The next day, Luca and Finn decided to explore the city more. They visited several pharmacies and potion shops to compare prices with those near the camp. Just as they expected, the herbs and potions in the city were far more expensive. Thankfully, they had already stocked up on potions and medical paste from the military camp, enough to last them for two months.
While wandering through the marketplace, they stumbled across a small shop filled with old and second-hand items. The shop seemed cluttered, with dusty shelves holding worn-out weapons, tarnished armour, and other odds and ends. Most of the goods were cheap, and their quality matched the price.
As Luca browsed, his attention was drawn to a pile of old books stacked haphazardly in a corner. Some were tattered, others torn, and a few even had pages missing. He carefully picked up the top one, reading the title: "How to Learn Cooking for Complete Idiots."
Luca blinked. Who names a book like this?
Flipping through more of the pile, he mostly found history texts and books on everyday skills, but then something unusual caught his eye — a small book without a title. Its cover was plain, and the pages inside were worn, but it was filled with diagrams showing strange exercises and practice routines. Luca felt curious. He gathered the untitled book along with a few others that seemed useful and carried them to the shopkeeper.
Meanwhile, Finn was rummaging through old hats on the other side of the shop.
Luca approached the counter. "How much for this pile of books?"
The shopkeeper, a grumpy older man, barely glanced up from his chair. "Sixty silver."
Luca frowned. That seemed too high for such worn-out books. He remembered his mother's advice: When negotiating, always start much lower than the seller's price. You'll meet somewhere in the middle.
Thinking carefully, he countered, "How about thirty-five silver?"
The shopkeeper raised an eyebrow and, without enthusiasm, pointed at the door. "You can leave now. Thank you."
Luca held back a sigh. "Forty?"
The shopkeeper shrugged. "The door's still there."
"Okay, forty-five?" Luca pressed.
The shopkeeper leaned back and stared at the ceiling. "Hmm... looks like it might rain soon."
What does that even mean? Luca thought, glancing at the perfectly clear sky outside.
Luca narrowed his eyes. What does the weather have to do with anything?
Frustrated, he finally said, "Fine. Fifty silver! But you'll have to throw in that dagger too." He pointed at a small dagger resting behind the counter.
The shopkeeper smirked. "Fifty-five silver for the books, the dagger... and the sweets." He gestured to a small jar of colorful candies near the register.
Luca stared at him. The shopkeeper stared back, silently.
A moment later, Luca and Finn left the shop. Luca had a stack of books in his arms and was munching on the sweets, crushing them loudly between his teeth. Finn, who had somehow acquired a floppy, oversized hat, grinned.
"Luca...?" Finn teased.
Luca scowled. "Don't talk to me right now."
Luca and Finn walked along a narrow street, with Luca carrying the books and Finn wearing his hat when they were suddenly blocked by a group of fifteen kids in front of them. Luca heard Finn whisper, "Luca, we're surrounded."
Luca glanced back and saw more kids closing in from behind. Their clothes were tattered, and they looked hungry. One of the boys pointed at Luca and nodded to the others. Luca recognised the boy as the one who had tried to steal from him that day.
The kids swarmed closer, calling out, "Brother, we're hungry, we're hungry."
Luca thought, If you're hungry, just say it. Why do you look like you're going into a battle?
He checked his pouch containing the remaining silver coins and realized it might not be enough. "I don't have much money right now," Luca said. "How about I go to the city exchange hall and get some more?"
Silence fell. The kids clearly thought he was trying to leave. Then one of the smaller children began crying, his voice trembling. "Brother, just buy us anything. We don't want much."
Luca sighed. "How about I leave my friend Finn here? He'll keep you company."
Finn shot him a betrayed look. "Luca, you traitor!"
Luca ignored him. When the kids nodded in agreement, he handed the books to Finn and started walking toward the exchange hall. The boy who had tried to steal from him earlier followed closely.
Luca glanced at him. "What's your name, kid?"
The boy frowned. "I'm not a kid. My name's Mathew."
Luca wanted to ask more but didn't know where to start. Mathew broke the silence. "We belong to an orphanage... or we did. It closed down. Now we have nowhere to go, so we steal or beg."
Luca didn't know how to help them. All he could say was, "Don't steal, okay?"
He thought about how lucky he was to have his mother and a home to return to. These kids had nothing.
After exchanging his silver sheets for coins, Luca returned with Mathew to where Finn and the other children waited. Finn was chatting and laughing with them, his oversized hat tilting comically.
They all went together to find a shop for food. As they walked, people in the crowd parted to let them through, glancing warily at the group of ragged children. When they neared a small food stall, one of the children whispered, "That shopkeeper doesn't like us. He always chases us away with a stick."
Luca decided not to cause trouble and led the group to another shop instead. He ordered food for all the kids. The shopkeeper eyed him a suspiciously, and Luca had to show his silver coins to reassure him.
The children were well-behaved, but other customers began leaving quietly after they entered. Luca noticed but chose not to make a scene.
When the meal was over, Luca asked for the total. The shopkeeper named a price higher than what they had consumed. Luca realized it was because the other customers had left, but he paid without arguing.