O4

Olivia watched as Morgan and Issa walked away down the street. They’d agreed to meet up at the inn around dinner time then walk over to Issa’s family home for a meal. At first, Olivia had been worried about Issa’s reaction to her. She’d had a big smile when she asked who Olivia was, but there was something in Issa’s eyes that made Olivia feel like a rabbit being regarded by an owl. She warmed up, though, even giving Olivia a welcoming hug when Morgan introduced her as a “good friend.” Then she’d walked them to the Riverfront Inn, waiting while Morgan booked their rooms and the stablehands took their mounts. She’d seemed impressed that they had such a connection to their roladii, and Olivia could tell it earned her points with the locals.

Issa said she wanted to show Morgan around and introduce him to her family. She’d invited Olivia, but Olivia didn’t want to feel like a third wheel, so she’d professed her desire to do some honest-to-goodness shopping. The market square they’d passed through twice now really did have a festive atmosphere, and she’d seen so many stores that appealed to her that she wasn’t lying when she said so. Morgan had insisted on giving her another pouch of the dual attuned beads he’d gotten from the Yovashi, even though she’d held up a handful of quad-attuned beads she’d made during their travels. He’d just shrugged and said, “Easy come, easy go.”

Now, as they walked away, Olivia just smiled at the prospect of getting some tailored clothing and some delicious treats, and who knows what else. Issa was certainly pretty, and she was not shy about her possessiveness toward Morgan; they were walking with her practically hanging off his arm. Issa wore a gorgeous, shimmering blue cloak adorned with golden stitches that created whorls and other designs highlighting runic symbols. Underneath that, she had a shimmering silver shirt that appeared to be made from fantastically lightweight and thin metal. Her leggings were made of some kind of silky, form-fitting black material, and she wore beautifully crafted leather boots and a belt. All in all, it made Olivia feel like a vagrant standing near her. The only article of clothing she felt proud of was her baby blue storage satchel.

Patting her satchel lovingly, Olivia turned toward the market square, which was just across the bridge from their inn, and started walking. Like everything else in Tarn’s Crossing, the bridge was constructed of wood. Massive timbers made up the side struts, and smooth planks created the roadway. A raised portion near the rail was meant for pedestrians, and Issa looked out over the railing at the river as she walked over it. The Rill Catcher was deep and mysterious at this point, only about fifty yards across as it went through the town; it was moving faster than when she and Morgan had seen it out by the plains. Most of the buildings along its length had decks or even little piers attached, and Olivia saw many people fishing. It looked like fun, and she wondered if maybe they’d be here long enough for her to give it a try.

Soon she was in the market square, and thoughts of fishing fled from her mind. Thanks to the Governor sharing his delicious bread with her and Morgan, Olivia wasn’t terribly hungry, but she couldn’t help following her nose to a bakery as her first stop. It was a busy shop, so she didn’t make any small talk with the baker, just pointed to a pastry that reminded her of a danish appearance. The woman handed it to her, and Olivia handed her one of the smokey blue Energy beads that Morgan had given her. The baker looked at it for a moment, then tsked, digging beneath her counter and pulling out a plump leather sack. “Yer gonna use up all me change. Lucky the rush is over.” She proceeded to count out a large handful of very small, clear Energy beads.

“I’m sorry, it’s all I had,” Olivia said, feeling flustered.

“Oh, don’t worry, now.” The woman said, pouring the handful of tiny beads into her cupped hands. Olivia slipped them into a pocket and then hastily grabbed her pastry and walked out to the square. A few tables were set up around the bakery’s entrance, so she sat by herself at a little square table and pulled out one of the tiny, clear beads. It was made from unattuned Energy, that much she could tell, and it was about a quarter the size of a regular Energy bead. So, was it possible to stop the process early? Is that how they made these tiny beads? She figured it made sense - why would someone trade hours of hard work for something like a pastry. There had to be smaller denominations.

While enjoying her pastry, which tasted much like a cheese danish with a lovely, buttery, flaky texture, she looked around the square, trying to decide where to go first. She saw a shop with dresses in the window, and she wondered if a new dress would be too overboard. It wouldn’t be practical for traveling, and it would be obvious she bought it just to go to dinner, so she decided to hold off. Maybe she could find some nicer clothing that was also fighting for riding around on a roladii. Deciding just to wander a bit, she brushed off her fingers, swallowed her last bite, and walked toward the next shop in the square.

In the window display, she saw staves. No, not just staves; she also saw wands and beautiful shimmering balls in a rainbow of hues. The door had a sign that read, “Wyn’s Energy Foci.” Olivia felt her heart rate speed up a bit with excitement. She desperately needed an Energy focus, and she didn’t even know what it was! Giggling a little to herself, she pulled the door open, and a silvery bell tinkled, announcing her presence to the clerk.

“Welcome, welcome!” Olivia was surprised to see the speaker wasn’t an Ardeni. He was one of the tall willowy people with shimmering iridescent wings that Morgan had called Ghelli. She felt guilty for making the comparison, but his wings reminded her of dragonfly wings.

“Oh, hello,” she stepped into the shop, noting the faint smell of spices and carefully navigating the narrow aisle between crowded stands and racks. When she made it up to the counter, she saw that the shopkeeper had incense burning in an ornate metal dish, and his attention was on a document he was writing on. Olivia took the opportunity to study him, noting his pale green robes and sandy brown hair. When he looked up, she was surprised by how human his eyes looked; somehow, she’d assumed they’d be more alien. He smiled when he saw her and turned the paper he’d been writing on face down.

“Oh, welcome, indeed! One of the humans I’ve heard so much about, I presume?” He had a deep voice and a charming smile.

“Oh? I hope you’re hearing good things! My name is Olivia,” she replied, holding out a hand. He took it in a warm but very light clasp.

“Pleased to meet you. My name is Wyn, and, as I’m sure you’ve guessed, this is my shop.” He released her hand and gestured around the cluttered storefront. Olivia realized she was his only customer. “Regarding what I’ve heard, nothing much, other than the rumors about young Issa’s Crucible run and how one of your people became her brave companion!”

“Ahh, I see. Is it uncommon for people to have success in the Crucible?”

“Well, let’s just say that Issa was more successful than most and much more than people thought she’d be. She even earned a class upgrade and was offered a class that none from our town had ever seen. Her father hosted quite a celebratory bash, from what I hear.”

“You didn’t go?” Olivia found Wyn’s voice almost hypnotic and wanted to encourage the conversation.

“Oh, no. I’m not particularly close to Issa or her father, but in a town this size, gossip travels quickly!” He chuckled, and Olivia smiled at the warmth in his voice. “Well, how may I help you, Olivia of the humans?”

“Well, I’m not really sure. We are new to Energy and its uses, but I saw your items on display and was instantly fascinated. Could you tell me about them?”

“Of course, of course,” Wyn gestured to his many racks and shelves once more. “Foci are used to enhance the effect of Energy-based spells. Special foci can even be used to enhance some Energy-based skills or abilities. Additionally, the use of a proper focus can help improve the rate of Energy cultivation.”

“How do you know what a ‘proper’ focus is?” Olivia asked, looking at the incredible array of foci on display.

“Well, some foci work better with different types of Cores, and some are attuned to different Energy types. Do you know if you have an affinity for a certain type of Energy?” For a moment, Olivia wondered if it were a wise idea to be sharing information about her Core and her affinities with everyone she met. She had to remind herself that she had come here and asked for information, not the other way around.

“Yes, I actually have four affinities: fire, water, air, earth.” She shrugged and smiled as Wyn took a step back.

“You’re serious?” When Olivia nodded, he continued, “That’s exceedingly uncommon. Do you mind telling me what kind of Core you have?”

“Eh, sure, in for a penny, in for a pound, right?” He looked at her confused, so she continued, “I have a Prisma Class Core.”

“Prisma Class? Hmm, one moment.” He turned to a bookshelf behind his counter and pulled out a book that reminded Olivia of an antique dictionary she had in her office back on Earth. He set it on the counter with a thump and then began to leaf through the pages, clearly looking for something.

“You haven’t heard of it?” She asked, trying to read the book but finding it too hard with how quickly he flipped pages.

“Oh, it rings a bell, and I sell a type of focus that has a very similar name, the Prisma orb. I’m just looking up something about it, one moment.” He continued to flip through the book, and then he found the page he was looking for, exclaiming, “Aha! Here we go.” Olivia watched as he ran his finger over the page. “Mmhm, that’s right, that’s right. Well, I’m afraid a Prisma orb won’t work as a perfect focus for you. Theoretically, it could focus any elementally attuned Energy, but when opposing elements are channeled through it in short order, it could explode.”

“Opposing elements?”

“Well, yes, such as water and fire. If you were to cast an ice spell, then a fire spell through that orb, you’d have a problem on your hands.”

“Oh, I see.”

“I was hoping I was wrong - those orbs are powerful foci. I can probably find a more generally attuned orb that will work for you, but it won’t have as significant an effect. Unless…” He started flipping through the book again. Olivia waited patiently, looking around the shop, noticing that many foci were very dusty. “Oh, yes, this is brilliant. I could, theoretically, create you a focus staff using two different Prisma orbs.”

“A staff?”

“Yes, yes, don’t worry, it would be an elegant affair. I could mount the two foci on branches of silver or even amber ore, budget depending, running the veins through the length of the staff. You’d be able to channel water and air spells through one orb while casting fire and earth spells through the other. Yes, yes, this would be marvelous. I could use an umbrilak branch - it could easily handle all of your affinities!” Olivia could see the excitement on his face, and she couldn’t help being caught up in it.

“Oh, that sounds amazing, but it also sounds expensive.” She smiled, but Wyn’s face became more serious.

“Hmm, perhaps, perhaps. One moment, please.” He reached under his counter and brought up a paper and pencil. He scribbled for a few moments and then looked at Olivia. “Two-hundred standard Energy beads.”

“Oh,” Olivia felt her smile falter and knew he saw it as well, “I might be able to scrape close to that amount together, but then I’d be destitute. I’m not sure I need a focus that badly, perhaps after I’ve accumulated more wealth. Thank you so much for your time, Wyn.”

“Oh, oh, wait, wait!” A look of panic crossed his eyes. “Don’t go, don’t go. I’m sure I can find some discounts. Let’s see; I can wave much of my Artisan fee, but only on the promise that you’ll be a repeat customer!” Olivia nodded eagerly. “Hmm, that quote included an Amber Ore contact pad, but we could use silver. That’s always something we could upgrade down the line! Um, well, now that I think about it, you don’t need full Prisma orbs mounted on a staff; we could use crystals instead. Hmm, yes.” He paused to scribble on his paper for a moment. “Yes, this brings us in at ninety-five standard Energy beads!”

“Well,” Olivia looked at the hopeful expression on his face and the dust on the foci in his shop, and she continued, “I think I can manage that. How many dual-attuned Energy beads would that be?”

“Oh, the simplest of maths, let’s see,” he said, staring into space, “just shy of thirty-two!”

“That I can do!” Olivia announced, knowing she had forty-nine of those beads that Morgan had given her, plus five or six quad-attuned beads.

“Oh, that’s excellent! I’ll get to work on it right away and should have it ready within two days. I have all the materials!”

“Thank you, Wyn! Thank you for being so kind and not taking advantage of me,” Olivia said, looking him in the eyes, a genuine smile on her face.

“It’s my pleasure, Olivia! I think it will be good for my business. You’re Core and aptitude with Energy is very uncommon. You should speak with Magister Karn at the mage’s guild. He might offer you further guidance.”

“There’s a mage’s guild here?”

“Well, a very small branch office. Magister Karn is the only full member in our town. The Ardeni tend to produce more hunters than mages.” Wyn had a sardonic smile on his face, and Olivia wondered if he were subtly taking a jab at the Ardeni.

“Okay, I’ll check it out! Thank you again. By the way, could you recommend a ladies’ tailor?