Switching everything to Wisdom, Dave made his way across the bustling market, wincing slightly as his cuts throbbed.
As he navigated the throngs of people, he found himself lingering in the more crowded areas, listening to the murmur of conversation and the clatter of commerce that surrounded him.
Rather than seeking out the Wyrmak Oil and Arboria fruit that Remicra had requested, Dave turned his attention to a more ambitious endeavor. He sought to identify a pattern, a particular item that he could acquire for a pittance and subsequently sell for a considerable profit. This, he reasoned, would not only allow him to fulfill his obligation to the dragon smith, but also provide a means to amass the funds necessary to chart his own course in this alien world.
As he meandered through the labyrinthine marketplace, Dave scrutinized each stall and vendor with a discerning eye. He took note of the ebb and flow of customers, the fluctuations in their expressions, and the subtle cues that betrayed their true opinions of the wares on offer. To the casual observer, he might have appeared to be a mere window-shopper, but in truth, he was engaging in a meticulous process of elimination, gradually narrowing his focus until he could pinpoint the ideal commodity.
Via focused application of his borrowed powers of Sherlock, Dave gleaned several noteworthy insights:
* Members of the Shandrian City Watch bore tokens that were similar to his Adventurer ID, distinguishable only upon closer scrutiny. Shandrian citizens had their own token IDs shaped like circles.
* Mana crystals, which functioned as both energy sources and amplifiers, were highly sought-after commodities that many shops dealt in, commanding a premium price. These crystals resided within tools and instruments.
* The city was characterized by a stark divide between the opulent enclaves of the highborn classes, the prosperous bourgeoisie, the esteemed Archmagi, and the squalid, destitute neighborhoods.
Equipped with these deductions, the ex-programmer ventured into narrow alleyway defined by peeling paint, dubious odors, and shrouded figures clad in tattered cloaks. His attire, pilfered from a deceased adventurer, combined with the scratches and bandages adorning his body, allowed him to seamlessly blend in with the city's downtrodden inhabitants.
Going through hundreds of ramshackle tables along the side-street markets filled with questionable merchandise he examined each item for sale with Wisdom-amplified sight. After about three hours of such, he ended up at a particularly filthy-looking table in a dim back alley.
The old woman tending the lopsided stall possessed more wrinkles than a deflated balloon, long drooping fox-ears, and a scowl potent enough to curdle even the most hardened milk.
Dave ambled along the front of the stall, scrutinizing each item on display. As his gaze fell upon a slightly bent, copper flute, the metaphysical strings of the violin in his soul began to resonate with a heightened intensity. As he bent down to examine the flute, he spotted a rainbow-tinted crystal within it coated with several layers of filth. The crystal was remarkably similar to the mana crystals that the Kitlix salesgirl had told him about.
"Good afternoon, ma'am," Dave slotted everything into Charisma and greeted the old fox with a disarming grin. "I couldn't help but notice your impressive collection of... er, unique items. Might I ask about the origins of some?"
The woman's scowl deepened, her lips puckering into a bitter grimace. "No funny business, boy," she sneered, her eyes momentarily darting to his felislice-bloodied bone knife. "I don't take kindly to those who ask too many questions."
Sherlock's violin chimed in his ear, its melody permeating his thoughts like a mischievous sprite.
The violin seemed to warn with foreboding music about the old woman's ties to the criminal underworld of Shandria.
"I know," Dave replied mentally. "Pretty sure that's dry blood inside the flute."
“How much is this flute?” Dave asked.
“Four silver,” the woman replied.
"Ah, I see what you're getting at," he said, adopting a playful smirk with the ease of the Charisma wave he was riding. "However, I'm afraid I must insist on negotiating a more reasonable price for this instrument."
The woman narrowed her eyes, her wrinkled hands clenching into gnarled fists. "What makes you so sure it ain't worth four silver, boy?"
Dave leaned forward. "Because, my dear woman," he said, his voice laced with a trace of menace, "many of these items belong to a friend of mine who was robbed in a recent spate of thefts. And let's just say that he's not one to take such matters lying down."
Dave slid all of his points into Strength and struck his bone knife into the stall, making the entire structure rattle. The bone knife sunk deep into the wood table, making the foxwoman sputter.
"This flute in particular," he gestured, "belonged to my associate's daughter, and I would hate to break her little kitsune heart. I’ll give you seven coppers for it and then we can part ways without something misfortunate occurring. It would be a shame to...”
The woman's face paled as she stared at the knife and his scowl. "Alright, you can have the damn flute for seven coppers. Who are you working for, boy? I haven't seen your face ‘round these parts..."
Dave dropped his bag of seven coppers on the table and grabbed the flute, ignoring her question. He swiftly pulled his knife out of the stall and rapidly departed with the purchased instrument.
Sherlock's melody adopted a tense note. Glancing behind himself, Dave noticed that he was being trailed by a scruffy-looking trio in dark cloaks, their faces featuring the traits of wolf, bear and a porcupine.
With the flute clenched in his hand, heart pounding in his chest, Dave slid all of his points to Agility and sprinted down the dusty street.
The assailants, summoned by the old fox, were steadily closing in, matching his amplified speed. He weaved between carts laden with exotic fruits as the sound of boots thundering against cobblestones grew louder behind him.
Sherlock's violin chimed in his ear, a calm and collected counterpoint, telling him exactly which alleys to take.
Dave skidded around the edge of the market and plunged into the cramped maze of side streets. The scent of roasting meat mingled with the harsh stench of refuse, and he could feel his chest tightening with the effort of his flight.
"Right! Up the stairs and jump across the roof!" The tense music moved him.
Up he went, clambering up rickety fire escapes and leaping over alleyway walls, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He could hear the baying of his pursuers growing louder as they swore and panted.
Dave knew that he could not afford to be caught, so he ran faster than he ever thought possible. Aided by his companion's musical advice, he leapt across rooftops.
Finally, after what felt like an hour of running and dodging, he stumbled to a halt on a deserted street corner, his chest heaving with exertion. The tense music had stopped, violin falling silent.
He clutched the flute to his chest, his eyes darting back and forth in search of danger.
"That was...huff...quite a workout," he exhaled.
Dave carefully unscrewed the slightly bent flute, pulled out the crystal and polished the grime and dry blood from it with his robe.
With the mana crystal clutched securely in his hand, Dave walked across the city in search of the most opulent shop he could find.
As he crossed the shop's threshold, the atmosphere underwent a remarkable transformation. The smell of rotting fruit and street dust gave way to the delicate fragrance of freshly-cut blossoms and lavender. Crystal chandeliers cast a gentle, golden radiance upon the room, while the gleaming items adorning row upon row of shelves instilled in Dave a dizzying sense of lavish extravagance.
"'Ello there!" A portly gentleman greeted him. "What might I do for you today... sir?"
The man's expression rapidly soured as he took stock of Dave's disheveled appearance and the lingering scent that clung to him. Faced with the pristine surroundings and the disdainful scrutiny of the storekeeper, Dave couldn't help but feel woefully out of place; yet, propelled by the gnawing hunger that beset him, he pressed on.
Judging from the man's demeanor, he was on the verge of summoning security, so Dave responded quickly.
"Pay no heed to my attire, sir," he explained, switching everything into Charisma and channeling Sherlock's authoritative speech pattern. "I am presently engaged in a mission of some urgency and have had no opportunity to change out of this thespian garb or wash away the remnants of my stage makeup. Alas, crime doesn't sleep."
The portly gentleman blinked, momentarily taken aback by Dave's charming voice.
"I am a member of the Shandria City Watch," Dave revealed, sliding everything into Dexterity and rapidly brandishing his gate token with an air of authority, spinning it through the air too fast for the proprietor's eyes to track.
Before the man could focus on the token, Dave deftly concealed it once more in his robe, switching points back to Charisma.
"Ah," the man exclaimed. "You're an undercover... Scrutimancer?"
"Indeed," Dave played along. "Now, if it's not too much trouble, I would like to discuss a particular item that has come into my possession," he continued, striving to maintain an air of officialdom.
"How may I aid the City Watch?" The man arched an eyebrow.
"This mana-amplifying crystal," Dave said, placing the gem with a flourish upon the glass display case that separated them. "Is evidence in a case involving a Ward-breach perpetrated against a rather affluent individual in town. I am currently conducting an investigation in connection with it."
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
The gentleman's nodded as the implications of Dave's words sank in. "Well, we, uh... we deal in a vast array of high-end merchandise here, and it's difficult to keep track of every item. We don't typically handle goods of this nature."
"No matter," Dave dismissed, shaking his head. "Could you possibly direct me to a noble establishment that deals in crystals such as this one?"
The proprietor hesitated for a moment before replying, "The Glasnovia shop on 187 Goldor Street specializes in crafting artifacts from crystals like these."
"Thank you," Dave acknowledged. "Additionally, if you could provide an estimate of this item's exact type and value, it would greatly assist in the resolution of this case."
The man wavered, his eyes flitting between Dave and the crystal. He pulled on a steampunk-looking magnifying glass and examined the crystal through it.
"It's a bit dirty and the runework is hard to see, do you mind if I clean it?" the proprietor asked.
"Go ahead," Dave nodded.
The man dipped the crystal in some cleaning fluid that made the previously muddy crystal shine like a diamond and examined it once more with greater patience, summoning a cyan Kitlix to his aid.
"I would venture to say that this Krynergon mana-amplifier with 12 Enjiras runes is worth somewhere between twenty two, maybe twenty three silver. The clerks at Glasnovia should be able to furnish a more accurate appraisal."
Dave nodded, striving to project an air of self-assured poise. "I am grateful for your assistance in this matter. Rest assured that I shall return in my official uniform should I have further inquiries."
With that, Dave departed from the shop, feeling as though he had just executed the most audacious heist of the century.
Next, he made his way to the Glasnovia shop. Before heading in, he took his Adventurer token off his bracelet, hiding it completely.
Upon entering the establishment, Dave was greeted by the sight of gleaming shelves adorned with an array of exquisite crystal artifacts, each more resplendent than the last.
"Welcome to Glasnovia," a melodious voice called out, drawing his attention to a blonde, slightly feathered, female, blue-eyed clerk with slightly elongated ears and dark nose who approached him with a warm smile, white robes fluttering in an unseen wind. "I'm a crystallographer mage, Megaliss Hor. How may I assist you today?"
Dave cleared his throat, steadying his nerves as he prepared to spin his new tale. "Greetings. Don't mind my outfit. I am an Adventurer," he began, showing her his token with a slow, casual flourish. "After my escape from a rather nasty monster today, I happened upon this crystal in a nearby river." He presented the crystal for her inspection.
The clerk regarded the gem.
"An interesting find," she said, her fingers deftly caressing the crystal's delicate facets. "I can give you twenty coppers for it."
"Twenty coppers? Who are you trying to fool?" Dave retorted, his voice dripping with theatrical incredulity. "Please, my uncle's a highborn crystallography mage! This is a genuine Krynergon mana-amplifier adorned with twelve Enjiras runes. It's worth as much as twenty four silver to a discerning buyer such as yourself. My uncle could give me twenty five silvers for it with ease, but as you can see," he gestured to his bruised and battered form, "I'm far too worse for wear to journey to his distant residence. I need to shed these damned blood-stained garbs, torn up by a vile beast in the wild-lands, as soon as possible. Thus, I am willing to part with this amplifier for a more reasonable sum."
The clerk hesitated, clearly weighing the merits of Dave's made up connections to crystallography and the proposed transaction. After a moment's deliberation, she countered, "I can offer you fifteen silver."
Dave, feigned reluctance as he mulled over her proposal. "I appreciate your offer, but I was hoping for something closer to twenty? My uncle would give me quite the slapping if I didn't try to haggle about a quality mana crystal, you see."
The clerk pursed her lips as she considered his suggestion. Finally, with an air of resignation, she assented. "Nineteen."
“Nineteen silver it is," Dave nodded.
He couldn't help but feel a sense of exceptional triumph as he exchanged the crystal for the silver coins.
Dave left the Glasnovia shop beaming, never mind if his face was covered in dried blood. He had pulled it off – he had haggled like a pro and managed to get a fair price for the mana crystal. He couldn't help but wonder what else he could accomplish with his newfound haggling powers. Maybe he could haggle for a better bed in the night-time dragon's lair or even convince the Shadow Leviathan to ditch the whole idea of terrorizing people at night with spooky shadow kittens?
But, of course, he knew such thoughts were fleeting. The reality of his situation was far less cheery – he was trapped in a world full of God-Emperors, monsters and magic, his only hope of survival relying on his still-developing Phantomancy skill, wit and ability to outrun his pursuers.
With a sense of purpose, Dave bought a set of simple, clean, grey robes and new, fitting boots at the market and ventured into a public bathhouse for a wash.
The antlered girl manning the entrance desk sold Dave a week-long package encompassing bath and medical restoration services for seven silver. The prices were clearly displayed on an enormous sign for all to see, precluding any attempts at haggling.
It felt like years since he had last experienced the simple pleasure of a soap bar on his skin.
He secured his bone knife and clothes in a locker that opened and closed with his ID token, and attached his coins, bath token and Adventurer's gate ID to his black bracelet. The coins and tokens were cleverly designed with large holes for this very purpose and the bracelet could easily open and close.
As Dave stepped into the warm embrace of the public bath, any lingering thoughts of insecurity were swept away by the sheer wonder of the scene that unfolded before him.
Mermaids floated gracefully in the water, their tails flickering lazily beneath the surface.
In the shallower section of the pool, horsemen waded through the water, their equine legs splashing playfully as they conversed with a group of green-skinned girls. The entire interior was an enchanting melange of magic-altered humanity coalescing and coexisting in relative harmony. Boundaries of species and gender held no sway here, and Dave found himself both fascinated and bewildered by the myriad anatomies displayed in all their naked glory. Kitlix inhabited the shoulders of many, watching over their masters.
"Do you live here?" Dave approached one of the mermaids.
"Nah, I live in town," she replied with an impish grin. "Our job is to cleanse the waters and heal patrons with our innate magics."
Dave noticed that a green-tinted Kitlix was wrapped around the mermaid's neck, behaving almost like a collar.
“How did you make your Kitlix do that?” He asked.
“With sufficient clarity of mind and understanding of fluid dynamics, one can shape a Kitlix into a more handy configuration,” the Mermaid replied. “It also helps if your Kitlix started out as a collar, like mine did.”
“Why is the bath-healing service cheaper than Healer’s Hall?” Dave asked.
"It's a matter of scale and specialization. Here, we treat many people at once, and our healing is more... general, you might say. We can ease aches, mend minor wounds, that sort of thing. But for deeper afflictions, you'd still need the focused attention of a trained healer."
She gestured around the bath with a webbed hand. "Plus, the water itself is imbued with healing properties. We simply enhance and direct that energy. It's efficient, but not as precise as what you'd get at the Hall. Mainly, the focus of our healing is on retouching the skin and Auric realignment.”
“What’s Auric realignment?” Dave asked.
“Dungeons are very nasty places that can screw with an Adventurer’s… body in awful ways,” the mermaid explained. “For example, if you spend too long in a wood dungeon, it’ll make your skin very dry and more bark-like. I specialize in realignment beautification, which brings out your best features. The waters here help to... solidify your essence, if you will. They make you more of what you are."
“Oh?” Dave arched an eyebrow.
"In your case," the mermaid continued, "I'd say we could start by enhancing that rugged pure human charm you've got going on. Maybe bring out the warmth in your skin tone, add a bit of definition to those cheekbones. Make those eyes more blue and that hair more curly and ginger. Oh, where are my manners? I'm Aesthetician Corallis. Pleasure to meet you...?"
“Dave,” Dave said.
"Right, Sir Dave. So, what I do is help align your outward appearance with your inner resonance of perfect self. General Auric healing is not about changing who you are, but rather bringing out the best version of yourself. For dungeon divers, this is incredibly important. Those places can really mess with your aura and physical form, decaying your appearance from the outside.”
As Dave listened to Corallis, he thought of Sherlock's theory about visual evolution. The idea that the inhabitants of this world were shaped by observational magics suddenly had more legs to it. Here was a mermaid, casually discussing how she could alter someone's appearance to better match their inner self.
"So," Dave said, "The baths here don't just clean and heal, but also... reinforce how someone is supposed to look?"
"As long as you buy the right package," the mermaid agreed. "It's all about maintaining harmony, you see. We help ensure that everyone looks their best!”
“And if I wanted to look… different?” Dave asked.
“A private body modding can be arranged,” Corallis smiled. “Do be aware that it won’t be cheap. It takes many sessions with an Aesthetician to modify someone’s appearance. Bringing out specific traits can be a challenge which requires a Cantigeist.”
“A what?”
“Cantigeist,” Corallis explained. “Are divine spirits embedded within a particular type of gemstones. They can change you from within, realign your pure human Aura to match another trait more and gradually amplify your current top Attributes."
"Could you heal someone infected with living metal shards?"
"Afraid not," Corallis shook her head. "Such would need to be removed manually by a metal-controlling mage. After the vector of infection is eliminated then the Auric treatment will help the body recover fully."
As they talked, Dave noticed other patrons entering the bath. A group of feathered humanoids - perhaps some kind of birdfolk - waded into the shallows, their blue plumage sleek and iridescent when wet. A burly minotaur lowered himself into the deeper end with a contented sigh with a bright red strength-reinforcing Kitlix sitting atop of his curly hair.
"So, um, how do you get out of the pool?" He asked Corallis.
"We don't leave until our shift is over," the mermaid shrugged. "Once I pull myself out of the water, my tail transforms into legs. Oh look at me chattering away when you're so banged up!" She glanced at the color of his bath token, confirming that he had paid for a healing session. "Come into the water next to me; I’ll help fix you right up.”
Dave winced as he slid into the water, the liquid's cool embrace sending a shiver down his spine and causing his wounds to sting with a sudden intensity. Yet, almost miraculously, the sharp pain began to ebb away, replaced by a tender, soothing sensation. A soft, healing aura emanated from the mermaid's Kitlix.
"Let go of the edge and submerge yourself completely," she instructed, her melodious voice carrying a note of authority that brooked no argument.
With a deep breath, Dave obeyed, allowing the water to envelop him fully as he dove beneath the crystal-clear surface. The mermaid followed suit, her sinuous form cutting through the water with a grace and fluidity that belied the power hidden just beneath her delicate exterior. Suddenly, her arms wrapped around him in a tight embrace that seemed to bridge the gap between their two worlds, binding them together in a moment of shared vulnerability.
A flash of magic ensued, a burst of ethereal light blossomed across the water. The radiance shimmered and danced beneath the under-waves like green aurora. Dave grimaced as the mermaid's enchantment coursed through his body, feeling like his entire top layer of skin and muscles were wriggling and adjusting themselves to fit his body better.
----------------------------------------
As Dave walked across town, he felt more like himself than he had in days. The bath had not only cleansed him of grime and healed his wounds, but also seemed to have reinforced his very essence. His skin felt smoother, his muscles looked more defined, and even his hair seemed to have a healthier sheen. He couldn't help but smile as he caught his reflection in a shop window, noting how his eyes appeared a more vibrant blue and his ginger hair had taken on a richer hue.
His insides still felt quite bruised, but his outside was absolutely perfect.
"Maybe there's something to this 'Auric alignment' after all," he commented.
As he turned down a quieter street, lost in thought about his report to Cedez, Dave suddenly felt something wrap around his ankle. Before he could react, he was yanked sideways with incredible force. Dark, spindly limbs enveloped him, pulling him into the shadowy depths of an alley.
His back slammed against a brick wall, knocking the wind out of him. As he gasped for air, he found himself face to face with a nightmarish visage. A girl - if she could be called that - loomed over him, her body unnaturally elongated and arachnid-like. A set of six long, dark gray pointed ears twitched as she leaned in close, nine blue eyes gleaming with an unsettling intelligence.
"What the hell?!" Dave yelped. "Let go of me!"
"You smell... like me," she hissed.
"Huh?!" Dave choked.
"I am Huntsmaw Oraniss and I sense forbidden knowledge on you. It trails from your form, yess. Been following you for a while now, making sure. I am quite certain now. Yesss."
Dave pushed everything into Strength and Agility, not expecting anything good from this encounter. Perhaps, this was one of the criminals working with the old foxwoman.
"What?" He growled.
"The scent of an extra day clings to your flesh," the lanky spidergirl hissed out, her face elongating like an uncanny, half melted black latex mask that was left too long out in the sun, mouth opening wider than humanly possible.
Dave's eyes went wide.
How could she possibly know about his experience in Healer's Hall?
"I don't know what you're talking about," he ground out, fingers wrapped around his bone knife.
"Oh, but I think you do," Oraniss hissed. "And now I shall devour that which belongs to me."
She lunged for Dave's neck, open mouth filled with rows upon rows of jagged, black teeth.