Upon seeing that vial, my intrigue began to grow, but I had to ensure these vials were the same as the ones we encountered in Veilstead. Trying not to sound suspicious, I asked, "Free samples? What do these vials do?" The dark elf explained, "Oh, they can enhance you in ways I can't possibly explain, young man. Your magical power will increase significantly! The same goes for your speed, strength, technique, stamina, and even intelligence. Please, try it for yourself; you won't regret it!" She licked her lips, her gaze predatory as she eyed me. With an impish grin, she continued, "Just for you, if you feel like you want more after trying it, I'll throw in 12 of these vials for a mere 50 mints. Now, that's a deal you simply can't pass up."
Instinct told me that this was the exact person who had caused such turmoil in Veilstead. I tried to regain my composure, but I admit my veins were pulsing. As I looked at the vial, my attempt to maintain composure failed, and I couldn't help but snap. The sight of those vials, so similar to the ones we had encountered in Veilstead, ignited a surge of anger and frustration within me. I clenched my fists, struggling to contain my emotions as I demanded answers from the dark elf.
"What are you doing with these vials?" I blurted out, my voice trembling with a mixture of anger and fear. "Do you have any idea what kind of chaos they've caused in Veilstead? People's lives are being ruined because of this... this poison you're peddling!" Era stood beside me, her eyes filled with concern, ready to support me in whatever came next. We couldn't let this go unanswered; we needed to uncover the truth behind these vials and put an end to their destructive influence. The dark elf's smile never left her face; she almost seemed amused by my display. She explained, "Why, I have no idea what you are talking about, and making such a display in public. How unbecoming of you."
My anger flared up, my face hot with rage. I was ready to yell at her, but a small hand pulled me back to my senses. Era looked at me with concern, "Lucius, people are staring." I glanced at the crowd that had heard the commotion, their eyes piercing into me. That was a sign that I needed to leave for now, or else my business in this town could be compromised. I stormed away, and Era trotted after me, my face contorted in both embarrassment and anger. Once Era caught up, I thanked her, "Thanks, I lost my cool; that would have hurt our business had that scene continued." Era nodded pensively, "No problem, it's my job to protect you after all." She turned her eyes from me, seeming a bit embarrassed herself.
The encounter with the dark elf left a bitter taste in my mouth, but I knew we couldn't allow our emotions to cloud our judgment. We had to set aside the issue of the vials for now and focus on our business for the day. Just as I was contemplating this, my eyes were drawn to a notice board on the side of one of the town's streets. A particular pamphlet stood out among the other notices, catching my immediate attention. This pamphlet called for adventurers and merchants to gather in town today.
As I examined it, my sudden interest caught Era off guard, and she glanced at me curiously. What drew my immediate attention on the pamphlet was a mention of a very rare gem highly sought after by both adventurers and merchants.
This gem was known as a Netherine Opal, possessing the remarkable ability to emit a warm, magical light. The Netherine Opal could serve as a lantern, providing clear visibility even in the darkest dungeons or caves. Its utility made it highly desirable for both selling and adventuring purposes. What intrigued me further was the notion that, instead of merely selling these gems, I could use them for travel, especially during the night. All they required was an occasional recharge of magic, and they could illuminate the way in any dark environment.
Reading the pamphlet in more detail, I discovered they were recruiting people for scouting missions today, starting at around 12:00 p.m. Glancing at my small metal pocket watch, I realized it was almost noon already. If we intended to participate, we needed to act quickly.
The pamphlet also mentioned that the king of the city was offering rewards for these stones. Everglint had a monarchy, unlike Veilstead, where officials were elected. This was on a much grander scale. The king offering the reward was King Corwin Whiteford, and he generously offered 450 mints per gemstone. To me, this was an extraordinary amount. It was an opportunity too lucrative to pass up; finding just a couple of these gems might negate the need to sell many of our wares in Everglint.
I explained the pamphlet's details to Era, and she agreed that it was an excellent idea to participate. According to the pamphlet, we were to gather in the town center, where teams would be assigned based on the number of participants and their compatibilities.
With that in mind, and about half an hour left to prepare, I suggested we grab a bite to eat first. We headed to a small café near the town center, enjoying some cutlet sandwiches for lunch before setting out. As we finished our meal, we joined the growing crowd in the town center. People from all walks of life had gathered here: heavily armored adventurers, mages, merchants, and blacksmiths, all seeking to profit or acquire these rare gems. The pamphlet had explained that there was a massive cave system east of the city, not too far away, which had been recently discovered. This cave system was said to contain the coveted gems, as well as other treasures, and it extended for miles beyond anyone's expectations.
The cave was so massive that even with hundreds of people showing up for the expedition, it could easily accommodate everyone. I had assumed that splitting into smaller teams would be a practical way to cover more ground quickly. It would also turn into a race to see who could uncover the most gems and other hidden valuables in the shortest time.
Before we gathered in the town center, I made sure to bring all the supplies I could carry for the journey. Era waited patiently for the expedition to commence, as knights clad in armor went from group to group, registering participants.
After 20 minutes, one of the knights, a young woman with blue hair tied back and clad in silver armor with a steel-forged sword on her back, approached our group. She asked, "Names, please."
I replied, "I am Lucius Evergold, and this is my partner, Era Ashborn."
The woman nodded, "Right, state your qualifications and any other party members."
I explained, "I am a traveling merchant with basic magic skills, while my ally excels in combat." Era added, "I serve as his bodyguard and have proficiency in life magic and dagger combat."
The woman took notes and then stated, "Great, one small problem."
I raised an eyebrow, "Problem?"
The woman replied flatly, "You lack party members. There is a minimum requirement of at least three people per party."
Annoyed, I scratched my head, "Is there anything we can do?"
The woman seemed a bit annoyed herself as she grunted, "You can either recruit another party member, we can assign a solo participant to your group, or you can choose to withdraw."
Though not the most friendly response, we did have options given the circumstances. I suggested, "Okay, if you could assign someone to us, that would be great."
The woman signed, her fatigue showing in the bags under her eyes, "Would Lulith Starmaze come forward, please?" A woman not too far from us moved through the crowd. I recognized her from earlier – it was the pale elf who had tried to sell us the orange vials.
Once she saw us, she grinned, "Lulith at your service, my dears."
I turned to the knight in front of me, avoiding eye contact with the elf, and said, "Anyone else, please."
The guard frowned, "Sorry, kid, we're rather busy. I need to move on to the next party. It's either take the girl, find someone else, or leave."
I sighed in frustration, looking around the crowd for anyone else who might be available. To my annoyance, most people nearby already had partners. The elf chimed in, "Hey, now, I sense a bit of hostility. Let me sweeten the deal. I need a party too, or else I can't join the expedition."
Damn, I hate to admit it, but we were out of options. We had to either accept her into our group or give up on the expedition. I sighed as I looked at the cheeky elf in front of me. She seemed confident, knowing she had the upper hand. Lulith pointed at me and said, "Alright, you don't trust me? That's fine. How about this? I'll restrict my usage of magic with a potion. Would you feel better then?"
I pondered for a moment and replied, "No way. You could just stab us in the back with a regular weapon. I won't trust our lives to some shady potion you mixed up beforehand." The elf, still smiling, mocked, "Fine, have it your way. I can just go with someone else then. I'm a free agent."
I had a bit of a gambit in mind, a plan forming as I turned to the knight. "Fine, put us down as a party," I said. The knight nodded and said, "Right. She's already registered; I'll add her to your party." With that, the knight moved on to the next group, wearing the same bored expression.
I looked at Lulith and said, "Listen, I'll let you join under one condition." Lulith chuckled, "Oh? And what would that be?" I sighed again and explained, "I don't trust you at all. I know you had something to do with the tragedy that happened in Veilstead. I'll let you join, but you need to sign something for me."
I had promised my grandpa long ago never to use this rune, but the temptation was too great. Four hundred fifty mints per gem was an outrageous sum to pass up. I pulled out a small piece of paper and drew a black X inside a semicircle. The rune I was about to use was said to be created by the serpent goddess Seraphina to control her creations. Legend had it that she embedded each of her creations with this rune to bind them to servitude. My grandpa had warned me that using her power was incredibly risky and always came at a certain price, either for the user or the target.
Greed consumed me. I needed to guarantee our safety for this expedition, so I had to use this rune. I looked at Lulith and said, "Sign the bottom of this rune. It will impose restrictions on you for this expedition, so you won't intentionally harm us." I had no idea if that was true, but at the very least, it would serve to bind Lulith to me, providing some guarantee of our safety. Lulith glanced at the rune, still confidently smiling. She grabbed the paper with the rune and, taking out her pen, affirmed, "Absolutely, I can sign if it will earn your trust. I'm a woman of my word. You won't be harmed by me during this expedition, especially since you are someone with such a rare talent for runes. We're kindred spirits, you and I, both merchants doing our best to bring smiles to people's faces."
Her words made me want to vomit. It was hard to engage in conversation with such a person, but this contract would guarantee our safety.
Once she signed, I uttered the words, "Agrellum!" The rune began to glow black, unlike the other runes I usually used, which glowed white. The rune emitted the contract symbol from the paper, searing a mark onto Lulith's hand. She recoiled, crying out in pain as the glowing black rune forcibly bound itself to her. I couldn't help but wonder what consequences this binding would have on our expedition. The rune, pulsating with dark energy, left an unsettling feeling in the pit of my stomach. I had taken a desperate gamble to ensure our safety, but had I just unwittingly sealed our fates in an even more treacherous manner? The ominous possibilities loomed over us, and the expedition had only just begun.