Erlinda's heart skipped a beat as the barmaid's words sank in. “The what.” she asked as she put down the empty mug. “ He is the captain of the royal knights” the barmaid said as she started looking around the room. The barmaid hesitated, her voice low. "Captain Alistair is a powerful man around here. His interest is not to be taken lightly. I overheard him earlier asking about a woman with blue hair." I felt my breath catch and exchanged a quick glance with Erlinda. Erlinda tensed. "What does he want with me?" The barmaid's serious expression gave her no comfort as she hesitated before responding. "I'm not sure, miss., her eyes darting nervously around the room.

I leaned in, urgency seeping into my tone. "Did he say why he wants to find her?" The barmaid leaned closer to us. "He seems to think she has something valuable - a book or artifact of some kind, but I couldn't catch all the details.”

Erlinda and I exchanged an uneasy look. The journal suddenly felt heavy in her pack.

I pressed further, "Is he likely to cause trouble for her?"

The barmaid's face was grim. "I cannot say for certain. But the Captain has been known to...pursue women aggressively. You both should be cautious."

She gathered the empty mugs, her voice barely a whisper. "I'd keep my distance if I were you. Alistair is not one to trifle with."

We nodded, unnerved by the warning. As the barmaid disappeared into the crowd, I turned to Erlinda. "This is no coincidence. It looks like Darwin got himself and now us into something big. We need to leave, now."

Erlinda nodded “ He could have soldiers outside or coming here” . With a nod, we rose from our seats, and ventured out into the bustling streets once again.

Erlinda and I weaved through the crowded streets, keeping our heads low. The barmaid's warning lingered heavily in our minds. We needed to get out of the city fast, but Alistair's soldiers could be anywhere.

As we passed a patrolling pair of knights, the emerald gems adorning their breastplates caught my eye. “We didn’t find a gem store” I said turning down an alley. Erlinda stop moving and closed her eyes and the amethyst necklace that was hanging begin to glow slightly. After a moment she pointed down the alley “that way and make a right”. Moving in that direction hoping to find a gem shop tucked away from the main thoroughfare. As we walked, we kept a watchful eye on our surroundings. The occasional soldier passed by their emerald gems glinting in the sunlight. We avoided eye contact, blending in with the ordinary hustle of the city.

"There, up ahead," Erlinda pointed to a modest shop with a sign that read 'Gems & Trinkets.' I placed my arm on Erlinda “"I think you should head back to the inn for now". "What? Why?" Erlinda protested with a confused frown.

I steered Erlinda into a quiet side street, glancing cautiously over my shoulder. "That captain's still hunting for you," I said in a low voice. "Safer if you keep a low profile at the inn while I fetch the crystal."

Erlinda shook her head, blue strands falling across her face. "Bad idea. We should stick together. "No, I am staying with you until we find Darwin.” I met her gaze. She had a point - splitting up was risky. But I knew the soldiers had spotted her more clearly than me.

I sighed. "I get it, Lindy. Neither do I, but you know the captain took a creepy interest in you If we separate just briefly, it might throw them off." I paused. "I know it's not ideal. But I can slip in and out of that gem shop quickly while you hide out at the inn." Erlinda bit her lip, scanned the surroundings with a wariness, half-expecting soldiers to materialize out of thin air. Fine," she conceded, though her face was tense. "Go get your ruby. But meet me back at the inn in one hour, got it? Don't make me come looking for you."

Her tone left no room for debate.

I chuckled. "Wouldn't dream of it." And with a quick hug she stepped back and use her amethyst necklace to increase her speed, disappearing in a gust of wind.

As I turned back toward the shop, the bustling street opened up before me. The building's weathered façade came into view, its timbers aged but sturdy. Faded brown paint peeled away in curled flakes, revealing the rough grain beneath. Above, a rust-flecked metal sign hung from intricate wrought iron brackets, screeching faintly as it swayed in the breeze.

My eyes dropped to the entryway, where a short flight of steps led up to the front door. Their garish orange hue assaulted my senses, the color of a sunset that refused to fade. At the top sat a door curved into an arch, its chipped blue paint in stark contrast to the orange stairs. In short it was an ugly building, but it had clearly seen better days, yet its quirks and imperfections imbued it with a strange charm.

Stepping through the weathered blue door, I found myself in a modest room cluttered with an array of display cases. Four wooden desks sat in a haphazard formation, their chipped paint and scratched surfaces hinting at years of use. Upon each desk lays an open box brimming with glittering gems.

The smallest box housed delicate aquamarines, their pale blue facets glinting like shards of a frozen lake. Next, a pair of boxes displayed vibrant rubies and shimmering topaz stones, warm hues of crimson and amber radiating from within.

The largest box anchored the last desk, practically overflowing with brilliant emerald cuts. The vibrant green gems spilled over the edges, rolling across the worn wood, and tumbling to the floor.

A diligent boy, noticing the stray jewels, swiftly intervened. He delicately picked up the fallen emeralds, securing them back into their designated space before resuming his task of sweeping away dust and debris from the creaking floorboards. Shafts of sunlight streaming through a smudged window highlighted swirling motes in the air. The dust particles danced over the gem-filled boxes, glistening like sparkling fairy dust when they caught the light.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

I stood enthralled by the kaleidoscope of colors and textures before me. I never entered a gem store before as my father was gifted the ruby, he gave me, so I never had to buy one before. As I admired the golden topaz stones, their inner fire called to me. Unable to resist, I reached out a finger to touch one. A startling tingle jolted through my body.

A melodic giggle echoed behind me, drawing my attention away from the captivating stones. “I should have paid more attention than to stare at the stones” I mused.

I turned to see an elegantly dressed woman watching me with amusement. She appeared around thirty, with flowing raven hair styled into an elaborate bun. An embroidered violet dress cinched at her waist before blooming into a full skirt. Over this she wore a fitted black jacket, its silk fabric catching the light.

Four rings adorned her graceful fingers. Two housed glittering gems - an oval topaz with inner flames that danced in the sunlight, and an amethyst cut into perfect facets, its purple hue deep and rich. She gave me a warm smile, her hazel eyes crinkling at the edges. "My apologies for laughing," she said, her voice smooth and melodic. "That shock happens to everyone on their first topaz touch."

I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment. This woman carried herself with refined elegance worthy of royalty. I suddenly felt self-conscious standing before her in my road-worn tunic and mud-flecked boots. Clearing my throat, I managed a reply. "No need to apologize, I should have been more careful." I tried to match the cadence of her formal speech. She smiled reassuringly and glided closer to examine the gem boxes. I took a steady breath and followed.

Each of these stones encapsulates a distinct element; as you've likely discerned, topaz is aligned with the element of lightning, “she elucidated, her fingers delicately lifting one from its display. it glowed a little before blue sparks started moving around her fingers holding the stone. I knew gems housed the power of different elements has Darwin kept swords that has obsidian gems and Erlinda has her family’s amethyst necklace. Then there was my ruby ring that I destroyed three months ago. Each of us used a different element though we never try using each other’s gems.

Having different gems could be helpful if they are cheap enough. The woman toyed with the topaz sparks for a moment before replacing it with a disappointed frown. "The quality of these stones is utterly pathetic," she declared, disappointment etched across her features. She moved over to the emeralds box and pick one up examining it in the low light.

"Quite a shame; I had hoped to find a decent topaz in this town, but it seems luck isn't on my side," the woman lamented with a delicate sigh. I looked at the stones, I couldn’t tell what was wrong with them. They looked just fine to me. “She must be used to the expensive stuff” I thought has I picked up two emeralds and two topaz stones carefully wrapping them in a handkerchief, so I won’t shock myself again. “These can come in handy later.”

The woman was turning to leave when she noticed me. With a pointed finger, she asserted, "You can't use those gems. Not only is the quality pathetic, but they're simply unusable." Her words prompted a frown from me. "I appreciate the advice on the stones, but for the journey I'm on, I think they'll suffice," I responded” A man about 40 in age with a neatly trimmed beard and spectacles perched on his nose, who was standing in the back can over. “Madam I can assure you that all of my stones are usable.” e woman, turning her attention back to him, emitted a disdainful sniff. "The only commendable quality you possess lies in the emeralds, which is unsurprising given Parstone's proximity to an emerald mine. Everything else is, at best, of poor quality, but that doesn't alter the fact that he can't use them."

The woman's condescending tone was beginning to grate on me. But her insistence that I could not utilize these gems piqued my curiosity. "Why not?" I asked, holding up the stones. "I wielded my father's ruby with fire magic, so why can't I use these stones?".” Examining them more closely, “Are they fake?” The shopkeeper's face flushed red, but the woman interjected calmly. ”No, they are not fake. You can discern their authenticity by feeling the magic within them. The issue lies with your elemental affinity. These stones are specifically attuned to those who can wield thunder and earth magic.” I nodded in understanding as she continued. "You mentioned using a ruby, so fire is clearly your affinity. Therefore, these topazes and emeralds would be of no use, unless you know someone with mastery of earth magic." I rolled the cool emeralds in my palm, sensing the earthy pulse within. But as hard as I tried, I couldn’t use the magic inside. Shaking my head, I placed the gems back on the desks that I took them from and look to the shopkeeper. “Do you have any rubies for sale?" I inquired. “I’ll take a look at your diamonds," the woman added sweetly.

The shopkeeper shot her a glare, to which she responded with an impish grin. Without a word, he retreated behind his counter, producing a dusty box. He blew off a layer of grime and opened the lid, revealing an array of gems. Five aquamarines lay alongside three jet-black obsidians. Next to them sat four ruby cuts of varying brilliance. One large diamond anchored the collection, glinting brightly even in the dim light.

"Hmm," the woman hummed as she scrutinized the gems before her. I picked up one of the rubies, immediately sensing my inner fire respond, though weakly. Frowning, I chose another stone. This one blazed with a familiar intensity, though still below the power of my previous gem. “I guess this is what she meant but poor quality,” I mused.

"How much for this fine diamond?" the woman inquired, letting fractured rainbows dance across the walls. "And add the two rubies as well," she added nonchalantly. "What? Why purchase my gems?" I asked.

The woman smiled, holding up two elegant fingers. "I have two reasons. First, I can tell you are self-taught in magic. As a scholar and teacher, myself, I enjoy assisting promising students. Having rubies of varied quality will aid your education."

She raised a second finger. "Also, you have the bearing of a mercenary. My intuition says we will cross paths again. I have an eye for discerning such things."

I stood dumbfounded as the shopkeeper happily tallied up her purchase. "That will be 90 gold - 50 for the diamond and 40 for the rubies."

I paled at the price which was far more than I thought. But the woman casually placed a single black coin on the counter. "Keep the change," she said airily as she turned to depart. The shopkeeper beamed. “Thank ma’am” he said but she was already gone. Outside the window, I glimpsed the young assistant rush to return a handkerchief the woman had dropped, his figure silhouetted against the glass. But she was already gone by the time he emerged from the shop.

I hefted the two rubies in bewilderment, their fiery magic thrumming against my skin. "What a strange day," I muttered.

Suddenly shouting erupted nearby, the harsh voices growing louder. The shopkeeper cursed under his breath and retreated to the back room.

I glanced between the gems in my hand and the shop's back wall, judging the commotion's source. Making a quick decision, I tugged off one boot and nestled the finer ruby safely inside, then tucked the inferior stone into my shirt pocket.

"The surprises just keep coming," I thought as I left the store.