Rizlek looked at her aghast face, oblivious to the fact that the enchantments weren't normal according to Iris's efforts.

“Oh, right. Is it your first time making Enchantments of this caliber? Rapid Regeneration is a very effective way to get an advantage in dungeons or battle, and many seek such things, but they are rare. I even suspect...” Rizlek paused in thought. “... some would buy it above-asked price. Demand is higher than the ability to make them, while their rarity at your level and grade is the same. Some new adventures would love this. Although, it is a Lesser Healing potion. It's sought out quite a lot, hence the high price”

Iris nodded, gulping down her saliva in preparation for hefty rewards. 90 gold? That will be money she would make in 2 weeks of hard work with alchemy and help as a priestess.

“So, It is true that you made them.” Rizlek nodded, following his previous wonder. “Since it is your work, I believe 2nd Sun explained to you plenty of things about it, young Iris. Alchemy is one thing, but the craziness of the Enchantment is something else.”

“I know what it is about, mister Rizlik,” Iris said. “I just doubted myself and this price. That is all.” she shook her head which calmed her down. She completely forgot to cover the bucket again, exposing Murai to bystanders and so on. At least he had the conscience to forcefully calm his aura and mana, so he wasn't as obvious as he should be.

“Good. I am just a vendor, but you should know what you are selling yourself. If you take it somewhere else, I bet someone would scam you for your luck and hard work. It wouldn't be anything surprising in this world, where greed is following us all. Unordinary things sell better and higher, depending on many things one had to know. That's just how things go. For example this one.” Rizlek grabbed the charming glowing bottle. “It has 30 or 35% more effectiveness, while the materials remain the same. as one without any enchantment. It is like adding a grade to it, so it is a good enchantment, but it isn't Rapid Regeneration. It would be more chaotically crimson than that. The price is still good though. It's by chance, so Lady Luck is the only one who could answer those things. Alongside materials, and your prayer. Some resources can improve the chances of the Enchantments, but I am sure you know it already.”

“I know that mister Rizlek,” Iris said again, repeating the same sentence. “You are weirdly chatty today... I bet it's because you don't make many sales, don't you?” she said, smirking.

“I don't deny that... Heheheh.” Rizlek laughed and continued making examples out of her goods. “There are always some resonances of mana out of the Enchantments that make these rare chances better. The more familiar you are with them, the more often you will see some results,” he explained.

“So... Is this how is it? What about the precise price for this Rapid Healing Potion?”

“For one?” Rizlek asked.

Iris nodded.

“Price should be around 10 gold for one. It can mean life and death after all. It isn't a small amount. Amounting it to the rest, I can see and count your profit myself. Considering the materials that you purchased 2 days ago, they were worth around 9 gold, so it's a steep profit just from this one alone. Isn't it crazy enough? I would be smiling wider than finding something like this if I were you.”

Suddenly, Iris was calculating it herself. Since yesterday's happenings with Murai, she wasn't even that aware of her own logistics. These potions? Something was strange about them. Usually, she would make barely 20 potions, and now, not only some were enchanted, but there are more than 20 of them.

Something hit her right there in her head, yet she wasn't sure what it was. A sudden recollection that she couldn't point her finger at? Glancing down in thought, she noticed Murai looking around him.

Him? she thought. No way. Influence over mana and alchemy just from presence alone is unlikely. No matter what.

“Is something wrong?” Rizlek said, raising his brows and leaving the potion be. “I am honest with my price if you are wondering about it. I won't haggle or lie to fellow members of the Vermillion Church.”

“Yeah?” Iris mumbled, suddenly going back to reality. “Oh, sorry. Sorry. I understand and I wasn't thinking badly of you. Still...”

“Prices are kept by demand. No need to feel upset or happy. Now, back to the business. What were your knowledge and things you want to buy today? I will take it from your future gold after these would sell.” Rizlek asked, sounding quite professional as he pointed to the rows of potions. Such high-demand items will sell in a few days for sure.

In fact, if Iris would be in a hurry, he could take the potions and sell them to bigger companies for basically the same price as he offered. Such was the price of demand, and business owners in the Pagoda Towers weren't at least haggling with each other. Many were friends, and colleagues, albeit some were enemies, which was normal.

Money was greed, after all.

“I need 14 Inner Life Pills of lesser quality. Around Grade C would do. I presume you don't have them, since I have never seen them in your shop.” Iris said, remembering the demands and things Ceila gave her.

“Inner Life Pills? Such quality is good, but Grabe C? Only high mages do and use these things and they discard those or reform them for something else. I suggest Pika's shop. He is a good fella and much stronger. He will help you out if it involves some gold. I guarantee his services and personality. If it's that, I suppose it has something to do with your Master, so let me give you the full price for these potions so you will have enough. She sure is demanding...” Rizlek said, pulling a pouch out of his belt. It was an empty looking one, yet he pulled a surprising amount of gold coins out of it, signifying its spatial properties.

Iris took the gold since there was no way to get the price higher than that. It was already quite good for her as Rizlek said. Profit of more than 50 coins—minus the expenditure—was good. She even planned to purchase some additional materials to try her luck again later today, or tomorrow. Her style of alchemy wasn't as demanding, so that wasn't a bad idea.

Giving Rizlek a simple bow, Iris moved toward the next destination. There was one section of this big place that was unlike the rest—which was open.

There was a street, or an alley if one would say so, with 2 rows of one-floor buildings on this street. They were famous shops with much better businesses. Pika was precisely here.

Finding his shop was quite easy. There was a big sign with his face and a small name of his humble establishment: Pika's Shop. It was kind of an obnoxious sign. Someone liked his own face a bit too much, it seemed.

Walking inside by opening the door, a bell rang to note an arrival of a new guest and potential business. Mages liked those most. Some could even make the bell's melodies special, making the first feeling of coming here as best as possible. It would boost sales.

The room wasn't big, or small. It was what any mage would need to do their business in a single building.

Behind a counter was no man, but an elf girl. She had chainless shackles around her wrists, making her owned by due demands for a good assistant.

Iris frowned, as she didn't like to watch these kinds of things, but what she could do? Slavery was a thing, and some people liked it for its simplicity. In fact... It was making Iris angry, that the worth of certain people can be sold by a whim of a coin.

“Greeting dear customer.” the elf said with a beaming smile. “Can I be of any help? Provide any materials or selling? Master Pika provides everything.” She was decently clothed, in a bright white uniform, with well-kept blond hair, which floated behind her revealed long ears. She didn't appear like a slave, but it was obvious by her shackles alone.

“Hello. I come here to inquire about some pills by recommendation of old Rizlek.”

“Old Rizlek?” a man's face said from the room beyond the counter. “What did that fella do again? Making a business for me? I don't owe him a thing!”

It sounded like a rather young voice, which wasn't all that surprising, but the annoyance and arrogance in his voice annoyed Iris a little.

The door hidden behind a piece of embroidered cloth, revealed a young man, barely in his mid 30ies. His face was chiseled, young, shaved, and quite handsome. Even Iris could acknowledge that, but it was obvious that he liked himself more than he cared for others.

“It was a simple recommendation, mister Pika,” Iris said, giving him a proper bow as a younger, quite inferior mage. It was proper etiquette, and Pika liked it.

“Hmmm...” he looked at Iris who he didn't seem to recall from his memories. “Alright. That makes sense when I think about it. I owe nothing to him anyway, and this doesn't change it either. What do you want? I doubt my services would fare well with your standing, and you... questionable level. I suggest taking your route to your superiors in the church, and not seeking high mages in this Association.” Pka stated, sounding quite lofty and arrogant.

“A simple try never hurt anyone,” Iris said, unbothered by this man's demeanor. “I am looking for purchases of 14 Inner Life Pills around Grade C”

“Those?” he raised his brows. “Garbage... What quality?”

“Lesser would do.”

“What use do they have at such quality? I toss them to my assistant, or use them as residuals for some experiments.”

“Personal things, mister Pika.” Iris reminded him to not stick his hands where they didn't belong. It was also a part of the businesses, and Iris knew how to act around high-level mages.

“Hmph!” Pika sneered, unhappily grunting some words, but he also knew the etiquette and business.

“Selling those for 4 gold a piece is possible. Do you have the gold?”

“4? That's too much. It is almost unusable for you!” Iris argued, showing a side of her haggling nature over many situations of the normal merchants to get cheap food.

“Tsch... forget it.” Pika waved a hand, not having the patience to haggle or argue with the low-level mage. “Get her those 14 at 3 gold a piece, Alushina.” Pika gave up, ordering the elf girl that remained politely aside.

“Understood,” she replied and soon retrieved the things that Iris wanted from the other room.

At the end of the day, Iris got everything, including a Grade B Shimmer Gel, and a couple of things from other vendors as well. They had a huge variety of things, so there wasn't as strong competition among the vendors or shops. Of course, what was rather competition-heavy were the potions, and other goods from alchemy itself. Pills were known to be more expensive then potions at the same grade, while elixirs were less valuable than pills but better than potions.

The materials were simpler, as they weren't up to the lack of things or conducting. The demand for them was for crafters and not users of the potions. After all, potions remain fixed with the demanding material, and price included everything.

What mattered was selling the potions since it was the source of the most profit.

Iris purchased the required materials for healing Murai's wounds. They should make the wound around Murai's wing disappear within a weak, but the bones required more than that. Inner Life Pills will suffice in this sense because of residue from the Wave of Life. It will take just... 200 times more time, or perhaps even more.

Walking in the aisle, Murai pushed the cloth again after Iris forced it upon him in Pika's shop. Glancing around to familiarize himself with the sight of the Phoenix Pagoda, he was curious to see the standards of this world. His Soul Read was long put in use, and he knew no one felt a thing.

There was no mage familiar with powerful soul perception, or their level was too low. Murai was happy to remain in such a position, but then, he noticed something as Iris's soul shook.

Slave market.

Iris momentarily stopped her feet from moving. Seeing this section was her unhappy moment every time she visited this place. It was part of the biggest Slave Guild under the Centralis Kingdom. They had the guts to make a secondary shop in this trade hub after pledging enough money and promising to remain without any politics or making any issues.

It was the fault of the power of coins, as well as the willingness of mages who needed helpers. A slave was the best way to get an undeniable helper, that would have no choice but follow orders. Some races could be even excellent alchemy assistance and adventures, and mercenaries of high standing could purchase them without a problem.

A tough slave? Sure. A pretty one to quench their thirst? Easy enough. As long as the coin was provided, and war and the heart of men were unchanging, it will prevail.

However, Iris was furious it was the case. She hated it for the simple fact that she almost became one herself. It was a pathetic way of living, with even more pathetic people behind such a guild.

There were many kinds of beings displayed. Exotic races, normal humans, and even pets in cages. The whole row of the left side of the street on the way to the exit was this slave market.

It was a disgusting practice, and Murai saw the same thing that she did. In fact, he even felt her emotions and others. They were wavering, yet she grit her teeth, unwilling to make herself upset or cry.

Beast folks, elves... Hm? Quite a variety. It seems this world is bigger than I thought, but no wonder. Gods probably thought of many things in these tens of thousands of years. Murai thought and retracted his beak.

It was their bad fate to be a slave, and one could only curse it, or hate the world itself.

Calming her anger down, Iris returned to her trip out of this damned place.

Every trip out of Phoenix Pagoda ended up like this since the exit was at the other side of the pagoda. Unless one would have to travel all the way back to the opening, one had to go through this place. For the better luck of business, this slave market was here, so most people would get some help in addition to their purchases.

It was quite a vile business practice, and Iris always stomped out of this pagoda unhappily.

Clutching the bucket with her both palms, Iris wasn't inclined to do much but to get home and do what she must.

She made a small visit to the butcher she knew and purchased gold worth of meat per Murai's wishes for dinner and tomorrow's snack. It was quite some haul with increased gold, yet part of it went immediately away. It always hurt to see the gold disappear. Iris wished she could complain about it...

She didn't even think of selling her potion to the church. After figuring out what Ceila wanted from her, she decided to sell it at the same price in this place.

Walking home, Iris was tired and confused about a lot of things. A lot of things happened today, but many further wonders and confusion may follow in the upcoming week.

By Murai's lack of interest or needs, Iris didn't go straight home or to the church. She decided to do a small visit somewhere safe and sound. It was her own place where no one would bother her.

Woodlands: a place surrounding the region for hundreds of kilometers. The plains around her village or even the Cinnar were full of forests, and hills. The earth was good enough for plentiful seasonal harvests and a lot of villagers made decent money by being farmers or lumberjacks.

Though, there was a certain section that was unlike the rest.

The part that Iris was visiting was known as Dried Woodlands. It was part of the scorched earth and forests. It was a dull place thanks to the vast forest fire that happened when the Centralis Kingdom attacked the Palia Kingdom. It destroyed part of the Woodlands, but nature and things changed since then.

The Woodlands healed, yet the Palia Kingdom didn't. Some wildlife did, but it wasn't the same.

She remembered the fire back then. It was destructive as a flame of a dragon, and many people and villages were also buried under that heat.

Walking towards a small hidden cavern up the hills, surrounding small rocky formations, she wasn't happy or glad. It wasn't far from her home, a village that was rebuilt 3 years ago.

She let Murai out, which amounted to nothing but let him rest on the piece of stone since he shouldn't move.

“What about this meat?” Iris asked, shoving him bony meaty bliss that was wrapped in butcher paper. “I can make a fire if you want it cooked, or is it enough for your raw?” she asked innocently upon seeing his uninterested face.

“Tsch! Raw?” Murai sneered and gestured for her to let him have his meal his own way.

Then... a strange thing happened when Iris looked at how Murai ate. He Shaped his mana and willed his Flame to rise.

Watching it all with surprise in her eyes, she forgot what was before her. “A Magic duck? Y-you... You are already a powerful enough mage to use elements and use Shaping to such an extent? How magnificent for you... You are just a level 10 or something. Crazy...”

She wondered out loud how talented Murai seemed and if Ceila heard her, she would pinch her cheeks for sure.