Marx seems to be in a dazed was half lying on a wooden bed inside the small store. He closes his eyes so he can get a quick rest after escaping his misfortune. Who would have thought that those thieves were only after some few coins and would strike him to death even?
A hard lesson that he would never forget as long as he lives. He wishes that his life would be different somehow, away from this town, back on the mainland where he has a chance to survive together with his beloved sister.
Tears rolled in his eyes but quickly rubbed it off, afraid of being seen by the halfling owner who seems to be busy off the counter on the side. He seems to be rummaging through a burlap bag for a rolled paper. After looking at the content, he passed the sheet to him. He looked at the owner and doesn't know what he wanted him to do with it. However, upon reading it through, he found that the once listed on the posted wall looked somehow similar.
The owner, don't know if the boy in front of him could read so he pointed at the list on the shop's wall and told him that they are items that he can exchange for money. Confident that the child could understand reading the hefty list, as he scanned the entire paper sheet and looking at the wall.
"Those are the things you can exchange for money or you may trade them for items you may need here at the store," said Rufus while looking at him curiously.
"I'll treat you fairly, as I have marked those items I would readily trade-off if you can have them, as they are quite worrisome to forage or find by myself."
"What's this toadstool flerrhh?" stuttering while reading in islandic sariya, a dialect of the mainland.
"Flesh Toadstool." although I know you are not from here, it's better to adapt quickly, so that people would not be surprised and ask you where you came from.
"Thank you, Rufus."
"A simple thought, Marx. It will help you to blend in while hiding from these island's crooks and slave traders. As you know they are everywhere on this island." explaining to the juvenile beside him.
"You have been in here for quite some time now, don't you?"
"I just need you to be alert and not act without minding your situation every time."
Leo nodded mentally while forcefully closing his fist after being reminded of what happened to him.
That's two days walk from here, Blackwater Lake. You need to climb that mountain over there. Just follow the rivulet going upstream. You may encounter some annoying creatures but you don't have to worry they're usually weak. You just have to rub this bottle of repellant."
He opened the vial's cap and smelled it. "It stinks like dead fish. Are you sure it will repel those magical creatures? It doesn't smell and looks good."
"That's because it's murloc's blood preserve in oil."
"If you say so, hopefully, it can save my life." Later did he know that it's only effective towards smaller creatures but not of the same creature where it was sourced from as well as of magical beasts and predators that preyed on murloc's flesh.
Life has not been easy for Marx. Although life has been difficult for him from the very start, he needs this opportunity to continue living. Grateful that he has another shot towards living, he anticipated making this trip successful. He's eager to complete the task given to him, not because of the generous benefit he could get but because he wants to repay the kindness this young elf halfling in front of him.
"I know that you're living outside of town to scavenge for food and stayed on the streets for shelter. Why not stay here for now until you can earn to rent your place or buy a small shelter outside of town."
Words are not enough to describe how happy Marx is now. "Thank you, Rufus. I know I'm bothering you but I will surely repay you somehow."
"That's fine, as long as you can stand up on your own. Helping me retrieve some items on the list to stock the store's inventory would be enough."
"You need to eat more to grow strong. Here take this." Rufus passing a bowl of bean soup and a loaf of bread to Marx.
He gladly took the bowl and ate heartily. It was the first time he eats without any worry since he knows he is safe inside the small living space owned by the halfling.
"It's okay, Marx. I live on my own." "As an elf halfling, people sometimes get intimidated or feel uncomfortable or even scared seeing me because I may have magic like the elves as what have bards described us through their stories. Other people get mentally struck because of my beautiful face, which I don't like at all."
Marx thought so too. The man in front of him looked like a darling except for his serious face. Every time he passed by this side of town, he seems to get nervous and scared even. Although poor people such as him are not wanted to enter these parts of town, they often get harassed or received threatening words from shop owners. Other people get disgusted by them due to their unkempt look and dirty appearance. Very few people such as the baker, the smith, and this owner allow these fellows to enter their stores.
His feelings may be irrelevant to this man. He knew in his heart that he needs to give back something to repay the young man in the future.
Later that evening, he notices that his wounds have scabbed and had fallen off. He knows it is unusual because it takes a day or two for this kind of injury to disappear. He seems to be in a trance and may have thought the man used fast healing medicine to treat him. He never knows if the man has used magic as he never mentioned anything about it since he's a halfling elf.
He looked at Rufus strangely and got afraid due to the glowing potted plant on the nightstand.