Tling…
Tling…
The shop's rusted bell chimed as the door creaked open.
A figure stepped inside, cloaked in a black robe.
Behind the counter, a young girl, no older than ten, sat perched on a chair too large for her small frame. Her silver hair shimmered faintly in the dim light, and her pale, blemished face reflected a quiet innocence.
She watched the newcomer with wide, curious eyes as the robed figure swept their gaze across the room.
The shop was cramped and cluttered, its walls adorned with an assortment of items: rusted axes, knives dulled by time, battered shields, and old toys coated in dust.
Without a word, the figure pulled something from beneath their robe—a small, peculiar compass- its casing gleaming unnaturally bright.
The compass spun wildly, its needle quivering and pointing toward the walls and tables.
The stranger moved with precision, guided by the compass.
Their gloved hands plucked a selection of items: a rusted dagger, an old shield with faded insignias, a cracked toy soldier, and a tarnished coin etched with strange symbols.
They placed the objects on the counter before the girl, their movements deliberate and methodical.
The girl stared at the items, then at the compass, her heart pounding.
She swallowed hard, her voice trembling.
"T-Twenty. No… Thirty."
The figure tilted their head, the gesture unreadable beneath the hood.
Then, a hoarse, rasping voice broke the silence. "Okay."
From a hidden pocket, they produced several gleaming white coins and placed them on the counter.
The girl's breath caught.
With the transaction complete, the figure collected the items and turned to leave.
The bell jingled again as the door swung shut behind them, the sound lingering in the stillness.
The girl sat frozen, her wide eyes fixed on the door.
Her gaze drifted to the counter, where the coins glowed faintly against the worn wood.
"These are silver coins," she murmured in disbelief.
"I only wanted to earn a bit more, so I asked for extra bronze coins. But instead, he paid me in silver."
Her gaze lingered on the shimmering coins in her hand.
Could those seemingly ordinary items actually be worth something?
A wave of excitement washed over her as the realization hit.
'I've truly struck rich this time,' she thought, a wide grin spreading across her face.
A soft, triumphant giggle escaped her lips.
"Hehe," she chuckled, clutching the coins tightly, her heart racing with a mix of joy and disbelief.
Then without another thought, she bolted from the shop.
She darted through the maze of Vargath's dark alleyways, her small feet splashing through puddles and kicking up loose stones.
The air was thick with the stench of decay, and shadows loomed over the crumbling buildings.
Finally, she arrived at a dilapidated structure—a once-grand building now reduced to broken windows and sagging walls.
Pushing the creaky door open, she stepped inside and was greeted by the rhythmic thudding of fists hitting a punching bag.
Bam.
Bam.
Bam.
The sound echoed in the cold, empty space. Her eyes fell on a boy with black hair, about fifteen years old, hammering the bag with unrelenting force.
His punches were a blur, each one landing with precision and power that made the heavy bag sway violently.
Sweat gleamed on his face, and his sharp, focused movements radiated an intensity that was both awe-inspiring and intimidating.
"Big Bro!" the girl called out, her voice breaking the tense rhythm of the strikes.
But the boy didn't seem to hear her, his concentration fixed solely on the bag.
He moved with calculated steps, striking from different angles, his fists pounding relentlessly.
Bam.
Bam.
Bam.
"Big Bro!" she shouted again, louder this time, her voice desperate.
The other occupants of the room turned toward her.
A red-haired boy with piercing crimson eyes—Danny—watched Zachary in awe.
His pale complexion contrasted sharply with his fiery hair, and his slight frame made him look almost fragile in this harsh environment.
Beside Danny sat two girls.
One was plump with tan skin and twin ponytails framing a face dotted with blemishes. The other was her opposite—slender and dark-skinned, with a single ponytail hanging over her shoulder.
The boy throwing relentless punches at the heavy bag was none other than Zachary—Zach to those who knew him. His movements were fluid yet forceful.
Danny, watching the silver-haired girl frantically shouting for Zach's attention, leaned back slightly and placed two fingers in his mouth.
He let out a piercing whistle, sharp and resonant, cutting through the rhythmic thuds of Zach's punches.
Whieee.
The sound echoed through the room, drawing everyone's attention.
Zach paused mid-swing, his fists still raised as his piercing black eyes darted toward Danny.
Slowly, he stretched his arms, loosening the tension in his muscles, and stepped back from the bag.
Zachary was strikingly handsome, his sharp features accentuated by the faint sheen of sweat on his white skin.
A small diamond-shaped earring glinted on one ear, adding an edge to his appearance, while intricate tattoos spiraled down both his arms, from his shoulders to his fingertips, like snakes writhing inside his skin.
With a swift motion, Zach leapt from the elevated boxing ring.
The floor seemed to shook slightly as he landed in front of the silver-haired girl, his presence commanding and intimidating.
"Lily," he said, his deep voice steady but firm, "what are you doing here?"
The girl—barely tall enough to reach his chest—looked up at him, her breathing heavy from her frantic run. Her wide silver eyes shimmered with urgency as she reached into her pocket.
From within, she pulled out a gleaming silver coin and held it up in her small hand, the light catching its mysterious luster.
Zach's gaze locked onto the coin, his sharp eyes narrowing.
He snatched it from her hand with a speed that startled everyone and turned it over in his fingers as he examined it closely.
Behind him, Danny and the two girls exchanged glances before rising from their seats.
They moved closer, their eyes fixed on the coin now clutched in Zach's hand.
Zach's eyes widened as he muttered, almost in disbelief, "The Silver Coin of Valthar… How in the world did you get this?"