Chapter 12: Chapter 12: The Collector

Chapter 12: The Collector

After Lily finished her inspection of her new “home” in Tiara, she pulled a small piece of glittery chalk out of her inventory. Of course, she had bought the fancy kind back in Xantia—the cheap stuff smudged too easily. Kneeling on the polished wooden floor, she drew careful lines, forming the outer ring of a magic circle. Then she filled it in with the complex pattern she had memorized just yesterday when she first inspected her own summoning circle… yet it felt like it had always been there, etched into her mind from the start.

It was one part of a teleportation circle. She didn’t infuse it with mana yet, that would come later, when she had finished the second one. Her plan was to create a similar circle in her forest mansion, so she could easily move between Tiara and her own home whenever she wanted.

Satisfied, she brushed the chalk dust off her hands and stood. All right. Project for later.

She had no reason to waste the day. Exploration made more sense. Maybe she could find a library and check what passed for knowledge in this world. Or—since the inn manager had mistaken her for an adventurer earlier—she could just drop by the Adventurers’ Guild and see what it looked like. Even if she wasn’t one, a guild was the sort of place where information always piled up. With her plan in mind, she left the suite and headed downstairs.

The entry hall was just as polished as before. The chandeliers burned bright, the carpet was soft, and behind the counter sat the same girl from earlier, once again busy with her papers. Lily’s steps made barely a sound as she walked down the stairs, already forming the words she would use to ask about a library. But she didn’t get that far.

The old man who had nodded at her earlier was still there, sitting at the same table in the lobby and the same glass of amber whisky sat in his hand. When their eyes met again, he gave her another polite nod. Then, this time, he looked at the empty chair beside him and made a small, inviting gesture.

Lily stopped mid-step and sighed inwardly. It’s probably because of the elf thing. Isn’t it? But… maybe he’s interesting.

So, she turned and walked toward him.

The old gentleman’s eyes followed her approach. He didn’t smile, exactly, but there was something measured in his gaze. As she pulled the chair back and sat, he lifted his glass slightly, as if in a private toast, then set it down again.

“Thank you for joining me,” he said, his voice low and even. Strong, but with the rough edge of age.

“Elves are rare in this part of the continent, miss…?”

“Greenwood. I’m Lysaria Greenwood,” Lily introduced herself smoothly.

The old man chuckled. “I am sorry, that was impolite of me. My name is Gideon Vexley. You see, I have a fine eye for small things and that is why I wanted to talk to you.”

“Not because I am an elf?” Lily asked with a faint smile.

“No, no, pardon my rudeness if it came across like that. Well, I have to admit it has slightly to do with your origins, but only because they are so rare here in these parts.”

He took a slow sip of his drink. Then he paused, tilting his glass toward her. “Oh, do you want something too?”

Before Lily could answer, Gideon whistled toward the counter. The girl behind it looked up, eyes going wide when she noticed Lily sitting with the old gentleman. Gideon gave her a simple nod. “Bring another glass for Miss Greenwood.”

The counter girl hesitated only for a second before nodding quickly. “Of course, sir.” She hurried over and returned with another glass filled with the same amber liquid. She set it down gently in front of Lily, sneaking a second glance at her before retreating back behind the counter.

Lily sighed inwardly. Not even midday and already whisky. But she was intrigued enough to go along with it. She lifted the glass, thanked Mr. Vexley politely, and clinked it against his.

“So where was I,” he murmured, taking another sip, “ah yes. You see, I am a collector of things. And you look like someone who is well traveled. I overheard you telling the innkeeper you were no adventurer, so I came to the conclusion you are either a noble lady visiting friends… but then you would be staying in their home, not here. Or, you are a successful trader. Which would make more sense in Tiara, the pearl of the north.”

He chuckled at his own words, clearly pleased with the deduction. “And so, I thought, a high-profile merchant who can rent a suite here would surely have extraordinary things to sell… or at the very least, can get her hands on them.”

Lily kept her face calm, but inside her mind was racing. That is… quite perfect. The man had just handed her, out of nowhere, a legitimate cover for why she was in Tiara. A pure stroke of luck.

She nodded slowly, raising her glass. “You got me, Mr. Vexley.”

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He smiled and tipped his glass again. “Call me Gideon. It is my lucky day to meet you.”

Lily grinned faintly. “Then you must of course call me Lysaria.”

They drank together. The whisky burned slightly on her tongue, rich and warm, leaving a smoky aftertaste. Not her usual kind of drink, but fitting for the moment.

“So, Gideon,” she said, leaning back a little in her chair, “you said you are a collector. What type of things would interest an esteemed gentleman like you?”

He looked her directly in the eyes. “What I want are high-tier magic items from the Lost Era.”

The Lost Era? Lily thought to herself, but outwardly she only tilted her head and said, “Ohh, I see. And what kind of items from this era?”

“Everything is of course of value. But since the collapse of the Empire of Xares most artifacts have been lost in time, as you know.”

Lily nodded wisely, going with the flow. If this really is the same world as Xantia, then it makes sense that most game items would be tied to the Xares Empire. In the game most players lived there, and the strongest loot came from its raids and dungeons. Maybe I can prove this with something concrete…

She set her glass down and looked at Gideon with a grin forming. “Actually, my new mysterious friend…” She leaned forward conspiratorially. “…I was on my way today to look for the auction hall. I was planning to sell something.”

His eyes widened. “You wouldn’t…?”

Her grin widened further. “But of course, I’ll show you first.”

She reached into the air, fingers brushing through the shimmer of her inventory, and pulled an item into reality. A pair of knee-high boots appeared in her hands.

[Silverwind Striders]

They were light boots of soft, silver-tinted leather, runes glowing faintly in pale green along the seams. A gentle draft stirred the tablecloth the moment she set them down, as if the boots carried the wind with them.

[Effects:

+ Falls and leaps are cushioned by air. The wearer lands as softly as a feather.

+ A constant breeze follows, keeping the wearer cool and clean even on long marches.]

In her inventory, Lily could still see the full description hovering faintly in her mind, every line of stats and effects laid out as if she were back in Xantia. But on the table, they appeared only as boots; light leather, glowing runes stitched neatly along the seams, and a faint white aura clinging to them.

Gideon’s eyes went wide, wider than she had seen them yet. “Are these… magical items? …Oh yes, of course they are. These boots are—” He stopped himself and swallowed, leaning closer, his hand hovering just above them. “May I?”

Lily nodded, watching carefully.

He reached out with both hands and lifted the boots. The runes pulsed softly at his touch, the breeze stirring his sleeves. He turned them slowly, inspecting every seam, every stitch. His fingers traced the glowing lines, but they did not falter, steady despite his excitement.

“These are genuine…” he whispered. “Lost Era craftsmanship, without a doubt. Look at the weave of the runes, how the aura sits perfectly in the leather. This is no common enchantment, Lysaria. This is… priceless.”

Lily hid her smirk behind her glass as she sipped. Bingo.

“So, you see,” she said smoothly, “your suspicion was correct. I may be a traveler, but I also happen to carry items that would catch the eye of a collector.”

Gideon turned the boots over carefully in his hands, his expression full of wonder. Then his eyes flicked back to her. “Have you already had them inspected? Do you know their effects?”

“I do,” Lily said simply, giving the smallest nod. She didn’t elaborate. No need to hand him more than she wanted to.

“Excellent,” Gideon said, obviously delighted. “That only increases their value. The worth of an item depends of course on its effects, but regardless, this is a high-grade treasure.” With careful hands, he set the boots back on the table in front of her and slid them across.

She picked them up and slipped them back into her inventory with a thought.

His eyes lifted back to hers, sharper now. “Lysaria… if you were to bring such things to auction, you would cause a storm. Do you have any idea what a single artifact like this could fetch in Tiara?”

Lily tilted her head innocently. “Enlighten me.”

He leaned back in his chair, still watching her closely. “Enough to pay for your suite here for a long time. Enough to buy a fine carriage and a strong team to pull it. Enough to make more than a few guild masters in this city very interested in you.”

So basically, enough to paint a target on my back, Lily thought dryly. Out loud, she only smiled faintly. “Interesting.”

Gideon’s eyes gleamed with curiosity. “And this is only one item. Do you have more?”

Lily tapped a finger against her chin as if thinking. Of course, I have more, but I’m not about to unload my entire inventory in front of a stranger. Still… giving him a taste works in my favor. It builds the persona. And he’s already provided me with a cover story. Might as well let him run with it.

“That,” she said, lifting her glass for another sip, “depends on how useful Tiara proves to me.”

Gideon chuckled, low and pleased. “Then perhaps Tiara will prove very useful indeed.”

His eyes lingered on her hands, where the boots had just vanished back into nothing. He took another slow sip of his whisky, then leaned forward slightly. “Lysaria… forgive my boldness, but I would be remiss if I didn’t ask. Would you consider selling those boots? To me?”

Lily tilted her head, smiling faintly. Of course, he wants to buy them. A collector doesn’t just admire, he acquires.

The funny thing was, she hadn’t even planned to sell anything when she came down here. It was only because Gideon had given her such a perfect cover story—merchant, traveler, noble trader—that she had played along and shown him something. The boots themselves weren’t even special. She had kept them mostly because they looked neat, perfect for roleplay. In Xantia they had been considered little more than RP items; every piece of level 20 gear came with some effects, and these were nothing a player would ever brag about.

But this wasn’t Xantia anymore. Here, the effects were very real. A constant breeze and feather-light landings might be flavor text in a game, but in the real world they were practical advantages. Suddenly, what had been trash-tier loot for players became something worth gasping over.

She swirled her glass, letting the whisky catch the light. Well, I’ve already shown them to him. And he confirmed it—he believes they’re from the Lost Era, tied to the Xares Empire. That makes me more interested in the downfall of the empire than the boots themselves.

Lily made her decision quickly. She would sell them. Not because she needed the money, but because it was a way to deepen her cover and get more out of Gideon. He was clearly knowledgeable, and connected, also clearly intrigued by her. Why not use the chance to learn more about Tiara, the kingdom, and the mysterious Lost Era?

She leaned forward, her emerald eyes catching his. “All right then, Gideon. Let’s say I am willing to part with them. Not because I must, but because I am curious what a gentleman like you would offer.”