Eventually, Nick’s journey took him around the edge of the sparring grounds and over to the market proper. A few dozen enterprising individuals had set up stalls, using logs and rocks to create simple displays for their wares. Many more had their goods spread out along the ground.

Though the merchants kept a watchful eye over their stocks, the atmosphere was bright, full of goodwill and good cheer. After all, they were all on the same side, fighting as part of a team. As a result, most of the traders seemed more interested in helping people out than in turning a profit, although it didn’t mean they were willing to give their merchandise away for free.

Nick walked past weapons and armor, bucklers and bags. Tools and supplies of every kind, including a few consumables that he really wanted to acquire, but wasn’t sure he could afford. I should keep an eye out for a helmet or shield too. While he perused the various goods on display, he considered what he might offer for barter.

He had a few items that might sell for a pretty penny in a proper shop, various materials and resources that he was hoping were worth something. But none of them would help people reach the top of the tower, so selling the bulk of his possessions would have to wait until he made it back to civilization.

Armed with a better idea of what he was looking for, Nick rolled up his sleeves and got busy shopping. While he was talking to the vendors, he learned the reason why some of the global events had occurred days before he was able to reach the tower.

It turned out that the north side of the bog had fewer waterways and more predators. People were able to cross faster, but many had been wounded along the way, driving them to enter the tower early to receive healing from the System.

Eventually, Nick found an item that he wanted that shouldn’t set him back too much. An Earth made ball-point pen with a reservoir filled with ink. Staring down at the length of plastic, he wondered what its story was. Someone must have been carrying it in their pockets when they stepped into the portal the fateful day that the System had arrived, then managed to hold onto it all the way through the tutorial to bring the pen to this place.

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“I’ll give it to you if you make me a half decent offer.” The merchant, a young woman wearing a bright yellow robe, noticed Nick’s interest. He realized that it was the same woman he had seen waving while floating in orbit. It put a smile on his face to know that she was doing well. “Not many people seem keen on record keeping just yet. I suppose that there isn’t enough paper to go around.” He considered her words before reaching into his pack.

“I could give you this ladle,” Nick handed her the tool he had found while crossing the bog.

“It’s not likely to sell either, but if the pen helps you out, it’s a deal. I already have a spare anyway.” She smiled at Nick as they made the trade. “What are you planning to use it for, if you don’t mind me asking?”

He took out his travel journal and explained that he was compiling a list of knowledge point unlocks, and everything else he’d learn about magic, Taltos, and the System. Along with strategies to train baseline attributes, survival tactics, and hypotheses regarding the various forms of mana.

“That’s a great idea,” she nodded along with his account. “Let me borrow it for a few hours so that I can make a copy. In exchange, I’ll add anything I know that you haven’t locked down already, along with whatever my customers have heard. Plus, you can have your ladle back.”

After a moment of contemplation, he agreed. After all, sharing this information was what he was planning to do anyway, and this was a far better method of distribution than any he could come up with. Flashing a friendly grin, the merchant handed him the pen. “Come back to pick up your journal in the morning. With any luck, I’ll have made some progress with filling in the gaps.”

While leaving the book with the woman was a risk, Nick had already memorized everything that he had written. There was a chance that this trade would help him to acquire some valuable information. More importantly, the knowledge he had gathered could help other people out, which made the possibility of losing the journal worth it in his mind.

“It’s a deal,” he reached out to shake her hand. “By the way, my name is Nick.”

“Kerry,” she took the book from him with a smile. “Take care, Nick. I’ll see you soon.”