“That one, I want that one,” a man said as he pointed at a picture. The man wore a black bathrobe that covered his feet. He was bald with black eyes that had no irises or whites. He stood over a glass counter filled with photos of people doing mundane tasks. The picture he pointed at was of a monk meditating on a rock in a desert.

The man standing on the other side of the counter scratched his head. He wore a sleeveless shirt with tattoos spiraling down both his arms. His purple hair was shoulder length and tied with a red bandana.

“You sure, Noct?” the man asked. “He doesn’t really seem to be your… type. Might be too expensive for someone like you.” He took a drag from his cigarette and blew smoke out of the nearby window. The store was a located in a narrow alleyway underneath a scaffold that blocked out the sun.

“I’m sure,” Noct said and nodded. “How much?”

The shopkeeper leaned forward and stroked the stubble on his chin. He spread out the fingers on his right hand.

“This much,” he said.

“Five hundred?” Noct asked as he raised an eyebrow.

“Thousand. Five hundred thousand,” the shopkeeper said and took the cigarette out of his mouth.

“You’re joking.”

“Nope,” the shopkeeper shook his head. “He’s Lucy’s favorite. Told you he’d be too expensive.”

Noct slapped a black card onto the counter. “I’ll take him,” he said as he narrowed his eyes at the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper broke out into a smile. “You’re a funny guy, Noct,” he said. “Anyone ever tell you that?”

“Too many people,” Noct said. “I intend on changing that.” He slid the card towards the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper took the card and swiped it against a crystal. He let out a high pitched whistle.

“Damn, Noct. You’re really low on points,” the shopkeeper said and slid the card back over the counter. “I hope you don’t regret this.”

Noct snorted. “Whether I regret it or not is none of your concern. A deal’s a deal; hand him over.”

The shopkeeper ground the cigarette into an ash tray and opened a drawer behind him. He took out a serrated knife and swung it at the air beside him. The knife screeched as if it was cutting through metal. The air split apart, revealing a bright hole. Hot air and sunlight streamed out along with a few grains of sand. The shopkeeper extended his hand through the hole. A scream pierced the shop and he pulled his arm out. The hole closed and his hand glowed with a silver light.

“One high quality soul,” the shopkeeper said and tossed a glowing silver orb at Noct. “The deal’s done. Get out.”

Noct slid the orb into his robe and nodded as he left the shop. The door closed and the man collapsed onto a chair. He took in a deep breath and wiped the sweat off his brow. He stood up, closed the window, and changed the sign on his door from open to closed.

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“Where’d he go!?” a woman screeched. She wore a light blue dress with silken white gloves. Her hair was golden and her irises were silver. She sat on the edge of her bed staring into a crystal ball. Her hands trembled as she rotated the ball, shifting the image inside. She grit her teeth and threw the ball against the concrete floor. It bounced, leaving a spider web of cracks in the ground.

A knock was heard from her door. “Is everything alright, Ms. Lucia?” a female voice called out.

“Go away!” Lucia screamed. Footsteps resounded through the room and faded into the distance. Lucia closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. She exhaled and opened her eyes. She got off the bed and picked up the crystal ball.

Maybe he’s not following his routine today, Lucia thought as her hands glowed and an image of a desert appeared in the ball. She tapped the surface and the ball revealed a red temple. She rotated the ball, peeking into all the rooms and corners. She took in another deep breath and let it out. She bit her lip and tapped the surface again, revealing a mountain. A waterfall flowed next to a small wooden hut. She maneuvered the image to look inside and saw a layer of dust covering the furniture. She tapped the ball again and an image of an elderly couple appeared. They sat cross legged on the floor with tea cups in their hands. She looked through the house, and let out a sigh. She closed her eyes and pinched her nose bridge. She tapped the ball again. The image showed a rock in a desert.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Lucia frowned and double tapped the ball. It zoomed in on the rock. Traces of white powder and black residue filled the cracks of the rock. A single black line ran down the side of the rock and stained the sand beneath red.

Lucia threw the ball and screamed. The ball crashed against a wooden dresser, causing it to splinter. Her face was red and she panted. She looked at the spilled clothes on the ground and her gaze stopped on a piece of red cloth. Her panting stopped and she clenched her fist. An image of the purple haired shopkeeper appeared in her mind and she ground her teeth together.

###################################################################

The shopkeeper was leaning back in his chair with one arm hanging out the window, holding a cigarette between his middle and index fingers. He let out a sigh and brought the cigarette to his mouth. Two days passed since Noct bought the high quality soul and no new customers arrived. He stared at the ceiling and started to count the tiles. A white image flickered in his peripheries and he scrambled to sit up straight. The door exploded and wooden splinters flew through the shop.

“Yo, Lucy,” the shopkeeper said as he removed his cigarette. “Just because doors are easy to repair, doesn’t mean you should destroy them every time you visit.”

“Shut up!” Lucia said and slammed her fist against the glass counter. Cracks appeared, but the counter held. She glared at him. “Who’d you sell him to, Evan?”

Evan raised his right eyebrow. “I’m not sure what you’re talking about,” he said and smiled as he brought the cigarette to his mouth.

“Don’t give me that,” Lucia said. The counter shattered and glass rained on the photos.

“Customer confidentiality,” Evan said. He clapped his hands together and the glass counter reformed. Splinters flew out of the wall and merged together to recreate the door.

“Five thousand,” Lucia said as she pulled a white card out of her dress and flicked it at Evan.

Evan caught it with two fingers and swiped it across a crystal in one motion.

“It was Noct,” he said and placed the card on the counter.

“Noct? Why would he…? Why did you…?” Lucia asked and crinkled her eyebrows.

Evan grinned as Lucia snatched her card back. “Funny story that,” he said. “He wasn’t going to buy it after I told him the price, but… when I mentioned your name…” He smiled at her and took a drag from his cigarette.

“Ugh!” Lucia grunted and stomped her foot against the floor. “What’s his problem? Buying pieces just to deny me them?”

Evan chuckled. “He seemed pretty intent on using it.” He leaned back against his chair and propped his feet up on the counter.

“How?” Lucia asked as she readjusted her high heels. “Tell me how the god of darkness is going to use a pacifist monk soul. Why did you even sell it to him?” She glared at him.

Evan shrugged and closed his eyes. “You got what you came for,” he said. “Now get out, unless you’re buying. You’ll scare away potential customers. Those kinds of people don’t like seeing the goddess of light.”

Lucia snorted and kicked the door. It exploded. She walked outside and rounded the corner.

Evan sighed and clapped his hands together. The door reformed and he opened his eyes. [i]This should be fun,/[i] he thought as he ground his cigarette into his ash tray.