Chapter 34: The Shop's Struggle and a Helping Hand (Elongated Version)
Kalki sat in his shop, a modest yet well-arranged place filled with a variety of elemental essences and artifacts, watching the hours tick by. The morning sun had risen high in the sky, casting long shadows through the shop's windows. One hour turned into two, and Kalki found himself nervously glancing at the door every few minutes. Two hours became four, the day half-gone, and still no customers had crossed the threshold. By the time eight hours had passed, the sun was beginning its descent, and Kalki felt a shiver of anxiety run down his spine. An entire day had passed with no customers, and as he locked up the shop for the night, his heart was heavy with worry.
The next day was no better. The minutes dragged on, and Kalki's hope dwindled with each passing hour. By the end of the second day, his emotions had turned into a storm of frustration and worry, a tempest of fear about the future of his business about his useless royalty status. The walls of the shop seemed to close in on him, each item on the shelves a reminder of his investments and his dreams, now teetering on the edge of collapse.
"Yaksha, what am I doing wrong?" Kalki's voice was tinged with desperation as he slumped into a chair, the weight of his worries pressing down on him. "Why isn't anyone coming to my shop?"
Yaksha's holographic form appeared before him, its usual sarcastic demeanor softened by the gravity of the situation. The artificial intelligence, a constant companion and advisor, projected an image of concern. "It's not your fault, Kalki. The location, the prices, the market... so many factors are at play. But you need to remain calm and think strategically."
Kalki rubbed his temples, the beginnings of a headache forming. "I can't afford to lose this much money," he muttered. "I need to do something. I need help."
In his mind, a solution began to form, one that made his stomach twist with a mix of hope and apprehension. He decided to reach out to Seraphina, the wealthy woman who had supported him before. He hesitated for a moment, the pride in him resisting the idea of asking for help. But there was no other option. He remembered how Seraphina had found him unconscious outside the city, taken him in, and nursed him back to health. It was she who had given him a royal application for the entrance exam, ensuring his entry into the university. Her kindness had been a lifeline then, and perhaps it could be again.
Gathering his resolve, Kalki penned a polite letter to Seraphina, explaining his dire situation and humbly requesting her assistance. He sealed the letter with a trembling hand, the anxiety of dependence gnawing at him. He made his way to Seraphina's mansion, each step filled with memories of her kindness and support. The grand structure loomed before him as he approached, its tall and imposing facade a testament to her wealth and status. Kalki approached the gate, took a deep breath to steady his nerves, and rang the bell.
When Seraphina greeted him, her presence was as commanding and graceful as he remembered. "Ms. Seraphina," Kalki said softly, feeling a mixture of gratitude and desperation, "I need your assistance. My shop isn't attracting any customers, and I don't know what else to do."
Seraphina, with her usual calm and warm demeanor, smiled at him. "Of course, Kalki. I'd be happy to help. But first, tell me everything that happened during the entrance exam."
Seated in her opulent drawing room, Kalki recounted his experiences in detail. He described the battles, the challenges, and his encounters with other students. He detailed the room he took and the events that unfolded, all while Seraphina listened intently, her expression thoughtful.
The next day, as if Seraphina's influence had already begun to work its magic, an old man entered Kalki's shop. His appearance was unassuming, but his eyes widened in shock as he saw the elemental essences displayed on the shelves. "I've never seen such essences in my 350 years," the old man murmured, awe in his voice. "Tell me about these."
Kalki's heart raced with a glimmer of hope as he explained everything, starting with the common tier fire essence and metal kai essence, and then moving on to the rare tier essences. "The common tier fire essence increases mastery by 0.0025%, while the common tier metal kai essence has a 0.001% chance of granting a metal kai affinity. The rare tier fire essence increases mastery by 0.01% and has a 0.001% chance to grant fire affinity for those with defective affinities."
The old man listened intently, his initial shock giving way to a keen interest. He seemed to understand the significance of what Kalki was offering. His shock turned into a headache as he realized the potential of these items. "These could change the entire era, pushing the fire continent forward," he said, buying a few essences of each tier. His eyes flicked repeatedly to Kalki's face, as if trying to see behind the mask of the shopkeeper.
As the old man left the shop with his purchases, Kalki sighed in relief, a small victory amidst the sea of uncertainty. But the influx of customers he hoped for never came. The rest of the day passed quietly, and Kalki found himself staring at the door, willing someone else to walk through it. As the day ended, he felt a mix of hope and anxiety, knowing that he had made one sale but uncertain about the future of his shop. The struggle was far from over, but with Seraphina's help and a bit of luck, perhaps brighter days were on the horizon.
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The next morning, Kalki stirred from his sleep at the early hour of 4 o'clock, jolted awake by heavy knocking on the shop door. Groggy and disoriented, he rubbed his eyes and sat up, realizing he had fallen asleep beside Seraph, the four-tailed white fox, in the shop. The persistent knocking continued, urging him to his feet. He stumbled to the door and, to his surprise, found a long line of customers eagerly waiting for the shop to open.
As Kalki swung the door open, he was met with a cacophony of voices demanding essences, ores, and herbs. His initial shock quickly transformed into joy, and he welcomed the crowd with a bright smile.
"Good morning, everyone! Please come in and explore our unique collection of essences, ores, and herbs!" Kalki announced enthusiastically, trying to manage the sudden influx of customers.
The shop soon filled with people, each person eager to get their hands on the coveted items displayed on the shelves. Conversations buzzed around him as Kalki navigated the bustling crowd.
"Do you still have any of the rare tier fire essence?" asked a middle-aged man, his eyes gleaming with interest in enhancing his elemental mastery.
"Yes, sir! We have a few left. They boost mastery by 0.01% and have a small chance of granting fire affinity," Kalki replied promptly, handing over the essence to the eager customer.
A young woman approached the counter next, her curiosity evident. "I've heard about the metal kai essence. Is it true it can grant metal affinity?"
Kalki nodded with a smile. "Indeed, it has a 0.001% chance of granting metal kai affinity, which is reflected in its price of 40,000 UC."
The woman gasped in surprise but quickly made her decision. "I'll take two, then!"
Meanwhile, Seraph played her part perfectly, moving gracefully among the customers. it engaged them with charm and warmth, helping them find what they needed and making the environment cheerful and welcoming. its presence, as a beautiful four-tailed white fox, enchanted both male and female customers alike.
Throughout the day, the shop remained abuzz with activity. Kalki worked tirelessly, ensuring each customer received personalized attention. He explained the properties of the items, discussed their potential uses, and made sure everyone left satisfied with their purchases. By the time the sun began to set, Kalki had achieved remarkable sales figures: 5 million UC from essences alone and another 1 million UC from ores.
Despite the success, a pang of sadness tugged at Kalki's heart as he closed the shop for the day. The thought of harvesting essences from slain beasts weighed heavily on him, reminding him of the necessary but grim aspect of his business. Yaksha, his constant advisor and companion, had remained silent throughout the bustling day and slowly faded away, leaving Kalki with a sense of solitude.
As Kalki sat in the now quiet shop, contemplating the day's events, a notification suddenly flashed before him from the system.
**Quest Notification: Go to the university and complete a weapon under the guidance of professors. Reward: Unknown.**
The unexpected quest notification momentarily distracted him from his troubled thoughts. However, frustration crept in as he realized the quest provided no details about the reward, leaving him to speculate about what lay ahead.
With a sigh, Kalki closed the shop for the night, grateful for the day's success yet burdened by the uncertainties that loomed on the horizon.