|3rd POV|
Lucas wakes up early in the morning to take a bath in the hot spring for one last time. After a few minutes of cleaning, he leaves the hot spring with a smile on my face. He feels refreshed and ready to take any problem coming his way.
"Good morning, sir. Do you want your breakfast now or later?"
"Now, please. What do we have?"
"We are preparing steamed rice with pickled vegetables, grilled river fish with citrus glaze, and soft-boiled egg with miso broth. As for the dessert, we have a Dango Skewer served with hot tea. Do you want that, or should I ask the cook to prepare something for you?"
"Perfect. I will take that."
She gives him a bright smile and walks to the kitchen. After a few minutes, she returned with a tray of food. She put the food on the table and said.
"Please enjoy your food!"
Lucas happily eats the food and moans in delight. The food is delicious and fills him nicely. After he is done, he returns the key to the receptionist and walks to the dock. He walks toward one of the merchant boats from before and says.
"Yo, Captain! You guys want to Rainwall, no?"
"Oh! Lucas! We are going to Rainwall. Do you want to join us?"
"Yup. If you don't mind."
"Of course not! You are a great person to have alongside us. In fact, please join us. Don't worry about the fee. You will get a free ride."
"Thank you."
"Ah!"
The captain stops him and says.
"Sadly, you cannot enter the ship. We need to load all the goods first. Come back here in two hours. We will depart in two and a half hours."
Lucas nods his head and decides to visit the market. He needs some gear that will help him in his journey. He can make enchanted goods but would rather save his mana and only create them when all of his mana passes ten marks.
He smiles a little when he arrives at the morning market.
As the morning market in Yashuna Village bustles with merchants setting up their stalls, Lucas moves through the crowd, heading toward a general goods shop that sells travel supplies. A stout merchant, wearing a thick apron and a welcoming smile, greets him as he steps inside.
"Welcome, traveler! You're up early. What can I get for you?"
"I need a sturdy traveling bag. Something durable for long journeys."
The merchant rubs his chin before reaching under the counter and pulling out a well-crafted leather bag with reinforced straps. It is a big bag, something that a traveler should have.
"This here is our best-selling Adventurer's Bag—made of tough leather, water-resistant, and has plenty of compartments for storage. Only 1,200 Potch."
Lucas inspects the bag, checking its durability and size. It's light but sturdy, perfect for carrying books, Runes, and other gear.
"I'll take it."
He pays the merchant and says.
"Do you have any adventure packages? You know, something like bedroll and flint and steel."
"Ah, I get it. It is a good idea to group them together like that. Anyway, I have a bedroll and blanket for 1,000 Potch. A lightweight tent for a single person that costs you 3,500 Potch. Flint and Steel for 500 Potch. Stove, spoon, and portable rune stove for 2,000 Potch. You need a rune piece to fuel the stove or use your mana directly. Waterskin that can contain two liters of water for 800 Potch. Lastly, we are also selling a dried ration that is worth a five-day journey for 2,500 Potch."
Lucas calculates the cost and takes out the money. After paying for his gears, the merchant is kind enough to teach him how to put them together efficiently to save space.
"Anything else? You don't look like a soldier, but it never hurts to carry something for protection."
"Something lightweight but useful. A dagger or a short sword."
The merchant reaches behind the counter, pulls out two weapons, and sets them on the table. He points at the dagger and says, "Easy to conceal, good for quick strikes." He pointed at the short sword. "More reach, not too heavy, but hard to conceal."
Lucas picks up the short sword, testing its balance. While he isn't a melee fighter, having a melee weapon is great as a backup.
"I'll take the short sword."
"Good choice. Reliable steel, well-balanced. That'll be 8,500 Potch. I will even throw a belt for it."
He gives the money, and the merchant helps him put the belt around him. He puts the sword on the belt and nods his head in satisfaction.
"You'll need supplies too, I reckon? Healing potions? Mana elixirs?"
Lucas nods, glancing over the rows of bottled elixirs on the shelves.
"Give me three healing potions, two mana elixirs, and two antidotes."
The merchant quickly gathers the items, wrapping them in a small satchel. The merchant then attaches the satchel on his belt.
"One healing potion is 800 Potch. 1,500 Potch for mana elixir. 600 Potch for one antidote."
The antidote is a bit useless because of his planeswalker physique, but he wants to experiment with it. He wants to see if he can create the antidote.
With all of them done, Lucas returns to the dock to wait for the ship to be done.
=== || ===
The journey to Rainwall is pleasant and peaceful. The journey takes a few hours to reach Rainwall, and during that time, he listens to conversations between minor nobles and merchants regarding the incoming Sacred Games.
He learns that if he wants to join, he is already too late because the preliminary stage is over a week before arrival. The start of the Sacred Games will happen in two weeks, which is why all of the nobles in front of him decide to go to Rainwall.
Lord Salum Barrow decided to create a strong front against Godwin by entering Stormfist with all the nobles under his banner. He might not have the same military power as Godwin, but he has allies, and number is a power on its own.
As the merchant boat docks at Rainwall's pier, Lucas steps off with the flow of travelers, merchants, and cargo handlers, keeping his movements casual but deliberate. The city is lively, but he can already sense an undercurrent of tension.
Even when they are under one banner, there is no way all of the nobles are allies. Some of them only put on a mask, and behind that mask, they hate each other. That kind of hate will create tension.
Lucas walks to the nearby guard and asks for directions to an inn.
"Inn, aye? Depends on your taste, really. If you have money to spare, The Gilded Heron is your choice. It is the best inn in Rainwall. It is safe and offers great food. Raven's Nest is your choice if you want privacy and great but less pricey. However, if you are in a pinch for money, the Crooked Otters is your place."
The guard gives him the prize, and after thinking for a few seconds, Lucas says.
"I will take the Raven's Nest."
"Then you need to immediately take right after entering the city and continue to walk until you encounter your first intersection. Take left, and the inn is the fifth building to the right."
"Thank you."
"Not a problem."
Navigating through the busy streets of Rainwall, Lucas makes his way to The River's Rest, a modest but well-kept inn near the market district.
The inn is bustling with activity, filled with merchants finalizing deals, mercenaries nursing drinks, and travelers discussing news from across Falena. The air smells of roasted meat and spiced wine, with the occasional burst of laughter and hushed conversation.
Approaching the front desk, Lucas is greeted by the innkeeper, a middle-aged woman with blue eyes and a jolly demeanor.
"Welcome to The River's Rest, traveler. Looking for a room?"
"Yes. Just for the night."
"That'll be 1,500 Potch. Comes with breakfast in the morning."
Lucas hands over the Potch and receives a key marked with the room number.
"Please check out before eleven o'clock."
"I understand."
"Your room is on the second floor."
He nodded and walked to his room. His room is small but clean, with a simple bed, wooden table, and a window overlooking the street below. The walls are thick enough to muffle outside noise, ensuring privacy, and there's even a small lockbox for valuables.
While in his room, his mind is thinking of a way to earn more money. He still has a lot of them, but he knows that Rainwall has a rare rune for him to get. He needs money to buy them.
He knows that using white mana and green mana will create a small diamond, but he wonders if he can create a bigger one if he adds more mana into the process. With that in mind, he used three white mana and four green mana to create a bigger diamond.
He takes a deep breath and pushes his mana into his hand to create the diamond he wants. After a few seconds, he opens his palm and sees a diamond sitting on it. With a smile, he warps the diamond with clothes, puts it inside his satchel, and leaves the inn. He walked to the marketplace to sell the diamond.
Navigating the bustling marketplace of Rainwall, Lucas searches for a reputable jeweler—one wealthy enough to purchase his diamond. After passing several merchant stalls, he spots an upscale jewelry shop tucked between high-end tailor boutiques and goldsmiths.
The storefront is pristine, with its window display featuring fine rings, necklaces, and gemstones, indicating that its clientele consists of nobles and influential merchants. A well-dressed jeweler, an older man with sharp green eyes, stands behind the counter, carefully appraising a sapphire for another customer.
Once the transaction finishes, Lucas steps forward, placing a small wrapped cloth on the counter. The jeweler barely glances at him before speaking.
"Looking to buy something, traveler? Or do you have something for appraisal?"
"For sale."
Lucas unfolds the cloth, revealing the flawless diamond, its brilliance immediately catching the light. The jeweler's casual demeanor shifts instantly, his eyes widening slightly before he composes himself. He picks up the diamond with delicate precision, holding it up to examine it under a magnifying lens.
"This... this is quite the piece."
He turns it over in his hand, checking for imperfections—but there are none. It is perfect—a perfect diamond.
"Where did you get this?"
Lucas expected this question. Keeping his expression neutral, he gives his prepared alibi.
"It was passed down from my parents. I was given a choice—keep it as a family heirloom and accept a family business or sell it to start my journey as a merchant. I chose the latter."
The jeweler studies him for a long moment, then nods.
"Not the weirdest choice among nobles who want to be a merchant."
Lucas does not correct the assumption and only gives the older man a smile.
"I assume you're looking for a fair price?"
Lucas remains silent, letting the jeweler make the first offer. The man hesitates before leaning in slightly.
"950,000 Potch. What do you think?"
"That is a little bit too low. You know what? I don't want to waste both of our time. Give me 1,000,000 Potch, and we have a deal. You know it is worth more than a million. It can fetch about 1.7 million, right?"
The jeweler studies him carefully, then looks back at the diamond, turning it in the light once more. He knows Lucas isn't wrong—a gemstone of this size would fetch even higher if sold at an auction.
After a long moment, the jeweler lets out a slow breath and nods.
"One million, then. Consider it a privilege to do business with me."
Lucas watches as the jeweler retrieves a lockbox, counting out 1,000,000 Potch in neatly arranged stacks. Once the payment is secured, the jeweler wraps the diamond in a silk cloth and stores it in a separate vaulted compartment—clearly aware of its true value and the need for discretion.
As Lucas pockets his new wealth, the jeweler leans forward slightly, lowering his voice.
"A word of advice—don't go flashing that money around Rainwall. House Barows keeps a close eye on large transactions. He loves using a new rich merchant as his pawn. Take this as advice from one merchant to another."
Lucas gives a small nod. He will remember this advice.
"Understood. Pleasure doing business with you."
The man nods and waves his hand as Lucas leaves the shop.
With his newly acquired wealth, Lucas moves through the bustling streets of Rainwall, keeping an eye out for Rune shops that might have rare or powerful Runes.
After passing several basic magic stalls selling common Fire, Water, and Wind Runes, he finds a more refined establishment tucked between a high-end tavern and a general goods store.
"Arcane Sigil, huh?"
He enters the store and sees a cozy shop with all kinds of runes being shown to the potential buyer. However, he can feel something powerful hidden in this shop. Something powerful that he wants.
A middle-aged Rune scholar, dressed in robes embroidered with magical symbols, stands behind the counter, carefully polishing a Rune Orb with a silk cloth. He looks up as Lucas enters.
"Ah, welcome! I stock only the finest Runes in Rainwall. Are you looking for something specific? Take a look at our catalog here. We have some rare runes for you if you want."
Lucas reads the catalog and widens his eyes as he sees something. He can see the Resurrection Rune. It is a rare rune that lets him resurrect a recently fallen person and is great against undead and evil spirits.
However, his instinct tells him there is more than what is in the catalog.
He looks at the shopkeeper in the eyes and says.
"These are fine Runes, but I've heard that merchants in larger cities sometimes keep their most valuable stock off display. I'm looking for something... rarer."
The shopkeeper's expression doesn't change immediately, but his eyes flicker with interest. He briefly studies Lucas, perhaps weighing whether he's a serious buyer or another curious traveler.
After a long moment, the man leans slightly forward, his voice dropping to a more private tone.
"A scholar, I see. You are correct—some Runes are not meant for just anyone. Special Runes require the right buyer... and the right price."
He glances toward a heavy wooden door behind the counter, then nods slightly.
"Follow me. But understand—these Runes are rare, and their cost reflects that."
The shopkeeper leads Lucas into a private back room far from the public storefront. The walls are lined with enchanted shelves containing Rune Orbs pulsing with powerful energy. These are the kinds of Runes that only elite warriors, high-ranking nobles, or powerful mages would ever acquire.
The shopkeeper turns to Lucas, crossing his arms.
"These are my most exclusive Runes. You won't find them in any ordinary market. But they are expensive, and for good reason. Here is the catalog."
He reads the catalog and frowns a little when he sees a small note in some of the runes.
"What is this Master Variant?"
"It is a special rune that you cannot drain. A normal rune can run out of mana unless you attach it inside your body. That means, sooner or later, the rune will be useless when you drain all of its mana to create spells in your ring or necklace. These? These can generate more unique mana by consuming the mana in the air and turning them into more unique ones."
"Right."
Lucas holds himself back from jumping in joy and says.
"I will take the Flowing Rune, Condemnation Rune, and Blue Gate Rune. Master Variant."
The shopkeeper packs the Runes securely, and after Lucas gives the money, he says.
"If you ever need more... unique inventory, you know where to find me."
Lucas nods and leaves the shop with a bag full of rune orbs. Now, he needs to absorb them, and his room in the inn should be good.