By the time Viella and Raden returned from the House of Financials, the sun was close to setting, offering a colder breeze than the afternoon air.
The two of them had set out the moment Viella told him about the financial grant her father had offered her, Raden needing to go himself, considering it was his stamp.
Now, as the day was closing, both Viella and Raden walked through the tea plantation outside the skirts of the Silver Tower.
The two walked silently, accompanied by the sound of the wind combing through the trees and tall grass.
All the while, she realized it would be her last time seeing this place—a place she had never felt at home in and yet somehow still felt heavy leaving behind.
Did one get attached to sceneries and homelands, even when there was nothing there to hold them back?
"Your father, regardless of what you may think of him, has given you an opportunity to prepare yourself for this journey," Raden said all of a sudden, without looking back, his body covered by a long dark green robe.
"I know that, Raden. Thank you," she said, feeling as if those words had added extra weight to her pain.
"You look so low in spirit, girl. You have a lot to shop for inside. Aren't you excited about what you can bring with you to the other side? It's quite crucial for your journey, you know," Raden said, adding a lighter tone to his words.
He was right, Viella thought to herself. There was no use moping over her father, who had probably forgotten about her by now.
The man never cared for her—he had made that clear. He even promised her to an old man like Raden.
"You're right, I am excited about that. But I don't know exactly what to bring with me. I know you have experience; can you please tell me?" Viella asked, watching as the double gates of the tower slid open for them—something she had to do manually when she escaped.
"Don't you worry? I won't let you go unprepared. I know some of my forging students who have made wonderful items for such journeys. Come now! We have no time to lose. The gates of the heavens are aligning for the perfect path towards Itop!" Raden exclaimed as they finally reached the massive doors of the tower.
Viella followed him, ignoring the Fowles stone statues that seemed to move only to open or close doors for passersby.
In silence, she trailed behind Raden as he went from one dorm to another, calling out specific names she couldn't remember very well. Their attire suggested they were ready for a relaxing time surrounded by other students.
By the time Raden was done, there were five of them—three girls and two boys—who looked at Viella with both curiosity and indifference.
Their friendly attitude from the time she had stayed there had now changed to a cold one.
Viella ignored them, glancing at Raden as he walked to stand behind his desk. He took out a pen and paper, his lush beard slightly trembling as he wrote something down.
Once he finished, Raden began explaining why they were there: that this was a chance for them to sell the little trinkets they had made—something he knew they had already created under his tutorship.
Viella's heart faltered when two students, one boy, and one girl, declared they weren't interested in selling anything to someone who had betrayed the kingdom and insulted their profession.
They claimed Viella had already been accepted as a student and was promised by the King, yet had the audacity to abandon her place and leave after being given luxuries the rest were not afforded.
Raden looked disappointed but let his students go. He explained that although he would very much like them to be more tolerant and forgiving, he respected their thoughts and decisions.
This left only two girls and one boy behind, whom Viella later learned were Cherry, Trix, and Edward.
"I'm pleased you're all willing to sell to my dear Viella. She will be needing them," Raden said, putting both hands together, clearly pleased by the results.
It was Cherry, with her tomato-red hair, who spoke first. "It's my pleasure, Master Raden."
"I need some money for stuff," Trix confessed sheepishly.
"Are you not afraid of going to another realm? It is extremely dangerous. Even the air, or a simple cold, could kill you. Your body is simply not prepared to withstand new threats like that," Edward said, speaking directly to Viella this time.
His piercing blue eyes stared into hers. Viella hadn't even considered that the air could be dangerous.
She had assumed everything in the new realm would be the same.
"That's why, with our help, she will succeed. Now, Cherry, how much for the deep pouch?" Raden asked, getting straight to business.
Cherry thought about it and then said, "Uhm… five silvers."
"One gold coin it is," Raden said, writing it down on his paper.
They were all surprised, but Viella said nothing. She smiled, handing a gold coin to a perplexed Cherry, who nodded her head with a deep bow.
"Thank you, My Lady," Cherry said, placing the pouch on the table. After bowing to her master, Cherry left the room.
"And you, Trix, how much for the mixing bottle and the Heart of Fire?" Raden asked.
Trix didn't hesitate. "Four gold for them combined," she said.
"Very well," Raden said, writing it down on paper while Trix extended her hand to receive the four pieces of gold.
Viella handed them to her, earning a thankful smile before Trix set the two items on the table and left.
"Now, Edward, how much for the dagger… and the dice?" Raden asked.
This took Edward by surprise. His eyes widened. "M-master? M-my dice?" he stuttered, his face turning red as he glanced at Viella.
"I-I cannot part with them. Forgive me," Edward said.
"What will you do with them, boy? They've been sitting in your family's storage for generations. Have you ever thrown them?" Raden asked, his face expressionless.
This question stunned Edward, who answered lamely, "No…"
"Has anyone in your family ever thrown them?" Raden pressed.
"No," Edward replied again. "But they are very valuable, Master. Can this girl afford them?" he asked, glancing at Viella.
Viella returned his gaze, realizing he was someone from the forgery class—a gifted magical forger capable of embedding magic into the weapons he made. But she couldn't understand what a talented forger would want with dice.
"That's why I'm asking you to name your price. Then we'll know whether she can afford them," Raden said, leaning back in his chair. He folded his arms across his chest and waited for Edward to think it through.
"I know my price," Edward declared.
"Say it," Raden demanded, dipping his pen into the ink bottle.
"Three hundred and fifty gold coins," Edward said with finality.
Viella nearly choked. She had enough, but it was expensive indeed. The most valuable magical item she had ever heard of was the Ocean Tiara, which cost only fifty gold coins.
Whatever these dice were, they must have been something extraordinary.
How they were supposed to assist her, she didn't know.
"And the dagger?" Raden asked. His lack of reaction surprised Edward.
"Fifty gold coins," he answered.
Raden helped Viella count the gold coins from her bag with a simple spell.
The coins rolled out and into Edward's pouch, leaving him looking extremely pleased.
He bowed gracefully to Viella, then took her hand.
With a wave of his own, Edward conjured two dice and placed them in her palm.
"I hope they will serve you well, My Lady," Edward said, suddenly adopting the same formality as Cherry and Trix.
Edward seemed capable of pulling objects out of thin air, as he produced a dagger from within his sleeves.
The blade was wrapped in old leather, but she could see it was made of silver, translucent stone.
Once they had all left, the double doors to Raden's study swung shut, and the key turned by itself.
Viella looked at the dice in her hand. They were made of old silver, dotted with beautiful red rubies.
She could see that Edward had never taken the time to polish them.
"It was quite the spending spree, but it was well worth it. I hope you don't mind me spending a full gold coin on Cherry. The girl is too timid and shy. She deserved at least that much for the pouch," Raden said, warming Viella's heart.
"Not at all, Master Raden. Thank you for helping me," Viella replied, her words flattering Raden.
He stroked his beard thoughtfully as he walked over to a wardrobe standing against the far wall.
Viella waited, her eyes drifting to the items laid out on the table.
"It's a pity my two students refused to sell you their handiwork, but I have a few things I purchased for myself. They aren't new," Raden said, returning with several items in hand.
He held up what looked like a chainmail made of black shells that reflected the flickering light of the many candles surrounding them.
"Now..." Raden said with a broad smile, "Shall we prepare you for your journey?"