Chương 16: Shopping

Despite the unfamiliar environment, Evan fell asleep almost the instant Oliver darkened the light orb attached to the room's ceiling. When he woke up again, the sun was shining through the small round window, warming his face. Both Detreyo boys were already gone. He rolled out of his blankets and put on the clothes Oliver had loand him. Just as he fastened the loose-fitting tunic around his body, an urgent knock startled him. A moment later, Maya busted through the door.

"Wake up, sleepyhead. I need to leave now. Luther doesn't like tardiness. If you want to join me, you'll have to skip breakfast."

"I'm ready," Evan said quickly, hurrying out the door to follow her. He nearly ran into one of Oliver's younger sisters, a girl in her late teens, carrying a large basket filled with dirty laundry, including his.

"Oh, you don't need to bother washing this," Evan said. The girl looked at the dirty clothes.

"Are you sure? They're really quite dirty."

"Beyond saving. They have holes and tears. Just throw them away."

"I can mend the holes and tears."

"No, really, it's fine. I'll buy new ones today. Just toss them." Evan wasn't sure why, but throwing his old T-shirt and jeans out felt like something he had to do. They didn't just look out of place in this world; they felt like it too, and the thought of throwing away his last reminders of his old life felt strangely freeing. The girl shrugged and went on with her chores. Maya whistled to get Evan's attention.

"Hurry up."

"Where is everyone else?" he asked as they passed through an empty living room and went out through the equally empty kitchen's back door.

"The little ones are at school," Maya said.

"Olly and Felix are out in the fields with our father." They left the Detreyo farm and followed a sand path leading past fenced-in pastures and fields. In the distance, Evan could already spot the first buildings of Silvercreek.

"Your brother told me you're training to become a blacksmith," Evan said, trying to keep up with Maya's brisk pace. She scrunched her nose at the question.

"Yeah, not my first choice, but it was either that or staying on the farm until I die an old maid. The apprenticeship with Luther was the only option my father allowed."

"What would've been your first choice?"

"Becoming a craft-focused mana user, of course. Crafting magical objects and forging enchanted weapons. I have so many ideas for weapon designs." She sighed.

"But no chance for that."

"Why not?"

"My father used up pretty much his entire savings to buy that affinity crystal for Oliver. We simply don't have the means to get one for me too."

"But if you had one, you could do it? You could become a crafter, forge weapons?" Maya's face took on a wistful expression.

"I'd leave the farm, this village, move to Stormhaven, and start a new life. Join a guild, maybe travel the world some more. I think I'd be really good at crafting, but… nothing but dreams." Evan gave her a noncommittal "hmm…" but made a mental note. If he ever came across a fitting affinity crystal for Maya, he would give it to her. They reached the market square of the small village. There was a large tree with some benches in the middle and a handful of small shops and stands surrounding it.

A dozen or so people turned their heads, staring at Evan. Eyes followed him across the market square, people nudged each other in the side to point out the stranger who'd just walked into their quaint little town. They walked past two elderly women who had their heads together, whispering to each other.

"First Alexandra Tyodadi, who hasn't shown her face in almost two decades, and now the Detreyo girl is prancing around with a strange man." The other giggled.

"Oh my… we haven't had that much excitement since Humphrey had that affair with Gladys." Maya shot them both a disdainful glance and leaned over to Evan.

"Ignore them. They don't see a lot of outsiders here. They're bored out of their minds, so they'll garble up even the slightest crumb of gossip." She stopped in front of a smithy. Through the open door, Evan could see a burly man with a dark gray beard hammering away at a red-hot piece of metal.

"Morning, Luther!" Maya yelled. Luther only glanced up from his work for a split second and acknowledged his apprentice with a nod before bringing the hammer down again.

"Okay, Evan, you're on your own now. The tailor is over there. You should probably start there. There's a small inn down the street. If you have the funds, you can rent a room there and spend the next night away from my father's angry glares." She walked into the smithy, took an apron from a wall hook, and got to work. Evan waved his goodbyes and headed to the tailor she'd pointed out, excited to spend some of his hard-earned money.

He crossed the plaza under the watchful eyes of the two elderly women who'd whispered about him and entered the small shop. A bell above the door chimed when he pushed it open, drawing the attention of a woman in her fifties, brown hair tied back in a tight bun. She wore similar tunics to the Detreyo family, and Evan noticed the women around here seemed to wear pants just like the men, but the storekeeper's clothes looked both more form-fitting and as if they were made of higher-quality fabric.

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"Who are you?" she asked, her tone probing but not entirely unfriendly.

"Good day. My name is Evan Randall. I just recently arrived in this… region, and I'm looking to buy a set of new clothes." Her light blue eyes lit up.

"Miranda Odanki," she introduced herself.

"Owner of this store. What quality segment are you interested in?" Evan wasn't sure how to answer that question. He had over four hundred mana stones, but he wasn't sure how much that would buy him here. And he needed to save some of his money to buy more essential gear and maybe even some armor, so he decided it was better to start low.

"I'm looking for something sturdy but affordable. Fit for traveling."

"Hmm… what size are you?"

"I… I'm not sure." Of course he knew his clothes sizes in standard American sizes, but he doubted that would be very helpful information for Miranda. Her eyebrows rose. She gave him a skeptical look.

"You don't know? Let me get my measuring tape then. Stay right here." She disappeared into a back room, and moments later returned with the tools of her craft. Evan stood patiently still as she measured his height, his chest circumference, and the length of his arms and legs.

"You're a bit taller than my usual customers, but I think I have something for you." She led him to a clothes rack and handed him a dark green tunic.

"I like the color," Evan said, running his hand over the fabric.

"How much is it?"

"18 mana stones."

"I can afford that. Do you have pants, too?" She walked over to another rack and showed him a pair of pants made from similar cloth, but in a dark brown color.

"How do you like these? 15 mana stones. Not a very stylish color, but the material is very sturdy."

"Sounds perfect. I'll take both, the tunic and the pants." Miranda gave him a smile.

"I like a decisive customer. Anything else I can help you with, dear?" Evan thought about it for a moment. He wasn't sure what the weather patterns in this region were like, but something to keep himself warm seemed like a good idea.

"Do you have a cloak or a coat of some kind?"

"Of course. Come over here, take a look." She presented him with a variety of poncho-like cloaks in different colors and lengths. Evan picked one in an unobtrusive beige for 22 mana stones.

"Good choice," Miranda said.

"I'll pack it up for you." She wrapped the new clothes in sturdy brown paper, tied the bundle up with a cord, and handed them over to Evan. He took the 55 mana stones out of his inventory, pretty happy about the price.

"Do you know where I can find some boots?" Oliver had given him a pair of boots he had outgrown, but they were a little too loose at the ankle and too tight at the toes. Walking long distances in the borrowed boots would probably result in blisters rather quickly.

"You'll want to talk to Eric. He's our shoemaker. His shop is two houses over," Miranda said. He left Miranda's shop with his new clothes neatly packaged under his arm and headed over to the shoemaker, where he bought a nice pair of leather boots for 35 mana stones. After that, he visited the general store. It was the biggest store in the village and one of the few buildings with two stories. There, Evan bought a whole bunch of items he considered essential.

A lighter like Oliver had, to make fire, a small cook pot that could double as an eating bowl, some basic cutlery, a bedroll, a waterskin, and some rope. He also considered buying some first aid items, but decided against it, hoping the natural regeneration he now possessed as a mana user would be enough. He paid 62 mana stones for the haul. If he kept killing rank 1 monsters on a regular basis, he could probably make a decent living from the loot alone. But was a decent living really all he was after?

He contemplated the thought while he was on his way to the inn Maya had told him about. He'd had a decent life back in Saint Paul. Nursing had allowed him to pay the bills and save a few dollars here and there for rainy days, but that was the extent of it. Most of his surplus had been eaten up by his father's medical expenses. This new world offered so many opportunities he hadn't had before. Traveling, exploring the world, a life filled with adventure. He could make a name for himself.

The thought of fame and fortune made his heart beat faster, but guilt immediately crawled up his spine and slammed its claws into his brain. He couldn't allow himself to be tempted away from his real path. The path back home, where his responsibilities awaited him. Mood tempered, he found the inn, another two-story building, larger than the general store. The main room had a bar on one end, a large fireplace on the other, and about half a dozen tables in between, all empty. Unsurprising, considering it was midday.

Evan assumed they would quickly fill up once the villagers finished their workday. He approached the bar and had to wait a few minutes before the innkeeper noticed he had a customer. The innkeeper was a surprisingly young man. Evan estimated he was around the same age as himself, with brown hair and a friendly, round face.

"Good day! My name is Reynold Appay. Welcome to my inn. What can I do for you, sir?"

"Evan is enough. I'm interested in renting a room. What are your prices?"

"12 mana stones for the night. 16 mana stones and you get a warm meal in the evening as well." Evan could afford the rent, especially since he planned on only staying for two nights before he would leave the village with Alexandra. And keeping his distance from Oliver's grump of a father was well worth the price.

"Fair. I'd like to rent a room if you have one available."

"Oh, I have. We don't get many travelers here," Reynold said.

"This inn used to be much busier back when I was still a child and my father still ran the place. Explorers mostly, heading into the celestial ruins and returning with their inventories stuffed to the brim with magical items. But since the feud between the guilds and the Vasons, we don't see many of them anymore. The explorer guild was decimated during that war and still hasn't recovered, even though it's been over ten years now."

Evan sensed an interesting story coming, and he could use every bit of information about this world he could get, so he climbed onto a barstool and made himself comfortable.

"I'm from pretty far away, you know. Haven't heard about that feud. Can I have something to drink while you tell me the story about what happened?" Reynold broke out into a grin.

"Sure can. What do you want? Ale? Beer?"

"Uh, juice if you have some. Water is fine too. I don't drink alcohol." Reynold's eyebrows raised.

"Not a sentence I hear very often."

"My old man struggled with it, so I stay away. Don't want to tempt fate, just in case it runs in the family."

"Ah, I see. Sounds like a wise decision. Don't worry. I have several jugs of Mari juice in the back. I'll get you a cup." He disappeared into a back room and returned with a cup filled with juice that had the same color as the blue apple Evan had eaten at Agatha's house. He tried a sip and found it tasted similar. So that fruit was named Mari. He filed the information away for later.

"Tastes great," he praised.

"Now tell me everything about that feud." Reynold leaned on his bar, resting on his elbows.

"It all went down a little over a decade ago. I was still very young, but I remember it clearly. So until the war, the Rainwilds region was ruled by this noble family. The Vason family. For many generations they got along with the guilds very well, better than in most other regions, I'd say, until the old lord died and his son inherited power. That guy was no good, Evan. The Vasons used to have a fire affinity, but the new guy forced every member of his family to bind to the plague affinity. Plague?

Can you imagine? Who would voluntarily bind his soul to something like that?" Reynold shook his head in disgust, but Evan had follow-up questions.

"So these noble families? They all use the same affinity?"

"Mostly, yes. At least for the direct family members. The traditions don't apply to the household guards. Is it different where you come from?"

"Very different, yes," Evan said quickly, hoping to distract Reynold from further probing questions.

"So plague? Is this like an evil affinity?" Reynold made a thoughtful expression.

"I'm not sure you can say it like that. My grandfather always said no affinity is good or evil per se. It depends on your own intentions. But Lord Vason had bad intentions, I can tell you that. He was cruel, really cruel, and when the guilds stepped in to stop him from abusing the common folk, he went to war against them. They were ill-prepared, since they'd lived in peace for so long, but eventually they won the fight. They lost a lot of members, but the Vasons lost more. Everything. They're all dead now."

"Wow," Evan said. He shouldn't be surprised. If you gave humans magical superpowers, of course you would have a few who would abuse those powers. He was starting to realize that maybe Scrapmaws and golems weren't the biggest threats in this world.

"The Kylian family got all their possessions and became the new rulers. They're pretty decent and due to the events of the recent past, they make a lot of concessions for the guilds, but who knows how long it'll stay that way. One bad apple is enough to kick off another war."