Edan woke early the next day. Habit, more than conscious thought, saw him training in the backyard before the sun had broken through the horizon.
Pushing Vitalis through his limbs, Edan twisted and turned, working on his balance and coordination as energy rolled beneath his skin, working on purifying his bones, muscles, and skin. If asked, he would relate it to the burn of a good workout.
Edan flipped into a handstand, his body rocking as he collected himself. Slowly he bent at the elbows, bringing his face close to the ground. His breath remained steady and little puffs of dust were kicked into the air with each exhale. Sweat fell from his brow.
Pushing off explosively he flipped and landed on his feet.
Now his movements became violent. He lashed out with fist and foot, following patterns Sanik had taught him. The Vitalis surged through him now. Each punch sent it violently towards his fist and as he snapped his hand back the energy returned to his center.
Gradually the sky became dyed with pinks and reds, the clouds looking like fluffy cotton candy, before the sun banished the vibrant colors for a brilliant light blue.
Edan stood panting, hands on knees. His thin limbs were soaked with sweat and shone as if freshly oiled. His dark curls were heavy with perspiration.
Edan smiled though. He was close to a breakthrough. Soon he would push into level 29 for body and increase his stat cap.
Heading inside he took a quick shower, beating out Sanik who grumbled. Reema was already up and making breakfast.
“What are your plans for the day?” She asked as she slid a heap of eggs onto his plate.
“Clean the house,” Edan replied, jerking a thumb over his shoulder at the messy living room. He snagged a strip of bacon from a plate and munched on it. It was graded meat and he felt his body pull Vitalis from it. “Then head over to Harvey’s. See if he has a job for me.”
“Wasn’t your father meant to clean the living room?”
“He bribed me,” Edan admitted.
“You mean paid you.” Sanik corrected, walking into the kitchen still drying his hair.
They chatted over the meal, the conversation light. Reema excused herself first, heading down the stairs to open the store. Sanik began cleaning the kitchen, so Edan popped the last of the toast in his mouth and got to work in the living room.
Most of the books littering the floor were readily available but Edan still took his time removing dust from the covers before stacking them. Each had contributed to his growth in some way. He had them, more than the classes at the Academy, to thank for his intelligence and wisdom stats.
It took longer than he expected to get everything squared away. The result was a floor with enough space to walk through, and seats with enough space to sit. Every other available surface remained covered, but at least the stacks were straight and the loose parchments were held down by weights.
Hot and sweaty, Edan wanted to take another shower but changed his mind. He would just get sweaty again walking to Harvey’s.
Sanik was working on something in the workshop so Edan waved goodbye, getting a distracted nod back. As he pushed open the door to the store though Edan stopped short.
Lorien was standing there. She wore a white and yellow sundress that came up to her knees and had thin straps showing off a lot of bare shoulders. Surprisingly muscular shoulders, though Edan guessed waving around a trident could do that. Her brown curls hung loose, bouncing as she twisted and turned.
Reema moved around the girl, her measuring tape out.
“Heya Edan!” Lorien called, noticing him at the door.
Edan sighed and raised his hand in greeting, letting the door close behind him.
“Hey Lorien, how's it going?”
“I’m getting a new dress!”
The way she said it you’d think she was receiving an award.
Edan gave her a weak thumbs up. Her bubbly attitude was all too much for him.
“Mum, I’m heading out. Do you need anything while I’m gone?”
“Hmm?” Reema looked up, the tape measure still circling Lorien’s waist. “No.”
“Alright. Oh, Lorien, I didn’t get a chance to tell you yesterday, but, thanks. You really saved my ass with the last challenge.”
That got Reema’s attention. She looked between the two, her eyes narrowed in suspicion.
“What's this now?”
Edan winced. He’d recounted the ranking matches to her and Sanik last night over dinner but had left out key details, like how close he was to getting his ass beat near the end.
“Oh you should have seen it Mrs. Santry,” Lorien gushed. “Edan was calling out challengers left and right. We were worried we’d never get a chance to issue our own. Near the…Edan you can go. I’ll tell your mum the story.”
Edan scowled. He wasn’t an idiot. He knew Lorien was going to use it as an excuse to get a discount on her dress. He also knew it was his fault for bringing it up in the first place.
Saying his hurried goodbyes Edan ducked out of the store as Lorien continued her exaggerated retelling.
The streets of Stratta were busy during the day and Edan slipped into the crowd with familiar ease. A man brushed past Edan, a hairy creature that looked like a small monkey, sat on the man's shoulder and chittered angrily at Edan, brandishing a hairy fist in threat.
Edan let himself be carried along, like a lazy fish in a fast-moving stream. Occasionally he would catch sight of a weapon on someone's hip, or strapped to their back, and take a moment to appreciate it.
There was someone standing on a box at the corner of two streets, he waved a stack of papers around trying to draw the attention of the surrounding crowds. Most ignored him. The few that looked, quickly averted their eyes. The man wore tattered clothes, his skin pale and stretched across his gaunt frame.
A brand had been burnt into the left of his face, the puckered scar pulling his lip upwards and making the corner of his eye stretch. Edan didn’t know what the glyphs said. But he knew what they meant.
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BETRAYER
The man had once belonged to a sect. Likely one of the smaller sects such as the World Union, or even a sect so small they hadn’t grown past their origin town. Edan figured it might be more the latter than the former, as most larger Sects would just kill you outright if you betrayed them. Even the World Union was known to be strict.
Edan wondered what the man had done to be cast out.
“...lies that have spread like a disease!” The man's words reached Edan as he walked past. Weak though he looked, his voice carried well. “I know what it’s like to believe them! I know what it's like to doubt them! But you must listen to me…”
The man broke into a coughing fit, his body shaking so much he nearly fell from his box. Edan felt a stab of pity. They would have destroyed his Core when they cast him out, ruining his cultivation and any chance he ever had of being a cultivator again.
Edan hurried on.
Harvey was serving a customer as Edan slipped into the store. The large man stood by the counter, dust covering his traveling cloak. A sack rested by his feet, the bottom dark with moisture.
Harvey took note of Edan’s presence before turning back to the man.
“Alas, good sir, I cannot take your goods. I would suggest a butcher, or perhaps an alchemist. The guilds control the alchemists so you would need to cross the river, but I know a butcher nearby yo-”
“I ain't looking to sell to a butcher.” The man snarled, cutting off Harvey. “I’m looking to sell to you. You’re a general store, ain't you?”
“Technically, we’re an emporium.” A female voice answered.
Cassie appeared between the shelves, her blue eyes glaring at the man. Her blonde hair was styled in a short pixie cut that framed her sharp jaw and long neck. Cassie had her father's height and had no issues looking the aggressive man in the eye.
Edan tried to control his heartbeat as he saw her. She, along with Harvey, had helped babysit him, and even though she was a few years older than him, Edan couldn’t help the crush he had on her.
“The fuck is that?” The man sounded genuinely confused now.
“Emporium. Think of it like…a very large store. Harvey’s is looking to upgrade.”
The man blinked, looking between Harvey and his daughter. There was a noticeable puddle on the ground now, around the sack at his feet. Edan smelt the coppery scent of blood and crept closer, wishing he had a dagger on him.
“Large store? That's a store!” The man threw his hands up in exasperation. “A store buys things. I’m trying to sell my loot. Buy my loot!”
“Technically, a store sells things. A customer buys them.” Cassie continued in the exact same tone. Harvey merely watched. “By your own argument, in this instance, you would be the store and we would be the customers.”
A vein throbbed along the man's temple and he sputtered in confusion. Even Edan paused, trying to work through the logic at play.
“What my daughter is trying to say,” Harvey cut in softly. “Is that we are under no obligation to purchase items you sell. We are known to purchase goods on occasion for resale, but that does not mean we purchase anything from anyone.”
The man opened his mouth to retort by Harvey continued to speak in the same soft tone.
“We also do not accept degradable biological matter, such as you are looking to sell. We do not have the equipment to keep, treat, or maintain the quality of such goods.” Harvey smiled. “We would recommend the butcher down the street. Pork You. The owner is honest and will give you a fair price.”
The man opened his mouth again but Harvey shook his head slowly and the man found himself unable to speak.
“No,” Harvey said, still smiling. “There will be no further discussion. You are making a mess in my store so I must ask that you leave.”
And just like that, the man vanished. There was no pop, or scream, or yell, or any noise to indicate something had happened. One second the man was there, the next he and his sack had vanished.
Harvey looked down at the blood-stained floor and frowned. The liquid seeped into the wood like a sponge before vanishing completely.
“Hmmm,” Harvey muttered “Terror Boar and fresh from the taste of it. Shame he only had the meat and hide to sell, the core could have been worth a few tokens.”
Cassie waved her hand dismissively.
“Didn’t seem worth the hassle.” She turned to Edan and her sharp features softened as she smiled. “Lo, Edan, it's been a while. How’ve you been?”
Edan brushed the hair out of his eye self-consciously before joining the father and daughter at the counter.
“I’m good. Bit tired from yesterday,” Edan lied, trying to find a natural way of bringing up his achievement from the previous day. “It was Ranking Day. I managed to place in the top nine.”
“Congratulations, Master Mawe, moving up in the world I see.” Harvey congratulated him, the warmth in the older man's eyes and words were honest.
“Twas nothing,” Edan waved away the compliment, putting on airs himself. “Simply correcting a most outrageous oversight from the previous ranking tournament.”
Cassie rolled her eyes at their byplay.
“Didn’t you trip and break your own nose back then?” she asked innocently.
Edan cringed. “Lorien?”
“Yup, she often talks about you, you know.”
“Speaking of, she’s with mum at the moment getting a dress made. She came by the other day to see the new fabrics. Said you told her about them?”
“That little sneak! She said we could go together!”
Edan laughed at her expression. Cassie tried looking menacing but it didn’t suit her fine features.
“If you hurry over you might catch her. Mum likes taking her time and Lorien didn’t seem in a big rush.” Edan had a horrible thought. Imagine if Reema invited the bubbly girl upstairs for tea. Maybe he should stay away for a bit longer.
“Dad, I’m off! Edan, thanks!” Cassie was already moving before Edan had finished his sentence. He turned to watch her go with appreciation.
“Emporium?” He asked Harvey as the door closed behind Cassie.
“Cassie wants to extend the shop. Or open a new one. She is having trouble deciding.” Harvey let out a sigh and settled back on his chair. “She doesn’t seem interested in a class, and her profession remains undecided. I fear she is simply looking for an easy answer to living her life and building on what we have seems right.”
“I’m sure she’ll be fine.”
“Perhaps. She would have had difficulty dealing with the customer from earlier if I had not been here. Within these walls, there is safety for her and me. My domain affords us that. If she were to open up another store somewhere else, with no strength of her own…” Harvey trailed off, his eyes distant.
Edan had seen him get like that before. Often when he thought of his late wife. Edan hadn’t asked what had happened to her, nor had Harvey told him, but Edan knew it was the reason Harvey worried so much about his daughter.
Harvey was a good father.
Edan wondered about his own for a second. Leaving him with strangers to go running off after a woman who left him in turn. Edan brushed the thoughts away. He was lucky to have Reema and Sanik in his life.
“Don’t worry Harvey, she has a good head on her shoulders.”
Harvey laughed lightly. “And you aren’t just talking about her intelligence. I’ve seen the way you look at her.”
Edan’s eyes went round before he looked away, embarrassed.
Harvey’s laughter though was warm and he waved away the boy's concern.
“Don’t fret. You’re young, Master Mawe, these things are only natural.”
“I…Uhh, I mean…I came to see if there were any jobs for me. I’ve got the afternoon off and most of the weekend. I just need to stop by school tomorrow after lunch. Otherwise, I’m free.”
Harvey accepted the change in conversation. His longer fingers drummed against the counter as he thought.
“I may have a need for you tomorrow afternoon. There’s a parcel I’ll need delivered to the head of the Traders Guild. It’s important so I need someone I can trust, and being ungraded, most people wouldn’t look twice at you, let alone assume you are carrying something so important.”
It wasn’t meant as an insult and Edan didn’t take it as one. Harvey often used him for such jobs. There was a pressure given off once you became graded. A sense of strength that other cultivators picked up on. It allowed them to feel who was stronger. Someone ungraded was so below their level if they weren’t looking at them, they likely wouldn't even notice that person was there.
It was also why Edan often acted as a tail for Harvey when needed.
“Sounds good. I’ll swing by on my way home from school to grab more information.” Edan waved as he too backed out of the store.
On the way back home, Edan noticed that the outcast man had moved on from his corner, though his box remained in place. Alone.