The hunt is on...how much should I spend?
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“Sebastian, Lexi, and I will head to the Open Bazaar for some material gathering,” Aunt Nora said as we exited Le Palais de Lune.
“Then I will take the young lady and others to a crafts shop for some additional accessories.” Hearing Uncle Sebastian’s words, Ari and Layla’s faces lit up.
“That sounds good, Sebastian. Then take these two kittens with you as well.”
Kittens… hehe… Seems like we all share the same brain cells.
Even Uncle Sebastian was chuckling slightly, while the two kittens in question looked confused. Parting ways, Aunt Nora led me towards the elevators as we descended.
“Lexi, I’m sure you’ve noticed something different here.”
Nodding, I asked, “Um, Aunt Nora, is there something up with the way I hear and feel when you introduce the manager of the restaurant, The Manager of the Bazaar, and even this place? Why is that?”
I could see her lips curving slightly upward, trying to hide a grin.
“Well, that’s because once you reach a certain strength, no, a better word would be level or mastery - your power starts defining you, and the WORLD itself bestows a presence, a title, upon you.”
Pausing slightly, Aunt Nora tried to build dramatic tension, but it rarely ever worked.
“That goes both ways, Lexi. A heinous criminal, like the one responsible for the incursion that cost millions of lives and eventually led to the invasion of the Kark-url race- you remember?”
My face scrunched with disgust at the mention, “Yeah, that incident plunged almost all of Africa into darkness. I don’t remember the name of that criminal, but wasn’t he called Defector?”
A familiar feeling welled up.
Seeing my expression, Aunt Nora chuckled and continued, “Once you reach a certain realm, your natural lifespan increases enough to live forever, but almost all die in battles. With the passage of time, everything is forgotten except for the title and the deeds that live on.”
“Titles are a way of remembering both famous and infamous deeds.”
“They hold power - vast power - but those are way off in the future for you. You shouldn’t even be able to tell the difference yet, but that’s where EXIRA helps. Just be wary of anyone or anything with a title.”
“And, Lexi, here,” Aunt Nora handed me a pendant. Noticing my confusion and curiosity, she clarified, “That’s a stealth-type artifact from a set I’m making for you. Just attune to it for now, don’t probe it, that’ll take too much time.”
“Ohh, a set for me! Aww, thank you, Aunt Nora. You’re the best!” I gave her a sincere smile and looked at the pendant. Silver in color, with a simple chain and a dragon idol attached to it.
Hehe! Well, let’s attune.
I put on the pendant, feeling a chill as the cold material touched my skin.
Huuu.
Clearing my mind and focusing with a deep breath, I willed EXIRA to well up within me, with the intent to pair with the pendant.
Remembering Aunt Nora’s words, I didn’t enter a pseudo-attuned state since I wasn’t appraising the artifact, but attuning still conveyed my will and allowed me to sense the artifact’s intent.
Hide… stealth… not quite disguise… yes, Camufla.
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Shaking my head as I remembered I entered a pseudo-attune state. My task was to attune, not to realize the intentions and functioning of the artifact. As EXIRA continued channeling, it created a link between me and the gear, attaching it to my origin.
Stealth, disguise, and protection, I guess... but the name... Wow... really?
Opening my eyes and looking at her.
"What, Lexi? I put a lot of effort into making it, and it’s even part of a set series, you know."
Seeing her playful tone, I rolled my eyes.
"Really? But what's with the name, huh? Aunt Nora’s Blessed Pendant for Dumb Lexi?" I questioned, "Then what's the series name? Dumb Lexi Gears or something?"
Aunt Nora looked surprised and asked, "How did you know, Lexi?"
God damn it! She's playing with me...
Right on cue, the elevator reached its destination as the gate opened, momentarily blinding us with the bright light of the sun. Shaking my head, I decided to ask about it later. As our sight returned and we stepped out, the sheer energy of the place hit me like a gust of wind. It was alive, a much stronger vibe than anything I’d experienced in The Bazaar until now. The air was thick with sounds, the hum of voices rising and falling in a chaotic symphony.
Aunt Nora grabbed my shoulder. "Now, Lexi, go on and buy whatever you want. We’ll be making artifacts out of them later."
"Uhmm, alone?"
"Yes, Lexi, consider this a test and a little alone time. The pendant has disguising powers, so until you reveal your identity, no one will realize it."
"Now, go on. Message me when you've got all the things you want... go."
Aunt Nora waved her hand, and it almost felt like she was shooing me away like a puppy.
Cough
Umm... let’s unwind a little bit... huuu... the last couple of days were chaotic...
Looking at the pale pinkish-white wavy line on my wrist reminded me of how much I had to learn, grow, and wear extra protection and armor in sparring.
Well, that’s for tomorrow-me to worry about.
Entering the open bazaar, as it was called, I saw it was vast, with no big stores, just several stalls encircling a lake in the middle. Looking up, the sky was normal, with the sun shining brightly, yet the temperature was neither hot nor cold.
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Yeah, totally not weird at all.
The sounds of merchants shouting and waving their hands filled the air as they hawked their wares, trying to outdo one another in both volume and charm with all sorts of things: foods, materials, monster parts, armor, weapons...
"Fresh fish! Caught just this morning! You won’t find a better deal anywhere!"
"Spices! The finest from across the seas, guaranteed to make your meals unforgettable!"
Everywhere I looked, stalls were overflowing with goods - jewelry, fruits, fabrics in every color, weapons littered around the stalls. A nearby vendor was holding up bright blue silk, letting it ripple in the breeze, while a crowd gathered to admire the shimmering fabric.
‘Hmm, that’s probably a monster's item drop,’ I thought.
Heading towards the stall, I channeled EXIRA, letting it flow around my eyes. I could feel the difference, but it was hard to interpret.
Maybe I need to have some parameters or instructions of what I need to achieve using my EXIRA.
Fuuu.
Taking a breath, I imagined the vividness of the magical materials, focusing on their intents. I could feel myself entering a state similar to a pseudo-attuning state as the intents rushed at me.
Fuu.
Taking another breath, I focused my mind to mute the sensations and intents, just enough to feel the material. When I opened my eyes, the world surrounding me had lost a little bit of vibrancy, and tiny motes of light pulsed around me. Looking back at the vendor selling the silk fabric, I saw the material pulsing with light. I approached the stall, and the vendor’s eyes flicked toward me, clearly noticing my interest.
“Ah, you’ve got an eye for quality,” he said, holding up the blue silk again, letting it dance in the breeze.
Hmm, the disguise is working perfectly. The artifact would have been awesome if not for the name...
“This here is no ordinary fabric, my friend. It’s made from the thread of a rare creature found deep within the Silklands Rifts. Its silk can enhance the flow of magical energy, perfect for enchanting.”
I narrowed my eyes, focusing on the pulse of the material. The fabric was soft and velvety to the touch, though I doubted it was as rare as he claimed.
“How much?” I asked, keeping my voice steady, surprised it sounded deeper than usual. Aunt Nora is a master of crafting, after all.
‘Okay, let’s not get ripped off… but being a prince, I have more than enough money. Should I just buy it or try to haggle?’
The vendor smiled, his teeth a little too white. “For you, noble sir, I’d say 1,000 Drakens. A steal.”
I crossed my arms, making sure to keep my expression neutral.
‘Hmm, that’s a rip-off for sure. Only two meters of fabric.’
“1,000 Drakens for a piece of silk? You must think I’m a fool. This isn’t worth more than 500 Drakens, and that’s me being generous.”
The vendor’s smile faltered for a second, but he quickly recovered. “500 Drakens? No, no, sir, you wound me! Look at the quality, the magic it holds! 800 Drakens is the lowest I can go, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better deal.”
I raised an eyebrow, letting the silence hang between us for a moment. Then I took a slow step closer, keeping my gaze fixed on the fabric.
“700 Drakens,” I said firmly, “and I won’t argue further. I may be interested in buying some more things from your stall.”
He hesitated, clearly weighing his options. I could see the calculations flickering behind his eyes, wondering if I was bluffing, considering if he could push for more. Finally, with a sigh, he nodded.
“700 Drakens it is, then.”
I almost brought out my House card to pay, which would have been troublesome. Mentally, I checked my spatial storage and pulled out the Black Gold card of Infini Industries, Aunt Nora’s company. Well, she is the CEO, but it’s our house subsidy. Aunt Nora is also part of our house...
As soon as the merchant's eyes landed on the Black Gold Card, I could see his eyes widen as he straightened his posture. With a silly smile, he carefully folded the silk, wrapping it in a protective cloth bag before handing it over to me.
"This humble merchant's name is Smitty, good sir! What else would you like to buy? I can assure you, I have it. If not, I will arrange it."
Woah, his attitude flipped 180 degrees, and that's just a Black Gold Card. I wonder how he would have reacted if I brought out my House Card. Hehe, though that would lead me into a lot of trouble, it would be fun to see.
"Then show me some metals, preferably malleable ones."
The merchant, Smitty, practically scrambled to open a new section of his stall, where various metals were displayed—each shimmering faintly under the sunlight. He laid out an assortment of ingots and metals that glimmered with an iridescent sheen.
"This here is the finest selection of metals, good sir. Mitir for a light yet durable armor, Ortheon Steel for unparalleled strength, and this... this black beauty is Sallowstone, incredibly malleable and perfect for enchanting."
I ran my hand over the Sallowstone, feeling its cool surface. It was soft and had a consistent pulse, so it must be something. I gave it a light tap with my knuckle, and it let out a low hum, absorbing the force without a single scratch.
Hmm, absorption, huh… Could use it. And Mitir is an excellent conductor, though very rigid in composition. Making an alloy with Ortheon and Sallowstone should do the trick.
"How much for the Sallowstone? And how much quantity is available?" I asked.
Smitty’s grin stretched from ear to ear. "For you, my esteemed sir, 1,200 Drakens per ingot, which is around 1.25 kg. Sallowstone is most stable in this composition, sir."
"And I have around ten available. If you buy them all, I’ll give you a 15% discount."
I need to make chains and probably sockets out of the metal, but to make the alloy, some testing would be required… Well, I have the money anyway.
I raised an eyebrow, pretending to drive a hard bargain. "Fifteen percent is too low. Make it 25%, and I’ll get Mitir and Ortheon as well—ten ingots each."
He flinched and was ready to counter the offer but stopped when he realized I didn’t haggle over the price or even ask for the cost of the other metals.
"Seems like I’ve been getting dull, sir. We have a deal."
Smitty eagerly placed the Sallowstone ingots and the rest in a small box. Probably spatial storage, low-end, but still expensive in the market.
"Okay, Smitty. Now, the only thing left is some elemental or natural gems."
Smitty pulled out a small velvet box filled with jewels. He opened it carefully, revealing a collection of gleaming stones—emeralds, sapphires, rubies, and a few rarer stones I recognized only by their energy signatures.
"These gems are perfect for enhancing magical properties or simply for decoration. This jaded sapphire here is rare in the market. It's known for stability and peace."
I picked up a sapphire, feeling the cool energy coursing through it. Its energy resonated with the metals I’d just bought, which could be useful for something specific I had in mind, along with the rubies.
"I’ll take all four of those sapphires and four rubies."
"Anything else you’d like to see, sir? My humble stall is always open for esteemed customers like yourself," Smitty said, his tone ingratiating.
"That’s all for today," I replied. "But I’ll remember your name, Smitty. You’ve been quite helpful."
Smitty’s eyes sparkled with hope at my words. "I’ll be here, always ready to serve, sir! Anything you need, just ask!"
"You are a generous patron; you may as well be the prince in disguise. Oh, how much I’ve gained thanks to you, sir!"
"I’ll let you know a secret, sir-our Prince is here at the Bazaar."
Hehe, oh man, if only you knew... haha.
With that, I turned and left the stall. I smirked to myself, this was turning out to be a productive day.
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Various shops and stalls lined the perimeter of the lake, while a smaller island in the middle hosted a park and several food stands. I traveled along the lake, finding various stalls selling interesting things, some outright ripping off unknowing customers. Further, along the circle, a man was loudly promoting his assortment of strange, exotic trinkets, promising that each one held ancient, mystical power. Whether anyone believed him or not didn’t seem to matter the people loved the show.
I bought some small trinkets that I thought looked cute for Ari and the twins. They had been wonderful guides, but for now, these small items would suffice. Still, something was missing. My eyes flicked around, scanning the various stalls and merchants, seeking something more… unique.
The only thing I want now is unique material… There... That’s pulsing brightly.
I weaved my way through the throng, dodging a pair of children who rushed past, their laughter cutting through the noise. Their carefree energy was contagious, and I found myself smiling despite the chaos. It was hard not to get swept up in the atmosphere.
There…
My gaze was drawn to a corner stall at the edge of the market, tucked away from the bustle of the main thoroughfare. From afar, it looked like a beggar sitting and selling what appeared to be junk—a mishmash of old tools, chipped pottery, and weather-beaten artifacts. But the pulse… it was coming from there. As I drew near, I felt it a pulsing, faint yet steady, like the heartbeat of something hidden.
Found it.
As I approached the vendor, my gaze wandered onto him. His appearance struck me immediately; his clothes were ragged and torn, barely holding together, as if they had been worn for years without care. A blindfold covered his eyes, its fabric frayed and worn all indications that he was just a beggar. And yet, something deeper gripped me: a gnawing pressure hammering inside my skull.
“Arg…”
“Dum dumm…”
My heartbeats flared up as EXIRA arose from deep within. My gaze fell back on the old man. He had no aura or visible presence around him; just that fact sent shivers down my body as sweat formed.
EXIRA allowed him to see what existed, to feel what existed, and the person in front had no presence… no, no presence that I could feel at my level.
He is at Uncle Sebastian's level… probably close to Mom’s…
The old man rose from his slumber-like state as he spoke, his voice bearing down on me, overwhelming.
“It seems,” he began, his tone measured and deliberate, “it is fated for us to meet, my prince.”
“How does this pariah…” he gestured with one hand, a faint smile curling on his lips, “be of any help to you, young prince?”
A shiver ran down my spine, EXIRA flaring crazily...
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