Denizens of the Labyrinth

The seafoam gate brought him to the city outskirts, and he sighed with thanks due to him realising he had found somewhere to recuperate as well as sell his wares. He hadn’t been to an inn or anything of the sort since Sacretares and he was almost yearning for it.

The city was smaller compared Windemere but the guards outside this one were stronger. Definitely stronger than him and that much, he was sure. The entrance was a toll, and he paid it happily.

PAID 50 GOLD COINS

He smiled as it left his storage ring and walked into the city.

WELCOME

YOU HAVE ENTERED ARNANTHIAN CITY

The system chimed off into his mind and he looked around, he wanted to change his clothes immediately. But he also needed to find somewhere to rest and resupply.

The city was bustling, vendors and sellers had set up stalls, markets, stores, and were selling their wares. From beasts to artefacts, corpses, and creatures. So many different wares were around. He looked around and the first store he saw that he needed, was a ring vendor.

He entered the store and browsing he found what he needed. A bigger ring, brass in style but etchings had been engraved into it, opening the storage space up and allowing it to hold items.

“How much for this ring?” He asked the owner.

“Three hundred gold per ring.” He was told but Jazmel needed two.

“I will give you four hundred and fifty for two.” Jazmel countered and the vendor looked at him smiling.

“Give me five hundred and I will give you both.” He responded with a wry smile, then Jazmel and him shook on it.

“You can transfer your items by touching the ring to the other, it will move everything into the empty space.” He confirmed and Jazmel nodded and did as he was instructed.

“Do you want to buy these?” he asked, and the vendor shrugged, smiling.

“One hundred and fifty?” the vendor offered but Jazmel haggled him to two hundred and fifty.

After that, Jazmel left and felt comfortable with his new additions. He headed up into the city seeking a tailor but the first three told him that they were fully booked. He smiled and thanked them, remembering there was a lot of seekers and rankers in the city.

There was a huge store, bigger than the others and Jazmel stood in the line and moved along with it until he got to the entrance. But he was barred entry by the guards who had slowly been moving the customers in, little by little.

“There is a fee to enter the store.” The man said, holding his hand out awaiting Jazmel. He almost paid him but then thought better of it.

“What is it that everyone else paid?” Jazmel asked.

“They are all members of the Merchant membership club and so they have paid their fare already.” The guard sneered and for some reason, Jazmel didn’t believe him. He stepped out of the line and moved to another storefront that was empty and a little worn down, but the doorway seemed welcoming. He stepped in and immediately a young man greeted him, not too different in age as Jazmel.

“Welcome Seeker, thank you for coming to the Hermenthen merchants.” The young man greeted him and immediately Jazmel knew he had chosen well.

“I need to sell some things. Do you buy items?” Jazmel asked and the young man stiffened.

“Yes, we can, but are you sure you want to sell to us?” the young man asked and Jazmel a little confused looked at him.

“Nobody sells their wares to the Hermenthen merchants.” A voice behind Jazmel called and he turned to see a man leading a group of gaudily dressed merchants and guards too. They filled the small room of the merchants store and soon Jazmel and the young man had been backed into the store.

“It is my wares. I thought I was free to do my own selling too.” Jazmel countered finally.

“They sell to me. We are the biggest merchant guild in the city.” The man said.

“Who are you?” Jazmel asked, and his hand strayed to his swords.

“I am Kane Carter.” The lead merchant said, and Jazmel nodded in small greeting.

“Your man told me I couldn’t afford to enter, so I chose not to.” Jazmel explained and the merchant looked at the guard and he bowed his head in silence.

“I apologise about that, but I can assure you that it will not happen again.” the merchant who introduced himself as Kane stated.

“Well, I thank you, truly. But I feel like my opinion has already been soured. I would like this man to help me.” Jazmel said and turned to eye the boy.

“Will you?” Jazmel asked and he nodded profusely.

“Are you sure you want to do that?” Kane asked, suddenly furious.

“Will you stop me?” He pulled Hajime from his belt and while it was still sheathed. He rested it on his shoulders.

“I cannot truly stop you, but I will make it so, nobody else will serve you moving forward.” The man offered as a complication and Jazmel simply shrugged.

“I am sure I will be fine.” They left him and the boy and Jazmel turned, waiting for an explanation.

“My father and he had a dispute and when my father fell sick, he chose to stifle our operations to ensure we couldn’t function anymore.” The boy explained.

“I see. Well can I sell my things here or not?” Jazmel asked again and the boy darted around the counter and then exhaling, he said.

“Let’s begin, and my name is Colin.” The boy introduced himself and Jazmel nodded, and they shook hands.

“I have these.” Jazmel brought out the Oceanic spears and Colin gasped.

“Are those Atlantean spears?” We will buy them.

The system popped up in front of Jazmel.

DING!

OCEANIC SPEARS X3

OFFER 300 WHITE GOLD COINS

Jazmel nodded, but he wanted to see what he could do.

“Could you do five hundred?” he asked, and Colin thought for a moment.

OFFER AMENDED

OFFER 400 WHITE GOLD COINS

Jazmel accepted and the coins filled his storage ring, and the spears left his inventory. Colin smiled and nodded at the transaction.

“Do you have anything else from the sea? Those are well favoured right now!” he admitted, and Jazmel smiled and nodded again.

He offered;

UNCORRPUTED CORRAL X10

The system chimed and Colin offered again.

DING

OFFER 150 WHITE GOLD COINS

Jazmel accepted, he truly didn’t know too much about the corral, besides that it wasn’t corrupted, but Jazmel didn’t mind. Colin was helping him and in helping he was ensuring that good deals were being offered here.

Jazmel offered the Atlantean garb and Colin laughed.

“Where did you go to get all of these things?” he asked, and Jazmel told him about the oceanic temple and Colin watched with awe in his eyes.

“That sounds amazing, I always wanted to take the seeker trials, but the family business needed me when my father got sick.” He whispered and Jazmel smiled but offered him kind words.

“Seeking the artefacts and items that Seekers and Rankers would need can be considered seeking. Without you, how would we be able to move around the labyrinth.” He told Colin, who smiled thankfully at him.

OFFER

360 GOLD COINS

He nodded at that; he imagined the garb wouldn’t be worth too much. But he had no need for it. He brought out one of the bigger pearls, and let it roll on the counter and Colin watched it with hunger in his eyes.

“How much for something like this?” Jazmel asked, letting the pearl roll around and the sun catch its iridescent colours.

“I would pay 800 white gold coins for that.” Colin said, licking his lips and not taking his eyes off of it. Jazmel pulled the other two from his ring and Colin clutched the counter and Jazmel wondered if his knees buckled. Colin tapped the air and Jazmel wondered what we was offering on the screen.

OFFER 2200 WHITE GOLD COINS

Jazmel had to steady himself too. That was two platinum coins and then two hundred white gold coins to spare also. He of course accepted and Colin wiped a stray tear and thanked him.

“I have other items if you are interested?” Jazmel offered and Colin smiled and showed the counter to offer Jazmel a place.

He brought out the great serpents and colin nodded quickly.

Offered;

100X GREAT SERPENT

Colin nodded and offered his coins in return.

5X WHITE GOLD COINS

Jazmel accepted and watched as they disappeared from the counter. He brought out all the things he had from the great serpents and colin seemed really appreciative.

30X WHITE GOLD COINS

Of course, Jazmel accepted, he didn’t know what he would want to do with any of those items. “My family was almost in ruin, now I can pay our debts and also buy new wares.” He admitted to Jazmel and Jazmel nodded in understanding. “I have two more items, but I have just thought of something. An idea that will help both of us.” Jazmel offered and Colin listened intently.

“If I give you two more items, but I want you to take them to a merchant auction if there is such a thing and sell them for as much as possible. Then we can split the proceeds.” Jazmel explained and Colin nodded.

“Yes, we do hold merchant auctions, my family haven’t been in a while as I am sure you can understand why.” Colin told Jazmel who simply listened.

“These items will truly raise your influence, and I think we can make this a continued friendship.” Jazmel explained, he took the time to explain about his situation and how he had been with his party, but he had lost them and how he was looking for them now. Colin listened to this and when Jazmel explained that there were four others who could sell their wares to him, Colin nodded immediately.

“For all the help you have provided me with. You will have a friend in me forever.” Colin said and they shook hands again and Jazmel felt the friend request immediately.

“These are the items.” Jazmel pulled the crown of the Mer King and the entrance to death plaque. Colin didn’t take his eyes off of them, but he definitely inhaled too quickly.

“Where the hell did you get these?” he asked Jazmel. Who explained what had happened.

“I don’t know if I feel safe keeping these items here.” he confessed, and Jazmel nodded. He created two origami swans, one to Mary and one to Tango. Explaining what he was doing and if they could guard Colin while he made the sale. Tango responded immediately and said he would make his way to the city of Arnanthian and a moment later, Mary offered her help too.

He expressed to Colin what was happening and behind tears, Colin thanked him profusely.

“I promise, the Hermenthen merchants will always provide you with anything you need. If I don’t have it, I will find it for you. Here.” he said, and Jazmel felt the system pull.

DING!

FRIEND OF THE MERCHANT

10% DISCOUNT ON ALL PURCHASES THROUGH HERMENTHAN MERCHANTS

Jazmel thanked Colin immensely. Now that the business was done, he asked a favour.

“I need to replace and replenish my clothes. I didn’t bring spare, and I didn’t think I would ever need spare. Can you tell me where to go?” Jazmel asked and Colin smiled immediately.

“I can help with that, I have clothes that you can pick from, and they have repairing attributes so at the cost of a little Mana, you will be able to fix any tears or rips.” Colin explained and Jazmel agreed.

“Show me.” Jazmel asked and the first item that Colin brought out was a long sleeve black top. It was thin and melded to the body, but it was extremely strong. It wouldn’t stretch under his exertion and Colin smiled at that.

“That is an under garment made of black Wyrm skin and Arachne silk. Exceptionally durable, it moulds to the body of the wearer and like I said, it will repair itself of any damage, at the cost of the wearer’s Mana.” Colin explained, Jazmel undressed and put it on immediately.

DING!

BLACK WYRM SILK GARMENT TIER II

Jazmel smiled at the system and turned to Colin.

“What will it cost me?” he asked, and Colin nodded, business minded and prepared.

“With a discount? One hundred and fifty white gold coins.” Jazmel nodded and sent the coins over immediately.

“I need some new trousers.” Jazmel asked and Colin thought for a moment and then going behind the counter he pulled another item out and Jazmel eyed them. They were cargo pants that were with pockets up and down the legs.

STORAGE CARGO PANTS TIER II

“The good thing about these, other than the repairing part. Is that they connect to your storage ring, all you have to do is put something into any of the pockets and it will appear in your storage ring.” Colin explained.

“I will take them too.” Jazmel said and colin nodded, smiling.

“100 white gold coins please.” Jazmel paid the young boy and went into the back to change.

Colin brought out a jacket and Jazmel whistled when he looked at it. it was puffy and when he touched it he could feel that it was filled on the inside with feathers, it had a collar of some animal fur which was soft to touch, the shoulders were hardened and then covered with metal plating shoulder guards, he tried it on and to his surprise it was still comfortable and flexible, he could move in it, and it was defensive. The inside had been sewn with the Arachne silk as well so while it didn’t feel like it was strong. It definitely was.

“I need this.” He said and colin laughed.

DING!

GUNNER JACKET OF GUARDING TIER II

“How much?”

“Two hundred white gold coins.”

“Can we do one fifty?”

“I can do one seventy.” Colin bartered and finally Jazmel agreed, they shook on it, and he transferred the coins right away.

Once he had changed, he added his old clothes to his ring and stepping out he turned to Colin again.

“If I wanted to repair my clothes, where would I go?” Jazmel asked, but Colin shook his head.

“You could return to a tailor, but repair talismans are easier and better.” He explained and bringing out a talisman, he showed Jazmel. It was a simple piece of paper that had writing in runic symbols. Colin beckoned and he brought out his old shirt. Colin pressed the talisman onto it and Jazmel watched as it lit, as if it were burning. The tears to the shirt began to reknit themselves together and he couldn’t help it. Jazmel laughed.

“The labyrinth seems to have an answer for anything. I will take ten.” He said and colin handed them over with a smile.

“Fifty gold coins please.” Jazmel paid him and after that Jazmel smiled. He promised to reach out to colin if he needed anything else, but also asked colin to wait for Tango and Mary. They would protect him until he made the sell.

Jazmel left, and feeling both happy to have made a friend, but also happy to have sold his items for so much. He stepped out of the merchant store and walked back into the city to find food. He was hungry and he wasn’t going to leave the city without buying himself a meal.