With the ship docked and their bags collected, the kids followed Zosimos back to the entrance. Following his gaze, they saw the group of Cardslingers in the distance, with people making way and respectfully avoiding them. After a few minutes, they lost sight of them as merged with the multitude.
Nyk's hand searched Syn's. "We need to stick together," he whispered.
Syn nodded in agreement, her eyes still wary. "We can't let people like him intimidate us. We have a mission to fulfill, and nothing is going to stop us."
"Hmph," grumbled Zosimos, back to being his grumpy self. "Be careful. I hope you've learned your lesson."
"We have," Syn replied. "Don't worry; we know where we're going. We'll stop at a shop to sell most of our stuff before heading to the festival, and there we'll auction the remains. We'll have the entire day to enjoy the festivities."
"Stick to the main street and avoid the alleys. Danger lurks in the shadows." He warned looking at the pair, his eyes briefly softening before turning steely again. "I plan to board the second-to-last ship back to the village. It will depart when the bells ring ten times. If you're around, you can join me."
"Sure," Nyk said with a smile.
"We'll be there," Syn added before hugging Zosimos tightly. "Thank you," she whispered.
"Hmph, don't mention it," he grumbled as he awkwardly patted her back. "Now go on, and be safe." With that, he descended to the decks, leaving them to themselves.
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A feeling of excitement flooded their bodies when the hustle and bustle of the crowds from outside woke them up, with tall buildings and busy streets of the city inviting them to explore. Finally alone and ready to disembark from the vessel, the kids looked at each other excitedly. They held hands, and they stepped forward into the city, descending the platform and strolling down the busy city docks.
"T-there's gotta be hundreds of people!" exclaimed Nyk, immediately awestruck by the bustling activity of the port, with other passengers, sailors, and merchants moving about, creating a lively atmosphere.
"I know, it's amazing!" Syn agreed, her face lighting up. "And this is nothing! Wait until you see the city and the festival," she added, her grin growing even wider.
As they joined the crowd and made their way to the city, an uneasy feeling started to creep on Nyk. Slowly, despite his initial excitement, Nyk couldn't shake the feeling of being out of place, the towering buildings and crowded streets making him feel small and vulnerable. He had never seen so many people in his entire life. Except for Syn, not a single familiar face was around, with everyone dressing differently from the village. Constant sounds making him jump at every turn. The city was completely different from the quiet village he had left behind.
"This is... It's so different from the village," Nyk said, his voice filled with uncertainty.
"Relax, Nyk. We're here to have a good time. And you're not alone. I'm here with you," she said comfortingly squeezing his hand and racing toward the noise. Syn, on the other hand, seemed to be in her element. Leading the way through the crowd, pointing out interesting sights, sounds, and smells.
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Her constant teasing and joking distracted him and little by little, and he began digesting the changes, getting accustomed to the streets and people, his nerves slowly settling as he was dragged from place to place and eventually beginning to enjoy the sights, with Syn's laughter contagiously reaching him.
As Nyk and Syn made their way through the bustling streets of the city, Syn pointed at a small shop with a colorful sign reading "CARD HAVEN"
"You see that shop over there? That's where we're headed. Dad once mentioned he was good friends with t..." Suddenly, Nyk pulled Syn's arm, his eyes open wide.
"Look over there!" he whispered, pointing towards an alleyway next to the shop, where a shade of movement revealed a group of shady-looking individuals lurking within, loud noises coming from inside.
Syn's heart raced, and her eyes quickly assessed the situation. They skirted around the alley and kept a watchful eye on the group before crossing back and heading for the shop.
As they reached the entrance, they found a sign hanging on the door that read "Closed. Gathering Wares. Back soon."
"Oh come onnnnn! Closed?" said Syn, her eyes filled with determination. Disappointed but undeterred, Syn quickly dragged Nyk toward their next destination.
A few minutes later they arrived at a side street where a small green-painted shop stood out. "SORCERY SALVAGE. Your wares are welcome," was written on a wooden panel hanging from the top of the shop.
"Dad brought me here last time. They buy and sell all sorts of materials," said Syn as she headed to the shop, followed by Nyk with a determined expression, a cart, and their five large bags.
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The sun had barely moved up in the sky when they both exited the shop. Nyk pulled a much lighter cart, and each carrying a single bag with the third one tied to the cart's top handle.
"How did you know he'd budge?" asked Nyk, trailing behind Syn.
"I didn't, but... do you remember when you opened the herbs bag? He managed to keep a serious face... but his hands clasped behind him. I've always had the feeling that the villagers were not giving us simple scraps, so I thought to test it out."
"It was amazing! I can't believe he gave you thrice what he was offering before!" exclaimed Nyk, with his hands on his head.
It was amazing indeed, thought Syn to herself, safely stowing the money away. The first green card was a step closer now. Depending on the success of the coming auction, they may save a fourth of what the card was worth.
They made their way toward the festival, and the noise and crowds grew even thicker. The air was filled with the sounds of music and laughter, and they crossed streets lined with vendors selling trinkets and food. Merchants were hawking their wares, musicians were filling the air with cheerful melodies, jugglers were performing death-defying stunts, and, inevitably, a few beggars were scrounging for spare change.
All in all, people of all shapes and sizes bustled about, and Nyk felt his excitement build up. Now more accustomed to the crowds and noises, he was more aware than ever that he had never seen so many people, but instead of fear, it began to give him the sense that the world was much bigger than what he had initially thought. This was a day he would never forget.
"This will do," said Syn, stopping at an empty spot between a fruit vendor and an antique seller. "Let's set up shop here," she said opening the cart and getting busy setting up their stall at the festival and smiling widely in anticipation.
"But we cannot think small. Can you think of something that can make our booth stand out more?" Syn asked, looking around her as potential customers walked by their cart.
"I think we need something big, something that people won't forget," Nyk replied, a glint in his eye. He pulled out a giant fork and knife and stabbed both against the cart. Then he pulled a small cloth from his bag, theatrically hanging it open to connect both their ends with the fork and the knife and tied it together like a flag. "I'm sure this is what we need."