and proceeded to win the next tournament!
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The news were small in scale and not many people even cared that much aside from a shallow feeling of respect for the young lad. The only reason his record became a topic in the first place was for the news surrounding a bridge annected to Medalia territory.
At a certain time around noon one could hear them: Wails and roars of earth-rupturing degree accompanied by a powerful tremor running through the mountain shouldering Medalia village and in turn shaking the villagers’ hearts with each passing day. Due to a series of unusual circumstances this mysterious monster garnered fame and attention from all over the continent as it was given the name of ‘Hablamak, the talking monster’.
On other news there has been a frightening rumor going around about a mysterious serial killing in central areas of Estica. Due to an uncanny marking on their victims bodies as well as their vastly altering methods of murder they have been dubbed ‘Kreadossa, the artistic murderer’.
None of these things have any meaning for the journey of this young man except for location.
Yet all of them have meaning.
…
It is noon, the day’s heat starts to increase as crisp shadows are projected to the ground showing a cart stirred by three beautiful horses. A jade glow dimmed these shadows somewhat but even without looking directly at it, seeing such a spectacular sight conveyed an air of professionalism and wealth uncommon in towns like this one.
There they are on top of a three-horse-drawn carriage. A young man with skin like chocolate and droopy eyes is veering the horses and keeping them on the road.
He is colored in Gold, White and Black from head to toe. Black leather shoes made with high-quality fabric and technique; a brown pair of pants with a rough and scaly texture, that is covered by a thick white pelt of fur around the man’s waist; a clean silver chain can be seen poking out of these pants.
As the upper-body-coverage this man is wearing a blue vest with with white patterns adorning this piece’s sides and outlines. This piece has numerous smaller stitches in silver and gold, that seem to have been added after the initial piece of clothing had already been manufactured.
On closer look on this young man’s back one can make out a somewhat crude golden embroidery sewn on its bottom:
“Made in Chansa village”
The person in question is none other than Haja Altwald, a young man and apprentice of Old Merchant Raylon Hawkinson.
While driving their carriage it is his job to greet the passing people and communicate with them.
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Raylon would typically stay in the back of their cart and organize their trading goods, today’s heap being focused around textiles from Leffejim, which is famous for their great dedication for processing different patterns into their works ranging from casings to tapestry.
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It was clear relatively early that Haja had an absurd talent in communication and eye-to-eye trading.
His good looks combined with the boy’s natural ability to learn and absorb information really fast led to him developing mighty weapons the likes of luring, bargaining, sweet-talking and emotionally manipulating his prey. Truly a frightening ability.
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One thing that contributed a decent bit to his abilities was his honest and kindhearted nature and the raw innocence that is contained in all of Haja’s actions. It is attitude this that might one day make him a great merchant.
It has now been two months since Haja and Raylon have come to a unilateral agreement with each other.
Haja as the employee needs to work hard in his education. He is given the equivalent of 100Yar as his monthly wage and working capital and is expected to pay back the accumulated sum in addition to 10% of interest in 5 years of time.
The money is paid in a currency that is accepted on their traveling routes.
Originally his working capital only amounted to half of this but due to different factors such as inflation in Estica, through which a large chunk of their route ran through, as well as Haja’s incessant chattering about wanting to get more allowance to his mentor and honorary family member Raylon.
Out of the previously paid out amount of 250Yar Haja has managed to gain a net profit of 150Yar, which in itself is already a huge achievement for an aspiring merchant and apprentice.
The contract between the two has thus undergone a second revision(on Haja’s very explicit wish) and Raylon no longer provides Haja with food and water.
This means that aside from providing the horse-drawn carriage along with education for the young boy as well as making a monthly investment into his future Haja now actively has to earn enough money to care for his living expenses and become autonomous, though the changes have yet to really settle in.
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By the way, all the conversation held on their way to the next town were held in Estican.
Due to his young age Haja quickly became proficient in Estican language.
Though there is a clearly distinct accent to be heard within his bell-chiming voice, it is apparently construed as noble and attractive by the inhabitants of Estica. Especially female customer sales have been increasing in comparison to Raylon’s solo-adventures.
This made Raylon a little sad.