Yearning for the Moon

Chapter Nine

"Now I know this is exciting and all, whatever that burning tree thing is, we really should move onto the next store if we want to see everything before the party tonight." I look over at Andreas in confusion, before it slowly fades away as I remember he had warned me the other day that his uncle would be throwing a welcoming party for me.

"Ah, yes, that. Well, I suppose there is no way out of that considering he is throwing the party to welcome me. Very well, Gregory we should be off, I shall come back tomorrow to see you." He nods easily, as he leads us back into the main store and waves us off.

"Okay, where would you like to go next? Another herb store? A jade ware store? A snack cart? Just let me know and I'll take you to the best one the outpost has." Andreas looked ecstatic to finally be out of there, I knew herbs weren't really his best fascination, oh he liked making potions when he could succeed but I knew he didn't have the same passion for it as me.

"Let's go to a Hematite House." He looks at me with shock, obviously not expecting that, before he smirks, looking pleased.

"Friends with me for half a year and I've got you gambling already, perfect!" I shake my head, he was talking like he had corrupted me or something, the fool, didn't he know I was the one corrupting him, who was darker someone who gambled or someone who dabbled in poisons? I was betting on the latter, he had nothing on me. "To the Kinrade Hematite House please!" He tells the driver, winking at me like he was taking me to some secret gambling den or something.

"Is that the largest one in the outpost?" He nods his head, looking proud, but I just roll my eyes at him, it's not like there was anything secretive about the Hematite Houses, citizens of the outpost were encouraged to go to them and try their luck.

To be honest I wasn't sure if it would be for me, but the concept intrigued me, if there was truly no way to tell what stone had a precious crystal inside why were so many people willing to risk their money on it? Maybe the Hematite Houses couldn't charge very much for the stones because there was no guarantee that there was a crystal, so it was worth the risk.

When we arrive at the Kinrade Hematite House, it is rather large, easily the same size as the Silvstron residence and for a store that was saying something. Not to mention it was full of people, I am just stepping out of the carriage when I watch two men get into a scuffle over a small stone, no bigger than a fist, but they fight viciously over it like it is guaranteed to have a crystal inside. "Ah, yes, sometimes it can get quite violent here, but we can always go to the second level, the wealthier clients can pick undisturbed there." I raise an eyebrow at this, wondering if that is truly an advantage.

"If there is truly no way to tell if a Hematite stone has a crystal inside, does being able to pick from a smaller selection really help? Especially if the stones are likely priced higher because the wealthier clients can afford it and won't care?" He frowns and looks thoughtful as if having never thought of that before, but of course it wouldn't, he was pampered and spoiled as he grew up, spending money came easy to him.

I leave him contemplating and head into the Hematite House, looking curiously at all the stones present on shelves and tables, any surface available has stones on it. The more I look the more I can notice something interesting, maybe normal people can't tell whether a Hematite stone has a crystal inside or not, but some of these stones give off a glow, some brighter than others and some had no glow at all, the aura that I was used to seeing that signified spirit energy, I was willing to bet the brighter the glow the rarer the crystal, so I walk around the store plucking up stones until I have an armful. "Pick whatever stone you want, and I'll buy it for you." I turn around and Andreas looks at me in shock to see my arms full. "Uh, you know your chances to get a crystal don't increase if you pick more stones, right?" I give him a bright smile and walk over to the counter, ignoring the whispers as I drop my armful of stones, that probably counted up to a little over a dozen of varying sizes.