Tens of thousands of mortals stood before the entrance to Heaven's Arena, eyes agape with confusion. In this vast plane, a gilded jade gate dominated the scenery. Cries and shouts of various emotions swelled in the crowd while others looked calm and composed.
They were going about their lives but had been transported here by a Spirit Master's technique!
"Hm?"
Slowly, a smug grin grew across Leba's face as he realized his plan had succeeded.
...
"Servant Leba greets young master Eniac," Leba said as he bowed.
Heading towards the vessel creation room, Eniac stopped to greet him. "Leba, your duties today are to fetch more materials for Spirit Vessels. Be swift else I lose face before father, Heaven's Arena is approaching rapidly, and I must train for the sake of Clan Dameve."
"This servant understands master."
Eniac handed Leba a sack of essence stones along with a list of materials before setting off to practice.
Endlessly fetching materials and chores was Leba's daily routine for the past month. His young master, Eniac, was slacking in his training to flirt with a maiden of Clan Hada.
Eniac had hit a bottleneck in his vessel creation. He decided to ask his father for advice, but a letter spirit informed Eniac that his father expected significant progress!
Not only that, his father informed him he would return in one week!
Footsteps filled the manor as many servants performed their duties. The arrival of the letter spirit spurred servants into a frenzy to make sure everything was perfect, not that they were slacking. Walking past the servants, Leba headed out of the manor after having a brief exchange with the entrance guards about where he was going.
The streets of Gamaea bustled with people. Hands exchanging essence stones and shouts of goods all filled the market district. Multiple stands and stores adorned with various colors and trimmings dotted the street, with people crowded around them.
"Looks like today will be interesting with the announcement of the date Heaven's Arena will be held in ten days," Leba mumbled, looking through the list of materials.
Many merchants traveled far and wide to sell in Gamaea with the announcement of Heaven's Arena. Grand Spirit Masters sought materials and spirits to give to their elected mortal Aspirant. Any advantage Grand Spirit Masters could get was needed to obtain the blessing of Heaven's Arena. Riches! Power! Reputation! All of these and more could be acquired in Heaven's Arena.
'Ten pounds of saber wolves bones, seven jars of clay from a clay frog, and a frozen blood orb of an ice boar.'
At everyday market prices, the materials could be obtained with the essence stones by Leba, but now with the announcement of Heaven's Arena, prices were highly volatile. Merchants would take down their stalls as they sold out, and others would set up their own in their place. Like ants to a scrap of food, people would swarm to these stalls and stands.
Leba decided to head to his usual store, Big Bei's. The building was simple and had nothing but a sign with its name. As Leba entered the store, people stood examining various pelts and skins. At the counter was Big Bei, he was a rotund man with a fat face and bald head. He was wearing a coat of some beast with fluffy white fur.
"Greetings, Big Bei," Leba said as Big Bei finished a purchase with a customer.
"Ah? Welcome, Leba. It is good to see you again, friend." Big Bei waved his hands, then spectral hands appeared from a jug at his side, bringing out a variety of goods.
"What do you desire?"
"The shell of a Winged Snail? A fine pelt filled with spirit essence? Or perhaps a good time?" Big Bei laughed as he pulled out an aphrodisiac.
"Oh, Big Bei. I require some goods for my young master Eniac. He is making spirit vessels to prepare for Heaven's Arena. Do you have any of these?" Leba sighed as he handed the list to Big Bei.
As he read the list, Big Bei replied, "I am not going to lie to you, friend. These materials won't come cheap. While there is one of the materials in my stock, Grand Spirit Masters are buying in bulk. Everyone has a shortage of everything."
"It is as I feared. Big Bei, how much will it cost me?"
"Sixteen essence stones for the ten pounds of saber wolf bones." Big Bei replied.
"My friend, come now. These saber wolf bones should be no more than eight essence stones." Leba said as he pulled out eight spirit stones from his pouch.
"Hmph, do not be so bold, friend. That is a price even below the average price. I can see that you are low on funds. I will lower it down to fourteen essence stones."
"Please, you must consider Big Bei. My young master will not be pleased if I cannot get these saber wolf bones, not to mention the other things on my list."
"I will concede to a price of eleven essence stones." Leba sighed.
"Still bold as ever I see, but it is admirable as a mortal even if you might die for it. I will go no lower than thirteen essence stones."
"Fine. Fine. I will pay thirteen essence stones, but I do wish for ten and a quarter pounds of saber wolf bones." Leba put down an additional five essence stones onto the counter.
"Deal. Friend, you have bought from me for a long time. You have always bought a small portion in addition to every purchase. Do you mind if I inquire why?" Big Bei took the essence stones and put them in his pouch. The spectral hands displaying various goods retreated into his bag to reemerge with a smaller satchel stuffed with wolf bones.
"Oh, Big Bei. You will find out soon enough if everything works out. See you next time, friend." Leba grabbed the satchel and bowed before leaving.