Hoffman and Lydia entered and momentarily paused after seeing the loving couple inside, Kara was sitting on Alder's lap, and with how he had decided to lay back on the table, along with her posture, was quite suggestive. It wasn't until after realizing they were both inspecting a green glowing sword in between them that they heaved a mental sigh of relief.
"Ah hem, I've managed to bring her, why don't you introduce yourself" Coffing to remove the awkward atmosphere he found himself in, he suggested.
Getting up from under Kara, Alder stepped towards the mysterious rune master and extended his hand. "Hello, pleasure to meet you, my names Alder Trant, just call me Alder."
"Hey, I'm Lydia, I hear you're interested in having me create something for you?" Extending her hand to return the greeting. Lydia spoke with a neutral tone and a soft voice, however, after witnessing the seen from earlier hey mind was a bit distracted. 'Why were they being so intimate here? I mean… wrapped wing's is famous for a reason after all…'
"yes, although I'm not exactly sure what it'll take to create, I'm hoping you'll be able to create it"
"Give me the description, if I can, I will. Treat those 50 green crystals as a down payment to pay for the supply's needed, chances are it'll take a few more but I should be able to create a lower tier item for you. But be prepared because it usually takes a lot more than people are willing to spend. you'd actually be the first, every other request I've received that couldn't go thru Hoff fell dead in the water once they faced the cost, but if you're willing to pay upfront there'll be no issue."
"No worries, what's a typical cost anyway?"
"It varies item to item, but around 60 green crystals for a lower rank foundation tier enchanted item's the norm, and as much as a red crystal for the high rank." The hooded Lydia stepped to the table and took a seat, as unusual as it was, Hoff just didn't have any chairs in his store, heck, he just sat on an old anvil to work himself.
Starting the description of what he wanted, Alder began. "Alright, well, the wand's used to give markings like these- two or three of them to be precise"
Alder took a seat again as well, with kara taking her rightful position as he motioned towards her tattoo. It was also at this time that Lydia's eyes caught site of the bracelet on Karas arm. 'didn't he buy it? Is… is the wrapped wing's girl using him to get what she wants? No wonder they're being so intimate here.'
"ahhh, and here I really thought you might end up being my first real customer. If you wanted a tracking marking like that, you'd need a formation of glyphs that cover the entire area you have in mind. We're talking thousands of red crystals…"
"Actually, I just wanted the marking. In fact, the less it has going on the better"
"hm? You want multiple crystal wand's that just give a marking?"
"exactly, can it be done for a reasonable amount?'
After pondering briefly Lydia continues " No, just the wands will cost a red crystal each, then the spatial engraving array…sorry"
"kara, you know the shape of my…thing?" subtilty motioning to my chest I asked. "Do others follow a form like mine" 'my tattoos resemble what they do but, the book didn't mention anything about that, in fact, my eye's doesn't seem to mean much…"
Kara instantly understood my meaning. " Don't worry, it just matters were it go's if it augments something, for elements, anything can work, even random shapes."
"Ah…hem" Hoff cleared his throat randomly. 'Ahh, my code was a bit much for Hoffman?'
Casualty handing three red crystals to Lydia. Who unbeknownst to anyone did grow a little red in the cheeks after my question.
"make me two. one that makes a simple red dot and one that makes an orange flame with some wavy lines following the path of the flame"
"Honey!" kara stopped my hand from grabbing my spatial pouch.
"Don't worry, I've though it through babe, I'll fill you in later."
One I reassured Kara, I pulled out three red crystals. "Can you do that?"
"hmm, yeah I'm capable of it, but I just said it costed to…" she was already looking down somewhat to hide her face, so when the red shine enter her vision she paused.
' ah…she wasn't expecting me to have the fund's hm?'
"v..verry well, I can have them done by the end of the month, but orange and red? I can already tell what this's for, are you really trying to fake such powerful markings? Although I must say, going to such extremes to make sure it looks real is impressive, without the power's it'll just get you hurt."
"Don't worry, I know the risks. I'm not planning on trying to con anyone, so I'll be fine."
"Well, all right then, you can pick them up the first day of next month, you're my only customer after all so I've got plenty of time to work on them."
Kara looked upset when she heard the time frame. "Honey, I can't stay away from the sect that long, If I'm over 14 days late they'll post a mission to other disciples to search for me, if I was lost, hurt, or just late that'd be it, but if they think I'm just using the mission as an excuse to leave the sect I'll get punished"
"Am I just going to have to wait here on my own a while? At least we can spend more nights together before facing the sect curfew at least" I consoled Kara well running my hand thru her hair.
Catching her interest, Lydia had to ask. "hmm, are you also in the Wrapped Wing's sect Alder?'' ' if that's the case why isn't he showing his marking?'
"No not yet, I will be joining from this, or this coming months selection thou"
Hiding her serious gaze under her black hood Lydia thought to herself. 'Spend more nights together? Is she really going to leave after emptying his pockets? He's even trying to follow her back to the sect! Fuck, I'm bleeding money, but, but I can't watch this shit happen again.'