"The price of the Homos clay is eleven crystals per kilo, as for the ore it costs fifteen per kilo," the merchant said, and William knew he added one more crystal to each kilo.
"Bring me twenty kilos each," but he wanted the merchant to help him with something else. So, he didn't make a fuss this time. "I also want a storage bag, one equipped with expansion and weight reducing runes."
"This… might cost a bit," the merchant paused before his mind worked and calculated how much wealth this kid in front of him had. "I don't have a suitable one for you, but I know a friend who has one."
William knew what the merchant meant was that the bags he had here all cost more than what he could afford. This was why he let him have little profit before, to use him to find a suitable bag that wouldn't cost him much.
Storage bags with runes engraved over them were used like storage devices. However, the difference lay in the big size of the bag, and its inability to remove all the weight.
But thanks to that, their price was always lower than the storage devices. And that was what a price William could currently afford.
"How much will it cost?" William calmly asked.
"At least five thousand spirit crystals," the merchant said.
"With your fees of course," William didn't let the merchant have his way this time. The price was already too much, and the merchant knew this from the start.
So, the merchant could only nod. He knew if he became greedy and pushed for a higher price, that little kid wouldn't be able to afford it and would lose the entire deal.
"Wait for me until I prepare everything for you," the merchant excused himself and didn't forget to make a worker to attend William with another cup of tea.
The merchant took half an hour before he returned. He didn't carry anything but a black leathered bag with writings flashing all over it in silver symbols.
It was a backpack, easily carried by two strips on the back. "Here, I got everything you purchased inside."
William took the bag and felt how light it was. The bad seemed like it got nothing. He opened it by clicking on a red button on its centre with his thumb. The bag must be linked with spirit power and once done, he could easily examine everything inside and take anything he needed out.
There was everything he purchased inside the bag without affecting its weight. William patted on the bag in satisfaction before playing a little with it, feeling its weight when he held it on one shoulder or both.
"Here," William then paid almost his entire wealth before leaving the stall and the happy merchant behind.
He didn't even flinch when he did so. All this would turn into strength later on. As for crystals, he would find many chances to get more of them.
In this deal he was left with a few hundred crystals. He didn't plan on keeping them for himself, as he still lacked something to do what he wanted.
As he got out of the market, he used his old memories of the academy and went towards a certain direction.
Like his cabinet, that direction led him towards the outskirts of the academy, but on the opposite side of it. To cover the distance fast, he started to even run.
Even with running, he crossed the massive area of the academy in five hours! Just as he stopped, he was heavily panting.
William got a slight increase in spirit power, but not enough to support him running all this distance without taking a few stops of rest.
"I need to get stronger," as he stood beside a tree to rest, he started to examine the big building lying up ahead.
It wasn't a grand single building, but it was more like a series of small sized houses stacked together in a wide space. The highest part was only three stories high, and the entire compound was surrounded with a low levelled wall.
A big sign was hung over the main opened gates. "The Forging Department" was written on it with big golden letters.
"Time to get it done," after ten minutes of rest, he started to walk again.
He bought the clay and the ore, even the bow. But what he lacked was the arrows. And he planned to forge them himself.
This place was especially quiet during the rush hour of the normal academy day. After all, not many of the disciples or masters were fond of forging. The same went for alchemy. But William knew how valuable the two were in the world of spirit masters.
Just a hundred metres away from the main gate, he could clearly hear the loud bangs of hammers on anvils. Hearing such a familiar sound again made him smile without knowing it.
"Hello little brother, do you want to do something here? For which disciple?" As he just passed through the gates, a middle aged woman stood in front of him with panting breaths.
Her body was long, longer than him by one metre! Almost two metres and twenty centimetres tall. Long black hair curled on the back of her head taking the form of a big rose, exposed arms and abdomen while showing off her strong muscles despite being a lady.
William didn't know her. From that golden hammer emblem on the side of her chest, he knew she must be a master here.
As she treated him nicely, William decided to show his manners to her in return.
"Sorry to disturb the master, I'm here to do business of my own," William respectively said. But what he said made the lady frown.
It seemed that forging left traces even on her face. Her smile looked hard to be described as one, turning her face ugly and not pretty like the sacred law in the girls' world.
"Do you want to learn how to forge?" the master asked just to make sure she heard him right. She sized him up and down while saying that, not in any offensive way as William felt.
He knew she recognized his status here from his clothes. And when looking at his fragile body, she couldn't help but add:
"You know we don't limit anyone to come and try, but in your case…" she paused as she didn't know the right words, she should use to describe this awkward situation.