"First stop is the magic shop."
"What are we getting there?"
"Something we should have gotten a long time ago." We step into the magic tools shop and greet the shop owner.
"""Hello,""" we all say in unison.
"Hey there, kids; what can I do for you?"
"I'd like to get the magic bag and some spell rods."
"Wha, are you serious? All of that will be thousands of Denarii."
"Yup."
"Nick, what do we need all of those for?" I can see Sakura getting a little agitated at being pulled around by me.
"Okay, so hear me out. You know how annoying it is to carry all of the Punctastar corpses? If we could get a magic bag, we could fit several of them into it and carry more back to the guild."
"Hmmm…" Sakura thinks about it with one hand on her chin.
"Okay." Josh, on the other hand, agrees immediately.
"Well, if Josh wants it, then I guess we should get one." At that, she reluctantly agrees.
"Perfect. Since this would benefit all of us, I think we should each pitch in for a third. If you don't feel comfortable with that, then I'll just buy it myself." Sakura drops her shoulders at my proposition.
"I hate it when you pull me around like this."
"I'm just trying to make things easier in the future."
"No, you've got an agenda. I can feel it."
"Both of those things can be true. Why is it bad that I can help everyone with one decision?"
"This is why I hate you." Sakura pulls out her pouch despite her words and drops seven hundred Denarii on the table. Josh and I do the same.
"Wow, I never thought I would sell that. Now, let me explain to you kids how it works." The plump shop owner walks up to the bag and lifts it into the air. It looks like a large sack with straps attached to it. "This model doesn't have any gravity magic applied to it, so whatever you put in the bag will retain its weight."
"Nick, this sounds useless."
"It would be great training to carry several Punctastars through the undergrowth at the same time. Also, the Magic Bags that reduce the weight of what's inside will be more expensive."
"I guess…" Sakura seems less than enthused about the purchase, but I think it will grow on her.
"That's true. The more advanced models can go for as much as ten thousand Denarii." I raise my brow at Sakura in an attempt to convince her.
"Stop it," she says as she glares at me.
"Make sure not to put anything living in the bag as air doesn't move in or out when it's closed. Do you have any other questions about this item?"
"Nope." I grab the bag from his hand and place it on my back. "Where are the spell rods?"
"Right over here." He walks to the front wall, where numerous rods are lined up next to each other.
"What would you recommend for self-defense?"
"Hmmm… The Fireball rod is always popular, but it might be a problem if you use it in the forest. How about the ice rod? It shoots out a ball of endothermic mana that sucks the heat out of whatever it lands on.
[I'm surprised they know enough about chemistry to describe endothermic and exothermic reactions. Maybe having access to mana has advanced the physical sciences in this world?]
"Sounds good. Anything else?"
"Honestly, any of the kinesis rods would work fine; the Compression rod, in particular, is very versatile. The ball of compressed air that flies from the tip can help create some distance from your opponent while also causing damage. I have a lightning spell rod as well if you want that?"
"No thanks. Let's go with one Compression rod, one Ice rod, and whichever one controls stone."
"That would be the Force rod."
"Perfect, let me get those three. Do either of you want to get anything? I think the forest will get more dangerous when winter fully sets in."
"Okay."
"I guess I'll get something."
The two kids pick out some rods for themselves. Apparently, this is where Josh picked up the magic lamps, so he's at least acquainted with the shop owner. Josh picks out a Force rod, an Ice rod, and a Lightning rod. Sakura grabs a Compression rod and a Slow rod. The Slow rod reduces the movement speed of the opponent. There doesn't seem to be a way to tell exactly how much speed will be taken, but it doesn't hurt to have it. We walk up to the counter to make our purchases, and I see some Mana Stones next to Josh's stuff.
"Why are you buying mana stones?" I ask.
"We need them to refill the rods and lamps," Josh responds.
"Oh, right. I forgot. Have you been refilling the lamps?"
"Yes," he says, as a matter of fact."
"Wow, thanks. I didn't even think of that."
"I know." Sakura chuckles a little while sending a demeaning grin my way.
[If she's this pissed now, just wait until we get to the forest.]
I keep my thoughts to myself as we leave. I mention that I want to stop at the tailor's shop, so we head there.
"Wow, Nick. It looks like Josh is more useful than you."
"I know. I rely on him for everything. It's not a secret."
"If that's the case, then I think Josh should have more say in what we're doing." Sakura crosses her arms as she walks.
"I agree, but he doesn't want to make any decisions. Josh just wants to make sure everyone else is doing okay." Josh nods his head at my comment.
"Don't agree with him. We're fighting."
"Sorry." Josh lowers his head as he apologizes. I try not to laugh at their back and forth as we reach the tailor.
"I'm just going in for a minute, so you can stay here if you want."
"You can't tell me what to do! I'm coming in." Sakura walks in behind me. I walk straight to the tailor, ask for some blankets and loose cloth, and walk back out. "Well, that was pointless."
"I told you it would be quick. Now, I just need to pick up some food, and then we'll head to the forest. Inari was asking for cookies."
"Oh! Oh! I want to come." Sakura's mood flips like a switch the moment I mention cookies.
"Okay, let's pick the tastiest ones we can find."
"Yay!"