The great Avian market was crowded with people in spite of the hour, it was not difficult to realize that this center of commerce moved the economy of the citadel. The big question was, how did they trade with other kingdoms if the entry of foreigners was so restricted? Looking around, our friends found no people of other races, such as elves, dwarves, not even humans, which were the most densely populated race in Meruidian. All they found were avians, of different varieties, yes, but nothing else except avians.
- Do you trade with other kingdoms, Mr. Pepian? - Mila asked intrigued, because she wanted to know if she would find magical objects suitable for humans.
- Of course they do, every day merchant caravans leave for the four ends of the continent, and a great variety of products and merchandise also arrive from those territories. Although foreigners are not allowed to enter the city, unless they have a special permit like the one you are carrying. - Pepian said, pointing to the wing-shaped pendant they wore as a necklace. - In fact our fabrics are highly valued outside the citadel.
The chaotic atmosphere of the avian market was enough to make any ordinary human dizzy, but it didn't make a dent in Faye, who being used to shopping, was in her element. Despite the clutter, nothing seemed out of place, as if everything was part of a neat and organized chaos. Even in this place, the avians did not fail to show that characteristic trait of their culture. Not only the streets were crowded, as we well know, avians are bird people, so many tired of walking, simply took flight to go from one place to another, although those who carried heavy loads, could not afford that luxury.
- Where are we going first? this is bigger than a shopping mall and I think we could spend a whole day walking around it without seeing all the stores. - Kunoichi asked, a little worried about the time they had.
- Excellent question, I think we can't stay too long, after all it's close to dinner time, I would like to know what dishes they prepare in the city. - Runkdar commented, thinking about food first of all.
- If we all go together to each store, it will take us several hours, I think it would be better to split up and let each one buy what he/she needs. - Ashram said, trying to come up with a solution to the problem. - We can start by dividing the money equally.
- You don't need to pay with your money, the captain said that everything was on his account, so it will be enough to put the things you need in his account. - Pepian said, making the group of friends smile.
- No, I don't think it's fair to make him pay for all our stuff, we will accept his invitation to pay the inn bill, but we can't abuse it like freeloaders. - Ashram said soberly, the smiles of the others faded.
- Mathew, aren't you going to say anything to him? - Kunoichi asked.
- Me? - Mathew asked.
- Who else? when Ashram says things like that, you always step in to contradict him? - Kunoichi said.
- But this time he's right, isn't he? - Mathew said.
- I think you got hurt badly by the fireball... - Said Mila. - When we need you to argue with him the most, you take his side... who understands you?
- Then can I go see the birds? - Zafiro asked.
- No, don't bother people, just go shopping... in fact, you better come with us. - said Ashram.
- Oh but I wanted us to be alone... - Said Faye.
- Faye, there are at least ten thousand people in this market, being alone is impossible. - Replied Kunoichi mockingly.
- Then Mathew and I are going to look at shields, armor and maybe some weapons, it seems to me that our equipment is the most damaged. - Said Runkdar.
- I'll go with Mila to the magic section, I'm not a sorceress, but there are alchemist products that a ninja can use. - Said Kunoichi. - What's more I'll do you a favor Faye, since you want to go with my brother, who knows for what dark purpose, I'll take Zafiro with me.
- Hey I'm not a child! - Zafiro protested
- I'll buy you some candy. - Replied Kunoichi, who knew her weak spot.
- Ah well, then yes. - Accepted the warrior girl willingly.
- I shouldn't let you disperse, I have to take care of you. - Said Pepian somewhat worried.
- But it will take less time this way, otherwise we'll be hanging around until the market closes. - said Ashram.
- I know! Look, there's some kind of tower there! - Said Kunoichi pointing to the tallest building in the place. - I think it's the center of the market, if someone gets lost, then go to the tower and wait for the others, we'll meet again in an hour and a half.
- Okay, see you in an hour and a half, don't take too long bargaining, but don't accept the first price they give you either. - Said Faye, who was already getting ready to get the best offers.
So, they split up into three groups, the first one formed by Mathew, Runkdar and Pepian who went to the armor section to find how to repair theirs or buy new ones, the second group of Mila, Zafiro and Kunoichi, went to the magic section, although later they planned to meet with the first group in the weapons section, the third group was only Faye, Zulki and Ashram who was not very enthusiastic about shopping, although he had no choice but to go with the expert buyer.
Led by Sergeant Pepian, the first group quickly reached the armor section which was quite extensive, a large number of stores grouped in rows offered almost everything from armored gauntlets and greaves, to complete armor made of Mirill, an extremely resistant metal. However, there was one small detail they had overlooked. The bone structure of the Avians was very different from that of humans, elves or dwarves, so absolutely all the armor there was designed to be worn by Avian warriors.
- Certainly not what I expected. - Runkdar commented with some regret. - The quality of the forging is good, but if there is no armor we can use, there is no point in wasting time here....
- I'm sorry I didn't warn you, as you know, not many foreigners enter the city, so the merchants don't have products available in sizes they know they won't be able to sell. - Pepian said with a shrug of his head.
- I don't know how long we will be staying here, so I can't leave my armor on order for repairs either. - Runkdar said somewhat annoyed.
- Wait, I know something you can buy. - Pepian said in good spirits. - Shields, you both need one, the one you're carrying doesn't look like it can hold up any longer.
- Surely they are not specially designed for the Avians? - asked the dwarf, somewhat distrustful.
- A shield is a shield, besides, even if the size was a problem, making a couple of adjustments to the handle should not be complicated. - Pepian said trying to be optimistic.
The second group was guided by Kunoichi, who did not know the market, but it was not easy to get lost in that trading center if you asked for directions. So in a few minutes they reached the magic section. Mila's eyes sparkled at the sight of so many stores crammed with various magical items ranging from simple single-use scrolls, grimoire covers, potions, flying magic brooms, to wands or staffs with the ability to increase the magical power of their wielder. Unfortunately the money they had was not unlimited, so they would have to use it wisely.
- What are you going to buy Mila? - Kunoichi asked. - I hope you've made a list.
- I would lack the money to buy everything I wanted.... - exclaimed the young witch with resignation.
- Hahaha just like in our world, money is never enough. -Said Zafiro.
They approached a store that looked quite well stocked, the seller was a long-tailed blue bird, wearing a tunic of the same color with golden ornaments.
- Welcome to my humble store beautiful ladies, my name is Macgiv, what would you like to buy? - He said bowing.
- For starters, I think I should go through the parchment list and buy some scrolls to add to my grimoire to learn their spells. I only have a few rank two copied, I'll need at least five or so of rank three. - Mila said, doing the math. - If I have money left over, I'll buy a ring or a cloak of protection. I'd like a better magic wand, but those prices are out of my reach....
- Don't say that, maybe I can help you with a discount, if the three of you honor my store with your preference. - Macgiv replied with a smile.
- What are you going to buy? - Zafiro asked the little ninja.
- I am not sure Zafiro. Excuse me Mr Macgiv, do you have magic items that non-magicians can use? - Kunoichi asked.
- Of course, let me show you our selection. But I see you are an archer, aren't you tired of carrying that quiver on your back? - asked the salesman.
- Something, it's annoying when I have to do somersaults, it's complicated to do it without the arrows falling all over the place. - She answered.
- No kidding, I have the solution for that problem. - That said, she signaled to a smaller bluebird, who seemed to be his apprentice or assistant, who got lost inside the tent for a moment, to return carrying an archer's gauntlet.
- I don't see how this can be useful to me, I mean it's nice and all, but nothing more. - Said Kunoichi.
- Please try it on. I insist.
Kunoichi took the gauntlet and put it on her left hand, it was well worked, it was light and comfortable, it was decorated with silver flowers, but she didn't see what use it could have besides providing just a little more protection.
- Now take your bow and arrow. - Macgiv said.
The young ninja did as she was told, not believing that anything was going to happen, but when she took the bow, it disappeared, the same happened with the arrows and the quiver.
- What the heck! - exclaimed the little ninja. - Where are my things?
- Calm down please, now you must choose a keyword or password, when you say it, your things will appear.
- Fire arrow! - Said Kunoichi, no sooner had she finished saying those words, when the bow appeared in her left hand, and the arrow in her right.
- It has an enchantment that allows it to hold three weapons and about a hundred arrows of up to three different types. - Said the salesman
- That's great. - Said Kunoichi. - But I don't think we have enough to purchase it... - She whispered to her friends.
- Maybe if we put our money together. - Mila said. - I can take only one scroll, I'll buy the rest another time.
- Mine too. - Said Zafiro adding her coins. - I don't really need anything, I can sharpen my scythe myself.
The third group, which was more of a duo than a group, consisted of Faye, Zulki and Ashram. As if guided by her shopaholic instinct, Faye found the clothing section immediately. They visited store after store, but nothing they saw satisfied her, especially since almost all the clothes were made in avian sizes, so they didn't fit a human. After a lot of fumbling around, Faye decided on a skirt similar to the one she already had, but new and a few adjustments had to be made so she could put it on. Ashram only took a shirt with the sleeves removed and a thick cloth vest, he didn't plan to buy something made of fur so as not to encourage animal hunting.
Being relatively simple items, they had enough money left for other things, so they headed to the potion section, where Ashram bought some universal antidote and wound healing potions, just in case. But what was really on his mind since they arrived at the market was a very useful item from the game, the magic bag.
In the Swords and Magic game, the magic bag was one of the simplest, yet incredibly useful items. On the outside it looked like a simple leather pouch, slightly larger than a purse, but inside you could store many objects, money, very heavy things, much larger in size than the pouch itself. It was thus an interdimensional space to put your objects safely without having the problem of being overwhelmed by their weight. The magic bags came in many sizes with different load capacities and the larger the capacity, the higher the price.
- Do you think we can afford to buy a magic bag? - Ashram asked, showing the coins he had left.
- No way, don't you remember how expensive they were in the game? - Faye said, answering almost without thinking. - Do you really want one? - she asked, this time more thoughtful.
- Sure, I think it will be very useful for us, traveling lighter is always an advantage, besides food never spoils in a magic bag, we could always carry our supplies fresh. - Ashram answered.
- What will you give me if I get you one? - she asked with a mischievous smile.
- Really Faye? you know I don't have anything. - Ashram replied rolling his eyes.
- Hmmm you're no fun... - She whispered, somewhat disappointed that he didn't play along. - You're too serious...
- It's not my goal to amuse you... - the druid replied dryly.
- Why can't you be romantic? - she exclaimed.
- Is it because we are not a couple? - Was his answer.
The reality was that, although it was hard for her to accept it, there was nothing between them, more than friendship. But was she happy with that? obviously not, something inside her was bothering her when she heard those words, she would have wished they weren't true. Was it too late to change things?
Ashram approached the seller to try to buy the magic bag, but when he heard the money he was offering, he laughed in his face, it was less than half its value, no merchant in his right mind would sell even the least valuable one for that amount. He was already turning away, when Faye intervened.
- Fifteen hundred coins for this bag? it's not even that nice, it looks second hand. - Faye said. - I'm offering fifty and I'm taking a chance.
- Miss, you're insulting me, how can you think of offering even less than the young man? - Said the salesman.
- He doesn't know how to haggle, he doesn't have the skill for it, he's not like us. - Said Faye giving him a wink that the salesman couldn't help but find intriguing. - I have an idea to take that old bag off your hands.
- So what do you offer, Miss? your rapier? your musical instrument? Not even between the two of them, they don't reach fifteen hundred coins. - Said the salesman.
- Just sit down and listen. - She said, tuning the strings of her instrument and clearing her voice.
The salesman sat down completely skeptical that whatever the stranger was going to do would change his mind. The musical notes began to flow slowly, changing the atmosphere of the place, the bystanders, previously in a hurry to get somewhere, slowed down little by little until they stopped completely, it was the prelude to a sad song apparently, but not the kind that depresses you and makes you feel bad, but bittersweet, a gentle pain, a memory of difficulties already overcome. Gradually the crowd was growing around her, Faye played with her eyes closed and her voice was so sweet that those who stopped in the middle of the song were not sorry they had done so. The song changed the rhythm, now it spoke of being far from home, of never giving up in spite of adverse circumstances, for as the dawn puts an end to the night, the hard times will give way to better days. With that hopeful ending, the singer ended her performance.
- BRAVOO!!! BRAVOO!!! - Applauded the audience who had no intention of attending a show in the middle of the market.
Coins clinked on the floor one after another, Faye had not asked for them, but the spectators would have felt bad not to give something in return for a song that had made them feel better in some cases, or saved the day in the case of others. The minstrel thanked the audience, some of whom stopped to shop at the merchant's store, who was also moved by the melody.
After a while, they walked away from there, heading for the meeting point, with the magic bag in their possession and more coins than they had when they arrived. Faye looked radiant after playing, it was as if she was reborn as she plucked the strings of her instrument. Ashram couldn't help but be dazzled by her charm, which made the elf girl smile even more, for a moment he remained speechless as they walked, until he broke the silence.
- You used the magic of your music to influence that salesman, didn't you? - Ashram asked.
- Of course I did, how else was he going to leave us a magic bag for only two hundred gold coins? - Faye replied, adjusting the pins on her Bouzouki. - Now you're going to say that I did wrong, right? that it's not right to take advantage of people, blah blah blah and that we should give it back, right? I never do anything right...
- No... You really did very well, I'm sorry for being so annoying sometimes. - Ashram said. - Thank you...
- You just made me happy even for a moment with those words. - She said, smiling again. - You owe me an ice cream when we get back to our world!