The afternoon sun cast long shadows across Eldria's cobblestone streets as Aslam wove through the bustling crowd.
Street vendors called out their wares, their voices mixing with the general din of city life. The scent of fresh bread and roasted meat drifted from nearby stalls, making his borrowed stomach growl again.
"First, food and supplies" he thought, scanning the various shop signs. "Then food and supplies for the journey."
A group of children darted past, nearly colliding with him as they chased a rolling hoop. Their laughter faded into the background noise of haggling merchants and creaking cart wheels.
The familiar chaos of city life felt both foreign and welcome after his long imprisonment.
The market district sprawled ahead, a maze of narrow alleys and wider thoroughfares. Aslam's keen eyes picked out the telltale signs of different merchant guilds - the weaponsmiths' crossed hammers, the alchemists' twisted flask, the clothiers' threaded needle. Each shop front competed for attention with colorful awnings and elaborate displays.
His fingers brushed against some coins at his pocket - Kaelus's remaining funds would need to stretch until he completed the guild mission.
"No charging headlong into danger this time," he mused, remembering past battles where raw power had compensated for lack of planning.
The crowd parted briefly, revealing a weathered shop sign depicting various adventuring gear. Aslam adjusted his course, already mentally cataloging what he'd need.
Inside the equipment shop, the musty air carried hints of leather and metal polish. Shelves lined the walls, packed with an array of adventuring gear - from sturdy boots to weathered backpacks.
— Welcome to Garrett's Gear. — A burly man with calloused hands emerged from behind the counter. — Need anything specific?
Aslam ran his fingers along a well-crafted leather pack. "Quality work, but the prices reflect it."
— Some basic traveling gear. — Aslam kept his tone measured.
The shopkeeper nodded, pulling items from various shelves.
— Heading out on guild business? — He gestured to the silver badge pinned to Aslam's collar.
— A recovery mission. Nothing too complex.
A bell chimed as another customer entered. A woman in fine silk robes swept past them, her perfume cutting through the shop's earthy scents. She cast a curious glance at Aslam's distinctive white hair before turning to examine a display of enchanted compasses.
"Even in a city this size, the hair draws notice," Aslam thought, grateful at least that no one seemed to recognize the Sylvaris features beneath it.
The merchant grunted softly and displayed the merchandise to Aslam
A sturdy waterskin caught Aslam's eye first - the leather well-treated and the seams properly sealed. He tested its weight, noting the craftsmanship matched the higher prices of the establishment.
— That's genuine deer hide — The shopkeeper's chest puffed with pride. — Won't leak even after months of hard travel.
Aslam added it to his growing pile, along with dried meat wrapped in waxed paper, hard cheese, and travel bread sealed in cloth. A small cooking pot and basic utensils followed, then flint and steel for firestarting.
The woman in silk drifted closer, her attention seemingly divided between the magical compasses and Aslam's selections. Her fingers traced the enchanted needle of an expensive model while watching his reflection in the polished brass casing.
Bandage and a basic sewing kit joined the collection.
— Need any specialty items? — The shopkeeper gestured toward shelves holding more exotic gear - enchanted torches that never went out, compasses that pointed toward magical sources, crystals that purified water.
Aslam's eyes widened slightly as he examined the array of enchanted items. The shopkeeper's collection revealed how far humanity had come in his absence - they'd managed to capture and contain magic within everyday objects.
"Packaged magic," he mused, picking up one of the self-lighting torches. "They've found ways to store mana in physical forms."
The craftsmanship spoke of sophisticated understanding. Each item held carefully measured amounts of mana, bound through precise enchantments.
— That's our newest model — The shopkeeper pointed to the torch. — Three different brightness settings, and the enchantment lasts a full year.
Aslam turned the device in his hands, sensing the intricate weave of spells within. The mana flowed in controlled patterns, far more refined than the raw channeling of his era. While the power levels were lower, the efficiency impressed him.
The noble woman drifted closer, her silk robes rustling.
— The Artificers' Guild supplies most of our enchanted goods — She spoke with the practiced ease of someone familiar with magical commerce.
The noblewoman's lips curved into a subtle smirk as she lifted the torch from Aslam's hands. Her rings caught the shop's dim light, each one housing intricate enchantments that made Aslam's borrowed senses tingle.
— These merchant-grade items are barely worth the gold they ask for. — She turned the torch with delicate fingers.
— My family produces artifacts that could put these to shame. Our torches last decades, not mere years.
Aslam's eyes widened. "Decades of sustained mana without transfer?" In his time, maintaining an object's enchantment required regular infusions of mana - a basic skill taught in the Ring of Inner Forge. The concept of self-sustaining for that long enchantments seemed awensome.
The noblewoman's keen eyes studied Aslam's reaction, catching his genuine fascination with the enchanted items. Her perfectly manicured fingers traced the torch's surface, following the flow of mana within.
— I am Cassandra of House Blackthorn — She gave a slight nod, her silver-threaded dress catching the shop's dim light.
— Our artificing techniques have been refined over generations.
Aslam sensed the complex layers of enchantment in her jewelry - each ring contained intricate spells woven together with remarkable precision.
— Perhaps you'd be interested in seeing true artificing? — Her voice carried a hint of pride mixed with curiosity.
— Our workshop produces items that make these merchant trinkets look like children's toys.
Cassandra's eyes lingered on Aslam's refined features, studying the unusual combination of snow-white hair framing such a youthful face.
Aslam observed her in return.
He took Cassandra's appearance with careful consideration. Her auburn hair was styled in an intricate updo, held in place by jeweled pins that sparkled with subtle enchantments. Sharp blue eyes gave her face an beauty gem, while her tall, willowy frame carried itself with practiced grace.
She appeared to be in her late twenties, though the subtle traces of mana around her suggested extensive use of preservation enchantments.
Her silk robes, deep purple with silver threading, whispered against the wooden floor
The fabric's quality and the intricate embroidery spoke of wealth, but the practical cut and reinforced sleeves revealed her hands-on approach to artificing.
The rings adorning her fingers weren't mere decoration. Each one pulsed with different magical signatures - some for protection, others for enhancing perception or manipulating mana.
— Your family work must be fascinating — Aslam kept his voice neutral, though his curiosity about modern artificing techniques burned bright.