The divers spent the remainder of the day within the trading post selling the spoils of their dive. The elite shadrat's magic stone was an orange one like the elite feralise had given, just a few inches more in diameter.
They split the 60 gold marks they received evenly between the three of them, and went about their own shopping trips.
Cort purchased healing potions and food rations. While he could rely on Ashen's healing magic, he did not want to burden his friend further by asking the ermine to heal the rest of the party. The rations would come in handy for extending the dives.
The other important item Cort got a hold of was a measuring tool for the party's Cores. With it, he'd be able to track and evaluate the progress they made in improving them. Stronger monsters equated to faster growth, so he was hopeful for the Core's current state.
It was a chore to track down the appraiser, but Lond found him and showed him the staff they received from the feralise. After selling it, he had another six gold marks.
With his extra coins, Lond bought mana restoration potions, a novice potion making kit, and three pebble sized red magic stones. He wanted something relatively inexpensive to experiment with, and he also bought a book on potion crafting and a book on fusing magic stones with equipment.
There was interjection from Lin as well, and she coerced Lond into buying things for her. It started with simple weapon maintenance tools like polish and a whetstone. Then she decided to embarrass Lond and force him to buy "girly" clothes in case she was allowed to walk around freely.
Haley, after selling all of her scavenged goods as well, ended up with a little over sixty-two gold marks. She comfortably tucked away fifty five of those into her Secret Savings Stash, and frugally spent the rest on a new piece of leather chest armor.
Those boys are too wild, Haley thought as she tried on her new armor. It fit her comfortably, if a bit snug. The merchant assured her that it could withstand the bite of a grown feralise, but she was skeptical.
With the shopping done, they decided to retire for the evening. The sun was beginning to set, and people were lighting the torches along the paths of the encampment.
"Do either of you want to go to The Pit?" Haley asked as they got outside the trading post. "I'm not working tonight, but the special is supposed to be good. Potato stew and fresh bread."
"Not tonight," Cort answered. "Lond, you can go if you want. I've got another stop to make before I go back to the tent."
"I'll go with you, Cort," Lond said.
"Your loss," Haley replied with a shrug. "The potato stew is probably the best thing in the kitchen."
"Some other time then," Cort said. He held out his hand to Haley and gave his best attempt warm smile. "Thanks for helping out today. I'm sorry it turned out that way."
"No problem at all." Haley shook his hand and smiled back, the warmth in her smile much more present and sincere. "I'll meet you two in the same place tomorrow. Better be ready to work hard."
Cort and Lond nodded at her, and Haley gave one last little wave before quickly walking away from them.
"Oh shut up," Lond suddenly mumbled once Haley was out of earshot. When Cort gave Lond a confused look, Lond shrugged and said, "Lin is making fun of you in my head."
"About what?" Cort asked.
"Said you're a moron for not going with her. Lin says she's probably trying to ask you out on a date."
"I don't think that's the case." Cort thought so anyway.
He had zero experience with romantic feelings on his own. Being cursed with a weird half existence such as Cort's had shifted many of his priorities growing up.
The concept of meeting someone and going on a date would never occur to him. Cort wouldn't even know what to do with a date.
"Where do you need to go before going back to the tent, by the way?" Lond asked. Cort had already begun walking, following a group of men with golden lions painted on their cloaks.
"I want to make an appointment with General Ulgrim," Cort explained. "Think you can manage that?"
"I'll behave," Lond answered. There was a brief pause before he added, "Lin will as well."
That was good news for Cort. It was getting more obvious to him why Lond distrusted the Empire. Iphos seemed private and mysterious to him, and those were two values a normal Imperial would struggle with from anyone not on the Emperor's court.
There was also Lin, and the nature of her and Lond sharing a body. That was a strange mystery that could not be readily explained, and to an Imperial that could be evil, dark magic. If Lond or Lin spent much time out in the Empire, they would be hated if their nature was discovered.
Lond spending such a long time in the tower home of Iphos was making more sense to Cort as he considered it.
Eventually, following the men with the Imperial Army cloaks led the young men into the heart of their portion of the encampment. The lion insignia surrounded them on clothes, tents, and banners.
The soldiers were much like the other divers elsewhere in the tent. They just continued to wear their weapons and armors as they walked around, their uniform the sign of their status and rank.
"Leaf doesn't wear that heavy plate mail," Lond noted as they walked past a group of men in metal armor.
"Leaf's a private," Cort added. He gestured to a pair of young people wearing tightly fitting garbs that would not be out of place on a martial artist. One could faintly make out the outlines of leather pads sewn into the cloth.
"Newer soldiers that don't bring their own gear get the cheap stuff," Cort explained, quietly so as not to seem like he was insulting the young soldiers they passed. "Leaf was wearing something more like that."
"I wonder if we'll come across him," Lond thought aloud. Cort was curious as well, but doubtful. If he could guess the timing right, Leaf was likely doing some grunt work in the early evenings.
They reached what was clearly the General's tent. The largest one at the center of the Army's designated area had two heavily armed guards standing outside the entrance.
"How are we getting past them?" Lond whispered. Just like Cort, he was staring at the large halberds the guards were wielding. Cort took a deep breath followed by a step forward.
"My name is Yan Cort," he told the guards loud and clear. "I have an appointment to speak with General Ulgrim."
The guards stood firmly at attention, raising the blades of their weapon in a show of acceptance. Cort gave them both a bow, with Lond nervously mimicking the bow before Cort led the way for them into the tent.
The General's tent reminded Cort of Captain Ulgrim's. Just. More. There were multiple tables all lined with tools, books, maps, and the occasional knife. In a corner was a bed, likely the most opulent one in the entire Remus encampment. Barrels and armor stands and weapon racks were scattered throughout the large space, giving it a feeling of organized chaos.
Standing beside one of those desks was Ryza Ulgrim, pen in hand as she marked and studied a map. She was dressed casually, though her shirt remained neatly tucked, and there was still a dagger on her belt.
"I'm glad I told my guards that you would be coming," Ryza said without looking up from her work. "What can I do for you, Yan?"
"General, you're likely the most experienced practitioner of Gracious Lily in the camp," Cort began. "I need someone to train me."
"No." Ryza's reply was cold, but Cort expected as much.
"Please. I need to continue my training, and for that I need the best teacher."
"This is not your home in Vim, Cort." Ryza finally looked up from her work at both the young men. "And you. Little magician. I don't recall extending any invitations to you."
"I'm sorry for interjecting, milady," Lond replied. "And I'm sure that Cort understands that you are a busy woman, likely with important business to conduct for his majesty."
A smirk formed on Ryza's face, and for a moment Cort froze. That smirk either meant Ryza was pleased, or that knife was about to end up in Lond's heart.
"Cort is the leader of our dive group," Lond continued. "As a fellow commander, you must acknowledge that self improvement is just as important as improving your troops."
"Where did you find this young politician, Cort?" Ryza asked, still smiling.
"Lond is my friend," Cort answered. "And he's right. I need to grow stronger. Not just for myself, but for my team as well."
Ryza had a chuckle at that line, then turned back to the work at her desk. "You will return to this tent tomorrow night at sunset," she stated. "Now leave. As your friend said, I have important work to do for his majesty."
"Oh!" Lond suddenly said. "Milady, Emile was heavily injured in the labyrinth. Right now he's recovering in our tent if you would like to visit him at some point."
There was a brief pause in Ryza's pen scratches. She resumed before too long, with another firm statement of, "Tomorrow, Yan. Sunset."
Cort nodded, then yanked Lond out of the tent with him. He muttered a soft "Let's go," and the pair started making their way back to their own tent.
"Does every encounter with that woman feel like she could kill you any moment?" Lond asked. He sounded out of breath even though they were barely going faster than a walk.
"Every second more like it," Cort responded. He was thankful for Lond's intervention, as it meant he would get his training.
There was a sense of deep foreboding in Cort's mind, though.