The village market buzzed with life. Vendors shouted their prices, customers haggled, and spiritual beasts stood guard by their masters. My eyes scanned the stalls, looking for the one I needed—Varn's. I had heard of him as someone who dealt in beast materials and crafted equipment from their remains. This was where I would sell the spoils from my hunt and gather some essentials for Shadow's upcoming evolution.
I finally spotted Varn's stall, standing larger and more fortified than the others. Beast materials—hides, bones, and horns—were piled high in an organized mess. Behind the counter, various weapons and tools were displayed: knives, swords, and armor, each faintly humming with spiritual energy, marking them as creations of beast-forged materials.
Varn himself, a burly man with a scruffy beard, was inspecting some goods. His sharp eyes flicked toward me as I approached, his expression curious.
"A new face?" he rumbled, straightening up. "What brings you here, kid?"
"I've got some beast materials to sell," I said, hoisting my bag onto the counter. "And I'm looking to buy a few things, too."
Varn gave me a once-over before nodding. "Let's see what you've got." He opened the bag and pulled out the hides, bones, and a few small carcasses of the low-ranked rodents I had hunted. His eyes lit up slightly as he inspected the lot.
"Not bad," he muttered. "These are low-ranked beasts, but well-preserved. The hides are in good condition, and these rodent carcasses..." He paused, examining one of the small creatures. "Low-Silver, eh? That'll fetch a decent price."
I watched him closely as he sorted through the materials, placing a few items aside with a thoughtful look.
"For the whole lot," Varn said, scratching his chin, "I can give you eight silver and seven bronze. That's about right for these kinds of materials, especially with those Low-Silver rodent carcasses boosting the price."
I nodded, feeling a bit relieved. "Sounds fair."
Varn scooped a handful of coins from his pouch and slid them across the counter—eight silver coins and seven bronze coins in total. It was a decent sum, especially considering the rank of the beasts I had brought in.
"Now, what are you looking to buy?" Varn asked, folding his arms across his chest.
"I need a butchering knife and a combat knife. Nothing too fancy, just something practical."
Varn grunted in approval and turned around, pulling out a couple of blades from the racks behind him. "Here," he said, holding up a slightly curved knife. "This is a butchering knife, made from the bones of a Low-Iron beast. It's sharp, durable, and good for cutting through hides and bones."
I took the knife, testing its balance. It felt light but strong—a good tool for fieldwork.
"And this," Varn said, handing me a smaller, straighter blade, "is a combat knife. Also made from Low-Iron beast materials. It'll hold up in a fight. It's simple, but it'll do the job."
Both knives were exactly what I needed. "How much for these?"
"2 silver for the set," he said. "Fair price for what they're made of."
I nodded and handed over the coins, leaving me with three silver and seven bronze.
As I turned to leave, I noticed a small, worn booklet on the counter. It was titled Basic Butchering and Skinning Techniques. That could come in handy.
"How much for the booklet?" I asked, holding it up.
Varn glanced at it and shrugged. "Two bronze. It's old, but it'll teach you the basics."
I added it to my purchase and tucked the book into my bag. I was lighter on coins now, but at least I had what I needed. Next on my list was some new clothes.
---
I made my way to the clothing stalls, where bolts of fabric and simple garments hung in neat rows. A middle-aged woman smiled as I approached, her eyes taking in my ragged outfit with a mix of amusement and pity.
"Looking for something more comfortable, dear?" she asked, holding up a tunic.
"Yeah," I replied, scanning the racks. "Something durable but easy to move in."
She nodded and pulled out a dark-colored shirt made from simple beast wool. "This one is practical," she said. "It's not made from anything special, but it'll last."
I held the shirt up against me. It was a little fitted, but breathable and flexible. Perfect for what I needed. Next, I picked out a pair of black pants that were sturdy but allowed for easy movement, and a pair of brown boots made from treated leather.
"How much for these?" I asked, already preparing my remaining coins.
"Two silver and five bronze for the whole set," the woman replied as she folded the clothes neatly.
I handed her the coins and changed into my new outfit, feeling much more comfortable in the fresh clothes. The shirt was soft against my skin, and the boots felt sturdy but lightweight—ideal for the journey ahead. My purse was getting lighter, but I still had some coins left. Now, it was time to visit the herbalist.
---
Elara's shop was tucked away in a quieter part of the market, the air thick with the scent of herbs and potions. Shelves lined the walls, filled with bundles of dried plants and glass bottles of every shape and size. Elara, a stern-looking woman with sharp eyes, stood behind the counter, watching me closely as I approached.
"I need herbs for a beast evolution," I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. "For a Shadow Sparrow."
Her eyebrows lifted slightly. "A Shadow Sparrow, huh? Not a common beast for someone your age. What kind of evolution are you aiming for?"
I didn't answer, but she didn't press the question. Instead, she turned to her shelves, pulling out a few bundles of herbs.
"This," she said, holding up a small bunch of dark purple flowers, "is Nightshade Flower. It enhances a Shadow-type beast's spiritual energy. One silver and five bronze for the lot." She placed the bundle on the counter and grabbed a glowing white flower next. "And this is Moonlight Lily. It stabilizes the evolution process—One silver."
---
[Appraisal: Nightshade Flower, Rank: Common (Low)]
[Appearance: Dark purple petals with faint black veins. Thrives in shadowy environments.]
[Effects: Enhances spiritual energy for Shadow-type beasts by 5%. Used in basic spiritual potions.]
[Price: 1 Silver Coins and 5 Bronze Coins]
[Appraisal: Moonlight Lily, Rank: Common (Low)]
[Appearance: Glowing white petals, often found by streams under moonlight.]
[Effects: Stabilizes spiritual evolution, reducing risk of failure.]
[Price: 1 Silver Coins]
---
I watched as she gathered a few more herbs and laid them out before me.
"That'll be 2 silver and 5 bronze in total," she said, eyeing me with a calculating look. "I can also prepare an elixir for you. It'll use these herbs and ensure a smoother evolution. But it'll cost you."
"How much?" I asked, knowing that I couldn't afford much more.
"One more silver," she said flatly. "But it'll guarantee your beast's evolution is safe."
I thought about it for a moment. It would leave me with barely anything, but Shadow's evolution was my top priority.
"Alright," I agreed, handing over the seven silver coins.
Elara nodded, her hands moving with practiced precision as she prepared the elixir. She crushed the herbs and mixed them together, creating a faintly glowing liquid. After a few minutes, she handed me a small vial.
"This will do the trick," she said. "Make sure your Shadow Sparrow drinks it before the evolution begins."
After getting the vial and selling some of the herbs I gathered, I left the shop, my coin purse now much lighter. I had only 5 silver and three bronze left, but I had everything I needed. Shadow's evolution was finally within reach, and I couldn't wait to see the results.