The market of the Crystarium, known as the Musica Universalis, was said to be the largest trading hub left on the First. Shops lined the grand promenade, their signs advertising everything from daily necessities to adventurer's gear and rare materials. In a thriving world, this place would have been a chaotic, vibrant river of people.
But this world was dying.
Even as the largest market, the foot traffic was sparse. A handful of merchants tended their lonely stalls, and the grand hall felt quiet and deserted, a beautiful monument to a bygone era of prosperity.
Leo and Ashem saw them from a distance—it was hard to miss the Exarch's distinctive robes and Mordo's stoic, out-of-place posture. The Exarch spotted them and waved. "Hey, over here."
As they approached, his expression was laced with a gentle concern. "Mordo mentioned you encountered some… unusual circumstances?"
Ashem shrugged, a wry smile playing on her lips. "If I told you we met the ghost of the guy who broke this world, would you believe me?"
The Crystal Exarch simply chuckled, a knowing look in his eyes. He could see from their relaxed demeanor that they were unharmed, and chose not to press further. "You left in quite a hurry before. I doubt you had a chance to see the market properly." He reached into his robe and produced three small, heavy pouches, handing one to each of them.
Leo opened his. It was filled with shining gold coins, each one stamped with an intricate, unfamiliar sigil.
"This is the local currency," the Exarch explained. He then looked at Ashem. "And your gil from the Source can be used here as well." He gestured around the quiet market. "Before the Flood of Light, every nation here had its own currency. After the disaster, the survivors all gathered in the Crystarium, and the market descended into chaos. We had no choice but to return to the old ways, using precious metals as a standard."
He picked up one of Leo's coins. "These new coins are minted using templates we found deep within the Crystal Tower—currency from the ancient Allagan Empire. As it happens, your companion Y'shtola confirmed that they are, by sheer coincidence, almost identical in weight and purity to the currency used on the Source. Since we have the largest market, this has become the new standard." He pointed to a nearby stall. "We found many things in the tower besides currency. They've greatly improved our quality of life. You might even find something familiar."
They walked over to the stall, which was filled with strange, rectangular slabs of polished black stone.
Ashem's pupils contracted. A low groan escaped her lips as a look of profound, soul-deep weariness washed over her. "Ugh, Allagan Tomestones," she muttered, rubbing her temples. "I can feel the phantom pain in my soul from grinding for those."
Leo, on the other hand, was just staring, his mouth agape. "Oh my god," he whispered, his voice filled with pure, unadulterated shock. "Those are smartphones."
Ashem, the master of all trades, had spent countless grueling hours of her life "farming" these Tomestones—precious data caches from the Crystal Tower—to exchange for the rare and powerful equipment needed to outfit her many professions. It was a memory of a truly epic grind.
But to Leo, they weren't just abstract currency. They were smartphones. He could see the camera lenses on the back.
"The… ancient… Allagan Empire?" Leo stammered, his physicist's brain struggling to compute. "Is this supposed to be a world of swords and sorcery or not?"
"The prosperity of the ancient Allagans far exceeded our own imagination," the Exarch explained, enjoying Leo's bewilderment. "Even now, we have only just begun to scratch the surface of the technology hidden within the tower."
Leo was speechless.
The Exarch sighed, his gaze drifting across the market. "Unfortunately, even with the tower's gifts, resources are scarce. This is still a dying world. If only we could establish a proper trade route with the Source…" He smiled. "But perhaps I can introduce you to a friend who can help with that on a smaller scale." He looked up at the air above them. "My friend, are you there?"
"I am, I am, of course I am!" a high-pitched, playful voice trilled in their ears. "Have you brought me something fun?"
A ball of brilliant, orange-red light zipped out of thin air, circling their heads with dizzying speed before resolving into the form of a tiny, shimmering pixie with delicate wings.
"Hello, Feo Ul," the Exarch greeted her warmly. "My most excellent of pixies. I have a favor to ask." He gestured to his companions. "These are my friends. They come from other worlds. They were hoping to use your power to exchange some items from their homelands. Would that be possible?"
Feo Ul hovered in the air, tapping a finger to her chin in a thoughtful pose. Then, she darted forward, zipping around them in several excited loops. "Oh, my! It is the aura of a world-walker! So brave! So impulsive!" She clasped her tiny hands together. "Alas, I can only make a pact with one! It is ever so hard to choose!"
Mordo, though deeply curious about the tiny creature, maintained his rigid, stoic posture. He gave a stiff, formal bow. "Ahem. Lovely pixie, as a humble practitioner, I have little need for material possessions. I will cede this opportunity to the others."
Leo just shrugged. "I'm a broke student. I don't really have anything to trade."
With the other two having bowed out, Feo Ul zipped back to Ashem, her entire body buzzing with excitement. "In that case, we must make our contract, and quickly!" She hovered in front of Ashem's face, explaining the principle with breathless enthusiasm. "When you cross between worlds, do you not find that your clothes, your hair, the very dirt on your boots, they all cross with you?"
Ashem nodded.
"Precisely!" Feo Ul chirped. "And once we are bound, I shall be able to cross with you as well! From now on, we shall be as a grand tree and its loveliest branch, with no barriers between us! I shall be your sweet, little branch, and you," she said, her voice dropping to a tone of affectionate possession, "shall be my beautiful, little sapling!"
She clapped her hands together, her eyes shining. "Quickly now! Extend your hand! Let us seal our pact!"