After finishing their breakfast, the team headed to the market. The village was famous for their artifacts and accessories after all.
The merchant van which would take them to Bani would leave in the afternoon.
The artifact section of the market was comparably smaller than the others.
"Most of the accessories and artifacts are exported and only few are sold in the market. This is because few people come to our village."
The maid explained. The had asked her to guide them to a good artifact dealer, and she readily agreed in exchange for few bronzes.
"So, we can't get good artifacts here?" Lily asked.
"You can't in the market, but I'll guide you to a good inventor. Here you can buy directly from the artifact inventors. You can even commission for a new one."
"Oh? I'm excited."
They were guided to a simple looking building. One must not judge based on looks but Lily was already looking disappointed.
Inside they passed through a small room which then opened to a bigger one.
Many artifacts were displayed in enchanted glass cases. All sorts of gadgets of different sizes and colours were presented to them.
Few bigger artifacts were hanged to the wall. There were separate sections for accessories and simple weapons. Its interior was vastly different from the simple exterior.
"The mana wavelengths emitted by each are very consistent." Kyle noted.
"Do you think any of them catch you' eye?"
Asked the middle-age looking elf leaving the counter.
Well one can not guess an elf's age as they can look the age they choose until their final years. While some prefer to look their age, most don't.
"Could you tell us what their effects are in more detail?"
Tilden asked.
He gazed upon the artifacts as if they were relics. He even started sketching them in his notebook.
"Of cou'se." said the man, clearly happy about his interest.
"This here gives ye' the ability to strengthen wind magic and can improve your speed by automatically decreasing the air resistance!"
He said pointing at a thin simple looking silver bracelet.
"Amazing! Have all the artifacts and accessories here made by you?" Lily interjected.
"Yep! All mine creations. You can see, Kempjal engraved there."
'Hmm? Kempjal? I see…' Ray thought smiling to himself.
This did not go unnoticed by Kyle. But before she could ask,
"Wha' are ye' smiling to yourself a'out?"
"Ah…I was just impressed by your creations. Can you tell me more about those blue earrings, there?" Ray pointed.
"This one? This is an earing which specialises in sensing mana. These two are a pair. They both have the same effect and can also be used separately."
"How strong is it?"
"Strong e'ough to let a newbie sense a scroll."
"Oh? How much is it?"
"Haha glad that ye' asked. For ye' enthusiastic bunch, I'll reduce it to 10 gold."
"10 gold? Comparing from the mana signatures, at least 3 people worked on it. Now are you telling me that there are more than 3 people having your skills? If so, I would like to meet them. I appreciate the product to some extent but, I doubt it is worth less than 3 gold coins."
Ray said clearly with a very dismissing face.
"Ha! Ye' telling I am lying?! Do you have a mana detector? How can you say 3 people worked on it!?"
Kempjal shouted. His accent was dropping.
"Yes, I do." Ray took out a small cylindrical device with a screen on its surface.
He went towards the glass showcase and took out earrings as though it was never locked. Kempjal was visibly surprised.
As he held the device close to it, 3 waves of different colour appeared on the black screen.
Holding it for everyone to see, Ray smiled widely at the inventor whose face was slowly getting decoloured.
"Oh, come on Kempjal. Just sell it for 3 gold already."
The maid who had brought them there was embarrassed and urged Kempjal to finish the deal.
Amid the surprised, disappointed, and angry faces, however, Kempjal was staring at the earrings fiercely.
But the calm Ray, simply took out 3 gold coins, did not ask for any compensation, kept it on the table and simply…
"Guys you buy which you like. Don't worry, all the other products are proper. Here take this…"
Threw the mana detector to Tilden and…simply walked out.
The perplexed store owner tried to run after him, but was blocked by the maid, leaving him to wallow in despair as he tried to catch the guy.
***
Leaving the shop Ray headed to the chiefs' house.
But he met Aelar midway and he beckoned him very eagerly.
"Come uncle. This way."
He had turned into a kid.
So, uncle Ray had to Run to match his pace.
'What's made him so happy and excited?'
[to be continued]