"Why did he have to choose this place? Does he really think the pressure of the crowd and the noisy surroundings will help him negotiate a better price? It's absurd. I need those crystals, and the quality in stores is laughable, not to mention the prices. Even with my position as a court mage, which provides me with a substantial income, I still can't afford the quantity I need. Every mage knows the best goods come from adventurers. Crystals extracted from monster cores are far superior to those artificial imitations you find in stores."
She took a deep breath, knowing she was just a few moments away from the destination. She felt growing tension, as if something was about to happen.
"Okay, this must be the place." She looked around as she arrived at one of the five well-known adventurers' hubs in the entire country of Ero. Memories started flooding her mind. "Why is it always so loud here? Another fight? Nothing ever changes in this place..."
Without hesitation, she stepped inside and saw a scene of a brawl. A young boy was defending himself against three attackers. Her eyes were immediately drawn to his black hair.
"Three against one... classic. They always seem to enjoy picking on demons." A chill ran down her spine as she remembered her own beginnings as an adventurer. "I was in his shoes once... those memories... I might have to intervene. That boy doesn't stand a chance; he looks so weak. Although..."
Her gaze shifted to a huge man lying unconscious next to the boy.
"If he managed to take down that giant, maybe he's not as helpless as he looks... Perhaps I should wait a bit longer and see what happens. After all, I still owe a favor to a friend, and this boy might prove useful. If things get dangerous, I'll step in."
Leni focused on the fight, carefully observing the movements of the black-haired youth. At that moment, a blond attacker lunged at the boy, but to her surprise, the youth swiftly knocked him off balance and delivered two powerful punches straight to his face. Leni felt her curiosity grow.
Then the other two assailants rushed at him. The red-haired opponent fell after a single, precise strike, and the boy grabbed the other's arm and broke it with a fierce twist.
Leni murmured to herself with satisfaction:
"This boy is strong. He must control the fire element, and at a very advanced level. I'm sure of it. At last, I've found someone who might be a good match..."
She watched with satisfaction as the youth handled his attackers, but then noticed that the men were slowly getting back up.
"Alright, my turn now." Without ceremony, Leni cast a spell. A basic gust of wind, which in her execution was incredibly powerful, sent all three men crashing to the ground. They reacted immediately – without waiting for what would happen next, they fled through the window, realizing they were dealing with a powerful sorceress.
Leni glanced at the boy, who was still standing, slightly dazed from the fight.
"I need to ask him a few questions..." she thought, approaching him. "After all, he might be the one to help me settle this debt that's been hanging over my head for so long."
Before he could get a single sentence out to introduce himself, the boy suddenly collapsed to the floor, unconscious.
"Seriously? Great... Just my luck. I can't leave him here, especially since he might actually prove useful. I should find him a room. I have a few questions for him... and one request."
She walked over to the bartender, who also served as the receptionist. She learned that the boy had already rented a room and was waiting for it to be prepared.
"Well, I'll have to wait a bit..." But before she could leave, her eyes fell on something lying on the floor. "Wait, are those magical crystals?"
She looked at the shattered stones scattered near the body of the huge man.
"Dammit... I was supposed to buy those crystals from him! How am I going to get what I need now? Without them, I'll be forced to get supplies from the store, and their stock is of lower quality and much more expensive... But on the other hand... Maybe I've found something far more valuable than crystals..."
She glanced at the unconscious boy lying on the floor and sighed.
"Alright, I should help him out..." She picked him up and carried him to the nearest couch. After about fifteen minutes, she was handed the key to the room the boy had rented. She carried him there, laid him on the bed, and sat down beside him, contemplating her next move.
"Alright... I can wait for a bit. This boy might really be useful," she said quietly to herself, satisfied that perhaps fate was finally starting to favor her.