Shadow Beasts - that was what they went in search of as Roselyn needed one for the sake of completing her graduation from the so-called 'Academy of Immortals'.
A part of her wanted to remind Xander that she won't be staying in the Shadow Realm for the coming three years just so she could graduate from the Academy. However, a voice in her head stopped her in time - was she really sure that she could return to Light Realm?
"You seem distracted." Xander's warm voice pulled her out of her thoughts and she realized that they were standing in front of a little store squeezed between two huge buildings. Its windows were covered with dark panes, making it impossible to peek inside.
"Are you sure we are at the right place?" She asked him as she eyed the shop skeptically. And as she was too busy observing the store, she completely missed the smile that bloomed on Xander's lips. It was such a rare moment but unfortunately, she wasn't lucky enough to witness it.
"This is the right place. Let's go." He once again took hold of her wrist, something that he had been doing throughout their market tour either consciously or unconsciously, and led her inside the store.
If she thought that the store looked old and gloomy from the outside then she sure was in for a surprise as she saw the interior. It seemed like they had entered some years old abandoned place.
"Master Jenkins, we will love to see your secret and rare collection of shadow beasts. I have a special customer with me." Xander called out with no one in view to hear him but soon enough Roselyn heard some shuffling sound.
She wasn't sure what she was expecting but a Goblin was definitely not on her list. The little creature walked out of a trap door built in the farthest corner of the room and came to stand in front of them.
"Oh, it's my Lord Xander. Welcome, My Lord, welcome to my little shop." The little thing sounded a lot politer than Roselyn had heard about their race. But then the goblin's eyes moved toward her and she no longer found him that polite.
"A light fae... but with darkness taking home inside her... Interesting!" His words sent chills running down Roselyn's spine. Darkness was the last thing she wanted to be associated with.
"This way, My Lord, My Lady." The goblin directed them toward the trapdoor and it made her look at Xander to confirm that they really were going to enter that place. It was not like she really trusted Xander but he was still a much better option when compared to the Goblin.
Instead of answering her directly, Xander choose to go down the trap door first which left her with no other option but to follow him.
The staircase leading down the trap door led them to a huge basement room that was probably five times bigger than the shop they had just seen upstairs. The place was dimly lit with dozens of fire stones and she saw cages after cages lined there with small shadow beast babies in them. There was such a vast variety of species that she could only recognize a few.
"How are we going to select mine?" She found herself asking as she came to stand beside Xander, her eyes searching the different cages.
"We are going to wait for one of them to choose you," Xander answered her question and it made her turn to look at him with arched eyebrows. "What if none of them chose me?" She asked.
"To avoid that from happening, I chose this particular store. You will get a shadow beast from here. Just follow what he asks you to do." He responded to her question while nodding toward the Goblin who was now standing next to a pedestal, twice of his size, with a little crystal globe sitting on it.
"My Lady," The goblin called Roselyn right at that moment while signaling her to come closer to where he was standing.
Roselyn took small hesitating steps toward the Goblin but a light push from behind ended her up right next to the pedestal. She turned to glare at her so-called guardian/mentor from over her shoulder but he wasn't even looking at her.
"My Lady, please put a drop of your blood on this crystal." The goblin's words made Roselyn whip her head back to look at the little creature that barely reached her waist.
"B-blood. Why?" She was sure that the way she was looking at the goblin didn't suit him at all.
"It's just a drop. Stop being so dramatic." Xander spoke as he came to stand next to her and took hold of her hand as he searched for something in his pocket.
"Can't you guys do something without involving blood in it?" She asked as she tried to get her hand free but she was no match for Xander when it came to their physical strength.
Xander ignored her completely as he took out a little dagger and pinched its tip against her index finger that caused blood to ooze out from the barely visible cut. He then pressed her bloody finger against the globe and all three of them watched as her few drops of blood filled the entire globe and started swirling inside it like a tornado.
Roselyn watched in awe as a bright silvery light shone from the globe and almost blinded them for a couple of moments but then she heard it - a beautiful voice that called her name in its direction.
Her body turned on its own accord and her eyes landed on a beautiful creature that came flying toward her. It was barely the size of her palm but probably the most beautiful among all those present in that basement.
"Oh my... this..." The goblin murmured from somewhere behind her but he seemed to be too shocked to speak at that moment.
The beautiful creature landed on her palm and snuggled its face against her fingers as if showing its love toward her, sending sparks of coldness into her hand that actually filled her heart with warmth. But the sweet moment was short-lived because the next words entering her ear shattered it.
"This is impossible."