The dim light of the merchant's shop glinted off the metallic container that housed the jet-black cloaks. Kane's heart raced as he studied the glowing runes faintly etched into the fabric. The system's assessment flashed in his mind once more:
[Concealing Cloak]
[Tier Two Magical Gear]
[Innate Skill: Masks wearer's presence by 30%. This skill improves significantly in shadows or dark places.]
[Durability: 97%]
Kane's grin widened as he reached into the gravity-free container, pulling one of the cloaks closer. It felt heavier than expected, the fabric cool and smooth against his fingertips. His blood pumped faster with excitement. This was no ordinary gear—it was a find worth every credit he had.
The merchant's sharp eyes didn't miss Kane's interest. His thin lips curled into a sly grin as he leaned forward on the counter. "Ah, I see you've taken a liking to those old rags," he said, voice dripping with feigned nonchalance. "They're… unique, I'll give you that, but they're not exactly popular around here."
Kane raised an eyebrow, barely holding back a smirk. He could hear the desperation in the merchant's tone. The man clearly didn't know what he had. "Not popular?" Kane asked, pretending to inspect the cloak more closely. "Why's that?"
The merchant waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, nothing serious, just that no one's been able to figure out if they do anything special. Some collectors picked them up ages ago, claiming they had some sort of enchantment, but I've yet to see any proof. They're practically dead weight."
Kane nodded slowly, pretending to mull it over. The system had already confirmed the truth about the cloaks, but there was no reason to let the merchant know that. "Huh, dead weight, you say? Then why are they locked in a gravity-free container?"
The merchant's grin faltered for a moment before he recovered. "Ah, well, that's just standard security protocol. Can't have customers manhandling everything, you know?"
Kane tilted his head, feigning indecision. "Interesting. So how much are you asking for these… dead-weight cloaks?"
The merchant leaned in, rubbing his hands together. "For you, kid, I'll cut a deal. Let's say… three hundred credits each."
Kane almost laughed. Three hundred credits? For a tier-two magical gear? Either this man truly didn't know what he had, or he thought Kane was a fool. Regardless, the price was perfect for Kane, who didn't have the funds to pay full value for something like this. He shrugged nonchalantly. "Three hundred, huh? Sounds fair enough. I'll take all three."
The merchant's eyes gleamed with greedy satisfaction, but he quickly masked it with a friendly grin. "A fine choice, young man! You've got an eye for quality, even if these are a bit… experimental."
He packed the cloaks into a sleek metallic box, the lid sealing with a soft hiss as he handed it over. "Pleasure doing business with you."
Kane took the box and offered a polite nod. "Likewise." As he turned to leave, he couldn't help but let his grin widen. The merchant thought he'd unloaded a useless stockpile on an unsuspecting customer, while Kane knew he'd just walked away with gear that could give him a serious edge in the academy.
Behind him, the merchant chuckled to himself, shaking his head. "Poor kid doesn't even know he just blew nine hundred credits on glorified bathrobes."
They both parted ways, each convinced they had come out on top, their smiles equally smug and self-assured.
---
Kane wandered through the vibrant marketplace with no credits left but no regrets. His purchase of the cloaks had drained him dry, but he knew he'd scored a steal. Still, with a few minutes to spare before their meeting time, he decided to explore a bit more, curious about the chaotic life surrounding him.
The marketplace, though small, was bustling with activity. Vendors hawked everything from glowing alien fruits to bizarre trinkets whose purposes Kane couldn't even begin to guess. The air buzzed with chatter, and an occasional outburst from a haggling customer or overly enthusiastic merchant added to the cacophony.
As Kane passed by a corner, he caught sight of a few other academy recruits skulking about. He smirked, recognizing them immediately—students who had also decided to bend the school rules for a taste of adventure.
One group of recruits had set up a table near a stall and were clearly engaged in a high-stakes card game. From the way they were glancing nervously around while whispering insults at each other, it was obvious they had no clue how to play.
Another recruit stood in front of a mirror stall, dramatically posing as though rehearsing for some action movie. Kane watched as the guy drew an imaginary sword, struck a cringe-worthy battle stance, and then shouted something about vengeance.
A pair of girls were trying to convince a vendor that their school IDs should count as a form of currency. The vendor looked utterly unimpressed and leaned back in his chair, muttering something about "kids these days."
Kane chuckled. "We're all just a bunch of rule-breaking idiots, huh?"
After a bit more wandering, he checked his watch. It was time to head to the meeting spot.
---
When Kane arrived at the designated location, Liam was already waiting for him, leaning casually against a wall.
"Took you long enough," Liam quipped.
"Relax. I'm here, aren't I?" Kane shot back.
They both looked up as Leo approached, carrying a box similar in size to Kane's. Liam carried a smaller box, but it wasn't nearly as impressive-looking as the others.
Kane raised an eyebrow at his friends. "So, what'd you guys get?"
Leo grinned, holding up his box. "Why don't I go first?"
He set the box down and opened it with a dramatic flourish. Inside were three pairs of sleek black boots. Kane's eyes immediately glinted with curiosity as he activated his appraisal skill.
[Shadow Step Boots]
[Tier One Gear]
[Innate Skill: Soundless steps. Can also be made invisible.]
[Durability: 92%]
Kane nodded approvingly. "Not bad, Leo. You actually picked something useful for once."
Liam smirked. "Yeah, no way you decided on that by yourself."
Leo laughed. "Oh, totally. I almost bought a plasma banana cannon. But I figured you two might kill me, so I went with these instead. And guess what—they're for all of us."
Kane looked surprised. "Wait, you bought three pairs?"
"Of course! Can't let my squad look basic, can I?" Leo teased.
Kane explained the boots' features to Liam, who whistled in approval. "Man, I underestimated you, Leo. That's actually a solid choice."
Leo shrugged smugly. "What can I say? I'm a genius."
"Sure you are," Kane muttered.
---
Next, it was Liam's turn. He grinned mischievously as he opened his box, revealing… three books. They were neatly arranged horizontally, their covers shimmering faintly under the light.
Kane and Leo stared for a moment, then simultaneously facepalmed.
"Books?" Kane groaned. "Of course, you'd buy books."
"You had one job, Liam!" Leo added, throwing up his hands. "ONE job!"
Liam looked unbothered. "Laugh all you want, but these aren't just any books. They're guides on understanding our abilities. You're welcome."
"We have a library back at school, Liam!" Kane snapped.
"Yeah, but these are rare editions!" Liam protested.
"Oh, I bet," Leo said, rolling his eyes. "I'm sure we'll totally need The Idiot's Guide to Not Dying in Space or whatever you just bought."
---
Finally, it was Kane's turn. He unboxed the cloaks, each one glowing faintly as they hovered just above the surface of the metallic container. He explained their features, emphasizing how they enhanced stealth and concealed the wearer in shadows.
Leo and Liam exchanged stunned glances.
"You're telling me you got all this… for that price?" Liam asked, pointing at the cloaks.
Kane nodded smugly. "Yep. The merchant thought they were useless. I didn't correct him."
Leo whistled. "Okay, that's impressive. For once, you outscammed a scammer."
They packed up their gear, deciding to wear everything for convenience. The boots became invisible, blending seamlessly over their sneakers, and Kane donned one of the cloaks, testing its abilities as the shadows seemed to wrap around him.
Liam carried his precious books, muttering about how they'd thank him one day, while Leo adjusted his boots with a grin.
"Alright, boys," Leo said, gesturing toward the space line. "Let's head back before someone realizes three rule-breaking idiots are missing."
"Speak for yourself," Kane quipped.
They laughed, their gear secured, ready to sneak back into the academy with style.