Chapter 12

Kryll felt like crying.

His money reserves were dwindling by the day and he hadn't made any real progress in finding a business building for Lord Mitten.

After staying at the inn 'The Wild Rooster' and receiving his first price shock - so much money for such accommodation!? - he had set off the next day towards the center to get a feel for the city and the business opportunities.

It had been market day and a large number of different stalls had been set up on the market square. In addition to the usual range of fruit, vegetables, dairy and meat products, there were also a few artisans selling fine pottery and wooden products. After a quick glance at the written prices, Kryll had received his second price shock.

He remembered very clearly the feeling of incredulous horror that had gripped him.

Why is everything so expensive here? he had screamed internally and a small voice of reason had tried to answer the question sensibly. Even after thinking about it for a while, it hadn't succeeded.

The same eggs, for how different ordinary eggs could be, would have cost him only a fraction of the price at home. And he knew the chickens there and knew how they were kept - certainly no worse than the chickens whose eggs were on sale in Minthral!

Shocked, he went back to his accommodation to digest his first impression. Fortunately, a meal was included in the price of his room, unfortunately it also tasted like a free add-on.

Kryll sat on his creaky bed, which was far too short for him, and thought about his first few days in the city.

He reached for the pouch on his belt with the dwindling silver coins. He would have to be careful to keep his money together before his feline employer entered the city. How would he look like if his first contact after a long time was to ask the cat for money?!

"Ugh." Kryll shook his head violently to banish the horrible thought to the afterlife. A new thought emerged - one that was worth considering.

Was this all perhaps a test of the monster?

"A test to see how well I manage the money entrusted to me...," he mumbled into the stale air of the small room.

"Hm," he pondered the idea further and the conviction solidified in him that — Of course! It was no doubt a test!

And he had still wondered about the mythical being's trust in him, who had given him this responsible assignment without any prior testing!

"Hahaa!" Kryll laughed in relief and shook his head at his gullibility.

The previously felt dejection gave way to an irrepressible will to meet the challenge with flying colors. He clenched his fist and set about planning the next steps.

*****

You have to hand it to the cat, his tests are challenging, Kryll thought as he waited his turn in the reception area of the Mages Guild.

Previously, he had been referred to the town hall to look for real estate. Kryll had gone there in the morning and presented his request at reception. He had asked the ladies about suitable contacts who could help in the search for buildings and about the procedure for purchasing a property.

First they had laughed at him and then the security staff had escorted him outside and threatened him with a day in the dungeons if he allowed himself another joke of this kind in the future and interrupted the ladies in their actual work.

Kryll looked down at himself.

Admittedly, I don't exactly look solvent and trustworthy in my clothes, he thought with a sigh. If he had had the choice, he would have bought some new clothes before his visit to the town hall. However, after a quick look in his pouch, he had quickly realized that his financial situation definitely didn't allow for this.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

So he had initiated plan B.

If the ‘official’ officials of Minthral would not support him in his search for suitable business stores, perhaps he would have better luck with the unofficial leaders of this town. Lord Mitten wouldn't sell simple cookbooks, after all! So why not enlist the help of the Mages' Guild? After all, they would benefit the most from the cat's sales objects later on and would therefore probably have some interest in a good cooperation.

"Next," a bored voice reached his ear.

Kryll wiped a non-existent speck of dust from his trousers and took a few steps forward to the reception desk. Behind the counter stood a middle-aged woman whose face was framed by wild red curls. She lifted her eyes from her thick notebook and looked at him over the rim of her glasses with a friendly smile.

*****

Oh great, another one of those fortune seekers with more hope than sense, Sylfie thought as she saw the young man with blond hair and clothes made of coarse fabric step towards her.

"Yes?" she asked, mentally preparing her rejection speech. 'Unfortunately, we are not in a position to...', 'We would like to support you, but...,' 'If in the future..., then...'

With the necessary mixture of regret and distance, of course. After all, she was a professional receptionist whose job it was to keep hair raising requests and people with blatantly distorted self-assessments away from the guild's mages. In an appreciative manner, of course.

"Hello, my name is Kryll," her counterpart introduced himself politely and looked at her with a calm gaze from dark brown eyes.

At least he has manners, she noted appreciatively.

"On behalf of my client, I'm looking for a suitable commercial building and thought you might be able to help me?"

Sylfie looked at him in silence.

...Did he get the building wrong? she pondered.

However, there was a sign on the wall of the building that read "Mages' Guild" in large golden letters. But maybe the poor guy couldn't read? And what reputable businessman would hire such a village boy? Had someone perhaps played a joke on him?

"You're here at the Mages' Guild," she replied slowly.

"We don't rent or sell commercial buildings. You're better off at the town hall for that sort of thing," she paused.

Ah.

Sylfie looked him up and down. Presumably the young man had already been to the town hall with the expected failure.

The tips of her counterpart's ears turned red.

"Yes, so that's where I'm from. The ladies at reception weren't very interested."

Not interested? Someone seems to be prone to understatement, Sylfie thought dryly. She knew the receptionists at the town hall and, in her opinion, they were not at all professional! How they had got such an important job, no one could really say, except probably those who had used their connections to get it for them.

"I just thought," the young man continued, "because my client is going to sell texts on magic and artifacts, that the guild might be interested in supporting him as part of a good business relationship."

Artifacts and magic books? What kind of obscure client would that be? Sylfie wondered. She was familiar with the few who dealt in such magical objects for sale.

She was beginning to get impatient; after all, there were still some people in the queue who had serious requests.

"Of course, we always endeavor to maintain good relations with potential business partners. However, we select them carefully. What kind of credentials do you have?"

A somewhat mean question, she had to admit, because what credentials could such a village boy have? On the other hand, you never know and every person, regardless of social class, should have the opportunity to legitimize themselves. After all, that was the professional approach.

"Eh, credentials?" her counterpart asked her.

Of course, she thought and sighed.

"We only work with trustworthy partners," Sylfie replied and began her speech, which she had already given a hundred times.

"Unfortunately, we are therefore unable to help you and your client with your property search at this time. We would like to support you, but you do not meet the criteria, not yet mind you."

"Should this change in the future, we would be happy for you to contact us again," she finished her monologue.

Just the right mixture of regret and professional distance, she thought with satisfaction.

The young man looked at her.

"Oh, okay. Thank you then."

He turned around again and left the building.

Another fortune seeker successfully fended off in a professional manner! Sylfie patted herself on the back inwardly. Her superiors would be pleased with her.

"Next!"

*****

Kryll left the building at a loss. He looked left and right, undecided as to how to proceed.

What now? he pondered. He was running out of ideas.

His stomach growled.

Before I rack my brains any further, I'll eat in peace. It's hard to think on an empty stomach anyway, he decided and made his way back to the inn.