Jacob gulped. "can meat go into a storage ring?"
"Yes, everything can go into storage rings. As long as it is not living... don't ever put something living inside a ring, it will destroy the ring, they are incompatible. Plants, You can put plants inside but not animals, no beasts." He blinked hard and held out a ring. "This one had good space... its a great deal, at least for me, so I don't feel the loss. Wanna trade?"
'This guy is conniving, wow.. but really, a storage ring? That could be really useful.' Jacob kept thinking to himself, he picked up the ring and stared at it, buying him some time to consider it. The meat wasn't completely cooked, so there was a bit of time to waste.
"If its not a loss to you and you never felt a loss, then it can hardly be worth it. What else do you have?" He held onto the ring and waited.
"I can offer you a multitude of things, child, why not some fresh clothes and food to take away. We are at the end of our journey and can restock in town, why not take everything away. But since you don't seem like a thieving brat, but a smart one.. i'll bring out my good things." He turned his hand over and several items made their way out of his storage ring.
Two swords, a bracelet, several necklaces, a cup, a blanket, a lantern, two stone rods, a few types of leaves, and a big bug with a pearl like shell wre among the first things he brought out. There was a small bird statue and colorful cloth bolt really stood out, he left them in the back of the pile and attempted to hide them.
Jacob fingered the cup and picked up the lantern. "How does this work?" He flipped it around and looked for buttons or knobs but found none.
"You pour some magical energy into it." 'What's with this kid, he takes down a Rose Snow Denendo and doesn't know what magic is?' The old man waved to three of his grandchildren that were going to eat the meat immediately after it was done. "Come on over, Meet.. Oh, Excuse my manners, what's your name?"
"My name is Jacob." … The fire flickered again and signaled that the meat was almost done. He didn't know what magic was suppose to feel like, much less how to use it. He thought about his hands, the purple stains and the expanding and understandings that had developed in his mind and consciousness.
There was a small flicker of light in the lantern, then it lit up like a well oiled machine. 'Oh? I have magic?' "I HAVE MAGIC!?" Jacob jumped for joy at the reasonable assumption.
"No kid, I mean, Jacob. You don't have magic, you channeled it. There is a difference. You can call me Zadkeil." He finished speaking and started pointing at his treasures, he wasn't giving up on the trade. "This is a Ocean Crested Pearl Beetle, We were going to auction it off. The Pearl itself is a Monster Core, but the Beetle has fused with it. If you allow the Beetle to enter your body, it will protect you from moderate sickness and poisons." He passed it over and grabbed another treasure, "This is a thermal blanket, its fireproof to some degree and always warm, this is a Purity Cup.." He continued to introduce the treasures but there was a lot to take in.
Jacob picked up the stone rods, there were symbols on the side. He felt something strange from inside the rods. "I'll take these, that blanket, the bug and lantern. From what I can tell you really need this meat, but I really need it too and these things. I'll give you three kilograms and the horn, you still need to show me the way after we eat." Jacob agreed and took the ring, it shrank down a bit as he put it on his finger, snugging itself into place. 'Cool.'
"How do I use the ring?" Jacob asked while he handled the meat. Shortie was getting impatient and laid down by the fire.
"Same as the lantern, think about your energy and where you want it to go, but.. you use your hand like a grip. I hope that helps, it takes a bit of time to master it but...??" He watched as Jacob quickly adapted and started using it to store everything away. "well. Seems you're very quick to learn."
The meat was cut from the back haunch, he was going to give everything he couldn't eat after the sale to Shortie. It was perfectly cooked and retained a lot of the moisture, Jacob cut off a small roast sized portion and passed it over to Zadkeil. "Here ya go." Jacob cut the backstrap off and part of a front leg, the rest went directly to Shortie.
Jacob ate the leg and put the backstrap away. Shortie devoured the rest of the deer, bones and all. It was filling, he laid down and enjoyed the feeling. Jacob watched the children eat large portions of the meat, they all took bites, it was was strange watching them. "So these are your grandchildren, how many do you have?"
"About thirty, but its okay, these old bones, I have the strength. What about you? You said your family was away." Zadkeil changed the subject.
"I have an older brother, he's in college. My father has a sister, so I guess I have one aunt. My mom doesn't have any family." Jacob didn't hide much but he didn't elaborate too much either.
Zadkeil nodded. "Well, its good that you have family. Hopefully you find them soon. Lets put out this fire and go."
"You forgot to give me the tokens." Jacob held out his hand with a smile.
'cheeky brat.' cringing a moment, the merchant clutched his pocketbook. "yes, yes." he had said it and never retracted it, he was to blame. Zadkeil passed five thousand token pieces over. It was a large sum for a child, most things were purchased with silver, Jacob was ignorant of this, otherwise he wouldn't have bothered to haggle down the price.
Whistling for Shortie, Jacob grabbed his spear and cleaned up the campsite. "Shortie, We're going to town!" They followed the Merchant back to the roadside and followed with the caravan. The people themselves were the cargo, the merchandise was all in rings on the hands of the Family Elders.
"So why are you guys headed to Tekcity?" Jacob felt he butchered the city name, he held up his hands in confusion.
"Teksivion, and its just one stop for us, we're a traveling merchant family. This is our regular route. We pass by here once a month." Zadkeil sat at the front of the cart and talked with Jacob for a bit.
Shortie stopped and spoke, "Jacob, get off, I have to piss."
Zadkeil stopped the cart.
Jacob got off and watched Shortie drift off into the woods for a moment to find a better place to piss. A dozen or so feet away, he pissed and then found a place to take a dump. A minute later he returned and Jacob got back on to ride.
Zadkeil kicked the reins a little and inquired. "Your beast can speak?
Jacob was thoroughly confused by the question, he replied. "Of course." It wasn't a answer he expected to give, Ever.
There was an awkwardness, "Your beast, you call it Shore-tee, is he tame or will he go berserk in a crowded place?" Zadkeil felt weary, Jacob's beast was already intimidating and now he found out that it could also speak, marking great intelligence.
"Yeah, He's a good boy. But He's always been a protector." Jacob pet the side of Shortie's neck as the entered the City Gates.
The guards were on alert but because Shortie was being ridden, they had to let it pass. They sweat enough to start shaking, Jacob kept the spear put away into the ring and followed the Cart.