But no matter how hard Ryan tried not to judge the adventurers, he always managed to find a couple who made him want to reconsider.

Which is what led to the second memorable interaction of the day.

---

As Ryan gazed into the bustling market from his shop, he couldn't help but smile at what he saw. Coins, lots and lots of coins, exchanging hands. Most people would assume that Denair wasn't a really profitable place to sell items, and they'd be right or wrong depending on how you looked at it.

The market housed some of the most desperate and ambitious vendors; many were greedy and would not hesitate to do anything for a coin. On the other hand, there were good people in Denair, people like Jenora and the vendor that had sold him the recipe book for cheap.

The kind of people that breathed life into the very bones of the market. Then there were the parasites—Looter's Heaven, content to reap the benefits of other vendors' work. A cancer that needed to be cured.

Likewise, there were good adventurers, nice ones like Cicero and his squad, like Freya. Ryan ran a hand through his hair at the thought.

What would it take for him to go against Looter's Heaven? He honestly didn't even know what he'd need to go against them. His most important fear was what would happen if they decided to come for him with everything. What would he do then? Would Cicero and his squad stick up for him?

These thoughts were all reasonable; his future was looking bleak and he'd have to pick a side. Staying neutral wouldn't protect him—in fact, it'd do him more harm than good to go at it alone.

Ryan let out a sigh. Fucking schemes.

Looking at the scene playing in front of him, he smiled. The market had life in it; he just had to find a way to bring back its free spirit.

Ryan began resetting back to his merchant pose as he spied a potential customer determinedly walking toward his shop. A fairy by the looks of it, delicate and gentle. Any other time Ryan would have smiled at such a sight, but this wasn't his fairy.

Veron's beards, I've been smitten by that fairy.

Ryan thought as his mind tried to take him back to Freya. This, however, wasn't the time for such things; he had to be on his A-game to close deals as fast as possible.

"Good day, fair lady. What can I help you with today? I have the best potions in Denair, and I also have teleportation stones available, capable of saving your life when in a pinch," Ryan offered.

"Before we get started, you are Ryan, Ryan Lionheart?" she asked, her delicate facial features scrunching up as she observed Ryan intensely.

What fresh hell is this?

Ryan just couldn't catch a break. He had no idea who exactly this fairy was, who'd sent her, and what she was here to do. Yet she was asking him to confirm his identity—something that could endanger him if she considered him a foe.

"Yes, I am Ryan. Do we have a problem?" Ryan asked.

"No, not at all. Cicero recommended you and... I just wanted to be sure I was at the right place," the lady said, a blush appearing on her cheeks.

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Ryan couldn't even begin to comprehend how naive she sounded. Anybody could've said yes to her and she would've believed it. Ryan himself could've said no—then what? Would she have left, going on to find another Ryan Lionheart that didn't exist, or would she fall prey to the vendor that decided to utilize an opportunity on a platter?

It just didn't make enough sense, although he could commend her for at least trying to confirm, even if it was a... terrible system that she used.

"It's okay. You said Cicero told you about me?" Ryan asked, trying to confirm what she'd said earlier.

"Yes, he said you were unaffiliated with Looter's Heaven. Is that true?" she asked.

"That's the situation at the moment," Ryan said, uncomfortable with the way the lady seemed to be prying into his affairs.

"Fantastic! Cicero said you have a deal of sorts?" she asked.

Ryan didn't know if she was referring to their deal to combat Looter's Heaven, or if she was talking about his package deals. He'd take the safer route, as he didn't want to talk about things that weren't public yet.

"Sure, I have a package deal of fifteen minor health potions and a T-stone for just six gold coins," Ryan said. She looked like she was good for the coin.

"Can't argue with that. I'll take it!" the adventurer said, beaming.

Ryan felt as though he had been cheated in some way. Was he selling his potions under their normal value? Yes. Was that enough to make an adventurer beam at him? Maybe, but he highly doubted that it was because of his discount that she'd beamed at him.

Pushing the confusion away from his face and mind, Ryan quickly arranged the potions and the T-stone.

Within moments he had her items on the counter and was about to initiate the exchange. He hesitated for a second though.

Here was an opportunity for him to alleviate a dumb fear that had been bugging him for a while. Maybe she could answer the questions that he'd already given up on.

Rubbing his eyes, he stared at the adventurer looking back at him expectantly.

"Uhm... sorry, how well do you know Cicero and his squad?" Ryan asked, making sure to keep his eyes trained on the fairy. Maybe he'd be able to catch a telltale sign if she tried to lie.

"Well, we've gone on a couple of dungeon runs together and shared a few tankards. Why do you ask?" she questioned, staring at Ryan warily.

"Nothing serious. I just wanted to know what their personality was like and... if you'd trust them with your life?" Ryan said, looking away from the fairy as he ran a hand through his hair, disturbing the already disheveled mess.

Turning to face the fairy, he realized that her eyes had widened like saucers, and she looked really cute.

Shaking his head to clear his mind of stupid thoughts, he started right back at her, waiting for her response.

"T-ha-t se-e-ms in-tense," she said while spluttering, beginning to look uncomfortable at the query.

"You know what, forget about it... here are your items," Ryan said with a sigh.

"Uhm, thanks," she said, giving him a handful of gold coins—six in total—as she turned to leave.

She took two steps before turning and facing Ryan.

"They're good people; they protect their own. Cicero would run through the depths for anyone on that squad, and they'd do the same for him," she paused, staring into Ryan's eyes. "There's no better place to place one's life than in the hands of such people. Relationships like that in the Eternal Realm are very, very hard to come by."

Ryan didn't know what to say as a knot formed in his throat. He could tell that she was being sincere, and that only made the knot feel more real.

A friend that'll run through hell for him—fairy tales, surely. After all, Ryan couldn't say with a straight face that his relationship with Cicero and his squad had evolved past being purely business. He was certain that the fairy believed that with her whole heart, but Ryan would reserve judgment until he saw with his own eyes.

"That's an interesting take. I hope they live up to your words. I'll trust in what you've said," Ryan said with a somber expression.

Trust your words, what am I, five?

Inwardly, Ryan had to struggle to quell his disbelief and distrust.

Run through hell for friends, pfft.

"I'm sure they'll exceed your expectations. Have a good day, Mr. Lionheart!" she said, calling out to him as she disappeared from view.

I look forward to them trying.

Ryan thought, staring at the empty space the fairy had previously occupied.

With a sigh, Ryan returned back to work. He managed to make a couple of sales before Ursula's glow began to fill the streets.

That was his cue to lock up his shop and don his new cloak. It took but moments, and Ryan was left staring at the almost deserted street. The few remaining people there were mostly vendors still locking up after a hard day of sales—or the lack thereof.

With his shop secured—as best as he could—he began to walk toward the venue for today's main event, the Siren's Call. It was about time he had a friendly chat with Cicero.

And Freya.