<<<<
[Blazing Lion Scroll]
[~ Summon the power of the Blazing Lion with this enchanted scroll. Once unsealed, it releases a fierce, fiery lion no larger than a kitten, but with a roar that quakes the earth and a mane ablaze, commanding the awe of all who witness its might. This formidable creature can only be summoned for 2 minutes and the scroll is a one-time use item. Price: 86,000 AC]
[Celestial Scent Elixir]
[~ Infuse your being with the divine aroma of the Celestial Scent Elixir. Coveted for its heavenly fragrance, this elixir also sharpens the mind, favored by scholars and mystics alike. Price: 44,000 AC]
[Gearsman Butler Bot]
[~ The Gearsman Butler Bot, a compact automaton, performs tasks with silent grace. Treat it with respect, or it may turn its gears against you. Price: 72,000 AC]
[Balance=2,016 AC]
>>>>
To his surprise, the [Special This Week] featured another beast summoning scroll. It reminded him of the time when the Auction House option had just become available. Back then, he had chosen to purchase the [Nexus Demonic Farm Teleporter] instead, which was more important but had depleted his funds.
He pondered, 'The other two items aren't as useful compared to the first one, which could come in handy during desperate times. But my balance...' His eyes fell on his current Abyssal coins, and he let out a sigh.
Shifting his focus, he navigated to the [Sell & Auction] option. As the interface loaded, he chose the second option and listed all his [Nightshade Tomatoes], previously harvested, at 1 Abyssal coin for every batch of 100, setting the 'Buy It Now' price at 3 coins each.
He wasn't certain how long the sale would take, but if his nineteen acres' worth of Nightshade Tomatoes sold at the 'Buy It Now' price, he might just manage to purchase the scroll.
Once finished, he saw Aerin's frown as she looked in his direction. He understood her confusion; he had been staring and tapping at the air, interacting with something she couldn't see.
The princess didn't voice her question, 'He must be allocating his points,' she thought. But then, a deeper question arose in her mind, 'Ah… How does he have any points to assign if he possesses no mana?'
The journey continued for another four hours before the carriage came to a halt. As Lorian prepared to disembark, Aerin stopped him. “Wait.”
She took out a blue scarf from her storage ring. “Use this to cover your ears,” she instructed.
Puzzled, Lorian realized that her pointy ears were covered as well.
Aerin explained, “We're accompanying him. To avoid suspicion, it's best if we both appear human. Two elves with a human would draw too much attention.”
Taking heed, Lorian draped the scarf around his head, concealing his pointy ears. One by one, they stepped out of the carriage. Shortly after, Limen drove the carriage away.
The streets were nearly deserted, with only a few elves roaming about, despite evening approaching. They passed a series of houses; Theo caught an elven lady's gaze from a window, but she quickly closed the curtain, perhaps She wasn't fond of humans.
In a hushed tone, Aerin said, “We should book a room here first. After that, we can gather more information and look for the culprits.” She gestured toward a two-story building nearby, marked by a sign: ‘Rusty Anchor Inn.’
Theo waited for Aerin to lead the way, but she seemed distracted, looking down another part of the street. As they waited, Limen approached, having returned on foot from parking the carriage somewhere safe.
As Limen caught up to them, Aerin turned to him, “Hand me some money so we can rent the rooms.”
Limen fumbled, patting down each pocket, his face growing increasingly concerned. After checking both side pockets and even the back, his expression fell.
With a hint of embarrassment, he whispered, “Princess, I forgot my money pouch.”
Aerin's face shadowed with annoyance. "How can you forget something so important?"
“It was in my uniform,” he mumbled, scratching his head in sheepish realizing he had forgotten to transfer the pouch to his current clothes.
Before Aerin could scold him further, Theo teased, “What kind of princess are you? A poor one, or just a 'princess' in name? Shouldn't you have bags of gold yourself?"
Aerin shot him a sharp glance, retorting, “I did have several millions, but…” She trailed off, letting him understand the rest.
Theo knew he was indirectly responsible for her current financial situation since they had to pay him a lot of money. It seemed Elara even robbed Aerin’s pocket money to prepare all the funds for the enchanted vegetables they bought.
Trying to salvage the situation, Limen suggested, “Should I go back to Commander Haldir and retrieve some money?”
Aerin immediately dismissed the idea. “No, that’s too risky if anyone from the kidnappers notices you,” She shot Theo a hopeful look, clearly expecting some financial assistance.
Reading the silent plea in her eyes, Theo sighed and, without a word, headed towards the inn. Lorian, Aerin, and Limen followed closely.
Inside, a thin, middle-aged man lay asleep on a bed placed to the side. The chime of the entrance bell jolted him awake. Blinking away his drowsiness, recognition of potential customers brought a renewed energy.
He hurried to the counter, adjusting his disheveled hair and putting on a business-like smile, “Good day, sir. How may I assist you?”
“How many empty rooms do you have?” Theo inquired.
“The entire building is vacant. I'm the only one here. It's rare to get customers in this small town,” the innkeeper replied with a hint of bitterness.
As Limen was worried about their financial problem, he asked, “How much for a room?”
“Usually, sixty coppers a day. But for esteemed guests from the human kingdom, I can offer them for forty coppers,” the innkeeper replied, trying to appear gracious.
As Limen and Aerin exchanged anxious glances over their lack of funds, Theo stepped in, “How much to rent the entire building for a day?”
“Why would you want the whole building?” The innkeeper blinked in surprise.
Theo simply gestured toward the trio accompanying him without explaining.
The innkeeper quickly calculated, “We have seven rooms. You might need three at most. But if you want the whole building, then six silver...”
Before the innkeeper could finish, Theo placed a gold coin on the counter. “This should cover ten days, right?”
The innkeeper's eyes widened in astonishment, grabbing the gold coin as if it were a lifeline. Overwhelmed with gratitude, he stammered, “Ye…Yes, sir. Enjoy your stay.” There was a gleam of greed visible in his eyes.
He then added with a cheeky smile, "I hope you and your wife enjoy our Silverbrook town."
Throbbing veins appeared on Aerin's forehead at his assumption. But before she could correct him, Theo’s next words nearly made her choke, “She isn’t my wife. She's my maid. Now, show us to our rooms.”
The innkeeper nodded hastily, but not before shooting a nervous glance at Aerin, whose piercing gaze directed at Theo, made him gulp in anxiety.
After inspecting the entire building, Theo and his group chose to occupy the four rooms on the second floor. This decision allowed them to discuss their plan without worrying about the innkeeper on the first floor overhearing them.
Once settled, they gathered in Aerin’s chamber. Her sour expression clearly showed her irritation from Theo's earlier comment about her being his maid. While her attire and the circumstances might have made his claim somewhat a possible excuse, she made a mental note to settle that score after the mission's conclusion. For now, the mission to save the children took the priority.
A detailed map of the city was spread out on the floor, and they all gathered around it.
“The kidnappers have been seen near this abandoned factory and this farmhouse,” Aerin explained, pointing to two distinct markers on opposite ends of the map. “We need to split into two groups and search both locations for clues.”
“I want to team up with Brother Theo,” Lorian quickly stated, as he trusted him more.
Aerin countered, “No, you should be in a different team. Both of you can identify members of the kidnapper group. So, It's better if you're both in different teams."
Lorian wanted to refuse her decision and argue, but ultimately sighed in resignation, understanding the logic behind Aerin's suggestion.
After fifteen minutes of strategic discussion, the group made their move and departed from the inn, casually mentioning to the innkeeper that they were headed to the town market.
Theo and Limen made their way toward the farmhouse. Given the obvious sour relationship between Theo and Aerin, Lorian had no choice but to join the fiery princess.
The declining sun painted the horizon a warm orange, announcing night was coming.
As they approached farmhouse, Limen suggested in a friendly tone, “Mister Theo, I’ll check those wooden houses over there and you can scout the field.”
Theo appreciated Limen’s unbiased and friendly demeanor. He was a rare elf who did not hold prejudices just because Theo was human. As Limen disappeared into the distance, Theo began surveying the fields.
At first glance, it looked like any ordinary farm. The large stacks of straw bales, arranged mound-like, seemed commonplace. The field itself was mostly filled with well-grown lettuce, its lush green leaves waving gently in the breeze.
After a thorough look around, Theo found no signs of any recent disturbances or indications that kidnappers had been here. This serene scene and the tales of kidnapping made him wonder if he was even in the right place.
Theo sighed in disappointment as the lead seemed to be turning cold. Perhaps the kidnappers had been cautious, ensuring no traces were left behind or maybe the information was outdated, and the culprits had already changed locations.
With a slight shake of his head, Theo decided it was time to regroup with Limen and see if he'd discovered anything.
He turned away from the bales, ready to exit the field, when an unexpected sensation underfoot stopped him in his tracks. It was a squelching feeling, inconsistent with the mostly dry field he'd traversed so far.
<<<<
[Blazing Lion Scroll]
[~ Summon the power of the Blazing Lion with this enchanted scroll. Once unsealed, it releases a fierce, fiery lion no larger than a kitten, but with a roar that quakes the earth and a mane ablaze, commanding the awe of all who witness its might. This formidable creature can only be summoned for 2 minutes and the scroll is a one-time use item. Price: 86,000 AC]
[Celestial Scent Elixir]
[~ Infuse your being with the divine aroma of the Celestial Scent Elixir. Coveted for its heavenly fragrance, this elixir also sharpens the mind, favored by scholars and mystics alike. Price: 44,000 AC]
[Gearsman Butler Bot]
[~ The Gearsman Butler Bot, a compact automaton, performs tasks with silent grace. Treat it with respect, or it may turn its gears against you. Price: 72,000 AC]
[Balance=2,016 AC]
>>>>
To his surprise, the [Special This Week] featured another beast summoning scroll. It reminded him of the time when the Auction House option had just become available. Back then, he had chosen to purchase the [Nexus Demonic Farm Teleporter] instead, which was more important but had depleted his funds.
He pondered, 'The other two items aren't as useful compared to the first one, which could come in handy during desperate times. But my balance...' His eyes fell on his current Abyssal coins, and he let out a sigh.
Shifting his focus, he navigated to the [Sell & Auction] option. As the interface loaded, he chose the second option and listed all his [Nightshade Tomatoes], previously harvested, at 1 Abyssal coin for every batch of 100, setting the 'Buy It Now' price at 3 coins each.
He wasn't certain how long the sale would take, but if his nineteen acres' worth of Nightshade Tomatoes sold at the 'Buy It Now' price, he might just manage to purchase the scroll.
Once finished, he saw Aerin's frown as she looked in his direction. He understood her confusion; he had been staring and tapping at the air, interacting with something she couldn't see.
The princess didn't voice her question, 'He must be allocating his points,' she thought. But then, a deeper question arose in her mind, 'Ah… How does he have any points to assign if he possesses no mana?'
The journey continued for another four hours before the carriage came to a halt. As Lorian prepared to disembark, Aerin stopped him. “Wait.”
She took out a blue scarf from her storage ring. “Use this to cover your ears,” she instructed.
Puzzled, Lorian realized that her pointy ears were covered as well.
Aerin explained, “We're accompanying him. To avoid suspicion, it's best if we both appear human. Two elves with a human would draw too much attention.”
Taking heed, Lorian draped the scarf around his head, concealing his pointy ears. One by one, they stepped out of the carriage. Shortly after, Limen drove the carriage away.
The streets were nearly deserted, with only a few elves roaming about, despite evening approaching. They passed a series of houses; Theo caught an elven lady's gaze from a window, but she quickly closed the curtain, perhaps She wasn't fond of humans.
In a hushed tone, Aerin said, “We should book a room here first. After that, we can gather more information and look for the culprits.” She gestured toward a two-story building nearby, marked by a sign: ‘Rusty Anchor Inn.’
Theo waited for Aerin to lead the way, but she seemed distracted, looking down another part of the street. As they waited, Limen approached, having returned on foot from parking the carriage somewhere safe.
As Limen caught up to them, Aerin turned to him, “Hand me some money so we can rent the rooms.”
Limen fumbled, patting down each pocket, his face growing increasingly concerned. After checking both side pockets and even the back, his expression fell.
With a hint of embarrassment, he whispered, “Princess, I forgot my money pouch.”
Aerin's face shadowed with annoyance. "How can you forget something so important?"
“It was in my uniform,” he mumbled, scratching his head in sheepish realizing he had forgotten to transfer the pouch to his current clothes.
Before Aerin could scold him further, Theo teased, “What kind of princess are you? A poor one, or just a 'princess' in name? Shouldn't you have bags of gold yourself?"
Aerin shot him a sharp glance, retorting, “I did have several millions, but…” She trailed off, letting him understand the rest.
Theo knew he was indirectly responsible for her current financial situation since they had to pay him a lot of money. It seemed Elara even robbed Aerin’s pocket money to prepare all the funds for the enchanted vegetables they bought.
Trying to salvage the situation, Limen suggested, “Should I go back to Commander Haldir and retrieve some money?”
Aerin immediately dismissed the idea. “No, that’s too risky if anyone from the kidnappers notices you,” She shot Theo a hopeful look, clearly expecting some financial assistance.
Reading the silent plea in her eyes, Theo sighed and, without a word, headed towards the inn. Lorian, Aerin, and Limen followed closely.
Inside, a thin, middle-aged man lay asleep on a bed placed to the side. The chime of the entrance bell jolted him awake. Blinking away his drowsiness, recognition of potential customers brought a renewed energy.
He hurried to the counter, adjusting his disheveled hair and putting on a business-like smile, “Good day, sir. How may I assist you?”
“How many empty rooms do you have?” Theo inquired.
“The entire building is vacant. I'm the only one here. It's rare to get customers in this small town,” the innkeeper replied with a hint of bitterness.
As Limen was worried about their financial problem, he asked, “How much for a room?”
“Usually, sixty coppers a day. But for esteemed guests from the human kingdom, I can offer them for forty coppers,” the innkeeper replied, trying to appear gracious.
As Limen and Aerin exchanged anxious glances over their lack of funds, Theo stepped in, “How much to rent the entire building for a day?”
“Why would you want the whole building?” The innkeeper blinked in surprise.
Theo simply gestured toward the trio accompanying him without explaining.
The innkeeper quickly calculated, “We have seven rooms. You might need three at most. But if you want the whole building, then six silver...”
Before the innkeeper could finish, Theo placed a gold coin on the counter. “This should cover ten days, right?”
The innkeeper's eyes widened in astonishment, grabbing the gold coin as if it were a lifeline. Overwhelmed with gratitude, he stammered, “Ye…Yes, sir. Enjoy your stay.” There was a gleam of greed visible in his eyes.
He then added with a cheeky smile, "I hope you and your wife enjoy our Silverbrook town."
Throbbing veins appeared on Aerin's forehead at his assumption. But before she could correct him, Theo’s next words nearly made her choke, “She isn’t my wife. She's my maid. Now, show us to our rooms.”
The innkeeper nodded hastily, but not before shooting a nervous glance at Aerin, whose piercing gaze directed at Theo, made him gulp in anxiety.
After inspecting the entire building, Theo and his group chose to occupy the four rooms on the second floor. This decision allowed them to discuss their plan without worrying about the innkeeper on the first floor overhearing them.
Once settled, they gathered in Aerin’s chamber. Her sour expression clearly showed her irritation from Theo's earlier comment about her being his maid. While her attire and the circumstances might have made his claim somewhat a possible excuse, she made a mental note to settle that score after the mission's conclusion. For now, the mission to save the children took the priority.
A detailed map of the city was spread out on the floor, and they all gathered around it.
“The kidnappers have been seen near this abandoned factory and this farmhouse,” Aerin explained, pointing to two distinct markers on opposite ends of the map. “We need to split into two groups and search both locations for clues.”
“I want to team up with Brother Theo,” Lorian quickly stated, as he trusted him more.
Aerin countered, “No, you should be in a different team. Both of you can identify members of the kidnapper group. So, It's better if you're both in different teams."
Lorian wanted to refuse her decision and argue, but ultimately sighed in resignation, understanding the logic behind Aerin's suggestion.
After fifteen minutes of strategic discussion, the group made their move and departed from the inn, casually mentioning to the innkeeper that they were headed to the town market.
Theo and Limen made their way toward the farmhouse. Given the obvious sour relationship between Theo and Aerin, Lorian had no choice but to join the fiery princess.
The declining sun painted the horizon a warm orange, announcing night was coming.
As they approached farmhouse, Limen suggested in a friendly tone, “Mister Theo, I’ll check those wooden houses over there and you can scout the field.”
Theo appreciated Limen’s unbiased and friendly demeanor. He was a rare elf who did not hold prejudices just because Theo was human. As Limen disappeared into the distance, Theo began surveying the fields.
At first glance, it looked like any ordinary farm. The large stacks of straw bales, arranged mound-like, seemed commonplace. The field itself was mostly filled with well-grown lettuce, its lush green leaves waving gently in the breeze.
After a thorough look around, Theo found no signs of any recent disturbances or indications that kidnappers had been here. This serene scene and the tales of kidnapping made him wonder if he was even in the right place.
Theo sighed in disappointment as the lead seemed to be turning cold. Perhaps the kidnappers had been cautious, ensuring no traces were left behind or maybe the information was outdated, and the culprits had already changed locations.
With a slight shake of his head, Theo decided it was time to regroup with Limen and see if he'd discovered anything.
He turned away from the bales, ready to exit the field, when an unexpected sensation underfoot stopped him in his tracks. It was a squelching feeling, inconsistent with the mostly dry field he'd traversed so far.
