Lloyd and company found themselves at the entrance to the Bazaar. Although the wooden badge they had was a gold mine, it wasn't an endless supply. After three rounds, the bartender told Regal that they would have to start paying, so they opted to see what the markets were like.

  Night had fallen as they reached the Bazaar. Luckily, it was well-lit with candles, orbs, and multicolored lanterns. A potent mix of exotic spices, sizzling food, and the crackles of magic bombarded his senses. The noise had simmered since earlier, but the population increased. Lloyd's head bounced back and forth as he saw people dressed in bone-clad heavy armor, flowing leaf-covered robes, and everything in between. He saw spells and abilities being cast all around him. A woman hovered in front of a stall, trying to haggle her way down on something she was trying to purchase. He wasn't sure if it was the alcohol or simply the atmosphere of the area. An ear-to-ear grin grew on Lloyd's face. This is fucking awesome.

  As they got closer, Lloyd saw the merchant stalls held all kinds of things. They varied in size and shape, some barely big enough to fit the seller and a few pieces of gear. Others held trinkets and potions in the back of a cart. There were larger stalls that held metal plate armor and thinner leather gear. Lloyd looked at one, its owner was a large man with a big bushy beard. His dark skin and brown eyes perused the crowd, trying to find a customer. He yelled out various shouts about the types of armor he was selling. It all was overwhelming and, at the same time, endlessly exciting.

  Lloyd wondered if he should change up his armor as well. The ladies did mention that his gear and powers didn't match up. That triggered another thought as he wondered what he should do with his swords. It felt like a betrayal to sell the swords his father made for him in order to use a staff that came from some crazy magical box made by who knows who. Lloyd knew that the logical thing to do was to sell the weapons and get used to using the staff. In the last few fights he found himself in, the swords felt clunky and didn't mesh well with his powers.

  Lloyd gripped the hilts of his blades. He knew what he should do...what he wanted to do.

  "Hey man, can I leave the herbs from my pack with you? Just sell them together with whatever you have. I think I'm going to try to find a stall that buys and sells weapons," Lloyd said to his brother as his eyes sunk to the ground.

  Silence sat in the air, cutting away the noise of the busy Bazaar. He finally gained the courage to look up to see his brother staring at him. Regal took a deep breath before nodding.

  "Yeah, that makes sense. I can't see how they would be helpful for you anymore. Being able to get a little bit more coin might help you get a change of gear as well," Regal said.

  Lloyd reached into his pack, grabbed the herbs, and handed them off. He nodded to his brother as he turned to Colette and Sheena. "I'll meet up with you guys later," Lloyd said.

  "Sounds good. I think Regal and I were planning on selling ours as well, anyway. This will make for a more efficient trip," Colette said.

  "Ladies first," Regal said as he did a slight bow and motioned his arm forward.

  "My my, what a gentleman."

  Colette walked forward, but Regal turned toward Lloyd. He placed his hand on Lloyd's shoulder. "Dad would be proud of you. He would want you to sell his weapons. He knew this was what you wanted your whole life," Regal said.

  Regal slapped Lloyd's shoulder and took off toward Colette. He swept Colette into his arms and carried her in front of his chest down the cobblestone Bazaar. Colette giggled the entire time.

  "Yeah, I'm going to look for that stall now," Lloyd awkwardly said to Sheena.

  Sheena pursed her lips in a half smile and waved her arm forward. The motion was similar to Regals, excluding his bow. Lloyd thought about making a comment just as Colette did, but he quickly thought better of himself. He felt that she would stab him rather than carry him.

  Lloyd passed stall after stall. The colors ranged from vibrant yellows to burnt oranges, navy blues, sunset reds, and all the colors in between. Most of the sellers appeared to be general merchants, having a hodgepodge of things. The scents of well-seasoned, freshly cooked meat wafted through the pathway. He was tempted on more than one occasion to drop a few coins on the appetizing aromas. He shook off the impulsive thoughts, knowing that free food waited for him at the Stony Spire.

  After half an hour of searching the stalls, stopping here and there to check the wares, he finally found what he was looking for. The tarp above the stall was a weathered light blue and it gently flapped in the wind. The owner of the stall was a hardy-looking middle-aged woman. She wore brown overalls over a black tank top that was seared and scorched in a few places. She sported a few scars up and down her arms and a few wrinkles on her face. Her simple smile sat below a set of light brown eyes.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  "How can I help you today?" the woman asked. Her smile seemed genuine as she shuffled a few things off the counter to make room for anything Lloyd might have or ask for.

  "I'm looking to sell these guys here," Lloyd said as he motioned to his swords.

  "Those look mighty fine. Mind if I take a look?"

  Lloyd nodded and unequipped his swords, placing his whole belt on the table. He felt a weird weight in the pit of his stomach and a knot in his throat as he laid them down. You knew it made sense to sell them, but now that he was so close, he began to question it.

  The woman removed the swords from the sheaths and examined them. She twisted them in front of her so she could see down both sides of the blades. She swung and slashed the swords through the air as she pivoted around in place, fighting a phantom opponent.

  "These are mighty fine work they are. The Soulsmith where you come from must be quite good. I didn't know anybody in the East was this talented. Especially with this low-level quality material."

  "Thank you. My father made them."

  "So why are you selling them today? If they're made by family, especially for you, they will likely be better than anything I can provide."

  Lloyd mentally stumbled for a reasonable response. The truth was that they didn't match his abilities at all. The staff he now had was far more useful. The true and extended story of why he really had the blades would include mentioning things that might get him in trouble.

  "I didn't Ascend until recently, and the blades were a better match until then," Lloyd said.

  The woman crunched her eyebrows but released them a moment later as she shrugged her shoulders. Lloyd could tell she wanted to ask questions but apparently decided against it.

  "The craftsmanship is stunning, truly. Unfortunately, I can't pay you much because of the quality of the materials. At least, not as much as you might have been hoping," she said, turning the weapons yet again, giving a final inspection of the swords. "I can give you 2,000 coin for the lot."

  The shock that spread across Lloyd's face was a pure and natural, unchecked emotion. He quickly tried to gather himself as he responded. A smile briefly flashed across the merchant's face.

  "That is a good deal. I can definitely let these go for that price," Lloyd said.

  The woman extended her calloused hand, and Lloyd shook it. Her grip was firm, and Lloyd had to quickly strengthen his to meet her level. As the woman ran to the back of her shop, Lloyd thought about all the things you might be able to buy with that money. He only had 1,000 coin from looting the bandits and from what he left Breakwater with.

  The merchant returned with a clanging pouch of coin. She dropped them on the table, and Lloyd quickly opened the coin purse to inspect. A quick tally of all the currency assured him that the full 2,000 was there. He nodded his head, and the woman retrieved the weapons from the table and stored them somewhere in the back room.

  "Anything else you might need today? What sort of weapons do you typically use? I'm sure I have something that will fit you well," she said.

  "I'm actually looking for new gear. Where can I find a vendor to buy some clothing for a caster type? One that specializes in telekinesis?"

  "I believe there's only one in town right now. You must have passed the shop on the way here. It's the tarp with the red and orange banners," she said as she pointed back toward the Stony Spire.

  "Thank you," Lloyd said as he bowed and walked away from the stall.

  Before he could find the shop, he ran into Regal and Colette. Colette was wildly gesturing with her hands and talking sternly to the man behind the stand.

  "These are rare herbs! There's no way we can give these away at that price. They're worth double that, at least," Colette said.

  "No, no, no. I might, and I emphasize might, be able to sell it for twice that amount. Look," the man said as he huffed out a puff of air, his shoulders sagging as he did. "Look, I can give you 4,000 for all of the herbs. That's it, though. I have other customers here who will likely desire to purchase something by the end of the night," said the man as he gestured forward to the people surrounding them. Lloyd looked at their faces, and he could indeed see that they seemed to be waiting for Colette to finish her bargaining.

  "Fine, fine, you hit my weak spot. I do not wish to further disrupt my fellow citizens. 4,000 will suffice," Collete said.

  The man already had a pouch on the ready and dropped it on the table as he swiftly swept the materials away.

  "Next, please!" yelled the man.

  When the three of them were out of earshot of the merchant, Lloyd spoke up.

  "Holy shit, 4,000 coin for all those herbs? That's awesome!" Lloyd said.

  "Much better than the first offer of 2,500 he gave us," Regal said with a laugh.

  Lloyd's face turned green as he felt like he might yak.

  "What's wrong?" Colette asked.

  "Yea, I see you sold the swords. How are you feeling?" Regal asked.

  "Not great now," Lloyd said.

  "Oh no. Lloyd. Why? How much did you sell them for?" Colette asked in a soft, motherly tone.

  "She offered me 2,000 because she said they were expert craftsmanship. I thought it was a good deal, so I said yes," Lloyd said as he looked at Colette.

  All happiness dropped from Colette's face before she shook her head. She took a step forward before placing both of her hands on Lloyd's shoulders. She softly looked up at Lloyd before viciously shaking him.

  "2,000! You didn't haggle with them? Are you out of your mind... Oh my god. Seriously?" Colette said, finally ceasing the shaking. "Look, Lloyd. Are you looking at me?" she asked.

  "Yes, obviously. I'm looking right in your eyes," Lloyd said.

  Colette let go of Lloyd's shoulders as she pointed with her index and middle finger to her eyes and then toward Lloyd's, making the motion a few more times before she spoke.

  "Now, pay attention. We always haggle. The first price they give you is bullshit. She told you that they were excellent weapons. That means that you have the advantage there," Colette said as she deeply breathed out. "Are you buying or selling anything else tonight?"

  "I wanted to get a different set of gear."

  "Perfect! We are coming along. I will do most of the talking," Colette said as the seriousness melted away, and she hooked her arm into Lloyd's. "Where are we going?"

  Lloyd pointed toward the tarp with the red and orange banners a few stalls away. Colette stepped forward and dragged Lloyd behind. Lloyd looked back at Regal, who simply mouthed, 'Just go with it.'