"Whoever your inviter is, he or she spent a fortune on you."
"Of course," Anton said shamelessly, puffing his chest. "I'm worth every bit of it."
"Maybe you are," Ryat speculated. "So tell me what you want? Armour? Weapons? Or anything else?"
"This blade is quite decent. I'll manage it through the Trial. So show me a light armour set as well." Anton looked at Wrik and asked again. "Anything else?"
"How about a bow and some arrows?" Wrik pondered. Nobody apart from Tanya in their group had any long distance speciality, so buying a bow won't be a bad idea.
Anton completed the purchase, two light armour sets with bow and arrows. It costs a total of twenty-two thousand credits. Then they bought some necessary refills of water, sustenance, and medicines. Now they only have about five thousand credits together. Well, they could always earn more.
"Good day doing business with you," Ryat said in his high-pitched tone. He looked at Tanya again and continued. "Anything else for my lady?"
"Yes," Tanya nodded. "I want a map."
"Ahh! You really know your stuff." Ryat laughed out as he tapped in his Omega window again. "Ten thousand credits. I can't do anything with the price, it's set by the tower authority."
[Map of the Trial: digital copy.
A rough map of the wood and subterranean regions where the Trial was held. Though the places may be a bit vague, it will be useful for the second phase.
Price: 10000.]
Tanya completed the payment, tapping the window in front of her. She said nothing about why she bought that.
"Well, my business should be done here," Ryat left at his usual pace. "May all you find success in the next step, and may Maha be with you."
His voice echoed, as his figure disappeared into thin air. Wrik was stunned seeing that—Anton and the others were as well.
"No need to be appalled at that," Tanya said, seeing their stunned appearances. "We should have a talk now."
"Is it about the second phase of the trial?" Davin asked.
"Yes," Tanya nodded. She looked a little frustrated, but continued. "So, are we all going to participate in it?"
Her question was indicated to the trio: Evan, Lillian, and Lan. Evan, who had a proper education in this regard, being a former Inquisitor acolyte—was in a fair state to take part in the next phase. And the dark curly-haired lady, Lillian could manage herself well, even though she was new to all this, though they don't know how tougher the Phase-II will be. But it was impossible for the kid to stay with them—Lan was not even at the state of participating in the Trial itself, much less carry on to the next phase.
The kid's face looked as if he would cry again, where Evan looked a bit troubled. Lillian was unreadable. She seemed something between unsatisfied and unresigned. Maybe she wanted to participate in it badly.
"I think we should quit," Evan said to Lillian. His voice was slow and still, asking for her opinion.
In response, Lillian shook her head. She looked at Lan for a moment and then looked at Evan again. "Evan, this is your chance, don't waste it."
"But."
"No, buts," Lillian whispered. "Don't worry about us; we will manage something, and besides we're not in danger here."
Evan still hesitated, he pondered. At last, he nodded, seeking the resolute look in Lillian's eyes. He came near the kid and whispered. "Lan, you go with Lillian then. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine."
The kid cried out in silence. Snot ran out of his nostrils, but he nodded.
"Alright, no more crying. You said, you wouldn't cry anymore, Lan," Lillian said. She gave Evan a light farewell hug before a light took over her body and the kid's as they disappeared from the place.
They were teleported.
The former Inquisitor acolyte looked muggy, sighed, and joined in with the others.
"Alright, we have one day to rest. It should be enough to recover from any wounds and mental strength." Tanya said. She looked unusually pressed in her tone. "We should have a proper discussion in the afternoon."
Everyone nodded and started inspecting the new stuff they bought from the salesman. Wrik immediately used the minor healing talisman on his wound on the left thigh. It wrapped around the wound tightly before incorporating it. And it was showing the hint of recovery in that instance.
On the other hand, Anton was checking out the things they bought. Mostly the new breastplate and guards and bow.
"Man, this is lighter and more comfortable than the one I'm wearing," Anton commented, checking out the armguards.
"Let's go from here," Tanya commanded. She looked around the gigantic trees, the corpses, dyed-discoloured blood on the ground, and said. "I don't like this place.
Wrik and others nodded as they left the region. Their destination was the waterfall. Most of them were seething with grey blood and filth. It would take at least an hour to clean that out.
. . .
After Wrik and others left the place, a few figures appeared from about a hundred metres away. The only leading them was the savage-looking middle-aged man with a beard on his face.
"Boss, why didn't we make a move now?" A sidekick from behind asked. "You know they have some valuable things."
"Of course they have," the boss in question, who was still looking in the directions of Wrik and others left. He shook his head. "But it isn't the right time yet."
"They looked pretty worn out to me," another one said.
"Yes, still not enough. We might have won if we ambushed them in that state." He shook his head again. "But it would cause serious damage to us as well. You know what they say about injured lions?"
_______________________
END OF CHAPTER THIRTEEN: THE TRIAL SALESMAN
NEXT INTERLUDE: END OF PHASE-I
Now only one chapter left to finish Part one: A Beginning.
I'll upload it in few hours.