Chapter 2: warrior basket pt. 2

I entered the north side of the market. Holy shit this market is huge. Just the north side was more bustling than Qolchiot, and Qolchiot was already considered big. I walked through the different tents and they really had everything. Gemstones, parrots and exotic animals, farming tools, pottery, the latest clothes and weapons. But what really stole my attention was the priestgear tent: Add ons, replacement parts, tools for upgrading your armor. I know I don't “need” it for my stay but having that extra grip on the macuahuitl is going to be really useful.

“You..You're also a newcomer?” Some woman asked behind me. The woman had blue eyes and brown thick hair. She wore black and blue garments and had a small basket with scrolls, likely of her favourite fables. She was taller yet much frailer than me, she had a smile that could light a demon’s heart to flames.

“Oh yeah, how'd you guess?” I tried to appear confident in spite of the new setting I'm trapped in.

“W-Well.. you're also in the priest gear tent and you look the same age.” Ah, yeah I should've thought about that.

“I guess… it has some normal gear for warriors too”

“Yeah, b-but you just feel different, like you're a tourist” She said and stood beside me, looking at the different gear. “What are you thinking of buying?”

“Nothing, I'm only gonna know what I really need when I get to feel the weapons.” I said though I could swear the obsidian polishing kit was making demonic whispers to me so I’ll buy it. Meanwhile, she went and took an expensive looking cylindrical object made of iron.

“Huh, what's that?” I said looking at her frail hands grasping it, it had a long sting at the end.

“This… It's really popular with more veteran Jade bloods on the field. It's a vein opener, surprised you didn't hear about it… Are you a farmer?”

“Yeah…” Ouch, what a way to be reminded of my disadvantage. “...And you?”

“I'm from around here, in NiuXol” I think that's one town to the east.

“I see… must be nice, you don't have to travel two days just to get back.”

“You bet it!” She walked up to the seller to find out the price of the vein opener.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“This will cost you 20 beads” The old seller said, sitting on a matt looking up at us.

“O-Oh” She quickly went through her pockets and counted the amount of beads. “I… only got 16 beads…” She said awkwardly “I-Is there a way you can lower the price maybe-”

“No need.” Some aristocrat that I hadn't noticed walking in said, snatching the needle from her hand. “I'll buy it instead.” The aristocrat with dark patches under his black eyes and the stare of a were-jaguar said with the malice of someone talking to their bully. He wore silky white robes coated with shiny golden patterns, definitely an aristocrat.

“Hey what the fuck dude” I called that guy out, obviously.

“You heard her, she doesn't have that amount of money.” he snarled, immediately offensive.

“Okay but you can't just snatch it from her hands.” I said and planted my feet, both literally and figuratively.

“Why? just because she held it it was magically hers? she doesn't have the money.” He said and tossed 20 Jade Beads in front of the seller. The seller stared in slight disbelief that he just tosses money like that… I'm going to regret what I'm about to do.

“Hey bitch” I said and took out all the beads I had in my pockets, 23 in total and tossed it in front of the seller “I'm buying this for a higher price.”

“Huh- how dare you!” The aristocrat wanted to punch me, so I immediately pulled my fists up. But… that's also when our eyes really met, his eyes were dark like pools of deep dark chocolate and the night’s sky, his body that was thinner than most also showed off his veins and especially his collar-bone. I want to bite him. Maybe if we fight and i let him get me in-

“Stop!” the seller called and we both distanced ourselves from each other. Guards being called on me even before I even get in might be a bad idea. “I have decided… and I'm selling this to that girl” He said and pointed at me.

“What? Why?! I offered to pay the price first fair and square” He angrily asked and cut eye contact with me, though he did give a short glance back. I hope this guy is going to be in the sun academy too.

“Just because you held it doesn't mean it's yours, it's mine and I'm giving it to that girl” the seller said, inspiring the aristocrat’s face to heat with brighter rage. Seems the dark spots under his eyes just got darker.

“Fine… He angrily walked towards the tent’s exit, then he turned his head back slightly. Thinking for a second. “Dark, son of Grimwood. you both better remember that name” The man said while penetrating me with his gaze, directed to me and the frail girl and stormed away with fists clenched. Idiot forgot his beads from rage. Naturally I grabbed his 20 jade beads.

“Looks like this exchange only cost me 3 beads, neat” I said and grabbed the vein opener “This is for you” I told the frail girl.

“B-But you…”

“What's your name?” I interrupted. Devising a plan most ingenious.

“My name is Helen daughter of Mika”

“Oh i have a friend with the same name, my name is Val daughter of Alice the Spark”

“That's… a beautiful name” Helen said, trying to ignore what it means that my own mother was sparked “But I don't think I deserve this-”

“Are you a fast reader?” Her appearance made me think she probably does. Because of my reading disability her reading is going to come in handy much more than that vein opener. Helen nodded to me “Well then to make this fair, from now on you need to help me read and as long as you do, this vein opener belongs to you.” I grabbed her wrist, and placed the object in her palm.

“...A-Alright, …that's a good deal” she smiled at me and that's how i knew I made a new friend to spend the rest of the day with. As we exited the tent the seller called my attention.

“Huh?”

“I just wanted to say, the way you acted” The man continued “I have no doubt in my mind you're jade blooded at the least” I tried to hide my affectionate smile.

“Aha... thank you, I guess we'll just have to see…” I said, he waved me goodbye and I left the tent. I felt as if I was a rabbit as I hopped and skipped around Helen, thinking about the seller’s words.