After a long day of training, Luca and Finn were sitting by a campfire, talking quietly as they relaxed.
"Have you noticed how strict the higher-ups are with the nobles?" Finn asked, poking at the fire with a stick.
"What do you mean by that ?" Luca asked.
Finn lowered his voice, making sure no one else could hear. "Apparently, there's a rule now. If nobles are caught trying to suppress or bully others in the army, they'll be punished severely. No one is allowed to throw their weight around just because of their status. It's all part of the war effort, I guess. We're all supposed to fight together, no matter who we are."
"That sounds fair," Luca said thoughtfully. "But how does that work in practice?"
Finn leaned in closer, speaking in a whisper. "Well, nobles and other high-ranking people don't stay in the same areas as the regular soldiers. They have their own sections of the camp, far away from everyone else. This way, they don't clash with the common soldiers. It keeps things calm."
Luca nodded, understanding now. "That makes sense. It would be too chaotic if everyone was mixed together."
"Exactly," Finn agreed. "And, on top of that, there are rumors that some of the nobles aren't too happy about it. But if they want to stay in the army and keep their positions, they need to follow the rules."
The conversation drifted to other things, and soon the two of them were talking about the upcoming monthly test.
The day of the test for the second month arrived, and everyone gathered for the competition. This time, the challenges felt even harder than before.
Luca was ready, and as the tests began, he gave his best in each event. The herbal paste from the previous month had made a huge difference in his training.
When the results were announced, Luca took first place again. His heart swelled with pride, but he didn't let it show too much. He didn't want to rub it in anyone's face, especially not Finn's.
Finn, though, gave him a playful smile. "Congratulations," he said, his voice teasing but sincere. "You're getting really good at this. Maybe one day, I'll catch up to you."
Luca laughed and punched him lightly on the shoulder. "Keep trying, Finn. You're getting stronger every day too."
Despite the slight envy in Finn's voice, Luca could tell his friend was genuinely happy for him.
After the test, Luca and Finn had some free time. Aaron had given them a few hours off, so the two decided to visit a nearby area set up for soldiers. It was like a small market where they could buy supplies and take care of personal needs.
The walk was long, but it was nice to get away from the camp for a bit. As they approached the market, Luca saw stalls set up along the dirt path. Soldiers were shopping for food, clothes, and other supplies, and the air smelled of fresh bread and herbs.
"Look at that!" Finn pointed excitedly. "They have everything here. I bet we can find something good."
Luca nodded, scanning the area. As they walked through the market, his eyes landed on a small shop near the edge of the area. The sign outside read Herbal Remedies and Luminis Care.
"Let's check that out," Luca suggested, intrigued by the sign. He knew herbal remedies were important for Luminis practitioners.
Finn shrugged. "Sure, why not? I could use something for this sore arm after the last training match," he joked, flexing dramatically.
Inside the shop, the shelves were lined with jars, bottles, and vials of all kinds. Luca's gaze quickly fell on a small shelf with jars that looked familiar, the same herbal paste he had used before. There were also other remedies, including medicines for healing and potions to help boost Luminis power.
Finn wandered over to a shelf full of ointments. "Hey, Luca, this looks similar to what they gave me when I sprained my wrist last month," he said, holding up a jar. "Good stuff, but smells terrible."
Luca chuckled but didn't respond. Something else had caught his attention. As he moved closer to the far side of the shop, he noticed a few scrolls tucked away on a high shelf. They looked old and worn, with strange symbols on them. Luca reached for one, curiosity piqued.
"What are these?" Luca asked the shopkeeper, holding up one of the scrolls.
The shopkeeper adjusted his spectacles and leaned forward. "That, young one, is a scroll for Luminis practitioners. It holds techniques and knowledge to help you advance your understanding of Luminis power, especially useful once you've reached the harmonization stage."
Finn glanced over, intrigued. "Well, how much is it?"
The shopkeeper hesitated for a moment, then named the price. Both Luca and Finn winced.
"That's steep," Finn muttered, shaking his head.
Luca nodded, his disappointment clear. "Yeah, I don't think I can afford that."
Seeing their reactions, the shopkeeper chuckled softly. "Ah, don't worry too much. Many find the price high at first. There's another way, you can exchange military merits for it."
"Military merits?" Finn asked, raising an eyebrow. "What's that?"
The shopkeeper began, "You see, when Luminis practitioners reach the harmonization stage, they're considered capable of taking on missions. These missions, issued by the army, range from assisting with defense to solving problems that require Luminis expertise. Completing them earns you military merits."
He paused, letting the information sink in before continuing. "Merits were introduced for soldier welfare, as a reward system. They can be exchanged for supplies, weapons, training materials, and even these scrolls. The exchange rate is far better than using money, so those in service often prefer it."
Finn gave a low whistle. "Huh. That's not a bad deal. But how many merits are we talking here?"
The shopkeeper nodded at Finn's question. "For this particular scroll? About thirty merits. Much more affordable than the coin price."
Luca's gaze lingered on the scroll, hesitation in his eyes. "I'm not at harmonization yet," he said.
"Ah, don't worry. These are just copies. Whenever you reach the harmonization stage, you can always buy these scrolls," the shopkeeper replied with a kind smile.
Finn clapped Luca on the back. "Looks like something to work toward, huh? Maybe you'll be the first in our group to reach harmonization and snag one of these."
Luca smiled faintly, carefully placing the scroll back on the shelf. "Maybe. Thanks for the info," he said to the shopkeeper.
As they left the shop, Finn turned to Luca. "Alright, enough about scrolls and merits. Let's go find something to eat. I saw a stall back there with bread that looked amazing."
Luca laughed. "You're always thinking about food, aren't you?"
"Always," Finn grinned. The two wandered back into the busy market, their earlier conversation still lingering in Luca's thoughts.